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Book and a Brew with Ritu – Reunion in Lavender Valley Book 6 in the Sisters Of The Heart Series by @TammyLGrace #NewRelease #BookReview #BookAndABrew

14 Nov 2023 18 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book & A Brew With Ritu, Book Review, Reunion In Lavender Valley, Sisters Of The Heart, Tammy L Grace

Yes, we are back with another Book & A Brew with Ritu post!.

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and hugely prolific author, Tammy L Grace, to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things bookish, and especially to talk about her gorgeous Sisters of The Heart series. I binged the whole series last month, and it is a beautiful, feel good series from start to finish!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Tammy! Let’s start by grabbing a drink I noticed a lot of iced tea in your series, but also chai lattes, too. How about a real Indian Masala Chai? Of course, I have plenty of coffees to choose from if you prefer!

Would love an authentic chai, thank you. It’s my little treat to myself.

I’ve made a huge three-tier carrot cake if you’d like a slice. Of course, there are biscuits (or cookies, as you across the pond like to call them!) and freshly fried pakoras.

Oh my, I love carrot cake and never pass up a cookie. You mentioned pakoras before, and they sound good, but my sweet tooth wins this round. What’s your favourite thing to have with your tea?

Gosh, I am terrible. There is no one favourite. I need savoury and sweet, Tammy. That’s why my waistline appears to have expanded recently!

But, enough about my naughty eating habits! How wonderful to have you here with me today, Tammy! We’ve known each other for a few years through the My Book Friends group, and you are another hugely prolific author within that group. What made you start writing stories?

I devoured books as a child and growing up was always in the library reading. I’ve always wanted to write novels and when I retired, set my sights on a second career as an author. I know you’re a teacher and writing while you’re working, which I would have found impossible. Is that difficult for you?

Well, it’s definitely not the easiest profession to write alongside, I’ll admit. I try and utilise the school holidays as much as I can, as term-time, all my mental bandwidth is taken by school stress and being a mum to teens! Maybe, one day, when we can afford it, I can cut down my days, and write more… but that is a while away, I fear! (Unless anyone fancies paying our mortgage off!)

You have written stories under a different pen name, Casey Wilson, too. Is there a favourite out of the different genres you have explored in your writing career?

I enjoy writing in different genres. I admire authors who can be strict with themselves and stick to one or even one huge series, but I get bored and like to spend time in a few different worlds. You mention dogs, and they are a constant in all my books, whether women’s fiction, mysteries, or my Christmas stories. I wrote under Casey Wilson for Bookouture/Grand Central and those two books are told from the perspective of the dog, which was great fun. They are both emotional and explore the unbreakable bond we have with dogs. I love reading mysteries, so if I’m forced to pick my favourite, it’s probably mystery.

I would love to give you a little space to talk about all the different series you have written in your career as an author. I’d especially like to know how you go about writing for the various series you work with different authors in. It must be tough to ensure all your stories align while keeping your individual author voices! I’ve loved the Wishing Tree series, especially, but you have the Soul Sisters one, and the Sail Away one that you contribute to, too! I’m not sure I could keep it all straight in my head!

Well, Ritu, it can be a challenge. I won’t lie to you. But it’s great fun, and with writing being such a solitary endeavour, it’s rewarding to work with other talented authors to brainstorm and create a world. It’s also nice to be able to share the marketing aspect of writing.

I can imagine. That is one tough part of being an author that not many readers realise is the domain of the author, predominantly!

I enjoyed each of the experiences and am releasing a new one in our Soul Sisters at Cedar Mountain Lodge series this year, and I plan on a release in our Wishing Tree books next year. (Yay!) I have a hard time letting go of characters I love, and my readers love.

Back to the first part of your question, I have a few women’s fiction series and one mystery series, along with two different Christmas series. My first series is my Hometown Harbor books set in the islands of the Pacific Northwest. These are among my favourite characters, and while I had no plans to go past five books, my readers often ask for more, so I may never quit writing them. I also write a series set on the coast of Washington about a retired police officer who moves with her dog from the D.C. area to run an old family property of beach cottages. It’s called the Glass Beach Cottage Series and includes a hearing puppy in training.

Along with those two, I released a new women’s fiction series this year, Sisters of the Heart. These feature five foster sisters, now grown women, who have never met but are called back to the lavender farm where they were raised by their dying foster mother’s last wish. I know you just read these and I’m so thankful you took the time to do so.

My mystery series is called the Cooper Harrington Detective Novels and they feature a snarky lawyer turned private detective named Coop. Along with a few quirks, his dog, Gus, is always with him and goes to the office and on a few stakeouts. Coop lives with his wealthy aunt in the Nashville area, and she is always trying to get involved in his cases. These are whodunits and lean cozy but not traditional cozies since they feature a male detective. They are not gory and free of sex and focused mostly on the puzzle of a murder case. Readers learn more about Coop and his story as each book unfolds, so I recommend they be read in order.

My Christmas stories are all small-town, heartwarming and sprinkled with all the holiday feels. Readers can find them all on my website or on my Amazon author page and dozens of my books are in Kindle Unlimited so those who subscribe can read them for free.

I always like to ask about your writing space. Is it somewhere peaceful you like to write, somewhere strewn with notebooks and boards filled with ideas, or are you the kind of writer who could write pretty much anywhere?

I only write in my home office and tend to have it quiet when I write. The space isn’t huge, but has a nice desk and comfy chair, plus a keyboard that has lasted more than a year now… it’s a mechanical one so it makes the clickity-clack noise I love. I also only write on my desktop. I tend to start books by hand on paper, with my outline and ideas and then once I flesh it out, I go to my desktop and start the process. I use those large sticky pads for keeping my coloured Post-it notes on when I’m working on a project and my own dog, Izzy is always at my feet or nearby. I would imagine you must be able to write anywhere since you’re working and writing?

