Rhoda Baxter's Blog, page 22

Book review: Level Up by Craig Anderson

Level Up by Craig Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first time I've read any Lit RPG (I've seen Ready Player One, but not read it). This book was really fun.
After a freak accident, Marcus finds himself trapped between the real world and a video game. Normal rules have ceased to apply and video game rules are important. Marcus has to level up and defeat the big boss at the end of the game in order to save the real world from imploding.

I enjoyed the jokes. The pivot tables made me la...

Book review: Adventures in Dating in Heels by Liam livings

Adventures in Dating...in Heels by Liam Livings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's the nineties and Kev is a teenager. He knows he's gay and he likes to cross dress. He has a job in TKMaxx and a best friend, Tony, who is more worldly wise than he is.
This is a coming of age story, told in episodic chapters in Kev's voice. Kev is adorable and the book explores his relationships with his mother (lovely), his father (not a nice guy), Tony (bestie) and various boyfriends. Poor Kev isn't the luckiest whe...

Book review: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a classic, but I'd never read it. So when it came up on my Kindle, I bought it. I'm so glad I did.
This is the kind of Sci Fi I like.
Charlie has a low IQ, but he's not aggressive (in fact, he's very nice and kind) and has the urge to better himself. He undergoes an experimental treatment to increase his IQ. The mouse that the treatment was tested on before Charlie is Algernon. At the start of the book, Algernon is able t...

Cover Reveal: This Stolen Life

My alter ego Jeevani Charika has a book coming out on the 8th of May. It’s a story about motherhood, student life and the secrets we hide from the people we love. It will be published by Hera books.

Here’s the cover and the blurb.

Book review: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great book! I picked this up after hearing the author being interviewed about it on Radio 4. A heroine who is constantly cleaning up crime scenes after her sister kills people sounded like too interesting a premise to pass up.
The chapters are short. The writing is beautifully sparse (it takes skill to say a lot in so few words). Korede knows her sister is a serial killer, but... she's her sister. She must prot...

Book review: Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn

Beginner's Luck by Kate Clayborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I kept hearing about this book and how it had really good representation of a scientist heroine. I'm so glad I picked it up.
Kit is a material scientist, who is happy with where she is, especially as a lottery win allows her to do the thing that she's always wanted to do and put down roots.

Ben has been sent to recruit Kit to a large private organisation. If she accepts, she would have to move.

I loved that both characters had issues and...

Book Review: Captain Amberton’s Inherited Bride

Captain Amberton's Inherited Bride by Jenni Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in about a day, which is pretty fast for me.
Lance Amberton is trying to do the right thing. He's lost his father and his brother and got injured all in the same week and he's having trouble adjusting.
Violet Harper has been controlled by her father all her life and even in his death, he's trying to marry her off like she's a possession. But if she refuses, she will be penniless.

B...

Book review: Bollywood Wives by Alex Khan

Bollywood Wives by Alex Khan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I absolutely galloped through this book. I didn't read the 80s era bonkbusters but I imagine they were like this. Even though I knew nothing about the glamorous world of Bollywood stardom, I got totally sucked into the lives of Zara Das and the Bollywood wives and the various conflicts between the women who all inhabit this rarefied circle.
The action is fairly relentless (lots of beautiful people bonking each other, the occasional attempted...

Book review: The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker by Jenni Keer

The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker by Jenni Keer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a lovely heartwarming book.

Lucy is a kind soul, if a little lacking in confidence. Her neighbour Brenda is a colourful character who may or may not be a little bit magic. When Brenda gives her a locket which urges Lucy to do some spells to help her win the new neighbour George's heart.

There were some lovely touches in this book. I especially liked the office awkward/sexist guy Adam was a really nice guy at heart, d...

book review: one bed for christmas by jackie lau

One Bed for Christmas by Jackie Lau
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this story!
The basic outline is that Caitlin is a workaholic app developer. Wes is more relaxed and does odd gigs - like dancing in an inflatable dinosaur costume. Caitlin's heating breaks down, so she ends up at Wes's place. It's cold. One bed.

What made the book special was the characters! Caitlin is highly driven, but unable to relax. I liked that she was so confident in her abilities but yet a little vulnerable...