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March 2024 Books #AmReading

31 Mar 2024 9 Comments

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

March ending means we have passed a quarter of the year. I am not quite sure where the time is flying…

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

I started the month with 5 NetGalley ARCs and around another 30K to write on book three…

I barely wrote anything. Life was hard this month, with a very busy work schedule.

I read not as much as I hoped.

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

Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly by Joanna Glen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maybe, Perhaps, Possibly is a slow moving, but deep story about two unique individuals; Addie and Sol.
Both have been sheltered from a lot of reality by their families. Both have very different, strange family dynamics, and it takes their courage to step away from the expectations piled upon them to find one another.
I don’t quite know how to describe the story, but it takes a while, then digs deeper into your soul as you read, and become more and more immersed in the ‘puffin-esque’ (is that even a word!) of their developing relationship.
A beautiful story about two misfits, and how they end up fitting one another perfectly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC.

Releasing 20th June, 2024

Finding Family at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another gorgeous read from Kim Nash, with book two in the Driftwood Series.
I always enjoy being able to revisit characters and settings in a good series, and this was no different, with the first book’s mc, Meredith, featuring within book two, but fear not! It can be read as a stand alone, too.
In Finding Family at the Cornish Cove, we get to know more about Gemma, the local cafe owner. She’s embarking on a huge change in her life, renovating the much loved cafe that her mother had started, many years ago. Having had a tumultuous few years in her own life, losing her beloved mother, then the breakdown of her marriage, this new direction is both exciting and scary.
Along the way, she meets Occy, a feisty teen, who has gaps in her own family, and Occy’s fireman father, Jude, who quite possibly could be something more, but the both of them are once bitten twice shy, and they embark upon a friendship that they both need, too.
I loved learning more about the community, and the characters I had met before, as well as delving into Gemma’s life more. Learning about her sister, Lucy, their close relationship, and how they navigated the loss of their mother, and how she impacted upon their life was beautiful.
The developing relationship between Gemma and Occy is also a joy to read. Kim has really delved into the complexities of modern family life, and shone a light on the impact of one person shouldering the responsibility of being a parent, and how that can affect people in different ways.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to delve into the third book, so I can visit Driftwood Bay, and imagine myself back in this beautiful Cornish village.

Making Memories at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not content with getting us all obsessed with lighthouses, now Kim Nash has turned our heads to dancing!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two books in the Cornish Cove series, and this third was a wonderful addition. In Makin Memories, we focus on Lydia, the mother of the first Cove main character, Meredith.
Lydia is a woman of a certain age. In her seventies, she has been divorced several times and finally wants to put herself first. She is sent a box of old belongings that starts a cascade of memories from when she fell pregnant with Mere, and feelings arise once it starts.
Lydia loved dancing competitively, though no one knew this. An opportunity to take part in a competition brings many thoughts back to the forefront of her mind, including how she could improve her relationship with her daughter and whether, at 71, she is too old for romance.
What a lovely story! Easy to read and such fun, with plenty of revisits to the characters from the first two books, but enough in them for you to read as a stand-alone.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 17th April, 2024

Silent Tears: A Female led Charity Anthology on the cultural struggles of women worldwide. by Faiqa Mansab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not just saying this because I feature, but I read the other stories within this anthology and, what an impact, showing strong and fearless women, dealing with everyday situations!
Some beautiful words, and I was struck, especially by certain lines within the story by Faiqa Mansab.
A brilliant read, for a most worthy cause.
Please, if you get a chance, order this book, as all proceeds go to charity.

𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 via Anuera 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮 (𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 1.2 Million ).

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻, 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 , 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲.

“𝙎𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙫𝙪𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩.
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚, 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝.”

Order here: rb.gy/c2x57e

The Typo by Emily Kerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed some of Emily Kerr’s books already, so I was looking forward to reading The Typo.
A simple typo that could have been ignored ends up connecting two individuals who are unknown to one another.
Amy thinks she is a failed violinist, trudging along in her life as a marketing manager for an Edinburgh theatre that is possibly about to close.
An email that lands in her inbox because of a typo means she somehow ends up searching for the person who should have received it.
Cameron is on a boat in the Antarctic when he receives a message from a stranger who forwards an amazing opportunity to him.
I enjoyed the story and how the two strangers built a relationship via email despite not knowing one another.
Their being strangers ends up being a significant factor in their character development, as their closeness develops and they realise they aren’t being true to themselves or the other, which spurs them on to do different things with their lives that they have been too afraid to try and do.
Could there have been more romance?
Probably.
They didn’t finally meet until very late in the book, so we don’t get a chance to see their relationship develop in the same way that we see their friendship begin to blossom, but a cute ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Fiction for an ARC.

Releasing May 3rd, 2024

Love Letters at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I won’t share my full review here as lovely Kiley is popping over for a Book and a Brew around release date to chat about her newest book, so I will keep it for then!

Releasing April 25th 2024

Absolute 5-stars from me, but you will have to wait for my review, as I have the lovely Lucy on my Blog for a Book & a Brew soon, to chat about the book.

