Recommended Reads
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Broken Roads Lead Me Here
Broken Roads Lead Me Here tells the true-life story of a boy born into unimaginable abuse in Glasgow in the sixties. By the age of eight, Colin had been abandoned by his mother and continued to be sexually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually traumatised by the man she left him with. Blunted by severe trauma, Colin went through one unimaginable nightmare after another, each more traumatising and soul shattering than the last, with no one to tell and no way to understand why. He wondered as he drifted through life, what was to really become of him? Or his half-sisters? All the while, deep down, sensing that one day it could be his last.
At fifteen, he was thrown out of school, and at sixteen he was sent to prison. Colin survived rejection, abandonment, homelessness, gang wars, addiction, mental illness, overdoses, suicide attempts, and abusive adult relationships. But it always seemed as if he was living on borrowed time…
Even as he started writing his memoir, Colin had suffered a stroke, and near his recovery’s conclusion was then diagnosed with what was initially suspected as pancreatic cancer. While Colin’s diagnosis was eventually re-assessed as not immediately life threatening, it did leave him with a series of conditions which would continue to limit the quality of his day-to-day life. His illnesses and his experience of this instead of instilling a sense of profound hopelessness surprisingly led him to a profound sense of inner peace, clarity, and re-awakened purpose through his renewed faith in the real presence, love, forgiveness, and grace of God. His is a miraculous story of faith and redemption.
Colin Mackell is a husband, father, and grandfather. In his professional life as Psychotherapist, he has helped people who struggle to overcome drug and alcohol addiction, and helps them find new meaning, and explore new life paths. He is also the founder of Chrysalis Supported Association & Group CEO of Chrysalis Group Services, providing homes and support to some of life’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
£10.99 -
Broken Wings
Returning to her family’s village in Scotland for the sombre anniversary of her brother Max’s passing, Martha, a dedicated primary school teacher from Camden, northwest London, braces herself for a flood of painful memories. Instead, she’s enveloped in the warmth and affection of her family and rekindles her bond with her best friend, Izzy.
However, her trip takes an unexpected turn when her father’s old Ford Escort breaks down en route to Inverness. To her dismay, the recovery truck that arrives is driven by Jackson, Max’s childhood best friend and the local mechanic. Martha has always held Jackson partly responsible for Max’s death, as he was with him on that fateful night.
Despite her best efforts to keep her distance, the undeniable chemistry between Martha and Jackson is palpable. She’s determined to resist any feelings for him, but when adversity strikes, Martha realizes that Jackson might just be the one person she can rely on.
£9.99 -
Brotherly Love
Roddy Roan is an intense young man who attends the prestigious Wellington Private School in the Herefordshire countryside. As the dislike of his English teacher Bill Solomons becomes an obsession of revenge, his friends slowly distance themselves from the impending carnage. Solomons turns to his brother for help and circumstances unite them in a common cause, but as each of them battle their own demons, personal tragedy strikes.
Justin Kell reluctantly takes on the case of the suspicious disappearance of a city banker and quickly finds himself at the heart of a ruthless crime syndicate. It becomes a race against a time as he puts his life on the line with the stakes even higher when his personal life is turned upside down.
£10.99 -
Building Resilient Futures
Whether a community struggling to keep its members buoyant, a business trying to stay solvent, or a nation fighting to protect its citizens, adversity and crisis impact us all. The resilient are able to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and not only bounce back but also bounce forward.
This book looks at what resilience means at times of crises as well as the in-between periods. It examines the various types of resilience, such as emotional, organisational and societal, and offers valuable insights on how to manage the consequences of upheaval and trauma.
The author brings together contributors to deliver a real mix of theory, case-study evidence and anecdote in a way that is both approachable and thought provoking. It is a timely and necessary addition to a crucial topic. Very simply, professionals, practitioners, students, government ministers, and business leaders should read this now. It might be a safer, better world if people read the book and acted on it.
£16.99 -
Cable Goes Camping
Cable the Crow continues to fear almost everything, even his own shadow, and is well known for often being just one step away from danger. He is frightened by things that many birds could not care less about, such as scarecrows, golf balls, and Scotsmen’s legs! He is also terrified of things that many birds are fearful of too.
Cable and his wife have always dreamt of going on holiday and now for the first time ever, they have decided to go camping.
Will they choose the right places to pitch their tent? Do they find a proper campsite, or are their choices typically hazardous? What sort of obstacles do you think they may come across? Surely, Cable and his wife Christine can manage this simple task; or can’t they? Join Cable’s tense holiday saga and find out if camping was a success.
With elements of humour, pattern, rhyme, and repetition, the story has an interesting plot that captures the attention of the reader.
The features of this book entail, high quality, engaging, varied, meaningful and colourful illustrations which add to the storyline, in conjunction with the integrated lively memorable text to raise a child’s sense of wonder and imagination.
There are some delicious words that roll off the tongue and beg to be repeated which enticingly connect to the illustrations and provide contextual clues for vocabulary development.
