- The Bibliophile Papers Newsletter - February 2021 -
👩🏻💻 Hello my name is Claire, i'm an avid bibliophile blogger, Mumma Bear, Crazy Cat Lady and Teaching Assistant from Essex.
Welcome to my first bookish monthly newsletter for all you lovely bibliophiles.
It will be featuring every month the following:
◦ Upcoming releases for this month
◦ My 'Buy Of The Month' pick
◦ Author Feature Spotlights
◦ Blogger Of The Month
◦ Discounts Codes
◦ Self Care Shelf
◦ My Book Of The Month choice
All books discussed will be available to preorder through my affiliate links via the grey word below. Please support our authors and local book sellers, every pre order helps :)
I also have a blog on Instagram and Twitter which you can access below if you fancy listening to my rambles about all things books & life.
I really hope you enjoy these monthly papers that I will put together for you and please feel free to chat to me in the comments below.
February Releases
First up here is a handful of some of the upcoming releases for this month...
Bridgerton fans you are in for a treat ;)
A Net For Small Fishes by Lucy Jago
- My Book Of The Month pick -
Read my review Here
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Bloomsbury
◦ PreOrder Here
Available in hardback - £13.19
Frances Howard has beauty and a powerful family - and is the most unhappy creature in the world.
Anne Turner has wit and talent - but no stage on which to display them. Little stands between her and the abyss of destitution.
When these two very different women meet in the strangest of circumstances, a powerful friendship is sparked. Frankie sweeps Anne into a world of splendour that exceeds all she imagined: a Court whose foreign king is a stranger to his own subjects; where ancient families fight for power, and where the sovereign's favourite may rise and rise - so long as he remains in favour.
With the marriage of their talents, Anne and Frankie enter this extravagant, savage hunting ground, seeking a little happiness for themselves. But as they gain notice, they also gain enemies; what began as a search for love and safety leads to desperate acts that could cost them everything.
[big & bold:] Based on the true scandal that rocked the court of James I, A Net for Small Fishes is the most gripping novel you'll read this year: an exhilarating dive into the pitch-dark waters of the Jacobean court.
Daughters Of Night by Laura Shepard Robinson
◦ Release Date: February 18th
◦ Genre: Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Mantle
◦ Preorder Here
Available in hardback - £11.99
From the pleasure palaces and gin-shops of Covent Garden to the elegant townhouses of Mayfair, Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s Daughters of Night follows Caroline Corsham as she seeks justice for a murdered woman whom London society would rather forget . . .
Lucia’s fingers found her own. She gazed at Caro as if from a distance. Her lips parted, her words a whisper: ‘He knows.’
London, 1782. Desperate for her politician husband to return home from France, Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham is already in a state of anxiety when she finds a well-dressed woman mortally wounded in the bowers of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The Bow Street constables are swift to act, until they discover that the deceased woman was a highly paid prostitute, at which point they cease to care entirely. But Caro has motives of her own for wanting to see justice done, and so sets out to solve the crime herself. Enlisting the help of thieftaker Peregrine Child, their inquiry delves into the hidden corners of Georgian society, a world of artifice, deception and secret lives.
But with many gentlemen refusing to speak about their dealings with the dead woman, and Caro’s own reputation under threat, finding the killer will be harder, and more treacherous, than she can know . . .
Nick by Michael Farris Smith
◦ Release Date: February 25th
◦ Genre: Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: No Exit Press
◦ Preorder Here
Available in hardback - £10.55
Critically acclaimed novelist Michael Farris Smith pulls Nick Carraway out of the shadows and into the spotlight in this exhilarating imagination of his life before The Great Gatsby
Before Nick Carraway moved to West Egg and into Gatsby's world, he was at the centre of a very different story - one taking place along the trenches and deep within the tunnels of World War I.
Floundering in the wake of the destruction he witnessed first-hand, Nick delays his return home, hoping to escape the questions he cannot answer about the horrors of war. Instead, he embarks on a transcontinental redemptive journey that takes him from a whirlwind Paris romance - doomed from the very beginning - to the dizzying frenzy of New Orleans, rife with its own flavour of debauchery and violence.
