Okay, now who went and pressed fast forward on the year? Come on, own up. How is it the end of December already?
Tis the season to be jolly and all that, and what is more festive than the lead-up to Christmas in a school, especially with the younger children? We’ve been making all sorts of Christmas crafts, had a Festive Fayre, performed a nativity, and juggled plenty of absences as the lurgy hit, and staff have scheduled days off, too. And then, school finishes in time for the craziness of the holidays. I’m just glad we aren’t back into school until the 6th Jan!
The big question is, what did I read, and did I manage to write anything?
This month, I realised I really cannot say no! I have numerous book tours in January, so there was a bit of reading for them, as well as everything else. (Hence the lack of actual reviews on here as I am saving them for the tour posts!
Writing – I thought I would end this month saying no new words, but I would be lying… I have written a tentative beginning for what could be book 4 in the Rishtay Series, as well as started a plan for a separate project that would be a two-book venture… Just hoping my publisher is loving the ideas, too!
I read man books… it totals 116 this year!
Blog tour review on 12th January
Blog Tour Review coming 18th January
Blog tour review in A Book & a Brew coming 19th January – Five star, by the way!
Book 11 in the Hart’s Ridge Series by Kay Bratt, and it’s another page-turner! This story is just as good, if a little different, than the rest of the series. We are still focussing on the Grey family; however, this time, Taylor, our usual police officer, is still incapacitated after an incident in the previous book. The crime in question is under Deputy Shane Weaver, though he still feels he needs Taylor’s support. A quadruple homicide is the case this book is dealing with, along with Taylor and her own family’s issues. Sensitively told and page turning, as is standard for a Hart’s Ridge novel.
I always loved Victoria Scott’s books, and she’s 100% done it again with this one, the Storyteller’s Daughter! A dual timeline story told from the points of view of Nita Bineham in the 1940s and of her great niece Beth in the present age. Nita was a bit of an enigma during her time. She does not have the figure and looks preferred in those times, but she comes from a family of means. Her mother laments that the war has not given her daughter a chance to be presented to society, meaning less chance of a suitable match. On top of it all, fewer men are around, as they are all being called up. Her father arranges for Nita to escape the house for a few days here and there, helping at the local paper. What was meant to be a brief break becomes a massive part of her life as she embarks on a junior reporter career. On her deathbed, Nita requests that her great-niece, Beth, find a box in the attic with secrets for her to unfold. This strange task comes at the perfect time for Beth, though she doesn’t realise it. Suffering the news that her marriage is about to end and that her job in the family business may not be there for her, she embarks upon an adventure. She mourns her great aunt and tries to piece clues together to solve the cryptic puzzle that Nita has left her. Pages were turned quicker and quicker as I became absorbed in this story. I’ve always loved dual timelines done well and throwing the war years into it, and I am hooked! The way Nita and Beth’s lives and connections come full circle kept me reading. Fantastic story! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Anything by Amanda Prowse is an automatic buy/read for me, and though This One Life has a different feel, it was by no means anything less than a brilliant read. A dual timeline provides us with the current story and the background as we meet Edith-Madelaine, a young child living in the East End of London. Although she has little in her home, love surrounds her. Fast forward to now, we meet Madelaine, the exquisitely put-together interior designer with a career to dream of, wealth, respect, and suitors she can pick, as well as a new chapter about to begin in her work and life abroad. We are then taken back to eight years before, when Madelaine, as she now likes to be known, is facing a significant decision in her life. Madelaine comes from a small, loving family, but expectations and disappointments remain regardless of how much her parents care for her. It’s hard to be a woman who has it all. Amanda Prowse has sensitively explored this topic, and the lesson I learned from this story is that it is possible, but a life like that will always involve compromises. I read it in a day, and the ending did leave me all warm and fuzzy.
Releasing 7th January 2024
Another 29th January Blog Tour read!
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
And November is done. That means Christmas is upon us!
This month was filled with excitement, with my book release, going back to school, observations, school craziness, and our 23rd wedding anniversary. Hubby Dearest excelled with his gift… a ReMarkable e-notebook tablet. It is so cool!
The big question is, what did I read, and did I manage to write anything?
I started the month with no ARCS, so another month to put a dent in that TBR of mine. Then I got signed up for a few tours in the next few months, so I read a mixture!
I tried very hard to write something for my next project, but if I am honest with you, school has taken over my brain, at the moment… Plus getting to grips with promoting In God’s Hands! Words will flow, soon enough!
