Summer Reading

For those with a late holiday planned don’t forget to select your holiday reading beforehand right here at Lovereading. Airport bookshops often have a rather limited range and the wrong book on holiday can take the shine off any time away. Our Summer Reading is split into moods rather than genre so see our special section to find out more and download and read an extract before you buy to makesure you will enjoy it. Finally, if you are driving or flying away to get on holiday, do take a look at our unabridged audio books that give you hours of listening pleasure.

Missing Stieg Larsson? Then you’ll LOVE Jo Nesbo

Many of you regularly use our ‘Like-for-Like’ feature but in order for more of you to become familiar with it, we are in September bringing you a great feature called ‘If You Like – You’ll Love’. However, we couldn’t wait until then to tell you about a fantastic author being heralded as the new Stieg Larsson.

Jo Nesbo is a crime novelist who has had great success in his homeland of Norway and now his books are getting the attention they deserve across Europe. His thrilling and disturbing new novel The Snowman is just published and it’s chilling, inventive storyline, about a menacing serial killer, is guaranteed to keep you gripped from beginning to end! Don’t miss it.

This month’s Highlights – not to miss

60 great years for publisher Transworld

Transworld Publishers was established in 1950 and they have an impressive record of discovering and publishing a whole host of household names.

In the ‘60s and ‘70s, they published some stunning novels that are now classics including Joseph Heller’s Catch 22, Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal and John Irving’s The World According to Garp in Corgi paperback.

Today many of the nation’s biggest-selling brand name authors have been published by Transworld including Kate Atkinson, Dan Brown, Jilly Cooper, Frederick Forsyth, Terry Pratchett and Joanna Trollope.

To celebrate this landmark birthday we’ve selected 20 of our favourite Transworld authors and we have an exclusive competition to win all 20 books. Take a moment to peruse the list and get stuck in!

Pre Publication exclusives

A chance to be ahead of the game. These yet-to-be-published titles are well worth a look.

The Home Bible – George Clarke

From the presenter of TV shows Restoration Man and Build a New Life, The Home Bible is an essential recipe book, full of golden rules, top tips and inspiring examples, to show you how to realise the full potential of your home.

Nourishment – Gerard Woodward

Tory Pace’s husband is a Prisoner of War, whose request for spicy letters from his woman at home leads her on a journey of discovery of carnal desire in the libraries, public conveniences and barber shops of South East London: a quest that takes surprising and dangerous turns, even culminating in an unwitting act of cannibalism.

The Brave – Nicholas Evans

At last a new novel from the author of The Horse Whisperer and like that one, we think this one will sweep you away. It is a rich tale of the life of Tommy Bedford, whose only means of escape from his sadistic 1959 boarding school is an obsession with Cowboys and Indians. Salvation comes when his sister marries TV cowboy Ray Montane and they are taken off to Hollywood. However the dark side of Tinsel Town soon rears its head and Tom finds himself in great danger. 40 years later he will re-face these ghosts when his own son finds himself accused of murder.

Annexed – Sharon Dogar

This is the imagined diary of Peter van Pels, the boy who shared an attic hiding place in war torn Amsterdam with Anne Frank and her family.

This amazing, sometimes chilling fiction, imagines what Anne and Peter’s relationship might have been like at this time and after they are caught what Peter’s life was like in those awful circumstances.

Don’t miss out on one of the summer’s hottest and most controversial reads – Room by Emma Donoghue

Recently long-listed for the Man Booker this is a must read this summer. Room is a profoundly affecting read, told from the perspective of a 5-year old child, born to a kidnapped sex toy, who has never left his 12’ x 12’ prison. He is happy, normal and innocent. But what happens when his world is shattered is utterly extraordinary.

So good it’s a crime

The CWA Dagger Awards are the longest established literary awards in the UK and are internationally recognised as a mark of excellence and achievement. The finalist’s for the awards have just been announced and the winners will be crowned on Friday 8th October at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. Why not visit our special section to see the finalists for the Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year, the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for best thriller and the John Creasey New Blood Dagger for a new author of note.

Kate Atkinson author of the month

Kate Atkinson’s first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award in 1995. She has subsequently published critically acclaimed novels such as Human Croquet, and Case Histories.

Her featured work this month is Started Early Took My Dog, in which unlikely heroine – security chief, Tracy Waterhouse – makes a purchase she hadn’t bargained for. One moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy’s humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn. Why not take a peak and read an extract from this her new novel and indeed from her backlist too, right here exclusively on Lovereading?

Our unconventional Guest Editor – Veronica Henry

Having been “asked to leave” nearly every educational institution she attended in her youth, she has a view of the world that is greatly suited to her chosen path of novelist and TV script writer (Heartbeat and Holby City among many others).

So, this is a great opportunity to discover her writing, especially her newest title The Beach Hut which is a brilliantly observed exposé of the comings and goings of beach hut vacationers over one long, hot summer.

As always with our Guest Editors, Veronica will be sharing with us the writers and titles which have influenced and shaped her own journey as a novelist. We can’t wait!

From Beyond the Grave – John Buchan Remembered

John Buchan, creator of the famous character of Richard Hannay, died 70 years ago this August. But he has written so much more that we have chosen a bumper selection of his titles and we hope you’ll see this as a perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with a great man who led a truly extraordinary life: he was a diplomat, soldier, barrister, journalist, historian, politician, publisher, poet and novelist, until his death in 1940.

Vote for your favourite TV Book club Summer read and have the chance to win £100 of book vouchers

The public vote is currently open to select the best TV Book Club Summer Read. Katherine Webb’s THE LEGACY certainly wowed the book club panel and there were seven more cracking reads that have all been reviewed. To have your say click here and enter.

All votes will be entered into the book token prize draw and voting closes on 23 Aug.

Happy Reading

Peter C :: Aug.18.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

The Atkinson Diet – Author of the Month – Kate Atkinson

August’s Author of the Month, Kate Atkinson, was born in York and now lives in Edinburgh. Her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum, won the Whitbread Book of the Year Award in 1995.

She has subsequently published critically acclaimed novels such as Human Croquet, and Case Histories.

