This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written. It’s been a good week – a VERY good week… First piece of excellent news was that I was graded an Outstanding for my latest lesson observation at Northbrook College. I enjoy teaching and have a lovely group of students, so it’s gratifying to have such positive feedback.
The next slice of excitement came in the form of an email from Darren Pulsford, editor of the upcoming anthology Eve of War due to be published on 19th June by Fox Spirit. ‘Miranda’s Tempest’ by yours truly is the first story in the running order. To be honest, I’d sort of forgotten about it – making it a lovely surprise!
I’ve read four books this week:
Date Night on Union Station – Book 1 of the EarthCent Ambassador by E.M. Foner
I needed something lighter in tone after a fairly hefty apocalyptic sci fi adventure – and this was Himself’s suggestion, which, as ever, was on the button. It is more of a comedy of manners than the gritted battle for survival we are more used to seeing on space stations brimful of alien races and gnarly tech. I shall be reviewing it in due course.
Square Peg by Vivienne Tuffnell
I got know Viv’s writing through her accomplished blog Zen and the Art of Tightrope Walking and bought her book Away With the Fairies last year. I wanted to touch base with the contemporary world and Himself was nagging me to read this prequel, so I did. It’s another original, memorable read. No one writes quite like Viv and she deserves to be far more widely read. Another book I’ll be reviewing soon.
Outriders – Book 1 of the Outriders series by Jay Posey
This military science fiction adventure starts with a bang and rolls forward as we get to see events spool forward in the viewpoint of Lincoln, the Outrider’s new commander. And the Outriders are an elite black ops team in a world teetering on the edge of war with Mars… This NetGalley arc is due to be published at the beginning of May and I was very pleased to be in at the start of what I think is going to be a very successful series, if the first book is anything to go by.
The Executioner’s Heart – Book 4 of the Newbury and Hobbes Investigations series by George Mann
This latest steampunk whodunit has been loitering on by TBR pile for far too long – and as I’m learning to interleave my NetGalley arcs amongst the rest of the books piled up waiting for my attention – it suddenly jumped up and down and demanded to be read. Quite right too. It’s much too good to be ignored – and the ending was a major shock, leaving me agog to know what happens next.
My posts last week:
Weekly Wrap-Up – 17th April
Review of The Rhesus Chart – Book 5 of The Laundry Files by Charles Stross
Teaser Tuesday – Outriders by Jay Posey
Review of Space Hostages – Book 2 of the Mars Evacuees series by Sophia McDougall
Books I Wished I’d Reviewed
Friday Faceoff – Dead Men Tell No Tales featuring Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
The Spring Book Tag
I had planned to spend the week-end out in the garden, tackling all those early weeks and tidying up after the winter, but the grandchildren are staying, so inevitably the weather has turned cold. I only garden when it’s nice, so we’re going to snuggle down in front of the fire, read books together and watch some daft film together. Once more, thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to read my reviews and articles and have a great week.
Brainfluff 
Enjoy your lovely books, and thanks for visiting my blog. I hope to love the “grandmother” story.
I’m fascinated by it – so long as it isn’t sentimental! Or granny isn’t a deranged old bat… Often it seems there isn’t much in between these portrayals of grandmothers.
Congratulations on getting an Outstanding on your latest lesson observation!
I’ll look forward to reading your review of Square Peg – I have this on my TBR. I’ve read and enjoyed Vivienne’s novel The Bet, and also her poetry collection Accidental Emeralds (which was the first book I reviewed on my blog!). I recommend both if you haven’t already read them.
Hope you have another great week this week! 🙂
Thank you! She’s a great writer, isn’t she? Himself enjoyed The Bet, and I’ve promised myself to read it – especially given how much I’ve enjoyed ‘Square Peg’ and ‘Away With the Fairies’. Thank you for your kind words – to be honest it was a surprise, as the class sizes are much larger these days, which always makes it more difficult to deliver the very best lesson.
She really is and her writing deserves so much more attention than it gets.
You’re very welcome 🙂
Square Peg sounds good, hope you enjoy and have a great upcoming week
Yes, ‘Square Peg’ is a really good book – well written, unusual and unafraid of tackling some tricky subjects in a straightforward manner.
Congratulations on your awesome week! I’m really liking those science fiction books. Been reading a lot of the genre recently and remembering how much I enjoy it:)
My Sunday Post
Congratulations on your assessment- that’s great! And on being included in the anthology- how exciting! And Date Night on Union Station looks fun- glad that was a good one. 🙂
Several of these actually look good. I like discovering new sci fi.
Have a wonderful week!
Many thanks for your kind comments, Greg. It was a fabulous week – all the more so for being unexpected! I love discovering new sci fi, too – especially when it’s quirky and entertaining – and this is:). I hope you, too, have a great week.
Congrats on your Outstanding assessment and wahoo on Miranda’s Tempest. You must be on cloud nine this week. Date Night on Union Station looks intriguing. I look forward to your thoughts. I hope this week brings more delights!
Thank you so much Kimba:). Yes, I’m feeling very happy right now – everything seems to be coming together!
Yes – Date Night on Union Station is great fun and quite unusual.
Congrats about Miranda’s Tempest and the Outstanding grading on your writing course! That must have made for an exciting, fulfilling week. 🙂
Thank you, Sara – it certainly meant I was skipping around the place with a foolishly wide grin on my face:)
Sounds like a great last week! I haven’t heard of the books you read, but will be going to check them out on Goodreads.
Check out my Sunday Post
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for swinging by, but when I tried to get on your site – three times and one via Firefox – I kept getting an pageful of error messages… Hope you sort out whatever the problem is, soon.