Hello and welcome to damppebbles. It’s Friday, which is marvellous in itself. It’s also day 37 of #R3COMM3ND3D2021 – can you believe it? Seems like only yesterday we kicked things off on the 1st November! And here we are, about to announce the 100th book of this year’s series. It’s true! I can’t wait to find out what it is…

Joining me today is one of my favourite people in the book world. It’s the fabulous, award-winning Anne Williams of Being Anne. Anne’s blog is a must read for book lovers. If you don’t subscribe to Anne’s blog then I’m afraid you’re doing it all wrong, people 😉. Make sure you change that as soon as humanly possible!

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 😉

Here are the three books Anne recommends…

Falling in Louvre by Fiona Leitch
I’ve never read a book quite like this one before – I went in expecting a romantic comedy, but it’s very much more than that. Set in a vividly drawn Paris in 2016, I really loved the two main characters, and the unlikely romance that developed – my heart ached for them, I was entirely invested in their story, and I was so desperate for them to find their happy ending. The comedy that runs through the book is quite wonderful – laugh out loud, but touched with the most fantastic moments of poignancy, and I found I often had a tear in my eye along with the constant smile on my face. The way the story develops is quite inspired – everything takes quite a surreal turn, with a few moments of real drama, a touch of magic realism, and the most unexpected twists and turns. One of those books I’d like to thrust into everyone’s hands and say “just read it”.
Anne’s Review of Falling in Louvre

Out of the Mountain’s Shadow by Rose Alexander
An extraordinary story of courage and bravery, of passion and loyalty, a tribute to the wartime experience of the Albanian people about whom I knew shamefully little, and storytelling of the highest order. It’s a perfect introduction to a country and people largely shrouded in mystery (the descriptions are quite wonderful), a dual time story that entirely sweeps you away. I’m a massive fan of the author’s writing, and eagerly await whatever she does next – this was her second book this year, and I’d equally recommend her first, Along the Endless River.
Anne’s Review of Out of the Mountain’s Shadow

The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas
And another dual time line story for my third choice – I’ve loved every book Louise Douglas has ever written, but thought this one was exceptional. It’s set at All Hallows on the wilds of Dartmoor – an asylum in the 1903 story, a boys’ boarding school in the 1990s. The house is a brooding presence, the stories are wrapped around each other, the edges become blurred – the whole book has the feel of a gothic classic. I found it totally compelling, and the explosive ending had me on the edge of my seat – I was entirely invested in the characters, feverishly turning the pages and hardly breathing. Quite wonderful writing.
Anne’s Review of The Room in the Attic

Three gorgeous looking and sounding titles. Thank you so much, Anne. And our 100th book recommendation of the year is ⭐ The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas ⭐😍

About Anne Williams:
Anne’s blog, Being Anne, is now approaching nine years old, and has more than 11,000 followers. Originally from a village near Bangor in North Wales, she now lives in Wetherby in West Yorkshire, and took early retirement seven years ago to do everything she enjoys – including reading and reviewing as many books as she possibly can, and indulging herself with exotic holidays. Life did change a little a few years ago, when she became carer for her mother: the travel had to stop for a while, but nothing can come between Anne and the reading. Her blog won the Best Pal award at the Annual Bloggers’ Bash for three years running, and she was particularly delighted to win the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Media Star of the Year award in 2019.

Anne’s Blog and Social Media Links:
| Being Anne | Twitter @Williams13Anne | Facebook |

Sadly submissions for #R3COMM3D3D2021 are now closed (posts will be running until just before Christmas so we’re not quite done yet). Shortly after the last post I will be inviting you all to attend the virtual after-show party, which should be a giggle, where we can cast our eyes over the marvellous and majestic beauty of 2021’s books. We will also crown 2021’s winner (or joint winners, if that’s the case ). So I expect it to be a jolly good ol’ knees up! Until then stay tuned as we have lots more bookish loveliness heading your way ❤