Her featured work this month is Started Early Took My Dog, in which unlikely heroine – security chief, Tracy Waterhouse – makes a purchase she hadn’t bargained for. One moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy’s humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn. Find out more about her superb writing today.

Books of the Month – Literary Fruit Ripe for Harvest this August.

The Complaints Ian Rankin From the creator of gritty Edinburgh sleuth, Rebus, another investigator with personal demons. This time though, Rankin’s (equally lonely) hero, Malcolm Fox, works in ‘The Complaints’ – the department of cops who police the cops. This page-turning new assignment will prove both unpredictable and extremely dangerous. £5.99 Save 25%	In the Blink of an Eye Hasso Von Bredow, Catherine Von Bredow What happens when everything changes? Father of three, Hasso von Bredow, was a successful 42 year old businessman until a massive stroke in 2000 left him ‘locked-in’ – completely paralysed. Using his eyes to communicate, he dictated this inspiring memoir before finally succumbing to his condition in 2003. £5.99 Save 25%	Muriel Spark Martin Stannard Written with full co-operation from Muriel Spark before her death in 2006, this ‘warts ‘n’ all’ biography is a wonderful testament to a life lived to the full. From her working class upbringing in Edinburgh to married life in Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe, fleeing back to Scotland, moving to New York and eventually ending her days in Tuscany, Spark’s life was an extraordinary and fulfilling one. £8.24 Save 25%
Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks: John Curran This exploration of the 73, only recently discovered notebooks of Agatha Christie is a must for die-hard fans and newbies alike. Not only containing a fascinating insight into Christie’s process, but also two previously unpublished Poirot mysteries. No crime fiction fan should miss them. £5.99 Save 25%	Room Emma Donoghue This is a profoundly affecting read, told from the perspective of a 5-year old child, born to a kidnapped sex toy, who has never left his 12’ x 12’ prison. He is happy, normal and innocent. But what happens when his world is shattered is utterly extraordinary. Recently longlisted for the Man Booker this is a must read this summer. £9.74 Save 25%	The Blue Demon David Hewson A mile-a-minute thriller in which detective Nic Costa is forced to delve into the past actions of a mysterious and murderous group, The Blue Demon, to solve a spate of recent killings. Twists, turns and intrigue abound from this master of the genre. £5.24 Save 25%

3 brilliant new books for teenagers

The Edge of Nowhere John E. Smelcer This is an astonishing tale of survival with more psychological depth than Robinson Crusoe, poignantly told and based on true events. £4.49 Save 25%

Whisper My Name Jane Eagland A rite-of-passage tale telling the story of Meriel, whose quest for independence leads her into the sinister world of séances and leaves her not knowing who she can trust. £5.24 Save 25%

The 10pm Question Kate De Goldi Tender and beautifully told, this is a quirky and clever coming of age tale of Frankie, a young boy of 12 (going on 80) and his incessant worrying. £8.24 Save 25%

First Class! – Our Debuts of the Month

Juliet Anne Fortier Juliet is an unforgettable adventure that hopes to rewrite the fate of the star-crossed lovers, and reunite them at last. Romeo and Juliet will never be the same again! £5.99 Save 25%

All the Pretty Girls J.T. Ellison For lovers of mystery fiction, a brilliant debut comprising a terrific lead character, terrific suspense and terrific twists. £5.24 Save 25%

Black Mamba Boy Nadifa Mohamed Fans of Half of a Yellow Sun will love this incredible debut novel set in 1930s Somalia spanning a decade of war and upheaval and all seen through the eyes of a small boy. £5.99 Save 25%

Guest Editor – Veronica Henry

Veronica Henry is not conventional. Having been “asked to leave” nearly every educational institution she attended in her youth, she has a view of the world that is greatly suited to her chosen path of novelist. Veronica is one of THE best script writers around having written hundreds of hours of broadcast television for numerous favourite TV shows including Heartbeat and Holby City and many.

This is a great opportunity to discover her writing, especially her newest title The Beach Hut which is a brilliantly observed exposé of the comings and goings of beach hut vacationers over one long, hot summer.

As always with our Guest Editors, Veronica will be sharing with us the writers and titles which have influenced and shaped her own journey as a novelist. We can’t wait!

From Beyond the Grave – John Buchan Remembered

John Buchan, author, politician, diplomat, soldier, poet and man of influence and achievements too lengthy to document here, died 70 years ago this August.

His most famous literary creation was the character of Richard Hannay. But he has written so much more (thirty novels, over sixty non-fiction books and seven collections of short stories, to be precise) and some of his best books are being re-jacketed and reissued with forewords from authors, such as Christopher Hitchins and Stella Rimington. We’ve selected just 10 of his titles and we hope you’ll see this as a perfect opportunity to get better acquainted with this great man who capped his life achievement serving as Governor-General in Canada until his death in 1940.

Definitive Holiday Reading – Don’t just take our word for it – read about it in The Sunday Times Travel Magazine!

Did you know that on average people spend twice as much time reading on holiday than during their normal working week? Not only that, but an estimated 20% of us only ever read when on holiday! Also, last year Lovereading was selected as the top “online independent bookshop by The Independent”. So, when The Sunday Times Travel magazine approached us to select some perfect holiday reading for a travel section they are producing in August, we jumped at the chance and called in our editorial expert, Sarah Broadhurst (she launched the likes of Terry Pratchett, Joanna Trollope and Minette Walters, you know!). Sarah’s experience in the world of books is practically unrivalled and she has come up with a ‘top-ten’ selection of titles to satisfy the most hungry of holiday readers. Visit the special section to see Sarah’s selections, read her reviews and download free opening extracts of all the books. We also give you some tips about choosing your own holiday reading.

Film ‘Adept’ations … brilliant books that have made brilliant movies:

The book is so much better!”. It’s almost a cliché these days. Sadly, like most clichés, it’s mostly true! Try hard and you can probably think of some books that were adapted to movies that you loved just as much as the original experience. They are a rarity, we grant you! But now there is a new book imprint that celebrates just this. It’s called Vintage film. Among their selections are The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Atonement. Why not visit the website to discover some more.

