Most popular books 22 - 28 June 2009

Lovereading.co.uk Top 10

1		Playing the Game Belle de Jour Unlike the previous two books by this author this has been marketed as fiction however, the story is about how things may have turned out for Belle and her friends so it will be up to you to decide if … Download free opening extract
2		Killing God Kevin Brooks A thrilling, thought-provoking novel from the critically acclaimed Kevin Brooks. Dawn Bundy is fifteen. She doesn’t fit in and she couldn’t care less. Dawn has other things on her mind. Her dad disappeared two years ago and it’s all God’s fault. When Dawn’s … Download free opening extract
3		The Hungry Ghosts Anne Berry June 2009 Debut of the Month. A superb novel from a great new talent. The story unfolds told from the different perspectives of each family member and from Alice’s “Ghost”. Unloved by her mother and at a disadvantage in the family … Download free opening extract
4		Tribute Nora Roberts June 2009 Book of the Month. A consistently good author delivers another highly addictive read of a thespian family with the daughter leaving that world and going into renovating property. She has a gloriously sexy neighbour who she falls for and … Download free opening extract
5		The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon June 2009 Book of the Month. Fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased to find that the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books reappears in Zafon’s new novel. Set in 1920’s Barcelona this is a haunting, thrilling, fascinating tale … Download free opening extract
6		Home Marilynne Robinson Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 Jack Broughton returns to his family home after twenty years away. The book tackles the subject of family relationships and how they affect our lives in the past, present and future – inescapable … Download free opening extract
7		In Bed With… Imogen Edwards-jones, Jessica Adams, Maggie Alderson, Kathy Letter This is the most enormous fun – a collection of sexy short stories written by bestselling authors. To add to the fun, they have all used ‘porn’ pseudonyms, a combination of their first pet and their street names. … Download free opening extract
8		White Nights Ann Cleeves Setting a detective novel in the Shetland Isles is a stroke of genius in itself as a close knit community such as that is the last place you would expect murder to take place. Adding to the chilling news that … Download free opening extract
9		Tease Immodesty Blaize The British Queen of Burlesque, Immodesty Blaize, turns her talents to writing, with great success. With all the racy, raunchy fun you could expect from a novel about a girl who has risen to the top of her game in … Download free opening extract
10		No One You Know Michelle Richmond June 2009 Debut of the Month. The devastating effect on a close family when their genius daughter is murdered. The younger, carefree sister narrates this tragic tale 14 years after the event when she is at last able to piece the … Download free opening extract

KIDS SITE TOP 10

1		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
2		The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart This is a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller that we’ve been raving about since it went stratospheric across the water earlier this year. Here you will meet four very unusual children each with three things in common – all orphans, all incredibly … Download free opening extract
3		The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness Shortlisted for the 2009 Branford Boase Best Debut Novel Award - the winner will be announced in July Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009. Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008 and Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The electrifying and unflinching young … Download free opening extract
4		Come On Danny (gr8 reads) Andy Croft Full of emotion and understanding but written in such a way that a struggling or reluctant reader will devour, Come On Danny is a hard hitting story describing the difficulties of dealing with life when everything goes wrong. Danny likes … Download free opening extract
5		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract
6		The Medusa Project: The Set-Up Sophie Mckenzie This is not science fiction. Within the lifetime of children now the human race will have created new improved humans through genetic manipulation. Frightening but true. Here in the first of a thrilling roller-coaster adventure series you can join four teenagers, each … Download free opening extract
7		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract
8		Green Fingers and Muddy Boots Ivor Santer Children benefit immensely from spending time outdoors in the fresh air, and a great way to get them outside is to encourage an interest in their garden. This book presents fun and practical activities to do in the garden every … Download free opening extract
9		Creature of the Night Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009 and shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. From multi-award winning author Kate Thompson comes another absorbing read, blazing an enthralling path between the stark realities of modern-day society and the fantasy for which … Download free opening extract
10		My Double Life Joanna Nadin A double edition of Rachel’s first two diaries - My So-Called Life: A breath of fresh air in teen girls’ fiction and one of the funniest things we’ve read in the Lovereading office this year. Tipped to be the Adrian Mole … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Jun.29.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