An epic portrait of a truly singular era and a sweeping, romantic story of self-discovery, this rich and imaginative novel breathes new life into a character that many know only from the periphery. Charged with enough alcohol, heartbreak, and profound yearning to transfix even the heartiest of golden age scribes, NICK reveals the man behind the narrator who has captivated readers for decades.
West With Giraffes: a novel by Lynda Rutledge
◦ Release Date: February 1st
◦ Genre: Literary/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
◦ Purchase Here
Available in paperback/hardback - £3.99
“Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes…”
Woodrow Wilson Nickel, age 105, feels his life ebbing away. But when he learns giraffes are going extinct, he finds himself recalling the unforgettable experience he cannot take to his grave.
It’s 1938. The Great Depression lingers. Hitler is threatening Europe, and world-weary Americans long for wonder. They find it in two giraffes who miraculously survive a hurricane while crossing the Atlantic. What follows is a twelve-day road trip in a custom truck to deliver Southern California’s first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo. Behind the wheel is the young Dust Bowl rowdy Woodrow. Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.
Part adventure, part historical saga, and part coming-of-age love story, West with Giraffes explores what it means to be changed by the grace of animals, the kindness of strangers, the passing of time, and a story told before it’s too late.
The Shadow Man by Helen Fields
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Thriller
◦ Publisher: Avon
◦ Preorder Here
Available in paperback - £6.55
The brand new crime thriller from the bestselling author of the Perfect series – Helen Fields is back with her first stand-alone novel!
He collects his victims. But he doesn’t keep them safe.
Elspeth, Meggy and Xavier are locked in a flat. They don’t know where they are, and they don’t know why they’re there. They only know that the shadow man has taken them, and he won’t let them go. Desperate to escape, the three of them must find a way out of their living hell, even if it means uncovering a very dark truth. Because the shadow man isn’t a nightmare.
He’s all too real. And he’s watching.
LightSeekers by Femi Kayode
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Thriller
◦ Publisher: Raven
◦ Preorder Here
Available in hardback - £11.34
Winner of the 2019 UEA Crime Writing Prize, Lightseekers is the start of a major new crime series introducing investigative psychologist Dr Philip Taiwo.
When three young students are brutally murdered in a Nigerian university town, their killings - and their killers - are caught on social media. The world knows who murdered them; what no one knows is why.
As the legal trial begins, investigative psychologist Philip Taiwo is contacted by the father of one of the boys, desperate for some answers to his son's murder. But Philip is an expert in crowd behaviour and violence, not a detective, and after travelling to the sleepy university town that bore witness to the killings, he soon feels dramatically out of his depth.
Will he finally be able to uncover the truth of what happened to the Okiri Three?
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Thriller
◦ Publisher: Bantam Press
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £10.49
EVERYONE'S IN DANGER. ANYONE COULD BE NEXT.
An imposing, isolated hotel, high up in the Swiss Alps, is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But she's taken time off from her job as a detective, so when she receives an invitation out of the blue to celebrate her estranged brother's recent engagement, she has no choice but to accept.
Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge. Though it's beautiful, something about the hotel, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, makes her nervous - as does her brother, Isaac.
And when they wake the following morning to discover his fiancée Laure has vanished without a trace, Elin's unease grows. With the storm cutting off access to and from the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.
But no-one has realized yet that another woman has gone missing. And she's the only one who could have warned them just how much danger they're all in . . .
The Promise by Lucy Diamond
◦ Release Date: February 18th
◦ Genre: Contemporary
◦ Publisher: Macmillan
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £11.99
When faced with the sudden death of his brother, Dan’s mission is clear. He puts together a project to help pick up the pieces and support his grieving sister-in-law Zoe, plus her young children. This is Dan’s promise - to ensure his family’s happiness, and to try and live up to the man his brother was.
But tying up loose ends brings a shocking secret to light, and calls into question everything Dan knew about his older brother. With more than just his promise on the line, Dan is faced with an ultimatum: Should he tell the truth and risk his family’s fragile happiness, or will his brother’s secrets end up becoming his own?
