Rhoda Baxter's Blog, page 42

Goodreads Book Review: Rising Tides by Katy Haye

Rising Tides by Katy Haye

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the oceans have risen and drowned most of the land, this is a great YA book. The main character, Libby is clever and unflappable when things go wrong. I liked that she was acerbic and a little awkward in social situations, but completely calm and capable when dealing with medical crises. Cosimo, the hero, is very likable too. Their relationship makes the transition from distrust to friendly bickering to lo...

Goodreads Book Review: Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard

Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started reading the book on the Friday night and finished it before the weekend was out. It’s a gripping thriller. The setting – a luxury cruiseliner – is unusual, but it’s also integral to the plot. Turns out ships aren’t bound by the same laws as places on land. Once they’re in international waters, they are under the legal system of… well, not a lot, by the sound of things. Scary stuff.

Anyway, the mystery of what happened...

Goodreads Book Review: Can’t Buy Me Love by Jane Lovering

Can’t Buy Me Love by Jane Lovering

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I requested this book from Netgalley because… well, I like Jane’s books. Why would I not? Also, I loved the cover.

I love a geeky hero. Cal is definitely geeky. He’s also very funny and weird – you find out why he deflects attention with weirdness as the story progresses. I really liked the fact that this book potrays someone with cerebral palsy as an independent and successful person (not read many other books with heroes with CP – B...

7 places to find inspiration -Happy 7th Birthday Choc Lit

It’s Choc Lit’s seventh birthday today, so I baked a cake. Yum. I was also pondering lists with seven things in them and thought I’d share this one with you. Here’s my list of seven places to find inspiration.

1.TV and film

Ever watched a film and thought ‘but what if this happened instead’?

You never know what might spark off a train of thought. Even if it’s not obvious at the time, your brain will be squirrelling information away for later. So, you know how I’m not blogging much because I...

A weekend of science related fun

Some time ago, I read a piece in the Guardian about the Butlins Science Weekends, went on the internet to look up what it was all about… and ended up booking us in for the weekend; which is how we ended up being in Skegness last weekend. I’d never been to Butlins before. I didn’t think it was the sort of thing I’d enjoy. On the other hand, science themed activities are fun and I thought we might learn something.

It was brilliant. The kids got to help mix cornflower and water to make ‘custard...

Please Release Me is out in paperback

You’ve probably heard me mention Please Release Me before – the one with the ghost and the hospice… yes, well, it’s out in paperback today! That’s all I had to say really. If anyone needs me, I’m going to be eating my way through a very LARGE chocolate cake to celebrate.

Here are some nice things people have been saying about Please Release Me.

“…well handled with an almost perfect portrayal of grief.” Gen Boleyn, Goodreads.

“A richness of characters and plot which are seldom found in contem...

Diversity in genre fiction

A few months ago, I read a blog post on the Writer’s Workshop blog about the lack of diversity in publishing. In it was a discussion about how books with BAME characters in were assessed under different criteria compared to ‘mainstream’ books. One of the criteria was ‘is it Asian/Black/*insert minority group here enough’. You can see the original post herehttp://www.writersworkshop.co.uk/blog...

This is something that has wound me up for years. Not because I care what c...

Inheritance Books: Patricia Marie Budd

Today’s guest on Inheritance Books is Patricia Marie Budd. Hi Patricia. Have a seat on the sofa. Would you like a biscuit? Tea? Coffee? While I’m doing that, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a high school English teacher by trade. How I wound up teaching is quite funny. Back in my early twenties when I was living in Toronto studying mime I loaned a friend $100.00. Sadly she was never able to pay me back. Her partner at the time was an astrologer so in lieu of the money I was offered...

Inheritance Books: Marie Laval

Today’s guest on Inheritance Books is fellow RNA member and all round lovely person, Marie Laval. Hi Marie, take a seat. Why don’t you introduce yourself.

I am French and have been living in Lancashire for quite a long time, almost long enough to have got used to the rain! I grew up in a small village near Lyon. I studied law and history at university there and for many years my ambition was to be a journalist. I was always very attracted to England and to anything English – I blame great aut...

Inheritance Books: Catherine Ryan Howard

This week’s guest on Inheritance Books is Catherine Ryan Howard – who was primarily known for her non fiction (and her fabulously useful Catherine Caffeinated blog). Her latest book Distress Signals is a thriller set on a cruise ship. Hi Catherine, have a biscuit. Why don’t you start off by telling us a bit about yourself?

Catherine Ryan Howard by City Headshots Dublin

I live in Dublin, Ireland, but I’m from Cork. I’m currently studying for a BA in English Lit as a mature student in Trinity C...