I am delighted to welcome Joanne Nicolson, author of Positive: She Longed for a Positive Pregnancy Test, to damppebbles today.  I have seen Joanne’s latest release mentioned on a few blogs of late so I was thrilled when she wanted to take part in #R3COMM3ND3D2017.

#R3COMM3ND3D2017 is my new feature where I invite authors and book bloggers to recommend three of their favourite reads from 2017.  There is one rule; the books must have been published this year, in 2017.  #R3COMM3ND3D2017 is all about books approaching their first birthday!

Here are Joanne’s recommendations…

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney
This thriller is unlike any novel I’ve read. The story is set in a house that incorporates cutting-edge technology, minimalistic living and psychological testing for the resident living there. The strange dynamic of the home almost feels like it is controlling whoever lives within its walls. When Jane discovers the girl who lived there before her, Emma, met a suspicious death she tries to unravel the mystery of how she died. The chapters are broken into Jane and Emma’s points of view, and the story unfolds with twists and turns. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I would highly recommend reading ‘The Girl Before’.

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough
This story starts slowly as a typical love triangle when Louise kisses a man in a bar who she later finds out is her new boss, David. David’s beautiful wife Adele is aware of the affair and she befriends Louise, but asks her to keep their friendship secret from her controlling husband. The reader is left wondering if David is a narcissist or if Adele is a psychopath. The motivations for the characters actions are unclear until a twist at the end that you won’t see coming. Well thought out and cleverly written, I would put this novel on your TBR list now.

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
This memoir depicts the life of Pino Lella as World War II hits Milan, Italy. He is a teenager who is sent to the alps for safety and he begins his life as part of the resistance guiding Jews over the border to safety in Switzerland. Before his 18th birthday, his parents make him enlist with the Nazi party to keep him away from the front line. He is injured when on duty and by chance is then put into the position of driver for the 2nd highest Nazi officer. He takes this opportunity to spy on the German war efforts. An amazing tale of courage, love and loss. This story is at times heart wrenching and at others heartwarming. The writing is beautiful and conjures up a clear portrayal of life in Italy in war times. Not my normal reading choice but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Thank you so much for your recommendations, Joanne.  You’ve made me want to read ‘The Girl Before’and I’m pleased to say I already have ‘Behind Her Eyes’ on the TBR.

If Joanne has managed to tempt you, or if you would like to find out more information on the books she recommends, please see the following amazon.co.uk links:

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney | Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough | Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan |

About Joanne:
Joanne Nicholson is an Australian author of contemporary women’s fiction. Outside her passions of reading and writing, Joanne is a busy mother of four who enjoys exercising, boating, skiing, travelling, listening to music and playing with her dog. Her new release ‘Positive’ is available on Amazon Kindle. Her other titles include ‘Intuition’ and ‘In Another Life’.

About Positive:
Ruth’s dreams of getting married and having a family seem set to become a reality until she is stunned to find herself dumped. In her mid-thirties and with her biological clock ticking loudly, Ruth goes to extreme lengths to become a mother. She is in shock when she finally gets a positive test result back from the doctor. With the love and support of her friends and family, she adapts to her new condition and prepares for the challenges ahead of becoming a single mum. Set in Australia, this contemporary fiction novel explores the modern day conundrum of internet dating, IVF and raising a child as a single parent.

amazon.co.uk | amazon.com |

Joanne’s Social Media Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |

If you’re a book blogger or an author and would like to join in the #R3COMM3ND3D2017 fun, please complete the following form.  I will use every single response I receive: