Time to snuggle up with a suggestion from our team at Southland, who are nice and warm under our Spotlight this week!

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
“Most people don’t have any idea about all the complicated life going on inside a hive.” – (Kidd 148). Set in a South Carolina in 1964, this fictional novel explores redemption, love and forgiveness to a tumultuous social backdrop. The teenage protagonist Lily will have you emotionally captivated. I really loved this book, I enjoyed following Lily’s brave story and I would definitely recommend it. – Sally

The Belgariad Series by David Eddings.
A coming of age story in which an orphan boy named Garion unwittingly embarks upon a journey to save the world from the evil god Torak, learning the secret behind his magical heritage in the process. A tried and true formula written in the 1980s, the books are a comfortable read for fantasy veterans as well as a great introduction to the genre for younger readers – Mason

The Wool Series by Hugh Howey
In a post apocalyptic world, where a heavily controlled society exists in underground silos, one woman refuses to conform to the rules and regulations put in place by a patriarchal government to discover the truth of humanity’s past. Prepare yourself for a journey of intrigue, horror and a declining social life as you wont be able to put this book down until you realise you haven’t slept or eaten for 3 days and you’re far too emotionally attached to these characters. Do yourself a favour and delve into Hugh Howey’s epic saga; Wool. – Laura

Kanin Chronicles by Amanda Hocking
I love Amanda Hocking books! This one particularly was one of my favourites. Frostfire is the first book of the Kanin chronicle. Based in Canada where a village of trolls live, there has been kidnapping of the Kanin changelings by a wanted troll named Konstantin. Later in the book the Queen of another kingdom goes missing and it is said that she has also been kidnapped by Konstantin, but has she really? This book was so entertaining and its not predictable at all! While reading, there are suspicions of connection between Bryn (the best tracker in the village) who is selected to find the missing changelings,the queen, and Konstantin! This book is an easy read and very easy to follow… definitely a page turner. If you’re looking for a book with some romance and action all in one. This is definitely the book for you!- Jessica

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
After finding a murdered girl in a small town of Australia, wannabe author, Charlie Bucktin befriends an outcast, Jasper Jones. Similar to To Kill a Mockingbird, Jasper Jones entails the life of struggling teens, racist views and thirst for justice. He talks about love, lose, ambition, injustice and truth, emotions and values that everyone comes across. It is a book everyone should read. It is a book for the ages. – Eliza

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
Martin creates an incredibly vast, imaginative world which has the reader gripped within the first few paragraphs. Filled with diverse, engaging characters who you’ll love and love to hate, A Game of Thrones is every bit as epic as the television series it inspired. As good as any fantasy book out there.- Tate

The Demon Cycle Saga by Peter V Brett
Set in a world much like our own, this fantasy series follows our hero Arlen Bales on his journey to discovering that there is much more to life than tending the family farm and conforming to town standards. Along the way he encounters a very diverse range of equally formidable peers who must band together to battle the forces, Demon & Human alike, that plague his town and the lands both near & far. Each chapter is written in third person POV about the different characters experiences and journeys to the irresistible page turning finale. Peter V Brett has ignited my interest in this genre and I look forward to devouring the latest title in this series “The Skull Throne”. – Marc