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Portobello Book Blog by Joanne - Books & Literature
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Woman in Blue by Douglas Bruton | #bookreview #literaryfiction | @FairlightBooks – Portobello Book Blog
I thought that Douglas Bruton's previous novel, Hope Never Knew Horizon, was outstanding so I was delighted when he offered to send me his new novel, Woman in Blue. I really enjoyed the structure of this novel. It is told in alternating chapters by an unnamed 'Man in Amsterdam' and the 'Woman in Blue'. The…
#ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions with Ella Cook #author of Midnight Rainbows Over the Little Village (Broclington Romances Book 4) | @EllaCookWrites @ChocLitUK @JoffeBooks – Portobello Book Blog
I'm delighted to be joined once more by author Ella Cook. It was a busy start to the year for Ella with two books published in January. Last month she joined me to answer my #ThreeTwoOne questions about Life After Me and today she's talking about Midnight Rainbows Over the Little Village. I was wondering…
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes | #BookReview | @MichaelJBooks – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm sharing my review of the much anticipated We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes. Marian Keyes says this one is ‘the best book she has ever written’ so I had high hopes. I'm glad to say the book didn't disappoint. The book is out now from Michael Joseph in hardback, audiobook and for e-readers.…
First Line Friday 7th March 2025: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall | #FirstLineFriday | @ClareEmpson2 @johnmurrays – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm sharing the first lines of a book I've been hearing about for months now: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. Early readers have been raving about it and although I've had a digital review copy for ages, I'm only now getting around to reading it and it was published earlier this week! It's…
The Ex Effect by Jo Watson | #romcom #bookreview | @JoWatsonWrites @eternal_books – Portobello Book Blog
The Ex Effect by Jo Watson was a fun and flirty read following the relationship between Ash and Max. It flits between both their points of view which is great because you really get to understand how both their characters are feeling about each other. Ash is still devastated at being abandoned by her high…
WWW Wednesday 5th March 2025: what am I reading? | #WWWWednesday #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
What am I currently reading? It's my birthday today - wonder if there will be any book shaped parcels? I suspect not as people generally don't buy books for me knowing I read so many and often before they're published! So what am I reading just now? I'm reading The Lamplighter's Bookshop by Sophie Austin…
#CoverReveal: All Our Yesterdays by Guy Hale | @HaleWrites @BullingtonPress @KellyALacey @LoveBooksTours | #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #CoverReveal #Crimefiction #Shakespeare #BookCommunity #LBTCrimeFiction – Portobello Book Blog
A little late in the day, but I'm delighted to be helping share the cover for Guy Hale's forthcoming novel All Our Yesterdays. I really enjoyed the first in this series, The Croaking Raven which was a really clever crime novel with lots of Shakespeare references. This one, set in the 1920s and 1930s, sounds…
The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths | #bookreview #crimefiction | @EllyGriffiths @QuercusBooks – Portobello Book Blog
I usually like my fiction to be firmly grounded in reality but I can't resist a bit of time travel. The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths is the first in a new series featuring detective Ali Dawson. The Frozen People was published by Quercus on the 13th of February and I was lucky enough to…
A One Word Title Alphabet – almost! – Portobello Book Blog
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com A few weeks ago, I took part in Top Ten Tuesday and listed ten books with one word titles. This inspired a friend of mine to come up with an alphabet of books with one word titles. I thought this was a great idea and inspired by him, decided to…
Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson | #BookReview #RespectRomFic | @MillyJohnson @TeamBATC @SimonSchusterUK – Portobello Book Blog
The book which accompanied me from February into March was Milly Johnson's latest, Same Time Next Week, which was published last week by Simon & Schuster. I love Milly Johnson's books and it's probably not a surprise to you to hear that I loved this one too! I heard Milly reading an extract from the…
#6Degrees of Separation for March 2025: From Prophet Song by Paul Lynch to A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson. – Portobello Book Blog
This month we are starting with the 2023 Booker Prize winner, Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. Well, surprise surprise I haven't read it! I've rarely read the winner or indeed many of the books which make the nomination list. So I thought for my 6Degrees of Separation I'd simply do six Booker Prize nominees which didn't win.…
Captivating Character of the month February 2025: Connor from Hope Street by Mike Gayle | @ReadingLadiesBC #LinkParty #bookblogger #memorablecharacter #bookx #booksky #bookreview – Portobello Book Blog
I saw this on Carol's blog this morning and thought it was a great new idea so I plan to take part each month. You can read about Carol's captivating character for February here. I hope she doesn't mind that I've used her lovely graphic! I had a look back at the books I've read…
First Line Friday 28th February: Same Time Next Week by Milly Johnson | #FirstLineFriday | @MillyJohnson @TeamBATC – Portobello Book Blog
The book seeing me from February into March is Milly Johnson's latest, Same Time Next Week, which was published yesterday by Simon & Schuster. I love Milly Johnson's books and am loving this one already even though I've only read a few chapters. I heard Milly reading from this at the recent Team BATC showcase…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions on #publicationday with Grahame CW Howard #author of Seeking Fleur | @GrahameCWHoward @pegasuspublish – Portobello Book Blog
