Recommended Reads
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The Da Calvi Legacy
Cristi Jenkins is leading a quiet life as a primary school teacher in a small village on the coast of West Wales. Stuck in this familiar backwater, she feels her life is going nowhere. Then, out of the blue, she receives a mysterious letter bearing an Italian postmark...
Cristi knows her only link to Italy is a tenuous one – the mother she never really knew, and definitely can’t remember. Yet her story is about to become inextricably linked to that of the Da Calvi family – four brothers torn apart by war, and an unbreakable bond between two young boys forged years before.
In modern day Italy, Seb Luce is the attractive Italian lawyer entrusted with Ennio Da Calvi’s affairs. The file appeals to his curiosity and determination to find answers to the questions left by an intriguing legacy…
What does all of this mean for Cristi, what decisions will she face, and is this a chance for her to find out who she really is?
£10.99 -
The Da Calvi Legacy
Cristi Jenkins is leading a quiet life as a primary school teacher in a small village on the coast of West Wales. Stuck in this familiar backwater, she feels her life is going nowhere. Then, out of the blue, she receives a mysterious letter bearing an Italian postmark...
Cristi knows her only link to Italy is a tenuous one – the mother she never really knew, and definitely can’t remember. Yet her story is about to become inextricably linked to that of the Da Calvi family – four brothers torn apart by war, and an unbreakable bond between two young boys forged years before.
In modern day Italy, Seb Luce is the attractive Italian lawyer entrusted with Ennio Da Calvi’s affairs. The file appeals to his curiosity and determination to find answers to the questions left by an intriguing legacy…
What does all of this mean for Cristi, what decisions will she face, and is this a chance for her to find out who she really is?
£10.99 -
Manifest for a Humanist Religio
In this book, we journey into the sacred spaces within our hearts, uncovering the light that shines from them, the very essence of our existence. At the dawn of time, the divine was within us, and through it, we communed with a Love that embraced all creation. Yet, as monotheistic religions and materialism took hold, we grew distant from one another, from nature, and from the diversity that once united us. We became strangers to the living world around us, whether human, animal, plant, or mineral, all bearers of the same primordial energy.
This book invites you to rediscover that connection, to awaken to the truth that we are all divine, sacred vessels of the divine presence. Reconnection begins with the realization that something vital is missing, something we sense deep within, a longing, an inexpressible nostalgia. Saudade.
£6.99 -
Good Grazing and Other Stories
This collection presents ten short stories, bound together by their connection to New Zealand, whether set within its shores or following the experiences of a New Zealander abroad. Spanning past, present, and even the future (as in the story ‘Good Grazing’), these tales explore a range of moods and themes, from the light-hearted to the thought-provoking.
In the tradition of Shakespearean comedies, most stories here find their way to a satisfying end, though ‘The Magpie’ and ‘Walk a Mile’ venture into darker territories, offering readers food for thought. Fans of ‘The Cone Man’ will be delighted by the return of Norman Humbolt, now grappling with the entanglements of modern politics and social media – with unexpected results.
Two of the stories, ‘Good Grazing’ and ‘As a New Zealander Might Regard Rome’, touch on contemporary social issues related to Māori culture, portraying a hopeful future with a touch of humour. At its heart, this collection is a lighthearted journey into the world as a New Zealander might see it: full of humour, insight, and occasional kernels of truth. Readers planning a trip to New Zealand may even find a glimpse of what awaits, as the real locations described are easily discoverable.
£7.99 -
Heaven-Earth Connection
A book of eight stories each told through the eyes of eight different people.
From London to Cairo, this collection of novellas begins before time to the creation of man. Then takes you on a journey through time to Yeshua the God Man.
Each story has an earthy feel with a heavenly connection. Throughout the history of man, there has always been a Heaven-to-Earth connection, but not always easily recognised.
John is a lonely man from London.
Rosie is a sprightly Scottish teen.
Ricardo is a Portuguese fisherman.
Ordinary people having extraordinary experiences.
Then, in their own words, the Stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses and David.
Finally, we see the birth of Yeshua through the eyes of Yosef and the perilous journey to keep him safe before he becomes a man in his own right.
£10.99 -
Beautiful Is the Life...
