Recommended Reads
-
Now Who's Talking? 2
Are you ready for round two of Now Who’s Talking? Des Lynam returns with more animal antics in this second collection of conversations, once again illustrated by Bryony Hill. This time, they’re heading to the farm and the zoo to eavesdrop on an even wider variety of animals, ranging from ferrets and turkeys to flamingos and crocodiles.
Just as in the previous volume, Des gives voice to the animals in a way that mirrors their behaviour in the real world, while at the same time offering some intriguing insights into their interactions with us humans. As ever, Des’s words are perfectly complemented by Bryony’s imaginative yet realistic drawings.
‘Full of charm, novelty, and wit – just like the man himself.’ Susie Dent
‘I loved Des’s voice. It was always one of my favourites to imitate (“Wine ’em… dine ’em… Lynam”). Now the old master’s found a whole range of voices and applied them to the birds and animals in his garden and beyond. Whimsical, witty, imaginative – and great fun.’ Rory Bremner£6.99 -
Nusantara
After dropping out of university, getting a job as a storeman, doing drugs and then splitting up with his wife, Jack, in a fit of depression, joins the Australian Army and is sent to East Timor at the height of the troubles. He “volunteers” for a mission in Indonesia, where the United Nations, with help from the US Navy and the Royal Marines, are trying to rescue a group of foreigners, mostly Europeans, being held hostage by the local rebels. Jack completes his mission only to become the victim of misdirected revenge.
£9.99 -
Oklem
“Just because the war is over, doesn’t mean the story is.”
What happens after a 10-year war? Unity brought the Mortal, Fire, Ice and Earth Nations together to defeat Skull, a pirate army desperate to merge the supernatural world with the mortal.
19-year-old Azar Geminus finds himself at the centre of a bizarre, supernatural mystery. With the war at an end, and his heart broken, his only goal is to reunite with his parents. But this proves more challenging than expected when he learns that they have gone missing. Whilst the city he has lived in all his life begins to expose the darkness that dwells within, Azar finds himself changing in ways he cannot control.
As betrayal, mystery, and danger close in around him, Azar realises that there are three sides to every story: the Nations, the supernatural, and the truth. As one war ends, another, much more personal, is just beginning. And when the fate of the Nations rests on lies, who else can he rely on other than himself?
£9.99 -
Olivia and Her Baby
Olivia will no longer be the only child. A new member of the family is on the way! For the parents this is a busy, happy time preparing for the new arrival. But how does Olivia feel about having a new sibling?Olivia is shown she is a much loved, valued, and important member of the family. This book, intended to be read to toddlers, helps prepare them for their parent’s inevitable distraction by the baby’s needs. This can help to reinforce family love and avoid the troubles and conflict that often arise among young siblings.
£8.99 -
One of Us
Police officer Ava’s world is turned upside down when she is forced to face her feelings for Kate at a school reunion. Simultaneously, one murder after another pulls her back home to assist in solving a case involving her team members.Ava experiences an internal struggle as she attempts to rekindle a lifelong yearning for a relationship with Kate. Whilst her profession requires her attention as Forensic Psychologist to find a killer.One gruesome murder after the other forces her to find the commonality, and the only link she can identify… is Kate.Will she be able to win over the heart she thought was lost to her forever? Will her work bring the relationship to an end before it has even started? And will she survive long enough to even have a chance at love?
£11.99 -
Oscar’s Odyssey
Now more than ever, children need tools to help build the resilience and self-confidence necessary to cope with our ever-changing world.Join seven-year-old Oscar, a likable, relatable, and honest character, as he enjoys an adventure-filled odyssey, learning important life lessons on the way. Come along on his journey as he visits the aquarium, deals with a bully, rides a horse for the first time and hunts for Grandma’s missing llama.During weekly visits with his wise Grandma, they discuss, explore, and find practical answers to some of the challenges he is facing growing up. Through heart-to-heart conversation, Grandma shares the importance of showing gratitude and kindness, and helps him acquire the skills necessary to cope when faced with difficult circumstances. In so doing, she helps Oscar discover helpful tools to store in his toolbox of life.These interactive stories are written to make suggestions, invite investigation, and encourage discussion.
