It's been scarf-and-hat (and earth tremor) weather outside, but at least the sun has come out to play a few times. And there's nothing better than sitting next to a window and reading by bright, natural light. So why not download and print some free Opening Extracts of these fantastic stories, and enjoy choosing your next book with Lovereading. 

AUTHOR OF THE MONTHAuthor of the Month Penny Vincenzi Absolute ScandalIain BanksPenny Vincenzi was one of THE biggest names in the book world back in the late '80s and '90s and now the queen of the glamorous family drama back with the unputdownable Absolute Scandal - not out until 20 Mar but you can start reading it today as we have been given an exclusive pre publication extract!. Packed full of rich, charismatic men, glamorous wives, adultery, bankruptcy and death it's a compelling page-turner.Misery MemoirsNext up, the bleak-sounding Misery Memoirs - a genre typified by true stories of personal tragedy. But it's not as gloomy as you might think. There's a growing demand for these books for several reasons: they're eye-openers to important issues; you can sense the huge relief it is for some of the authors to get things out on paper; and they can leave you feeling strangely happy about your own circumstances.And we have two brilliant - Books of the Month...The Steep Approach to GarbadaleThe Steep Approach to Garbadale is Iain Banks' first new novel for five years, and is being touted as his best since The Crow Road . The Wopuld family have many skeletons in their closet - plenty enough for a great story of love, deceit, dark desire and interesting twists.

 

The Spa Decameron is the latest from the much-loved British writer Fay Weldon. This witty, compassionate, occasionally libidinous novel sees ten high-achieving ladies swap life stories as they seek new beginnings on an expensive post-Christmas spa break.Also be the first to read our choice of Debuts for March ...

 

Child 44Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is a gripping tale set in Stalinist Russia and soon to be a Ridley Scott movie. An officer in the state secret police starts to question his superiors and the Communist doctrine they so vehemently adhere to, and is framed for treason by a colleague. On the run with his emotionally estranged wife, he launches his own rogue investigation into a series of child killings, even though it means risking capture.

 

After River After River by Donna Milner is a beautifully crafted novel, very much in the style of Anne Tyler or Anita Shreve. Natalie is a naïve girl growing up in the mountains of British Columbia, who believes her close-knit family to be the envy of all her neighbours. But when a soft-spoken American turns up, his growing influence over her shatters the family's idyllic existence.

 

Three-Mothers And the perceptive Three Mothers, by Sonia Lambert, follows the lives of three generations of women. Helene fled Nazi Germany and fell for an Englishman. Her daughter Vera enjoyed life in the 60s, but at the birth of her own daughter, Suzie, she discovered her husband had been unfaithful. And in the 90s Suzie is caring for Vera, who now has cancer. As Suzie learns about her own life, she gets to the bottom of the animosity between her mother and grandmother.

 

Boy AWBDAnd finally this month, World Book Day . As part of the celebrations the World Book Day team wanted to get the reading public to vote for 'The Book to talk about in 2008'. What started as a longlist of 100 books became a shortlist of 10, and now one winner with Boy A by Jonathan Trigell. We have free Opening Extracts of all 10 of the shortlist for you to try and see which get you talking.

 

This Month's Featured ''new gen' - Great Fiction for Teens and Young Adults' BooksJourney to the End of the WorldHenning MankellA deeply moving story of a 15 year olds' first encounter with his mother since she had abandoned him as a baby. Joel has left school and longs to begin a new life as a sailor. But first he and... £4.49 Save 25%An Inconvenient TruthAl GorePowerful photographs make their points eloquently and from them Al Gore argues passionately for everyone to do everything they can to slow down the rate at which the climate is being destroyed. The message is irresistible.... £7.49 Save 25%Living With TeenagersA touching, funny and alarmingly insightful 'family' story about the downs and sometimes! ups of living with 3 teenagers. These three are no saints but, as their mother fondly remembers sometimes, they were once sweet... £9.74 Save 25%Accidental FriendsHelena PielichatyA touching tale that involves four young strangers getting accidentally involved with each other through a chance encounter. Together they embark upon their college education that will change their lives forever.... £4.49 Save 25%Split by a KissLuisa PlajaCool or not? A fast paced and touching story about teenage identities. Newly arrived in the US, Jo finds herself split in two. Is she the nerdy outsider or one of the coolest girls in the school? Split in two,... £4.49 Save 25%I am Rembrandt's DaughterLynn CullenSadness and love permeate this deeply touching coming of age story based around the life of Rembrandt. Caring for her difficult father at the end of his life, Cornelia pieces together the story of her own... £4.49 Save 25%The Life of RileyJoanna NadinThe deepest desires and greatest fantasies of a teenager are hilariously recorded in this candid diary. Can the author find the boy of her dreams? .... £4.49 Save 25%Hazel's PhantasmagoriaLeander DeenyThis is a stunning first novel with exceptional quality writing with a uniquely imaginative plot. The author has combined the rich, gifted imagination of Lewis Carroll and... £7.49 Save 25%

