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Because Of You by @Dawn_French #Paperback #BlogTour @MichaelJBooks #BecauseOfYou

09 May 2021 23 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Because Of You, Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Dawn French, Paperback

The fabulous new release by the awesomeness that is Dawn French is now out in paperback!

Because Of You by Dawn French

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock . . . midnight.
The old millennium turns into the new.
In the same hospital, two very different women give birth to two very similar daughters.
Hope leaves with a beautiful baby girl.
Anna leaves with empty arms.
Seventeen years later, the gods who keep watch over broken-hearted mothers wreak mighty revenge, and the truth starts rolling, terrible and deep, toward them all.
The power of mother-love will be tested to its limits.
Perhaps beyond . . .

I was honoured to receive an arc copy of this book, and my review follows.

I was extremely excited to be chosen to read an advanced copy of Dawn French’s new book, Because of You, having read all of her previous novels, and enjoyed them immensely.

The story centres around two women, due to give birth on New Year’s Eve/Day, 2000.
Anna, wife of wannabe politician Julian, and Hope, the girlfriend of gentle Isaac.
Tragedy surrounds both women, yet out of the despair, one baby, Minnie, emerges.

It took me a little while to really get into the book, but within a few pages, I was truly immersed in the story.
A story about mothers and daughters, and love that grows. How real relationships are formed. Matters of the heart.
Dawn French has created beautiful, rounded, characters, that cause you to either to care deeply about them, or want to throttle them (Julian, anyone?)
Every step of the way, I wondered when the truth would be exposed. I had an inkling, but I wasn’t sure.
The book is written from the point of view of Hope, Anna and Minnie, in turn, with snippets of Julian and Isaac too, giving you a complete picture of the thoughts of everyone throughout a surreal situation.
I don’t want to give too much away, but suffice to say, I had tears in my eyes by the end of the book. Absolutely wonderfully written.

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 322 – Declutter Your Mind

09 May 2021 30 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Declutter, Mindfulness, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind, too.”
Ivan Nuru

Thank you, Spidey, for the thought provoking quote, this week.

Going through all this house decluttering, in readiness for whenever we do move, has made me ponder upon the amount of emotional baggage we carry around with us, too.

Now, emotional baggage is different to memories.

Memories are those things that can be the light in a dark time – but, I know the opposite can happen with less favourable memories. (I try and lock them away as far away as I can, so they can’t impact upon my life too easily.

They can also be thought of as emotional baggage, along with those thoughts that can cloud our minds about issues we are unable to do anything about.

Sometimes, precious emotional energy, and mental strength is used up on things that are out of our hands, or not destined to be in our paths, at that time.

Let them go.

I’m not saying forget about everything that is hard, or issues around the world that you are not necessarily immediately affected by.

No.

Empathy is needed there, and if you are in the position to, then support by all means.

But, it’s that worry about things you can do nothing about.

Take a house move, for instance. I think, if you are familiar with moving, you’ll know what I mean. Once things are in the hands of the solicitors, aside from the chivvying along that we can do, there is nothing else, but to wait for all the dates to align… Sitting there, fretting, is not going to move things any quicker, is it?

Or, again, a little example from my own work life – I have to stop myself worrying about next academic year, and the children who will be joining us. I am already aware of the high level of Special Needs that are destined in our class, but I can do nothing about it. Worrying will not magic the need away. I have a current class with enough to keep my mind filled with stress! At least, I can be prepared for any eventuality… but for now, I’ve freed those thoughts from my mind.

I’m generally pretty good at identifying the things that it is no point in losing sleep over, but I live with people who have a hard time doing this, and stress eats away at them. No amount of my trying to convince them to try and relax actually gets them to let go. This is probably more frustrating for me!

So, tell me, are you able to let go of the things you hold no control over?

Have a peaceful Sunday Peeps.

Shh… It’s Our Secret by @Lizzie_Chantree #BlogTour

06 May 2021 11 Comments

by Ritu in Blog Tours Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Tour, Lizzie Chantree, Shh... It's Our Secret

I am excited to be handing my blog over to the wonderfully talented Lizzie Chantree, today, to let you know about her new release!

Shh… It’s Our Secret, by Lizzie Chantree

Thank you for inviting me onto your beautiful blog today and for the amazing support of the
launch of my latest book!
Shh… It’s Our Secret, is about a shy woman called Violet, who is trying to silence her inner
critic and step out of the shadows. Her best friends and sister support her, but she feels like
they don’t see the real her, or understand that she has ambitions of her own and skills that
could help them all.
To them, she is reliable, slightly dull and not very talented, but she is hiding a secret that
could blow this theory sky high. Violet will have to eliminate old demons, learn to stand up
for herself and show the world who she really is.