Releasing 23rd April, 2024

The Suite Life by Portia MacIntosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is probably the second of Portia Macintosh’s books that I have read, and it was as easy and entertaining as the first.
Gigi is in a bit of a bind. She has a beautiful opportunity to visit Maui, where her sister is getting married in a proper destination wedding, complete with a venue and hotel that costs an arm and a leg, and possibly a lot more besides.
However, she will have to contend with her ex being there, with his new influencer girlfriend, as he is her brother-in-law’s best friend and best man. And she has no date of her own.
Instead of owning her single status, Gigi announces that she has a surprise plus-one joining her there and then finds herself in a bind as she tries to procure an impressive date with only a few days until she flies out.
Hilarity ensues as she suffers some horrendous dates, and then she opts to find someone in Maui.
While there, she gets an upgrade to her room, which is more than a kingsize bed. She finds herself in a suite suitable for a billionaire, with everyone waiting hand on foot for her and the undying adoration of far too many males around her.
She makes one friend, Donnie, who seems to be the only average person around, and the story develops as she continues her search for the perfect date.
There are some funny moments throughout the story, and it’s a quick, easy holiday read that made me want to go to Maui to see the gorgeous views and maybe experience some of that billionaire suite life!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

Releasing 16th April, 2024

The Winner Bakes It All by Jeevani Charika
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another wonderful romance by Jeevani Charika, which has a dash of culture, and a sprinkle of health knowledge and a pinch of hate-to-love!
The Winner Bakes It All is a great example of rivalry to love, where our FMC, Elodie, is desperately trying to make her business venture a success. She’s a talented baker and cake decorator and has a small unit in the arcade of shops in her small town. An opportunity arises for expansion, and she is excited. Finally, wanting to be able to prove her family wrong, she waits to sign a new lease.
Then Mal happens.
Mal is a man bun-toting gym bro with a penchant for all things Keto. He’s appeared on the scene with a signed lease for the very space Elodie has been waiting for.
The story unfolds with a lot of negativity, and to top it off, a battle for an exclusive catering contract is thrown into the mix (-ing bowl? Sorry!)
I love cake, baking, and admiring those who can create amazing edible art through cake decorating. So, loving Elodie was going to be easy, wasn’t it? I felt for her as she strives to make those around her believe that her dream isn’t just a fad or a placeholder until something better or ‘proper’ comes along.
And Mal… what a sweetheart in muscly disguise! Here’s me, the antithesis of anything healthy. (I’m Sitting here eating a coconut and raspberry sponge for breakfast!) Yet, somehow, I found myself sympathising with a gym-bro, lol! Thanks, Jeevani!
I also learned something about the Ketogenic diet, referred to throughout the story. I have tried it as a weight loss aid, but I didn’t realise there were medical conditions that could be controlled, too!
An exciting cast of side characters, including Elodies’ right-hand man, Marty, her not-too-nice brother, Travis, Mal’s business partner and best friend, Jake, and a high-maintenance influencer, Saffron, added another layer of depth to the story.
Oh, and I didn’t like Leon!
If you love cake, healthy eating, and drama, this book is for you!
Oh, and I am now humming ABBA tunes. Thanks again, Jeevani!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC.

Releasing 4th June, 2024

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

Book & A Brew with Ritu and Jenni Keer @JenniKeer At The Stroke Of Midnight #BookReview #BookAndABrew @BoldwoodBooks

12 Mar 2024 6 Comments

by Ritu in Book & A Brew With Ritu, Reviews Tags: At The Stroke Of Midnight, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Book & A Brew With Ritu, Book Review, Jenni Keer

Today, I am extremely excited to have a fantastic author, and relatively new writer friend of
mine, Jenni Keer, over to talk about her latest release, At the Stroke of Midnight.

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Jenni! Let’s get you set with a drink first.
I have the usual assortment of hot drinks available, or I could even make you up a masala
chai, if you feel adventurous.

Thanks for inviting me over, Ritu. (settles into a comfy chair ) I’m definitely up for trying a
masala chai. A vital part of being an author is being open to new experiences, as you never
know what will end up in your books… Oh, I agree!

And I have some fantastic Danish cookies here and a rather fabulous carrot cake. Or,
I just fried up some fresh pakoras if you fancied a savoury nibble.

I’m definitely a savoury girl, so pass the pakoras and leave me the plate! That said, there
is definitely a time and place for something sweet – usually when I’m stressed or tired.
(Which, as a mum, wife and author, is quite often.) My waistline can definitely relate to that!

I’ve read a couple of your books now, so far (and am intending on reading your
backlist when I get a chance!) and loved them. What or who inspired you to start
writing?

How kind! To cut a long story relatively short, I started reading for pleasure again when I became mum to a litter of boys. I had a three-year-old, 18 month old and newborn twins and it was my choice to be a full-time mum when they were little. It was a stressful time, as you can imagine, but books helped me to escape. I began to write short stories, encouraged by a friend and quickly realised that I was born to write novels. It only took me forty years to work this out – haha – although I do believe you need to live a life before you start writing about it. Funnily enough, I always believed I would get published, but had no idea if it would take me five years or fifty. (Spoiler alert – it took nine.)

