Good morning, Peeps! It’s the early May Bank Holiday here in the UK, I have a chilled start to the day, and can leisurely enjoy my drink, for a change, as we recap on the week!
Have you got your drink ready?
If we were having chai, I’d start by telling you about school. We have had more kids sin, this week, but still a few absences. It seems conjunctivitis is a new thing to spread around, at the moment. We had two evenings of Parents Evenings on Monday and Tuesday. The last one for the year, where we talk to the parents about where their children are, and what to expect on their reports at the end of the academic year. I attended the Monday one, which was from 4-7 pm, so pretty long, but it went well, even though several parents didn’t turn up, so I could have gone by 6.30 pm, had they let us know! Still, all was well. Lil Princess had an appointment on the next day so I was unable to attend the whole evening, but, luckily, I share the classes with other teachers so we could cover ourselves, at least! The rest of the week went well. The children are enjoying the growth topic we are focussing on this week, and their progress in all areas is becoming more and more evident. We also had the annual class photos, as well as small individual pictures down, which will go onto each child’s reports. We were expecting carnage, with children everywhere, but it went on like a well-oiled machine! Phew!
If we were having chai, I’d tell you that I got my edits back from my editor on Saturday. There is only a month to go, exactly until publication day, and I was a little panicked since we have a packed rest of the term, and if there was anything major to change, I wouldn’t have time, but thankfully, all the feedback from my early readers, and beta readers, as well as the sensitivity reader, meant that structurally, and developmentally there were no big shocks. In fact, she loved it… phew! There were a couple of name mix-ups and sentences which didn’t read right to her, so I changed things up where necessary, corrected the silly spelling errors and continuity ones, and sent them back! Fingers crossed there is nothing more to do!
If we were having chai, I’d tell you that I continued to read over the week and weekend, as usual, and seeing as the weather was so lovely, I managed a cuppa, and panettone and read in the conservatory on Saturday!
If we were having chai, I’d mention that after what feels like an age, we went to the gurdwara for a function. I felt so at peace while sitting there, listening to the priest reading the prayers, and then singing the hymns. Makes me miss living closer to it, sometimes…
If we were having chai, I would update you on Sonu Singh. He’s been enjoying more company during the week since Lil Princess was home due to a teacher strike, and Hubby Dearest had more work-from-home days. He also enjoyed the sun in the conservatory, over the weekend, with me!
This week, as I mentioned, earlier, we have a four-day working week, as it is the Bank Holiday, today. There is another strike for some teachers so both my kids are off again on Tuesday. We have the build-up to the Coronation, as well, which takes place on Saturday 6th May, followed by another extra Bank holiday! What fun!
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!
I don’t think I will even comment on what ARCs I have because whenever I think I get to the end of my pile, another arrives! Still, I am not complaining. It means I have all the more books to share with you! But I hope you will be proud of me. I have also managed to read some already released books, too!
Oh my goodness, I LOVED this! I have read some other Emily Kerr books, so I knew I would enjoy this, but I sped through it, wanting to read every last word and to know exactly how things ended! Freya and Charlie are childhood friends who have lost touch but meet again, by chance, in a pub. And their fateful meeting couldn’t come at a better time, as both are trying to get on the property ladder, but neither is having any luck, what with the economy, and the state of most people’s finances, right now. One thing leads to another, and the two friends find themselves celebrating their renewed friendship with the added golden handshake of a joint mortgage on a doozy of a fixer-upper! I love property renovation, and I pictured Oak Tree Cottage as they gently rid it of its debris and began to make it a house worthy of living in. And, more than the conversion of the house, I loved how the friendship between the two main characters began to morph, too. Aided brilliantly by Arthur, Freya’s Grandfather, and her best friend, Leila, and not forgetting Ted, Aarthur’s dog, who ends up with them for a while, it was a pleasure to read the developments! Hutch and Humph for life! Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.
Oh, what a rollercoaster of emotion this book put me through! Not least because there is sensitive subject matter but because of all the reminiscing I could do, thanks to the book’s timeframe. The story is set in the now, as an adult Charlie, the main character, is coming to terms with life as a middle-aged woman, and dealing with all that comes with it, including dealing with loss and illnesses of loved ones, as well as a dual timeline of the 90s when she is a student in 6th form (like me), shy, exploring different elements of her personality, and experimenting with a very special relationship. I loved it because I lived with so many of these experiences as a teenager. The nostalgia I felt was unreal. And then the additional relatability of life as a middle-aged woman. It was just wonderfully written! There is romance, budding and established, friendships, family and the awakening of sexual feelings. A bit steamy in places too, but honestly, I got all the feels, in a good way!
