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Portobello Book Blog by Joanne - Books & Literature
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May to-be-read pile | #amreading #tbr #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
Slightly concerned at how many books I'm hoping to get through in May but we'll see how it goes! On the plus side, I'm already ahead on June's tbr as I read one of those on holiday. I have two blogtour commitments this month and have digital copies from Netgalley. I'll be reviewing One Long…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Rosie Walker #author of My Husband’s Ex | @ciderwithrosie @Bookouture – Portobello Book Blog
I'm really pleased to be joined by author Rosie Walker today as she answers my #ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions about her latest thriller, My Husband's Ex. The book was published by Bookouture last week and available now for e-readers. Tell me THREE things about your latest book My Husband's Ex is set near Glencoe in the…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Caroline James #author of The French Cookery School | @rararesources @0neMoreChapter_ @CarolineJames12 – Portobello Book Blog
I'm delighted to be joined by author Caroline James today. Caroline is here to chat about her newest novel The French Cookery School so she's answering my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to take part in the blogtour. Tell me THREE things about your latest book The…
#6Degrees of Separation for May 2024: From The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop to All Good Things by @MrsAmandaProwse – Portobello Book Blog
This month we are starting with start with a novel longlisted for the 2024 Stella Prize – The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop. I haven't read this one but it sparked an idea for this month's chain! Before you get anywhere near an anniversary there has to be some romance, so for my first degree of separation I've…
April 2024 wrap-up: how did I get on with the to-be-read pile? | #amreading #tbr #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
I'm not long back from a fabulous holiday in Salzburg and Munich so I'm a little late with my monthly wrap-up. Here are the books I hoped to read in April so how did I get on? The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher The Paris Peacemakers by Flora Johnston My Favourite Mistake by Marian…
Perfect Daughter by Amanda Prowse | #audiobook #bookreview | @MrsAmandaProwse @HoZ_Books – Portobello Book Blog
I have read a lot of Amanda Prowse's books but she's such a prolific author that there are several from her back catalogue I've yet to catch up with. My friend Kelly recommended listening to one of her audiobooks as Amanda narrates them herself. I found this one on the Libby app and then discovered…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Dave Dawson #author of Pop Idle – Portobello Book Blog
I'm very pleased to be joined by author Dave Dawson today. I really enjoyed his co-written book Dear Mr Pop Star (review here) and Pop Idle sounds great too but I just couldn't fit it in. So I invited Dave to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about his new book and I'm glad to say…
THE SHORTLIST FOR 2024 WALTER SCOTT PRIZE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED | @waltscottprize @stonehillsalt – Portobello Book Blog
THE SHORTLIST FOR 2024 WALTER SCOTT PRIZE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED! The judges have announced the shortlist for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, which is now under the new management of The Abbotsford Trust. The six books going forward for the £25,000 award are: THE NEW LIFE by Tom Crewe (Chatto…
Top Ten Tuesday 30th April: Low rated books on my GoodReads shelf! | #TopTenTuesday #TuesdayBookBlog – Portobello Book Blog
This week's topic: Low rated books on my GoodReads shelf! This week's topic should really be 'petty reasons I've DNF'd a book'. I very rarely don't finish a book and I'm not sure I could come up with ten reasons why I sometimes don't finish. So instead I've chosen ten of the books on my…
The Holiday Escape by Heidi Swain | #bookreview #respectromfiction | @Heidi_swain @TeamBATC @SimonSchusterUK – Portobello Book Blog
The Holiday Escape is a standalone novel from Heidi Swain and sees us visiting the fictional small town of Kittiwake Cove. She really does create the most wonderful locations whether it's the well known Nightingale Square or Wynbridge or, as in this case, a close-knit seaside community in Dorset. Along with her dad, Ally runs…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Lorna Dounaeva #author of #thriller The Perfect Housemate | @Bookouture @LornaDounaeva – Portobello Book Blog
Joining me today to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about her latest novel The Perfect Housemate is author Lorna Dounaeva. The Perfect Housemate is published by Bookouture in all formats - full book details and buying links further down the page. Tell me THREE things about your latest book The Perfect Housemate is a claustrophobic…
The Perfect Passion Company by Alexander McCall Smith | #bookreview | @ScottishBooks @PolygonBooks @McCallSmith – Portobello Book Blog
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway run by Books From Scotland on Twitter so thanks to Vikki for my copy of the book. The Perfect Passion Company is published by Polygon and available now in hardback, audiobook and digital editions. The book consists of three novellas, the first two of which…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Anne Hamilton #author of The Almost Truth | @AnneHamilton7 @Legend_Times_ – Portobello Book Blog
I'm pleased to be joined by local author Anne Hamilton today who is answering my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about her latest book, The Almost Truth. The book is published by Legend Press and available now in paperback, for e-readers and as an audiobook. Tell me THREE things about your latest book As an unpublished manuscript,…
