But I Smile Anyway…

Firstly, sorry this is a tad later than the end of July, since I was busy sunning myself on my first beach holiday since 2004. Yes, you read that right. It’s been 20 years since I got on a plane to go away, purely for vacation reasons, and not family related ones! Lil Princess and I had a wonderful time in Gran Canaria, and I read lots and lots! It was much needed after a tumultuous academic year. I was totally exhausted, physically as well as mentally. It was a full on R & R & R time – Reading & Rest & Recuperation!

The big question is, what did I read, and did I continue to get words down?

I started the month with 10 NetGalley ARCs, and awaiting feedback on book 3 from some readers and my editor.

I wrote no new words, but I have submitted my manuscript for book 3, In God’s Hands, to my editor, and we have a prospective publication date of 5 November! I have been thinking up ideas for the next steps, though! Whether it will be connected to the first three books or a totally different project, I am not sure, but I have ideas for both!

I read 11 books, all of which were ARCs, and have a list of six left to read.

Definitely a 5 star read, but you’ll have to wait for the review, as I am inviting Lucy over around publication day to chat about her latest release!

Releasing 1st August, 2024

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, I’m not sure what else to say! The Rose Code was fantastic, so I knew I was in for something special, and I was right!
Brilliant book!
Set in the 1950s in Washington, Briarwood House is home to a woman and her two children and a boarding house for women and their lodgers.
She’s not a particularly lovely landlady, but her children more than make up for her lack of manners and humanity.
Her guests are a real mishmash of characters, each with a very different backstory, from immigrants with secrets to army wives to women with nowhere else to go.
They all keep themselves to themselves until the arrival of Grace March, an enigmatic woman with an air of je ne sais quoi about her. She slowly builds relationships in the form of The Briar Club, where the lodgers and the children meet in her room for an illicit dinner club while the landlady is away. This time, she thaws the ice that has been present between the residents and slowly builds relationships that help each woman in the end.
It is a complex story, with the POV of each character in the form of a chapter, where we learn their backgrounds and what they may be running/hiding from.
Even the house has its say as it tries to make sense of an incident that brings all the women and other key characters together.
The book is set post-WW2 but amid the Korean War, and that timing dramatically impacts the story. There is fear of communism and spies, as well as racism, that is rife at that time.
It’s a book you need to give your time to, too, but once you are in there, you will find yourself turning the pages faster and faster as you become consumed by the twists and turns.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.

Releasing 18th July, 2024

The One That I Want by Sandy Barker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another cracker continuing the Ever After Agency series by Sandy Barker.
Is it better to find love the organic way, or do we all need a helping hand sometimes?
The One That I Want brings us back to the Ever After Agency with another client for Poppy, one of our wonderful matchmakers, to concentrate on.
Greta is the editor of a new online magazine. She focuses on her work but finds it challenging to add relationships to the mix.
Her boss, Anjali, decides to intervene by employing the services of her friend’s agency to help her employee with things through an elaborate ruse of a series of articles about dating.
There are some funny dates, a whole heap of confusion and plenty of ‘oooh!’ moments.
On paper, Greta is a successful woman with a great job, a supportive family, and good friends. However, as we find out, things aren’t always as straightforward as they seem. She doubts herself so much. I just wanted to take her to one side and tell her to believe in her instincts!
Her best friend, Tiggy, was brilliant. Straightforward, loud and hilarious. We all need a Tiggy in our lives!
It’s the kind of story I have come to expect from Sandy, with a host of challenges that Poppy faces when trying to match her client while fulfilling her brief.
Since this is book 3 in the series, it was good to revisit a few characters to see how they were getting on, including Poppy and her relationship, but it is easily read as a stand-alone, too. You’ll want to return and get the other two after because it’s such fun!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 23rd July, 2024

