Wrap It Up!-Chapter Three

Books For Those Wanting To Make Believe

My Christmas wish for you is this, as we navigate through another trying year, let books be the gift you choose to give. To others, and to yourself.

May they provide an escape, a perspective on the unconceivable, a lesson in how to do better, to be better, a door into a world of wonder, a glimpse at an everyday hero’s inspirational tale, a reminder that laughter is indeed the best medicine, that words and stories are sustenance for the soul, and in our darkest moments, a soft place to land.

Find a cozy spot, crack open a book and have a wonderful, joyous, and peaceful holiday season.

CARNIVALE OF CURIOUSITIES – AIMEE GIBBS

In Victorian London, where travelling sideshows are the pinnacle of entertainment, there is no more coveted a ticket than admission to the Carnivale Of Curiosities. It should come as no surprise that if you choose to attend, you may not leave the same person. A lot of people die in this book. Whether or not the dead stay buried is just one of the questions to ponder that will demand your attention in this wonderous and magical tale. That a first-time novelist created such a fascinating and intricate world, populated it with vivid, flawed, and fragile characters and constructed for the reader a lush and entertaining read from start to finish is nothing short of a marvel.

THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS – ERIKA JOHANSEN

Light and dark, this is the cursed birthright placed upon Clara and Natasha by their godfather, whose power and greed hold an entire city in his sway. Clara has a life of beauty and ease, while Natasha is relegated to the shadows. Natasha finds a way to change her fortune on Christmas Eve, following her sister into a glittering enchanted world full of snow and sugar, seeking out the Sugar Plum Fairy. A dark and edgy retelling of the classic, The Nutcracker. Anyone who loves their fairytales a little more on the thorny side will adore this lush story.

THE FALL OF RUIN & WRATH – JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT

Long ago, the world was destroyed by gods. Only nine cities were spared. Separated by a vast wilderness teeming with monsters and unimaginable dangers, each city is now ruled by a guardian. Royalty who feed on mortal pleasure. Calista, born with an intuition that never fails, lives a life out of the spotlight, acting as a courtesan to a Baron. When out travelling, she saves a prince and the voice inside her blazes a warning. Today he will bring her joy. One day he will be her doom. Immersive fantasy with scorching romance? What are we waiting for!

And a few more…

Starling House – Alix E. Harrow

The Future – Naomi Alderman

The Land Of Lost Things – Michael Connelly