Recommended Reads
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Painting Paris
The art of love and loss
Paris, 1908. In Montmartre, painters are creating works that will change the way we see life. Some do it better than others; some fall victim to the pursuit of love as well as art. But it’s a time to live deeply and take risks with whatever you care about the most.
Painting Paris tells the story of the intertwined lives of an artist, a would-be artist and a collector. The artist, Berthe, is destined by her mixed race to be always on the brink of exclusion, but she takes in the Italian Paolo, who arrives as a painter with more ambition than talent; and they are both drawn to an uncomfortable reliance on the financier Henri, who is struggling with his sexual identity.
In three parts, each viewed from different perspectives of character, time and place, the story of aching love and loss unfolds towards a resolution in the 1930s. Another era, another secret to confront, another reconciliation to strive for – this is a novel of courage and hope, of yearning and fragility, with a tone of self-reflection that will haunt readers.
“Assured, exquisitely written, wise in its judgements and insights with a feel for character and the complex relationships between life and art. And Berthe is just a wonderful character.”
– John Mitchinson, founder of Unbound, host of Backlisted podcast.
Cover image by Mark Noad.
£9.99 -
Poetry for the Hungry
Poetry for the Hungry by Denise Le’Anne is a poignant and powerful poetry anthology that gives voice to the silenced and strength to the broken. Centred around the raw and often unspoken realities of domestic violence, mental health struggles, and the challenges of personal empowerment, this collection is both a personal testament and a universal call for awareness, healing, and resilience. Through evocative language and unflinching honesty, Le’Anne crafts poems that explore the painful yet transformative journey from trauma to empowerment. Her words offer solace, stir empathy, and ignite hope, capturing the complexity of healing and the strength found in reclaiming one’s voice. This is a vital read for anyone seeking understanding, empowerment, or a voice that speaks truth to pain and personal growth.
£6.99 -
Thy Black Wings
Life, we say, is a grand theatrical production. But this performance feels more like a chaotic dress rehearsal gone awry. The script is a jumble of clichés, borrowing from tired tropes, leaving the audience yawning. And the actors? A stumbling crew, delivering lines with all the grace of a newborn giraffe on roller skates. The audience, ever critical, demands perfection yet contributes nothing. And so, the play stumbles on, performed by inept actors for an unappreciative crowd.
£6.99 -
The Crayon that Lost its Color
In a lively box of crayons, one little crayon feels different: his color has vanished! Determined to find it, he asked Red, Blue, Green, and others for help. Each friend reassured him that his color wasn’t missing but uniquely his own. Despite their kind words, doubt crept in. But as he searches high and low, he begins to wonder: what if his color is gone forever?
Join this heartfelt adventure of self-discovery, friendship, and the magic of embracing what makes us unique. Will the little crayon find what he’s looking for, or is there something even more special waiting to be uncovered? His journey of self-discovery taught him that true value isn’t about blending in but embracing one’s uniqueness.
A charming tale that reminds us all: sometimes, what makes us stand out is exactly what makes us shine.
£8.99 -
The Rainbow Race
Join a brave little car on an electrifying journey through a towering rainbow of challenges! From the deep blue waves of the Bubble Level to the sticky pink paths of the Marshmallow Road, each color brings a thrilling test. Can the little car outsmart the creeping spiders in the Black Level? Will it leap past rivers of fire in the Red Level?
With every twist and turn, speed and strategy lead the way as the car zips through glowing clouds, glittering gems, and rolling orange fields, each level more exciting than the last!
A vibrant tale of courage, quick thinking, and perseverance, The Rainbow Race is a high-speed adventure that teaches kids the power of determination and problem-solving, all wrapped in a world bursting with color. Buckle up for a race like no other, where every color is a new adventure waiting to be explored!
£8.99 -
The Silly Slime Monsters
Deep inside a wiggly, jiggly cave live the silliest, slimiest monsters you’ve ever seen! They sparkle, they bounce, they swirl and splash – but when the nearby children see them, all they can do is shriek and run away.
But are these colorful creatures really scary? Or are they just looking for someone to play with?
Join the Green, Blue, Red, Yellow, Purple, and Orange Slime Monsters as they wobble, giggle, and prove that fun and friendship can come in the gooiest of forms. With each page, young readers will discover the magic of colors, the joy of imagination, and an important lesson: never judge a monster by its slime!
The Silly Slime Monsters is a delightful read-aloud that will have kids giggling, wiggling, and maybe even wishing for a slime monster of their own!