First Comes Marriage: The perfect slow-burn romcom you won’t be able to put down in 2024! by Laila Rafi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book for a while and was not disappointed.
I am a huge fan of South Asian-based fiction, stories that resonate with me as a South Asian woman.
Laila Rafi’s story is a culturally sensitive Halal romance with many relatable points.
Zafar and Reshma were married using the traditional arranged marriage route. She has visions of romance and slowly falling in love after their nikkah. He’s just happy he’s ticked off a box—another thing required of him as a son.
A wedding from Reshma’s side in the gorgeous setting of Mombasa becomes the catalyst for them to truly get to know one another and find that connection they have been missing.
Zafar isn’t keen. Business is at the forefront of his mind as he strives to keep his grandfather’s dream alive. However, sometimes you have to accept that another person’s dream may not be the best for you.
I don’t need heaps of spice to keep me reading. This is a true closed-door romance, where you get the hints, which is enough.
It was good to see how both characters grew and changed through the story, learning about themselves and their families and how others have shaped their thinking, sometimes for the better and for the worse,
I enjoyed this, especially as it was mainly set in Mombasa, where I spent many childhood holidays!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC.

Releasing 25th July, 2024

Death in the Air by Ram Murali
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have always liked to support South Asian authors, and when I was approached to read a copy of this book for the book tour, I readily agreed.
Murder mysteries aren’t my usual choice of genre, though I have been known to read them.
Ram Murali’s main character, Ro Krishna, is involved in work-related problems from the beginning of the book. He meets some shady characters mentioned at the beginning, but they seem to disappear until the end.
Taking a complete break from his usual life, he ends up at a spa resort in the Himalayas, Samsara. There, he meets a few of the other guests and meets new people from completely different backgrounds.
Then tragedy strikes and a body is found.
He ends up being involved in the investigations and tries to solve the mystery with some of the others and the Police.
Honestly?
I was intrigued to find out what happened.
Still, I did find it hard to get into because there were many references to fashion brands, sometimes unnecessarily, and not every situation was clear.
Ro has a crystal, Pendy, whom he talks to, and their communication isn’t always easy to understand.
I’m not sure the ending was as clear-cut as I had hoped.

Hello Little Girl by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Here we are, back at Hart’s Ridge with Taylor Gray and more cases for her to follow, although the story takes a slightly different slant this time.
In Hello Little Girl, we revisit a previous case that hasn’t been resolved: Lydia Grimes’s disappearance. Taylor is invested in this case, but this time, she is removed from it for a different mission: going undercover in one of the local women’s prisons.
It is another heartwrenching story where we learn more about Lydia’s incarceration, as well as the devastating news that another younger girl is in the situation with her.
As always, I love how these stories take root in reality, but the story itself is fiction.
Taylor’s experience was pretty horrific, too.
I missed having more contact with the Gray family in this book; however, given the ending, I am excited to read what happens next.
Nope, I am not spoiling it for you. I am just making sure you know to read the previous books, as they all build upon one another, which makes the anticipation even sweeter!

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BEAUTIFUL!
I say it every time I read an Amanda Prowse book, and I’m not scared to say it again: What a WONDERFUL story!
Swimming to Lundy is a dual-timeline story that converges at the end in a happy marriage of not necessarily happy events.
Told in the POVs of two women, we see two stories slowly unravel and reveal the ultimate knot that ties them together for good.
Tawrie Gunn is one of three generations of women who have lived in her home. Along with her loving grandma, Tawrie has her mother there with her. But she is in limbo. All three women are mourning the loss of over twenty years ago of Tawrie’s father. Unable to move forward, because of ties holding her back, Tawrie begins wild swimming, and the following events all tie in with her swimming.
Over twenty years back, we have the story of Harriet, whose life is turned upside down when she finds out about her husband’s infidelity. The upheaval of a family move to Ilfracombe seals the fate of her marriage and somehow sets a stone rolling which doesn’t rest for another two decades.
Amanda has a way with words, crafting real stories, tugging at the reader’s heartstrings, finding moments that are so believable, settings that will resonate with people, and sucking us into her ‘real’ fictional world.

Releasing 6th August, 2024

And So I Roar by Abi Daré
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

TW – references to FGM and rape.
Having read and loved The Girl With The Louding Voice in 2020, I was eager to read this next book by Abi Dare, especially since it is a continuation of Adunni’s story, the 15-year-old girl who escaped her life in the village after she was forced to marry an elder, to Lagos – where she was sold into domestic slavery to a woman who wasn’t good to her.
The story continues through her POV and Ms Tia, the woman who rescued her. Adunni’s life is set to change. She will start school as she has always dreamed, and Ms Tia will have the daughter she always dreamed of.
But nothing is that simple. A midnight disturbance finds men from the village clamouring to take Adunni back, as she is to be a part of a ritual sacrifice. There has been no rain, no crops, and animals are dying, and the blame lies on the shoulders of girls who have sinned.
Set over 24 hours, the story continues as Ms Tia follows her, and they get caught up in the tribal rituals the villagers follow.
Hearing about both Adunni’s and Ms Tia’s backstories, as well as the horrors of punishments bestowed upon girls for no reason and FGM, amongst other horrific customs, makes for a heartbreaking story filled with hope. It is a fantastic sequel, which is highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC

Releasing 8th August, 2024

Enemies to Lovers by Laura Jane Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read all of Laura Jane Williams’s books. She is an auto-read author of mine, and I was lucky enough to have an arc of this book to take on holiday.
It is a fabulous blend of a great story, wonderful flawed characters, a great side cast, and just the right amount of spice! (“Though it can be a bit embarrassing to be reading a scene of that nature when by the side of the pool, with families surrounding you!
Flo is a woman who has been through the wringer, suffering a breakdown a few years previously. Her family still treat her like a fragile piece of china, wrapping her up in cotton wool. Well, alternating between that and her brother’s version of sibling-style care…
She’s on a family holiday and reeling from a rejection from someone she never thought would mean something to her: her brother’s best friend, Jamie.
Then, there he is, on her family holiday, to cause all manner of feelings.
I won’t go into it too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.

Releasing 15th August, 2024

One Hundred Moments of Us: A gorgeously heartwarming, uplifting romance by Jon Rance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a story that is reminiscent of One Day by Dave Nicholls, in the way we have revisited two people’s meetings and encountered them over a certain amount of years.
It includes the buildups, the near misses, and the highs and lows of Charlie and Ashley from 6th form, when Charlie has an unrequited crush on Ashley, to the present day.
Yes, there is happiness, but equally, as each relationship shows, there is sadness.
I almost gasped at the end, thinking we were looking at another tragic ending, like One Day, but no—we were saved, thank goodness!
A lovely story.

Releasing 22nd August, 2024

The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sally Page’s stories have captured me since I read her first one, so being allowed to read this would always be taken gratefully.
The Secrets of Flowers is a beautiful, intricate tale based on a real person, with hints of interest by the author, but its storyline and the main characters are fictional.
Emma is a woman who is coming to grips with the loss of her husband, who quite suddenly died. She is still young, but flo9undering in her existing life.
Taking a break from her normality as a scientist, she begins to enjoy a job at the small local garden centre, remembering her father’s love for flowers and immersing herself in good memories.
But she is still nervous about socialising and mixing with others.
A small chain of events leads to her burying herself in research about the Titanic, and a pull towards the flowers on board leads her towards Violet Jessop, the only woman to have survived three major shipwrecks, including the Olympics and the Titanic.
She can’t help but feel a connection to the woman but cannot figure out what it is.
Aided by Garden Centre owners Betty and Les and Tamass, their flower delivery guy, and a whole host of other people, they slowly piece together the life of a young woman and her role on the ships, revealing the connection that Emma felt so strongly with this woman.
It is such a beautifully told dual-timeline story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Fiction for an ARC.

So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!

Okay, no, where did that month go?

The first half of the year is done, and I might have just hit my Goodreads reading target for the year already! Plus, it has been a busy month with completing assessments for my classes, paperwork, and meetings with the new parents for next year. And we still have the month of July to go, too! Coupled with that, we had Lil Princess finishing her exams and her prom, which was the best experience for her, and Not-so Lil Man’s 19th birthday to celebrate, too. Busy, I told you!

The big question is, what did I read, and did I continue to get words down?

I started the month with 10 NetGalley ARCs and around 10K to write on book three…

I wrote all the words needed to finish my first draft! Y’all, In God’s Hands, is an actual, full story! It’s with a couple of trusted readers before I do the reflective read, and then it will be sent to my editor, but I am finished! (Some feedback already which has amazed me… I warn any future readers, you may need tissues, apparently!)

I read nine books, and I am surprised I managed that, what with the busyness of the month.

And I ended up with Nine Netgalley ARCS still to read! I need to control this urge to say yes to everything!

If I Were You: The new unforgettable novel of 2024 from the queen of ‘what if’ love stories by Cesca Major
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a flipped identity story, which is why I requested to read If I Were You.
Flynn and Amy seem to be viewing their relationship from entirely different viewpoints.
It’s been two years, and he is smitten. He wants to take the next steps with the woman who feels like she can give him all he has craved for his whole life. Amy isn’t sure because she doesn’t feel the right vibe of commitment coming from him since he rarely opens up about his own life to her.
Something happens when they are struck with lightning. They are horrified when they realise they have swapped bodies and are on their way to Amy’s sister’s wedding, where a whole heap of other complications are set to arise.
A bit of forced-proximity always helps a relationship along, doesn’t it?
Cesca Major highlights in this story the importance of openness and communication within relationships of all sorts and how a little white lie, or even a failure to mention certain details, can mess things up, as misunderstandings are borne from miscommunication.
Sometimes, the changeovers of POV, knowing the characters were in each other’s bodies, got a teeny bit confusing, but I guess that is to be expected when he is a he in a she body and vice versa!
I sped through this book and was gutted that my Kindle died on me at the last few pages. Thank goodness for the Kindle app, eh! I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.

Releasing 4th July, 2024

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, I love a Lindsey Kelk book. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of Lindsey Kelk?
And wasn’t I excited to read a book about a teacher who was writing, albeit secretly, unlike myself, and had published a massive hit of a book, even though critics were labelling it as escapism/romantic fluff/smut?
Este Cox has a massive hit on her hands, Butterflies, but no one, bar her agent (her brother William) and publisher (her godfather, Mal), knows who Este Cox is.
The problem is that Sophie Taylor, daughter of a publishing powerhouse father, highly acclaimed book critic mother, and the author of Butterflies, cannot take the credit, knowing how her family feels about romance.
She’s fulfilled a dream of writing a novel that has been widely acclaimed and become a TikTok BookTok sensation, as well as reams of women and some men raving about the writing and enjoying the naughty bits. Now, she needs to finish that sequel before the publisher goes wild with frustration. However, something is just not clicking as she writes.
Joe Walsh is a hugely attractive man who manages to push many of Sophie’s buttons, some good, some not so good, within a short space of time. Then, when she thinks she is safe, she finds herself stuck with him for a whole weekend! Plus, he becomes someone who can relate to many of her familial problems with his publishing powerhouse dad.
Both have secrets and are trying to forge their own paths in the literary world without having their achievements branded ‘nepo-baby’.
Kelk’s brilliant creation of sexual tension between these two made me root for them, especially in their forced proximity situation.
There were some hilarious scenes, too, and one of my favourites has to be the older men who end up in a bouncy castle trying to have a duel over some work-related rivalry.
This story has plenty of layers, and it definitely waves the #RespectRomFic hashtag flag that all of us Romance readers and writers support.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.