I'm delighted to welcome local author Grahame Howard back to the blog today. Hot on the heels of the second in his trilogy, A Girl Called Crocker, today Grahame is celebrating the publication of the last of the trilogy, Seeking Fleur. I enjoyed the humour in A Girl Called Crocker but haven't been able to…
WWW Wednesday 26th February 2025: what am I reading? | #WWWWednesday #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
What am I currently reading? I'm reading We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes and have just started dipping into the Nina Simone biography What Happened, Miss Simone?. I need to choose a new audiobook having just finished a fantastic one - see below! What have I finished reading? It's been a good reading week…
Top Ten Tuesday 25th February: Books Set in Another Time | #TopTenTuesday #amreading #historicalfiction #bookrecommendations #TuesdayBookBlog – Portobello Book Blog
This week's topic: Books set in another time This week's topic is books set in another time. As a big fan of historical fiction, this shouldn't be too much of a challenge to me! First of all, five books set in the 20th century: The Paris Peacemakers, The Endeavour of Elsie Mackay, The Mischief Makers,…
First Line Friday 21st February 2025: We All Live Here by JojoMoyes | #FirstLineFriday | @MichaelJBooks – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm sharing the first lines of the book which is next up in my Kindle tbr list. It's the much anticipated We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes. I've read most of her books and generally love them although confess I wasn't so keen on her last novel. However, I've read loads of great…
Hope Street by Mike Gayle | #bookreview | @hodderbooks @MikeGayle – Portobello Book Blog
I have read several books now by Mike Gayle and have enjoyed them all. So I was delighted to have my request to read this latest one, Hope Street, approved by publishers on Netgalley. Thanks Hodder & Stoughton! We meet three main characters in this book and as with all Mike Gayle's characters, I quickly…
#CoverReveal – River of Stars by Georgina Moore | @publicitybooks @HQStories – Portobello Book Blog
I am delighted to be joining in the cover reveal for Georgina Moore's new novel River of Stars. Georgina sent me the video clip for this last night and I sent her a message saying 'OMG it's stunning!'. And it really is - just have a look for yourself Told you it was stunning didn't…
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler | #bookreview | @VintageBooks – Portobello Book Blog
It may only be February but Anne Tyler's latest novel focuses on Three Days in June. The three days in question are the day before, the day itself and the day after Gail Baines' daughter Debbie gets married. The day hasn't started well for Gail when she finds out that she may well be losing…
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell | #audiobook #bookreview #thriller | @PenguinUKBooks @LisaJewellUK – Portobello Book Blog
This is a very brief review of an audiobook both of my daughters recently said I should read or listen to. I have read a few Lisa Jewell books although not for a while. Well, I don't think I've ever listened to an audiobook so quickly! The format of the story lent itself really well…
The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O’Connor | #bookreview #historicalfiction #ww2fiction | @harvillsecker – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm sharing my review of a book I had been eagerly anticipating reading. The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O'Connor is the second in his Rome Escape Line trilogy. The first book in the series, My Father's House, was one of my favourite reads of last year. You can read my review of that…
The Magnificent Seven! A mega #bookpost pile and some thank yous. – Portobello Book Blog
As if I didn't have enough new books from the Team BATC showcase last week, over the past week or so, I have had some wonderful book post drop through the letterbox - or left on the doorstep as is often the case! I have been rather remiss and haven't had a chance to do…
WWW Wednesday 18th February 2025: what am I reading? | #WWWWednesday #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
What am I currently reading? I'm reading The Ex-Effect by Jo Watson on Kindle which is a slow-burn second chance romance and my tree book just now is Elly Griffiths' time-travel detective novel The Frozen People. Very different books but both very good. I'm also listening to The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods which is…
Top Ten Tuesday 18th February 2025: Ten Books I Haven’t Reviewed | #TopTenTuesday #amreading #bookrecommendations #TuesdayBookBlog – Portobello Book Blog
This week's topic: Ten Books I Haven't Reviewed This week, Jana has asked us to come up with ten books we haven't reviewed. I almost always review every book I have read or listened to as I know how important it is for an author and how it helps boost a book's visibility. If I…
#ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions with Stephen J Grant #author of Witch Hunt – Portobello Book Blog
I'm pleased to be joined by author Steve Grant today. he's answering my #ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions about his latest novel Witch Hunt, the second book in his Fool's Journey series. Tell me THREE things about your latest book It includes some weird and wonderful history bites from the Middle Ages that readers love It introduces…
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan | #historicalfiction #bookreview – Portobello Book Blog
Last year for my birthday, I asked my friends to choose a pre-loved book for me that they had enjoyed. My friend Lesley gave me this one. In fact, it turns out that I bought it for her all those years ago though perhaps not this copy! It has taken me quite some time to…
