Blogger | But I Smile Anyway...

Chai And A Chat #18 #ChaiAndAChat

04 Feb 2019 45 Comments

by Ritu in Chai and a Chat Tags: #ChaiAndAChat, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Chai and a Chat, Updates

Welcome to February and a whole new month!

Have you got that drink ready? My chai is waiting!

If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I was ill… oh so ill… this week. I ended up being off work for three days, Monday to Wednesday, and quite possibly could have been off the whole week, but the guilt factor of not being at school drove me back… It started with the vomiting and upset stomach bug, causing me to have really bad lower back pain. I swear, I had a hot water bottle attached to my person for almost 72 hours! Then a cough developed, which is still with me… It was definitely not nice being off…
If we were sipping chai together I’d whisper that the only plus side to being off sick was that I had many, many hours to read! I actually read 5 books over those few days, and was able to write a big long book review post about them, and the others I had read in January! Did you read it? If not, click HERE!
If we were sipping chai together I’d mention that the children were excitedly hoping for a falling of the white stuff. And well, we got a little bit. On Tuesday there was a sprinkling that turned to ice by the morning. On Friday, all waited with bated breath… would we get that snow day? But no. It seemed a large part of the UK was snowed under/in but not us here. The kids were most disappointed, and even more so when the white stuff did fall… at night on Friday, so there would be no snow day chances as it was the weekend, then, when we woke, it had all but melted! Gutted!

View this post on Instagram

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

If we were sipping chai together I’d tell you that I still haven’t received my feedback from my friend regarding the manuscript, but he’s been busy with a family wedding and his son’s 16th… I think I can forgive him. I have also sent a copy to a really wonderful comedienne friend of mine to get her opinion too. Fingers crossed!
If we were sipping chai together I’d also mention that, whilst on my sick bed, I experimented a lot with Calibre and managed to make my manuscript into a mobi file, so it can be read easily on an e-reader. It’s not ready to be published, but being able to go through it on my Kindle added a different perspective to my editing… and it was a special moment to open my ‘book’ on my Kindle for the first time!

View this post on Instagram

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

If we were sipping chai together I’d excitedly tell you that my lovely lady friends, the Tootie Frooties, have arranged another outing. Unfortunately, not all can come, but the ones of us who can, are going to a comedy night! It’s not for a month or so. but I’ll be sure to keep you all informed!
If we were sipping chai together I’d also mention that as February is here, we are also full on into birthday month in my in-laws family. Sunday we celebrated my Brother-in-law’s birthday, and we have my Hubby Dearest and Mother-in-law’s to come on Friday, then Lil Princess and my Father-in-law’s a couple of weeks after! It’s gonna be an expensive month… and don’t forget Valentine’s Day!

If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d moan that despite getting a sickness bug, I didn’t lose any weight… so I am still hoping to sort that particular mess out!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d tell you that Lil Man’s braces saga is starting up again. He has decided he wants fixed braces now, so I have a few crazy rushes from school to get him to appointments over the next couple of weeks. Mummy’s Taxi? Yup, that’s me!
If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I’d say that I can’t wait for half term… two weeks to go!

Have a wonderful week Peeps! Let me know how your week went!

Kick-Ass Kreators Create!

03 Feb 2019 37 Comments

by Ritu in My Writing Tags: #AmWriting, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Creativity, Just One Line, Kick Ass Kreators

As you may, or may not, know, I set up an online accountability group on Facebook.

The intention is to give a little motivation each day and have opportunities to share our ups and downs with each other.

A suggestion was made that we could do something like a collective creation within the group, and so Just One Line was born!

The first challenge went out on Friday, and here is the little story that came out of it!

An incessant tongue licking my cheek was what woke me from my slumber.

I had already warned him a million times not to do that!

But dogs don’t always speak human, do they?

I guess I only had myself to blame for weakening and agreeing to look after my sister’s Saint Bernard’s.

I have to admit I was disappointed when they didn’t have that cute little liquor barrel around their necks.

But, to be honest, after the night I’d had, liquor was the last thing on my mind…

I had been up three times to see what the racket in the street was, and the dog had not even stirred!

But when the furious knocking on the back door started, at last, he was stirred to action.

As I padded down the stairs to investigate, the house suddenly became quiet; was I sleepwalking again?

What did I just step in on the stairs?

Was it my imagination, or was it a pool of blood?

A dark silhouette loomed at the front door.

I was rooted to the spot, what should I do, I hesitated my hand on the doorknob.

With the poker poised to strike, I twisted the knob, screwed my eyes tight and dropped the hand as hard as I could.

There on the floor lay my husband, looking stunned.

He wasn’t meant to be back till Tuesday.

At least he got a decent welcome from the dog, as I stood there, frozen in shock.

That’s when I poured my own liquor.

Darn flea-bitten mutt, I muttered under my breath, trying to control my anger.

From the floor, my husband produced a bottle, “To celebrate my early return, ” he muttered.

Well, that was fun!

If you want to be a part of it all, make sure you join, then you can add your own slants to the Just One Line story of the week!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 207

03 Feb 2019 25 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Colin Powell, Dreams, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. “
Colin Powell

Thanks for that Spidey.

I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming over the last few years.

There are the dreams of a bigger, more organised house, the dreams of being able to jet off to wherever we fancy for holidays, the dreams of being able to see my nephews without the need for a flight, the dreams of becoming a writer…

Some dreams can come true just by time passing, some need a little effort, some need some initiative.

So, the holiday one… well, one day we’ll be able to have saved up enough that we can just swan off whenever…

The house one, Marie Kondo is helping me organise, and we are in the throes of deciding… extension or move?

Seeing my nephews… well, they are in a different country. It’s never going to be easy, but at least I can feel happy at the fact that we will see them in May, and I can finally cuddle my newest baby nephew, who will be two months off being a year old by then!

But the writer dream… well, that’s the one that is mine, and one that only I can push for.

So I have tried my hardest. That first book is written, it has been read by two, and is being read by a couple of others too. And I have entered it into a literary competition, and sent off my first agent submission… eek!

I’m not totally oblivious to the fact that there is a high chance that I shan’t get signed after just one submission, so I shall submit to more… but in case there is still nothing, I have been gathering quotes for professional edits and critiques… so if it happens, I am ready for the Indie adventure.

It’s not easy though. Going Indie can cost you a lot, so my next aim is to slowly fill my writer’s pot with any spare money I have, and I have even requested to Hubby Dearest that instead of presents for me, a donation to the pot would be the best gift!

And to improve my craft, I have started a writers course, to develop my art…

See. I am working on my dreams!

So… tell me, what is your biggest dream, right now, and what are you doing to try and make it come true?

Best Book Blog Nomination! #AnnualBloggersBash

02 Feb 2019 75 Comments

by Ritu in Awards Tags: Annual Bloggers Bash Awards, Best Book Blog, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Nominated

Well, imagine my surprise to receive this notification in my email yesterday…

Hi Ritu

Congratulations! You have been nominated for Best Book Blogger at the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards 2019!

Well! I have to say, I wasn’t expecting that! Not really considered myself to be a Book Blogger, but obviously one of you lovely folks out there thinks so, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Not expecting a win, let alone placing in this category, as it is such a big one, with a lot of blogs out there who are simply amazing at the whole book blogging thing, but still… you never know!

One nominee from each category will be shortlisted and put forward for the Best Overall Blog category by a set of judges and the committee. The nominations process will be open until 31^stMarch 2019. All nominations will then be open to a public vote, which will open on 10^thApril 2019 and will close on 24^thApril 2019.

And speaking of the Bash… have you nominated/got your tickets? If not, here is all the info you need, at the moment!

The Annual Bloggers Bash is a yearly blogging event which takes place on Saturday 15^thJune 2019 at the Grange Wellington Hotel in London. We’re now in our 5^thyear and have had attendees from all over the UK, Europe, the US, Canada and even Australia!

To find out more about this year’s event, click on the link below to be taken to our website.

https://annualbloggersbash.com/2018/12/30/the-bloggers-bash-2019-venue-and-confirmed-activities/

How do I attend the Annual Bloggers Bash?

We have already sold a number of tickets for the event, and with limited spaces we are selling them on a first come, first served basis. Early Bird prices for the day are set at the bargain price of just £20, purchased via PayPal.

Click here to purchase your ticket now!

https://annualbloggersbash.com/buy-your-ticket-here/

January’s Books #BookReview

31 Jan 2019 38 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Arc, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Blogger, Book Review, Netgalley, Reader

January has flown by, don’t you think?

And in that time I have managed to devour eleven (yes, that’s ELEVEN!) books.

I can thank my mile-long TBR list, as well as some fantastic new manuscripts that NetGalley approved for me to be an ARC reader!

Now I’m just going to pop a little photo here to show you what I have been reading…

See.

Told you I’d been busy! There was, of course, a reason for my ability to read so much, during term time. I credit that to a horrible sickness bug that rendered me prone to my bed, when not hugging the lavatory… but you don’t want to know about that!