Most popular Opening Extracts 15 - 21 June 09

Lovereading.co.uk TOP 10

1		Home Marilynne Robinson Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 Jack Broughton returns to his family home after twenty years away. The book tackles the subject of family relationships and how they affect our lives in the past, present and future – inescapable … Download free opening extract
2		Killing God Kevin Brooks A thrilling, thought-provoking novel from the critically acclaimed Kevin Brooks. Dawn Bundy is fifteen. She doesn’t fit in and she couldn’t care less. Dawn has other things on her mind. Her dad disappeared two years ago and it’s all God’s fault. When Dawn’s … Download free opening extract
3		The Hungry Ghosts Anne Berry June 2009 Debut of the Month. A superb novel from a great new talent. The story unfolds told from the different perspectives of each family member and from Alice’s “Ghost”. Unloved by her mother and at a disadvantage in the family … Download free opening extract
4		Trust Me Jeff Abbott June 2009 Book of the Month. Jeff Abbott keeps getting better and better. You will feel agitated and filled with a sense of dread while reading this book, as Luke Dantry finds his life turned upside down when kidnapped at gunpoint. … Download free opening extract
5		The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon June 2009 Book of the Month. Fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased to find that the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books reappears in Zafon’s new novel. Set in 1920’s Barcelona this is a haunting, thrilling, fascinating tale … Download free opening extract
6		Playing the Game Belle de Jour Unlike the previous two books by this author this has been marketed as fiction however, the story is about how things may have turned out for Belle and her friends so it will be up to you to decide if … Download free opening extract
7		White Nights Ann Cleeves Setting a detective novel in the Shetland Isles is a stroke of genius in itself as a close knit community such as that is the last place you would expect murder to take place. Adding to the chilling news that … Download free opening extract
8		In Bed With… Imogen Edwards-jones, Jessica Adams, Maggie Alderson, Kathy Letter This is the most enormous fun – a collection of sexy short stories written by bestselling authors. To add to the fun, they have all used ‘porn’ pseudonyms, a combination of their first pet and their street names. … Download free opening extract
9		No One You Know Michelle Richmond June 2009 Debut of the Month. The devastating effect on a close family when their genius daughter is murdered. The younger, carefree sister narrates this tragic tale 14 years after the event when she is at last able to piece the … Download free opening extract
10		Tribute Nora Roberts June 2009 Book of the Month. A consistently good author delivers another highly addictive read of a thespian family with the daughter leaving that world and going into renovating property. She has a gloriously sexy neighbour who she falls for and … Download free opening extract

Lovereading4kids.co.uk TOP 10

1		Killing God Kevin Brooks A thrilling, thought-provoking novel from the critically acclaimed Kevin Brooks. Dawn Bundy is fifteen. She doesn’t fit in and she couldn’t care less. Dawn has other things on her mind. Her dad disappeared two years ago and it’s all God’s … Download free opening extract
2		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
3		Green Fingers and Muddy Boots Ivor Santer Children benefit immensely from spending time outdoors in the fresh air, and a great way to get them outside is to encourage an interest in their garden. This book presents fun and practical activities to do in the garden every … Download free opening extract
4		The Medusa Project: The Set-Up Sophie Mckenzie This is not science fiction. Within the lifetime of children now the human race will have created new improved humans through genetic manipulation. Frightening but true. Here in the first of a thrilling roller-coaster adventure series you can join four teenagers, each … Download free opening extract
5		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract
6		Barry the Fish with Fingers Sue Hendra Extremely funny and wacky too, this crazy deep-sea caper is sure to have both parent and child in absolute stitches. Lots of bright bold artwork coupled with a great story make this a perfect read. … Download free opening extract
7		The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness Shortlisted for the 2009 Branford Boase Best Debut Novel Award - the winner will be announced in July Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009. Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2008 and Booktrust Teenage Prize 2008. The electrifying and unflinching young … Download free opening extract
8		The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart This is a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller that we’ve been raving about since it went stratospheric across the water earlier this year. Here you will meet four very unusual children each with three things in common – all orphans, all incredibly … Download free opening extract
9		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract
10		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Jun.22.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

Summer reading selections for June Reading

The weather may be changeable and inconsistent but don’t let the same thing happen to your Summer reading. Use our guidance and recommendations to find books that will keep you engrossed for the whole season.

Summer Sun – Reading Fun

Did you know that 20% of people who read only read on holiday! - So having the right books to read is vital and that’s where Lovereading comes in. We have worked with our Editorial guru, Sarah Broadhurst, to create a special range of books perfect to pop in your suitcase. Have a look at our Summer Reads category and get deciding.

We have created six different themed categories, from Action-packed and Exciting through and Emotional and Absorbing all the way to Mysterious and Thrilling. There’s something for everyone, so why not download a free Opening Extract, make your choice then allow your Summer holiday to glide by?