A fabulous evening at the Team BATC 2025 Showcase | #TeamBATC2025Showcase #RespectRomFic | @TeamBATC – Portobello Book Blog
On Tuesday I was lucky enough to attend this year's Team BATC 2025 Showcase at Simon & Schuster's offices in London. My husband and I made a few days holiday of it and also went to see The Mousetrap which was brilliant! The fabulous Sara-Jade introduced us to her 'exquisite eight' authors: Eva Verde, Julie…
Happily Ever After by Jane Lovering | #romanticfiction #bookreview | @janelovering @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks – Portobello Book Blog
Jane Lovering is a firm favourite of mine so I jumped at the chance to take part in the blogtour for her latest novel, Happily Ever After. I'm delighted to be helping kick off the blogtour on publication day. Our main character, Andi, is a girl after my own heart who has always been a…
Instructions for Heartbreak by Sarah Handyside | #InstructionsForHeartbreak #bookreview | @shandyside @panmacmillan – Portobello Book Blog
Instructions for Heartbreak is a book which will strike a chord with many readers. Katie's boyfriend has recently broken up with her which has come as a bolt out of the blue to her. Devastated she turns to her group of close friends: Dee, Liv and Rosa. As they help her come to terms with…
Top Ten Tuesday 11th February 2025: Love Freebie | #TopTenTuesday #respectromfiction #amreading #bookrecommendations #TuesdayBookBlog – Portobello Book Blog
This week's theme: Love Freebie With Valentine's Day coming up this week, Jana has given us free rein with a love freebie topic for Top Ten Tuesday. The majority of the books I read are romantic fiction so I have plenty of books to choose from. As I did last year, I've chosen ten books…
First Line Friday 14th February: The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths | #FirstLineFriday | @EllyGriffiths @QuercusBooks – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm sharing the first lines of a book I've been desperate to get to for ages. It's the new book from Elly Griffiths and is the first in a new series to feature Ali Dawson. The Frozen People was published by Quercus yesterday and I was lucky enough to be sent an early copy.…
The Endeavour of Elsie Mackay by Flora Johnston | #historicalfiction #bookreview #BookSky | @florajowriter.bsky.social @allisonandbusby – Portobello Book Blog
The Endeavour of Elsie Mackay is another brilliant historical novel from Flora Johnston. It revisits some of the characters from The Paris Peacemakers and shows what life is like for them in the late 1920s. The book mainly focusses on four women: Alison Rutherford, her daughters Corran and Stella, and Stella's friend, the eponymous Elsie…
#ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions with Ella Cook #author of Life After Me | @EllaCookWrites @ChocLitUK @JoffeBooks – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm joined by author Ella Cook who is answering my #ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions about her latest book, Life After Me. (This was previously published as Beyond Grey). The book sounds like a real emotional roller-coaster! Over to Ella to tell us more. Tell me THREE things about your latest book 1 – Life After…
Read an #extract from The Return of Frankie Whittle by Caroline England | @cazengland @bullingtonpress @KellyALacey @lovebookstours | #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm delighted to be able to share a short extract from The Return of Frankie Whittle by Caroline England. It may be short but my goodness it's so tense and made me want to read more! The book is due to be published by Bullington Press on Saturday 8th February. You'll find a buying…
#6Degrees of Separation for February 2025: From Dangerous Liaisons to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Portobello Book Blog
This month we are starting with Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos which I haven't read. I haven't even watched the 1988 film adaptation! For my first degree of separation I'm choosing Les Miserables by Victor Hugo which is also set during the French Revolution. I haven't read that either! Les Miserables has famously…
First Line Friday 31st January: The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O’Connor | #FirstLineFriday #historicalfiction #ww2fiction | @harvillsecker – Portobello Book Blog
Today I'm sharing the first lines of a book I have really been looking forward to reading. The Ghosts of Rome by Joseph O'Connor is the second in his Rome Escape Line trilogy. The first book in the series, My Father's House, was one of my favourite reads of last year. You can read my…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions on #publicationday with Grahame CW Howard #author of A Girl Called Crocker and #bookreview | @GrahameCWHoward @pegasuspublish – Portobello Book Blog
I'm delighted to welcome a very local author to the blog today. Grahame Howard lives literally five minutes down the road from me! He's a 'weel-kent' face around Portobello and a great supporter of the local book festival where he has appeared as a contributor on several occasions. I read his book Coda, Fantaisie and…
An Almost Perfect Summer by Jill Mansell | #romanticfiction #bookreview | @JillMansell @HeadlinePG @RandomTTours – Portobello Book Blog
Last Friday it most definitely did not feel like summer as Storm Eowyn swept through Edinburgh! With a red weather warning in place, we were urged to stay at home, so I did and had the pleasure of reading most of An Almost Perfect Summer while staying safe from the storm. I enjoyed this book…
WWW Wednesday 29th January 2025: what am I reading? | #WWWWednesday #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
What am I currently reading? I've started Joseph O'Connor's The Ghosts of Rome and have immediately been gripped by the plot and the writing style. I'm listening to one of Taylor Jenkins Reid's back catalogue which I'm really enjoying. It's a Sliding Doors type story - Maybe In Another Life. What have I finished reading?…