I am thrilled to welcome another superb book blogger to damppebbles HQ today – the lovely Claire Ayres of BrizzleLass Books.  What I love about Claire’s blog is that she tends to focus on Fantasy and Romance books, two genres which I don’t normally read but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to keep up to date with what’s going on!  Claire has joined me today to share her #R3COMM3ND3D2017 reads.

#R3COMM3ND3D2017 is a chance for book bloggers and authors to share three books they love.  The only stipulation being, the books must have been published last year in 2017.

Here are Claire’s choices…

Blackwing by Ed McDonald (The Raven’s Mark #1)
I’m rarely completely speechless after finishing a book, I normally have a lot to say good or bad, but Blackwing left me utterly gobsmacked. It’s an exceptional debut by Ed McDonald which I couldn’t put down with a likeable but roguish lead character and world building which was intricate but easy to follow. I was completely absorbed into this novel and I have recommended it to people consistently since I read it in July.

Godblind by Anna Stephens
Not many people can pull off a book told from multiple points of view, with so much blood, guts, and gore that it’s practically pouring from the pages and yet Anna Stephens does it beautifully. This book is a bloodbath, it’s brutal. Each chapter is from a different point of view we have I think it’s ten characters to get to know, understand and follow and yet this author makes it so easy. I became invested in this story very early on. I also became incredibly attached to one of the most evil characters in the book, how does an author do that? This book is just everything that any fantasy fan should be looking for.

Watching Glass Shatter by James J. Cudney
I’ve just realised I’ve picked all debut novels for this, it’s been one of those years. Watching Glass Shatter broke me apart. I went through an entire box of tissues reading this book. It’s contemporary fiction at it’s best, a family devastated by the loss of its patriarch left with a mystery to unravel which brings with it the realisation there are a lot of secrets that need to be revealed. There are laughs, love and, well as I’ve said so many tears. This is an author who knows how to pull on the heart strings and get you to feel everything the characters are feeling.

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Thanks so much for your recommendations, Claire.  I’m quite giddy because I’ve added ‘Godblind’ to my wishlist.  My first fantasy read in a good few years.  How could I not though when you use words like ‘brutal’ and ‘bloodbath’ and of course my favourite three words, ‘blood, guts and gore’!

If Claire has managed to tempt you, or if you would like to find out more about her recommendations then please click the following amazon.co.uk links:

Blackwing by Ed McDonald | Godblind by Anna Stephens | Watching Glass Shatter by James J. Cudney |

About Claire:
I’m BrizzleLass, aka Claire, I blog mainly about Fantasy and Romance, I live in Bristol and when I’m not blogging I can be found writing, volunteering at a mental health charity or going to a gig. Books are my bag as they say and if you want to talk about books I have all day free for you.

Claire’s Blog and Social Media Links:
BrizzleLass Books | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |

My thanks to Claire for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am thrilled to welcome the lovely Becca Burnton of If Only I Could Read Faster, so make sure you stop by again then.