I’ve read a few of Nikesh Shukla’s books, and when I saw this was another one he had written, I was eager to read it. I don’t know about other readers, but certain premises pull me in when reading blurbs, and the fact that this was a book about a British Indian with roots in Kenya was my hook. I guess we look for stories where we might be able to connect with the characters, and here I am, a British Indian with roots in Kenya. Though interestingly told, the story wasn’t entirely true to that blurb, as it is 25% about Neha, that girl diagnosed with cancer who wants to delve deeper into the possibility of destiny and whether it is a thing. The other 75% is split between the views of 3 other key characters: some set in the past, some in the present, which all add to the story’s layers. First, it is about Mukesh, Neha’s dad, who recently arrived in the UK from Kenya, and how he settled and met Nisha, Neha’s mum. Then comes Neha, and the discovery of her illness, and how she tries to come to terms with it, The next is Raks, Neha’s twin brother, after her death, and how he handles his grief and last wishes. The final segment is through the eyes of Ba, Neha and Rak’s maternal grandmother, and it focuses on a week when the children were very young after their mother had passed away. It was a slow start, and there is much about the racism faced and the uphill struggle of the early immigrants, which is returned again and again. I did get into it, but I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would.
A woman gets caught up in the evil clutches of a Social Media scandal, with disappearing family members, the sudden appearance of a baby, and a threat to her life. Some may say this is a farfetched storyline, but as the mother of teenagers, I found it shockingly real. The influence people, influencers, have on young, impressionable minds, and even those older, is immense and can be extremely negative if not checked up on. I was fully immersed in the story, and yes, it was extreme. However, it highlights how the effects of very real influencers (I shall not name names) can alter the perceptions and thinking of large members of the public and just how bad things can get. Misogyny, sexism, and control are all explored fantastically. Well done, DK – I loved it!
I loved this cute delve into Winnie Mehta’s life. A student, about to head to college to continue fostering her love of all things cinema, especially Bollywood, she’s also dealing with her fate, or destiny, as predicted by her family pundit. Winnie fights with her inner Bollywood heroine as she tries to determine whether her destiny is Raj or her future is Dev. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, an easy read with a tasty dose of Indian masala! The references to Bollywood films that I have watched already ignited the need to go and find them on whatever streaming service possible, so I could watch them!
Releasing 23rd January, 2025
Kiley will be joining me for a Book and a Brew in January, so I shall save my review for then, but it is another 5 stars from me. I love the Borrow A Bookshop Series!
A very different story to the previous book, Prickly Company, which I read and enjoyed earlier this year. Closest Kept is a story of a woman with secrets. Secrets she has kept hidden for the whole of her adult life. Secrets that keep threatening to spill. Lily and Inga are best friends. They are artists, struggling to make a living in the big wide world, but they keep going, in the hope that one day their dreams will come true. Both women have reasons for not trusting, but they have faith in one another. A drunken night out introduces them to Matt and Alex, and after a quick regroup in the ladies, Inga pairs herself off with Matt, leaving Lily with Alex. They end up in happy relationships until things happen that threaten to push Lily to tell the truth about her own childhood, especially when her little sister turns up. Oh, and also wondering whether she really got the right guy… I was so torn for Lily. She had such an enormous burden on her, her whole life, and no-one she felt she could share with. And the feeling that you might be thinking of your best friend’s partner in the wrong way can’t be an easy situation to be in, either. There is a lot of trauma in this. It’s not a light-hearted read, but a very well written, solid read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC. Releasing 6th May, 2025
A review will follow as I am part of the blog tour in January. 🙂
Radha is a kathak dancer who loses her will after learning something about her mother’s behaviour that could cost Radha her reputation. Jai is a Bollywood dancer and captain of a dancing group which is lacking a choreographer. Both end up at the same school, with similar goals but different motives. Of course, there are family issues. (When are there not in an Indian household?) and there is romance. And food. Lots and lots of lovely food! Lovely to read another story with loads of Bollywood and Indian cultural references, as well as get to hear about some characters from a previous book. I enjoyed this easy read.
A great story featuring the ever-popular reality show arc as a side plot to a rocky romance. Temi is an aspiring writer who’s struggling to get a publishing deal. To make ends meet, she ghostwrites. Wale is her ex-boyfriend. She thought they had something special, and it meant even more to her, as a woman with generous curves, to be attractive to such a gorgeous specimen of manhood. But something happens, causing them to split. Wale ends up on TV on a reality dating show, hopping from woman to woman, rubbing Temi’s face in the misery of their breakup. She writes. It’s cathartic. Words that will never see the light of day. Then she is approached to ghostwrite a memoir for a young reality TV star who wants to redeem his reputation… Guess who it turns out to be? I won’t go into any more story detail, but there is so much more to this story than a good-looking guy trying to make himself look better and a struggling author struggling to make a name for herself. An enjoyable read, touching on young carers, alcoholism, parental expectations, and second-chance romances. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC.