I was absolutely into Cherry Blossom Lane with book 1, so I couldn’t wait to be reunited with the characters and learn more about what was happening with Sasha this time! And Lizzie Chantree did not disappoint. It was wonderful to see Poppy again, follow the lead-up to her wedding, and watch with intrigue the development of Sasha’s self-confidence and her romantic life. Ollie is the Taylor brother in the picture this time round, and he is certainly a complex character. There were plenty of ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ moments as different characters introduced themselves as prospective spanners in the works! I love how the intrigue has been built for the next book… And cannot wait for it to be out!
It’s been a while since I stepped into the gorgeous worlds created by Kim Nash and her characters, and I truly enjoyed this foray to the Cornish coast! Meredith made a bit of a drunken decision to purchase a lighthouse, miles away from the rest of her life, to have a fresh start, a project and to put some distance between her and her old life that, apart from her best friend, seemed to have begun to stagnate. Well, what can I say? There are always dubious purchases made with the aid of alcohol when you aren’t feeling yourself, and when she arrives at her new, unviewed, apart from some stylised photos, home, she is in for a shock. And the shocks don’t start there, but at the local supermarket, where she encounters rude locals that get her back up from the off. I will not go into the story, as what would be the point of you reading it if I was just to regurgitate it here, but I will say that you won’t want to put it down once you start reading! Meredith is a character who will resonate with many women, especially those of a certain age. She had a fire in her belly that was dampened by her previous life, but the sea and sea air might have just reignited it rather than put it out completely! There are many characters to keep you wanting to read, not least Vi, who I think is an amazing woman. What a character! And her dog, Gladys, is just adorable! Meredith has old friends, but the new ones she makes as she begins what feels like a thankless task of renovating and restoring her purchase are a choice bunch. But there are always that core of locals who ‘hate’ newcomers. She has her work cut out, I’ll tell you. And, of course, there’s Clem… A brooding, moody man who ends up rather helpful in many ways. But will he be the one who helps her realise she is not just a middle-aged woman undeserving of a fresh start romantically as well as generally? The restoration of the lighthouse was fascinating to read about, too, and just reading the descriptions makes me want to go and stay in one right now! A wonderful read from start to finish!
Definitely, an easy read for the coming summer! Bella, the MC, has found herself the perfect summer job, as the first stewardess on a super yacht, using all the hospitality skills she has learned over the years working in hotels and restaurants, except she forgot that it is on a boat for the whole summer. And she gets travel sick! Oops! First hurdle. The second one is her roomie for the duration, who seems rather miffed at this newbie coming in and taking the position on the boat that she had hoped for. Third, the first guests she has to host include a famous actress and her extremely tasty nephew. And she CANNOT get involved… Can she? This was an easy book to get into, with a good solid boy-meets-girl romance and several twists and turns along the way. I can tell you that there was a moment towards the end before the climax when I literally held my breath, thinking that things might not work out… So good! Many thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books for an ARC.
Kay Bratt has wowed me again with this fantastic addition to the Hart’s Ridge series! We meet Taylor Grey again in her role as a small-town cop, dealing with another heinous crime, this time against a very close friend of hers, Sissy, who has gone missing. Aside from the investigation, we get to meet another of Taylor’s sisters, Anna, in more detail. Anna is the one who has remained rather aloof through the series, having married well and living in an affluent part of the town, with an Instagram-perfect kind of life. Until it begins to crumble. The sisters continue to build their support network together, and it is a joy to read about how their mother, Cate, is faring. Obviously, there is Diesel, the dog, and several others that join the cast, sure to have starring roles in future stories! So much happens in this book, and Kay touches upon many topics, such as suicidal thoughts and IDV, sensitively. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout the book, which I have come to expect from the Hart’s Ridge Series, and the hint of what is to come in book 5, Instant Karma, makes me even more impatient as I wait for its release! Thank you to Kay Bratt and the publishers for an ARC.
