One of the best questions a Librarian can be asked is ‘Can you please recommend a book for me to read’. I must admit I am always over eager to share my favourite books.

Below is a selection of titles I have really enjoyed over the last couple of months.

With any luck one of them will catch your attention.

The Constant Queen by Joanna Courtney (book 2 Queen’s of Conquest)

‘You need not take England without me, Hari, because I will be your constant queen – there with you; there for you. ‘ Elizaveta is princess of Kiev, but that doesn’t stop her chasing adventure. Defying conventions, she rides the rapids of the Dneiper alongside her royal brothers and longs to rule in her own right as a Queen. Elizaveta meets her match when the fearsome Viking warrior Harald Hardrada arrives at her father’s court seeking fame and fortune. He entrusts Elizaveta to be his treasure keeper, holding the keys to his ever-growing wealth – and eventually to his heart. Theirs is a fierce romance and the strength of their love binds them together as they travel across the vast seas to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. In 1066, their ambition carries them to the Orkneys as they plan to invade England and claim the crown . . .

I loved the first book The Chosen Queen and couldn’t wait the read this one and it didn’t disappoint. Both these books are great historical fiction books. I will be reading any book Joanna Courtney writes in the future.

The Trap by Melanie Raabe

I know who killed my sister. I wrote this book for him. Twelve years ago, Linda’s sister Anna was murdered. Her killer was never caught, but Linda saw him. Now, all these years later, she’s just seen him again on the TV. He’s become a well-known journalist, and Linda – a famous novelist and infamous recluse – knows no one will believe her if she accuses him. She does the only think she can think of – she sets a trap, writing a thriller called Blood Sisters about the unsolved murder of a young woman. When Blood Sisters is published, Linda agrees to give just one media interview. At home. To the one person who knows more about the case than she does.

This book was really out side the normal scope of my reading, but I totally enjoyed it. I have since gone on the read a few suspense/thrillers. It is always good to find a new genre to explore.

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Kingmaker. Soothsayer. Warrior. Mage.

Kingdoms would rise and fall for her …if she is ever found In the icy North, where magic is might, an all-powerful elite ruthlessly guided by a glacial Queen have grown to dominate the world. Now rebellion is stirring in the rough, magic-poor South, where for the first time in memory a warlord has succeeded in uniting the tribal nations. Stuck in the middle is Cat – circus performer and soothsayer – safely hidden behind heavy make-up, bright colours and the harmless illusion of the circus. Until someone suspects she’s more than she seems …Captured by the Southern warlord Griffin, Cat’s careful camouflage is wearing thin. For how long can – or should – she conceal the true extent of her power? Faced with dragons, homicidal mages, rival Gods and the traitorous longings of her own heart, she must decide: is it time to claim her destiny and fight?

I will be honest and say I picked up this book purely because of the beautiful cover. What I got was a book I found very hard to put down! There is a great mix of fantasy and romance,  although maybe the romance got a little too much for me towards the end; but in saying that I eagerly await the second book Breath of Fire due out in 21017.  So to are my colleagues Kate and Suzanne who both enjoyed the book.

Hope you enjoy reading about some of my favourite reads over the last couple of months and can find one to enjoy yourself.

Happy Reading!

Jody