Book 2 in the new multi-author Dragonfly Cove and Dog Park series. The series follows a litter of labrador puppies and the households who adopt them. Kay Bratt starts the first puppy story (book 1 sets the scene) with aspiring author Emily, who finds herself dog mama to a new pup, Daisy. She’s not sure whether she can do this whole dog thing, but she somehow gets sucked into another dog-related tragedy when she meets a girl whose new puppy, bought from a pet store, dies within a week. The story explores the awfulness of illegal dog breeding and puppy mills and a blossoming romance for Emily. Of course, we get to know the delightfully bouncy pup Daisy and meet Valor, a brave soldier of a dog. A beautiful start to the series.
It’s an age-old question. Do parents have favourites? The Favourite follows the story of three sisters, together with their families and parents, to celebrate with a fancy naming ceremony for a young child. Here they are in an idyllic setting, in the forest, staying in a state-of-the-art glass house for a week, when something happens that raises a question in everyone’s mind: Does Dad really have a favourite? All three women have vivid memories of their childhoods, and all three’s memories have differences. It was an intriguing premise, but I found it a little hard to stay engaged. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Randon House for an ARC.
Releasing 12th June 2025
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
Another busy one. (Yes, I know. When is the world of Ritu not busy?) School has finished for the October half-term, and I have been preparing for the release date of In God’s Hand, which is on 5th November! It is Diwali and Halloween today, so Happy Diwaloween! But, as Sikhs, we celebrate Bandi Chorr Diwas, which falls tomorrow, on 1st November. I also got diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, so there’s another interesting string to my bow.
The big question is, what did I read, and did I manage to write anything?
I started the month with one NetGalley ARC and finished it with NONE! I have been reading physical books from my TBR shelf, and it’s been great perusing my shelves to choose my next read!
I tried very hard to write something for my next project, but if I am honest with you, school has taken over my brain, at the moment. Plus I’m getting to grips with promoting In God’s Hands! Words will flow, soon enough! And, I’m having some interesting new ideas, right now, that may or may not be connected to the current series…
I read eleven books in total. Making my yearly total 97 so far!
I have a real soft spot for this series and loved jumping back onto Matchmaking Land with Poppy and her gang! This time, matchmaker extraordinaire Poppy has to match Raff, recently crowned Britain’s Best Baker, without him knowing by one of his best friends and her co-worker, with the assistance of his other best friend, Gaby. Matching without someone knowing is hard enough, but adding a friend discovering feelings for their friend after the matchmaking journey has begun is a whole lot more crazy. Throughout the story, we have Poppy’s POV, and I found it lovely. She is the thread through the series, and we get to learn more about how she is getting on in life, as well as some important characters from previous books. We have romance, friends to lovers and CHRISTMAS! What’s not to love? It’s a fantastic addition to the series! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
I’ve wanted to read this for a while, and when I realized the second book, which is kind of linked, was due out, I sped it further up my TBR pile, and I am so glad I did! Two exes (I’m not spoiler-ing there, it’s in the title!), Maya and Sam end up bumping into one another in a rather inopportune way, and this paves the path for an interesting set of circumstances where we see them both struggle with old feelings, new feelings and a whole load of barriers that come in their way, in the name of a girlfriend (Sam) and a father who has high aspirations (Maya). Slow burn, lots of sizzle, dry wit and humour, and cuteness overload, and all in a snowy, Christmassy setting! I truly adored this book, and now I cannot wait to dive into the next one, The Wedding Engagement, as I want to know what happens to the other characters in this fab read!
Oh my, Zoe Allison, what spice! I was thrilled to read The Wedding Engagement and to learn what happened to Liv and Arran, whom I had already met in her previous book, The Ex-Mas Holidays. Liv and Arran have known each other since childhood. Arran is Liv’s twin brother’s best friend, and she’s been holding somewhat of a candle for him for a while. Arran has not long got out of a relationship, with a broken engagement, and a gorgeous little boy, Jayce, in his life. There is chemistry between these characters, though they both have their reasons for not taking the first step towards admitting any attraction. Then they get thrown together to help arrange the Sten do for Liv’s brother, Sam, and her best friend, Maya. The sizzle starts and can be felt intensely, coming to an (ahem) climax in the second half of the book. A typical friends-to-lovers story filled with slow-burn chemistry that a reader can really feel! I raced through this book in a couple of sittings and LOVED it! Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC.
This is the third in the If Shakespeare Were An Auntie series, and I think this was the spiciest yet! The third couple in the friendship circle finally gets together, as Veera and Deepak find themselves in a strange situation that crosses family and cultural expectations, as well as business aspirations. Veera and Deepak are both best friends, and genuinely lovely people. They just can’t see beyond that friendship, and when they do, they can’t fathom the fact that the other may be feeling the same. Loved it!
I love the Wishing Tree series, and Kay Bratt’s next instalment was another feel-good story that added layers to the community stories. Hunter Glenn has moved to the area with his daughter, Ava, to rebuild his life after his marriage broke up. Nicole has been in Linden Falls for a while and feels optimistic about the future. And a small slip of paper that escapes from the Wishing Tree finds its way to the right place to ensure happiness for all. It was lovely to catch up with Neva and the rest of the residents, too. Another feel-good story to warm the heart.