It was twenty years for me, from start of writing, to publishing my first, and two years after that, I was approached by my publisher, so I can hard relate!

Both the books I have read are set in a more historical age. Is this your preferred genre?

My heart is definitely in the past. My first two books were contemporary romances, but I was probably influenced by the feel-good fiction I was reading then. When I got braver, I embraced my love of historical and haven’t looked back. That said, who knows what I might be tempted to write in the future. If a story begs to be told, I will write it. You’ll notice my books are all stand-alone and quite different.

I always ask this one, but do you have a special place where you write? An office, a writing nook? Or are you one of those writers who can grab their notebook or laptop and write pretty much anywhere?

I have a desk in the corridor between the downstairs shower room and the living room. This space also has a utility sink, is where my three cats congregate, and where my husband also has a small desk. But it is my base rather than my preferred writing space because it’s like Piccadilly Circus. We are a busy household of six adults, and if it’s not boys (they are still boys to me…) going backwards and forwards to the shower, then the cats are demanding doors to be opened for no reason (because they never go through the damn things), or my non-technical husband asking me how to use Word. ARGHHHH! I need head space to write so I am more often to be found in the bedroom, curled up in an armchair or, my absolute favourite place to write, in the garden. I don’t need silence, (in fact, I’m often listening to
music through headphones, which strangely helps me to focus), but I can’t write with interruptions. One shout of, “Mum, where’s my work shirt?” and I’ve lost the plot.

Do you have a favourite out of all your books written so far? Do you have any finished manuscripts that you think would never see the light of day?

My favourite(s) are always my most recent novels, which makes sense. They are foremost in my mind, and because I hope that my writing gets better with time, I like to think they are also my best work. I am particularly proud of No. 23 Burlington Square and At The Stroke of Midnight, but ask me in two years’ time, and my answer will have changed. And yes, there are at least four finished or nearly finished novels that will never be published, and I am fine with this. No writing is a waste of time. You always learn something from a disaster – even if it is how not to do it!!!

Let’s get back to your latest release, At The Stroke Of Midnight. I loved the Groundhog Day feel to the story. Was there something specific that sparked the idea for this novel?

It was the coming together of several things buzzing about my busy head. I’ve always liked the idea of a Groundhog Day novel and, having put my own spin on the Sliding Doors concept with Burlington Square, it felt like the right time to write this book. Agatha Christie is a huge influence, and I love the twenties as an era (before everything spiralled out of control in the thirties) so I took things from there.

If you had to relive a particular 24 hours in your life, which specific day would that be?

I recently talked with my marketing team about this, as we were thinking of questions that would engage readers after reading At The Stroke of Midnight, but I felt that everyone would want to go back to save the life of someone they loved or be with someone they had lost, and this focuses our attentions on bleak periods in our life. Instead, I like to look forward and think about what I might do if I had to live tomorrow over and over again for a limited time. I think I would visit as many museums, country houses, and interesting locations as I could access given time constraints. Then I would read all the books on my tbr and then watch every film and TV series that I never seem to have the time for. Bill Murray learned the piano, but that doesn’t appeal to me. I want to do all the research and then have it “good to go” in my head when I manage to reset the day. In between all this, I would eat the best food in the best restaurants and put it all on the credit card, so I wouldn’t have to pay and wouldn’t gain the weight! Haha. (helps herself to another pakora.)

Oh, I love this idea! I think, in some ways, I would want to relive my wedding day, as we had so many guests, being a typical Indian wedding, and spent so long organising it, it all went by in a flash. I’d try and spend time with different guests every time at the reception and truly relish being a princess for a day!

I read a few reviews, prior to our little chat. How does it feel to be compared to Agatha Christie?

As I’ve already indicated, I am a massive fan, so it is the best compliment ever!!!! She was an absolute genius and has been a great inspiration. I don’t write like her, and my voice is very different, but, boy, did she come up with the best twists IN THE HISTORY OF BOOK TWISTS. So, yeah, this has made me smile.

A real compliment!

Another one of my standard questions… what is next on the horizon? Anything you can share with my readers about what is coming next from you?

I have written my autumn book and it is a witchy one, with a twist on one of my favourite tropes; marriage of convenience. I don’t have a confirmed title, and it is in my editor’s capable hands, so I am busy with the one after that. Honestly, I don’t know how I hold all of this in my tiny head… but, just to tease, I have been looking at the sinking of the Titanic and done some WW1 research.

Now that sounds intriguing! I’ll be queuing for a copy!

Thank you so much for popping over for a visit, Jenni!

Thank you so much for having me, Ritu. (hands back empty plate ) The pleasure was all
mine.
You are most welcome, and it would be wonderful if you fancied a return visit. 😊

Another wonderful teaser there from Jenni, and I can’t wait to read these next ones!

The Blurb

It’s 1923 and in a decade that promises excitement and liberation, Pearl Glenham and her father are invited to a mysterious country house party on the Dorset coast, by a total stranger.

