Recommended Reads
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Living from the Inside Out
At some stage, many of us face a moment of reflection, looking in the mirror and wondering what happened to the carefree, dream-filled child we once were. It’s common to question whether it’s too late to pursue those dreams that once sparked such joy in our hearts.Living from the Inside Out poses a crucial question: Do you see life as something that happens to you, or do you believe that you actively shape your own destiny? This book challenges the belief that we are mere victims of circumstance, presenting an empowering perspective. It delves into the age-old quest to understand the extent of our influence over our lives. Are we reactors to what life throws at us, or creators of our own path? Interestingly, these roles are composed of the same letters, just arranged differently. This metaphor serves as a reminder that we have the power to rearrange our perception of ourselves and the world around us, thereby actively creating our lives from the inside out, breathing life into dormant dreams, and moving beyond stress and dissatisfaction.Author Claire Smedley introduces readers to the Kosha Roadmap, an ancient yogic model for living a fulfilling life. With her two decades of experience, Claire revitalizes this ancient wisdom, giving it a contemporary twist that is accessible to everyone. This book promises to transform your understanding of yourself and your life, serving as a guide to lasting happiness.
£8.79 -
The Tramcar will Return
Electric tramways formed the backbone of most towns and cities in the first half of the twentieth century. But when they got in the way of cars, they had to go. People loved their trams, they took them to school, to work, to go shopping, to the cinema and to football matches. When the last Glasgow tram ran in 1962, a quarter of a million Glaswegians braved the pouring rain to say goodbye. Thirty years later, trams were re-invented to help combat congestion and environmental impacts of the car. Both eras are covered in this book by an engineer who witnessed the demise of the tram and its revival, playing a major role in getting trams onto the streets of Manchester in 1992. Now trams are running again in London, Edinburgh and cities in between. This is a personal story about the last tramways in Britain and the new generation of light rail systems, a term invented to avoid any confusion with old double deckers clanking down the middle of the road. It is interlaced with stories of tramways in the UK, Europe and beyond, gained when working as an international light rail consultant.
£12.79 -
Never Far from the Truth
It all started as a bit of lighthearted fun, mates on a bachelor party. That is until Alex and his friends came across a fortune teller spinning a tale. Alex would meet his future wife, who would be wearing a pearl necklace. Sure enough, two years later, they met at a wine bar, eventually getting married and having a child. Only for Alex to discover he had married the wrong woman. His wife had borrowed the necklace she wore that night, from her friend, who so happened to be at the bar that night. To make matters worse, Alex was only meant to have been in his wife’s life for a short period of time to reveal a dark and disturbing secret belonging to his now deceased father. By not disclosing his secret to his wife, Alex, unbeknownst to him, changed the future, denying his wife from meeting the man she was destined to marry, causing a devasting butterfly effect. It appears Alex cannot get anything right; he just happens to end up as the guy that everyone loves to hate. The more Alex tries to do the right thing, the worse it gets, not just for him but also for his wife. Alex is someone with little or no morals as we sit back and watch his life unravel into utter chaos, deceit, and untruths being spoken.
£8.79 -
The Z Affair
Set in 1971, The Z Affair follows the story of Philip Trent, an ex-soldier turned government agent, working for an organization known as the ‘Outfit’, tasked with rooting out insurrection against the United Kingdom. In a time of anarchy and unrest, stirred up by unseen forces, Trent returns from West Berlin with crucial information about a plot targeting the U.K.Assigned to uncover the instigators of the conspiracy, Trent embarks on a perilous mission, aided by his lady friend and courtesan, Camille. Their quest takes them from the streets of London and Birmingham to the allure of Paris and the mystery of a secluded island off the Welsh coast.As Trent becomes entangled in the intricate web of deceit threatening to destroy the United Kingdom, his efforts to thwart the plot come at a great personal cost. Thrust into a whirlwind of violence, intrigue, romance, and treachery, Trent must navigate the murky waters of espionage while unravelling the threads of the conspiracy.The story reaches its climax in a fierce battle in the English Shires and a daring assassination attempt, testing Trent’s resolve and the strength of his allegiances.While set half a century ago, The Z Affair, a gripping spy thriller infused with romance, explores themes that resonate with modern audiences, making it a timeless and thought-provoking read.
£8.79 -
Mother of Stones
What if women had a means to protect themselves from violent men and administer punishment? What if there existed a secret feminist organization, Telea, equipped with unlimited resources, dedicated to women’s empowerment and protection? This is the tale of Telea and its leader, the Mother of Stones, spanning from its inception during the Mesolithic era to the present, facing challenges, and concluding in a future where society has evolved significantly. This novel blends speculative fiction with elements of fantasy and science fiction, inviting readers to envision a better world for women, men, and children.Avelina da Silveira narrates with an intimate tone, akin to sharing a story with a friend. It begins with the account of a dying woman named N´kura, who lived 11 thousand years ago. N´kura discovers a collection of nanobots, resembling a beautiful stone, becoming the first Mother of Stones. From her lineage, future Mothers of Stones are chosen.The protagonist resides in our contemporary era, selected to assume the role of the Mother of Stones, eventually triggering a profound and transformative upheaval in humanity.This narrative lingers in the reader’s mind well beyond the final page, courtesy of the ethical dilemmas it presents and the myriad possibilities it encourages readers to contemplate.
£7.99 -
Wise Hermione
Sixty thousand souls hurtling through the infinite darkness aboard a billion-year-old lump of rock, leaving behind them a dying world.Before them, a precipice, beyond which lies the end for all humankind.Only one is left who may save them all, and she is lost and forgotten.And the clock is ticking.