Queenie has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while now, and I didn’t want to watch the series before reading the book. A story with a lot of angst and confusion within the mind of the MC, Queenie, a 25-year-old black woman, working in journalism, coping with a failed relationship, and trying to work out how to live alone. She bounces from one disastrous hookup to another, damaging herself more and more as she goes. I was compelled to read more, however one thing I don’t agree with is the constant use of the word ‘funny’ to describe this book. It is not light-hearted, or traditionally romantic, nor is it funny in a way that should be the first word to describe it. There are laugh-out-loud moments, but it’s not a comedic masterpiece. That label, to me, seems to detract from the story being told. Enjoyed the read, though!
I am a cat mum/nan so that title would draw me in before anything else! The Cosy Cat Society centres around a cat sanctuary, its owner, Sacha, and several key volunteers who spend much of their time supporting a just cause. When it becomes apparent that there is an even bigger worry about the sanctuary’s future, Sacha tries to keep it from the others until it becomes apparent that a problem shared is a problem halved. The same goes for the rest of the volunteers, who each have their own worries that they need the help of their friends to work through. It is a delightful read, cleverly intertwining the stories of several characters and highlighting the plight of many of our feline friends. And there is a little romance within, too! The kitties and I approve!
A new author and a promising debut. Liv is at an age where most of her friends are settled, and here she is, still in a part-time job doing nothing much, and in her 7th year of trying to finish her degree. There is no relationship on the horizon and nowhere to live, thanks to being ceremoniously evicted with brief notice. The story revolves around a list Liv makes with her brother, Joe, his boyfriend, Seth, and their friend, Henry, to pull her out of loser territory. It is an easy-to-read story with a friends-to-lovers feel, including a bit of ‘will they won’t they?’ and plenty of family dynamics.
I’ve had this on my TBR for a while, now, and boy, am I glad I’ve finally read it. The Help is a fantastic story told sensitively, showing the precarious relationship between the white folk of Jackson, Mississippi, and their household help. Told through the voices of Aibileen and Minny, two of the maids, and Miss Skeeter, a white woman who has a conscience and who wishes to find out what happened to one of her family’s own former maids, who brought her up. I felt many emotions, reading this, from rage, to sympathy, to solidarity. Well written and heartrending.
Another of my TBR books was finally pulled from the shelf to read, and I was not disappointed! A fantastically written tale of Evelyn Hugo, an ageing Hollywood siren who is ready to tell all about her life to Monique, a little-known journalist at Vivant magazine. I loved how we were immersed in Hugo’s memories with the first-person telling of the story as she began to recount her upbringing, rise to fame, and need for fame and fortune alongside her seven husbands. There were also little chapters showing Monique’s present life situation. Interspersed with short excerpts from newspapers and magazines, the story is strengthened as the reader is made to feel the pressure of the paparazzi on those whose lives play out in front of cameras and their heartaches at not being able to live their true lives all the time, for fear of repercussions. From the beginning, Hugo hints at a connection between her story and Monique, the young journalist, which leaves the reader guessing what that may be. I couldn’t put this book down, and I almost wish I had read it sooner! It lives up to the hype!
Another one I finally got to after what feels like years of it being on my TBR pile. There’s been a lot of hype about Hamnet. Some reviews are mind-blowing, some are not, so I was determined not to let these other ones fill my mind before I made my mind up. And I must say the entire premise entirely took me in. Hamnet is a deeply fascinating tale loosely based on the story of William Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet, who passed away at 11. It gives some fabricated details to a story that does not have much background other than that Hamnet did exist; he died at eleven, and Shakespeare wrote Hamlet not long after. I appreciated that Shakespeare’s name was not used directly in the entire book so as not to detract from the main story of that little boy and his family, the possible lead-up to his death, and their coping after.
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
It’s been another busy one, with me starting back at school in a new class, Lil Princess starting 6th Form, (not so) Lil Man passing his driving test, and me turning 49. When did that happen? I was just 30 the other day!
The big question is, what did I read, and did I continue to get words down?
I started the month with 6 NetGalley ARCs. Finally, I started with less than the previous month. And I read them ALL! (And added a couple more…) This would not have happened, had I not caught COVID and been laid down for 5 days, which meant a really badly timed absence from school, as the children were just starting… but I couldn’t do much more than rest because I was so ill, so I read!
I got feedback for book 3, In God’s Hands, from the publisher, and we have been working on a cover. Eeek! (The release date is 5 November; keep your eyes peeled!) However, there are no new words because, well, school! And, a cover reveal happened, too!
I read ten books, of which nine were ARCs, and, shh, but right now, I am reading one, and have one on my arc list, meaning I have been able to start books that are sitting there on my Kindle or shelf, patiently waiting to be read!
Karen Swan’s books truly intoxicated me, and this Christmas love story weaved through another tale of discovery was pure magic. Darcy has moved to Copenhagen to finish her PhD studies. It’s a good thing because, given a breakup, she needs to remove herself from certain aspects of her life. Love and celebrating Christmas are the last things on her list, and a chance project to research a particularly juicy discovery gives her the opportunity to bury her mind in other directions. However, her wonderful housemate, Freja, is in the throes of her own early love story and, not wanting to leave her friend behind, creates a profile for Darcy on a dating app for well-to-do folk. Max is one of those suggestions on the app. He’s wealthy, intelligent, in a good job, broodingly handsome, and moody. Sparks of attraction fly, but his close connection to her research makes it challenging to explore that attraction. She kisses a few frogs on her journey of discovery, both personal and professional, and unearths some well-hidden home truths along the way. I love the details of the art world. The history behind various artworks is always fascinating, and how this is entwined in the writing gives the story another dimension. Did I want to shake Darcy and a specific other character several times? Why, yes, I did! But then, the book would have been far too short, and Darcy wouldn’t have been allowed to finish her essential research! Fantastically written and a wonderful read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
I’ve become accustomed to reading an Emma Heatherington before Christmas and this was another lovely heartwarming story. Hotel manager Bea and nurse Ollie meet by chance as they wait for a flight from Heathrow back to Ireland to visit family. Both feel an instant connection, however circumstances mean they are not of the right mindset to explore. The story follows a year in both their lives, where coincidence and fate meet, and conspire to bring these two back together. This was a wonderful tale, a beautiful book and a true feel good festive love story, laced with the emotional difficulties encountered as the characters traverse through their individual difficulties. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an ARC.
I have to tell you, I LOVE a Lucy Mitchell book. I’ve read all her wonderful stories, and I sighed and giggled throughout them. I was delighted to read The Christmas Dog Sitters and thoroughly enjoyed visiting Harp Brook. Rachel, our MC, has had a tough year. From a relationship break to losing her beloved cat, followed by the devastating loss of her best friend, and ending up with no job and in a leaky flat, surrounded by memories, she’s not had the best time. Armed with the power of WhatsApp groups, her family conspires to get her back on her feet with an invitation to Harp Brook, where she is asked to dog-sit in a beautiful mansion and have a relaxing three-week break. However, looking after delightfully wild octogenarian Grandpa Eric, a rather strict brother-in-law’s rules how to live in his house, a young cleaner with a problem, construction work, accompanied by a rather handsome but somewhat gruff builder, strange vibes coming from the local community, constant WhatsApp messages and Facetime calls from family members, and an over-exuberant, Houdini of a cocker spaniel called Humphrey into, doesn’t quite equate to a relaxing break. I have to say, I raced through this book in one sitting. An element of mystery added another layer to this brilliant RomCom. (Don’t ask me about it, or it won’t stay a mystery!) Rachel’s grief burrows deep inside you as a reader. I wanted to reach into the book and hug her, and I only wanted the best for her. Builder Ben was the sweetheart we all needed – and I always love a hero who can cook! Lucy creates a fantastic supporting cast whenever she writes. Rachel’s mum, the Aunty gang, and cousins who add to the various WhatsApp chats are hilarious in parts and so reminiscent of groups I have on my phone! Everyone thinks they can solve the world’s problems via messages and GIFs! Two firm favourites did emerge, though. Grandpa Eric is a brilliant character with his wild hair, and he wishes to have a Christmas adventure while still able. The love he shows Rachel, along with the sense of loss and grief many elderly folk feel, as the world around them thinks they are now incapable of anything other than sitting in a chair with a blanket over their knees and a cup of tea, just pulled at my heartstrings. Humphrey, the gorgeous dog Rachel went to dog sit, initially is a total loon! He appears to be a devil, but that is just the disguise he wears, as he shows himself to be a veritable angel—a real mischievous cutie. An incredible, heartwarming, feel-good story. Please pick it up now!
Sarah Morgan writes amazing stories; this was another one with heartbreak and tragedy woven through the storyline and an ultimate festive, feel-good ending. The story centres around Imogen, a young woman who has worked hard all her life to create a feeling of security around herself—something that she did not have growing up. Christmas is coming, and she doesn’t know how to handle the questions and curiosity of colleagues who have a wonderful family to spend time with. She’s gone to the extent of creating a fictitious family, boyfriend, and even pet to stave off feelings of pity from others. But everything comes to a head when she has an awful conversation with her one existing family member. Sent off on an enforced break by her concerned boss, Imogen ends up in a beautiful cottage hosted by a dear client for the month. Then things start to unravel further as questions are asked, and the answers to mysteries are slowly revealed. The story is told through the POV of several key characters, which adds to the story. There is a dishy, caring vet, and a wonderful golden retriever named Ralph. Oh, and Alpacas! My only wish? I had more of a conclusion about what happens with Imogen’s mother. Wonderfully written and easy to read. Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.