So, the books.

I am giving you my reviews and a link to my GoodReads review, and if not available yet, a publication date.

Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first book by Ruth Hogan, and I really enjoyed it.
A tale of a mother and a daughter, told by one person, but two perspectives.
Tilly the young girl, and Tilda the adult.
Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel is a story about ghosts. Past and present, and the ability to see them. Their ability to help a confused young woman to see her past more clearly, and her present and future with no regrets.
A touching read that made me think a little of Sixth Sense!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Two Roads books for allowing me to have an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Published 07/02/19

Stories from the Heart: Seven Short Stories by Amanda Prowse

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful set of short stories from a favourite author of mine!
Great to dip into when you can’t commit to a longer book, but want something that will give you that tingle.

Wildflower Heart (The Wildflower House #1)

Wildflower Heart by Grace Greene

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wildflower Heart is the first of Grace Greene’s books that I have read, and I was far from disappointed.

A story of a damaged woman, scarred, physically and emotionally, from situations in her life, including the disappearance and subsequent death of her mother, and then the loss of her husband, in a gruesome accident which injured her as well.
After a long time she finds herself healing in some way, due to Wildflower House, the project her father buys as his forever home, in his retirement.
I don’t want to go into too much detail, but suffice to say, I felt sadness, joy, anger, frustration and hope whilst reading.
I am now keenly awaiting the sequel, wanting to know what happens next in Kara’s Wildflower journey!

Many thanks to NetGalley, and Grace Greene for the Arc, in exchange for an honest review.

In at the Deep End by Kate Davies

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I requested this book, but I have to say I was intrigued… I did have to read it in small spurts rather than in one or two sittings, as some areas were rather graphic!
I certainly have more of an idea about particular erotic activities now!
And I definitely had to be careful that my child wasn’t trying to read over my shoulder!
A sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable read, but a page-turner, nonetheless!
Published 21/02/19

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting concept but a bit slow for me. Thanks to Netgalley for an arc in return for an honest review.

The Ballad of Sean and Wilko by Paul Charles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A detective, murder mystery kind of vibe. Not really my sort of usual read. Engaging enough, but not the best, for me.

Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Engaging. A story of friendship, abuse and support.

Fierce Fragile Hearts by Sara Barnard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Okay, so yesterday I spent the day reading Pretty Broken Things in anticipation of reading Fierce Fragile Hearts, and I am glad I did.

What a touching, often heart-wrenching story, told, this time, from the viewpoint of Suzanne, a victim of childhood abuse.

We experience the maturing of a friendship between three girls growing into women, and share with Suzanne the slow acceptance of what happened, and how she learns to deal with the cards life dealt her, all the time, an inner strength growing within her.

I really enjoyed reading this book and devoured it in a few hours.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

What Happens in France: A laugh out loud romantic comedy that will touch your heart by Carol Wyer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I literally read this in the space of two sittings in one day!

An easy to read story about Bryony Masters, who is trying desperately to find her older sister who ran away when she was a little girl.

I loved how it was kept lighthearted, with the manner in which she decides to find her sister, and the antics of her and the great characters who support her.

Of course, there is a love interest to keep the romantics among us happy too.

And Biggie Small, the pug – what an adorable character! I wanted to be able to pet him myself and take selfies too!

With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review

Not Our Daughter!: The true story of a daughter-in-law by Kalbir Bains

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I wish I could give this more but I’m sorry. I can’t.
A sad story, but I felt annoyed so much. This happening in the 2000s… It feeds on all the stereotypes of an arranged marriage.
I wanted Harleen to get a backbone.
And the editing… Not good.

Enchantée by Gita Trelease

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a beautiful book!
I was most definitely Enchantée!
I do love a bit of historical fiction. Add a dash of magic, a sprinkling of romance and a splash of conflict, and you have a most wonderful, and (sorry to use the word again) enchanting story.
I have heard an awful lot about this book and seen it in the ‘to be read’ piles of a few others I follow and was so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read something so magical in advance.
The story of Camille and her sister, left bereft by the death of their parents, with a brother sinking deep into debt, and the claws, of a mysterious debtor, kept me gripped.
Weaving in the revolution, the beauty of Paris, the mystique of Versailles and the pure magic of those who had the knowledge, the story captivated me.
I was, of course, bowled over by the dashing Lazare – a hero who had morals as well as looks.
There are a host of secondary characters who intrigue a reader too,
Recommend it? Yes, definitely!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Published 21/02/19

And there you have it.

Lots of Ritu Reads, sometimes recommends, sometimes not!