Recommended Reads
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Victoria: A Woman’s Story, A Love Story
Looking for a thrilling adventure around the world based on real life? Then, here's a novel for your eyes to travel to places you wouldn’t expect, for your soul to cry and rejoice along with ordinary and yet incredible people. An outstanding love story.
£10.99 -
Mother Earth Isn’t Dying
Mother Earth Isn’t Dying presents a graphic and compelling exposé of the impact mankind is having upon the Earth and collaterally upon itself. The author identifies a massive plague of humans, with a quadrupling of the global population in the last 80–100 years, enabled primarily by mankind’s discovery and exhumation of the energy giant fossil carbon, which has fuelled the advance of civilisation.
Mankind no longer lives in sustainable consonance with the natural world but is in direct competition with it, leading to widespread destruction of essential terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric systems and resources.
Unfortunately, the intellect of mankind appears to be at variance with its genetic imperatives. The ideal of a happy, healthy, and liberated life in an unspoiled environment is in us all, but it is now a wish list, utopian, and mere fantasy. The elephant in the room is mankind’s inherent compulsion to reproduce. The human genome is that of an animal, and its mind, which is its heart and soul, is unable to compete.
If mankind can pull itself out of this predicament, it will have accomplished a truly superhuman feat.
“This is an excellent book, well written and researched. The author uses his solid and wide-ranging knowledge of the arts, sciences and humanities to present climate change as the worldwide phenomenon it truly is. Here is a graphic example of the interconnectedness of all things. There are some suggestions as to the steps we might take to address the situation, but it is primarily a work designed to open the eyes of everyone who believes that climate change is just a storm in a teacup. The reality is that your entire kitchen and the planet it sits upon are about to disintegrate.”
Sharon Shipman, Advanced Diploma of Land Management.
£9.99 -
The Dawn of Enlightenment
Foisted onto an unwilling aunt as a refugee from the French Revolution, Elisabeth’s life is only made bearable by her cousin Lucy. Despite being given all the advantages of an only child, Lucy cares for Elisabeth like a sister.
They enjoy a carefree childhood in the Scottish Highlands with their good friend Billy from the local village.
But everything changes on Elisabeth’s eighteenth birthday.
She is given a letter which changes her life. Elisabeth discovers she has a twin brother and wants to look for him.
Her aunt has other ideas. She has high expectations of Lucy, but the best Elisabeth can hope for is to become a governess.
At the eleventh hour, a suitor appears on the horizon, which resolves Elisabeth’s immediate problem.
But it is then that Elisabeth’s life takes an unexpected turn. Lucy falls ill and is sent to Switzerland for treatment in a sanatorium close to Elisabeth and Felix’s honeymoon chalet.
Lucy’s suitor is called to her bedside, despite being in the middle of covert negotiations with Britain’s enemy, France.
£11.99 -
A Mother, An Artist and the Red Lights in Amsterdam
Imagine discovering one day that your beloved mother or your precious daughter had worked—or is still working—behind a red-lit window in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, where sex work is entirely legal.
This book explores the struggle to come to terms with the unimaginable.
The life of Lihi van Dijk, a young arts student living in Amsterdam, has never been sweeter. She has everything: unique artistic talent, stunning beauty, a loving partner, his five-year-old daughter whom she has adopted as her own, a warm and supportive family, and a circle of devoted friends who all call her ‘The Princess’.
But all of that is about to change, unravel, and fall apart when everyone discovers that the previous summer, unbeknownst to anyone, Lihi worked in the Red Light District.
Her loved ones all turn their backs on her, abandoning her and burning every bridge—everyone except her little girl.
As loneliness and despair close in, Lihi returns to the Red Light District in Amsterdam, the one place where no one will judge her.
There, in a world painted in shades of red, black, and grey, caught between painting and selling her body to strange men, Lihi finds her way back to her loved ones, her family, and to herself.
This is a story about motherhood and art, about pain and distress, about love and friendship, and the hope that tomorrow morning the sun will shine on a green and blossoming world, illuminating a new path toward goodness and well-being.
It’s said that it’s always darkest just before dawn. This is Lihi’s story: in the darkness and in the sunrise.
£11.99 -
Hoonamajabies - A Collection of Adult Short Stories
Ever wondered what if superheroes went on a date, you got your revenge on an ex-partner, got chased by hit men on your wedding weekend, or had a nightmare trip to the Oscars? Worry no more because this latest book from the mind of PJ Aitken will grip you from the first page and not let go. The successful author of The Run has written a no-holds-barred attempt to stay busy during the pandemic and let his mind wander into magical, wonderful and hilarious genre-bending worlds, one short story at a time.
There will be something for everyone amongst the countless stories within this single volume. Action, comedy, romance, horror and science fiction are only some of the genres you will experience before the final page. You will laugh, cry, scream and accidentally wet yourself flying through this thrill read. Sometimes at the same time! By the end you too will be screaming Hoonamajabies!
£9.99 -
Along The Eagle's Way
With vivid prose and compelling characters, Along the Eagle’s Way offers a captivating glimpse into Biblical times. The destinies of Linus Flavian, Maria of Magdala, and their son, Marcus, play out in this dramatic first-century story that spans the extremities of the known world of that time, from Britannia to India.