Her father claims not to have any prior association with Highcliffe House, but upon arrival, it is apparent that he has a shared history with several of the guests, although he won’t admit it. Belatedly discovering that her father was blackmailed into attending, Pearl’s worries are compounded when their host fails to arrive…

Intimidated by everyone at the party, she escapes to the nearby cove and stumbles upon a mysterious mercury clock hidden in a cave. This strange encounter sets in motion a series of events that will culminate in an horrific house fire, claiming the lives of all the guests, including Pearl herself.

But then Pearl wakes up back in the cave, seemingly destined never to live past midnight. She can repeat the day. But can she change its outcome?

Buy Link: mybook.to/strokemidnightsocial

Buy Links: mybook.to/burlingtonsqsocial

My Review

At the Stroke of Midnight by Jenni Keer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another amazingly told story by Jenni Keer is about a young woman swept up in a web of secrets spun by her father and others.
Set in the 1920s, we meet Pearl Glenham, a simple woman who asks for nothing. She and her father are invited to a dinner party somewhere she has never heard of- apparently, neither has her father.
Things start to become strange after they arrive, and she suspects she is not being told the truth. Then, a chance accident leads to her reliving the same 24 hours again and again as she tries her hardest to work out what is really going on.
An intriguing cast of characters, and an amazing storyline. I was hooked!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

About the Author

Jenni Keer is a history graduate who embarked on a career in contract flooring before falling
in love and moving to the Suffolk countryside. Her lifelong passion for reading became a
passion for writing and she had two contemporary romance novels published in 2019. She
has now embraced her love of the past to write twisty, turny historicals, and The Legacy of
Halesham Hall was shortlisted for the Romantic Historical Novel of the Year in 2023. Her
latest release, No 23 Burlington Square, is a historical sliding doors tale set in 1927 and was
published last October.
Living with four grown up children and three cats (but just the one husband) she is
frustrated by their inability to appreciate that when she’s staring into space, she’s actually
working, and that watching television counts as research. Much younger in her head than
she is on paper, she adores any excuse for fancy-dress and is part of a disco formation dance
team.
At The Stroke of Midnight is out 12 th March.

The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz @deankoontz #BlogTour #BookReview @fmcmassociates

30 Jan 2024 2 Comments

by Ritu in Reviews Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blog Tour, Blogger, Blogging, Book Review, Dean Koontz, The Bad Weather Friend

Today, I am on the blog tour for Dean Koonts’z new release, The Bad Weather Friend.

The Blurb

Benny is nice – too nice – so much so that they feel compelled to destroy him.

But he has a friend who is going to scare the hell out of them …

Benny Catspaw’s perpetually sunny disposition is tested when he loses his job, his reputation, his fiancée, and his favourite chair. But he’s not paranoid. Someone is out to get him. He just doesn’t know who or why. Then Benny receives an inheritance from an uncle he’s never heard of: a giant crate and a video message. All will be well in time.

How strange – though it’s a blessing, his uncle promises. Stranger yet is what’s inside the crate. He’s a seven-foot-tall self-described ‘bad weather friend’ named Spike whose mission is to help people who are just too good for this world. Spike will take care of it. He’ll find Benny’s enemies. He’ll deal with them. This might be satisfying if Spike wasn’t such a menacing presence with terrifying techniques of intimidation.

In the company of Spike and a fascinating young waitress-cum-PI-in-training named Harper, Benny plunges into a perilous high-speed adventure, the likes of which never would have crossed the mind of a decent guy like him.

The Bad Weather Friend, by Dean Koontz, published by Thomas & Mercer, 1^st February 2024; Hardcover, Kindle eBook, Audiobook

My Review

The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maybe I am one of a few, but I haven’t read any of Dean Koontz’s books, so this was a first in itself for me.
We have Benny, a really ‘nice’ guy, who suddenly finds his comfortable life crumbling around him, from his job going south to his fiancee ditching him because he isn’t now a viable option, seeing as he’s seen as persona non grata in the real estate world, through no fault of his own.
Ever the optimist, he tries to remain positive, then is sent an intriguing note about an inheritance from a family member he didn’t even know existed. An intriguing crate arrives, and the contents are even more intriguing: a seven-foot being called Spike.
Spike is an intriguing character. Sometimes, I think we all need a ‘Spike’!
Other interesting characters joining Benny on his journey include a new love interest, Harper, and some boys from his past who hold meaning for him.
It took me a little while to get into the swing of the story. Benny is a genuinely good person. The story twists and turns as we go back and forth as we are sent to various times in Benny’s past, then back to the present. But once I got in the swing of it, I was more and more hooked. It’s a great read with plenty of suspense!

About the Author

Dean Koontz is the author of many #1 bestsellers. His books have sold over five hundred million copies in thirty-eight languages, and The Times has called him a “literary juggler.” He lives in Southern California with his wife, Gerda, and their golden retriever, Elsa. www.DeanKoontz.com

PRAISE FOR AFTER DEATH

Most Anticipated Books for July – Gizmodo

“Riveting” – Audiofile Magzine

“Fans will be thoroughly engrossed” – SciFi Now

PRAISE FOR THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Most Anticipated Books for 2023 – The Washington Post

“Readers should expect a twist or two in this one.” – The Real Book Spy

“THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD really begins to soar and never comes down to earth again.” – Bookreporter.com

PRAISE FOR THE BIG DARK SKY

“A nonstop actioner with cosmic overtones”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Another A-plus thriller from a writer on a serious winning streak.”