The Downstairs Neighbour by Helen Cooper
◦ Release Date: February 11th/16th
◦ Genre: Thriller
◦ Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in
paperback - £12.40 hardback - £13.79
In a converted Georgian townhouse in south west London, three families live under one roof.
The large flat that takes up the top two floors is home to the Harlow family: happily married Paul and Steph, and their bubbly teenage daughter Freya. The smaller first floor flat is rented by Emma, who spends most of her time alone, listening to people coming in and out of the building. And the basement flat belongs to Chris, a local driving instructor, who prefers to keep his personal life private from the neighbours.
But their lives are all upended when Freya vanishes. As the police become involved and a frantic Paul and Steph desperately search for answers, they begin to realise that the truth behind their daughter's disappearance may lie closer to home than they were expecting.
When everyone has something to hide, can you ever really know those closest to you? Or will some secrets be taken to the grave?
The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
◦ Release Date: February 9th
◦ Genre: Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Two Roads
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £11.99
PARIS, 1939
Odile Souchet is obsessed with books, and her new job at the American Library in Paris - with its thriving community of students, writers and book lovers - is a dream come true. When war is declared, the Library is determined to remain open. But then the Nazis invade Paris, and everything changes.
In Occupied Paris, choices as black and white as the words on a page become a murky shade of grey - choices that will put many on the wrong side of history, and the consequences of which will echo for decades to come.
MONTANA, 1983
Lily is a lonely teenage desperate to escape small-town Montana. She grows close to her neighbour Odile, discovering they share the same love of language, the same longings. But as Lily uncovers more about Odile's mysterious past, she discovers a dark secret, closely guarded and long hidden.
Based on the true Second World War story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable novel of romance, friendship, family, and of heroism found in the quietest of places.
Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Romance
◦ Publisher: Penguin
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.89
MEET JESSIE, CARA AND NELL.
Married to brothers Johnny, Ed and Liam Casey.
Three very different women tied to three very different men.
Every family occasion is a party - until the day the secrets spill out.
PLAYTIME IS OVER.
BUT WHERE ARE THE GROWN-UPS?
THE LATEST NO. 1 BESTSELLER FROM MARIAN KEYES, THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BREAK - THE PERFECT ANTIDOTE TO MODERN LIFE
Space Hopper by Helen Fisher
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Contemporary
◦ Publisher: Simon & Schauster
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £11.99
This is a story about taking a leap of faith
And believing the unbelievable
They say those we love never truly leave us, and I’ve found that to be true. But not in the way you might expect. In fact, none of this is what you’d expect.
I’ve been visiting my mother who died when I was eight.
And I’m talking about flesh and blood, tea-and-biscuits-on-the-table visiting here.
Right now, you probably think I’m going mad.
Let me explain…
Although Faye is happy with her life, the loss of her mother as a child weighs on her mind even more now that she is a mother herself. So she is amazed when, in an extraordinary turn of events, she finds herself back in her childhood home in the 1970s. Faced with the chance to finally seek answers to her questions – but away from her own family – how much is she willing to give up for another moment with her mother?
Space Hopper is an original and poignant story about mothers, memories and moments that shape life.
For you Bridgerton fans... here is a little Bridgerton take over!!!
The Viscount Who Loved Me - Anthony's Story {Bridgerton Family}
by Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £8.99
The second book in the beloved and globally bestselling Bridgerton Family,now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix.
Welcome to Anthony's story . . .
1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, This Author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London's most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better...
- Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, April 1814
Anthony Bridgerton needs a wife.
Having spent his twenties in a rakish pursuit of pleasure (whilst taking care to ensure the financial security of his mother and seven younger siblings and mother) he knows it's high time he settled down and ensured the continuation of the Bridgerton line.
Edwina Sheffield is considered the most beautiful debutante of the current season. She is also sweet, innocent and eminently biddable - Anthony is sure she'll make a perfectly acceptable wife and vows to make her his.
The only obstacle in his way is Edwina's older sister, Kate. Kate is determined to do all she can to allow her sister the chance to marry for love rather than convenience. And the roguish viscount is beginning to think he may have met his match in Kate's keen wit and sharp tongue. Until, that is, he makes the mistake of kissing her...