Theoretically, I could write almost anywhere, as long as I have my notebook or laptop with me. I tend to sit in my writing room, more often than not, though, as I have my storyboard up, there, and I have decorated it to be my special space!

Now, let’s bring the conversation back to the most recent series you completed; Sisters of the Heart. I’ve just had a reading binge of all six of the books, and I’ve decided that I want to live on Lavender Valley Farm! I loved the idea of these foster sisters brought together, despite never having met, by their late foster mother. Where did the inspiration come from for this series?

I wanted to write a new series and challenge myself to release all six in the same year, about a month apart. So, that was the big picture and then I went about brainstorming a few ideas based on what resonates with readers, and sisters are always a fun springboard, but foster sisters, especially. Like all my books, this one started with a “what if”…as in ‘what if the sisters never met’, but something brings them back to Lavender Valley. Then, I crafted the characters, who came to me quickly and worked on time-line to get them all back home to the beautiful farm in Oregon. Like my other women’s fiction, I would describe these as feel-good stories.

I’m not sure I could pinpoint a favourite of the sisters. Do you have one?

That is a tough question, but I would probably say Harry is among my favourites. She is most like me, so her story came to me quickly and I had it mapped out first, with her being the organizer of the bunch. I also loved the others and had lots of fun writing Georgia’s story in the last book, Reunion in Lavender Valley. They’re each special and so different, which made it great fun to write. I’m an only child, so always have to use my imagination when it comes to crafting sisters or siblings. What about you? Do you come from a large family?

In my immediate family, there is only my younger brother and me, however, I have a HUGE extended family, and in true Indian-style, extended means they are in your life full on! I have 29 first cousins (26 from my Pops side!) and a whole host of uncles and aunts! Growing up was lots of fun, I have to admit, with its fair share of dramas, too. My in-laws family is quite small in comparison. So much so that I began to train Hubby Dearest with a photo album, before we married, so he had some clue as to who’s who in the family!

One thing I absolutely loved was the animal sanctuary. I’ll be honest, after reading the series I did, half seriously, mention to Hubby Dearest that if the situation were different, I would be more than happy to get a dog! The whole family would love it, but we just can’t, right now. How important are animals to you? I know you are a dog lover; they feature in all your books! I must admit to having added a feline to my latest manuscript, as a nod to our Punjabi Cat, Sonu Singh!

The sanctuary was an important thread through this series since I believe when we think we’re rescuing a dog, we’re usually the ones being rescued and that played out in this series, especially. Olivia, one of the sisters, has a special gift when it comes to animals and they truly help heal her very broken heart. I think animals have such a strong connection with us and I love bringing them into my stories. I have never had a cat, so I tend not to write about them, but have a strong connection to my dog and my other dogs, so writing them is second-nature. I’m sure your cat appreciates being the inspiration in your book.

I know you have finished this series – insert sad face! But what else are you working on? I know you have another release very soon, to add to the Soul Sisters series. Tell me more!

Readers have sent me some notes hoping for more of this series, and I never say never, but right now, after this new Soul Sisters release, CHRISTMAS HEARTS, I’m working on some books for 2024. I plan to release a new mystery in my Cooper Harrington Detective Novels, and I’m writing a new Wishing Tree book right now. I also have another connected author project that hasn’t been made public yet, so I’ll be finishing up that book, which promises to be a popular series.

That sounds exciting!

I don’t have a new series in mind at the moment and plan to add to my existing series in 2024. I published 10 books in 2023. (Wow!) I’m ready to slow it down a bit, and my husband is retiring soon so we have some travel plans. We bought a motorhome this year in anticipation and are going to see a few places on our bucket list.

That sounds like a wonderful plan. You need to recharge your own creative batteries, too, and who knows what inspiration you will find from your travels!

Thank you so much for popping over, Tammy. It has been a pleasure to have you here on But I Smile Anyway. 😊

Oh, thank you, Ritu. It’s been my pleasure and thank you for inviting me. I’m always up for a cup of tea. The only way this could be better is in person in England. I have it on my bucket list and plan to visit our mutual friend Mandy, so would be wonderful to visit together.

Now that sounds like a visit I would love to happen! Here’s hoping!

Peeps, I know I do this every time, but these are some wonderful stories and books to add to your neverending TBRs. Honestly!

I have added my review to the last in the Sisters Of The Heart series, Reunion In Lavender Valley, as well as the blurb to the first in the series, which is free, to give you a flavour of the rest if the stories.

The Blurb

Georgia Moore is still grieving from the loss of her dear husband, Lee, when she discovers she can’t remain in their home. With nowhere to turn, she accepts the invitation to return to Lavender Valley in the hopes that she can once again find a purpose.

Lavender Valley Farm needs her, and Georgia soon finds her place managing the household, using her skill with a needle, and assuming a motherly role to her sisters of the heart.

Something still feels missing but as the harvest approaches, an unexpected guest visits the farm and might hold the key to changing Georgia’s life.

Will Georgia be brave enough to embrace the chance of a new future?

REUNION AT LAVENDER VALLEY is the sixth book in the Sisters of the Heart Series from USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace. Fans of heartwarming, feel-good women’s fiction like those by Debbie Macomber or Sheila Roberts will devour this series.

Don’t miss a book in the Sisters of the Heart Series!
Book 1: Greetings from Lavender Valley
Book 2: Pathway to Lavender Valley
Book 3: Sanctuary at Lavender Valley
Book 4: Blossoms at Lavender Valley
Book 5: Comfort in Lavender Valley
Book 6: Reunion in Lavender Valley

Sisters of the Heart Series:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ5RLBJN (readers can download the first book for FREE!)

Six women. Four decades. One long, unexpected reunion.