TW of seizures and light transphobia. A light-hearted MM romance with the added joy of Christmas, cake and animals! Christopher is in the first year of starting his own business, a small cafe in a tiny Welsh village. It’s been hard, not feeling a part of the tight-knit community and far from his family. But with the aid of one ally, a stash of Christmas films and a hunky actor in said films, he’s got through. Just as the festive season kicks in, he’s looking forward to a break, with his small flat rented out to someone for a few days, allowing him the chance to visit his loved ones. Then British weather happens. Snow falls. Planes, trains and automobiles grind to a halt. Everyone’s except the soon to arrive lodger, who raps on the door, and Christopher finds himself face to face, not with a woman, but a man. A familiar, handsome male. Who he’s been drooling over the last few months. Nash Nadeau, the Rom Com heartthrob. Neither can they leave, nor can they realistically fit into his teeny flat above the cafe, but they’re going to have to manage because there are no other options! Oh, what fun! Forced proximity to the hilt! I enjoyed the difficulties these two had to go through, as they navigated their own feelings, as well as those around them, as a community rallies together to get through the freak snowstorm! There is another book featuring Christopher, but I could read this as a stand-alone with no problems. Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC.
Releasing 24th October, 2024
I’m on the blog tour on 27th October! Pop over to see what I thought!
Sonali Dev writes beautiful stories and I have read a good few of them. There’s Something About Mira is a heartrending tale of a woman torn between her family and her own wishes. It’s never easy, as a child of immigrants, to navigate the new world around you, stepping around your parent’s delicate threads of connection back ‘home’, and trying to create your own threads as a person with East/Wets heritage. As her marriage looms, Mira has a lot on her shoulders. She has to consider everyone’s thoughts and feelings as she tries to plan for her future. Druv is perfect. Everyone says so, and he really does seem it. But his wonderful job is always getting in the way. Then, the one chance they had, pre-wedding, to spend time together gets snatched away, and Mira goes away herself (agreed by the relevant powers who oversee her whole life, though somewhat begrudgingly and with the blessing of her intended). While out in New York, she rekindles her relationship with her brother and gets tangled up in a lost-and-found incident when she happens across an intriguing ring and necklace. She then meets Krish, someone who can help her with the mystery she is determined to solve, as well as may be other things. Oh, the way this story unfolded was just brilliant. The family dynamics, as well as learning how to be true to yourself, were played perfectly. There are some key themes that are still considered somewhat taboo within the South Asian culture, even now, especially with some of the older generations, and they are dealt with, with such sensitivity. I loved it! #TeamMira! Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC.
This has been on my TBR for a while, so I figured I would give it a go. It’s a cute second-chance romance story with loss at the heart. Cori has moved away from her family to start fresh, reeling from her best friend’s death after an illness. She only knows a distant cousin there, has no job, and hasn’t lived alone for a long time, so there i far too much time to wallow in grief. Then, along with her cousin and friends, including another Cory, she begins to venture out. A strange app appears on her phone, supposedly to guide her to her perfect partner. However, there is a little twist: The app tells her that her future lies with someone she has encountered before. Of course, you gotta kiss a few frogs before your Prince Charming is revealed, but what happens when you think you might want your Prince to be someone different? It’s an easy read with a bit of mild spice and a feel-good ending!
Want a sweet romance with seriousness, a sprinkling of spice and some feisty pets? Well, In Italy Love may just be for you! Julia upped sticks from Australia for love and a handsome Italian man. Fast forward a short while, and things aren’t all sweetness and light. She finds herself without a home, money, or support. At least she has Arco, her pup. Making her way home, she stops in a tiny village, Cividale del Friuli, hoping to wait for an elusive passport to arrive and some clarity about her life before she heads home. That’s when things go a bit awry. Meeting Alex, a busker of sorts, and making an out-of-character suggestion of dinner sparks a journey in a totally different direction to what she had imagined, especially as he ends up entangled in her temporary stay in Friuli. Along with his cat, Attilla. It is a gorgeous autumnal read with its fair share of emotion and giggles, too. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC
I’ve enjoyed my forays to the Cornish Cove of Driftwood Bay thanks to Kim Nash, and couldn’t wait for the next visit. This time we get to know Nancy. She’s lived there all her life and gone from teaching to her dream of opening up a bookshop in the little village, thanks to an inheritance. It’s wonderful, being surrounded by books and all she loves, however, there are other things she needs to consider as a businesswoman, like plans, and finance, and she’d rather not. Then she meets, or rather collides with Dennis, a visitor to the area, and grandson of the legendary potty-mouthed Vi, and her world is turned a bit on its side. This is a cute, easy read of a romance, with its fair share of trials, as Nancy struggles to trust, as does Dennis. And all the while, everyone else knows what is staring them both in the face. I loved visiting the Bay again, meeting new characters, and catching up with others we’d met, previously, too. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Releasing 28th October, 2024
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
August, you have flown by, and I cannot believe that as I type this, I am preparing to return to school on Monday!