Happy Birthday, Transworld! – Publisher hits 60 years old

Transworld Publishers was established in 1950. Launching with just three books, Transworld has gone on to become the publishing force behind some of the biggest authors of the last sixty years.

In the ’60s and ’70s, they published such classics as Joseph Heller’s Catch 22, Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal and John Irving’s The World According to Garp in Corgi paperback.

Today, Transworld is firmly established as one of the UK’s leading fiction publishers. Many of the nation’s biggest-selling brand name authors have been discovered and published by Transworld, including Kate Atkinson, Dan Brown, Jilly Cooper, Frederick Forsyth, Terry Pratchett, and Joanna Trollope.

To celebrate this landmark birthday we’re featuring 20 of Transworld’s best-known authors on Lovereading and we have an exclusive competition to win all 20 books. Take a moment to peruse the list and get stuck in!

Listen Up! – Love Listening – Whole Story audiobooks

We know that we said this last month, but we really mean it. So, here’s a reminder about the fulfilling experience of Whole Story audiobooks. Audiobooks are a fantastic way to enjoy stories but in most cases, a whopping 50-70% of the content is cut, which leaves the end product quite different from how the author intended. For example, if you listen to last year’s Booker winner, Wolf Hall in the abridged form you’ll get only 29% of the book and Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, only 38%.

Like us, Whole Story Audio believes it’s much more rewarding to listen to unabridged versions of books. That’s why we’ve teamed up with them to bring you a spectacular array of complete audio books perfect for car journeys and commutes, on holiday or just listening to in the home, and much better value for money! Try an unabriged audio and you’ll soon realise what you’ve been missing

We hope you enjoy all your Summer Reading and scroll down to see our recommendations in your favourite categories

admin :: Aug.05.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

This Month’s Highlights

Channel 4’s Summer TV Book Club

The summer version of Channel 4’s TV Book Club is now well under way and Jo Brand and Co have reviewed 3 books of the eight – but we wanted to give you a sneak preview of one of our favourites that is due to appear on the show on 1 Aug. It’s called Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan and it’s a wonderfully evocative historical saga with characters that really draw you in. Go on – treat yourself….

Maxim Jakubowskis’ Summer Sci Fi Selections

Summer holidays are a great escape from the pressures of everyday life so we thought it would be perfect timing to get our resident Sci Fi expert to select some summer reading that will take you a lot further than your sun lounger! From sensational debuts such as The Passage by Justin Cronin, our MEGA Book of the Month, through award winning novels from China Mieville to epic space opera from Stephen Hunt. Find out more today.

Editor’s Choice – straight from the publishers’ desks.

Editor’s Choice is a special feature that delves into the publishing world to bring you new books and authors that are getting the real book experts – the editors – really excited.

It’s always a difficult job finding that next great book, the one that stands out from the crowd, and when it happens we rarely hear from the horse’s mouth as to why the editor chose that particular title. New this month are Return to the Olive Farm by Carol Drinkwater and Document and Eyewitness: An Intimate History of Rough Trade by Neil Taylor. Find out why they are all a flutter…

August Exclusive Pre Publication extracts

The Queen of New Beginnings Erica James Warm, witty and wise storytelling with a lovely, feel-good factor and a charming, intriguing plot. It’s a fast-paced, light read with a dark centre, just like a fine chocolate. Released: 19/08/2010 £5.24 Save 25%	Room Emma Donoghue To an imprisoned 5-year old child born to a kidnapped sex toy the 12×12 room is his universe. This is probably the most extraordinary book you will read for a long time. Released: 20/08/2010 £9.74 Save 25%
Secrets She Left Behind Diane Chamberlain This follows directly on from Before the Storm one year later but does stand perfectly well alone. If you enjoy Jodi Picoult or Anita Shreve then it’s definitely well worth downloading the extract to whet your appetite. Released: 20/08/2010 £5.99 Save 25%	Bad Karma David Safier A selfish, egotistical TV star is killed by a falling satellite and finds herself re-incarnated as an ant – it sounds ridiculous but this book is an absolute gem. Released: 01/08/2010 £11.24 Save 25%

Tell your friends about Lovereading and get money off books

Do you know anyone who would love Lovereading? Why not tell them about us using our handy recommendation engine? For the next few months for every friend who becomes a Lovereading member we’ll award you 5 LoveHearts; our way of saying thank you for spreading the word on Lovereading. Each LoveHeart is worth £0.50. You can build up a collection of LoveHearts in your account, and choose when you want to convert them into a book voucher – redeemable at our online shop. It’s easy to see how many LoveHearts you have. Just login to your account.

Start earning your LoveHearts by visiting our Member get Member page today..

Finally, vote for Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel

Unlike other literary awards, with the Crime Novel of the Year it’s what readers think that really counts. Voting is open from 1st to 21st July to help determine which books from the shortlist of 8 books – all chosen by you, the readers, in a 1st round vote – will go on to take the prize. If you love crime fiction, then have your say today you can even visit the Crime Writing Festival from 22 – 25 July in Harrogate.

Scroll down to see a selection of our Summer Reads

Happy reading

admin :: Jul.19.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Hi again from Lovereading! We hope you’ve found time between the World Cup and Wimbledon to enjoy a bit of light reading – sport for the mind if you will. According to our literary calendar some really great authors and intellectuals were born in July, including Franz Kafka, Marcel Proust and Iris Murdoch. Judging by their books they definitely didn’t kill off too many brain cells by heading balls. And writers are still coming up with incredible literary feats today – there’s a whole bunch of them below!

Author of the Month – the heart-stopping David Baldacci

Internationally acclaimed, Baldacci’s heart-stopping thrillers have been thrilling us for years.

You can find his novels right here on Lovereading, including his latest, True Blue, which sees ex firebrand cop Mason Perry trying to solve a big homicide case alone, to win her place back on the force.

Get in touch with your emotions with Guest Editor Louise Candlish

Louise has an incredible talent for capturing emotions and painting relationships that sets her way above most chick lit.

As well as discovering her new title, Other People’s Secrets, you can find out which books inspired her on her journey to literary stardom – she’s put together a list exclusively for us!

A packed suitcase full of Books of the Month

Our Mega Book of the Month – The Passage by Justin Cronin

If there is one book you should read this summer we reckon you should give this one a serious look.  In the office the people who have read it have done so  late into the night and missed train and bus stops they were so engrossed.

When a man-made viral epidemic brings America to its knees, only a curious little girl and a group of doughty survivors hold the secret to survival.

The first part of a trilogy it is gripping, epic and apocalyptic story-telling and we can’t wait for the next one!

The Beach Hut Veronica Henry A tale of holiday romance, simmering passion and unrequited love – all happening on one beach! £5.24 Save 25%	Halfway to Hollywood Diaries 1980 to 1988 Michael Palin The second volume of Palin’s diaries is a fantastic read and tells the story of how he reinvented himself post-Python to become the British institution he is today. The prefect holiday read. £7.49 Save 25%
Scandalous Tilly Bagshawe A racy, pacy, glamorous story about two very smart vengeful women and one extremely unlucky academic… £5.99 Save 25%	I Heart Paris Lindsey Kelk A must read for any Sex and the City fan, this story is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. £5.24 Save 25%
Swiss Watching: Inside Europe’s Landlocked Island Diccon Bewes With affection and Bryson-like charm, Diccon gets behind stereotypes about yodeling and holey cheese to paint a picture of the real Switzerland. £9.74 Save 25%	The Dealer and the Dead Gerald Seymour A brilliant, bruising thriller about a group of Croatian villagers who seek vengeance for a terrible betrayal 18 years after the war with the Serbs that tore their communities apart. £12.74 Save 25%
Linger Maggie Stiefvater Follow up to paranormal teen read Shiver, Linger is a moving story that follows Grace, the wolves of Mercy Falls, and their shifting relationships through one long Spring. £5.99 Save 25%	The Last Warner Woman Kei Miller Adamine, with the gift of prophesy, has left the Jamaican leper colony she was born in to travel to England but her gift is seen as a sign of madness. £9.74 Save 25%
White Crow Marcus Sedgwick Packed full of suspense, this young adult book is a tingling and chilling Gothic thriller in which nothing can quite be taken for granted. £7.49 Save 25%

A book group from the comfort of your own home – join C4′s TV Book Club

From 27 June – 15 August Channel 4′s TV Book Club is back with 8 new selections, to be intelligently and engagingly discussed by celebrity reviewers including comedienne Jo Brand.

Visit our special page on Lovereading to find out more and download FREE Opening Extracts of each title.

…Swimsuit, sun cream, passport, BOOKS! – Summer read selections

Packing for holidays is enough trouble without having to agonise over which books to take. Don’t worry though, help is at hand with our perfect selection of books chosen by our fiction guru, Sarah Broadhurst, and this year we have included some great non-fiction selected by our expert in the field, Sue Baker. Sue has chosen a bevy of books from Travel to True Crime and uncovered some gems for the summer that will be the cherry on the cake of a week off work.

Also don’t miss out on the chance to win a weekend break at the Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh with £200 spending money – it’s an exclusive competition linked to the perfect summer read for historical fiction lovers The King’s Daughter by Christie Dickason find out more.

Turn your teenagers into literature lovers

Cannongate and Walker, two of the very best independent publishing houses in the UK, are getting together to bring modern literary classics to a new teenage audience including Booker Prize winning The Life of Pi – giving them cool new covers, and adding extra content such as Reading Group notes. It’s a bit like Harry Potter in reverse…

Straight to the top – our dazzling Debuts of the Month

Bad Things Happen Harry Dolan A hypnotic, atmospheric and richly written noir mystery about a Michigan town where bad things happen, and people die… £5.24 Save 25%	The Legacy Katherine Webb A deeply satisfying epic story which sweeps from turn of the century Oklahoma to modern day Wiltshire and follows two very different women from one remarkable family. £5.99 Save 25%
The Twelve Stuart Neville A stunning, terrifying and unbelievably good first novel about Northern Ireland’s darkest heart. £5.24 Save 25%	Ties That Bind Catherine Deveney A poignant and thought-provoking book about the secrets and sadness that can haunt even the most loving of families. £5.99 Save 25%
By Midnight: A Ravenwood Mystery Mia James April Dunne has moved to a new school in Highgate where not everything is as it seems and behind the fashionistas and super-geeks something far more sinister is lurking! £6.74 Save 25%	Bad Day in Blackrock Kevin Power A stirring story about the aftermath of one tragic incident outside a Dublin nightclub. £5.99 Save 25%

Love Listening? try Whole Story audio books

We love everything about books – the stories, language and detail. Audiobooks are a great way to enjoy stories but in most cases a whopping 50-70% of the content is cut, leaving the end product different from how the author intended. Like us, Whole Story Audio believes it’s better to listen to unabridged stories after all the author wrote all the words for a reason!

So we’ve teamed up with them to bring you complete audiobooks, perfect for car journeys and commutes and much better value for money!

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird with our birthday competition!

It’s been a whole half-century since this Pulitzer-prize winner became an instant classic of American literature. Packed with warmth and humour despite the serious subject matter, the book has gone on to teach millions about issues of race and tolerance.

If you haven’t read it yet we can’t encourage you enough! Plus enter our free competition to win a beautifully cloth bound hardback limited edition.

Help is at hand for budding writers – the new Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook

If you’re a budding writer, this annual publication is an essential companion and overview of the publishing industry. With a wealth of practical information and articles by leading authors, illustrators and media experts, this book will answer your every question, from copyright issues to the latest trends in fiction.

Try out this month’s superlative story selection by visiting Lovereading and reading some free Opening Extracts. And have fun finding a few books to whisk you away for the summer!

admin :: Jul.02.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

This Month’s Highlights

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. Take a look at our Summer Reading categories and get choosing.

There are seven themed categories that cover fiction and non-fiction, from Action Packed and Exciting through 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 gripping you will be telling them to put their books down!