Jewel Austin is a foster mother to dozens, but forms a special bond with five foster girls she welcomed under her roof long ago. Through handwritten letters, Jewel keeps in touch with these women she nurtured to adulthood.

Now in her eighties, Jewel’s time is short, and her last letter spells out an unusual request. The five women have never met but Jewel’s last wish is for them to return to Lavender Valley Farm together, back to the refuge where they once found the love and support they craved. Jewel has a keen sense of knowing their needs before they do and she knows they are going to need their sisters of the heart.

Life’s been hard, but facing the inevitable loss of the only parental figure you’ve known can be harder. Will the five women be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way of granting the beloved matriarch of their family her last wish?

Get to know each of the women through Jewel’s own letters in GREETINGS FROM LAVENDER VALLEY, the first book and prequel in the Sisters of the Heart Series. Fans of heartwarming, feel-good women’s fiction like those by Debbie Macomber or Sheila Roberts will devour this series by USA Today bestselling author, Tammy L. Grace.

My Review

Reunion in Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I feel rather sad now that I’ve read the last of the Sisters of the Heart books…
This last story focused on the oldest of the foster sisters, Georgia. She arrived late on account of an injury sustained just as she was getting ready to leave for Lavender Valley.
Another soul tormented by loss recently, and with life serving another curveball soon after, Georgia arrives hoping that, like before, the farm and Jewel’s memories will help her.
And it does.
The lavender festival brings so much joy to everyone, and she even manages to meet someone she never thought she would see again. Someone with whom she could possibly enjoy the rest of her life.
Each story was rounded off so well within this book, leaving readers happy they all got the happiness they deserved.
And I have to admit to speaking to the Hubby about a dream of getting a dog one day…
Tammy L. Grace, I blame you!

Author Bio

Tammy L. Grace is a USA Today bestselling author of women’s fiction, family sagas, mysteries, and Christmas stories. She’s known for writing perfect escapes, unforgettable characters, and binge-worthy stories. Readers often say her characters feel like old friends and love the dogs she weaves into all her books. She brings readers entertaining stories that take them on an emotional journey, filled with complex relationships of friendship and family in her women’s fiction novels. Mystery readers delight in her fast-paced whodunits and fans of Christmas love her small-town holiday stories filled with family, friendship, and furry characters.

Tammy also writes under the pen name Casey Wilson and has released two emotional and heartwarming stories about the bond we have with our beloved canine companions.

When Tammy isn’t working on ideas for a novel, she’s spending time with family and friends or supporting her addiction to books, tea, and chocolate. She and her husband make their home in Nevada and have one grown son and a spoiled golden retriever.

Subscribe to Tammy’s Newsletter and receive a free copy of the interview she did with some of the dogs from her books : https://www.tammylgrace.com/newsletter/

Website: http://www.tammylgrace.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammylgrace.books

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorTammyLGraceBookBuddies/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/tammylgrace

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tammy-l-grace

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortammylgrace/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7799289.Tammy_L_Grace

October 2023 Books #AmReading

31 Oct 2023 15 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Am Reading, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Reviews, Goodreads, Netgalley, reading

Yes, it is the end of October. Really? How did that happen?

So, somehow, the ARCS kept coming… However I did read a couple of books I already had, and at the last minute, I gave myself another series challenge! This time, it was Tammy L. Grace’s Sisters of the Heart series. She will be a guest on my Book & a Brew with Ritu series soon, so I dived into this wonderfully cosy series!

The Twat Files by Dawn French
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had to giggle when I read the title of this book, and when I was offered a promotional copy. I jumped at the chance.
What a brilliant set of recollections by Dawn French, as well as a reminder that we all have our moments of tw@tiness!
Absolutely loved it and devoured it in a day!

Released 12th October, 2023

The Little Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I think of board games, it is the traditional ones, like Snakes and Ladders and Monopoly, that come to mind. I forget about all the other types that many people obsess over…
What a delight of a book by Jennifer Page.
Emily, the MC, is trying to rebuild her life after losing her job and fiance within a few days of one another.
She’s always had a dream, a shared dream with her mother, of opening a cafe and serving customers delicious cakes and meals in a homely environment.
An opportunity arises, and she has the money, but she’s unsure if she can do this alone.
It’s amazing how you can build a community around yourself, even when you doubt yourself.
Emily has an extra supportive best friend, Kate, and her father, though he struggles with grief. Even though they are apart, her ex-fiance is still a support of some sort, and then you have caring, board-game-obsessed GP Ludek, who comes into her life in a very unorthodox way.
The cast of side characters is delightful, and the idea of a cafe with the delights of board games as an addition to having a sweet or savoury delight sounds amazing. I would visit!
A wonderful, feel-good read, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

A Game of Deceit and Desire by Ruby Roe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, my girl, Ruby Roe, has done it again, hasn’t she?
Another steamy sapphic addition to the girl games trilogy, and what a cracker!
Each book has focussed on a different character from the original group we were introduced to in book one, and this, the final instalment, allowed us into the lives of Remy and Bella, rivals in their field but with a history filled with love/hate experiences.
Of course, they need to solve/compete over something huge, and plenty of suspicion is being thrown around. There is also the HUGE steam factor running through the whole series. This time, we have a true slow-burn element that can get extremely hot as things begin to sizzle!
A great end to the series, and I love the hint of a new story that may just be coming out in the future…

Released 26th October, 2023

Releasing 20th November, 2023

Review to follow in Blog tour post near release day!

Love Letters on Hazel Lane by Jennifer Page
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Jennifer Page’s debut, I was excited to jump into Love Letters on Hazel Lane.
Jo finds it tough settling into a new area with no friends, a job she is not sure she enjoys, and a hidden passion for Scrabble that she feels no one will ever understand. She’s tentatively hopped on the dating app wheel, but that isn’t giving her many positive experiences.
Then she meets a new friend, Kate (who happens to be one of the side characters from the first book), who encourages her to take some chances and suddenly pushes her into directions she didn’t think she would ever take.
One minute, she feels unwanted and unloved, then things change, and she begins to look at life differently, with some interesting dates, and then the start of her association with the local Scrabble club. It is run by quirky local GP Ras, who happens to be one of her previous ‘disaster’ dates.
Jo’s organisational skills are not left unnoticed, and she finds herself in charge of arranging a Scrabble festival, as well as getting her own life into gear.
This time, the story still had all the cosy feels, with a will they/won’t they romance and being able to revisit some of the lovely characters from The Little Board Game Cafe. However, there was an added, more serious thread to it, exploring childhood bullying, merging into workplace bullying, toxic relationships, and coercive control.
Ultimately, the biggest bonus in this story was the theme of self-love, and the author has done very well.
Recommended read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC.

Releasing 4th January, 2024

The French Chateau Escape by Gillian Harvey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gillian Harvey is fast becoming one of my must-read authors because her protagonists are always so relatable,
This time, we have Emma, a middle-aged woman, married to Mark, a man a little older than her. they take a step to change their lives by buying a chateau in France to ‘do up’, with the hope of creating business opportunities with a venue for weddings and events and living a more relaxed lifestyle once all the renovations are done.
However, it’s unlikely to ever be so easy, especially when there are renovations to do, little spare cash, an overenthusiastic husband with limited capabilities, the language barrier as well and trying to start a family.
An unfortunate accident leaves Mark unable to work on the property and feeling like they should just give up, and Emma goes from feeling despondent to turning around her way of thinking.
I like that this was not a ‘fluffy’ book. Harvey has dealt with real issues, here, from that feeling of insecurity when you move locations, all the anxieties about being somewhere where you don’t really understand anyone, learning to build your independence, the stresses these changes can put upon a marriage, as well as the threat of infertility as age creeps up on you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and loved the character development of Emma.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 8th November, 2023

The Old Ducks’ Hen Do: A BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud, feel good read from #1 bestselling author Maddie Please for 2023 by Maddie Please
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve not read the linked first book to this; however, it was easily read as a stand-alone.
Denny is hitting a certain age and is welcomed into her older stepsister Juliette’s group of Old Duck friends when a hen do is planned for her wedding.
The group of women end up in Mallorca, where Denny slowly learns to embrace her recent retirement and begins to think about whether she is happy alone or whether it would be good to meet someone to share her upcoming twilight years with.
It is a lovely read, where second-chance romances are discovered, and the author has rightly shown that you can have a good time at any age and dreams can come true!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 16th November, 2023

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A simple tale of relationships and connections, all-encompassing building a love of books and reading.
Takako is a young woman floundering after discovering her boyfriend is marrying someone else.
She responds to a request from her uncle to come to his second-hand bookshop to stay and help out for a while as she gets to grips with her life again.
Translated fiction is always a chance you take. This was an interesting story, but I felt it was sometimes a little disjointed. Still, a short, entertaining read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for an ARC.

Hello Goodbye by Kay Bratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ll say it now, and I’ll repeat it. Kay Bratt, you might need to keep going with these wonderful Hart’s Ridge books. I fear eight won’t be enough!
We are back in Hart’s Ridge with our favourite Deputy, Taylor Grey, who is again embroiled in a dark investigation regarding a double murder.
As usual, plenty of things are going on in her personal life, too, which take up a lot of her headspace.
Newly engaged, she’s trying to support her fiance with some unexpected news and dealing with a much more personal investigation that, if solved, will make her future feel more secure.
The twists and turns throughout this story take your breath away, and Bratt’s story-telling is fantastic, as always.
I cannot wait to read the next (hopefully not the last) instalment when it is out!

Releasing 16th November, 2023

Greetings from Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a stunning introduction to a new series by Tammy L. Grace, which I admit to downloading immediately after reading.
The book shares journal entries from a wonderful woman, Jewel, a foster mum with her husband, Clive.
Through her years of being there for different children, she also, alongside Clive, ran a dog and animal sanctuary, as well as a Lavender farm.
We are given a glimpse into her experiences with five specific young wards who stayed with them throughout a couple of decades, and we also learn a little about their lives after they leave the safety of Jewel’s care.
This lays a brilliant base for the journey the rest of the series will take us on as the five women come together, never having met one another as their times with Jewel never crossed.
I can’t wait to get into this series!

Pathway to Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so glad I downloaded the rest of this series, knowing I would want to keep reading, after each instalment finishes.
After reading Jewel’s journal entries in the first book, I couldn’t wait to learn more about the five girls she had fostered long-term.
Harriet McKenzie, better known as Harry, has just retired after thirty years in the Salem Police Department. Her job has been all-consuming, leaving little to no time for a personal life. Her only comforts are Chief, the dog she inherited after her long-term police partner passed away, and the letters and phone calls from Jewel, her precious foster mother.
Fresh from packing away her desk, she is confronted with a letter containing news she never wanted to hear. Jewel was no more. But more than that, she left Harry as the executor of a slightly complex legacy. The hardest part was to contact four other women whom Jewel had fostered, whom Harry had never met, and to pack up her life in Salem and head back to her childhood home in Lavender Valley to try and complete Jewel’s other requests.
Certain jobs never leave you alone, and Policing is one of them. While there, she finds herself at the heart of a local investigation, helping the sheriff and community.
This was a moving story of a more mature woman coming to terms with some huge changes in her life and dealing with a loss greater than she could have expected. Along the way, she finds a tribe who could be her people and new friends, a renewed sense of belief in love and quite possibly a new vocation!
Wonderfully written with a rue moreish quality. So moreish that I am diving into the third right away!

Sanctuary at Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Did I mention how much I am enjoying this series?
Tammy L. Grace has a beautiful way with words, and this little town she has created with such caring folk… well, I want to live there, too!
The next Sister of the Heart who we meet is Olivia. Foster parents Jewel and Chuck helped her navigate out of a tough childhood, which left her with scars, both internal and external.
Her love of animals is credited to the caring nature of Jewel who, along with her canine friend, Willow, helped Olivia to come out of the darkness.
When she arrives, Olivia is reeling from losing her son, Simon, and a divorce. She’s apprehensive but finds that she feels Jewel at every turn once she is at Lavender Valley Farm.
Restarting the animal rescue centre that Jewel and Chuck started when she was living with them is just the tonic for her, and getting to know her new ‘sister’, Harry, as well as her new neighbours and the local folk, especially Duke, the vet, helps to build Olivia’s self-esteem back up.
A beautifully crafted story, and I am about to dive into the next one right now!

Blossoms at Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know when you’ve worked out the formula for a series of stories, and the familiarity of how things pan out feels comforting? That is how I feel with the Sisters of the Heart Series right now! Almost as comforting and soothing as the scent of lavender…
Book 4 concentrates on the third ‘sister’ story, Micki. She’s also floundering in life, and it seems like her foster mother, Jewel, even in death, knows exactly what her special girls need. When Micki was living at the farm, she was the one who helped Jewel and Chuck set up the lavender fields and more on top, so she was the perfect person to help get ready for the Lavender Festival.
Micki arrives to a heap of affection from her new ‘sisters’, Harry and Olivia, but has a few nasty surprises in the form of her estranged real sister.
All this, along with problems with her relationship with her daughter, Meg, cause heartache, but with the aid of her new ‘sisters’, as well as a newfound friend, Buck, Jewel’s attorney, and the serenity gained from working with the earth, again, prove to be the formula for a peaceful, fulfilled future.
Sometimes, you need happy endings. I love that each book dives into the separate sisters, giving us readers plenty to form our bonds with the characters and the development of relationships, proving that you can still find happiness, no matter your age.
Also, I still want to visit this make-believe place!
On to book 5!

Comfort in Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had thought this next book would have been about Georgia, the oldest of the Sisters of the Heart since Harry had been unable to find Lydia, but the epilogue in book 4 had me informed that the prodigal sister was on her way back.
And her story didn’t disappoint!
Lydia has been running away for most of her adult life. The brief five-year stint with Jewel in her teens was the best time in her life, but since then, even though she enjoyed many successes with her cooking and love of food, her experiences with men left a bad taste in her mouth.
When she arrives at Lavender Valley, she comes to fulfil the last wish of her beloved Jewel, intending on heading off, as soon as she is able, frightened of something catching up with her.
What she doesn’t expect is that feeling of home that engulfs her and how every person she encounters in the small town welcomes her with open arms.
Still, secrets that haunt don’t stay silent forever, and she has her fair share of drama that her new-found sisters and friends help her navigate. That chance of a future settled in one place becomes a distinct possibility.
This is another wonderful addition to the series, and I cannot wait to learn more about the final sister, Georgia, in the last book, which is loaded up and ready to read!

Reunion in Lavender Valley by Tammy L. Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I feel rather sad now that I’ve read the last of the Sisters of the Heart books…
This last story focused on the oldest of the foster sisters, Georgia. She arrived late because of an injury sustained just as she was preparing to leave for Lavender Valley.
Another soul tormented by loss recently, Georgia arrives hoping that, like before, the farm and Jewel’s memories will help her.
And it does.
The lavender festival brings so much joy to everyone, and she even manages to meet someone she never thought she would see again. Someone with whom she could possibly enjoy the rest of her life.
Each story was so well rounded off within this book that readers were happy they all got the happiness they deserved.
And I must admit speaking to the Hubby about a dream of getting a dog one day…
Tammy L. Grace, I blame you!

No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do love a bit of early 20th century-based fiction and this truly did the job!
Agnes Humphries is looking for a new lodger to fill the void after the sudden death of one of her long-standing paying guests, and she is stuck deciding between three candidates: Clara, her niece; Stephen, a respectable bank clerk; and Mercy, a young widow.
The book has a wonderful parallel timeline as we learn plenty about each of these prospective lodgers. The three stories intertwine beautifully, to bring more and more about the characters and the current lodgers in the house, as well as about Agnes, her past, and how she came to be alone in this large house in the middle of London.
I loved learning all the different stories, and absolutely loved the ending!
A great set of characters with plenty to hide, and a wonderful MC, Agnes, whose habit of speaking what she thinks all the time isn’t a bad thing at all!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Published 31st October, 2023

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

That’s Not Me: Ritu Bhathal – Miriam Drori, Author

27 Oct 2023 10 Comments

by Ritu in My Writing, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Guest Post, That's Not Me!, writing

Please pop over to Miriam’s blog, where I chat about my stories, and how they can sometimes be perceived as my reality, when they are just fiction!

Source: That’s Not Me: Ritu Bhathal – Miriam Drori, Author

Book and a Brew with Ritu – A Holiday Romance In Ferry Lane Market by @nicolamay1 #NewRelease #BookReview

24 Oct 2023 4 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, new beginnings, New Release, Sandy Barker, The Christmas Trip

An extra special guest! How exciting!

Today, I am hosting the wonderfully talented Nicola May, an author who has shown how you
can make it successfully as a self-published one!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Nicola! Now, the first thing we do is get the
drinks sorted.

How lovely to be invited, thank you.

Before I get all flustered and fangirly, let me get you a drink. What I your preference? I have
all the usual hod beverages available, as well as a mean masala tea, if you wish to try!

Aw, no need to get fangirly, I am just a girl who writes words in order, sometimes in a good
way. I am also very basic in my beverage requirement. I love a plain old cup of English
Breakfast tea. Preferably, PG tips, please.

And we can’t go further without nibbles. What would you like? I have fresh donuts (sorry, I
didn’t make them!) or some shortbread cookies, made by my own fair hand!

Ooh, your homemade shortbread please. One of my favourite biscuits. Thank you. What are
you having?

It’s getting a bit nippy here, so I think a Chai Latte for me.

I always love to find out more about where a fellow author’s journey started. When
did you realise you wanted to write, and how was your journey to becoming a
published author?

I actually didn’t start writing until my thirties. I was working in PR at the time and
was very much a party girl. I was dared to run a half marathon and I thought it would be
quite funny to create a comedy diary of events throughout my tough training. Amazingly, I
completed the run, but didn’t finish the diary. It did, however, give me the writing bug and
I completed my first novel.
My journey to becoming a published author has been very varied; jumping from self-
published to traditionally published. I have had my best success on my own. In fact, The
Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay got to #1 on the Amazon Kindle store.

Such an amazing achievement! Well done for that. You are a source of inspiraton for many writers out there. 😊

And do you have a favourite out of all your published books, so far?

I think it has to be the book I mentioned earlier, it is a heartfelt story of a cockney girl who
inherits a shop in Devon from a mystery benefactor. It is a love story combined with a
mystery and is also special, as the success of it enabled me to give up the day job as a
Corporate Events Manager and write full time.
I hear you have a new book underway too, Ritu? The Rishtay Series sounds so interesting,
please do tell me more.

Thank you for asking, Nicola. Yes, I am in the midst of writing the third book, continuing the stories of the Gill family. This time my focus is on infertility, and. itis quite a tough write, as we had our own struggles, so I am trying not to write my own story, but use my experiences, as well as those of many women (and men) I have spoken to, to bring the topic out in a sensitive manner. Rishtay means repationships, so I love exploring those in detail in all my writing.

Now, I always ask this one, but could you tell me where you like to write? Do you have a
writing room/desk, or are you a writer who likes to take their laptop/notepad out and
about?
I love to write in bed on my laptop, under the duvet, whatever the weather!

Sounds perfect! I’ve done the same, but I think I would end up with a Ritu-shaped dent in my bed if I did that all the time, so I am lucky to have a little writing room!

Have you ever written a book that you feel will never see the light of day? I know I
have a few half-written ideas, but nothing I finished, completely, then set to one side!

I started writing a couple I set aside, but my recent book A Holiday Romance in Ferry Lane
Market has taken on one of those old ideas. I had a thought way back about somebody
changing their identity and seeing how they are perceived when they are not quite so
beautiful on the outside.

I have read at least two of your series, so far, and I love the community feel to them.
What was your inspiration for these books?

Aw thank you so much. I love Devon and Cornwall where both the Cockleberry Bay and
Ferry Lane Market Series are set, and it was easy to capture the magic of them from my
holiday experiences down there. I also was a child of the 70’s and feel that at the time my
street really did have a community feel to it. I think that is something that is lacking in a lot of
areas now and I wanted to capture that down in both of my fictitious towns.

And you do a fabulous job!

Now, today we are here to have a chat about your newest release, A Holiday Romance
in Ferry Lane Market. I have enjoyed all the books so far, and was honoured to have
been able to read an advanced copy. (Review, below, Peeps!) It is always a joy to pick
up the new book in a series and know you will be immersed in a new story, but will
get the updates on favourite characters from previous books. Where did the idea for
Sabrina and her story come from? I think I would hate to be in the spotlight like that!

Thank you. I really enjoyed writing it. Sabrina is a soap actor who changes her identity to
escape her previous life. A life of being hounded and trolled by press and public whenever
her life takes a downward turn. I got trolled on a very minor level, recently but it made me
think about how it really must affect people in the public eye who experience it a lot. I also
wanted to explore how looks conscious everybody is these days. By Serena changing her
appearance it is interesting to see how she is perceived and how she feels about that. I have
friends who used to be in a huge British police drama quite a few years ago, so I was able to
dig into my memories of how their celebratory status was perceived.

I was so happy to read the ending… I won’t add too much to spoil it for prospective
readers, but how does it feel to write about old favourite characters in newer books?

A reader asked me to bring that old favourite character back, and I listened! Aren’t they great? I had a bit of a soft spot for them myself to be honest.

I think that will be my last Ferry Lane Market book. However, my dad, who is my cover artist
just sent me a wonderful painting that looked very much like Cockleberry Bay, so maybe, just
maybe you should watch this space…

Good luck with this latest release, Nicola! And as they say, never say never!

I love this style, thank you Ritu and your book series sounds fantastic.

Thank you for saying that and , you are most welcome, Nicola. It was a pleasure having you visit!

Thank you so much for having me, this is all marvellous x

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of A Holiday Romance in Ferry Lane Market so please find my review below, as well as the buy links and some more information about my lovely guest, Nicola May!

The Blurb

To escape a public scandal, a jilted actress journeys to Ferry Lane Market

When soap actor Sabrina Swift loses her way due to a public scandal, she packs up her life, heads to Cornwall and finds herself running a gift shop in the quaint and quirky Ferry Lane Market.

Changing her looks and identity to keep her anonymity, the newcomer starts to make friends and enemies as she walks a frosty path in the established marketplace community.

And as rumours start circling that the outside market is going to be shut down, Sabrina is not only ensconced in an unexpected love triangle but is also faced with a difficult decision that could alter both her life and those of the inhabitants of Hartmouth forever.

Charming characters and a beautifully written setting make for a delightful and uplifting tale that explores themes of self-discovery, belonging and the importance of following your heart.