Summer holidays have whizzed by, with our Gran Canaria trip and me going to the Romantic Novelist’s Association Conference for a whole weekend (Such fun!|) and taking Lil (big) Man out driving a lot.
The Big News was that Lil Princess got her GCSE results and passed everything, including some fantastic grades in her English subjects! Those of you who know her recent struggles will appreciate how much of an achievement this is. She will be starting 6th form and her A-Levels next week!
I am now also looking into the possibility that I am lactose intolerant… that will be fun, cutting dairy out… (Do I have the Fibromyalgia to thank for that, Perimenopause, or just my silly body? Who knows?)
Also, I spent at least one, if not two, days a week in school preparing my new classroom. I am in a different room this year, so I had a lot to do from scratch. (So much for teachers having a six-week break, eh!)
Back is aching, and I am tired, but content!
The big question is, what did I read, and did I continue to get words down?
I started the month with 6 NetGalley ARCs. Finally, I started with less than the previous month.
I began to plan the next book I want to write… you will have to keep tuned about that!
I also binge-watched a few things. I had never watched BBC’s Waterloo Road, a series set in a secondary school in northern England. With 13 series out there, it was going to be a long haul, but one day, it automatically started playing on BBC iplayer, and I ended up watching. I’ve watched five series so far! I also watched part one of the new Emily in Paris Netflix series.
I also caught up with my dear friend Amanda Prowse’s podcast episodes with her best friend, Penny Dommet. It’s called Chit Chat and All That, and is so funny. I listen to them, and it’s like I am sitting there at the table with them, mug in hand, giggling along to their hilarious chatter. They go off-tangent so quickly, crease up into laughter at any moment, and talk about all sorts of stuff. I had 15 episodes to catch up on, and I listened to them all in the car or when ironing or cooking!
I read ten books, all of which were ARCs, and have a list of five left to read. (Again, this is less than what I started with, but I’d admit to adding a lot to the list and reading them, too!)
It is an intergenerational story about a brother, father, and grandmother and the untruths they keep hidden from one another for fear of being found out and not perfect. Emily is a teacher, yet things are a bit rocky for her because she worries about not being perfect, and her fiance has just left. Ed—her dad—is in deep money trouble. He feels the only solution is to make up with his estranged daughter to show his mother he is the perfect dad, and then she may help him financially. Liz is stuck in a care home after ‘falling down’. She’s in a bit of a financial bind after helping her online “friend’ despite words of warning from her best friend. Things come to a head, and honesty is found to be the best policy, but not before a lot goes wrong in the name of perfection. A good read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for an ARC.
Here I am, back with Olive Ketteridge and her strange way of telling stories about people around her. She’s joined by Lucy, this time, an author who has a deep connection with the area and the people. We dig deep into the psyches of different people and help solve a murder! It is an odd book style, but that is not a criticism. It’s just different and compelling at the same time. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for an ARC.
Two best friends whose relationship faltered reconnect on the island where they grew up, and they both realise they need one another more than they care to admit. Flo and Renee meet in Guernsey at an unexpected funeral and move in together amidst awkwardness. They wrestle through an argument that caused their strong friendship to break a few years ago. Renee dreams of leaving her childhood home and becoming a writer in London. Flo is escaping London with a secret that she battles to hide. Then, they both end up working at the same marketing company and living together, which puts additional strains on their friendship and gives them an opportunity to be there for one another once again. It’s funny but tragic, too, at times—the kind of humour you expect from a Dawn O’Porter book. I enjoyed reading this, an easy summer read filled with more serious topics and humour. Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC.
I’ve read a few of Nicola Marsh’s thrillers, and this is written in that same distinctive way. A three-POV story between two estranged sisters, Brooke and Lizzie, and Noel, the surviving half of a set of twins, introduces us to some crazy family dynamics, a whole load of lies, and pretty twisted characters! Brooke and Lizzie’s relationship is fragile due to the lies they have been told their whole lives, and mistrust is still at the forefront of their minds. Then Noel enters. He is a seemingly decent guy, even though he was incarcerated for an accidental death he was responsible for. But things are off from when Lizzie meets him, and she cannot get her sister, Brooke, to listen. I must admit I figured out one of the twists along the way, but there were plenty of other betrayals and untruths that emerged later in the story. It kept me turning the pages! Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC.