£9.99 -
Cable the Crow
Once there was an easily frightened by almost anything, and not particularly sensible crow, named Cable who quit at the slightest hurdle. Bullied by his bossy wife to gather worms for their breakfast, he reluctantly sets about his given challenge, coming face to face with his worst nightmares and some just plain stupid obstacles on his journey. Meeting up with his quirky relatives and friends along this seemingly fruitless journey; does Cable finally succeed with this mission to gather worms? Does he make it back to his home safely in one piece? Join this exasperating journey with this very special crow and find out what happened.
An energetic and charming picture book, containing several short contemporary messages, such as litter and the environment etc., along with eye-popping detailed illustrations. There are nuggets of humour for the grown-ups reading aloud to children although the language is accessible for children to read independently, as they are developing their reading skills.
£9.99 -
Called to Serve and Protect
How does a farm boy brought up on an isolated farm with no electricity, or running water supply, leaving school at fifteen with no academic qualifications, have a successful career in the police force and become an overseas police adviser? John describes his motivation to serve and protect, and takes you through his police career, including when he climbed the headstock of a disused colliery to talk down a disturbed teenager, had a convicted killer hold a knife to his throat, and took a loaded shotgun out of the hands of an aggressive teenager. He enumerates his progression through the ranks and describes an occasion when he refused to obey an order from his Chief Constable, which probably cost him a promotion.
Post-retirement, he worked for a private security company involved in the escorting of prisoners to courts and prisons and describes having to spend three days in the witness box at an inquest into the death of a prisoner in transit to prison. As an overseas police adviser sitting in a restaurant in Addis Ababa with his wife, a colleague and his wife, John saw a hand grenade come to a standstill just inches away from his legs and he expected to die, but miraculously survived.
Flown back to the UK for treatment he had his moments of fame, appearing on TV news and on the Big Breakfast show on Channel 4. Attending a presentation function at the Café Royal, he sat next to Lois Maxwell, the original Miss Moneypenny and the lady on whom her character was based.
£13.99 -
Calm Pond
Are you looking for the ideal bedtime book for your child? A book where you and your child can connect to strong characters and develop essential life skills through fun?
Then look no further than Calm Pond!
Calm Pond is in Blackstone Edge. It is a wonderful place, a special place.
It can be quiet and beautiful, but it can also be noisy and fun as it is the home of some amazing creatures!
The creatures of Calm Pond live and work together, helping each other to form a strong community.
The nine short stories cover many topics to help children understand many life issues, such as equality, resilience, honesty, change, strengths and weaknesses, anxiety, differences, empathy, and bereavement.
Calm Pond – educating and entertaining!
£8.99 -
Calming Is as Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Calming Is as Easy as 1, 2, 3! was created to help students of all ages and all levels of ability learn and practice coping strategies to utilize when in an escalated state – whether that’s them being angry, nervous, scared, anxious, excited, or sad. Practicing these strategies can help both at home and in other environments when children need to regulate their feelings and calm their bodies in order to get back to being happy!
£7.99 -
Canela’s Adventures in the Rain Forest of Peru
Enjoy The Adventures of Canela (“cinnamon,” in English), a smart chocolate Lab, in the tropical forest of Peru. Marvel at her friendship with a boa constrictor named Caliente (“hot,” in English) and the importance of keeping rivers free of pollution.María del Rosario (Charo) Basterra is an Educational Psychologist. Her daughter, Lucia Basterra, is a bilingual preschool teacher. Canela is their beloved dog. They live in Washington, D.C.Tati Valle Riestra is an internationally renowned watercolor artist. She lives in Lima, Peru.
£8.99 -
Caprice
Embark on a whimsical journey through the myriad facets of memory in Caprice, where each page is an invitation to relive joys and pleasures, often overlooked or cast aside in the rush of the mundane. Amidst the storms and diatribes of the present, let’s ascend towards a realm where reflections blossom into a vibrant tapestry of experiences. Cast aside inhibitions, embrace fate’s whimsical tune, and traverse through this kaleidoscopic memoir that urges one to explore, evaluate, and revel in life’s capricious yet enriching dance.
£6.99 -
Carnal Atrocities
What makes a killer emerge? Could it be genetics or are we shaped by our environments from
childhood onwards?
Lurking in the recesses of the mind is a dark cruelty, cupped in the hands of pleasure and
nurtured by the need for power. Does this exist within us all and if so, how do some control it
and others allow it to consume them?
The detached coldness of a clinic waiting room, the deafening silence that illuminated your
vulnerability. Who’d have thought from such desperation, friendships would flourish.
Starting with a simple hello, a group friendship was forged that would grow from within
adolescence into adulthood. With the strains of trauma beginning to show, the group becomes
aware that the normality expected in the society around them is a far cry from how this group
functions and the cracks begin to appear.
With torture, murder, control and grief only a stone’s throw away, where will the darkness take
this troubled group of individuals?
£8.99
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