—Booklist, (starred review)

“Koontz delivers another masterpiece in suspense infused with the creeping sense of horror he does so well. THE BIG DARK SKY is one to read with all the lights on and doors securely locked.”

—Authorlink

PRAISE FOR QUICKSILVER

“Sit back and enjoy what turns out to be quite a ride.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Positively twitching with suspense. Another sure-fire hit from a thriller master.”

—Booklist (starred review)

Book & A Brew with Ritu and Nina Kaye @NinaKayeAuthor Stand Up Guy #BookReview #BookAndABrew #BlogTour

23 Jan 2024 8 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, Nina Kaye, visit my blog to talk about writing and her newest release, Stand Up Guy!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Nina! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Tea,
coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai?

Hot chocolate, please.

If we’re going masala tea, I can offer you some homemade samosas, or a fresh batch of shortbread
cookies baked by my daughter this morning.

Ooh, the cookies, please!

Shortbread, it is then! Right, let’s get comfortable.

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

Of course. I’ve spent most of my life as a ‘frustrated creative’ – someone who wanted to follow a
more creative path but who fell into a ‘safe’ career. I dreamt of being an author from a young age,
when I was devouring the likes of The Babysitter’s Club and Point Horror. At 17 years old, I even
flirted with writing outside the classroom when supposedly studying for my exams.
Fast forward nearly 20 years, and it was a life-changing illness that got me on the path to becoming a
serious writer. In 2014, my body essentially ‘broke’, and I spent months rehabilitating from a raft of
confusing and debilitating neurological symptoms. During this time, I turned to writing to support
my cognitive and physical rehabilitation, and the silver lining to this is that it led to me
achieving my dream of being a published author.

I’ve read all your books, Nina, and loved every one! Do you have a favourite out of the
books you have published so far?

I would say the one that’s closest to my heart is Take A Moment because it was inspired by my own
experience of living with long-term illness. It has the most personal meaning for me. From an
enjoyment perspective, I think Stand Up Guy is probably now my favourite. I got so invested in writing
the love story between Lea and Shep, and Shep (being a stand-up comedian) was such a fun
character to bring to life.

Do you have a special place where you create and write? Somewhere away from
the craziness of family?

Not really. I sometimes used to write in coffee shops, but now I do all my writing at home. I’m
quite good at filtering out background noise and distractions once I’m in the zone with writing or
editing, so I don’t need to take myself away to do it.

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

I think it was the influence of reading so many romance novels in my twenties. I hoovered up books
by Sophie Kinsella, Chrissie Manby, Lucy Robinson and others. They were so relatable and easy to
read, and I just loved the rollercoaster ride the main characters took on their path to their happy
ever after. With these books, I didn’t just find a genre I loved to read. I found one I wanted to write –
and not just for the love stories. As those of us who read and write romance know, there is so much
more to the genre. I also love creating the friendships and the banter that goes with them, the
humour and the more poignant life-defining moments. It’s a genre that sadly doesn’t get the credit it
deserves.

Let’s get back to your latest release, Stand Up Guy. I love stand-up comedy but have never been
to a festival like the Edinburgh one you based this story on. Have you been to many?

No, I haven’t, and to be honest, living on the doorstep of the Edinburgh festival, I haven’t felt the
need to. I have been to quite a number of stand-up comedy shows without the festival, though. A
couple that come to mind would be when my husband and I sat within spitting distance (quite
literally!!) of Nish Kumar, and we also met and got our picture taken with Dave Gorman. I love his
PowerPoint approach to comedy. He’s hilarious.

I really felt for Lea, who is finding life tough, with no close friends around her and a
failed relationship. Even so, inviting a stranger to live with her was quite extreme! Where did you
come up with that idea? Would you/have you ever…?

Ha ha, no, I haven’t! And you’re right, it was quite extreme and a bit of a risk, as Lea herself realised.
But that’s what’s great about fiction. You can stretch the boundaries of reality to build intrigue and a
sense of fun and provide escapism. I’m not really sure how I came up with the idea. I knew I wanted
to write a story set during the Edinburgh festival and I expect it was a light bulb moment that came
from my decision to make the ‘hero’ a stand-up comedian.

Who is your favourite stand-up comedian?
Ooh, that’s a difficult one! I don’t know if I can pick just one. Kevin Bridges is right up there, so
maybe he’s my number one. The fact that he’s Scottish and not that much younger than me means I
can relate to many of the jokes he makes, especially the ones about growing up in Scotland in the
nineties. I also love Russell Howard, Sarah Millican, Romesh Ranganathan, Nish Kumar, Sarah Pascoe,
Dave Gorman and Russell Kane. I could go on but I’ll spare you from that, and you did only ask for
one… 😉

I love to be nosy and ask this. What is next for Nina Kaye? Any sequels or new projects you can
tell us about?
I do have a new project underway, which I can’t say too much about right now, but I can confirm
that it is more Edinburgh-based romance and this time it’s a series. Well, it is for now. We’ll see
where it lands. I’m also working on a non-fiction project related to my long-term health condition,
which I hope will see the light of day within the next couple of years.

Oh, I love a series! That sounds so exciting! Nina, thank you for being here, today for such a lovely chat!

Thank you so much for having me today. 😊

The Blurb

Dumped by Instagram post. Not a whiff of a social life. Can it get any worse?

After a string of failed relationships – romantic and platonic – Lea’s had enough of watching life happen without her. When she bumps into Shep, a comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in need of accommodation, it feels like destiny. And voilá – Lea now has a lodger and some company.

The two get on like a flat on fire, and Lea can’t resist falling for outgoing Shep. But she knows it’s a mistake that will cost her heart – he’s just another guy passing through, after all. And with Shep’s stand up routine edging him closer to his big break, there’s no way he’ll stick around.

Love is no laughing matter as the Fringe draws to a close. Can Lea find the confidence to step up and confess her feelings to Shep? Will he want to stay?

A feel-good, heartwarming romance for anyone desperate to break out of their shell and find their true self. Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary, Laura Jane Williams and Miranda Dickinson.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

My Review

Stand Up Guy by Nina Kaye
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have hoovered up all of Nina Kaye’s books so far, and Stand Up Guy was no different.
Lea, the MC, has been dumped rather unceremoniously, and she is finding life hard with no other close friends around her.
It happens to be the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she lives, and a chance encounter with another person who looks down on their luck changes the projection of her life.
Shep is a comedian, trying his luck doing free shows to build his experience. But he has no support from his own family, and thanks to an emergency at his accommodation, it looks like this chance might be scuppered too.
Lea offers her spare room to the relative stranger and the developments over a short period cause all sorts of havoc in her life.
I loved this whole story. Lea is a sorry character at the beginning, but you see her develop into a great character as she increases her circle.
The side characters are great too, and bring another layer to the story.
The romance that develops is a brilliant ‘will they/ they?’ story, and I was totally on board.
A wonderful read and highly recommended.
Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley and Canelo for an ARC.

About the Author

Nina Kaye is a contemporary romance author living in Edinburgh. She is the author of three other books for Canelo – Take a Moment, One Night in Edinburgh, and Just Like That. She has previously been a contender for the RNA Joan Hessayson Award.

You can find out news about Nina by following her on social media.

https://twitter.com/canelo_co
https://www.instagram.com/canelo_co/
https://www.facebook.com/canelobooks
https://www.tiktok.com/@canelo_books

Book & A Brew with Ritu and @jeevanicharika @RhodaBaxter Knowing Me, Knowing You#BookReview #BookAndABrew #BlogTour

16 Jan 2024 8 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

How exciting to have another Desi author to chew the fat with! Today, the lovely Jeevani Charika joins me for a Book and a Brew.

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Jeevani! Let’s get you set with a drink first. Tea,
coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai?

Tea, please! Milk, no sugar.

I have a few freshly baked chocolate-coated shortbread cookies, or if you want something a
little more savoury, I have chevda!

Chocolate-coated shortbread is the best shortbread! I’ll have some of that, please.

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

I wrote my first book back in the mid-2000s. I’d finished my PhD and suddenly I had
time in the evenings. We didn’t have a TV, so I started writing that book I’d always
been promising myself I’d write. It took three years for me to write it, fitting it into
the slivers of the evening after a long commute to London. That first book was about
two British Sri-Lankans. It was regular women’s fiction about their friendship and not
about their ‘otherness’ because they were Asian.
I started sending it out and got rejections (just like everyone else does!), but I got a
few handwritten notes on the standard rejection slip – you still had to send
submissions by post in those days. These notes were along the lines of ‘You can
write, but I don’t know where I’d sell this book’. (Rolling my eyes… I do know what you are talking about!) Those scraps of good feedback gave me hope.
I joined the Romantic Novelists Association’s New Writers Scheme and sent the book
in for a critique. The report I got back was super useful. Right at the end, the
reviewer said ‘You have a romcom voice crying to get out, have you thought about
writing something for fun?’. I took that advice to heart and wrote a romcom about a
white couple – Girl On The Run – and started submitting that. I got an offer from a
small US ebook publisher within about a year.

You wrote under a pen name of Rhoda Baxter, initially, before using Jeevani Charika.
What prompted the change?

When I got my contract for Girl On The Run, my publisher asked me if I was going to use a
pen name. I did my PhD on a bacterium called Rhodobacter, so I called myself Rhoda Baxter.
I wrote about ten books as Rhoda Baxter. I will probably write more.
I still wanted to write books where the main characters happen to be Sri Lankan, so I wrote
another book like that and queried agents again. (By this time I had four books traditionally
published, but still had no agent). When Girl Having a Ball was shortlisted for an RNA award I wrote out something like 20 agent submissions and sent them all out on the day the award
shortlists were announced. One agent got back to me. I met her for the first time at the
awards ceremony and she signed me the following week.
I’m getting to the point, I promise.