I have just come up for air after immersing myself in the glorious story of The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer. Having read some of her previous books, I knew I was in for a treat. We start with a runaway being pursued by the police, and she collides with Marcus Greybourne as she attempts to escape their clutches. Having suffered an injury, party Mr Greybourne’s fault, he insists on looking after her, but with a condition. She continues the charade of being his wife, the excuse he used to stop the local constable from continuing his chase. Once in the house, she discovers that this isn’t a straightforward deal, as Luna Greybourne is a woman accused of being a witch. I don’t want to go into too much detail, as that will give away parts of the story, but the storyline has wonderfully complex twists and a dark romance at its base. Jenni Keer draws us in with beautifully crafted characters and plenty of page-turning moments that keep the reader hooked until the end. I absolutely LOVED it! Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Nicholas Sparks has the exceptional storytelling talent of drawing you into the lives of total strangers and making you care about what happens next. In Counting Miracles, we have the POV of three people. Total strangers whose lives end up entwining in ways you wouldn’t have imagined. Tanner Hughes, an ex-Army Ranger, is alone now. He’s grieving the loss of his grandmother, the last of his family, and the woman who, along with his grandfather, brought him up after his mother died after childbirth. And she left him with a mystery: the name and possible location of his birth father, who he’d never known. Kaitlyn Cooper is a doctor and single mum to two kids. She lives a peaceful life in Asheboro, content with her job and her charity work. She also keeps tabs on her teen daughter, who always seems to be up to something, and her young son, whose innocence she wants to preserve for as long as she can. Elderly Jasper lives alone in his wooden cabin by the forest. Sure, he knows the Dr. and sometimes spends time with her young son, but he doesn’t need anyone except Arlo, his faithful mutt. No one else in his life has stuck around, and most of those around him steer clear of him, allowing him to grieve a tragic accident that changed his whole life. Twists of fate and another traumatic incident lead these three unconnected individuals through a journey of discovery and an unexpected but heartwarming ending. Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, for an ARC.
I may say this every time I read one of Gillian Harey’s France-based books, but a little bit of me wants to find a small village somewhere in France where I can lose myself! This time, in The Little Provence Book Shop, the main character, Adeline, has taken a big step after a tumultuous period in her life. She has uprooted herself and Lili, her five-year-old daughter, from London to a sleepy village in rural Provence, where she has somehow found a job in a tiny bookshop. Armed with enough French to get by and not much more, Adeline starts work and develops an interesting relationship with the shop’s owner, Monique, with whom she feels a strange connection she cannot pinpoint. She is running from a secret and a possible answer she is looking to find, and at the bookshop, she slowly realises that she might not be the only one with something she is hiding, and secrets rarely stay in the box we put them in. Of course, there is a chance of romance – why would there not be? But whether it comes from hunky patissier Andre or more friendly Michel is not for me to tell! The Little Provence Bookshop is a feel-good, heartwarming story about a woman looking for her roots. Along the way, she finds them and helps others find their branches. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for an ARC.
I’ve enjoyed the Boardgame Cafe series by Jennifer Page, and to find another book was fantastic! Kate is happy (ish) in life, being Little Miss Perfect at work and being there to help and support her friends and the community around her. However, it feels like she’s stuck in one place while everyone else is moving on. Her best friend, Jo, is loved up, and happy with her partner and running a successful business, and her other close friends are in relationships or even pregnant. It’s just her sitting there alone, even though the others never make her feel like an outsider or a spare part. She embarks on a relationship she’s unsure of and finds another cause to support, as the local businesses and residents lament the B&B generation where summers are lovely and busy. The cold weather starts, and there is no one here… no holidaymakers, no affordable housing for those who would like to live there, and no trade… I won’t go into it too much, as you need to read for yourself, but it was great to read about how Kate grows as a person, coming to grips with some long-held beliefs, repairing some relationships, and severing others. Oh, and I just loved Xander! I’m just saying… who can resist a man who cooks? Of course, we are treated to updates on all the old characters through this book, as their stories entwine, however you could read this as a stand alone. Many thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an ARC.
Note: I have not read the previous book, so this can easily be read as a stand-alone. (But now I know there are more; you know what I’d be reading!) A funny, sexy story involving two attractive people, astronauts, family politics, blackmail, and a sphinx cat named Mike Hunt (Yup, she went there!) And though there aren’t loads, the spice scenes there are hot! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Liz, or Anne as she is known to John, and Felix, or Johnny as Anna/Liz recognises him, meet in a bar, and one thing leads to another, but not quite how they imagine. Cue an embarrassing moment that comes back to haunt them as they meet again, and one identity is revealed. However, there are still secrets, as the other is still very much under wraps. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments in this story and that spice I mentioned earlier, and the cat scenes are exquisitely done. Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Releasing 1st October, 2024
So, tell me what you have been reading, and what caught your eye from the above!
But I Smile Anyway... 