The Olympics may be over but it is still Summer so why not take a look at our Summer Reading selections and enter our competition to win a kindle - which closes 30 August - or read on for more book news and hand-picked great reads.

Coming Soon! -  Pre-Publication Exclusives

Yet again, we have exclusive access to new titles BEFORE they’re even hot off the press. Here’s a taster of August’s pre-pubs… The Lady of the Shades by Darren Shan – Kids’ Author Darren Shan turns his chilling hand to adult literature in this supernatural thriller. Find out about his reasons for the move and get yourself a copy of this great book! The Seamstress by Maria Duenas. Set in Spain in the early 20C it is a big (600+ page) sweeping 1st person narrative tale of danger, love, betrayal and espionage. Sarah Broadhurst says ‘If you like big adventures you'll love this’.  

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Delights for August – Food and Drink refreshing

… and for the foodies out there, we have refreshed our popular Food & Drink category with more hot favourites than a baker’s window this month, starting with: Lifting the Lid: A Life at Kinloch by Baronness Claire Macdonald Stories and seasonal recipes are blended together in this inspiring biography, spanning 40 years, of how Claire and her husband took Kinloch from humble beginnings the Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge in Skye.

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Another Big Idea! - Large Print Books of the Month

Shelter Harlan Coben Gripping young adult drama from an international best-selling thriller writer.

The Impossible Dead Ian Rankin Policing the police in the corrupt and murky corners of Edinburgh’s underworld.

A Short History of Western Thought Stephen Trombley Pretty much everything that any great Western philosopher has thought.

Sarah Thornhill Kate Grenville A heart-wrenching tale of love, tangled lives and the importance of storytelling.

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Read a Jo Jo Moyes Novella for just £1.99

Featuring the same two characters that you will meet when you read Jojo's eagerly awaited new novel The Girl you Left Behind why not download this eBook novella called A Honeymoon in Paris for the amazing price of just£1.99 (we even have a free extract to whet your appetite). Just visit our book page to get the novella today. We also have the first 2 chapters of TheGirl You Left Behind for you to sample too prior to publication in September.

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If You Like ... You’ll Love

… Exactly what it says on the tin! We love connecting you with new authors who are right up your street! It’s like online dating, really… this month’s favourite is: Sacrilege by S.J. Parris – Espionage, herecy, philosophy and the pursuit of power in an historical thriller which fans of C.J. Sansom (Dissolution) will love.  

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It’s a Group Thing!

  Calling all Groupies! Don’t forget our special category for all those dedicated reading groups out there. There are loads of suggestions for your next book and discounts for bulk purchases. Why not share your reviews with us? Top tips this month are: The Secret Children by Alison McQueen – based on her own family history this is an extraordinary story of love, children and taboos in the time of Empire. And from Katherine Webb, the author of TV Book Club favourite The Legacy, comes an emotionally powerful story exploring the dark heart of love, A Half-Forgotten Song.

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And Finally … Keep it Short!

We love a good short story. Well, who doesn’t? With our special section dedicated to the short form you could start a Short Story Reading Group, maybe … and if you did, here are three great places to start:

Summer Lies Bernhard Schlink From the celebrated author of The Reader, a seven story anthology exploring love, deceit and humanity.

Feeling the Fear Carolyn Pertwee Moving, shocking, intriguing and humorous stories crammed with wonderful twists and surprises.

Burning Bright Ron Rash A Dozen blistering, disturbing short stories which  won the 2010 Frank O’Connor Award.

P.S. The Man Booker Longlist has just been announced and we have a special section where you can find them all. Our 5 favourites are in the bookshelf below - but we will have to wait until 11 September to see if they make the shortlist - and 16 October to reveal the eventual winner! P.P.S. Don’t miss the chance to win a signed 1st Edition of the new Fay Weldon novel Habits of the House - perfect for any fan of Downton or Upstairs Downstairs. Happy reading