Hello and welcome to Tuesday on damppebbles. We’re currently – before I reveal the three books today’s #R3COMM3ND3D2020 guest has chosen – 124 unique book recommendations into this year’s feature and I’m loving every minute of it! We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is in the lead at the moment with three votes but there are five other books snapping at Chris’ heels with two votes each!

Today I am delighted to welcome another fairly ‘new to me’ blogger to share the book love. It’s the fantastic Shelleyrae of Book’d Out. I popped over to Book’d Out for a quick nose around and fell in love with Shelleyrae’s aesthetic. I subscribed, of course, and I am looking forward to getting some brilliant book recommendations!

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2020? It’s about sharing the book love. It’s a chance for authors, book bloggers and bookstagrammers to shout about three (yes, *only* three) books they love. They can be written by any author, in any genre and published in any way (traditionally, indie press or self-published). But there is a catch. All three books must have been published in 2020. To make things interesting I have added a couple of teeny, tiny rules this year which are; 1) the book must have first been published in 2020 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes. 😉

Here are Shelleyrae’s three #R3COMM3ND3D2020 picks…

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon is an exciting and absorbing novel of historical fiction based on the extraordinary wartime experiences of Australian-born, resistor/spy/agent, Nancy Wake. This is not just a story of adventure and romance, but also one of friendship, courage, tragedy, and hope.
Shelleyrae’s Review of Code Name Hélène

Consolation (Constable Hirsch Mysteries #3) by Garry Disher
Consolation is the third excellent, compelling crime novel by Garry Disher to feature Constable Paul Hirschhausen, a country copper in rural South Australia. There’s plenty of well timed action that drives the story at a fast pace but without sacrificing suspense, or emotion. The setting is recognisably Australian, Disher’s prose effortlessly evokes the environment, character, and residents of Tiverton and surrounds. The laconic dialogue and dry wit is familiar and authentic. This is one of my favourite crime fiction series which begins with Bitter Wash Road (Hell To Pay in the US) and Peace.
Shelleyrae’s Review of Consolation
[Now, you know I’m a stickler for the rules of #R3COMM3ND3D but how do you fancy a little bit of controversy?! This book – Consolation – isn’t actually published here in the UK until next June. However, it was published this year in Australia, which is where Shelleyrae is from. So on this occasion, and because I’m now stupidly excited about reading this book and it sounds to be everything I love at the moment, I’m allowing it. BUT I have included the Australian cover and the link below will take you the Amazon AU listing. Worth mentioning though that the UK cover is GORGEOUS and this is now one of my most hotly anticipated reads for 2021! My blog, my rules 😉]

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Anxious People is both wise and insightful, absurd and poignant. It explores a variety of themes including desperation, grief, compassion, relationships, capitalism, regret, connection and hope. It’s a comedy, a tragedy, a mystery and a wonderfully told story. I don’t know how it is that Fredrik Backman can write such wildly divergent stories with unique characters that nevertheless have all managed to make me both laugh and cry.
Shelleyrae’s Review of Anxious People

Three great choices, thanks so much Shelleyrae. I really am quite giddy about Consolation so roll on the Summer when I can get my mitts on a copy!

If Shelleyrae has managed to tempt you, or if you would like to find out more about the books recommended above, please see the following links:

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
Consolation by Garry Disher
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

About Shelleyrae:
My name is Shelleyrae, I’m a wife and mother of four living in a small regional town on the north coast of NSW, Australia. A life long reader, I started Book’d Out in 2010 to connect with other book lovers. I read around 200 books a year across a variety of fiction genres, naturally favouring Australian authors, and I enjoy reading nonfiction too (I am currently hosting the Nonfiction Reader Challenge).

Shelleyrae’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Book’d Out | Twitter @bookdout | Facebook | Goodreads | LibraryThing | Pinterest |

If you’re a book blogger, bookstagrammer or an author and you have three books published this year which you want to shout about then please complete the following form (or click this link: https://forms.gle/kHTQeQdiUNZTsW4d6)