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
An Offer From A Gentleman - Benedicts's Story {Bridgerton Family}
by Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.37
The third novel in the beloved Regency-set world of Julia Quinn's charming, powerful Bridgerton family, now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix.
Welcome to Benedict's story . . .
This year's most sought-after invitation must surely be that of the Bridgerton masquerade ball, to be held Monday next. Will some fortunate young lady use the mystery of a masquerade night to snare one of the eligible bachelors?
- Lady Whistledown's Society Papers, May 1815
Sophie Beckett never dreamt she would sneak into Lady Bridgerton's famed masquerade ball - or that 'Prince Charming' would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie had been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But that night, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she felt like royalty. Yet she knows all enchantments must end.
But Sophie has reckoned without Benedict's determined heart: he has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, for he knows this is his only chance for a fairy tale love . . .
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
Romancing Mr Bridgeton - Penelope & Colin's Story {Bridgerton Family} by Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.37
The fourth book in Julia Quinn's globally bestselling, Regency-set, Bridgerton Family series, now the inspiration for the Netflix series Bridgerton by Shonda Rhimes. Welcome to Colin and Penelope's long-awaited story . . .
Everyone knows that Colin Bridgerton is the most charming man in London . . .
Penelope Featherington has secretly adored her best friend's brother for . . . well, it feels like forever. After half a lifetime of watching Colin Bridgerton from afar, she thinks she knows everything about him, until she stumbles across his deepest secret . . . and fears she doesn't know him at all.
Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought of as nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad, he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl who was always simply there is suddenly the girl haunting his dreams.
When he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide... is she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
To Sir Phillip, with love- Eloise's Story {Bridgerton Family}
by Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.37
The fifth novel in Julia Quinn's globally beloved and bestselling Bridgerton Family series, set in Regency times and now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix.
This is Eloise's story . . .
My dear Miss Bridgerton,
We have been corresponding now for quite some time, and although we have never formally met, I feel as if I know you.
Forgive me if I am too bold, but I am writing to invite you to visit me here at Romney Hall. It is my hope that after a suitable period of time, we might decide that we will suit, and you will consent to be my wife.
Did he think she was mad?
Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking . . . and wondering . . . and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match.
Except . . . he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled . . . and when he kissed her . . .
the rest of the world simply fell away.
She couldn't help but wonder . . . could this imperfect man be perfect for her?
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
When He Was Wicked - Francesca's Story {Bridgerton Family}
by Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.37
The sixth novel in Julia Quinn's globally beloved and bestselling Bridgerton Family series, set in Regency times and now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix.
Welcome to Francesca's story . . .
In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breath-taking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous bachelor, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.
After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing.
Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer - the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin . . .
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
Its in His Kiss - Hyacinths's Story { Bridgerton Family }
By Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.37
The seventh novel in Julia Quinn's globally beloved and bestselling Bridgerton Family series, set in Regency times and now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix. This is Hyacinth's story: she's all grown up and ready to cause havoc . .
All the ton agree: there is no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton.
Fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken and - according to some, particularly Gareth St. Clair - probably best in small doses. But there's something about her - something charming and vexing - that grabs one and won't quite let go.
Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual - and annually discordant - Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to help him out with a knotty inheritance problem he's facing. However, as they delve into the mysterious St Clair history, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the past - but in each other; and that there is nothing as simple - or as complicated - as a single, perfect kiss.
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
On The Way To The Wedding - Gregory's Story {Bridgerton Family}
by Julia Quinn
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Romance/Historical Fiction
◦ Publisher: Piatkus
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback - £7.37
The eighth novel in Julia Quinn's globally beloved and bestselling Bridgerton Family series, set in Regency times and now a series created by Shonda Rhimes for Netflix.
Finally, this is Gregory's story . . .
Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton is a firm believer in true love.
He'd have to be an idiot not to be: all seven of his siblings are happily married. Gregory figures he is just biding his time until the right woman comes along. And so when he sees Hermione Watson, he knows with every fibre of his being, that she is meant to be his.