This is all important stuff. I think you need some more sugar. Here!

Yes please. I’d love another biscuit. Thanks.
Where was I? Oh yes. The agent. She started sending my book out and got lots of rejections
(she was incensed because someone actually said to her ‘We have a diverse author already’
as part of a discussion!). Around this time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their
engagement. My agent was chatting to an editor who said they would love to work with an
author of colour to write about a woman of colour who married a prince. The problem was,
the book had to be written in just under 3 months. When my agent said this, I thought ‘Sure.
I’m up for a challenge,’ and said yes. It was a stressful few months, but Christmas At The
Palace was written at top speed and was published just before the royal wedding. They
wanted to use my real name for that book. So I was finally published as Jeevani Charika.
That very first book I wrote – the one that took 3 years to write. It was finally published in
2019 by Hera Books as A Convenient Marriage. It was shortlisted for an RNA award. I didn’t
win, but the lady who did win that category was Sue Moorcroft … who was the person who
wrote the NWS report that steered me towards romcoms! What an achievement!

How have you found the publishing industry as a Desi author? One thing I love about
your writing is that you use Desi characters, but make sure the story is not about
their ‘desi-ness’ rather use that element of them as an added masala or flavour to
the story in general.

Yes, yes! It’s something I feel strongly about. For the longest time, you didn’t see
South Asian (or any other ethnic minority) characters just being people and going
about their lives. They were always in books weighed down by the immigrant
struggle. I think society influences art, but art influences society, too. If the only
brown people you see in books and films are the stereotypical struggling immigrants,
then you are left with the impression that that’s all they can be.
In real life, brown people do things like fall in love, have family drama and solve
crimes. So why can’t you see them in the books, too?
The example I like to quote is the kids show Marrying Mum and Dad. My kids
watched that and didn’t bat an eyelid when it was ‘Marrying Mum and Mum’ or
Marrying Dad and Dad’ as it sometimes was. Partly because of this representation,
they are growing up feeling that it’s completely normal to have different
combinations of parents. This is as it should be. Art influences how we see the world
around us.
I remember, when I watched Monsoon Wedding, it blew my mind, because I finally
saw Asian people I recognised. I know people like that. I could relate to them in a
way that I couldn’t relate to the people in East is East.
I’m so glad that we are seeing more books about Asian people just being people
now. We get to fall in love, or solve crime, or have space adventures as main
characters! YES!

I’ve read most of your books, written under Jeevani Charika, and loved each and
every one! Do you have a favourite out of the books you have published so far?

Let me just shut the door so that the books can’t hear… Yes. Yes I do.
I love all the books I’ve written, but A Convenient Marriage is my favourite Jeevani
Charika book. That was the first book I read by you, too! I have a gorgeous paperback of it! It was the first book I wrote, so that makes it special, but it’s also set partly in Oxford in the 90s and the settings are drawn from my memories of my time
as a student. (Random aside – A friend from college read it and asked me if I’d
experienced some of the micro-agressions that the character faced in Oxford. I said
yes, and he said, ‘but I was there. I didn’t see that. I had to gently point out that he,
as a privately educated white boy, might have had a slightly different experience
than I, a state educated Asian kid from Yorkshire had done. Bless.)

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

I write in bed. I’ve tried writing at a desk – I get backache. Writing at the kitchen table
is just nonsense because people keep asking me for things. The only place that
seems to work is writing tucked up in bed. It’s warmer too.
When I worked full-time, I wrote for 2 hours every night once the kids were in bed.
Now that I’m freelance, I still find my best writing time is those 2 hours at night once
the kids are in bed. I seem to have trained my brain into being creative between 8
and 10pm.

You love a bit of Canva, too, don’t you? Definitely a bit of an expert, there! I’ve
watched many of your videos to see how to use certain features. Do you design your
own covers on there, or does the publisher do them?

The publishers do the covers for my traditionally published books. I make my own covers for
the self published books. I initially started learning how to use Canva because my first
couple of publishers gave me no marketing assets at all, apart from the book cover, so I had
to learn how to make some images. I gradually got hooked. I started making Canva tutorials
because I spent so much time playing with Canva for fun. I really enjoy doing it. I’ve started
making little bundles of ready made promo images for authors to use – you just drag and
drop your own book cover into it and you’re good to go.
I usually play with Canva at night, when the words have run out and I just want to make
something for fun.

Let’s get back to your latest release, Knowing Me, Knowing You. I always love a book
with some characters from previous stories making appearances, so that was great!
Did you plan for this to happen?

Knowing Me, Knowing You started with Gihan, who had a tiny part in both Playing For Love
and Picture Perfect. I had to work out why he was behaving the way he was in Picture
Perfect and then I built the story from there. I like following the stories of minor characters
in later books. In my head, these people are real, and I want to know more about them. I
also like that I get to go and check on the characters from past books as well. I know that feeling. My first novel wasn’t meant to be a series, but the side characters kept shouting to me to write their stories!

