Tag Archives: Rhoda Baxter

A bumper book week

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Well, I have been a reading machine this week with three books comfortably under my belt and a fourth nearly done!

First up was Rhoda Baxter’s Girl in Trouble. I know Rhoda IRL, and I absolutely love it when I’m properly able to rave about a friend’s book. Girl in Trouble isn’t my usual genre, but I have no problem reading something different if it’s good – and Girl in Trouble is an absolute smasher, a convincing romance with real emotional depth. I zipped through the novel in the space of 8 hours, it’s that good!

After that, I went back to my young adult TBR pile. CJ Archer’s The Medium caught my eye when it was in some promotion newsletter a while back, and it turned out to be a fabulous find. Set in Victorian-era London it’s slightly steampunk, largely supernatural and an utter delight.

Then a friend recommended Donna Augustine’s A Step into the Dark. This was a lesson in why you should give a book more than two paragraphs of a chance. If I’d just stumbled across it I know I’d have tossed it aside (metaphorically; it’s not really wise to throw your Kindle around). But because someone whose opinion I value (I’m looking at you, Kelly St Clare) said it was worth reading I gave it a bit longer, and I was pleased I did. More supernatural shenanigans abounded and Ollie, our heroine, was an absolute delight. I’m definitely going to read more of her adventures.

I am aware that none of this week’s reads feature in Shattered Worlds. I have strayed from my challenge, readers, I’m sorry to say. I wish I could tell you I’m most of the way through a Shattered Worlds book right now, but I’m not (I’m closing in on the end of the also-excellent Infernal Magic by CN Crawford – clearly I’m having a supernatural splurge this week). But I promise, once that’s done, I will get back on the straight and narrow next week, come what may!

Girl in Trouble blog splash

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Something a bit different today, readers. A good friend of mine, Rhoda Baxter, has a new book out, Girl in Trouble. As well as being a friend, she’s also a fabulous writer and I jumped at the chance to be part of her blog splash.

For the splash, Rhoda asked me to blog on an allied topic. Her hero and heroine, Walter and Olivia, face changes they think are bad, but end up being positive. So, my topic is:

A blessing in disguise

Eight years ago I walked away from a well-paid, corporate career – and it turns out to have been one of the best decisions I ever made.

At the time I was newly-divorced, newly moved halfway across the country, and had a four-year-old child to look after. I’d been a bit battered by life the previous couple of years, and looking back I think this was me reasserting control. Throwing away financial security (I had a redundancy payment, but nothing to go to) might have seemed mad, but I knew I was miserable and needed to make a radical change in my life.

I didn’t dislike my job. I thoroughly enjoyed it, actually, but it was all-consuming. I was always in a rush. First was the travelling required (commuting into London for meetings – oh, joy!), and the long hours (my PC was regularly on at 10pm) which meant I didn’t get much time with Offspring. I also had almost no time or energy left for my writing. So, when work started casting about for people to push out the door, I jumped and started a new phase in my life.

There commenced a year of financial stress. I would have made things easier for myself if I’d thought matters through a little more thoroughly. I didn’t get a new job quickly, and ended up having to sell my house and move somewhere smaller (and selling a house is never a good thing to do under pressure). But alongside the job hunting and other stresses, I relaxed into being mum, and (most importantly for me) I found time to write.

Now, I’m an ace with a small budget, I have a part-time job that pays the bills on my teeny terraced house, I’m mum to the best twelve-year-old I know, and I now have seven books out, with more in the pipeline. I’m still busy, but I’m content with my life in a way I never was when I was part of the rat race.

It was a tough decision at the time, but that scary step brought me so much good that I really do feel blessed.

If you’ve had a blessing in disguise, please tell me about it in the comments, I’d love to hear your experience.

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More about Girl in Trouble:

Grown up tomboy Olivia doesn’t need a man to complete her. Judging by her absent father, men aren’t that reliable anyway. She’s got a successful career, good friends and can evict spiders from the bath herself, so she doesn’t need to settle down, thanks.

Walter’s ex is moving his daughter to America and Walter feels like he’s losing his family. When his friend-with-benefits, Olivia, discovers she’s pregnant by her douchebag ex, Walter sees the perfect chance to be part of a family with a woman he loves. But how can Walter persuade the most independent woman he’s ever met to accept his help, let alone his heart?

Girl In Trouble is the third book in the award nominated Smart Girls series by Rhoda Baxter. If you like charming heroes, alpha heroines and sparkling dialogue, you’ll love this series. Ideal for fans of Sarah Morgan, Lindsey Kelk or Meg Cabot’s Boy books. Buy now and meet your new favourite heroine today.

Get a copy from your preferred bookstore.

Don’t delay – it’s 99p today and tomorrow (after which its regular price is £2.99) – plus you can get your hands on a load of bonuses – a short story and recipe book – if you buy early. Grab a copy now!