Releasing 4th July, 2024

The Accidental Holiday: The perfect sun-drenched, enemies-to-lovers romcom by Mimi Deb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honestly, how would you feel?
Imagine you’ve been holding out for this one deal, and everything is riding on it. (I know you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket, but sometimes it’s the only way.)
Then you get to the airport, and it appears someone else is getting all your perks! And then it happens at the hotel, too!
This is the case for Maya, a precise, methodical woman with a plan for everything.
Battling it out with Alex, a guy who appears to have no care in the world and seems to be winning the holiday lottery at every turn.
I enjoyed this light summer read about two different people thrown together after a booking mix-up.
Maya and Alex being chucked together in a luxury suite would always have consequences, wouldn’t it?
They even overcome her list of roomie ‘rules’ and his inability to follow them. It’s a total Grumpy vs. Sunshine thing going on here, with the FMC being the grumpy one!
It may sound simple, but there are deeper layers to the story, dealing with loss of trust and loss of belief in oneself, as well as coping with the loss of a loved one.
And the resort they end up at sounds amazing, too. I’d happily read this on the sun lounger there, with the tanning waiter at my beck and call!
A great one-bedroom forced-proximity story in a setting that is idyllic, too!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.

Releasing 4th July, 2024

The Right Place by Sophia Money-Coutts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another good Sophia Money-Coutts read.
Maggie Lemon finds herself in Provence after inheriting a hotel once run successfully by her eccentric aunt Phil, a retired supermodel.
She’s not seen her aunt for many years after a falling out, but they used to be close. She could credit her aunt for igniting her passion for cooking and food.
But her passions have dimmed recently after a tumultuous time of trying to have a family with her husband, Mungo LE-Mon. (Pretentious? Yup!)
The thing is, once she is back where her dreams started, her feelings about her future begin to change, or rather, the fog of infertility clears.
And then, there is that rather hot Hollywood hunk and current bad boy, Grey, who’s just rolled up, wanting a place to be where he won’t be discovered.
This was a great read with some interesting characters, and I think I’d like to stay at the hotel and meet the donkeys!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

Releasing 18th July, 2024

Take a Chance on Me by Emily Houghton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is another excellent read for Emily Houghton fans and others, too.
Emily Jackson loves a plan. Everything she does is planned to the last detail—well, everything is in her control.
Suddenly, she is sent off on a trip she hasn’t accounted for—a trip planned by her little sister, who passed away, to India of all places.
There, she encounters Jacob Green, a man opposite her. He appears to live on the whim of a roll of a dice and has been travelling the world for the past few years, apparently with no cares in this world and no inclination to settle anywhere.
Now, I’ll start by saying that India is a place that is dear to me. I loved Houghton’s descriptions of different places in Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Goa. India assaults your senses in many ways, and you feel it in the writing.
Back to the two main characters, since the story is told from two POVs.
Emily is a grieving woman. Her loss is fresh. And you can feel it in every decision she makes, sometimes ones she doesn’t feel comfortable with.
Jacob is a breath of fresh air, but despite his carefree attitude, I could feel an undercurrent of him hiding from or running from something.
She makes him question some of his laissez-faire decisions. He makes her reconsider how she’s been living without thinking about what she wants rather than what she should be doing.
Beautifully told and gripping. I don’t want to write too much about the story, but it is not quite friends to lovers or enemies to lovers. Neither is it forced proximity. To me, this is a story about fate…
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 1st August, 2024

The Hollywood Governess: The BRAND NEW gorgeous, romantic story of forbidden love in Golden Age Hollywood from Alexandra Weston for 2024 by Alexandra Weston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a bit of old-school Hollywood glitz and glamour, and this book gave us that, as well as peeling back a few layers to see what hides under that sheen.
Hester Carlisle is a much sought-after British governess who is requested to work for a family in Hollywood. This is a tough task, considering the painful memories she associates with the States and New York in particular. Physically scarred and suffering from PTSD, she is unsure whether she can do this. However, a much-needed wage packet is promised to help her family back home.
Aidan Neill is a 30s Hollywood heartthrob. He’s carved his career from simple beginnings and is a huge success, but he cannot enjoy it due to a huge personal tragedy.
This is where Miss Carlisle comes in to teach his young daughter, Erin, who is now motherless.
But she uncovers secrets that change her thinking and set her on a journey of discovery to discover the truth.
A third character, Maria Calvez, a scriptwriter for one of the big studios, makes up the trifecta of POVs in the book, and her slant gives food for thought.
All the characters are well formed; you feel for Aidan, Hester, and their respective worries. Erin is a real sassy character, with her American 30s slang, that Hester tries desperately to curb, to no avail!
Is there romance? Of course, there is, but it doesn’t come as expected.
Enjoyed reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 26th June, 2024

The Garden of Memories by Amanda James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another Amanda James corker!
Set in Cornwall, we follow the story of Rose, a retired nurse and widow. She’s not sure what she will do with her life; now, she has no work to go to, and some unexpected friendships bubble up, along with her best friend Daisy, bringing meaning back into her life.
This was a truly beautiful read. We see Rose’s development as well as Daisy’s and Flora’s. Flora is a woman in her late 70s who has always been held back in certain areas of life by an overbearing mother who, even in death, won’t leave her alone. But she still manages to stir it up with her hippie-dippy wardrobe and crazy hair colour!
We meet Louise, or Weez, as she is christened by Rose’s grandson. She lived only for her husband and turned into somewhat of a hermit after his death.
There are so many other characters, young and old, including Josh, Lily, Sally, James, and Tristan, who are all affected by a magic that captivates them in Rose’s garden.
The garden in question was tended by Rose’s late husband, Glen. She begins by giving it some of her new free time as a retired woman, and slowly, the tranquillity of the space, along with her calming nature, brings her friends, new and old, to her garden, urging them to plant flowers and shrubs as memories that will live on.
I loved the premise of stepping out of those boxes we seem to put ourselves into and learning to live again without the constant worry of what others may think, no matter your age.
Beautifully told and immersive. It makes me want to become greenfingered… but I’m terrible with plants!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC.

Releasing 20th June, 2024

The Butterfly Garden: A BRAND NEW heartbreaking historical read from Rachel Burton for 2024 by Rachel Burton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed Rachel Burton’s books in the past and, after perusing the blurb, looked forward to reading The Butterfly Garden.
It did not disappoint.
The story is moving and has a dual timeline. We start with Meredith, who has just found out she has inherited a cottage from a family member she didn’t know existed.
The news comes after a string of upsets in her life and could be looked at as a lifeline, but initially, she’s not so sure after finding out her inheritance isn’t as simple as selling the cottage and paying off her dues.
Instead, she finds another person involved and a whole host of mysteries that need to be solved to find out who her great aunt, Clara, really was.
The dual timeline part tells us the background of Clara’s story in her words, but the whole truth doesn’t unfold until the end of the story.
I felt for Meredith and loved the hint of romance we were fed from the beginning. I guessed a couple of the conclusions but had a bit of a worry about what else would come out, but thankfully, it had a good conclusion!
Beautifully told and a compelling read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 28th June, 2024

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The premise of this book intrigued me, given the constant pressure on youngsters to look a certain way and how much social media influences thinking.
Temi is fresh out of university, living in Nigeria, and desperate for a larger, more shapely behind. Having seen all her friends and family women blessed in a way she is not, she is convinced a better bumbum will increase her prospects in all parts of her life.
However, will her family understand?
This book has many POVs, from Temi herself to her sister, mother, and aunts. While it provides some backstories, it can also get confusing as there are so many threads of stories to follow to conclude.
It was good to read a story that gave insight into a different culture, including using language and dialect to convey the tale, but it was also a bit confusing.
However, I was invested enough to want to read to the end to find out what happened.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC.

Releasing 18th September, 2024

So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!