Hello and the warmest of welcomes to Tuesday on damppebbles. It’s day 14 of #R3COMM3ND3D2021 and in just over two weeks we’ve proven what a great year of books 2021 has been. We’ve had some brilliant fantasy, horror, thriller and contemporary fiction novels (to name only a handful of genres!) recommended so far and there’s still lots to come. Today I am delighted to welcome a blogger who adds countless books to my terrifying TBR every year, it’s the brilliant Jo B who blogs over at Jo’s Book Blog. I love Jo’s blog and heartily recommend you subscribe ASAP. Pop over there now and hit the follow button. Don’t worry, we’ll wait for you to return…

So, what is #R3COMM3ND3D2021? 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 2021. To make things interesting there are a couple of teeny, tiny rules; 1) the book must have FIRST been published in 2021 and 2) special editions and reissues do not count. I like to keep you lovely people on your toes 😉

As this is the fifth year of #R3C, things are going to be a smidge different this year. There’s a scary deadline involved *shudder*. The #R3COMM3ND3D application form will only be open until midday (GMT) on Wednesday 1st December. If you would like to take part in #R3C this year (and I would LOVE you to!) then please get your three choices in sooner rather than later. Any posts scheduled for later in December will be brought forward and I will close the series early if I’m not able to fill all of the available dates. The form is at the bottom of this post if you fancy taking part.

Here are the three books Jo recommends…

The Appeal by Janice Hallett
A strong contender for my book of the year, I was gripped from the very first page and stayed up late (too late!) to finish it. It has a brilliant format which lets the reader play detective, giving them as much information as the two people trying to solve the case as you read through the emails, messages etc. that make up the evidence. It’s a brilliant, complex mystery and I loved every page.
Jo’s Review of The Appeal

Five Minds by Guy Morpuss
Five Minds is an absolutely brilliant speculative thriller. There are some confusing ideas to get to grips with – in particular the idea of five people sharing a single body – but if you go with it and don’t worry too much about the mechanics it soon becomes clear. This is a brilliant mystery set in a near future world, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Jo’s Review of Five Minds

Dog Days by Ericka Waller
There are some books that you start reading and just know, almost before you’ve finished the first page, that you’ve found something special. Dog Days is one such book for me. It follows three characters – George, Dan, and Lizzie – through a period of change in their lives. It looks at how different people deal with upheaval and the events that are outside of their control and the way that hope can come from the unlikeliest of quarters. It’s funny and sad, heart-warming and life affirming.
Jo’s Review of Dog Days

Excellent choices, thanks Jo. I’ve read – and loved – two of your picks. I heartily recommend both myself, along with pretty much everything else that particular publisher touches. Their books are always so, so good! I’ll be adding your third choice to my wish list as I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about it.

About Jo B:
I’ve been an avid reader since I was a child, and have always had an inclination towards darker stories – as a friend once pointed out, if I describe a book as bleak then it probably means that I really enjoyed it. This started with a fascination with fairy tales and myths when I was younger, and has developed into a love for post-apocalyptic / dystopian fiction now that I’m older, helped along by studying 1984 and Brave New World at A-level. I also read a lot of crime, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, horror… honestly, I’ll give most things a go!

In those rare moments when I’m not reading, you’ll find me watching the Nottingham Panthers or walking in the Peak District, usually visiting a pub or two along the way!

Jo’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Jo’s Book Blog | Twitter @tiny_ickle_jo |

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/pHinvKCHGP89wumn9)