Spell the month in books APRIL 2024 | #spellthemonth #booktag #bookchallenge #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
A little late this month, here is my book stack spelling the month of April. A - Absolutely and Forever by Rose Tremain P - (The) Perfect Passion Company by Alexander McCall Smith R - Robinson by Muriel Spark I - In Bloom by Eva Verde L - Lady's Rock by Sue Lawrence I've read…
Mort by Terry Pratchett – a joint post with Grace’s Book Shelf @gracebaaird | #audiobook #bookreview #Discworld | @terryandrob @LibbyApp – Portobello Book Blog
Let me start by saying that I don't generally read fantasy books. Unpopular opinion perhaps but there you go. And yet, I love Terry Pratchett's books. My husband introduced me to Pratchett when we first met over thirty years ago. I think the first one I read was actually Good Omens which was co-written with…
The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick | #bookreview #historicalfiction | @liz_fenwick @HQStories – Portobello Book Blog
Screenshot I absolutely love Liz Fenwick's novels and she's featured on my Top Reads list at least three times. Yesterday saw the paperback publication of her latest novel, The Secret Shore, which is romantic historical fiction set in World War Two. As you can see, there are two gorgeous covers. The one on the left…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Katherine Mezzacappa #author of The Maiden of Florence plus #giveaway | #historicalfiction | @rararesources @KatMezzacappa @FairlightBooks – Portobello Book Blog
I'm pleased to welcome author Katherine Mezzacappa today as she answers my #ThreeTwoOne quickfire questions about her novel, The Maiden of Florence. I really like the sound of this book and am disappointed I can't fit it in. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for having me as part of the blog tour to…
Cover reveal! A Love Letter to Paris by Rebecca Raisin | @jaxandwillsmum @boldwoodbooks – Portobello Book Blog
I'm pleased to be helping reveal the cover for Rebecca Raisin's forthcoming novel A Love Letter to Paris. Isn't it gorgeous? It sounds fabulous too. Full details about the book are below as well as pre-order links. The book will be published by Boldwood Books and is due out on 8th of July 2024: £2.99 /…
An Italian Girl in Brooklyn by Santa Montefiore | #historicalfiction #bookreview | @SantaMontefiore @SimonSchusterUK @TeamBATC – Portobello Book Blog
I've recently been listening to Santa Montefiore's novel An Italian Girl in Brooklyn and thoroughly enjoyed it. The narrator was Genevieve Gaunt and she had a lovely voice to listen to, and was excellent at the various accents such as Italian and New York. The Italian girl of the title is Evelina who moved to…
Top Ten Tuesday 23rd April 2024: Unread Books on my Kindle | #TopTenTuesday #TuesdayBookBlog #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
Today's topic: Unread Books on My Kindle This week Jana has invited us to share ten books on our shelves which we hope to read soon. Well, I'm not sure that I can commit to reading them soon but I thought I'd have a look at my Kindle and see what is lurking there. I'm…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Val Portelli #author of Angel in Disguise | @ValPortelli – Portobello Book Blog
Joining me today to chat about her book Angel in Disguise is author Val Portelli. It's the story of her late friend Mitch Mitchell. a musician with 70s rock band Wild Angels but I'll let her tell you more about it. Tell me THREE things about your latest book 1. It’s my first venture into writing…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Rebecca Frayn #author of Lost in Ibiza | @wearewhitefox @RKBookPublicist – Portobello Book Blog
Joiing me today to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about her novel Lost in Ibiza is author Rebecca Frayn. The book was published by Whitefox Publishing on Thursday and you can order a copy here: Lost in Ibiza Tell me three things about your book It’s a page turner. It will amuse you. It will…
The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher | #bookreview | @sfletcherauthor @TransworldBooks #BantamBooks – Portobello Book Blog
The Night in Question is a wonderful book and one of those I just want to say to you to go and buy but you'll probably want to know why! Well first of all, it has the most wonderful protagonist in octogenarian Florrie Butterfield. Florrie lives in an assisted living residential home and is in…
The Paris Peacemakers by Flora Johnston | #historicalfiction #bookreview | @FloraJoWriter @AllisonAndBusby – Portobello Book Blog
I was particularly keen to read The Paris Peacemakers after finding out from Eileen Dunlop's book Scottish Women Writers that it was partly inspired by Flora Johnston's great-aunt Christina Keith. In fact, it draws on the experiences of three of her great-aunts, and what remarkable women they must have been. The Paris Peacemakers follows three…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Ian Porter #author of Whitechapel Autumn of Error | @RandomTTours | #WhitechapelMurders #TheFive – Portobello Book Blog
Joining me today to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about his book Whitechapel Autumn of Error is author Ian Porter. I wrote this novel in response to the poorly researched True Crime books/tv programmes and the nightly jokey Jack the Ripper walking tours that take place nightly in Whitechapel, that fail to respect the poor…
WWW Wednesday 17th April 2024 – what are you reading? | #WWWWednesday #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
What am I currently reading? I'm very nearly finished The Holiday Escape by Heidi Swain which I'm really enjoying. I'll be reviewing that as part of the blog tour on 1st May. I've just started listening to Summer at the Santorini Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin. My library reservation of non-fiction Ashes to Admin by Evie…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Kim Nash #author of Making Memories at the Cornish Cove | @kimthebookworm @BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers – Portobello Book Blog