 

This Month's Featured 'Literary / Contemporary' BooksBody SurfingAnita ShreveAnother beautifully written book from this author, set against a New Hampshire seaside backdrop which she seems to love and indeed you want to be curled up on a veranda looking out to sea when reading this tale of a... £5.24 Save 25%The Spa DecameronFay WeldonMarch 2008 Book of the Month.Once one of our most respected authors but her work has tailed off over the last few years. Well now she is back on form with a group of high-powered women discussing their lives... £5.99 Save 25%The Steep Approach to GarbadaleIain BanksMarch 2008 Book of the Month.Hailed as Banks' best novel since The Crow Road, The Steep Approach to Garbadale is his first new novel in five years. Centred on the Wopuld family and their many skeletons in the... £5.99 Save 25%After RiverDonna MilnerA beautifully written book about a naïve young girl, Natalie, who believes her family to be the envy of their neighbours. However when a stranger enters the family's midst his influence on her will shatter the family causing a separation... £11.24 Save 25%

 

This Month's Featured 'Relationship Tales' BooksWhen to WalkRebecca GowersThis is a delightful, quirky read. You will be hooked on the main character, Ramble, from the start and be very sorry to say goodbye to her by the end of the book. This is the author's first novel and we hope there will be many more to come. £5.99 Save 25%Thanks for Nothing, Nick MaxwellDebbie CarbinRachel Covington is rather full of herself and rather selfish but you can't help liking her or this novel. It's funny and fresh and a brilliant book for a holiday read. This is the authors first novel and lets hope... £5.24 Save 25%The Fiction ClassSusan BreenA charming and intelligent comedy. We follow the two sides to Arabella's life, her teaching a creative writing class, which is made up of quite an eclectic bunch and the relationship she has with her dying mother who she visits in a nursing home..... £5.24 Save 25%Mrs Zhivago of Queen's ParkOlivia LichtensteinA mid-life crisis tale of great charm. Chloe has been married to Greg for 17 years and although she still loves him, she aches for some bedroom activity. Temptation enters in the guise of Ivan, a passionate Russian, and romance... £5.24 Save 25%

 

This Month's Featured 'Mystery / Thriller' BooksSavage NightAllan GuthrieWinner of Spinetinglers Award 2008.Rough, tough language and casual violence that escalates beyond the control of its hardened characters in a tale of revenge and spectacular mounting misunderstandings.... £7.49 Save 25%Stratton's WarLaura WilsonThis is a complex, atmospheric and beautifully paced thriller set in WW2 London. Detective Ted Stratton is investigating a seeming suicide of a silent screen legend and stumbles upon plots by gangsters and MI5 ........ £7.49 Save 25%Killing FearAllison BrennanA crime novel with a touch of romance. A serial killer, Theodore Glenn, out to exact revenge on those who put him behind bars is also stalking the woman he is obsessed with while she is rekindling the relationship that... £5.24 Save 25%Child 44Tom Rob SmithMarch 2008 Debut of the Month.This is a brilliant first novel from an exceptional writer. Set in Stalinist Russia, it is a tight and gripping tale of an MGB officer who starts to question his superiors and sees through... £9.74 Save 25%LostChris JordanA really satisfying read, real characters, complex but believable plot and as a Londoner I loved the local refrences. Highly recommended. ... £5.24 Save 25%A Quiet Belief in AngelsR J ElloryWe are championing this author. I think he is very special. His publisher claims he writes crime novels, and there certainly always is a crime, but his tales are so much bigger... £5.99 Save 25%

 

This Month's Featured 'Historical Fiction' BooksClaudiaAntoinette MayA charming and moving novel of ancient Rome. Claudia is blessed with visions which give her a controversial outlook for the time. Married to Pontius Pilate, she is witness to the last days of Jesus but the story contains more... £5.24 Save 25%The Other Boleyn GirlPhilippa GregoryThis is an absolutely cracking read, gripping from the very start. Gregory creates an intriguing story that's historically true and she mixes fact with fiction seemlessly that you find the whole story completely believable. Anne Boleyn's sister led an extraordinary... £5.99 Save 25%Kiss Me AnnabelEloisa JamesThis is delightful feel-good historical romance with intelligent dialogue, well drawn characters and a fair sprinkling of humour throughout. Racy, well yes it is a bit but the love stories are well crafted and definitely tell you much about the... £5.24 Save 25%Tree of AngelsPenny SumnerThis is one of those glorious multi-layered, multi-peopled, family sagas stretching over three generations around the world. Full of incident, historical sweep, drama, scandal and passion, it is what good old-fashioned story telling is all about but it does take... £5.24 Save 25%