Starting this year in yet another lockdown, most of my time was spent homeschooling my two young children, makig bannana bread or looking for my marbles which are yet to be found. However on the rare occassion i had time to myself i would pick up a book and escape for short while.

I have read lots of different books this year, some were in a different time or a different world, others made me laugh, cry or sent shivers down my spine. I have discovered lots of new authors this year as well such as Sharon Maas, Jina Bacarr. Diane Saxon, Anna Todd, Lucy Adlington ,Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti.

Any bookworm will relate to my issue, i have been asked to write abut my favourite book of 2021. I simply cannot pick just one, i can’t do it. That’s not me being defeatest I really cannot pick just one. So instead i am going to pick my top three.

In no particular order, The first book is Zodiac Academy The Awakening by Susanne Valenti and Caroline Peckham. This book is the first in a series of 8 books and it is utterly amazing. It is Harry Potter meets the TV show Fate: Winx Saga. I am obsessed with these books, I am currently reading book 6 and i have no idea what is going to happen next. Here is some of the blurb :

I’m a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne iIknow nothing about. And it turns out, i’m Fae.

But of course there’s a catch – all hI ave to do to claim my birth right is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria.

Secondly is Farringdon’s Fate by Linda Finlay. Any of my friends, family and followers would have noticed by now that one of my all time favourite authors is Linda Finlay. She captures the beautiful westcountry in beautiful fictional stories of the past. They feel so real, I know the characters, their little quirks and their life. Farringdon’s Fate is the fifth book of Finlay’s that iIhave read and each book is unique, the only similarity they have is how the are portrayed. I have also read The Bonbon Girl, The Seashell Girl, The Girl With The Amber Comb and The Girl With The Silver Bangle. However I will warn you, do not pick up a Linda Finlay book if you have something to do, you will get lost in the world she has created and will completly forget about your day. Here is the blurb for Farringdons Fate:

Nettlecombe Manor, nestled in the rolling hills of Devon, is home to the Lord Farringdon and his second wife , Lady Charlotte. As if running the vast estate wasn’t enough, Lord Farringdon has five daughters to keep him busy. Lady Charlotte is determined that the betrothal of the eldest, Louisa, should be celebrated with a ball which is the envy of Devon society and summons a corsetiere from Exeter to measure them up for new corsets.

Apprentice Jane Haydon arrives at Nettlecombe to do the fittings. Having never set foot in such a grand home, Jane is disturbed to hear tell of a gypsy’s curse which has haunted the family for generations, and a local wise woman’s vision that there will never be a wedding at Nettlecombe.

Last but by no means least is Fighting For Your Life , A Paramedic’s Story by Lysa Walder. This book was one of the first that I read this year and 11 months on it is still fresh in my mind. Lysa shares her stories of being a paramedic directly from the frontline of the NHS. It is an utterly fascinating read, some stories inspired hope and others broke my heart. I cherish our NHS and admire everyone who works for them, emergency workers are often taken for granted and this book truly has opened my eyes. Here is the blurb:

A teenage boy lies on the pavement, bleeding from a stab wound; a distraught mum watches, in mute shock, as her daughter suffers a terrfying fatal asthma attack, a young girl is gang raped and her stricken boyfriend has taken an overdose, a disturbed man flings himself in front of a speeding train on the stroke of midnigt on New Year’s Eve.

Few people can imagine living in a world where such situations are part of everyday life. Yet for veteran paramedic Lysa Walder, these and thousands of other emergency call outs are part of a day’s work; scenes of tragedy, heroism, loss and horror- but also stories of triumph and humour.

So there you have it folks, my top three reads of this year, I am looking forward to going on more bookish adventures next year. Thank you for reading and I would like to wish you a very Happy New Year.