1. Unmasked by Andrew Lloyd Webber – One of the most successful and distinguished artists of our time, Andrew Lloyd Webber has reigned over the musical theatre world for nearly five decades. In Unmasked, written in his own inimitable, quirky voice, the revered, award-winning composer takes stock of his achievements, the twists of fate and circumstance which brought him both success and disappointment, and the passions that inspire and sustain him.
2. Little Book of the Grand National – The Grand National is the most famous horse race in the world. Officially first run in 1839 it is now watched in 140 countries on television with viewing figures of more than 500 million. This book tells all the tales, illustrated with great contemporary pictures and photographs.
3. The Jumping Game: How National Hunt Trainers Work and What Makes Them Tick – As the woman who trained the great Best Mate to win three consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cups, no one could be better qualified than Henrietta Knight to discover what makes today’s top jumps trainers succeed.
4. Horses in Training – The book lists, in alphabetical format, British, Irish and French trainers, their horses, the owner and breeder of each horse, foaling dates of two year olds, and the trainer’s address and phone numbers. Fully indexed, it has over 200 pages of statistics.
5. Fergus and the Greener Grass promises to entertain any reader with big dreams and an insatiable appetite for life’s little surprises whether age 5 or 95!
6. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a triumph of deft observation of everyday life. By turns laugh-aloud funny and deeply poignant, it is a book that champions everyday courage and the importance of friendship in a world where people are increasingly isolated. Challenging the stigmas that exist around loneliness in contemporary society, it is a gentle reminder of those we too easily overlook and how a life can be changed by small acts of kindness.
7. Davina’s Kitchen Favourites: Amazing sugar-free, no-fuss recipes to enjoy together – full of food she loves to cook for family and friends, and lots of easy recipes that keep the show on the road when life gets crazy!
8. Ride Better with Christoph Hess: Dozens of Rider Questions Answered – thoughtful, easy-to-apply advice when dealing with issues with the gaits, in particular the walk and canter; high-headedness or the horse that is “too light” in the poll; inconsistency of performance; leaning on the bit; falling out; lack of straightness; and much more.
9. Horses Came First, Second and Last: My Unapologetic Road to Eventing Gold – With an astounding eighteen medals in eight international championships and team gold medals at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1984, Jack Le Goff created the standard by which modern-day equestrian teams are measured.
10. Rebel Prince The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles – Bower’s book, relying on the testimony from over 120 people employed or welcomed into the inner sanctum of Clarence House, reveals a royal household rife with intrigue and misconduct. The result is a book which uniquely will probe into the character and court of the Charles that no one, until now, has seen.
11. The Little Breton Bistro is a captivating love letter to second chances. From the bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop, an extraordinary novel about self-discovery and new beginnings.
12. Anything is Possible – An unforgettable cast of small-town characters copes with love and loss from the No. 1 New York Times bestselling and Man Booker long-listed author of My Name is Lucy Barton.