Book Blurb:
Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially
the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young
age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them.
Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from
the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape
the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house.
When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidently discovers her closely guarded
secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain
undiscovered?\

I was honoured to read an arc of the book, and I really enjoyed it! Here’s my review.

Shh… It’s Our Secret by Lizzie Chantree
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shh… Can I tell you a secret?
I finished this in a day!
I have read several of Lizzie Chantree’s books already, she is an extremely versatile author, and this book is another little gem in her book jewels.
Violet loves to sing. She has since she was young, but the joy of singing ends when her parents pass away.
Since then, she’s hidden her talent, singing in secret, and succumbed to an awful relationship. The only silver lining in the cloud that is her life is the cafe she works at, and the family she has built from her regular customers.
Life takes a huge turn when music producer Kai walks into the cafe and hears her voice.
All in all, an enjoyable read, quick and easy, and the happy ending we all want!
Many thanks to NetGalley and BHC Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Purchase here.

International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie
Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of
Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the
Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children
were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular
networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each
other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about
women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger
than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her
website at http://www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter
@Lizzie_Chantree https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree.
Short bio:
International bestselling author Lizzie Chantree, started her own business
at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent
Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year. She writes books full of
friendship and laughter, about women with unusual businesses, who are
stronger than they realise.

Book links: Lizzie Chantree.
Universal book buy link: The little ice cream shop: viewbook.at/IceCreamShopByTheSea
Universal book buy link: Networking for writers: viewbook.at/NetworkingForWriters
Universal book buy link: If you love me, I’m yours: viewbook.at/IfYouLoveMe-ImYours
Universal book buy link: Ninja School Mum: viewBook.at/NinjaSchoolMum
Universal book buy link: Babe Driven: viewbook.at/BabeDriven
Universal book buy link: Love’s Child: viewBook.at/Amazon-LovesChild
Universal book buy link: Finding Gina: viewbook.at/FindingGina
Universal link: Shh… It’s Our Secret: mybook.to/ItsOurSecret

Social media links:
Website: www.lizziechantree.com
Author page: https://www.viewAuthor.at/LizzieChantree
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizzieChantree/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391757.Lizzie_Chantree
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzie_chantree/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LizzieChantree/pins/
FB Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/647115202160536/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lizzie-chantree
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lizziechantreeauthor
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnCop-RlAcGqggZG3JfE-Mw

Chai And A Chat #133 #ChaiAndAChat

03 May 2021 18 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Catch Up, Chai and a Chat

Can I be honest? It feels equally like just the other day I wrote last week’s post, and yet, at the same time, it seems as if last Monday was an age ago!

Let’s catch up! Grabbed a cuppa?

If we were having chai I’d let you know that school has been a bit of a minefield! We has two late evenings which were for parents evening phone calls. I’ve had staff members pushed to the edge of their limits with their respective one to one children, with one sadly leaving us. She has stated categorically that she hates having to leave our team, but feels. like she is unable to do anything with this child she works with. That is tough. I have been reading those reams of paperwork, as well as trying to juggle staff, and rewrite the report format for Early Years, to simplify things for us all! And I forgot to mention this last week, but we have tadpoles right now, and the kids are so excited!

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A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

If we were having chai I’d tell you that all week I have felt drained. I haven’t been out for walks, because time hasn’t allowed it to happen. I have also, over the weekend, eaten rather badly. But, given the way I was feeling, I cut myself some slack. I can get back to it soon enough.
If we were having chai I’d mention that Lil Man got his official letter through with his assessment dates, and his final day of school… EEK! How did he get old enough to have a last day of school? And Lil Princess, well she has just spent the day being a total teen, moody, deciding she want’s to change school (Er, hello! Not that easy!) because she HATES this one, then flipping into this real calm, loving child… Oh, the hormones!
If we were having chai I’d tell you that I finally got up into the attic, on Saturday and Sunday. To be honest, there isn’t as much as I thought, but what is up there needs a good sort out, so we don’t move, whenever that happens, with a whole load of excess stuff! We found so many funny things, such as the kids primary school books, and even funnier, Hubby Dearest’s school photos and certificates, as well sa my school reports! And there was also lots of old correspondence between young Ritu and Hubby Dearest, when we were gf/bf, and then, an engaged couple! I also found something rather embarassing, (and to be honest, I don’t know whose it is…there is more than one possible cuplrit!) but, buried within some paperwork, was an, ahem, top shelf magazine! And, just my luck, as I was looking to see if there was anything of importance, within this pile of papers, I flicked through said mag, when Lil Man walked past! I coloured, and couldnt hide it fast enough! Then I heard him asking his dad why mum found a magazine filled with naked ladies! OMG! Embarrassment factor is high! But, neverthheless, a few more bags went into the skip, and as you read this, I might be up there again, getting more down!
If we were having chai I’d tell you thhat no writing has happened, but I thin my life is full right now, and headspace isn’t clear. School is full on, home is, too, and solicitors… don’t ask, but if you have ever been through the house selling/buying cycle, you will know exactly what I am talking about! I found this sign on a walk a couple of days ago, and it kinda sums up life, and my ability to make decisions right now!