And, if you know any teenagers then do tell them about their special Teen Summer Reads section with stories and characters so relevant you will be telling them to put their books down!

June highlights not to miss

Behind the Blue Door – discover an exciting new publisher

We are pleased to be part of the launch of a terrific new imprint – Blue Door - from one of the leading UK publishers, Harper-Collins. The seasoned publisher behind it, Patrick Janson-Smith, was responsible for bringing us Confessions of a Shopaholic and Slumdog Millionaire. With Patrick’s unique, eclectic taste for potential bestsellers we are expecting some exciting books going forward so For now do read his first book Hungry Ghosts by Anne Berry.

Exclusive Teen Author Kevin Brooks pre publication extract

Teenagers are a difficult audience to write for, so we are excited to be able to offer you a free Opening Extract of a brand new book from one of the best Authors in the area, Kevin Brooks. It’s the story of Dawn Bundy who believes God is to blame for her Dad’s disappearance. To get him back she needs to deal with God once and for all. Thought-provoking and hard-hitting we think you shouldn’t see this as a book just for teenagers. Why not take a look now?

So, don’t forget enter our ‘Free Prize Draws’ to have the chance of winning some exclusive book goodies.

Peter C :: Jun.16.2009 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Top Ten Opening Extracts 8 - 14 June 2009

Lovereading.co.uk TOP 10

1		Home Marilynne Robinson Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 Jack Broughton returns to his family home after twenty years away. The book tackles the subject of family relationships and how they affect our lives in the past, present and future – inescapable … Download free opening extract
2		No One You Know Michelle Richmond June 2009 Debut of the Month. The devastating effect on a close family when their genius daughter is murdered. The younger, carefree sister narrates this tragic tale 14 years after the event when she is at last able to piece the … Download free opening extract
3		The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon June 2009 Book of the Month. Fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased to find that the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books reappears in Zafon’s new novel. Set in 1920’s Barcelona this is a haunting, thrilling, fascinating tale … Download free opening extract
4		Tribute Nora Roberts June 2009 Book of the Month. A consistently good author delivers another highly addictive read of a thespian family with the daughter leaving that world and going into renovating property. She has a gloriously sexy neighbour who she falls for and … Download free opening extract
5		Trust Me Jeff Abbott June 2009 Book of the Month. Jeff Abbott keeps getting better and better. You will feel agitated and filled with a sense of dread while reading this book, as Luke Dantry finds his life turned upside down when kidnapped at gunpoint. … Download free opening extract
6		White Nights Ann Cleeves Setting a detective novel in the Shetland Isles is a stroke of genius in itself as a close knit community such as that is the last place you would expect murder to take place. Adding to the chilling news that … Download free opening extract
7		In Bed With… Imogen Edwards-jones, Jessica Adams, Maggie Alderson, Kathy Letter This is the most enormous fun – a collection of sexy short stories written by bestselling authors. To add to the fun, they have all used ‘porn’ pseudonyms, a combination of their first pet and their street names. … Download free opening extract
8		Playing the Game Belle de Jour Unlike the previous two books by this author this has been marketed as fiction however, the story is about how things may have turned out for Belle and her friends so it will be up to you to decide if … Download free opening extract
9		The Italian Wedding Nicky Pellegrino A lovely book about two feuding families, a wedding and blossoming love that needs a helping hand. This is the perfect book to give you that feel-good, warm glow that comes with reading a good romantic novel. We can see … Download free opening extract
10		The Hungry Ghosts Anne Berry June 2009 Debut of the Month. A superb novel from a great new talent. The story unfolds told from the different perspectives of each family member and from Alice’s “Ghost”. Unloved by her mother and at a disadvantage in the family … Download free opening extract

