Recommended Reads
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Rags and Riches
Life is an intricate tapestry of emotions: moments that tug at our hearts and instances that leave us in stitches. Every day, we navigate the quirks and peculiarities of those around us, choosing to either embrace the humour or let annoyance take the reins. Why not revel in the comedic interludes hidden within life’s juxtapositions?In Rags and Riches, Susanna invites readers into a delightful collection filled with laughter, wit, and true tales. From whimsical articles to heartfelt poems, she captures the essence of real people and the memorable moments that have shaped their lives. Many stories bring to life the eclectic guests that have crossed Susanna’s threshold, while others shine a spotlight on the charming exchanges she shares with her vivacious granddaughter.‘One of her guests, a specialist medical doctor, laughs, “Susanna, you know I’m known as ‘The Cleaner.’ One weekend I was asked to be the medic in charge of a small hospital of nineteen patients. By the end of the weekend, sixteen of them had died.”“What did you do? One look at you and they all decided their lives weren’t worth living? Seriously?”“Yes, I’m that girl!”“Now when any hospital needs to move patients on – they know who to ask.”“Yes, the cleaner!”’Articles used to be written on rags, which would be posted around the towns for people to read. They looked forward to their weekly rag. The book title includes ‘Riches’ because stories enrich our lives.
£11.99 -
The Pianist's Guide to Scale Mastery
Scales and arpeggios can often be the biggest cause of frustration and boredom for even the most accomplished pianist. In this book, classical pianist and teacher Lewis Kesterton will help you develop a theoretical understanding of the scales you play, whilst offering practical and easy to follow ideas to help revolutionise your learning and help you improve scalic passages in all of your playing. After using the exercises in this book, you can expect to deliver far more confident, musical, and less boring scales and arpeggios!Read detailed explanations of the theory behind your scales, giving you a better understanding of how many of the patterns in piano music are formed!Explore the anthology of scales and arpeggios to discover a huge range of exciting and lesser-known scales. Use the detailed fingering suggestions to help you navigate the plethora of patterns!Try out a wide variety of exercises to make your practice more interesting and reap higher rewards, with scannable links to demonstrative videos.
£16.99 -
A Suitcase Full of Pink Pearls
Of course, I’d shied away from traveling to Croatia! Why embrace the unknown with Venice, Nice, Rome, and Constantinople calling? I’d heard whisperings of a city dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ but had little idea where that soul-stirring nirvana might have been located. You can imagine my surprise and delight, when I was invited to accompany five friends and their two young sons to Dubrovnik, Croatia, for a five-day stint in the scorching Balkan sun.Words cannot express that first glimpsing of the red-roofed, white-walled, brilliant-blue -sea-skirted city when our sleek, silver, chauffeur-driven van tumbled into town from the brooding, cobalt-crusted Dubrovnik mountains.Lord Byron had it right: Heaven on Earth!The following five days for our ‘party of eight’ included beaches, swimming pools, ‘Old Town’ treasures, Wall-walks, Croatian food to die for, and best of all – a delightful ‘Game of Thrones’ tour, which had two little boys searching every nook and cranny on the ‘Kings landing’ for that elusive Iron Throne. Who’s never wanted to play kings or queens?So you’ll be joining us on this pink-pearler tour in one of the world’s most Instagram-able spots? Thought so!
£10.99 -
Stepping Stones
Can answers to the biggest questions in life be found? Today there are many who are unsure whether there is a creator God, are uncertain about religion and yet instinctively feel that their life has a purpose and that values such as love, truth, honesty, beauty, logic and kindness are real. This book has been written to help such people make sense of their existence and to indicate the types of evidence available to help people find a strong rational faith.“So many people think faith is a feeling or a flight of fantasy, by contrast Cambridge-educated medical surgeon, Dr Bernard Palmer, makes it clear that there is outstanding evidence at the basis of Christian belief. But he does not stop there, he then not only shows what that evidence means for our lives, he also reveals what the reader should do about it. That is the rhythm of this excellent book: the evidence, its meaning and our action, which makes this a profoundly challenging read that appeals to the mind, the heart and the will.”Rico TiceChristianity Explored“I am both delighted and honoured to recommend Bernard Palmer’s new book to you. There are three reasons for this.First, he himself truly believes the things he is asking you to believe.Second, he writes about profound matters in such a way that it is not only easy to follow but it is winsome and appealing.But thirdly, he is offering us ‘Stepping Stones’ to a new life by introducing us to Jesus Christ with compelling reasons to become a believer. And this is the most important thing of all.” Frank RetiefRetired presiding bishop of the Reformed Evangelical Church of Southern Africa
£9.99 -
The Agony of Poland
In the latter part of 1939, German leader Adolf Hitler made a pact with the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to invade Poland. Confident that British and French leaders would opt for a weak peace settlement, Hitler’s army stormed in from the north, south and west on September 1st, while Stalin’s Red Army invaded from the east on September 17th.This story, part fact and part fiction, is an account of the suffering endured by the Polish people at this time, many of whom were imprisoned in Siberia and forced to work under dreadful conditions. Yet when Hitler turned on Stalin and invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, Poland’s exiled found common cause with their Russian captors to take up arms against Nazi oppression.Though the Allies emerged victorious in 1945, a heavy price was exacted from occupied Poland. Many survivors discovered they no longer had homeland to which they could return, their former communities now under firm Soviet control.
