The days might be cold and the nights dark but it does give you more time to read, so we are pleased to say we have a selection of hand-picked fiction and non-fiction titles to help you choose your next book. And why not consider banishing those winter blues with a visit to the first of this year's literary festivals? Purbeck 16 February - 1 March or The Independent Bath Literature Festival 27 February - 8 March. Both of them are packed with author events to warm the heart, inspire the mind and boost the spirits.

See the Future – Pre-Publication Exclusives

Where can you read an exclusive extract of a specially chosen book before it's been officially published, you ask? Right here. That's where. This month, we love: Sisters of Treason by Elizabeth Fremantle - An enthralling historical romp, danger, intrigue, lies and survival, follow up to Queen's Gambit. It was also raved about by our Reader Reviewers 'The attention to detail is both engrossing and insightful', 'This book simply blew me away'. And if you are looking for a novel that will make you laugh, cry and remind you that the most important thing in life is the most simple - the people you love - then try The Two of Us by Andy Jones. Perfect for fans of David Nicholls and Nick Hornby. Finally Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose - A real page turner that has everything, murder, family, love and history… that was also No. 5 in the Lovereading top 10 'Readers' Choice' Books of the Year 2014. The paperback is published in February. Other great pre-publication reads are:

Beauty and Brains – The Women's War-Effort at Bletchley Park

Literally steeped in 'enigma', the work of the code-crackers at Bletchley Park is a rich seam of awe-inspiring stories. Heralded by Churchill as the "geese that laid the golden eggs", 8,000 of the 12,000 Bletchley workers were women, often overlooked. There are two new books that tell their stories. Michael Smith's The Debs of Bletchley Park and Other Stories - From the Debutante and the Stripper to the Wren and the Student it was these 'real people', all women, who worked at Bletchley Park to break the codes and helped to win the war. They are an incredible set of women, and this is their story. And, The Bletchley Girls by Tessa Dunlop - A thrilling glimpse into a truly fascinating world.

Hail Mary! – Mary Gibson's Jam and Roses

Acclaimed author of Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts, the gripping tales of Bermondsey working-class women in WWI, has followed up with an equally beguiling sequel. Mary Gibson's Jam and Roses lays bare the lives and dreams of three sisters in the midst of the General Strike (1926) and a violent home. Her soul-engulfing writing is testament to the truth that you can become a successful author at any age. Read her books and her own story here.

Dangers in Paradise

From the pen of the screenwriter of the TV hit Death in Paradise comes A Meditation on Murder by Robert Thorogood, a compellingly enjoyable Agatha Christie-esque whodunit. We recommend you curl up indoors, escape to the Caribbean and bask in the warmth radiating from the pages of this gripping locked-room mystery. It is, simply, a fantastic cosy read and we defy you not to be charmed!'

Words and Action! – Books that Inspire Film-makers

Since audiences first ducked in fright as the Lumière brothers screened: 'Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat' in 1895, the movies have held an unrivalled fascination for folk of all ages. Many of the "greats" were great books first and well, the book is always better! We have selected 4 adaptations that hit the silver screen in the next few weeks. Read the book first and see if the film is up to scratch, or see the film then read the book to enhance your enjoyment. You can also win a £20 cinema voucher in our free prize draw. Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain. One of the most famous autobiographies of WWI - Cripplingly moving, hopeful and passionate record of a lost generation. Travelling to Infinity: The True Story Behind the Theory of Everything by Jane Hawking. Honest and often painful… a marriage under the strain of fame, illness and the search for truth. Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon. Mind-boggling, neon-noir, psychedelic '60s romp, that manages to be very funny and thought-provokingly wistful at the same time. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James. Love it or hate it, the film starring Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson is likely to be one of the biggest of 2015. Out on Valentine's Day. Worlds of the War – World War Literature 2014 was the 100^th anniversary of the start of World War One and the commemorative response was enormous. We, in our own way, created a whole section dedicated to the amazing literature, stories of courage, loss and of ordinary lives in extraordinary circumstances. Lest we forget. Now in 2015 on the 70^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War you will find a new category with a range of titles selected by our experts covering both World Wars. Below you'll find a small selection of 'Our Class of 2014' for you to browse in case you missed any or visit the website to find them all. So, Happy New Year! Happy New Reading! From all of us. See you in February with some perfect antidotes to the winter blues.