KIDS SITE TOP 10

1		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath, then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract
2		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
3		Nicholas Dane Melvin Burgess Carnegie-prize winning author, Melvin Burgess, has written a long-awaited new novel. This compelling story of a teenager caught in a corrupt 1980s care home is a powerful study of a particularly highly charged and distressing subject and one that is … Download free opening extract
4		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract
5		One Small Step Jerry Stone For all space enthusiasts, this scrapbook created by 14 year old Mike is an inspiring collection of the best moon-landing memorabilia and mind-boggling photos, as well as being packed with the latest amazing space science and indeed the future of … Download free opening extract
6		Airhead Meg Cabot From the creator of Allie Finkle and The Princess Diaries comes a brand new novel featuring two very different girls, one a superbrain and the other a supermodel. They have absolutely nothing in common until something extraordinary happens. Meg cabot’s trademark wit is here … Download free opening extract
7		The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart This is a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller that we’ve been raving about since it went stratospheric across the water earlier this year. Here you will meet four very unusual children each with three things in common – all orphans, all incredibly … Download free opening extract
8		Come On Danny (gr8 reads) Andy Croft Full of emotion and understanding but written in such a way that a struggling or reluctant reader will devour, Come On Danny is a hard hitting story describing the difficulties of dealing with life when everything goes wrong. Danny likes … Download free opening extract
9		Pig City Louis Sachar Bestselling author Louis Sachar is back with a stunning new novel, which all begins with a hat…The hat Laura Sibbie buys from an old man in the street that says Pig City on the front and so Pig City is … Download free opening extract
10		Creature of the Night Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009 and shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. From multi-award winning author Kate Thompson comes another absorbing read, blazing an enthralling path between the stark realities of modern-day society and the fantasy for which … Download free opening extract

butchik :: Jun.15.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

You’ve seen the film, now read the book Part 2

A few months ago Lovereading produced it’s first list of books that have been made into films - and by popular request please find below part 2 - and as we keep getting more suggesitons we will keep publishing new chapters.

Do read them and see wether you thin the screen writer did a good job or not - comment below or email us at contact@lovereading.co.uk

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Tracy Chevalier

Johannes Vermeer is the greatest painter of his time. When he hires a young girl Griet to help in his house, it is not long before she becomes more than a servant - she starts to help him…

Format: Paperback - Released: 03/07/2006

Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

How To Lose Friends And Alienate People

Toby Young

People either love or hate him but Toby Young has written an hilarious account of his five years in New York after being offered a dream job at Vanity Fair. He desperately wants to make an impression and delight in…

Format: Paperback - Released: 18/07/2002

Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Jurassic Park

Michael Crichton

You’ve no doubt seen the film, but the book is so much darker it has to be read. This will scare you far more than any special effects because not only are Crichton’s descriptions of this genetically engineered park terrifying…

Format: Paperback - Released: 07/09/2006

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Rebecca

Daphne du Maurier

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…” is probably one of the most famous first lines from a novel and captures the readers interest immediately. What is Manderley? Why is our narrator dreaming about it? The story is…

Format: Paperback - Released: 30/01/2003

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The Naked Civil Servant

Quentin Crisp

In a world where flamboyance and fleeting fame have become everyday, one figure is still surpassed in the profession of being- Quentin Crisp, the original celebrity and self- proclaimed ‘stately homo of Britain’.

Format: Paperback (b Format) - Released: 05/02/2007

Lovereading Price: £4.49 - Saving £1.50 (25%)

Cold Mountain

Charles Frazier

This arrived on our shores in 1998 as a large, expensive paperback and proceeded to sell through word-of-mouth. Then the publishers made a bold decision … they brought out a hardback turning the traditional publishing route of hardback, paperback upside…

Format: Paperback - Released: 28/12/2006

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Eragon

Christopher Paolini

Eragon, the first in Paolini’s Inheritance trilogy releases as a movie with a cast of impressive actors on 15 December.For those teenagers and adults alike who’ve enjoyed The Lord of the Rings or indeed The Dark Materials trilogy we think…

Format: Paperback - Released: 02/11/2006

Lovereading Price: £5.24 - Saving £1.75 (25%)

The Devil Wears Prada

Lauren Weisberger

Winner of TV & Film Book of the Year at the Galaxy British Book Awards 2007.This had been made into a Hollywood blockbuster, but the book is miles better! Set in the cut-throat fashion industry, the main character…

Format: Paperback (b Format) - Released: 06/10/2003

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No Country for Old Men

Cormac Mccarthy

No Country for Old Men seems to have divided critics but is probably only because it has been seven years since his last and it is very different to his earlier novels. A tight thriller packed with drugs and violence…

Format: Paperback - Released: 21/07/2006

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The Prestige

Christopher Priest

The tale of two feuding Victorian magicians with dark dealy secrets the plot is like a nest of Chinese boxes so take nothing at face value

Format: Paperback - Released: 10/02/2005

Lovereading Price: £5.99 - Saving £2.00 (25%)

Peter C :: Jun.08.2009 :: General Book News :: No Comments »