£6.99 -
Rotten Little Devils
An Angel in Heaven decides to transition into a demon, because he can see that on Earth, the battle between good and evil is being won by evil, and he wants to be on the winning side. He abandons the security, comfort and bliss of Heaven and heads for Earth, the kingdom of the Devil himself, where he is mentored by a demon with thousands of years’ experience in deceiving and hurting people.We get an inside look into his training as his ancient guide teaches him how best to influence people to bring about loss, illness, anguish, and destruction upon themselves. Devils can never overcome people’s free will, but they are nevertheless persistent in their never-ending efforts to subvert, undermine and wreak havoc through their deceitful and beguiling ways. Is this a true story?
£9.99 -
The Wolf Cub
Lewis just loves living with his mother in a small cottage that backs directly onto a vast forest.The shy four-year-old’s favourite spot to relax is in a clearing by a watering hole, where all the woodland creatures come to get their daily measure of drink and forage nearby for food. He always enjoys chatting to the smaller animals (especially the squirrels and rabbits), making new friends nearly every day.And that’s exactly where the boy was when it happened – the hair on the back of Lewis’ neck suddenly stood on end, and the young boy shivered slightly.He was being watched…
£6.99 -
I'm Going Nowhere
This book, I’m Going Nowhere, is fiction based on the true story of an African woman, Miriam Ateko, who currently resides in Europe. Shortly when she relocated here, she was diagnosed HIV positive and told she would die in eighteen months without treatment.It was extremely distressing for Miriam. She felt anxious, was in denial and almost went into depression. She had to figure out how to deal with the diagnosis. The process was not easy as she faced obstacles along the way, like stigma, discrimination, rejection, among others from the very people she thought would have supported her to deal with the trauma of being diagnosed HIV positive.Despite the struggles she encountered, Miriam never gave up. With the right treatment and help from two organisations and some friends, her health improved, though not cured yet. She is now living her life to the fullest. She forgave people who wronged her but will not forget how she was treated.Miriam’s story is sad, but inspiring. The story encourages HIV positive people not to give up life easily. When you follow ART exactly as prescribed you can achieve an undetected virus load and continue to live a healthy life.
£9.99 -
Byron and the Kindness of Strangers
In 1938, at the tender age of eighteen months, Byron Stratford Davis, the author of this memoir, first set foot on British soil. Remarkably, from that moment, his memories crystallized with exceptional clarity, etching themselves permanently in his mind.His mother, with a German lover back in Hamburg, may or may not have come to England as a German spy. The decision of her true intent is left to the reader’s judgment. Raised in Scotland, his mother was far from the endearing or conventional figure one might wish for. By the age of eighteen months, Byron had already developed a deep mistrust of her, and by two, he had resolved to distance himself from her entirely. Hard to believe? That’s for you to judge! This tale unfolds in a modern Dickensian fashion, revealing its truths along the way.More than just a World War II story, this narrative is unique in its exploration of friendship and the profound impact of the City of Brighton. It’s not only a recounting of survival and self-discovery but also a love story and a heartfelt tribute to the city and its remarkable inhabitants who played a pivotal role in shaping and rescuing him.
£9.99 -
Maelstrom
In the tense atmosphere of the Cold War, John Fisher, a laid-back Australian, lands a job with a shipping line in Rotterdam, blissfully unaware of the concealed financial and political schemes harboured by some of his new friends and colleagues. He soon finds himself entangled in an international scandal involving influential entities, facing relentless pressure from various quarters.Navigating the challenges of dealing with intoxicated ship captains, irritable harbour masters, and antagonistic customs officers in Rotterdam and Antwerp seems trivial compared to the daunting task of untangling an accounting debacle for his London headquarters. This ordeal culminates in his role as a witness in a fraud trial in Southampton. Amidst this turmoil, a silver lining emerges as he meets and falls for Nina.However, the stakes escalate dramatically with a murder, thrusting Fisher into a maelstrom of political intrigue
£10.99 -
Clone
For perfect couple Jen and Liam, there was only ever one option for their child: the perfect insurance policy. The ultimate safety net should anything happen to their son Josh, provided by Future Medical Advancements Ltd., gave them both peace of mind.The cloning, or ‘twinning’ process, offered by the cutting-edge medical company seemed the ideal solution… until Josh’s behaviour started taking a turn for the worse.Josh insists his imaginary friend is behind it all, but is there a more sinister connection with his twin than meets the eye? As Josh’s behaviour spirals out of control, Jen and Liam struggle to find a way to stop the horrifying events unfolding before their eyes and devastating their lives.
£11.99 -
Colony of Clones
Colony of Clones, the second book in an evocative sci-fi trilogy, explores the perilous politics bubbling up in an experimental community of human clones.
Rex and Dago, cloned from iconic historical figures, grapple for control over their fledgling settlement isolated from the outside world. Brilliant outcast Ator, cloned from Galileo, challenges the colony’s questionable doctrine before being banished by its authoritarian leader.
The clones, copied from the bone shards of ‘genetically superior’ personages, grow up ingrained with a heightened sense of superiority, entitlement and independence. But as clones based on long-dead people struggle to find identity and purpose, fissures split wide open and they find themselves navigating a world that is anything but certain.
When visitor Jake is brought to the secretive colony by the increasingly paranoid Dago, he bears uneasy witness to the psychological distress catalysed by experimental human cloning devoid of ethics. Dago’s own sister Mary grapples to break free from the trauma of being a clone caught out of time.
Probing the devastating ramifications of playing god in a lab, Colony of Clones examines human cloning through an absorbing character-driven narrative full of intrigue, thought experiments, and moral complexity.
£12.99
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