£8.99 -
The Adventures of Daisy Duck and Woodstock
This is a true-to-life story about how two very different birds (and a cat), brought up together, were very much part of our family. It describes how these creatures interacted and communicated with us and each other, and how they joined in with family activities in extraordinary ways. It shows how prescient they can be (how did the ducks know in advance that their sister was returning after two days lost, so that they could meet her at the gate? How did Cat know he mustn’t eat our bird when every day he caught wild birds in the garden?).
Recently, scientists studying animal behaviour have been describing animal language and behaviour in greater detail than previously. This story shows how creatures, allowed to live their lives as they wish, can choose to stay within a human environment and join in.
£6.99 -
To Love, Honour and Betray
Daniel Fairgate, a driven pilot, and Riley Mulligan, an ambitious greyhound trainer, thought their love was unbreakable. But, as Daniel’s buried guilt over his brother’s death resurfaces in haunting nightmares, and Riley drowns her struggles in alcohol – and the arms of her childhood sweetheart – their marriage begins to crack.
Temptation lurks in the shadows. Daniel seeks solace in the embrace of Siobhan, an older woman trapped in a loveless marriage, while Riley finds comfort where she shouldn’t. But when a tragic accident shatters their world, their lives spiral in ways they never imagined.
In the chaos, Riley’s best friend, Blair, becomes their anchor. Yet, as Daniel finds himself drawn deeper into a tangled web of love and betrayal, he realises that nothing is as it seems.
With their marriage hanging by a thread and secrets threatening to unravel everything. Daniel and Riley must face the ultimate question – can love truly survive when trust is lost?
£11.99 -
Pause or a Break What to Take
Join pause and break in a nurturing and informative rhyme for young readers. Explaining the importance of taking breaks while gaming.
£7.99 -
Living The Dream, Continued
This is the continued story of my life of adventures, encompassing my accident-prone childhood, my teens, when Police chased me for nothing more than being the only car on the road in the sleepy town of Chepstow at three in the morning, the sadness of losing my alcoholic dad, then years later, my mum after nursing her in her final days. Alongside this unfolds the adventures of working on and flying aircraft with the extraordinary people I’ve met and trained on my journey. The field mice in my water tank, stopping water coming out of the taps and the two rats- one dead and powdery in the nose undercarriage bay, the other running around the Boeing 707, eating into the water pipes.
There are the stories too about the pilot friends I’ve sadly lost. Then the story of the Royal Brunei Boeing 757 that was banging and yawing all the way back from Kuwait and the really cool captain, who said to me as I entered the cockpit, “Eng. It wasn’t this bad when we flew into Kuwait!” Then the time I flew with instructor Rob in a Thruster aircraft that went down like a Stuka.
£9.99 -
The Irish Invincible
The Irish Invincible
Erin O’Connor has spent her life fighting—first to survive, then to escape, and finally to take back what was stolen from her. After enduring brutal years in prison and forced fights in the Middle East, she returns to Ireland, a woman hardened by violence and betrayal. But home is not the sanctuary she once imagined. Dublin is haunted by ghosts of her past, none more dangerous than Fabio, the man who once controlled her—and who now thrives in the shadows of the city’s underworld.
When Erin discovers the depths of Fabio’s corruption and intentions, she knows she can’t walk away. Not when innocent lives—like that of his new partner, Gemma—are at risk. But taking him down will require patience, precision, and a ruthless kind of justice that only she can deliver. As she stalks his every move, she finds herself spiralling into a darkness she thought she’d left behind. Revenge is intoxicating, but will it be her redemption—or her ruin?
From the gritty streets of Dublin to the wild cliffs of Donegal, The Irish Invincible is a gripping thriller about resilience, reckoning, and the fight for a future free from the past.
£8.99 -
Lasso the Lawman
Orphaned at birth, Hannah was adopted by her grandparents and now trains horses on the Lawson farm with relatives, Morgan Von Meeren and his son, Stefan. Nothing can upset her idyllic life. Or can it?
When a local lad’s tragic death occurs, the police deem it an accident, but his family believe there’s something more sinister going on and hire a private investigator, the infamous Murdock North.
Hannah’s first encounter with the man doesn’t bode well, and what happens next sends her reeling. Is he the only disruptive force, or are there others lurking beneath the surface? And what has Hannah got to hide?
An emotional and gripping story of danger, doubt, and fear, friendship, love, and heartache, with decisions made that aren’t always logical or wise.
£12.99
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