Whether you’re looking for a cosy moment to unwind, get lost in a story, or the perfect gift for someone special this festive season, we’ve got you covered. From page-turning thrillers and heart-warming novels to inspiring non-fiction, there’s a book for every mood and every reader. Pop into your local Exclusive Books and discover a world of stories just waiting to be shared.
Counting Miracles : Nicholas Sparks
Tanner has spent his whole life moving from place to place, belonging nowhere. So, when his dying grandmother reveals the name and location of the father he never knew, he plans to visit Asheboro to lay the past to rest, then move on - just as he always has.
Kaitlyn knows exactly where she belongs. In Asheboro, she's built a life for herself and her kids that she's proud of, especially after the turmoil of divorce. But when she meets lone wolf Tanner, she can't help but feel something has been missing until now.
Jasper will never belong again. He had everything - and he lost it all. Now with only his old dog Arlo for company, he lives quietly, haunted by the tragic accident that took place decades before.
The Advocate : Jackie Phamotse
How far can you distance yourself from your enemy without losing sight of the threat they pose – or without becoming an enemy yourself?
In the shadow of a flawless façade, the Coal family’s dynasty teeters on the brink of collapse. Luna Parks’ marriage balances on a powder keg of secrets and lies, and results in the presence of an unwelcome guest on the Coal farm, which is the spark that sets it ablaze.
With the Fletchers’ sinister grip tightening on the town of Clanwilliam, the advocate emerges as the last line of defence against the forces of destruction, and Cameron Coal is forced to confront an impossible choice: will love be the salvation or the downfall of the rooibos farm, a legacy forged in blood and sweat? And will Luna’s devotion be enough to bring the family together? With every twist and turn, the stakes get higher, and the truth threatens to rip everyone apart.
Against the backdrop of South Africa’s tumultuous rural landscape, this gripping tale exposes the intricate dance between power, corruption and the human condition. Can the advocate untangle the web of deceit, or will the pursuit of justice and truth be sacrificed at the altar of money and influence?
A Particularly Nasty Case : Adam Kay
When a toxic hospital consultant dies of a heart attack, fellow doctor Eitan Rose smells foul play. Nobody else does though, including some quite crucial players like the police and the coroner.
But Eitan just won't let it drop, and his friends and colleagues become increasingly concerned about his mental health as his chaotic investigation and equally chaotic life spiral out of control. Is he making a career-ending mistake, or could there genuinely be a killer stalking the wards?
Dire Bound : Sable Sorensen
Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…
Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.
And Meryn’s world falls apart.
Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.
Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.
To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.
Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.
And the castle is hiding dark secrets…
Wicked Smart : Douglas Kruger
Over the past decades, there have been amazing breakthroughs in behavioural economics. What if you could gather all the best ones in one place? An entire book packed full of ‘smart cuts’…? Steve Jobs once made an interesting point: ‘Animals in the wild may be more energy-efficient than humans. But put a guy on a bike, and he blows past all of them.’ That’s because technology is ‘like a bicycle for the mind.’ Turns out, the landscape is littered with bicycles.
Adopt the principles and you can do almost everything faster and better. Here you will find direct answers to questions like: ‘How do you get the most out of your brain?’, What’s the best way to structure a team?’ or even, ‘How can our business be ten times cheaper or ten times faster than an industry giant?’ These insights are game changers. They come from trusted sources and work in the real world.
Here is a condensation of the best brilliant breakthroughs across a range of spheres, in one easy guide. Whether you are chasing personal goals, leading teams, persuading others or are merely interested in clever ways of living the human experience, you will pick up dozens of ingenious accelerators within the pages of Wicked Smart.
Such Charming Liars : Karen M. McManus
When mother-daughter con artists set out on their final heist before cleaning up their act, it's not long before the job turns deadly and they have a lifeless body to contend with . . .
For all of Kat’s life, it’s been her and her mother, Jamie - except for 12 years ago, when Jamie was married for two days and Kat had a stepbrother, Liam. But all that ended in a swift divorce.
Now Jamie is a con artist trying to go straight, but she has one last job, at a billionaire's 80th birthday party. Neither Kat nor her mother know about two surprise guests: Liam and his father, a serial scammer with his own sights set on Ross Sutherland’s family.
Kat and Liam are on a collision course to disaster, and when someone dies, the two teens realize they might be in the killer’s crosshairs. They can’t trust anyone except each other.
Or can they? If there’s one thing both of them know, it’s how to be such charming liars . . .
Gloam : Jack Mackay
In a creaky old house on a small, damp island, someone – or something – is waiting…
Gwen doesn't want to admit that everything feels wrong since her mum died. There's no time for all these feelings now that she has her younger siblings to care for. Especially not since they've moved to their late grandmother's house on Gloam Island.
And now there's an intruder. Esme Laverne may seem sweet and kind, but Gwen isn't fooled by her new babysitter, even if everyone else is. It quickly becomes clear that if she wants Esme gone, she'll have to handle it herself.
Determined to protect her family, Gwen will have to fight off terrifying creatures and nightmares come to life. But as Esme's power grows, Gwen must face everything she's been running from and embrace her fears before she can defeat the monster in her home... for good.
You and Me and the Peanut-Butter Beast : Andy Griffiths
You and Me and the Peanut-Butter Beast is the second book in the action-packed, hilarious illustrated series Adventures Unlimited, from the author behind the multi-million bestselling Treehouse series, Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Bill Hope.
Hey, you – yes, you!
Remember when we found that really deep hole and you jumped in and I had to jump in to rescue you and at the bottom of the hole we found the cave of the legendary Peanut Butter Beast? That was one of our deepest – and most dangerous – adventures ever! What? You don’t remember?
Well, have I got a story for you!
Let me remind you how it all went down . . . and down . . . and down . . . and down . . .
Join you and me on their very many adventures in the Land of Lost Things!
The Witching Kitchen : Martinus van Tee
Step into a whimsical world of culinary magic with "The Witching Kitchen" by Martinus van Tee.
When the moon is full and the planets align, a peculiar chill in the spine signals the perfect time for a fabulous stew. Join a quirky grandmother and her curious granddaughter in the kitchen as they prepare an extraordinary dish passed down through generations.
From a cauldron carved from a meteorite to ingredients like a green dragon's breath and a dodo's plume, this enchanting recipe is anything but ordinary. With a dash of humour and a sprinkle of the bizarre, "The Witching Kitchen" is a delightful tale that will leave readers of all ages bubbling with laughter.
Neo's Invisible Blanket : Salamina Mosese
Neo loves adventures, but sometimes he feels a little scared. Luckily his sister, Thandi, is strong and brave and she has a clever plan to make Neo feel safe. She gives him a special blanket – an invisible blanket. And it works! He’s not even afraid of the tallest tree in the garden anymore. But will the invisible blanket help when Neo has to go to a new school … and participate in the swimming gala?
An inspiring story about being brave and believing in yourself.