But through Hermione's closest - and slightly less beautiful - friend, Lucy Abernathy, he finds out that Hermione is desperately in love with another man. Sadly, by the time Gregory figures out the right girl is actually the wrong girl, and the right girl was Lucy all along, it's too late. Lucy is to marry another!
Now - on the way to the wedding - Gregory must figure out how to thwart the nuptials and convince Lucy that she was always meant to be his...
See Previous books in this series:
The Duke and I: Book one - Here
The Coven by Lizzy Fry
◦ Release Date: February 25th
◦ Genre: Contemporary
◦ Publisher: Sphere
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £12.05
Let me repeat myself, so we can be very clear. Women are not the enemy. We must protect them from themselves, just as much as we must protect ourselves.
Imagine a world in which witchcraft is real. In which mothers hand down power to their daughters, power that is used harmlessly and peacefully.
Then imagine that the US President is a populist demagogue who decides that all witches must be imprisoned for their own safety, as well as the safety of those around them - creating a world in which to be female is one step away from being criminal...
As witches across the world are rounded up, one young woman discovers a power she did not know she had. It's a dangerous force and it puts her top of the list in a global witch hunt.
But she - and the women around her - won't give in easily. Not while all of women's power is under threat.
The Coven is a dazzling global thriller that pays homage to the power and potential of women everywhere.
-BUY OF THE MONTH PICK -
A Court Of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas {Book 5 in the ACOTAR series}
◦ Release Date: February 16th
◦ Genre: Fantasy
◦ Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £13.19
Sarah J. Maas's sexy, richly imagined A Court of Thorns and Roses series continues with the journey of Feyre's fiery sister, Nesta
Nesta Archeron has always been prickly - proud, swift to anger and slow to forgive. And since the war - since being made High Fae against her will - she's struggled to forget the horrors she endured and find a place for herself within the strange and deadly Night Court.
The person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred, winged warrior who is there at Nesta's every turn. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. And when they are forced to train in battle together, sparks become flame.
As the threat of war casts its shadow over them once again, Nesta and Cassian must fight monsters from within and without if they are to stand a chance of halting the enemies of their court. But the ultimate risk will be searching for acceptance - and healing - in each other's arms.
See previous books in this series:
A Court of Thorns and Roses - Here
A Court of Mist and Fury - Here
A Court Of Wings and Ruin - Here
A Court Of Frost and Starlight - Here
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
◦ Release Date: February 18th
◦ Genre: Contemporary Fiction
◦ Publisher: Canongate Books
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in paperback/hardback - £7.37
Between life and death there is a library.
When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.
The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.
Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?
THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK
Beneath The Keep by Erika Johansen
◦ Release Date: February 11th
◦ Genre: Fantasy
◦ Publisher: Bantam Press
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £12.65
The much-anticipated stand-alone prequel to the bestselling Queen of the Tearling trilogy tells the story of a decadent kingdom descended into darkness, alliances forged under fire, and a battle over a prophecy that will change the course of history.
The Tearling has reverted to feudalism, a far cry from the utopia it was founded to be. As the gap between rich and poor widens and famine threatens the land, sparking unrest, rumours of a prophecy begin to spread: a great hope, a True Queen who will rise up and save the kingdom.
But rumours will not help Lazarus, a man raised to kill in the brutal clandestine underworld of the Creche, nor Aislinn, a farm girl who must reckon with her own role in the growing rebellion.
And in the Keep, the crown princess, Elyssa, finds herself torn between duty to the throne and the lure of the Blue Horizon, a group of fierce idealists who promise radical change . . . but Elyssa must choose quickly, before a nefarious witch and her shadowy master use dark magic to decide for her.
It is only a matter of time before all three will be called into the service of something bigger than they have ever imagined: a fight for a better world.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
◦ Release Date: February 4th
◦ Genre: Fiction
◦ Publisher: Viking
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £9.69
In a crowded London pub, two young people meet. Both are Black British, both won scholarships to private schools where they struggled to belong, both are now artists--he a photographer, she a dancer--and both are trying to make their mark in a world that by turns celebrates and rejects them. Tentatively, tenderly, they fall in love. But two people who seem destined to be together can still be torn apart by fear and violence, and over the course of a year they find their relationship tested by forces beyond their control.
Narrated with deep intimacy, Open Water is at once an achingly beautiful love story and a potent insight into race and masculinity that asks what it means to be a person in a world that sees you only as a Black body; to be vulnerable when you are only respected for strength; to find safety in love, only to lose it. With gorgeous, soulful intensity, and blistering emotional intelligence, Caleb Azumah Nelson gives a profoundly sensitive portrait of romantic love in all its feverish waves and comforting beauty.
This is one of the most essential debut novels of recent years, heralding the arrival of a stellar and prodigious young talent.
Allegation by R.G Adams
◦ Release Date: February 18th
◦ Genre: Thriller
◦ Publisher: Riverrun
◦ Pre Order Here
Available in hardback - £13.19
An evil monster exposed?
Or an innocent father condemned?
A scandal will shake a small community to its very foundations.
Sandbeach, South Wales.
Two women have come forward to make historical sexual allegations against a pillar of the local community, Matthew Cooper.
The case lands on the desk of inexperienced Social Worker, Kit Goddard, who must remove Cooper from his home and family while the investigation is carried out. Although intrepid and intuitive, she is ill-prepared for such a high-profile case.
Kit finds herself navigating a local minefield of connections and class, reputations and rumour. Unsure whether her interference is a heroic intervention or a hurtful intrusion, she knows one thing: it will have an impact. The question is whether this impact will be to expose a lie, or destroy an innocent life...
FEATURE SPOTLIGHT
This is the part in my newsletter that allows authors/publishers to spotlight a book they have coming out within this month. Alongside details of the book you will also have bio about the author and a little bit about the book in their own words.
The Wing Thief by Samantha Atkins
Synopsis -
Let me ask you a question. It’s a pretty straight forward question, but one that you shouldn’t rush to answer.
Do you believe in magic?
Vista wanted two things: adventure and freedom. But nothing could prepare her for the fall that would change everything. In a single moment, Vista’s comfortable life in the Home Tree is over and she must find a way to survive in the forest alone.
She soon learns that not everyone can be trusted and now she must race to save the family she left behind.
In a forest filled with magic and trickery, just how far can a flightless fairy go?
About the author -
Samantha Atkins currently lives in Rhondda Cynon Taff, South Wales, with her partner, Layla, and their two children. The family have two dogs, Stella and Lexi, who have helped keep their step counts up during lockdown.
Samantha loves to read in her spare time and is this year taking part in the 52 Book Club: 2021 Reading Challenge. Her favourite genre is fantasy, with some of her favourite books being ‘Harry Potter’, ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ and ‘The Hunger Games’, although she does enjoy the occasional period drama.
Being a kid at heart, Samantha has a huge love of Disney movies and is able to sing most Disney songs word for word - one of her most wasted talents. She’s also a big fan of the TV show ‘Once Upon a Time’.
She enjoys going out to see shows, particularly musicals, and is looking forward to visiting the theatre again once reopened.
Samantha is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and hopes to encourage others to embrace their diversity and be confident in themselves.
Genre: YA
Publisher: SmashBear
Purchase Here
Kindle Free
Paperback £6.99
You've Got Mail by Kate G Smith
Synopsis -
When Grace Wharton is dumped by email from a relationship she isn't even in, she adds it to the list of ways her life hasn't quite panned out: twenty-five, single, and working a dead-end job she doesn't enjoy. She fires off an angry response to Mr Obnoxious - how dare he try to dump someone over email?! - knowing that telling off a random stranger online means she has reached an all-time low.
Everything changes when her boss asks her to go to a big sales conference to secure an important client. Her partner is Jack Lockett, company Casanova and Grace's long-time crush. What's more, he seems very interested... But Mr Obnoxious keeps sending her emails and Grace keeps replying. Only to make sure he doesn't send any more heart-breaking emails, obviously.
Grace's life has suddenly gone from stagnant to brimming with possibilities. But is it all too good to be true?
About the author -
I’m a writer, editor, and HCPC registered Occupational Therapist living in Norwich with my daughter and our cat. You've Got Mail is a witty, charming and all too relatable debut romcom, perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane, Portia MacIntosh and Joanna Bolouri.
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Orion Dash
Preorder Here
Kindle £1.99
- BLOGGER OF THE MONTH -
So if you have made it this far you have now come to the tricky part of my newsletter! I will be selecting one blogger a month to feature and that will be no easy feat as there are so many of you and you are all amazing!!
But having said that, this month was easy. For my first Blogger Of The Month pick I have chosen my lovely bookish buddy Emma @Emmasbibliotreasures.
I met Emma at the beginning of last year, not long after I started my book blogging journey and I am so proud to say we have became firm friends ever since. We have supported each other and used each other as a sounding board for everything, especially giving each other the much needed words of encouragement when ever we are doubting ourselves.
Her bookish photos are absolutely beautiful and reviews are on point every time.
Here's a bit about Emma and why she started her blogging journey...
Hi Bibliophiles 👋🏻
My name is Emma. I'm 41 years old and live in Sheffield, UK with my partner, Chris, our two teenage sons and two cats.
I started blogging in August 2018 after encouragement from friends who’d seen me talking about the books I’d read on my private social media. I had never heard of Bookstagram and didn’t know that there was a whole community of book bloggers out there. I didn’t know I was about to find a place that felt like home and meet friends I know I’ll have for a lifetime. I didn't know I was about to find my passion.
I’ve always been a bibliophile. As a child I was a voracious reader and turned my book collection into a library that I would loan out to my stuffed animals. As I grew, books were the backdrop to my life, helping shape who I am and enabling me to explore worlds I’d otherwise never see. After a number of years where I hardly read because of pain and brain fog due to chronic illness, my obsession for books was reignited when I received a kindle for Christmas in 2017. Actually, I received two. The second one my Mum bought from me for herself after she’d had the same idea as my partner. While I still struggle with pain and brain fog, I am once again a voracious reader and, even with my reading slowed and both my concentration and retention impaired, I have managed to read prolifically since 2018.
I love pretty much all genres, but my favourites are historical fiction and thrillers. I have a never-ending list of must-read authors including Tess Gerritsen, John Grisham, Karin Slaughter, John Marrs, Mark Edwards, Laura Purcell, Jessie Burton, Stacey Halls and Carol Wyer. But if I had to pick my favourite it would be Jodi Picoult.
Some of my favourite books of all time are Small Great Things, Flowers in the Attic, We Need To Talk About Kevin, A Time To Kill, The One and The Handmaids Tale. In recent years favourites include The Familiars, What's Left Of Me Is Yours, The Silent Companions, Hamnet, Away with the Penguins, Sweetpea and Here To Stay.
The aim of this blog is to share my passion for books and connect with other book lovers. Please feel free to follow me on my Instagram or Twitter and come chat.
Emma's 'If I had to choose one' book recommendation is
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Head over to Emma's Instagram, Twitter or blog to take a peek at all of Emma's beautiful pictures, reviews plus much more.
FEBRUARY DISCOUNTS
So I have scoured the internet and here all all of the discounts that I have found to help you get the best bargains through out February.
World Of Books currently has a 'Buy 4 books get 20% off' deal running. Also use code WORLD10 for 10% off of your total at checkout.
This is a great site for buying cheap preloved books of all genres and shipping is free.
Click Here to head to the site.
WHSmith currently has an upto 50% off of selected books plus if you spend £30 you get £5 off or spend £50 and get £10 off using code BUYNOW.
Click Here to go to the site.
Here's one for the students out there!
With Hive you can get a 10% discount with all purchases.
Click Here to peek at the book shelves.
The Works is a great site for a bargain shop with daily special offers of 3 for £5 and plenty of discounted stationary its the best place to look for a bargain. Click Here to take a virtual stroll through all of there clearance book deals.
Lastly, don't forget to check out Amazon for lots of daily deals across all reading platforms.
YOUR SELF CARE SHELF
We all know how life is at the moment. Lockdown and the virus has made sure we are all being tested to the max and trying to keep yourself calm, sane and happy in these uncertain times can be extremely tough on your mental health.
I personally have also struggled. I was signed off of work for five weeks with stress which was making my previously healing Bells Palsy {also caused by stress}, rear its ugly head again, so I knew I had to stop what I was doing and take some time for myself because crying in your car whilst you have a fifteen minute break before even lunch time at work wasn't right, for my mental well being or for my face.
Reading has been a huge help.
When the Bells Palsy first started and my entire left side of my face was paralysed I went from reading a lot to reading a little as I would get headaches as I couldn't focus. As I slowly begun the process of healing via regular acupuncture sessions and facials I would constantly try and lose myself within a book to try and get myself out of my head and my depleting mental health. I won't lie, It was the worst time in my life and I'll be totally transparent I am still seeing a therapist to help me deal with what happened and with trying to accept who I am now I am left with reminders that unfortunately won't ever fully heal. My point is that sitting in that car on my break, crying on the phone to my husband as I just couldnt be happy was like a blinding light to give myself the much needed self help to get my head together.
I know that we are all struggling with home schooling, working under strained and different situations and living in fear of getting sick so I have included a few books that may help you find the calm you need to get some peace and tranquility in your life.
I really hope they help.
Failosophy by Elizabeth Day
Hardback £5.00
Purchase Here
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of How to Fail
'Elizabeth Day has revolutionised the way we see failure' Stylist
'A beautiful timely and humane book' Alain de Botton
'Most failures can teach us something meaningful about ourselves if we choose to listen'
In Failosophy Elizabeth Day brings together all the lessons she has learned, from conversations with the guests on her award-winning How to Fail podcast, from stories shared with her by readers and listeners, and from her own life, and distils them into seven principles of failure.
Practical, reassuring and inspirational, these principles offer a guide through life's rough patches. From failed exams to romantic break-ups, from career setbacks to confidence crises, from navigating anxiety to surviving loss, Failosophy recognises, and celebrates, the fact that failure connects us all. It is what makes us human.
With insights from Malcolm Gladwell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Lemn Sissay, Frankie Bridge, Nigel Slater, Emeli Sande, Alain de Botton, Mabel, Fearne Cotton, Meera Syal, Dame Kelly Holmes, Andrew Scott and many, many more, Failosophy is the essential handbook for turning failure into success.
Happy by Fearne Cotton
Paperback £4.99
Purchase Here
'Wonderfully honest and relatable, and it's also extremely comforting and reassuring too' MIND, No.1 Mental Health charity
'I recommend this for anyone who's looking to find true consistent happiness' Craig David
"This book is a way to release what's going on inside your head and to keep heading towards the good stuff. The simple stuff. The stuff that's going to really hit up that happiness on a deep and nourishing level. Whether you dip into these pages every now and then when you feel you need it, or use it daily as a positive exercise, I hope it brings you much relief, joy and calm. Amen to the pen." - Fearne Cotton
For many of us, life can feel like it's moving too fast with pressure bearing down on us from all sides - whether that's from school or work, family or social media. As a result, we find ourselves frazzled, lost and - too often - feeling blue.
It's a subject close to Fearne's heart. Drawing on her own experiences and including expert advice, HAPPY offers practical ways of finding joy each and every day. Happiness isn't a mountain to climb, it's just one foot in front of the other on the path of life, and here you'll find little steps that will help make the differences that count. With workbook elements to help you start and end the day well; get in touch with your creative side; and find peace through written exercises, simple practical ideas and visualisations, these are daily tricks and reminders to help you unlock that inner happiness.
So thats a wrap for February. I do hope that you have enjoyed scrolling through my newsletter, being my first there will be some tweaks along the way and many more things added moving forward. I hope that at the very least you have found yourself a bargain or discovered a new read to try.
Please feel free to chat to me in the comments below, or head over to one of my social pages below to say hello.
You can always subscribe via the tab at the top of my home page and get email notifications when ever I post ;)
If you are an author/publisher and would like to feature in next months Bibliophile Papers newsletter then drop me an email secretworldofabook@gmail.com or reach out to me via twitter/instagram.
Have a great month full of reading :)
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