The Roman Empire is rising to its Flavian height while a fledgling religious sect of Judaism reconciles itself with the mystery of its crucified leader, Joshua of Nazareth. Growing from a clash between nationalistic Judaism and a messianic universalism, followers from Saul of Tarsus to Simon Cephas take the fledgling faith out to the Gentile world on the trading routes of the House of Arimathea. Their witness, however, differs from the very personal understanding of divinity that Maria believes that she learnt from her lover, the crucified Lord. She passes this legacy on to her son, Ben Joshua, a child whom Joshua never knew. Ben Joshua finds this message enhanced when he travels to India as a partner in the House of Arimathea—but his survival is anything but certain.
Longley's prose skilfully navigates a complex and intricate narrative. An intriguing read and a great alternative telling of a very old story.
– Portland Book Review
The politics of faith are as complex as the politics of nations. Exploring the politics of Judaism and the will of the Empire throughout the first century as well as many challenges to personal faith, Along the Eagle’s Way is a riveting read that should prove hard to put down.
– Midwest Book Review
£16.99 -
Alien Being Human
Alien Being Human searches via a quasi-Gonzo-style of writing to stretch the notions and ideals of what it ‘is’ to be human whilst engaging with, and in, ‘identity’, the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘should’ I—that is ‘me’—‘be’ in this artificial intelligence-meets-human and manufactured-beings pandemonium. Set in the 2050s, which is the end result of an AI-driven affliction decades long in the development of a borderless world.
A machination-driven hostile environment is what has been forced on Mother Earth.
Other—how does one say?—‘Assemblies’ have begun to live on Earth and ‘they’ are many types of beings. The problem is the manufactured beings, or ‘droids’ as they are colloquially referred to by those chasing them down and bringing them ‘into line’, or if not possible, have ‘them’ ‘ended’. Call it what you will. Possibly… no, certainly, droids are getting smarter. Infused-AI? And more to the point, ‘they’, the droids, seem to be evolving ‘feelings’—and there is another undertone beginning to happen; some humans, or purebreds, as they are known, are suggesting droids now have a ‘soul’. Surely not! Perhaps? What! Impossible! No! Surely not? Incredible! Down there on Mother Earth droids have had help ‘evolving’ by one particular recalcitrant pure-breed scientist and it is he who has made them think, consider, contemplate, nuance, be proactive, and… plan. How does one arrest such a situation? How do you outwit the sagacious? How do you outwit an evolved being—a droid—that has become ‘wiser’?
£10.99 -
My Grandpa
This story My Grandpa is a heartwarming celebration of a grandpa who likes to fix stuff. He likes gardening, he builds, he plays, he is a collector, he loves to paint, in fact there is nothing he can’t do! But most importantly, he loves his grandchild and there is a special bond between them. This is a playful, rhyming tribute to all the caring grandpas.
£8.99 -
Not Listening
Not Listening is the story of a young boy who doesn’t listen to his parents or siblings and many troubles befall him as a result. He is a typical lad who lives life to the full and has no time to stop and listen.
The boy’s family despairs of their son and brother and eventually they need to come to grips with the problem that affects the whole family.
£8.99 -
The Daydreamer and the Dragon
ELLA MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM HER SIBLINGS. BUT IS BEING DIFFERENT SUCH A BAD THING?
Ella loves art, wears comfy clothes, and enjoys climbing trees. A daydreamer at heart, Ella’s interests are a little different from everyone else’s, though some people don’t seem to appreciate her creative personality. Especially not her big sister, Madison.
Always hoping to get her big sister’s acceptance, Ella endures Madison’s meanest words even when they hurt her feelings. And Madison never fails to say something unkind whenever she can. But after her big sister’s bullying and mean words pull Ella’s last straw, Ella is forced to speak up for herself and expose Madison for the nasty dragon she is.
It’s not about being like everyone else. It’s about being yourself and embracing your differences. That’s what Ella learns when her world of sadness transforms with a life-changing surprise. And after she finally gets the support of the one person she always hoped to impress, Ella learns what it’s like to feel complete.
Join Ella and her siblings as they learn a valuable lesson about accepting each other’s differences and being supportive!
£9.99 -
Scat Gang
Two charming and delightful tales of stray cats and their exciting adventures!
Join Scat, a little stray cat, as he makes new friends—Alleyoops and Tiger—explores new places, learns about potential dangers, and experiences life-changing moments.
These heartwarming stories will delight readers of all ages, whether read aloud or enjoyed independently. Adorable illustrations accompany the text, bringing the adventures to life.
Also available is A Christmas Tail, a delightful tale of how these lovable cats experience Christmas, catch a glimpse of Santa, and enjoy the excitement of playing in the snow for the first time.
Perfect for bedtime storytelling, these tales create a magical reading experience and sweet dreams for children.
£10.99 -
Jessica BunnyDuck Learns to Swim
Jessica BunnyDuck can’t wait for her first swimming lesson!
But when her bright red rubber ring flips her upside down in the village pond, she learns that new skills take practice.
With Mummy Duck’s help and plenty of determination, Jessica discovers she can paddle just as well as her siblings Rosie, Posie, and Peter!
£8.99
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