Portobello Book Blog

In my Author Spotlight today, I’m joined by Scottish author (in exile!) Ewan Gault. His forthcoming novel The Sound of Sirens will be published by Leamington Books (Garrison) in October. You can pre-order it now. Welcome Ewan. First of all, would you tell my blog readers a little about yourself? My name’s Ewan Gault.  I’ve … More #AuthorInTheSpotlight Ewan Gault – The Sound of Sirens – @EwanGault @LeamingtonBooks

I thought the concept behind this book by Alex Nye was a fabulous one. Death is being interviewed for an article in a top lifestyle magazine (in the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh which amused me), giving her side of the story. She thinks she’s been getting a bad press for years even though she’s just … More Even the Birds Grow Silent by Alex Nye #bookreview @AlexNyeWriter @FledglingPress @lovebooksgroup @lovebookstours

Angels of Mud takes place in 1940s London and 1960s Florence. Vanessa Nicolson tells the love stories of Mary, who is in what for her is a loveless marriage and then her daughter Cara who takes up a position in Florence to escape what she sees as a failed romance. Mary has rather rushed into … More Angels of Mud by Vanessa Nicolson #bookreview @GracePublicity

Joining me today and sharing a very comprehensive #TenThings (or so) he’d like his readers to know about him is author of Love Under Lockdown, Michael Estorick. Love Under Lockdown is published by Arcadia Books and available now in hardback. You’ll find buying options for several retailers on the Arcadia website here or of course, … More #TenThings about Michael Estorick #author of Love Under Lockdown @GracePublicity

The Miseducation of Evie Epworth is one of those books I’ve been meaning to read for ages and finally I have got around to it and I loved it! It came out last year in ebook and I remember reading a glowing review from friend and fellow blogger Louise (you can read that here) and … More The Miseducation of Evie Epworth by Matson Taylor #bookreview @matson_taylor_ @ScribnerUK @SimonSchusterUK

I really loved Harriet Evans’ previous novel The Garden of Lost and Found so I jumped at the chance to read this new one The Beloved Girls. Isn’t that just a gorgeous cover? There are so many little details in it which come to make sense as you read the book. The Beloved Girls is … More The Beloved Girls by Harriet Evans -#bookreview – @HarrietEvans @RandomTTours @Headlinepg

I read Jackie Fraser’s The Bookshop of Second Chances last year when it was out in ebook. This week sees the publication of the paperback version so I’m happy to be sharing my review of the book again ahead of that. If you enjoy books featuring bookshops, then this is for you. Imagine inheriting a … More The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser #bookreview @muninnherself @SimonSchusterUK @TeamBATC

Rather belatedly, I’m popping up a quick post to share this month’s poem from Poems by Post which arrived earlier this month. The poem is called ‘Humane‘ and is by poet Rohan Samuel. It’s a really thought provoking piece about what makes us human and humane, about what is humanity. I appreciated the reflection on … More Poems by Post – August poem – Humane by Rohan Samuel – artwork by Morgan McHale-Dill -@poemsbypost

For various reasons, I was later starting this book than I would have liked and I was a bit worried that I might not finish it in time for my spot on the blogtour. But I needn’t have worried as once I picked it up, I was caught up in Anna’s new life from the … More The House Beneath the Cliffs by Sharon Gosling #bookreview @sharongosling @SimonSchusterUK @RandomTTours

As we all know, holidays have been quite difficult to organise over the past year or so. You and Me on Vacation will give you a chance to travel vicariously with main characters Poppy and Alex to places such as Vancouver, New Orleans, Tuscany and Croatia. Maybe it might give you a few ideas for … More You and Me on Vacation by Emily Henry #bookreview @VikingBooksUK @PenguinUKBooks