£7.99 -
Coronavirus Pandemic Syndrome
Dr. Zheng Ma, the visionary behind the groundbreaking coronavirus vaccine vector, finds himself at the heart of a global crisis as a devastating pandemic emerges from his beloved second hometown, Wuhan.In Dr. Zheng’s state-of-the-art laboratory, a team of expert scientists delves into the world of dangerous viruses, with a unique coronavirus sample distinct from any known strain. Dr. Zheng’s goal was to create a revolutionary vaccine by weaving HIV proteins into the coronavirus genome, aiming to halt the spread of AIDS.However, the coronavirus strain fuelling the epidemic in Wuhan bears little resemblance to Dr. Zheng’s creation, harbouring artificial insertions of an unknown nucleotide sequence. As Dr. Zheng grapples with the implications of his findings, he realizes his laboratory has never ventured into such uncharted territory, leaving him shrouded in doubt and uncertainty in a world forever changed.
£8.79 -
It’s Just Not Good Enough
It’s just not good enough – how many times have these five little words cut you to the quick?Lucie, a 60-something woman, has a part-time relationship with a man who all her friends are convinced isn’t right for her. Eventually she has enough of his sketchy behaviour but after a break, he returns saying those three little words we all long to hear. Of course, she’s devastated when he unceremoniously dumps her leaving her doubting her own worth. Shortly afterwards, completely by chance, she bumps into an attractive man. As she comes to realise he’s much younger than her, she wonders whether the relationship’s entirely appropriate, but his persistence plus incredible sex is too beguiling. After a wonderful weekend away, she discovers he’s been living a lie, but his plausible explanation persuades her to continue. Her world is rocked when she’s diagnosed with breast cancer; going through a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy. If all that isn’t enough Covid strikes the world which means that, in a heartbeat, she loses every bit of her work. Desperate for money, she takes in a transvestite lodger who proves to be a lifesaver in many ways. She’s suddenly faced by a dilemma with her new man – can she continue when his thinking about how a relationship should be conducted is so fundamentally different to her own?And then, out of the blue, her first love returns wanting to rekindle their romance. She agrees to meet him – will she accept his proposal?
£7.19 -
From Istanbul to Haifa
This book is based on the true story of five siblings who played pivotal roles in the most significant political and historical events that unfolded in the Levant region between the years 1890 and 1948 CE. These events were instrumental in the emergence of entire nations in the Middle East, the collapse of others, and continue to be the primary influence on everything we have experienced and are living today.Within the pages of this book, we traverse a diverse geographical and historical landscape encompassing the Levant, Egypt, Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, and Iran. We witness the Arabs’ attempts to realize their dream of building an independent unified Arab state, The alleged efforts by the superpowers of that age to undermine and thwart their aspirations were akin to conspiracies against their dreams, and the establishment of the Zionist entity in Palestine. The reader is taken through historical events starting from the Balkan Wars and the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the establishment of the Arab state, the correspondences of Hussein McMahon, the role of Lawrence of Arabia, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and the onset of French and British mandates, culminating in the founding of the Zionist entity.It is worth noting that the information presented in this book is documented from the memoirs left by the five siblings, testimonies from many who lived through those times, and various historical sources. The information is presented in a captivating and dramatic narrative, bringing the characters to life in vivid detail, allowing you to experience history as if you are living it in all its intricacies.
£7.99 -
When the Cows Come Home
In this sweeping family saga, the lives of five Bavarian German families unfold against the backdrop of the twentieth century, spanning from 1937 to 2020. At the heart of the story are Herman Finkelstein, a Jewish professor, and his wife Merla Finkelstein, whose tragic fate during the Holocaust sets the stage for the generations that follow. Their descendants, adopted by Lutheran families after escaping to Switzerland in 1943, have only a vague understanding of their Jewish heritage.The narrative is centered around the Bavarian towns of Berchtesgaden and Oberstdorf, but also ventures to Switzerland and Israel as Germany grapples with its complex past and the specter of antisemitism. Both branches of the Finkelstein descendants find themselves connected through their herds of Hinterwalder cattle, a bond that ultimately brings them together after two generations of separation.Through the purchase of a Hinterwalder bull, the families are reunited and uncover the full extent of their Jewish ancestry. While the novel explores the profound impact of the Holocaust, it also serves as a rich social history, illustrating how the ordinary lives of individuals are shaped by war, political upheaval, and cultural shifts.
£7.99 -
Endless Mission III
This is a fictional plot, set in the period between the WWI and the WWII, as the third part to the espionage drama “Endless Mission” Trilogy.
£5.59 -
In Tiger Country
In a bustling surgical theatre, where life, death, and difficult decisions intertwine, the lives of Eliza, Ibrahim, and Henry collide, each carrying their own dreams, burdens, and secrets.Eliza, a junior doctor driven by ambition and insecurities, finds an unexpected champion, only to uncover ulterior motives lurking beneath the surface.Meanwhile, another, haunted by the specter of racism, yearns to rise above it, but the path forward requires unlikely allies. As tensions reach a boiling point, a sinister conspiracy unfolds, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their profession. Amidst the chaos, a pillar of unity and strength emerges, grappling with the complexities of identity.In Tiger Country delves into the intricate tapestry of diversity, prejudice, and the hidden depths that reside within us all, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience in the high-stakes world of medicine.
£9.59