Cancer features in several ways within this story, and is something that has touched
each and every one of us, as loved ones succumb, or even us ourselves. What
prompted you to use the big C within this story?

I often write about grief. I don’t know why, but it’s something that pulls at me every single
time. The connection to cancer came partly because of the heroine (Alex)’s job. My day job
is in university IP and I used to see so many cancer detection tests and cancer treatments
come up and then never get anywhere because there was no funding to take the
investigations further. So it fit very well into the rest of the story. Also, I already knew that Gihan’s mother had died from cancer, quite quickly, because it’s mentioned in Playing For
Love (where his sister is the main character).
My books often have a touch of darkness in them, but I think that’s okay, so long as there’s
a happy ending.

Gihan is a sweetheart, honestly, but I do think Penelope may have stolen the show
as a cute little pup! Do you like to write animals into your stories?

I should write more stories with dogs. I don’t often write about animals because I’m too lazy
to do the research to find out what it’s like keeping different pets. We had pet dogs when I
was little, so I guess I could write about dogs fairly easily. We had two pet rats until this
summer, so I could write about rats, I suppose (they’re very cute and full of personality).
Maybe one day.

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

The next book is called The Winner Bakes It All and it’s about Mal, who runs a keto/
low carb cafe and Elodie who runs a cake shop. They disagree about more than just
carbohydrates.
The book originally had a working title of ‘Man Buns’ but I wasn’t allowed to keep
that title, which is a pity.
One fun thing about writing about a guy who cooks keto food is that I was able to
mention the use of the ketogenic diet to control epilepsy. I’m mum to a keto kid, so I
know how lonely it is to be the mum that has to feed her kid specific foods that go
completely against the dietary advice we’ve been given all our lives. If the book helps
someone feel less alone in their daily measuring and calculating fat and carb ratios,
then that can only be a good thing.

That sounds really interesting, Jeev! I can’t wait to read it!

Right, looks like the biscuits are finished. We got through those fast! Thank you so much for coming over, today. It has been a pleasure. 😊

Thank you so much for having me today. 😊

The Blurb

Don’t miss this uplifting second-chance enemies-to-lovers romance from the author of RNA award-shortlisted Playing for Love! ❤️

Five years ago, Alex met the man of her dreams on New Year’s Eve – but he never called. Years later, and after a string of failed relationships, she’s given up on men and accepted that ‘New Year’s Eve Guy’ will always be the one who got away.

Until the day he turns up in her office – a management consultant tasked with ‘streamlining’ the company. New Year’s Eve Guy – Gihan – might shut down Alex’s team!

Gihan is as just as gorgeous as Alex remembers, and she swears there’s still a connection between them. As she gets to know the real Gihan, will sparks continue to fly – or will Alex have to accept that the man she knew as New Year’s Eve Guy was never real to start with?

Tropes:
❤️❤️Second chance love
💼 Office romance
⚔️Enemies to lovers
🏡Small town
🐶Cute dog friend!

Knowing Me Knowing You – https://books2read.com/KMKY

A Convenient Marriage – https://books2read.com/AConvenientMarriage

Christmas At The Palace – www.books2read.com/u/38g8aa

Girl On The Run (Rhoda Baxter) – https://books2read.com/mlKGaZ

My Review

Knowing Me Knowing You by Jeevani Charika
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alex is a little unlucky in relationships. She seems to fall, a little too quickly, in love, and that can scare off a guy. After a particularly harsh break-up, one New Year’s Eve, she meets the perfect stranger, and after sharing some special moments, she never hears from him again.
Until five years later, when he turns up. At her workplace. With a high chance that he might recommend she be made redundant.
Gihan, the man in question, is a good guy, though. So many misunderstandings, both five years ago and during the course of a couple of months in the present, mean that he is not always shown in the best light to her.
It’s not so much enemies to lovers as misunderstood yearnings and missed chances.
There are references to cancer throughout which are dealt with sensitivity.
I love a bit of contemporary fiction that has South Asian representation in it, and Jeevani Charika does this well. She incorporates a little background and culture through the book while not making it about that very same thing. We see Gihan as a regular human, but also an insight into his cultural background. I especially liked the scene when he goes to the temple. I felt the serenity he felt.
This book continues the story of a side character from previous novels of the author, Picture Perfect, and Playing for Love; however, it is a standalone and can be read as such. I enjoy reading stories that have characters from other books intertwined within, as we see the progression of other familiar faces, as well as the story in hand.
A lovely read.

About the Author

Jeevani Charika is an award-nominated writer of multicultural women’s fiction and romcoms. She also writes under the pen name Rhoda Baxter. Her books have been shortlisted for various awards. One of these days, she’ll actually win one.Jeevani is British-Sri Lankan. She loves all things science geeky. She also loves cake, crochet and playing with Lego. You can find out more about her (and get a free book!) on her website. www.jeevanicharika.com

You can find out news about Jeevani by following her on social media.

Website: www.jeevanicharika.com

YouTube Playlist: http://bit.ly/canva4authors

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeevanicharika/