Rhoda Baxter's Blog, page 51

Clean Reader – why censoring adult books doesn’t really protect children

I was only vaguely aware of Clean Reader until I heard Joanne Harris talking about it on Radio 4. Whilst I generally like the idea of making my books accessible to people who wouldn’t normally read them, I object to this app – partly on the grounds that I don’t want someone changing the words of my books (no ‘you can opt out’ isn’t consent), but also on the grounds that it’s such a misguidedidea.

I’m not a stranger to the idea of protecting kids from unwanted influences. I grew up in middle...

Inheritance Books: Ichabod Temperance

This week’s Inheritance Books are from Ichabod Temperance (which is just such a cool name). Hi Ichabod, welcome to Inheritance Books. Can I offer you a very British scone with cream and jam?

So, tell us a bit about yourself.

Howdy, ya’ll. My name is Ichabod Temperance. I stand about 5-8, and weigh in at about 145 pounds. I am a life-long Birminghamster. Irondale is on the Eastern side of this Alabama city. I’m an easy going guy, but I like to good naturedly scrap with my pals. This is facilit...

Inheritance Books: Wendy May Andrews

This week’s Inheritance Books are from Canadian Author Wendy May Andrews. Hi Wendy, welcome to Inheritance Books. Please, take a seat. Would you like some red velvet cake?
So, tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Wendy May Andrews. I live in Toronto, Canada. I love books. I started out as an avid reader and have added writer to the equation too. My eyes love words. I love to read. I’ll even read the cereal box and I LOVE information plaques on the side of the road, particularly if they e...

Book Review: Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen

Where Love Lies by Julie Cohen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is fantastic. It’s about love. Not necessarily about romance, but about the nature of love. What makes up that wonderful swooping, magical feeling of being in love? Is it feelings? Memories? Something magical? Something visceral? If the feeling of being in love was killing you, would you chose to get rid of it?

Felicity occasionally smells frangipani and with the smell comes a very vivid sensation of being in love. At first she...

Inheritance Books: Clare Chase

This week I’m delighted to welcome Clare Chase to Inheritance Books. Clare writes for Choc Lit, but I’ve known her through the RNA and Twitter for years.

Hi Clare, welcome to Inheritance Books. (Have some carrot cake, go on. It’s good for you). Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Rhoda. I write romantic mysteries and my debut novel, You Think You Know Me, was published by Choc Lit at the end of 2014. It’s set in the arts world, in London, with a denouemen...

Goodreads Book Review: You Think You Know Me by Clare Chase

You Think You Know Me by Clare Chase

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How well do you REALLY know your friends?

This book follows the heroine, Anna, as she tries to work this one out. She is at a gallery ‘do’ organised by her art-dealer friend Seb to showcase a new artist. Seb sometimes does her a favour and passes her some freelance work. She meets a guy called Max Conran, who isn’t who he says he is. He’s Darrick Farron, who does some sort of mysterious job involving sourcing rare art.

Seb thinks Darric...

Inheritance Books: Jenny Holiday

This week’s Inheritance Books are from Jenny Holiday. I ‘met’ Jenny on Twitter after following her @tropeheroine account. I do recommend you check it out.

Hi Jenny, welcome to Inheritance Books. Biscuit? Great. Please, tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Jenny. I write romance novels. My first books were contemporaries, but I have a Regency series starting later this spring, which is a thrill for me because Regencies were my first love as a reader—I call them my romance gateway drug. I grew u...

Goodreads Book Review: Love, Eternally by Morgan O’Neill

A few weeks ago, I had to read some books as part of first round judging for a competition. These were all from sub genres that I wouldn’t normally read, so it was quite an interesting exercise for me. It made me realise that I’ve fallen into the trap of needing my reading to serve an extra purpose than just entertainment (I seem to need everything to do at least two things at once, these days). I read as part of my market research and learning process, so I read a lot of what’s published by...

Goodreads book review: Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this up when I went to the library to get a book for my 7 yr old. I got a book with ponies and detectives in for her and this one for me. In the end, my husband and I read it to her (I had to take over when he was incapacitated because of laughing too hard) and we all had a great time. This should tell you pretty much everything you need to know about the book. In case it doesn’t, here’s a more traditional review:

The narrator...

Inheritance Books: Teresa Morgan

This week’s Inheritance Books are from contemporary romance writer and fellow cake fiend, Teresa Morgan.

Hi Teresa, welcome to Inheritance Books. I’m out of cake, but I’ve got shortbread. Fancy a piece?So, tell us a bit about yourself.

I live in sunny Weston-super-Mare, trying to hold onto my Surrey accent where I was born and bred.

I found writing in 2006 – and realised I would never be bored again. By 2009, I decided to take writing more seriously, in the hope it would work around my children....