Ah! Summer! A shimmering heat-haze on hot, over-crowded roads, queues at airports, over-heated public transport and the odd torrential rain storm. Summer can be stressful!

Allow us to take the stress clean away by helping you find that perfect Summer read. Check out our brand new Summer Reading section with a chance to win an Amazon Kindle eReader!

 

 

Summer Lovin'...Author of the Month Jill Mansell

What does it take to write brilliantly observed, character-led romantic comedy? Author of the Month Jill Mansell says all she needs is a fountain pen, a bag of fruit gums and… This Morning on TV in the background. Her novels have already sold 3 million copies and her latest is set to join them. A Walk in the Park is a gripping, witty and delicious story of how one person can shake up a whole community. It’s the perfect time for fans to catch up on her recent novels while new readers have a summer full of romance to enjoy.  

July Books of the Month

There’s a cloud-bursting bonanza of dazzling titles on our bookshelf this month, so even if the weather’s a disappointment, your next read won’t be! We love: The Truth by Michael Palin - In a ‘departure’ from travel writing, this is a novel and follows an ordinary man on an extraordinary adventure. It’s incredibly good.
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Erskine For it! – Guest Editor Barbara Erskine

With a father who was a WWII Spitfire pilot and a bloodline that can be traced all the way back to the Picts, History was always going to be a big draw for Guest Editor Barbara Erskine. Combine this with her love of the supernatural and you get two bestsellers and global sales in the millions! Her latest title, River of Destiny, is another epic, atmospheric and ghostly tale and, we reckon, a belter of a Summer read. You can find all of her work on the site as well as the books that have influenced her over the years. There are some real gems in her selection.

Lucky for Summer – Three Great July Competitions

Linked to all the books in our Summer Reading section is a chance to win a Kindle eReader worth £89.99! Just click on any book in the category to find out more… 5 lucky crime fans can win a whole bagful of spine-chilling sagas by the acclaimed Jilliane Hoffman. Her latest title, The Cutting Room – complete with terrifying, sadistic serial-killer – is a Book of the Month. And there are THREE copies of the joyful, modern and picaresque novel InterRail by Alessandro Gallenzi up for grabs. Born out of the author's own experiences, it’s a celebration of the joy of being young and the infinite, unpredictable paths life can throw at us. And once you’ve got the book you can read about a further competition to win an InterRail Pass across Europe.

Uplifting Downloads! - eBooks of the Month

We’ve picked out three corkers for you this month:
The Book Lover’s Tale by Ivo Stourton - How far will a man go when love becomes obsession? Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon - witty, wise and thoroughly modern debut about the freeing power of confession. Portrait of a Spy by Daniel Silva – pacey, complex, thoroughly credible thriller.

July Debuts of the Month

We know you all love our Debut selections and as always, we have hand-picked the cream of the crop of new talent this month, but our favourite debut for July (and maybe 2012 so far!) is the unique and brilliant: MEGA Debut The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price by Wendy Jones - Beautifully crafted, quirky tale of love and duty in the 1920s Welsh countryside. Also look out for The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. This end of the world coming of age novel was fought over by 5 big publishers. Read a Free Opening Extract to find out why.
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Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

Now 10 years old, the festival championing crime writing, the most popular literary genre in the UK today, is back. Between 19-22 July 2012 at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate, you will find the cream of international crime fiction, including Jo Nesbo, Harlan Coben, John Connolly, Kate Mosse, Peter Robinson, Peter James and Ian Rankin among scores of others. See a selection of our crime favourites below and see our Book Awards section on 5 July for the shortlist of the Best Crime Novel of the Year.
 

In Short – BRAND new Short Story Category

Sometimes you want War and Peace and sometimes something a little thinner! Round here, we love a good short story! A short burst of escapism and perfect for the trip to work. After all, a test match takes time and a 20/20 can be a lot more fun! Have a look at these great short stories and work your way through them over the summer. If you are a budding short story writer you may want to enter The Scott Prize and the BBC Short Story Prize – more details on the website in our Short Story category. So that is what’s new at Lovereading this month. Enjoy the summer and why not tell us about what you’ve been reading? We always love to hear your views. Happy Reading! P.S. The excellent author Katherine Webb, [TV Book Club favourite The Legacy], has a new book out later this month that has caught our eye. Called A Half-Forgotten Song, it is a powerful tale that explores the dark heart of love, and the shocking truths that dwell there – find out more. P.P.S. Fans of Jodi Picoult with teenage daughters shouldn’t miss her first foray into children’s books (co-authored with her own daughter), Between the Lines.