My Review

A Holiday Romance in Ferry Lane Market by Nicola May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do love a good series, especially when you can revisit memorable characters, as well as get to know new ones, and Nicola May is brilliant at creating those kinds of characters.
The Ferry Lane Market Series is great, and I was thrilled to be back with the wonderful people who make up the community.
This time, the newcomer is Sabrina Swift. Sabrina is a well-known TV actress, running away from a disastrous wedding day.
She assumes a different identity as she tries to settle within the community, with only a handful of people knowing the truth, as she comes to terms with the deceit of her almost-husband, Dom.
An opportunity to take a stall part-time seems too good to be true, but the market inspector sells it to her.
As she settles, the old favourites we know from previous books, like Bella, Star and Kara, all make their appearances and help Sabrina, or Jilly, as they know her, to start up her successful stall.
But that would be too simple and boring to read, wouldn’t it?
The threat of being found out, an illicit affair, hiding things from people she becomes close to. Everything takes its toll on Sabrina.
A great cast of characters and some well-shaped antagonists, too, made me fume as I read the things they did!
I loved the story, and I was thrilled with the ending. There are some characters you don’t forget, and seeing them have a happy ending makes me smile. Kinda hoping there will be more…

Here is the buy link for #AHolidayRomanceInFerryLaneMarket

And here’s a little about Nicola and her other books.

Nicola May is a rom-com superstar. She is the author of seventeen romantic comedies, all of which have appeared in the Kindle bestseller charts. The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay became the best-selling Kindle book in the UK, across all genres, in January 2019, and was Amazon’s third-bestselling novel in that year. It spawned three sequels, followed by the hit Ferry Lane Market trilogy.

Follow Nicola:

Linktr.ee/nicolamay

www.nicolamay.com

i:author_nicola

t: @nicolamay1

f: NicolaMayAuthor

Book & A Brew with Ritu and Emma Jackson @ESJackson1 Witch You Weren’t Here #BookReview #BookAndABrew #BlogTour

17 Oct 2023 10 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book & A Brew With Ritu, Book Review, Emma Jackson, Witch You weren't Here

Today, I am so happy to have a lovely writer friend, Emma Jackson, who I got to know better through the Facebook group Chicklit & Prosecco, visit my blog to talk about writing and her newest release, Witch You Weren’t Here!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Emma! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai? I’m not sure I can cast any spells, but a good Chai can feel like drinking something magical!

It really can! I would love a chai, thank you. It’s my favourite when I am letting myself have caffeine. The spices just give it a warm, comforting feeling. Do you drink it all year around or keep it for the cosy autumn and winter seasons?

I tend to drink it more in the colder weather, but it is my drink of choice if we are out and about at a coffee shop! (Secret… I don’t drink coffee!)

Since we’re going masala tea, I can offer you some homemade samosas, or a fresh batch of cookies baked by my daughter this morning. (I promise, there is nothing ‘extra’ in there!)

Lol! Thank you for clarifying that – I wouldn’t want to make an impulsive mistake (like Kay in Witch You Weren’t Here). And yes, cookies, would be lovely, please. What are you having?

I’ll join you with a chai, too!

So, could you tell me a bit about your journey to becoming a published author, Emma?

It feels a bit like my journey started as soon as I could read and write. I always loved writing stories as a child and it was my dream to become an author. I took a bit of a detour when I left school and entered the workplace, but an Open University Creative Writing course ignited the spark again and I started writing my first novel in about 2008. Neither that one or my second completed novel were picked up by the agents or editors I submitted to, but when my eldest daughter was about a year old, I went to see the Christmas lights switched on at Alfriston, a beautiful little village near where I live, and I was inspired to write a festive romance. It took me six years to complete during children’s naptimes and around having my second daughter, and in 2019, after putting it through the New Writers Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I submitted it to the newly launched digital-first imprint Orion Dash, who offered me a publishing contract!

That is brilliant! And reminiscent of my journey, writing in snatched moments and taking forever to finish that magical draft!

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have published so far?

This is such a difficult question because I love each of my books for different reasons…A Mistletoe Miracle was my debut, Sleepless in Sicily was actually a complete revision of my very first novel and I poured a lot of raw feelings into that about social anxiety, which I suffer from myself…Witch You Weren’t Here was simply a joy to write…but there’s something about Summer in the City that I do really have a soft spot for. Maybe because it released at the beginning of the lockdown in 2020 and my publisher was on furlough, so I feel like it never really had the publication day it deserved or found the same readership as my other books. It’s like the runt of the litter, and yet it’s full of so many things I enjoy, with bantering enemies-to-lovers set against a vibrant New York setting, and – a little like Witch You Weren’t Here – it has a plot, which takes the characters into a lot of fun and challenging places. I’d love to relaunch it one day if I suddenly have a breakout hit! Are you able to pick a favourite out of your books?

I know it was a cruel question to ask! I only have two to choose from, as such, but because they. aretied into the same series, It is so hard to differentiate between them! I would say Marriage Unarranged will always be that special one, since it was my first!

Do you have a special place where you do all your creating and writing? Somewhere away from the craziness of family?

Unfortunately not! Working around the craziness of family is definitely a necessity. Now both my kids are at school, I do get a few hours during the day to concentrate on words, and I tend to move around my house with my laptop, depending on what mood I’m in. We’ve just had our kitchen renovated, so I’m looking forward to using the new island as a workspace, which is conveniently close to the kettle! I still might be a little bit jealous of the gorgeous workspace I saw you showing off a little while ago on TikTok. It looks so peaceful and comfortable. Has it been helping with your productivity?

It is wonderful to have a space that you can carve out as your own, so I know I am blessed. It has made things easier, in that everything in share I need it, including my storyboard, and lots of motivational quotes, but I can just as easily unplug and go to the garden or my bedroom, if I need to, too!

Romance is a genre close to my heart. What pulled you towards writing romance?