£6.99 -
Ottilie Rose, A Collection of Poems
This book is many things but firstly it is heartfelt. It is about a father, a human observing life in every way it presents, through his personal struggles and the struggles of the world. The many big questions posed are underlined by the hope that the world can be a better place for his young daughter for whom this book is titled and all the children of the world and the future. Many books will be written about this world, its challenges, and its complexities. Ottilie Rose attempts to wade through all that through poetry such that through the artistic exploration of the human condition we might discover something more beautiful about us.
£9.99 -
Otto Papesch
Otto Papesch was my father. I was four years old when he died. I asked myself for years what kind of a human being he was. I have attempted to paint a picture of that handsome, charismatic, cultivated, professional chemical engineer, enthusiastic sportsman, photographer and family man by basing myself on the vast correspondence that still exists, his diary of 1917, stories about him from my mother and grandparents and the innumerable photos he took over the years. This has been an attempt to describe his prominent characteristics but also shed light on his dilemmas and the contradictions in his personality and thereby to describe the important events of his short life. Would his destiny have been different had he been born a year later?
£9.99 -
Outnumbered by Daughters
The book is an adult fictional novel, based on a young man’s struggle with sadness, tragedy, complicated romances and family life. He attempts to bring up twin girls and an older stepdaughter as a single parent through their middle school years.
He encounters all sorts of problems that readers could relate to in their own personal life, involving mixed emotions and hardship, including his own complicated and failed romances on his journey through this stage of parenthood.
He has to deal with embarrassment and overcome all sorts of new experiences as he tries to understand the problems and needs that young girls have to face as they grow up.
The girls’ teenage years present him with a completely different set of problems, but he does at least have better success with romance, resulting in a wife, new daughter and stepdaughter finally completing his family.
£6.99 -
Pajama Stories: Volume 2
New York’s Secret Society of 31 Platinum Grills takes a turn for the worse after Providence, the top lady DJ, is kidnapped by the jealous twins in the Secret Society. The once superb and exclusive secret society for amateur DJs has now been tainted with death, jealousy and kidnapping. Providence, better known as Lady Lucina, becomes the newest member to the Secret Society of 31 Platinum Grills for amateur DJs. She is excited after receiving a phone call from the founder, DJ Calm, who has just notified her that she is the first female to ever get voted into the secret society. Little does she know that some of the society members are jealous and unenthused by DJ Calm’s decision to vote a female into the organisation, especially since Providence has just received a ten-thousand cheque during her first performance.
£7.99 -
Partners In Mischief
Peter had a happy, settled life at home with his mum, and at school with his best friend, Tom. They had known each other a long time and were inseparable. This, however, was about to change when he, by accident, spotted his mum and headteacher together, holding hands! Although he wanted his mum to be happy, Peter couldn’t accept this. He and Tom decided that they should do something to return life to how it was before. Nobody would want their headteacher as their new dad even if he was a good headteacher and had improved the school’s exam results. But what could they do? They try various things with no luck apart from getting themselves in trouble. Then one day the boys see one of the school’s supply teachers acting suspiciously. She suddenly takes an interest in them, especially Peter. What was she up to? Could she help them? Should they trust her?
£6.99 -
Parvon Zin Koban Hunter
Thought you knew about history? Think again. The dinosaurs were not killed off by an asteroid strike, the Koban in their thousands did that. They are still here, and have been throughout history, killing and eating millions.But now there is only one shapeshifting Koban hunter left, and only he and his acid-tongued AI stand in the way of the Koban turning humans into nothing more than cattle. Alterative history with a science fiction twist.
£8.99