Most popular Opening Extracts 1 - 8 June 2009

Lovereading.co.uk TOP 10

1		Home Marilynne Robinson Winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 Jack Broughton returns to his family home after twenty years away. The book tackles the subject of family relationships and how they affect our lives in the past, present and future – inescapable … Download free opening extract
2		The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon June 2009 Book of the Month.Fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased to find that the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books reappears in Zafon’s new novel. Set in 1920’s Barcelona this is a haunting, thrilling, fascinating tale … Download free opening extract
3		Trust Me Jeff Abbott June 2009 Book of the Month. Jeff Abbott keeps getting better and better. You will feel agitated and filled with a sense of dread while reading this book, as Luke Dantry finds his life turned upside down when kidnapped at gunpoint. … Download free opening extract
4		Tribute Nora Roberts June 2009 Book of the Month. A consistently good author delivers another highly addictive read of a thespian family with the daughter leaving that world and going into renovating property. She has a gloriously sexy neighbour who she falls for and … Download free opening extract
5		No One You Know Michelle Richmond June 2009 Debut of the Month. The devastating effect on a close family when their genius daughter is murdered. The younger, carefree sister narrates this tragic tale 14 years after the event when she is at last able to piece the … Download free opening extract
6		The Hungry Ghosts Anne Berry June 2009 Debut of the Month. A superb novel from a great new talent. The story unfolds told from the different perspectives of each family member and from Alice’s “Ghost”. Unloved by her mother and at a disadvantage in the family … Download free opening extract
7		Past Imperfect Julian Fellowes Reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 13 May 2009. Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 29 January 2009. Snobs, his first novel, was brilliant and Past Imperfect is better and coming from ‘the bottom end of the gentry’ gives Julian’s … Download free opening extract
8		White Nights Ann Cleeves Setting a detective novel in the Shetland Isles is a stroke of genius in itself as a close knit community such as that is the last place you would expect murder to take place. Adding to the chilling news that … Download free opening extract
9		In Bed With… Imogen Edwards-jones, Jessica Adams, Maggie Alderson, Kathy Letter This is the most enormous fun – a collection of sexy short stories written by bestselling authors. To add to the fun, they have all used ‘porn’ pseudonyms, a combination of their first pet and their street names. … Download free opening extract
10		Bloodchild Tim Bowler If you’re on the hunt for a book that will really grab you, put shivers down your spine and ensure that at the end of every chapter you gasp for breath then Bowler’s Bloodchild is the novel for you. Incredibly atmospheric of time … Download free opening extract

Lovereading4kids.co.uk TOP 10

1		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: DIY Do-It-Yourself Book Jeff Kinney A book to write yourself, this diary is filled with the prompts any reader needs to make their own Wimpy Kid Diary. Embarrassing, revealing or just plain funny, answering these questions will encourage all kinds of writing amid the jokes. … Download free opening extract
2		Pig City Louis Sachar Bestselling author Louis Sachar is back with a stunning new novel, which all begins with a hat…The hat Laura Sibbie buys from an old man in the street that says Pig City on the front and so Pig City is … Download free opening extract
3		The Adventures of Scratch, Sniff and Mr Smith: Mr Smith Invents a Robot Shibani Mohindra Mr Smith Invents a Robot is a beautifully illustrated ’smell and tell’ book, containing smells to encourage young and reluctant readers to enjoy the reading experience. Big, bold, colourful imagery fills every page and coupled with the great storyline and … Download free opening extract
4		Moon Stewart Ross One of the greatest events of the twentieth century, the unforgettable moment of man’s first landing on the Moon provides the perfect platform for this wide ranging introduction to many different aspects of the moon. After excellent coverage of the … Download free opening extract
5		One Small Step Jerry Stone For all space enthusiasts, this scrapbook created by 14 year old Mike is an inspiring collection of the best moon-landing memorabilia and mind-boggling photos, as well as being packed with the latest amazing space science and indeed the future of … Download free opening extract
6		Creature of the Night Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2009 and shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. From multi-award winning author Kate Thompson comes another absorbing read, blazing an enthralling path between the stark realities of modern-day society and the fantasy for which … Download free opening extract
7		Why Eating Bogeys Is Good For You Mitchell Symons Why can’t you tickle yourself? What is the best way to cure hiccups? Why do buses travel in threes? Loads of questions with some highly entertaining answers fill this information book with a difference. Fun to read it is also … Download free opening extract
8		Elmer’s Special Day David Mckee This book is a wonderful celebration not just of the fun that can be had when everyone “all joins in” but also of Elmer’s 20th birthday. It’s Elmer Day. In their excitement about getting ready for it, the elephants forget … Download free opening extract
9		Shark Island David Miller A thrilling adventure story set on a tropical island… When Hanna and Ned’s parents are kidnapped, they find themselves stuck on an island and in the greatest danger. Surrounded by jungle and sea have they any hope of escape? Using … Download free opening extract
10		On Our Way Home Sebastien Braun A tender story about coming home at the end of a wonderful day out, for fathers and their toddlers to share together. The shared delight of a baby bear and its father is celebrated in each of the bold pictures, … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Jun.08.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

