Christmas #2 – Books

Amazon stock a comprehensive list of books

Abebooks have rare, second-hand and out-of-print books

Biblion is a place to find and buy second hand books, out of print books and rare books as well as ephemera, magazines, journals and used textbooks offered for sale by independent booksellers throughout the UK and the world.

Bodyline Books is the place to come for quality cricket books, Wisdens, photographs, postcards and other items of unique cricket and sporting ephemera.

Bookbrain is for comparing book prices and to see who has the book you’re looking for and in stock to send out.

Blackwell has some good discounts and shipping is free to the UK on orders over £20

Compman started off selling computer books but has now moved into geneal education books and fiction. Some good discounts and quick delivery.

Gays The Word is the largest and most comprehensive lesbian and gay bookshop in the UK.

Harrington Books deal in a wide selection of literature, modern first editions, leather bound library sets and books by the yard, voyages and travel, children’s and illustrated books, fore-edge paintings and fine and rare antiquarian books in all fields.

Hatchards is the oldest surviving book shop in London and has a good choice of titles in hardback and paperback. They also specialise in signed and special editions and very important publications.

Jonkers specialise in modern first editions, fine illustrated books, classic children’s fiction and 19th century literature.

Waterstones is less cluttered than many online bookstores. Delivery is free in the UK on orders over £15.

Christmas #1 – A Sweet Tooth

Chocolate Buttons offers Gourmet & Old Fashioned Sweets (some good stocking fillers here for kids too) which includes long forgotten treats such as Pear Drops, Rhubarb & Custard, Rosy Apples and Fizz Balls. There are also various Christmas treats, selection boxes and more. Worth a look.

Dark Sugars sells some beautiful rich chocolates. How about Peach strips soaked in peach schnapps dipped in 70% couverture chocolate

Hotel Chocolat offers some delicious chocolates including The Chocolatier’s Table which for £38 offers 65 pieces of chocolate like Melt-away truffles, smooth pralines, zingy real fruit creations, nibbly nuts, caramel, pure chocolate including single estate, soft buttercreams, manons and more.

Thank Heaven For Chocolate offers some attractive sets and includes novelty chocolates including the lovely handmade giant mosaic chocolate bar. This is nine chunky tiles of milk, dark and white chocolate generously decorated with a luxury array of nuts, fruits and marshmallows made by James Chocolates and presented in a purple box for £30 (postage included).

The Chocoholic’s Dream by John Lewis is slightly more expensive at £50 but offers Bovetti chocolat blanc marbre noir, Chesters of St. Andrews Cappuccino flavoured chocolate beans, Dormen’s Belgian chocolate jumbo peanuts, Green & Blacks organic hazelnut chocolate spread, Guylian Belgian chocolate powder, Chocca Mocca luxury chocolate coated biscuits and Lir cafe truffles. A gift sure to be well appreciated!

Harrods offer a range of choices that wont break the bank including a nice indulgent treat – Christmas pudding biscuits for £4-50!

Debenhams provide the answer to “What does £50 worth of jellybeans look like?”. Don’t eat them all at once!

Green and Blacks Stock a wide range of gifts that will suit most budgets

Thorntons are ever dependable when it come to attractive gifts for any occasion including Christmas of course. Look out for their blueberry and raspberry fudge!