This book captures the flowing thoughts, emotions, and reflections of a young girl or woman, silently dreaming of what could be. It explores the limitless possibilities of turning dreams into reality. As you journey through life, before it’s too late, embrace its wonders, and strive to reach the heaven you’ve imagined. Yet, in your pursuit, never forget the value of simplicity and humility.The greatest fortune in life belongs to the soul that never abandons the dream closest to their heart. Challenges are inevitable, but by confronting the darkness, we find the light. Along the way, remember that kindness is a priceless gift – ours to share. A simple smile can brighten someone’s day, and when you love, let it be true and unwavering, locking it in your heart forever.Above all, love yourself abundantly. No love will ever be greater than the love you give yourself. Let your shadow be your own, not a reflection of someone else’s. Show gratitude for both the good and the bad, for they have shaped who you are today. The rest will follow in its own time.
£8.99 -
Shattered
Those boys sometimes ask how I’m doing
Then they laugh when I say I’m alive
But I know that inside they’re swearingThat they really thought I wouldn’t survive…
After being sexually assaulted as a teenager, Isabella details her subsequent battle with chronic depression as she fights for a happy ending with partners fated to continue a vicious cycle of abuse and, ultimately, abandonment.
A unique insight into the series of events that changed a teenage girl’s life forever and almost caused her to end it; Shattered is a poem-by-poem documentation of young love, grooming, sexual assault, death, heartbreak, psychological abuse and suicidal mindsets that spans five years and may serve to educate those seeking to understand such traumas whilst giving fellow survivors a portal to articulate their feelings and validate their truth.
£7.99 -
Shelter from the Storm
So many accounts of the years of the Chinese Cultural Revolution focus on its violence and suffering. In this unusual story, Aili describes a happy early childhood in a community whose way of life, with its beliefs and traditions, had been cultivated through centuries. With equal innocence she is able to carry the reader from the intimacy of bedtime to the spectacle of a public shaming, from the facts of foot binding to the mythology of fishermen. Naïve as she must have been, she has no real understanding of the first irruptions of Mao’s bleak communist philosophy into a stable community, and can only hint at the terror, with its re-education and punishments, which accompanied it.
£8.99 -
Big Fat Ted
Join Jake as he navigates through the seasons, discovering what magic pyjamas and imagination can achieve! As Big Fat Ted, under the full moon, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter are fun for him, but not for others – until he reaches Christmas, which is fun for everyone!Delight in this unique, positive, and charming tale, with Jake being lively, energetic, and imaginative as Big Fat Ted. Monkeys, foxes, cats, and a whole pack of wolves all feature in this original and entertaining read, enjoyed by young readers and adult storytellers alike.A charming narrative with a positive tone, larger-than-life characters, and a sense of fun!
£8.99 -
A Miscellany of Musings
Oh! What a sorry state
We’re in, Britannia’s fate:
No longer great, but cool!The trumpets blare new rules,
Empire days of pride innate
And long-slain dragons out of date.St George is dead.
Long live the fools.(‘Cool Britannia’)
A PROFUSION OF CONCLUSIONS
A COLLECTION OF REFLECTIONS
FROM LIFE EXPERIENCES
AND PERSONAL CONNECTIONS.£7.99 -
Life and Death
A young girl can’t stop bleeding, a husband has just found out his wife has terminal cancer.
A twenty-five-year-old has been permanently disfigured by her abusive boyfriend. A young nurse was found hanged in her room, the note she left stating stress from work and bullying.
I and my fellow colleagues have spent years trying to save these lives, and in turn help our colleagues; sometimes we succeed, sometimes God has other plans, or things become so embroiled that we are helpless to help. More so now with the added nightmare of battling the Covid-19 epidemic, things have become unbearable. Watching the young, elderly and fellow nurses and doctors die on a daily basis. Having to wear unbearable PPE for gruelling 14 hr shifts.
This is a story of hope, pain, death, and a twist of fate so unreal that it would change my life forever. I used to think good things and luck only happened to other people, until it happened to me. First I became ill myself, nearly died, survived through the sheer hard work of my colleagues, and had a stroke of luck so freaky that it would change my life forever.
Hope floats and good things do happen if you believe hard enough.
£8.99 -
If Dogs Could Sing
Dogs love socialising with other dogs. So, when Ralph sets off for doggie day care he is very excited. He meets up with his usual doggie companions and a newcomer or two to the group. They all have a hilarious time together and howl to their favourite doggie songs while Johnny the carer sings and plays the guitar. They bounce jokes off each other and all have an amusing time together before they say goodbye before the Christmas break.
£8.99