New book recommendations for June - find out more

With all the gloomy cynicism of politics and capitalism right now, it’s the perfect time to leap head first into an other-worldly adventure! Read on, and remember there’s no greater escape from the strains of the modern world than a book…

The Orange Prize. And the winner is…

We featured all the amazing short-listed books battling it out for the prestigious Orange Prize, and on June 3rd the deserving winner was announced. The winner was Home by Marilynne Robbinson and Fi Glover, Chair of Judges, said: “A kind, wise, enriching novel, exquisitely crafted. We were unanimously agreed - it is a profound work of art.” Read a Free Opening Extract to find out more.

Brand new and brilliant – our Debuts of the Month

No One you Know Michelle Redmond A riveting, heartbreaking thriller from an author critics have already compared to Donna Tartt and Alice Sebold. As Ellie delves into her murdered sister’s past, emotional truths that strangers, friends and families have hidden from each other their whole lives come tumbling out.	Fieldwork Mischa Berlinski This is a brilliantly plotted and immensely readable novel of ideas, which follows a young American journalist following an intriguing and sinister lead in Thailand.	The Hungry Ghosts Anne Berry A tour-de-force of imagination. Alice, a young girl haunted by the parasitic spirit of a Chinese woman killed in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, finds that fleeing to Europe isn’t enough to shake off her ‘hungry ghosts’.
The inspiration behind a new literary genius – Anne Berry, Guest Editor Anne Berry, the author of one of our remarkable featured debuts, is also this month’s Guest Editor on Lovereading. Raised in the British colonies of Aden and Hong Kong, Anne returned to Britain to follow a career in theatre before embracing writing. We’re thrilled to have her with us to share some of the authors who have inspired and influenced her blossoming writing career. Find out more today.

A Fantastic Four – Books of the Month

Tribute
Nora Roberts

An absorbing mystery by a New York Times best-selling author that explores how deadly family secrets can be…

Trust Me
Jeff Abbott

Packed full of intrigue and suspense, this novel sees a brilliant young psychologist kidnapped because of his probing research into terrorist groups

City-lit: London

The second of our fabulous series from Oxygen Books is about good old London. Collecting some of the best literature ever written about London

The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The author of Shadow of the Wind has done it again. Combines soaring romance, tragedy, and historical crime writing in another beautiful story

Photo credit rankin

Pole to Pole to Paperback
Michael Palin, Featured Travel Writer

To get you excited about summer, our Featured Travel Writer is national treasure Michael Palin. Download some free ecards, and rediscover some of his epic voyages with re-jacketed, re-launched editions of his books.

Billions of Blue Blistering Barnacles!

Indulge yourself right here on Lovereading with all the Tintin adventures you grew up with as they have just been release in beautifully bound 3 in 1adventures. And don’t get so carried away by Captain Haddock and Thomson and Thompson that you forget to let your kids in on the excitement. Visit the special section on our site for more blasts from your comic book past.

So throw off your cares, put down those apocalyptic newspapers for a while, and revel in the alternative hedonism of reading. You can download free Opening Extracts of all the books featured on the site, and order any of the staggering 1.3 million books available on Lovereading.

Peter C :: Jun.04.2009 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Lovereading most popular Opening Extracts 26 May - 2 June 09

1		Past Imperfect Julian Fellowes Reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 13 May 2009. Snobs, his first novel, was brilliant and Past Imperfect is better and coming from ‘the bottom end of the gentry’ gives Julian’s … Download free opening extract
2		Mr Toppit Charles Elton Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 3 June 2009. Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 26 February 2009. Fantastic characterisation and plotlines make this an unputdownable read. A brilliant satire on celebrity culture, thoroughly recommended. … Download free opening extract
3		The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life Kerry Reichs May 2009 Debut of the Month. Funny, sophisticated, witty and thoroughly enjoyable! Kerry Reichs certainly inherited the writing gene from her mother Kathy and we think you will find her debut novel impossible to put down. Unlucky in love, Vi finds … Download free opening extract
4		The Drowning Girl Margaret Leroy May 2009 Book of the Month. A great read, a well thought-out plot with a good build to the final crisis. It concerns a disturbed child with a mother who is at her wits’ end to find help. She eventually takes … Download free opening extract
5		The Great Lover Jill Dawson Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 10 June 2009. Fact and fiction intertwine in this beautifully told story about a love affair between Rupert Brooke and a housemaid called Nell. Using diary entries, letters and poems Jill … Download free opening extract
6		The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon Fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased to find that the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books reappears in Zafon’s new novel. Set in 1920’s Barcelona this is a haunting, thrilling, fascinating tale that will keep you thoroughly … Download free opening extract
7		The Piano Teacher Janice Y K Lee Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy on Wednesday 1 July 2009. A beautifully written love story set in Hong Kong, slipping back and forth between the love affair between the piano teacher of the title and her lover’s previous … Download free opening extract
8		Tease Immodesty Blaize Reviewed on “Hay-on-Sky” on 30 May 2009. The British Queen of Burlesque, Immodesty Blaize, turns her talents to writing, with great success. With all the racy, raunchy fun you could expect from a novel about a girl who has risen to … Download free opening extract
9		Burnt Shadows Kamila Shamsie Shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 A stunning, captivating novel spanning generations and the globe. From the bombing of Nagasaki through to the attacks of 9/11 we follow Hiroko Tanaka’s life, the people she meets, the places she goes … Download free opening extract
10		Molly Fox’s Birthday Deirdre Madden Shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2009 Although we never actually meet the character from the title the readers feels they have met her through the reflections of her friend who is staying in her house. A cleverly spun tale … Download free opening

Peter C :: Jun.03.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

Richard and Judy Summer reading, Sky Arts at Hay festival and Father’s Day books

Our May mid-month update is packed with some new and exciting features as well as some truly great reads.

Read Free Opening Extracts of Richard and Judy’s latest book selection

150 million books sold and 8 millionaire authors created is quite a phenomenon – but that is exactly what the Richard & Judy Book Club has done for the book trade. You have probably heard their recent announcement that they will be standing down, but for now, do have a look at the eclectic mix of books that have been chosen this time around. We’ll be featuring their entire selection, the first of which has just been reviewed by them and their book club will run until 1st July. We’ll also provide expert guidance on each one just as we will continue to do so on dozens of other new books and backlist gems every month.

Don’t miss the great features already on the site

Father’s Day 21 June. Don’t buy socks this year – give a book

A couple of months after we celebrate our Mothers we get the chance to do something for our Fathers – this year it’s on 21st June. So, for something more intellectually stimulating than socks, and less potentially dangerous than sending him skydiving, why not give him a book? We have a small but perfectly formed selection to make gift giving a doddle – just please don’t forget!

Lovereading supports Sky Arts at the UK’s premier book festival

We have been delighted to support the most recent series of the Sky Arts Book Show hosted by the wonderful Mariella Frostrup by providing free Opening Extracts of the books they featured. And we’re thrilled to link up with them again as they take their Book show to the Hay Book Festival. Over the 10 days of the festival, from 21st May, you will be able to go to a special section on Lovereading and read free Opening Extracts of the books you will see on the nightly TV shows. So, in the comfort of your own home you can check the books the programme is raving about and see if you agree. If you do then you can buy the book from Lovereading with a 25% discount off the RRP.

Finally, would you like to have the chance of winning £150 worth of exclusive limited edition books from the publisher Fourth Estate? We’re sure you will. It’s easy, just enter our free to enter prize draw and don’t forget to browse our special section that celebrates the 25th anniversary of this excellent publisher that brought you classics such as The Shipping News and The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly.

Peter C :: May.22.2009 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Most popular books 11- 18 May 2009