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A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

If we were having chai I’d say that I have been trying to read, but energy and time mean that I am not getting through books as fast as I usually do, but I an definitely managing to buy more, to top up my TBR pile, just in case I ever need any more reading material!

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A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

This week, we have a bank holiday, (today), which will involve more clearing out, and another cricket match for Lil Man, too! A four day school week, which will be fun, but rushed, too. There’s lots of Specialist Teachers coming in to observe various children, as well as an after school training session, twice, too. Next weekend? I am sure, more cricket, and definitley next phase of the clear out. We will get there!

This still stands, too!

Now, I will say this here, so hold me accountable, folks.

On top of school, the next five weeks will be hectic. We have Lil Man with his GCSE year, coming to an end, so even though they don’t have exams, there are still assessments happening, so his teachers can submit their grades for qualifications… And there’s the house. I can’t say much, but, things are moving, and this is why I need to step back, a little from some of the weekly prompts, so I can get the clearout done! Evenings and weekends will be being used to sort out the chaff from the wheat, so to speak… And, to add to that, Lil Man’s Cricket, as well as countless courses and forums we have been asked to be a part of, to keep up to date with school changes.

So, if you see me on here, too much, call me out!

And while you’re here, did you sign up for my mailing list? I am in the middle of writing an exclusive Chickpea Curry Lit story for my subscribers, and there will be news, tips and even recipes! You know you want to join… go on! Click the pic below to sign up!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 321 – Clear Out

02 May 2021 32 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Clear Out, Marie Kondo, Spark Joy, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Clutter is not just the stuff on the floor, it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”
Peter Walsh

Thanks for this, Spidey.

Timely, since I am, on my weekends, trying my hardest to do exactly that, clear out material things, as well as sort out my mental storage too, and all that clutters lifee, sometimes unnecessarily.

You think clearing out the attic is the toughest thing to do?

It is a bit of a slog, I grant you that. I actually had a massive clear out about three years ago, so I knew what was up there, more or less… and I am the only one who goes up there, yet, still, I am convinced there are attic gremlins… I swear there was less stuff the last time I went up there!

No, I jest. It’s not that bad. There is definitly a few piles of things that will be able to be donated or skipped, especially since it hasn’t been touched, since we moved into this house eleven years ago!

But what will be more fun is bringing it down, dust and all, because when we do finally move to that ‘forever home’, the removal guys don’t touch the attic. You need to empty it yourself.

Going back to my initial question, the attic, and all that stuff, is the least of my worries. It is most definitely Marie Kondo-ing my life that is tougher.

When you have a physical clear out, you keep everything that sparks joy, and if it no longer does, you thank it for its use, then say goodbye. But that’s not quite the same for everything that goes on in your day to day life.

There is an awful lot that won’t spark joy, but you still have to do it. Like cleaning, and ironing. Washing dishes, mowing the lawn. Going to work, paying bills… Adulting, basically.

In fact, it is often important to find what isn’t making you happy, and working out why it isn’t, and then finding ways to make these tasks more manageable, if not enjoyable.

Because, when you clear out your life, it is more about making the time to do the things that actually do bring you joy.

Finding that work/life balance, learning how to not just parent, but also be yourself, too.

We have a life to live, and even though there are plenty of responsibilities we cannot shirk, we also have our hopes and dreams.

So, have a think about what you are doing, every day. Where are you wasting time, doing things that could be done faster, enabling you to have a life worth living?

So, tell me, have you ever Marie Kondo’ed your house and life?