Oh, Kiltie Jackson. Well, you’ve done it again, haven’t you? This is the third of your books I have read so far, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Each one I have read has a slightly different genre, and each has its own beauty.The Bay of Lost Souls centres around Perrie, a woman who is running from something to the isolated Broatiescombe Bay to be alone and come to terms with her life. Morgan is a single father to one gorgeous little girl, Daisy, who has his own tragedy to overcome. Fate rolls them into one another (literally), and the beauty of the bay, and a little girl obsessed with Disney princess Merida, try their hardest to seal the deal. Thing is, nothing is ever what it seems. I loved the bay and the little cottage Perrie moves into for her stay and her cats, Timothy and George. What a pair of characters! All the book’s characters are believable, real souls to whom you can relate. Daisy was a firm favourite, too, as a feisty little pre-schooler who knows what she wants. The secret Perrie carries is a big twist and causes all manner of drama, as it should, but everything is revealed and handled in an extremely sensitive manner. A love story with secrets, twists and turns, and adventure, too. Definitely worth a read.
After reading and thoroughly enjoying Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane, I was excited to delve into another of her books. The Half Moon centres around a bar named The Half Moon and a short period of time during which the owners, Malcolm and Jess, are going through their own marital struggles. It’s that time-old tragedy of the threat of infertility taking its toll on a relationship. Coupled with a little disappearing person case. I found it a little tough to get into if I am honest. The same emotions that I felt reading Ask weren’t awakened. Many thanks to NetGalley, Michael Joseph and Penguin Randon House for an ARC.
Oh, What a beautiful story! I will probably end up gushing about this story to more than one person because I loved it that much! This story spans several eras through two families, but they are all connected by a thread: the power of the moon and a belief in magic. During and after WW2, Lamorna, and later on, her sister Morwenna, follow an old folk tale known in their community, harnessing the magic of the moon and a particular cove near where they live, in Cornwall, to launch their wishes for a love of their own, using a short incantation, and a message in a bottle. In the present day, Merrin is not very easily adjusting to her life as a newly divorced mother to a teenager who is due to spread her wings and leave the family nest, too. Fate brings her in touch with Morwenna, a lonely elderly lady who lives locally and shares the moon’s secret with her. And the way everything falls into place is just beautifully planned. I don’t want to go too far into it, but I can say that it is a gorgeous story filled with – fate, or maybe it really is magic. I loved all the characters, and honestly, if I weren’t happily settled down, I’d be ready to rush to that cove and take a punt on a message in a bottle, helping me with my own future! Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for an ARC.
Oh, what a gorgeous read! Mukesh is grieving the loss of his wife. Aleisha is stuck in a dead-end summer job before returning to Sixth Form in September. Neither of them enjoys reading. Then, a twist of fate, and a certain list, throw them together to forge an unlikely friendship as they learn to love books and the messages they can give. I was invested from the off with the elderly Mukesh. His unexpected transformation regarding reading is sparked by his trying to keep a closeness to Naina, his wife, who loved her books, and the library. And Aleisha, as a young adult, just needs a simple job since she is helping her brother care for her mother. Books take on a different meaning, allowing her to accept life and see situations through different eyes. Of course, the selection of books on that reading list was brilliant, too. A must-read for book lovers and one for non-readers, too. Who knows, it might spur you on to read something different.
Another beautiful poetry anthology featuring some familiar names and some new-to-me poets. Kaye Lynne Booth has collated a fantastic selection of poems centring around Passions, and some of these verses really tug at your heartstrings. Robbie Cheadle, with her verses relating to family and illnesses and Willow Willers, exploring her passions and the feelings passion can encourage, had me speeding through the book. Colleen Chesebro and D. Wallace Peach also feature in this fantastic collection, with examples of their evocative poetry.
I loved The Reading List, so when I heard that there was a second book from Sara Nisha Adams, I was thrilled, and, having read it, I was not disappointed at all. Winston lives in a rented house with his partner Lewis. They have a huge garden that is shared with their neighbouring house, which has been empty since they lived there. The garden is overgrown but a solace to him as he ponders his life, not quite what his parents envisaged when they sent him to London from India. Then one day, they have new neighbours: Beatrice and her young son, Seb. Beatrice is a recently divorced woman, who wants the best for her child and is excited to have this home with a large garden for her child, only she isn’t quite sure of the shared part. Animosity brews, and then a set of anonymous letters start to arrive, first for Winston, then for Beatrice, which causes a chain reaction that changes their lives in a huge way. There is a dual timeline, showing the house’s history, with the POV of the previous residents, Maya and Alma, which gives the story a solid background. I loved learning about Maya and her start in England and Alma, the grumpy neighbour who becomes family to Maya, her husband, Prem and their daughter. The anonymous list/letter seems to be a device in both Adams’ books, and it has also been used well this time. A crew of flawed characters who you come to care about. A good read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC.
