Luke Harkness, Author at Luke’s Blog

15Dec 2021 by Luke Harkness 1 Comment

Blogger Spotlight: Brave Daddy

In today's Blogger Spotlight, we're highlighting Brave Daddy - a blog run by Greg, offering parents tips and stories from the point of view of a parent who admits that no parent really knows what they're doing. Greg writes interesting stories that turn everyday parenting moments into almost fictional stories. [caption id="attachment_1512" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] What made you get into blogging? Well, a lot of things. First, I got things on my mind, but the wife and kids don’t listen. I think that’s a common thing with husbands and fathers who are intellectual giants. It’s tough, but we find a way to make it through the day. Another thing that made me want to do it was hanging out with people and sharing our daily tribulations. Being…

14Dec 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Blogger Spotlight: Donna’s Interviews and Reviews

Blogger Spotlights, Features

In today's Blogger Spotlight, we're highlighting Donna's Interviews and Reviews - a blog that focuses on exactly what the title suggests - book reviews and interviews with authors. Donna has a good following and really enjoys what she does. Donna enjoys blogging and has some great tips for those looking to start a blog as well as some great ideas on what motivations keep her going. [caption id="attachment_1507" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] What made you get into blogging? I have always been a huge reader, then during the first lockdown I wondered if there were book groups on Facebook. A quick search showed that there were loads. I joined a bunch and soon became friends with authors and fellow readers. The blogging came as a sort of accidental…

12Dec 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Luke’s Book Quiz Round 5

Features, Quizzes

Here we are with a fifth book quiz! That means if you've taken part in the previous four book quizzes already, by the end of this one, you'll have answered 60 questions on books. I wonder how many out of those 60 you get right. Do let me know! This book quiz is written under the same pretence as the previous four: I've written questions and answers to either books I've read, questions I'd know the answers to or questions on books I think many people would know the answer to. I don't want these quizzes to make you feel dumb, they're simply here to test your knowledge and maybe even find yourself a new read via the links to my reviews for many of them. Right, let's get underway.…

09Dec 2021 by Luke Harkness 2 Comments

6 Apps All Book Lovers Need

Features, Tips and Tricks

Do you love books? Do you love your phone? Well, why not download some great apps that give you so much more bookish content to read, discover and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_1495" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] I love downloading different apps to use, not sure why, it's a bit of an addiction. I usually have over 140 apps or so on my phone including the ones installed on my phone already. There are a lot of apps I have on my phone that I only use around once a month or so but still keep on there for those very rare occasions. Therefore, I've downloaded plenty of different apps that are perfect for book lovers. There's obviously a lot out there that we could use so I've narrowed these…

07Dec 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Book reviews, Sci-Fi

Ready Player One was one of my favourite science fiction novels I’d ever read when I first picked it up. It was a brilliantly nerdy book filled with cultural references, video game references and a multi-layered story that discusses the evolution and effects of technology on culture and wove in a fun ‘bigger than this’ storyline too. [caption id="attachment_1482" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Ready Player Two has come out after Ready Player One was made into a fairly successful movie too and so comes with a lot of hype behind it. It carries on soon after the events of Ready Player One with Wade Watts and co dealing with their newfound fame, money and lives. Plot – 3.5/5 As I said, Ready Player Two carries on the story…

02Dec 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

My 5 Most Successful Blog Posts from November 2021

Features, Monthly Round Ups

At the start of each month, I highlight the best performing posts throughout the previous month. I only include articles I actually posted throughout that month and they're written in order. I don't do this to brag, it is to highlight what posts work well and which possibly don't for those prospective bloggers. Here are the most successful blog posts from the month of November. [caption id="attachment_1476" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] November was a month in which I tried to some slightly different articles. As I run out of a backlog of books on my Goodreads to review, I am writing more original content that I hope will help people. These include Blogger Spotlights which I hope will give other bloggers a great platform, How-tos and Tips and…

30Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

The Four Books I Read in November 2021

Features, Monthly Round Ups

November was a slightly slower reading month for me as I picked up some slightly longer books and my life took over a little more than usual (I actually had plans). However, two of the books from this month were up there as some of the best books I've ever read and have gone right into my top five books of all time. Despite not reading quite as many, I feel like this made November one of my favourite reading months! But what were the four books I actually read? [caption id="attachment_1463" width="400" align="aligncenter"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase any products via the links below to support the blog, I will receive a small commission…

30Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Bookstagram Tips from the Pros!

Features, Tips and Tricks

Bookstagram is a huge platform that offers a fantastic place to get to know fellow book nerds. Bookstagram isn't just a hashtag anymore, it's a community on Instagram that offers new book recommendations, insights into new reads and some of the friendliest people you'll meet. [caption id="attachment_1455" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Just started a Bookstagram and looking for some tips on how to improve your engagement or increase your followers? Well, I've gone out and asked some who I'd consider some absolute pros at it, some of whom have been doing it for a year or more and some of whom have only been doing it for a few months. Below are the responses they gave me when I asked them for tips for Bookstagrammers and then how…

29Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book Review: A Man Called Ove Fredrik Backman

Book reviews, Contemporary Fiction

A Man Called Ove is a heart-warming book about a grumpy old man whose melancholic and monotonous life is turned upside when a new family move in next door. Ove begins to see that there may be some light when he thought his only light was gone. [caption id="attachment_1448" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest[/caption] The reason I picked up A Man Called Ove is similar to that for why I pick up a lot of books - I had seen a lot of good things about it, it looked like not a long commitment and I had the kindle version of it ready to go. I knew it was going to be a lighthearted read but I didn’t realise it was going to get me so damn emotional. Plot…

26Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness 5 Comments

Book Review: We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Book reviews, Mystery, Thriller

I’d not heard of We Begin at the End before I bought it. I bought it because it was £2 on Amazon. But wow - it blew me away and it may well be the best £2 I’ve ever spent on anything ever. Read on to find out why. [caption id="attachment_1441" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] We Begin at the End tells the tale of Walk, Duchess, Vincent, Robin, Star and a whole cast of incredible characters from a backwater town in America. It tells two tales: that of a murder in the town and who the killer might be and that of Duchess and Robin, two children who deserve so much more from life. Plot – 4.5/5 We Begin at the End tells the tale of Walk’s attempt…

Author: Luke Harkness