Love Listening – Whole Story audiobooks

At Lovereading we love everything about books – the stories, the language and the detail. Audiobooks are a fantastic way to enjoy stories but in most cases, a whopping 50-70% of the content is cut, which leaves the end product quite different from how the author intended. For example, if you listen to last year’s Booker winner, Wolf Hall in the abridged form you’ll get only 29% of the book and Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, only 38%.

Like us, Whole Story Audio believes it’s much more rewarding to listen to unabridgedversions of books. That’s why we’ve teamed up with them to bring you a spectacular arrayof complete audio books perfect for car journeys and commutes, on holiday or justlistening to in the home, and much better value for money!

Find out more in our special section and have the chance to win all 3 unabridged books from the Millennium Trilogy, starting with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo worth a whopping £94!

Get them while they’re hot – Pre-publication exclusives

The Passage Justin Cronin If the vibes within the book trade are right then this is going to be absolutely huge. Every so often a book appears that hits you like a thunderbolt – this is one – find out why it’s our most popular Opening Extract even before it’s published! £15.00 Save 25%	Return to the Olive Farm Carol Drinkwater This next book in the bestselling Olive Farm series is another beautifully written, humorous and passionate story about life and love with Carol Drinkwater who returns to the Olive Farm. £14.24 Save 25%
The Legacy Katherine Webb A deeply satisfying epic story which sweeps from turn of the century Oklahoma to modern day Wiltshire and follows two very different women from one remarkable family. £5.99 Save 25%	The Dealer and the Dead Gerald Seymour A brilliant, bruising thriller about a group of Croatian villagers who seek vengeance for a terrible betrayal, 18 years after the war with the Serbs that tore their communities apart. £12.74 Save 25%
The Beach Hut Veronica Henry Holiday romance is in the air, but so is aching, unrequited love, in this most enjoyable of summer reads. £5.24 Save 25%

Have a spooky summer of love and passion!

As twilight fades, the night begins for all you paranormal fiction fans. This month we have a great range of Paranormal fiction from MIRA, the up and coming publisher of great mainstream fiction, which includes titles from New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter and rising star Rachel Vincent. If you’re looking for a little added bite, P.C. Cast, international bestselling author of the House of Night series, brings her unique brand of paranormal passion to Nocturne with The Avenger, just in time for summer. So, check out the the rest of the new dark and sexy Nocturne series from Mills & Boon and keep the undead alive in your reading!

James Tait Black Memorial Prize

Founded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize is the oldest and one of the most prestigious literary awards in the industry. It is given for literature, published in the last 12 months, written in the English language. There are 10 shortlisted titles and you can find free Opening Extracts of them all in our prize winners section. The winner will be announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August.

P.S – If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes then now is the time to introduce 11+ readers you know to a new series of books featuring the Young Sherlock Holmes , which like the Young Bond series that has been so spectacularly successful in recruiting reluctant readers in particular, will trace the great detective’s life before 22B Baker St.

P.P.S – If you haven’t already then do please look at the latest Orange Prize Winner, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. Definitely not a beach read but with it’s exquisite writing it is worth the effort.

Peter C :: Jun.17.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Author of the Month – TV reporter turned novelist Gerald Seymour

Gerald led a long and brilliant career reporting from areas of conflict around the world before turning his hand to writing novels. His superb new thriller,

The Collaborator, is out now in paperback, and for those who’d rather listen there’s a brilliant unabridged audio book, So, whether reading or listening it could make your daily commute fly by.

Guest Editor – Patrick Gale

Patrick was born on the Isle of Wight in 1962 and following his degree at Oxford has, by his own admission never had a grown up job. He now lives in the far-reaches of Cornwall raising cattle and his love affair for the country has feeds his work. His long-awaited brilliant new book, Gentleman’s Relish, is his second collection of darkly comic and imaginative short stories.

As our Guest Editor this month he has also shared with us some books by other authors that have really inspired him over the years and why.

A big bunch of Books of the Month

City-Pick: Amsterdam The latest in the informative, inspirational and interesting series of travel books that use snippets of writing by published authors to give a flavour of a place. This time Amsterdam. £6.74 Save 25%	Genesis Bernard Beckett A challenging, quirky but fantastic novel set in a troubled future that young adults will also devour. £5.24 Save 25%
The Wings of the Sphinx Andrea Camilleri Montalbano, the quintessential Italian detective, is back in this latest hugely enjoyable series. £11.24 Save 25%	Beatrice and Virgil Yann Martel From the author of the Booker winning, Life of Pi comes a haunting story about the relationship between humans and animals. It’s breathtaking. £11.99 Save 25%
Play Dead Harlan Coben A romantic suspense novel written by bestselling Harlan Coben in his 20s! Different in style but not to be missed. £5.99 Save 25%	And Another Thing … Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Part Six of Three Eoin Colfer Eoin takes up Douglas Adams’ mantle for the next installment of Hitchhikers’ Guide, the 6th in the Trilogy! £5.99 Save 25%
The Moonstone Legacy Diana De Gunzburg, Tony Wild A debut that picks up from Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone, this is a mysterious and intriguing story about a young girl who sets out to discover the truth about her mother’s tragic death.. £6.74 Save 25%	A Life Like Other People’s Alan Bennett An incredibly poignant memoir about Bennett’s parent’s relationship, and his own childhood. £5.99 Save 25%
Hush, Hush Becca Fitzpatrick A book full of angels and the paranormal that both teenagers and adults will love. £5.24 Save 25%	Numbers 2: The Chaos Rachel Ward Something awful is going to happen in 2027 – but what is it? And what can Adam do about it? £5.24 Save 25%
What I Saw and How I Lied Judy Blundell A post WW2 coming of age book that started as a teen novel sensation has now grown up and is now taking the rest of the reading world by storm. £5.24 Save 25%	The Cardturner Louis Sachar From the author of the brilliant children’s book Holes comes a fantastically imaginative story about Alton and his blind, ageing uncle that adults will love as well. £9.74 Save 25%

Maxim’s Crime Duos

If you’ve ever read all the work of one particular novelist and then worried you won’t be able to find similarly brilliant reading experiences ever again, then fear no more! Our crime fiction expert, Maxim Jakubowski has put together some pairs of authors who work in similar moods or genres. So if you love one, you’ll probably like the other too. Find inspiration for your next book right here and don’t forget you can always use our Author Like-for-Like recommendation tool to find new authors when ever you are feeling adventurous..