Lovereading.co.uk TOP 10

1		The Golden Pig Mark Penny, Jonathan Penny This is one of those titles we love to discover on Lovereading and pass the word on about. A brilliantly funny detective novel from two new authors -The Penny Brothers. They have written each part … Download free opening extract
2		Past-it Notes Maureen Lipman This is a collection of some of Maureen Lipman’s best writing, taken from previous books along with new stories and anecdotes. Some of the old stories are reworked here … Download free opening extract
3		The Best Day of Someone Else’s Life Kerry Reichs May 2009 Debut of the Month. Funny, sophisticated, witty and thoroughly enjoyable! Kerry Reichs certainly inherited the writing gene from her mother Kathy and we think you will find her debut novel impossible to put down. Unlucky in love, Vi finds … Download free opening extract
4		Crossed Wires Rosy Thornton When Peter phones his car insurance company to report an accident he gets put through to Mina and there starts a delightful, old fashioned love story. We follow their separate lives which, although have vast differences also, have great parallels … Download free opening extract
5		We Need to Talk About Kevin Lionel Shriver This review is provided by bookgroup.info.Drop everything! This spectacular book will grab you and will not put you down, keeping you guessing until the final pages. Eva’s words may … Download free opening extract
6		In Bed With… Imogen Edwards-jones, Jessica Adams, Maggie Alderson, Kathy Letter This is the most enormous fun – a collection of sexy short stories written by bestselling authors. To add to the fun, they have all used ‘porn’ pseudonyms, a combination of their first pet and their street names. … Download free opening extract
7		The Drowning Girl Margaret Leroy May 2009 Book of the Month. A great read, a well thought-out plot with a good build to the final crisis. It concerns a disturbed child with a mother who is at her wits’ end to find help. She eventually takes … Download free opening extract
8		Choral Society Prue Leith Three single women join a choir all looking to find different things, a new challenge, friendship, a new man. What they do find is each other and come together … Download free opening extract
9		Stolen Lucy Christopher This controversial debut is a moving drama about kidnapping, isolation and survival and an extraordinary psychological thriller that will steal the minds of those who read it. Sensitive, intelligent and gripping, Stolen is a contemporary story which will force the … Download free opening extract
10		The Angel’s Game Carlos Ruiz Zafon Fans of The Shadow of the Wind will be pleased to find that the Cemetery of the Forgotten Books reappears in Zafon’s new novel. Set in 1920’s Barcelona this is a haunting, thrilling, fascinating tale that will keep you thoroughly … Download free opening extract

Lovereading4kids.co.uk TOP 10

1		Freefall: Tunnels 3 Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams More spine-tingling and menacing adventure from the authors of Tunnels and Deeper will once again take you way beneath the earth, in a subterranean world that’s almost too frightening to imagine and yet it will pull you into the story … Download free opening extract
2		Stolen Lucy Christopher This controversial debut is a moving drama about kidnapping, isolation and survival and an extraordinary psychological thriller that will steal the minds of those who read it. Sensitive, intelligent and gripping, Stolen is a contemporary story which will force the … Download free opening extract
3		A Child’s Garden: A Story of Hope Michael Foreman This is a wonderful celebration of optimism and a thoughtful and touching book about the importance of growth, green shoots and new life in a war torn world. Growing up amidst rubble a small boy tends a green shoot which … Download free opening extract
4		Pig City Louis Sachar Bestselling author Louis Sachar is back with a stunning new novel, which all begins with a hat…The hat Laura Sibbie buys from an old man in the street that says Pig City on the front and so Pig City is … Download free opening extract
5		The Dragonology Chronicles (Vol II): The Dragon’s Diary Dugald Steer The dragonological adventure continues in this eagerly-awaited second instalment of The Dragonology Chronicles. An illness has spread among the dragons and Daniel and Beatrice must deliver a strange book to Dr. Drake so that the cure that lies therein can … Download free opening extract
6		Skellig - TV tie in edition David Almond This is a wonderfully eerie and magical story about believing in something extra special and why it may make a difference. It’s full of happiness and sadness but ultimately it’s incredibly fulfilling. ‘Touched with a visionary intensity, this strange life-affirming tale exercises every … Download free opening extract
7		The Pickle King Rebecca Promitzer A hugely entertaining adventure story tinged with enough horror to delight but not really to terrify. Bored during a wet holiday, Bea and her friend Sam go exploring and come across the body of a dead man. What’s the story? Bea … Download free opening extract
8		The Resistance Gemma Malley This is an absolutely chilling, powerful sequel to Gemma malley’s acclaimed debut, The Declaration. With a dark and sinister vision of the future, it is set in 2140, The Resistance is an incredibly thought-provoking read. We raved about her first … Download free opening extract
9		The Museum’s Secret: The Remarkable Adventures Of Tom Scatterhorn Henry Chancellor An irresistible adventure through a world full of dust, insects, magic potions, missing jewels and stuffed animals and an incredible secret that takes Tom back 100 years into a breathtaking adventure to far flung places of the world and back … Download free opening extract
10		Highway Robbery Kate Thompson Shortlisted for the Bisto Irish Children’s Book Award. With the thundering of hooves never far away, Kate Thompson weaves an attractive yarn as told by a cheeky but brave street boy whose fortunes change after he’s left holding the horse … Download free opening extract