Rhoda Baxter's Blog, page 26

The Bestseller Experiment and RNAConf2018

Sometime last year I started listening to The Bestseller Experiment – a podcast run by two guys called Mark, about how they were going to try and write, publish and market a bestseller in just one year. A weeks after I started listening, they had Bryan Cranston on the show and it all got huge. I remained a fan of the show and chatted to them and the rest of the community that formed around the show on Twitter.

So, when I got the chance to chat to one of the Marks at the RNA conference, I was...

Book review: Sweatpants at Tiffanies by Pernille Hughes (@pernillehughes)

Sweatpants at Tiffanie’s by Pernille Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as all her life plans are unravelling, Tiff unexpectedly inherits a boxing ring. Everyone, including her ex boyfriend (git) and the club’s trainer (another git) thinks she should sell up, or let a man run it. Tiff decides to make a go of it herself.
In the meantime, Mikey, who broke her heart when she was a teenager (not a git) comes back to town.

I read this book over a weekend. I liked Tiff and the way she failed to re...

Cover Reveal! Belonging is coming out soon

In between writing books about Royal Weddings, I’ve been popping back to my characters in Trewton Royd to see how they were getting on. I’ve finally finished Belonging and intend to release it next month.

Belonging is about Harriet (those of you who’ve read Snowed In will recognise her as the drunk woman from the corner shop vying for Vinnie’s attention). I wondered why she drank so much. The result was a whole novella about her, poor love. Some of the characters in Snowed In and Pat’s Pantry...

Plot Your Novel in a Morning

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Have you always wanted to write a novel, but don’t have a plot?

Do you have a kernel of an idea but don’t know how to turn it into your next novel?

Or do you just need some space and a lot of biscuits to work out what’s going on in your story?

If you live near York, we’ve got a workshop for you!

M’colleague Jane Lovering and I are running a half day workshop in York on the 8th of September. It’s especially handy for anyone who is going to the RNA York Tea later.

Why should you listen to us...

Book review: Star Dust by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner

Star Dust by Emma Barry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A book set in the 1950s about a woman who has the audacity to divorce her husband … and her romance with the astronaut who lived next door.

I picked this up because someone mentioned it had decent representation of STEM characters in it. Which it does.

Kit is a pilot and a very good one. He works with an extremely grumpy engineer. I liked the fact that although he didn’t LIKE the guy, he respected his expertise.

Anne-Marie is prickly, but has go...

Book review: The Fear by C L Taylor (Thriller)

The Fear by C.L. Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another brilliant thriller from C L Taylor!
Mike is a paedophile. He groomed Lou from an early age while he was her karate instructor and then he abducted her and took her France when she was 14. The experience has had a profound effect on her and she’s still coming to terms with it as an adult.
When she returns to her home town after fifteen years, she finds that Mike is out of jail and living in the same town. She sees him kiss a teenaged girl...

Book Review: Not Your Prince Charming by Kate Johnson

Not Your Prince Charming: a Royal Wedding Romance by Kate Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an advance copy of this to review (mainly because I begged the author for it). I enjoyed Not Your Cinderella so much that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this, the next book.

Eliza is a ‘lesser’ royal. She’s a princess, but relatively far from the throne. She’s tired of being watched all the time and decides to go off and have fun at a party without her security. Unfortunately, she gets gra...

Book review: One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft

One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love, love, loved this book. I was wanting something summery and fun to read and it totally hit the spot.
After spending her twenties caring for her father, Sofia is taking a well earned break, travelling and learning to spread her wings. She starts her journey in Italy, in her father’s hometown.
Levi has… secrets… which bring him to Monteliberta. He falls in love with Sofia early on and has to do a bit of work in order to be with...

Book review: My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson

My Best Friend’s Girl by Dorothy Koomson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been meaning to read a Dorothy Koomson book for a while – people keep recommending them to me.

My Best Friend’s Girl is about Kamryn, who is asked by her best friend Adele to adopt her (Adele’s) little girl Tegan when she dies. Adele betrayed Kamryn in a pretty major way, so Kamryn has to forgive Adele and come to terms with the fact that Adele is dying all in a mad rush.

This is a book about trust and betrayal and grief. K...

Book review: Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix

Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As you know, I’m a big fan of STEM heroines in romance novels so long as they are realistic. By realistic, I mean not a cliche.
Melody is not a cliche. She’s a bit socially awkward, but not overly so. She is really, really good at what she does (computer science), but is in a realistic ‘starter’ job where she’s doing boring things, but hey, it pays well. I loved her voice. It was fresh and interesting without trying too hard.

Mel...