Fantastic first-timers – The Desmond Elliott Prize

This prestigious prize is awarded annually for a first novel written in English. You can find out more about the incredible books shortlisted right here on Lovereading.

Stunning first books – our Debuts of the Month

Repeat it Today with Tears Anne Peile A startling, exciting novel about pre-punk teenage London. £8.24 Save 25%	Soul Murder Daniel Blake Tense and enthralling novel introducing Francesco Patrese – FBI specialist for religious crime. £5.24 Save 25%
Thin Blue Smoke Doug Worgul A beautiful story about love and loss, hope and despair, and barbecues and the blues. £5.99 Save 25%	I Kill Giorgio Faletti A serial killer is on the loose in Monte Carlo, who announces his heinous acts in advance with desperate phone calls! £5.24 Save 25%
The Sky is Everywhere Jandy Nelson This is a heartbreaking, sometime’s funny novel about grief that will really appeal to those who lap up romantic fiction. £5.99 Save 25%	The Last Summer of the Death Warriors Francisco X. Stork A buddy novel of the highest calibre about the story of a friendship that helps two young men become all they can be. £8.24 Save 25%
Virgin Widow – England’s Forgotten Queen Anne O’Brien A truly engrossing romance, drawn from history and wonderfully told. £5.99 Save 25%

What the experts say – Editor’s Choice

In this special section of Lovereading you can find out what various high-profile editors from the top publishing houses in the UK are tipping for the top – an insider’s insight into the latest incredible books.

Fine ale and fine ‘crime’ writing

The long list for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2010 has just been announced.

Our personal favourites in the Lovereading office are Ian Rankin’s Doors Open and R J Ellory’s A Simple Act of Violence.

Voting for the shortlist is open to the public with the final list announced on 1st July so, have a look yourself and vote for your favourite.

For heavens sake do better than socks!

Father’s Day is fast approaching. This year look no further and find a book for him. Here on Lovereading we have collected together a small but perfectly formed special selection of books guaranteed to make your dad proud.

And finally, we just had to tell you about one of the most talked about books within the book world at the moment and we’ve persuaded the publisher to let us have an exclusive pre-publication extract to get your mouth watering. It’s called The Passage and it’s published on 24th June. Why not, check out the first couple of chapters right here, right now.

We hope there is plenty here to keep you happy, reading and listening for another month in between, for some of you at least, the ups and downs of the World Cup – enjoy finding some amazing stories on Lovereading.co.uk and take a look at the prizes on offer this month in the competitions page.

A newgen film tie in for teenage movie fans who love reading too

4.3.2.1 is a roller-coaster diamond heist thrill ride novelisation of Noel Clarke’s big movie project of the same name. Noel wrote the screenplay and the book, so you can be sure they are both equally fantastic adventures!

P.S You may well have seen that JG Farrell, who died in 1979, has won the ‘Lost’ Man Booker. The Troubles was our favourite to take the prize all along, so we’re thrilled that it has finally got the recognition it deserves, albeit after his death and after 40 years.

Happy Reading

Peter C :: Jun.04.2010 :: Newsletters :: 1 Comment »

Lovereading Book of the Decade

It’s the Golden Envelope moment. In February we enlisted your help to find the Book of the last decade. From a selection of 50 from Editorial Guru Sarah Broadhurst you first created a shortlist of ten and now you have chosen the winner. In the end the result was incredibly close and less than 0.5% of the ‘counted and verified votes’ separated the top two. However in the end the beautiful The Time Traveler’s Wife from Audrey Niffenegger just pipped The Kite Runner from Khaled Hosseini.

Audrey Niffenegger – author of the Time Traveler’s Wife said “Thank you to everyone who read the book, and to all who voted. I am flabbergasted; I tend to think of The Time Traveler’s Wife as my odd little book that somehow found its readers. It’s amazing to me how many readers it has found, and how intensely they care for the book.”

See all the top 10 books in our special section.

World Cup Fever – beautiful books about the beautiful game

Once the World Cup’s under way you’ll probably either be glued to the box, or hiding in one. But whether you’re a footie fan or you just know someone who is – you’ll be surprised how many really brilliant books about football are kicking around this summer. Kick off your summer reading in our special section.

Green Reads – a grow your own planet saving selection

This month’s crop of delicious new guides should sow the seeds of inspiration and get everyone hooked on growing and, best of all, cooking your own produce. May’s not too late to make a start, still plenty of growing time left and these books will leave you in no doubt as to what you can achieve in the garden or on the allotment.

Find out more and make a difference today…

Seven of the Best Pre Publication Exclusives

Fate and Fortune: A Hew Cullen Mystery Shirley Mckay The second Hew Cullan mystery finds the young lawyer feeling disillusioned with the law but a move to Edinburgh turns things around when love and murder both cross his path. An appealing new historical crime series with an intriguing lead… £9.74 Save 25%	Secrets She Left Behind Diane Chamberlain One stupid reckless moment leaves a community in tatters and secrets buried for years are gradually being uncovered. Moving back and forth in time and in between characters the story unfolds as we see the effect each small action has… £5.99 Save 25%
The Wings of the Sphinx Andrea Camilleri Montalbano is back in this latest instalment. As enjoyable as ever and with the detective, now aged 56, starting to wonder if he is happy with his lot, or should he be making changes to please others. Detective work, his… £11.24 Save 25%	Return to the Olive Farm Carol Drinkwater Continuing the story of Carol Drinkwater’s beloved Olive Farm. After returning from 18 months travelling around the Mediterranean Carol discovers that her dream of running an organic farm is threatened by nature and by the demands of market forces. Here… £14.24 Save 25%
Miss Mackenzie Anthony Trollope March 2010 Good Housekeeping selection. On My Bookshelf by Joanna Trollope… No writer of his time was better at people than, as my family refer to him, The Real Trollope – Anthony of the small specs and the huge beard. Miss Mackenzie is an… £10.49 Save 25%	Play Dead Harlan Coben This is actually an old novel published years ago that subsequently went out of print. What a treat then for all Harlan Coben fans that Orion have re-published it as it has all the suspense, mystery and intrigue we have… £5.99 Save 25%
The Prince of Mist Carlos Ruiz Zafon June 2010 Good Housekeeping selection. Utterly gripping, this is a deliciously haunting and chilling tale of dark magic and treachery which reaches out across time threatening all who cross its path. A move to a house by the sea is designed to… £7.49 Save 25%

