Rhoda Baxter's Blog, page 68

Film review – Star Trek: Into Darkness

There’s no Inheritance Books this week, because it went out on Friday, so I thought I’d do one of my random film reviews. There are spoilers, so if you’ve not seen the film, turn away now.

I watched Star Trek as a kid. I’m not a Trekker. I say this not because I want to distance myself from the misfit/geek aspects of it (I’ll happily admit to both), but because I’m not dedicated enough to be a fan. I’ve only seen the original series, although I’ve seen enough of the Next Generation to know who...

Inheritance Books – T Michelle Nelson

This week’s Inheritance Books are from T. Michelle Nelson. HiMichelle (or should I call you T?), welcome to the blog. Tell me a bit about yourself.

I was raised in Benton, KY and graduated from Murray State University with a degree in Education. Later I moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio where I now live with my family and two ill-behaved dogs. When I’m not writing, I’m usually sleeping or working on fixing up a 100-year old house I bought here in this lovely town I now call home.

Which book have you...

Review: Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by Victoria Connelly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ever since I read the lovely and quirky Molly’s Millions, I’ve tended to keep an eye out for Victoria Connelly’s contemporary romances.

Wish You Were Here follows terribly sensible Alice Archer on her holiday to one of the Greek islands, where she makes a wish on an Aphrodite statue. She meets Milo Galani,...

Inheritance Books – Penny Grubb

This week’s Inheritance Books are from Penny Grubb, crime writer, lecturer and all round super busy lady.

Hi Penny, welcome to Inheritance Books. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember, first feeling the satisfaction of completing a novel at the age of 4. It was two sentences long and covered half a page in laboriously crafted but wobbly letters. Over the years, the novels have become longer but the handwriting hasn’t improved much.

Soon after we mo...

Review: Move Over Darling

Move Over Darling by Christine Stovell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I downloaded this book when it was Doris Day’s birthday. I used to watch a lot of Doris movies when I was growing up and I could almost hear the songs in my head when I read the book. Besides, who can resist a title like that!

I read Chris Stovell’s previous book Turning the Tide a year or so ago and this book is a more confident work. There are no point of view issues here! Like Turning the Tide, this book evokes the sense of plac...

Goodreads book review: The Silver Locket

The Silver Locket by Margaret James

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I don’t read much historical fiction (I can’t think why not). I picked this up because it was going free and I have great faith in Choc Lit as a publisher. The story follows Alex, who is haunted by his mother’s disgrace and Rose, who has pretty much disgraced herself by running away from home (and bethrothal) to become a volunteer nurse.

I found the WW1 setting fascinating, especially the details about the hospital trains. The utter mis...

Goodreads book review: How To Party Online

How To Party Online by Janice Horton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m not entirely sure how I got involved in Janice’s Spellbindingly fun blog party, but I was so glad I did. I had a hoot taking part. Ditto the Voodoo Wedding one. When Janice said she had written up her experiences as a how to book, I jumped at the chance to read and review it.

How to Party Online gives how t0 guides for online parties hosted on blogs, Twitter, Facebook and all of them in combination. Janice shares her own experience...

Inheritance Books – Evelyn Orange

This week, Evelyn Orange shares her Inheritance Books. Evelyn is a fellow northerner and a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Hi Evelyn, welcome to Inheritance Books. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks, Rhoda, for asking me to take part in your fascinating series. I grew up in north east England, after my parents moved there from Scotland for my father’s job. My mother was a great reader, and introduced me to the library at an early age. There I plundered the delights of fairy tal...

Inheritance Books – Ilaria Meliconi

This week, I’m delighted to have, not a writer, but a publisher, as the guest on Inheritance Books. Ilaria Meliconi runs Hersillia Press. I knew her from rather too many years ago, when she was still studying history of science (which is one of the most steampunk subjects ever!) and I was still a real biochemist.

Hi Ilaria, welcome to Inheritance Books. Tell us a bit about yourself.

The most exciting thing I did in my life was going with a bunch of speleologists in some uncharted caves in Nicar...

Science communication and a day out of the office

This isn’t my usual sort of post. It’s not about a writing, but about indulging my geek-side.

The theme for the day was set when my daughter wanted to watch Commander Chris Hadfield singing Space Oddity (or ‘the major Tom song’) in the International Space Station. We then had a long discussion about girl astronauts and guitars spinning in space on the walk to before-school club.

Later, the day job took me to the Hull University science showcase (#Hullscishow), where I learned about new cancer b...