Releasing 8th June, 2023
Review to follow in a Book & A Brew post, soon!But, it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
I really enjoyed this read about a couple of younger women who end up on a coach trip, typically for the more mature holidaymaker. Emma wants to give her best friend, Mel, a birthday to remember, but double books herself when she promises to go with her grandmother on a coach trip, originally booked as an anniversary present for her husband. Sadly, Grandad passed away before the trip, but Emma wants to make her grandma happy. Emma and Mel end up on this coach trip with many preconceived ideas about older people, and it is a pleasure to see how these misconceptions are sh=mashed as the week-long trip progresses. Getting old isn’t fun in many ways. It is often hard for the younger generation to sympathise with that old lady who takes so long to walk or the man who is holding up the supermarket checkout line… This is a book that makes you rethink your ideas, and it definitely reinforced my already strong respect for the elderly. And… Mel did have a great birthday too! Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.
Releasing 10th May, 2023
Releasing 23rd May, 2023 – Look out for my review and a Book & A Brew with Ritu Post around publication date!But, again, another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!
So, tell me what you have been reading and what caught your eye from the above!
Today I am bringing you a beautiful story written byZhang Ling, Where Waters Meet.
The Blurb
A daughter discovers the dramatic history that shaped her mother’s secret life in an emotional and immersive novel by Zhang Ling, the bestselling author of A Single Swallow. There was rarely a time when Phoenix Yuan-Whyller’s mother, Rain, didn’t live with her. Even when Phoenix got married, Rain, who followed her from China to Toronto, came to share Phoenix’s life. Now at the age of eighty-three, Rain’s unexpected death ushers in a heartrending separation. Struggling with the loss, Phoenix comes across her mother’s suitcase—a memory box Rain had brought from home. Inside, Phoenix finds two old photographs and a decorative bottle holding a crystallized powder. Her auntie Mei tells her these missing pieces of her mother’s early life can only be explained when they meet, and so, clutching her mother’s ashes, Phoenix boards a plane for China. What at first seems like a daughter’s quest to uncover a mother’s secrets becomes a startling journey of self-discovery.
Told across decades and continents, Zhang Ling’s exquisite novel is a tale of extraordinary courage and survival. It illuminates the resilience of humanity, the brutalities of life, the secrets we keep and those we share, and the driving forces it takes to survive.
Where Waters Meet is a heartwrenching story about a daughter and her journey to discovering the truth about her mother’s life after her death. Phoenix, or Yuan Feng, travels from Canada to China in search of answers and peace for her mother, Rain, or Chunyu, from the only living relative left on her mother’s side, her mother’s sister. The novel is told in a bit of a disjointed manner, moving back and forward from the present to various times in the past. It took me a while to realise that the ‘past’ chapters were based on a manuscript that Phoenix is writing and sending back to her husband, George, in Canada, about her mother’s life and her own. Once I got into the swing of it, I was intrigued. I wanted to know the secrets of Chunyu. I felt the trauma of a young woman during the war-torn era in China, with the communist regime, facing famine, with a young daughter and a husband who couldn’t help due to injuries while in service. I feel like I wanted to know more from Phoenix about how she felt when hearing about the most shocking parts of her mother’s past, which is not revealed until the final quarter of the book, as it is not something any child would expect to hear. But I was invested in the story and felt the raw emotion of adult Phoenix and the young Chunyu before she could leave China with her daughter.
About the Author
Zhang Ling is the award-winning author of nine novels and numerous collections of novellas and short stories, including A Single Swallow, translated by Shelly Bryant; Gold Mountain Blues; and Aftershock, which was adapted into China’s first IMAX movie with unprecedented box-office success. Born in China, she moved to Canada in 1986 and, in the mid-1990s, began to write and publish fiction in Chinese while working as a clinical audiologist. Since then, she has won the Chinese Media Literature Award for Author of the Year, the Grand Prize of Overseas Chinese Literary Award, and China Times’s Open Book Award. Where Waters Meet is her first novel written in English.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “yes.” Find a word that starts with “yes” or use the word “yes” as is. Bonus points if you start your post with the word you choose. Enjoy!
YesterdayEvery thing felt bleak
Situations out of my control
Today I can see clearly
Even the worst isn't so bad
Reality shone through
Determination hit
All will be well
Yes
But I Smile Anyway... 