China Miéville – triple Arthur C Clarke winner

Since 1987 the Arthur C Clarke Award has been the most prestigious award for Science Fiction in Britain, presented annually for the best Science Fiction novel of the year and for the first time in its history an author has won it three times. The novel The City & The City part murder mystery part science fiction is a stunning read. Find out more…

Val McDermid Diamond Dagger Award winner

The Crime Writers Awards, called Daggers, are incredibly coveted by the authors as they are judged by their peers rather than literary critics. The Diamond Dagger is the highest award given for a lifetime of work and Val McDermid is this year’s worthy recipient.

From her 1st novel, Report for Murder, published in 1987 she has dominated the gritty police procedural genre with many of her books being made into TV dramas. Her latest book, Fever of the Bone, is as electrifying as ever – click here to read this and many other of novels.

Photo: Tim Griffiths for Cartier

We all love Lavinia!

Finally, one of our favourite books this month is Ursula le Guin’s new novel Lavinia. As Ursula writes about heroic figures in many of her novels we asked her who her own hero’s were. Find out more about the book and her literary heroes today..

Happy Reading and more book news to come in June.

Peter C :: May.17.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Stories for eyes and ears and e-readers! – multi format made easy

Of course, the story is the exciting thing but in practical terms you might want to listen to the audio book, download the e-book or even thumb throught an old fashioned paperback! So now, to make it easy for, you whenever you go to a book page on Lovereading you can see all the other formats we have for that book, including ebooks, for all you technically inclined readers. Enjoy!

Highlights of the Month

Get Teens turned on to books

Here at Lovereading we are starting to envy teenage readers (just a little bit) as in the last couple of years the quality and quantity of books written for them has grown phenomenally. Our ‘newgen’ section celebrates this edgy, compelling and highly readable fiction and this month we have a superb selection of books that we believe all warrant a second look by teens and ‘older teens’ as well.

Dark Touch – Shadows Amy Meredith Combining Twilight with a feisty, appealing heroine more reminiscent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this is the first in an exciting new series for girls.	Fightback Steve Voake This is a thumping, adrenaline-fuelled adventure from the critically acclaimed author of Blood Hunters. Readers will revel in the fast-paced plot and filmic storyline…	Rich and Mad William Nicholson April 2010 ‘new gen’ Book of the Month title. Full of the myriad and criss-crossing emotions of adolescent love, this is a warm-hearted and finely observed view of two teenagers’ experience. Sixth-formers Maddy…	Dreaming of Amelia Jaclyn Moriarty A spellbinding story about ghosts, secrets, madness, passion, locked doors, femme fatales, and that terrifying moment in the final year of high school…
The Island Sarah Singleton The Beach for teens. Three friends are on the start of their gap year in India but when one of them discovers a body of a girl he becomes the prime suspect.	The Fool’s Girl Celia Rees Weaving romance and courage together into a powerful story set in Elizabethan England, Violetta desperately pursues a stolen treasure…	Inside My Head Jim Carrington April 2010 ‘new gen’ Debut of the Month title. A very, very pacy and unputdownable contemporary novel that will be relevant to all teenagers. With sharp teen dialogue and a keen eye for…	The Dead – Tossed Waves Carrie Ryan Following on from The Forest of Hands and Teeth we follow Mary’s daughter, Gabry, as she tries to make a life away from the darkness and the dark city….

Green Reads – Lovereading’s strictly solar-powered section

We’re pleased to announce that our section of books on the environment and how you can help it has been revamped with our resident non-fiction expert Sue Baker. Read more about the economics of a green lifestyle, tips on saving the planet and political climate affecting the green debate. Essential reading for us all find out more today.

Literary Nuggets and Sharing your love of reading

This month also sees the launch of two new features. The 1st is our Literary Fact of the Day – invaluable nuggets of information you can use to bolster your literary credibility or just store away for the next pub quiz.

The 2nd is a super easy way to share your favourite books and pages on the site – find out more by clicking the ‘share this’ button that you will find on pretty much every page!

Are you a budding novelist? – go for it with Lovewriting!

If you’re an unpublished author who wants the world to know about your work, or an avid reader looking for something new, our sister website Lovewriting.co.uk is for you. The site allows authors to feature their books by giving them a special web page where readers can download Opening Extracts and buy copies to their heart’s content! Visit the site now.

Your last chance to choose the Book of the Decade

In February we began our search for our readers’ Books of the Decade. To begin with Sarah Broadhurst, our Editorial guru, chose her 50 favourites from the last 10 years and then it was over to you. Well, nearly 20,000 of your votes later, we were delighted to announce the Lovereading Top 10 Books of the Decade and to re-open the voting to let readers choose their No.1. We’ll be crowning the winner at the end of April so don’t miss out on your chance to see the Top 10 and vote.

Happy reading

Peter C :: Apr.15.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Author of the Month – R J Ellory

R J Ellory is one of the most exciting crime writers out there, and his new book, The Anniversary Man, is a dark and complex work of genius: after losing his girlfriend to a vicious murderer and barely escaping himself, John Costello became a virtual recluse.

But 20 years on his unmatched knowledge of serial killers is called on to solve a case, which just might threaten his own life once again, if he can’t find the killer quickly…

Read this and more of his brilliant novels today.