It's a real pleasure to welcome Kim Nash to the blog today. Although I've never met Kim in person, I feel like she's an old friend. I've known her through her work with publisher Bookouture, as a fellow blogger and now as an author. I've read a few of her books which really are heart-warming,…
Top Ten Tuesday 16th April: Characters I’d Like to go on Holiday With | #TopTenTuesday #bookrecomemndations #TuesdayBookBlog – Portobello Book Blog
This week's topic: Characters I’d like to go on holiday with This week's topic follows on rather nicely from last week's freebie where I chose ten books set in places I'd like to go on holiday. This week. it's ten characters I'd like to go on holiday with. As it happens, this time next week…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Kate Foster #author of The King’s Witches | @KateFosterMedia @MantleBooks @PanMacmillan – Portobello Book Blog
I was delighted recently to receive an early copy of The King's Witches by Kate Foster. It's due out in early June from Mantle Books but to whet your appetite, I asked Kate to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about the book. Tell me THREE things about your latest book The King’s Witches is a…
My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes | #bookreview – Portobello Book Blog
I was over the moon to hear that Marian Keyes was writing a follow up to Anybody Out There? which I think was the first of her books I read. I've read all the books featuring the various members of the Walsh family (still want to read Mammy's story!) but that one, which has Anna…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Margaret Amatt #author of Starting Over at the Crafty Bee Barn | @AmattAuthor @rararesources – Portobello Book Blog
It's a return visit to the blog for Margaret Amatt today. Margaret has been a guest a couple of times before but is here today to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about her latest book, Starting Over at the Crafty Bee Barn. Thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to take part…
The Murder of Mr Wickham by Claudia Gray | #murdermystery #bookreview #JaneAusten | @ClaudiaGray @VintageAnchor – Portobello Book Blog
My family gave me a copy of The Murder of Mr Wickham by Claudia Gray for my Christmas and I just spent the last few days thoroughly enjoying it. It's the first in a series of three books. The second is The Late Mrs Willoughby which is already available and the third is The Perils…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with #author of A Country Wedding Murder | @bookouture @KatieGayleBooks – Portobello Book Blog
Joining me today to answer my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions about her latest book A Country Wedding Murder is author Katie Gayle - or really, two authors as you'll discover below. Tell me THREE things about your latest book It starts off at the wedding of Peter - the ex-husband of our heroine sleuth, Julia Bird…
WWW Wednesday 10th April 2024 – what are you reading? | #WWWWednesday #amreading #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
What am I reading? I've just started The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher. I've really been looking forward to this one. My daughter loved it and I've seen so many brilliant reviews of the book. My current audiobook is Dial A For Aunties. This is the first in a series - there are now…
Matilda’s Summer of New Beginnings by Kirsty Ferry | #romanticfiction #bookreview | @Kirsty_ferry @ChocLitUk @JoffeBooks – Portobello Book Blog
As you'll know if you're a regular reader of the blog, Kirsty Ferry is one of my favourite authors. She's a prolific writer so I haven't quite read all her books but if you pop her name in the search box you'll find reviews for at least 16 of them. I am pretty sure she's…
Top Ten Tuesday 9th April: books set in places I’d like to visit or revisit | #TopTenTuesday #TuesdayBookBlog #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
This week's topic: Books set in places I'd like to visit or revisit This week is a freebie so I have chosen ten books set in places I've either visited before or would like to visit again. I've read and reviewed all of these books so clicking the title will take you to my blog…
#ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions with Barry Childs #author of And The Children Shall Lead Us | #nonfiction | @AfricaBridge @BBookCollective – Portobello Book Blog
I'm joined today by Barry Childs, author of And The Children Shall Lead Us, who is answering my #ThreeTwoOne quick-fire questions. The book, which sounds fascinating, tells the story of a very successful initiative and sustainable agricultural cooperative in African rural villages. Thanks to Stephanie Bretherton for suggesting I feature this book. Tell me THREE…
Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag 2024 | #BookTag #BookChallenge – Portobello Book Blog
It’s the first week of April and so we’re already a quarter of the way through the year. I wish it would feel a bit more spring like - yet another wind and rain storm is forecast for this weekend! I was tagged by Janette to take part in this fun book tag. Thanks Janette!…
April 2024 – to be read pile | #amreading #tbr #bookrecommendations – Portobello Book Blog
A little later in the month than I planned, here are the books I'm hoping to read in April. I've been lucky enough to be sent early copies of The Night in Question by Susan Fletcher and The Paris Peacemakers by Flora Johnston and I'm looking forward to reading both of these. From Netgalley, I…
#6Degrees of Separation April 2024: From The Rough Guide to France to Summer at the French Cafe – Portobello Book Blog
This month we have to use a travel guide as our starting book and I have chosen my well-thumbed, very tatty Rough Guide to France. This saw my husband and I through several camping holidays in the early 90s. We actually bought a second copy as our first one got so tatty but we've kept…