Mainly, how much I love reading it! It can be such an overlooked and misunderstood genre. The comfort of knowing there will be a “happily ever after” or “happily for now” is just one element, and it means that stories can range from cosy to dramatic, while giving the reader reassurance that things will turn out alright in the end. I also love the way it dives into relationships of all kinds – not just the romantic ones. Love of any description is at the centre of the human experience, so I really struggle to understand why stories which explore relationships are seen as “fluffy” or “unimportant” just because they’re optimistic. I’ll stop there before I start ranting!

Let’s get back to your latest release, Witch You Weren’t Here. A witchy romance, with a road trip thrown in! I loved this! Why witches? Do you have an interest, or an affinity towards magic?

Apart from the fact I was raised on The Worst Witch and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, (Me, too!) I love fantasy romance and the idea of using magic systems to explore real-life issues. I also love the way things in the past, which might be put down to “magic”, have been explained by science now, so who is to say what we’ll find out in the future is actually possible…or what technology we’ll invent which can enable us to do things we once thought were impossible? And I definitely think there is a lot to be said for finding the benefits of natural remedies and valuing nature, as well as observing folklore and how those myths and legends relate to important lessons society wanted us to learn.

Would you have considered a romance with a witchy person?

Having a partner like Harry who could magically wash my clothes for me, or avert a car accident or conjure a magical umbrella during a storm would definitely be appealing! What magic would you love yourself or someone else to be able to do?

Oh, someone who could magic away the housework and magically add extra hours to the day. No, scratch that, maybe magic up a clone who I could send to work, so I can stay at home writing and reading. That would be perfect!

I love to be nosy and ask this. What is next for Emma Jackson? Any sequels, or new projects you can tell us about?

I am currently working on the second book in the Witch You Weren’t Here world – it has different characters, on their own journey towards love, but Harry and Kay will definitely be making an appearance!

That sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read it when it is done!

Well, thank you so much coming over, Emma, it has been a pleasure!

Thank you so much for having me today. 😊

The Blurb

One hurricane. Two stranded witches.
Sparks are bound to fly…

Kay knows three things to be true: a witch who cannot control their powers is dangerous, she needs to make it home for her brother’s wedding, and Harry Ashworth is the last person she ever wants to see…

But after visiting the witching community’s equivalent of IT support to try to fix her misbehaving magic, a hurricane hits and her flight home is cancelled!

Not only is Kay stranded, but she’s stranded with Harry – her infuriatingly handsome and charming childhood friend, who broke her heart when they were teenagers.

Except Harry is a frustratingly powerful witch so working together might be their only way to get back home. And the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore what is simmering under the surface.

Soon it becomes clear that Kay’s magic isn’t the only thing she doesn’t have control of…

YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS LOVE WITCH YOU WEREN’T HERE!

‘Fun, sweet and sexy’ SARAH HAWLEY – Author of A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

‘If you love witchy romcoms, this one’s for you! Fun and fast-paced, with enemies-to-lovers sharing only one bed, and plenty of magical twists along the way.’ KATE JOHNSON – Author of Hex Appeal

‘It cast a spell on me from the first page with its bewitching brew of angst, charm and romance’ M.A. KUZNIAR – Author of Midnight in the Everwood.

Buy Link: Witch You Weren’t Here by Emma Jackson | Orion – Bringing You News From Our World To Yours (orionbooks.co.uk)

My Review

Witch You Weren’t Here by Emma Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Witches, road trips and romance.
What a fun mix to create a fantastic read!
Kay is a witch, born to a witching family from the heart of an established witching town.
However, she isn’t feeling the witchiness. Unable to control her magic, she takes the opportunity to visit a specialist in these magic malfunctions in Prague while on a work trip there.
She didn’t expect to be held up there in a huge storm threatening all of Europe while trying to get back to England ASAP to attend her brother’s wedding.
Oh, and then there’s the matter of her unexpected companion for the journey back, an old friend and childhood crush, Harry, a fellow witch.
The story is set over a couple of days, as they battle all manner of obstacles to reach the wedding.
What can I say? I truly loved this whole story. I bet we all wish for a little magic in our lives. Oh, to cast a little spell to make the weather more favourable, get certain chores done, or even get that person to like you… But reading about Kay and Harry’s difficulties, despite having these powers, made me think that nothing is ever that simple.
Their momentous journey back to the UK is evidence that no amount of magic can solve every problem!
The evolving relationship of Kay and Harry that is set over a couple of days actually spans years, dating back to their youth, when Kay had a bit of an unrequited crush on her brother’s mate… and certain situations left her feeling rather raw, and a bit of a failure. This unexpected meeting brings all manner of feelings back to the surface, spiced with faulty magic!
And that’s only from Kay’s side! Who knows if Harry is even interested?
A thoroughly enjoyable witchy read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC.

About the Author

Emma is the author of the Best Selling A MISTLETOE MIRACLE and a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award 2020. She has been a devoted bookworm and secret story scribbler since she was 6. When she’s not running around after her two daughters and trying to complete her current work-in-progress, Emma loves to read, bake, catch up on binge-watching TV programmes with her partner and plan lots of craft projects that will inevitably end up unfinished. Emma is also co-host on the SFFRomCast, a podcast dedicated to celebrating fantasy and sci-fi romance. Season 5, which features deep dives into six popular SFF romance tropes, releases in September https://linktr.ee/SFFRomCast

Her next book, WITCH YOU WEREN’T HERE, is a witchy rom-com full of misbehaving magic, brother’s best friend angst, and only one-bed shenanigans. It’s due for release on 12 October 2023 in eBook, paperback and audiobook and will also be available on Kindle Unlimited.

You can find out news about Emma by following her on social media here: https://linktr.ee/ESJackson and for giveaways or short stories, you can sign up to her newsletter here: https://tinyletter.com/EmmaSJackson