Book overview

They kept hearing, “When will we celebrate your good news?”

The perfect partner, the perfect job, mostly perfect in-laws.

Bali and Kiran had it all.
Except for that baby.

After a few years of marriage, the natural step of starting a family beckoned, but nothing was simple or natural.

Constant whispers, superstitions, and rumours cause havoc in what was a solid relationship, and Kiran struggles to face the possibility that her dream may not come true.

Pregnancies and babies all around her. Why not hers?
All she can say is, “It’s in God’s Hands.”

Book Review – In God’s Hands

This is book 3 in the Rishtay series. I’ve read Marriage Unarranged and Straight As A Jalebi and can highly recommend all three books.

I enjoyed reconnecting with the characters again. The third book in the series is an emotional read focusing on childless couples struggling to conceive and to carry a baby to term.

In God’s Hands is written in a moving and knowledgeable way from the author’s own experiences.

With mentions of cultural aspects and the pressure (especially from mother-in-law’s and ‘aunties,’) for married couples to produce a child.

One can’t help but root for Kiran and Bali!

In this human interest and family centred novel relationships between husband and wife, friends, family, and the wider community are explored.

I was a little surprised at the emotional distance between Kiran and her mother. I didn’t find her character was mentioned much. Instead, Kiran’s relationship with her father-in-law, Daddy-Ji, is the one that shone throughout. He is level-headed, sensible and kind. I really liked his character! Such a sweet man. Her mother-in-law, Mummy-Ji, is intolerable at the beginning and then suppressed revelations are shared which make a difference.

A lovely cultural personal and touching read. ❤️

My rating 4 stars

About the author

Ritu Bhathal was born in Birmingham in the mid-1970s to migrant parents, hailing from Kenya but with Indian origin. This colourful background has been a constant source of inspiration to her.

From childhood, she always enjoyed reading. This love of books is credited to her mother. The joy of reading spurred her on to become creative in her writing, from fiction to poetry. Winning little writing competitions at school and locally encouraged her to continue writing.

As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and teacher, she has drawn on inspiration from many avenues to create the poems that she writes.A qualified teacher, having studied at Kingston University, she now deals with classes of children as a sideline to her writing!

Ritu also writes a blog, http://www.butismileanyway.com, a mixture of life and creativity, thoughts and opinions, which was awarded first place in the Best Overall Blog category at the 2017 Annual Bloggers Bash Awards, and Best Book Blog in 2019.

Ritu is happily married and living in Kent, with her Hubby Dearest, and two children, not forgetting the fur baby Sonu Singh.