Sexing up the past – our Guest Editor Katharine McMahon

Katharine McMahon is author of unputdownable, gripping and sexy historical fiction. Her new story The Crimson Rooms follows Evelyn Gifford, who is blazing a trail as a lawyer in 1920s London when her life is turned upside down by murder, deceit and passion.

But, as well as Katharine’s own incredible books you can discover the titles that influenced her on her literary adventure.

Visit the Guest Editor section to find out more.

Magic, mayhem and misanthropic murderers – our Books of the Month!

Map of the Invisible World Tash Aw Reminiscent of Graham Greene, this mesmerising book is set in Indonesia and Malaya during the mid 1960s, with all the upheaval of post-colonialism, communism and civil war Format: Paperback Released: 01/04/2010 £5.99 Save 25%	Blueeyedboy Joanne Harris A dark psychological thriller, from the enduringly popular author of Chocolat, about online communities where nobody is quite who they say they are, and sinister secrets get revealed… Format: Hardback Released: 31/03/2010 £14.24 Save 25%
The Dead – Tossed Waves Carrie Ryan A magical and brooding novel about a girl who must face the forest of her mother’s past, teeming with spirits, in order to save herself and the one she loves. Format: Hardback Released: 08/04/2010 £7.49 Save 25%	Evil at Heart Chelsea Cain The third in this excellent series sees the return of evil serial killer Gretchen Lovell, and the terrifying action carries on unabated! Format: Paperback Released: 02/04/2010 £5.24 Save 25%

Spring awakening – Maxim Jabukowski’s April Erotica

Our guru of tastefully titillating literature has put together a list of recent ventures into ‘the seductive forests of the imagination’. These books are sure to get you hot no matter what the weather is like, but they’re also proof that erotic fiction can be funny, scary, heart-breaking and intelligent. Enjoy!

Stars in the making – Four breathtaking Debuts of the Month

Instruments of Darkness Imogen Robertson A wonderful historical murder mystery set in Sussex and London during the Gordon Riots of 1780. £5.24 Save 25%	Tiger Hills Sarita Mandanna From a surefire star in the making, this is a masterful and moving epic novel charting the lives of several generations in a Southern Indian coffee plantation. £9.74 Save 25%
Mathilda Savitch Victor Lodato A young girl is trying to make sense of her sister’s death, while her family seems to be falling apart around her …told with a tender yet humorous voice. £5.99 Save 25%	The Weight of Silence Heather Gudenkauf A gripping read about two families who awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night; to find them they will have to face up to some unspoken family secrets. £5.99 Save 25%

It’s a crime – 200 Gillian Flynn books to give away!

Gillian Flynn is an award-winning crime writer whose brilliant second novel, Dark Places, is out in paperback in June. To get you excited about it we’re having a free-to-enter prize draw – just throw your name in and the first 200 entrants will receive a copy of her incredible first novel, Sharp Objects. Get in there quickly before they’re all snapped up!

So, why not take a trip to Lovereading to download free Opening Extracts of some or all of this month’s featured books. With so many remarkable titles on the site you’re bound to find a couple of wild literary adventures to keep your spirits high and your mind whirring and the 25% discount makes them good value as well.

Happy reading

Peter C :: Apr.04.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Author of the Month – the dark and delicious Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner lives in New England and frequently takes her husband on walking holidays to decide the best spot one of her characters might commit a murder!

Her novels are fast and full of dangerous people and her new book, The Neighbour, is out now and we love and recommend them all. Find out more and get hooked on The Neighbour and all her other thrillers today… (photo John Earle)

Books of the Month – Dublin, death and danger

City-Pick: Dublin More from the fantastic travel series that gives you a feel for a place through snippets of literature this time featuring Dublin. Format: Paperback Released: 11/03/2010 6.74 Save 25%

Land of Ghosts E.V. Seymour A tense conspiracy thriller about an ex-police officer who is conscripted by MI5 to carry out some work of a morally dubious nature… Format: Paperback Released: 19/03/2010 5.24 Save 25%

Relics of the Dead Ariana Franklin The third outing for anatomist Adelia Aguilar in this fantastic, historical, whodunit set in the court of Henry II. Format: Paperback Released: 18/03/2010 5.99 Save 25%

Guest Editor Susan Fletcher picks the books that inspired her

Susan’s debut, Eve Green, won the Whitbread First Novel Award, and she hasn’t looked back since. Her latest novel, Corrag, delves into the history of the Glencoe Massacre through the eyes of a woman condemned for her involvement in the murders. You can find out more about her books and other authors that inspired and influenced her on her rise to the top, and they might just inspire you too.

Debuts of the Month – mixed-up teens, sex appeal and email scams

The Suicide Club Rhys Thomas This compelling read, about a disturbing suicide pact between three high school friends, skilfully tackles the difficult task of getting inside mixed-up teenagers heads. Format: Paperback Released: 04/03/2010 5.99 Save 25%

Black Rock Amanda Smyth A lovely story about a young girl in Trinidad unaware of the sex appeal she exudes and perplexed by the problems it causes her. Format: Paperback Released: 11/03/2010 5.99 Save 25%

I Do Not Come to You by Chance Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani A witty and compelling novel following the story of Kingsley, whose aspirations get knocked back by a family tragedy, leading him in to the seedy, world of email-scamming. Format: Paperback Released: 04/03/2010 5.99 Save 25%

Follow your heart – vote in the Pure Passion awards and win £50 of National book tokens

Lovereading has teamed up with the Romantic Novelist Association to establish their new romantic fiction awards. Visit our page to vote for your favourite absorbing read and your favourite romantic film and you could win £50 of National Book Tokens to help you keep the reading flame burning!

Meet the Lovereading Family!

Finally if you Love ‘Lovereading’ don’t for get to take a look at our sister sites. If you have children Lovereading4kids.co.uk does for kids what love reading does for grown-ups. Lovereading4schools.co.uk helps schools create reading lists. And last but not least if you have written a book yourself and want to promote it try Loverwriting.co.uk.

Please scroll down to see our personal recommendations for reading this month based on what genres you have told us you like.

Happy reading

butchik :: Mar.05.2010 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »