Luke Harkness, Author at Luke’s Blog

02Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

My 5 Most Successful Blog Posts from October

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 October. [caption id="attachment_1363" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] October has been a great month for the blog. I've brought back the Blogger Spotlights to highlight some of the fantastic blogs out there who want a larger audience, I've read and reviewed some truly fantastic books, and I've picked up some older books I read a long time ago and gave my verdict on them. Please…

01Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

The Seven Spectacular Books I Read in October

Features, Monthly Round Ups

In October I read a wide array of books including thrillers, mysteries, a crime novel and the first book I've been sent directly by the author. This month featured three five-star reviews, three four-star reviews and one three-star review. It was a great month of reading filled with a wide range of genres and quality of books. I also hit my 50-book reading goal towards the end of the month which I didn't think I'd hit, let alone with a couple of months of the year left! [caption id="attachment_1356" align="aligncenter" width="400"] 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 at no extra…

01Nov 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Book reviews, Crime, Mystery

Along Came a Spider is the first crime/action thriller in the critically and commercially acclaimed Alex Cross series. If you’re a fan of crime fiction or action books, you’ve likely heard of James Patterson and you’ve also likely heard of Alex Cross. [caption id="attachment_1339" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that the article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Along Came a Spider via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. Along Came a Spider focuses on the story of the kidnapping of two high-powered individuals’ children. There are some focuses on race and equality, there is an interesting storyline…

31Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Blogger Spotlight: Benjamin X. Wretlind

Blogger Spotlights, Features

In today's Blogger Spotlight, we're shining a light on Benjamin X Wretlind who writes books, does art and photography but also has a blog. His blog features short stories, articles on Kindle Vella, a regular newsletter and much more! [caption id="attachment_1331" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] What made you get into blogging? I've always been a daily writer, and blogging seemed like a natural extension of that effort (at first, anyway). I'm also a learning and development consultant in my "day job," which means I love to teach and build course material that helps others learn. My first blog was in the old LiveJournal, which I started back in 2003 or 2004. The current iteration of my blog was started in 2012 to coincide with building a following for…

30Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: Atonium: A Thread of Existence by J G Maughan

Book reviews, Sci-Fi

Atonium: A Thread of Existence is a book I was sent to review by the author. In fact, it’s the very first book I’ve been sent to review by an author. It’s a science-fiction novel featuring some fantastic theoretical elements and some engaging discussions about God. [caption id="attachment_1327" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this book was sent to me for the purposes of a review. I do not receive any financial or another gain from posting this review and the review is of my own honest opinion. Also, note that the article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Atonium: A Thread of Existence via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support…

29Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Blogger Spotlight: Bookshine and Readbows

Blogger Spotlights, Features

In today's Blogger Spotlight, we're shining a light on Bookshine And Readbows owned by Steph. Bookshine and Readbows is a book blog filled with book reviews, author spotlights, blog tours and much more! [caption id="attachment_1321" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] What made you get into blogging? I've always been a prolific reader but had never even heard of book-blogging until my friend, the author J.J. Barnes, suggested it to me. She had already published a few books, which I had beta read before publication, and she persuaded me to give blogging a go. She even set up my original website for me! Once I got going, I fell in love with everything about book blogging - the blogging community, the author contacts, the blog tours, the opportunity to support new…

27Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

You may well have heard of the very successful TV series The Handmaid’s Tale but did you know it’s based on a very successful book by the same name, written by Margaret Atwood? Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase The Handmaid's Tale via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. [caption id="attachment_1313" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] The Handmaid’s Tale tells the first-hand story of Offred, a Handmaid who lives in Gilead where women are no longer free and must survive by obeying the whims of their commanders. It's mainly a first-hand account of her experiences…

24Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Book reviews, Fantasy, Mystery

Piranesi is a fantasy book that has you guessing throughout. Piranesi, though he’s sure that’s not his name, lives in a large house with many corridors and rooms with walls lined with thousands of statues. There is only one other person in this house: The Other. [caption id="attachment_1305" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Piranesi via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. Piranesi is a fascinating book to read. It’s told from the point of view of Piranesi who tells us of the life he lives in a house with…

21Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Blogger Spotlight: Monika Reads

Blogger Spotlights, Features

In today's Blogger Spotlight, we're shining a light on Monika Reads. Monika Reads reviews a wide array of books but also puts personal content on there including their love for books and poetry and short stories. [caption id="attachment_1298" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] What made you get into blogging? I’ve always loved reading and writing. When I joined Twitter, I noticed that a lot of people had their blogs and for years I wanted to do the same, but I never had the courage. Part of it stems from the fact that English is my second language, I was born in Poland but moved to the UK in 2008, and even though I speak, read, and write fluent English, there was that nagging doubt at the back of my…

20Oct 2021 by Luke Harkness No Comments

Book review: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Book reviews, Classics, Fantasy

George Orwell is a name that needs no introduction if you’re a fan of literature and Animal Farm is one of, if not his most, famous books. Animal Farm centres around animals rebelling against humans on a farm and rising up as part of a revolution. [caption id="attachment_1293" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Pin me to Pinterest![/caption] Please note that this article contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase Animal Farm via one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you to support the blog. These links do not affect my final opinion of the product. Animal Farm was written in 1945 by George Orwell and as noted above tells the story of a group of farm animals who decide to overthrow the…

Author: Luke Harkness