Recommended Reads
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The Longing
Mary Earle’s memoir, The Longing, is a poignant testament to resilience, born out of a desire to shed light on a dark chapter of history that mirrors her own turbulent past. Born in 1947, Mary’s childhood was overshadowed by a dysfunctional family and a father known for his explosive temper. A harrowing incident at fifteen plunged Mary into a world rife with abuse and suffering, threatening to lead her down a path of despair and depression. Her father forbid her to ever speak of this incident, and it becomes locked inside her. Yet, Mary’s spirit remained unbroken. Her story is one of remarkable transformation. In her forties, having escaped a violent marriage, Mary embarked on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, travelling solo to India. Today, she stands as a beacon of hope and strength, a counsellor and trauma specialist, healer and clairvoyant dedicated to helping others.With an ‘eternally optimistic’ outlook, Mary shares her journey in The Longing, not just as a tale of survival, but as a source of inspiration and courage for anyone striving to overcome their own adversities.
£7.19 -
Colour Coded: The White Wire
Following the events in Bridge of Orchy, Colour Coded returns to action as The White Wire must revisit his family home to confirm if the woman Neon murdered was indeed his sister.As the story unfolds, Colour Coded discovers another gang intertwined with Neon’s world, and The Yellow Youth quickly realizes his personal connection to one of its members. Forming an alliance may be their only hope to stop Neon.However, in just a few hours, Colour Coded’s mission shifts from tracking and killing Neon to preventing a bomb from annihilating an unsuspecting village – a bomb that Neon has arranged for Colour Coded to be blamed for.Gang warfare, kidnapping, murder… and now terrorism. Neon will stop at nothing in his psychotic rage against his former team.Can Colour Coded set aside their personal issues long enough to prevent the bomb from detonating? Or will Neon’s mind games lead to fatal consequences?
£12.79 -
Childhoods
Childhoods is a non-fiction picture book that explores how children live their childhoods depending on their social and cultural backgrounds. It also illustrates how these diverse children often share the same urban sites in most countries worldwide.The book intends to enable a critical reading of the material conditions of children in vulnerable situations. It encourages the reader to appreciate the sameness in all children through their dreams and their connection to the natural world.
£6.39 -
Jezebel: The AI That Took Me Back In Time
Now, if you thought just because the title of this book is Jezebel, it is about you know who, I’ve some good and bad news for you, which one do you want first?Okay, bad news it is.At least, until this protagonist silences the little voice in her head that keeps telling her to conform and be ordinary, she will not be able to create a story worth telling. The good news is she has the potential but not before she untangles the web of murder mystery ensnaring her.That said, this reclusive protagonist, preferring the crisp logic of technology over the societal rules that do not serve her, does not only find solace in the digital realm, but she also devises an AI to aid her in understanding the mysteries of the ancient Egyptian society. This is until deceased bodies are discovered bearing tattoos of the symbols she had coded into the AI, giving her mundane life a whole new spin.What does she do?Well, we all know debug is not a pill available in drug stores, so she delves further into the technology and the new places it opens for her, every line of code she deciphers and every ancient rule she unravels, drawing her closer to a reality more startling than she could have ever envisioned. Except, the path to vindication becomes burdened with ancient rules encapsulated in a sacred book she must adhere to before she is able to debug the AI.Join Jezebel in a journey unbounded by time and space where she encounters the good and evil of the ancient world, and who is best to do it with but the historical and mythical figures she meets along the way!
£8.79 -
The Black Feather
In your handsLies a journeyThe ultimate journeyThe one we take to find our selvesTo die and to be rebornTo travel among the dreams we desperately fight forTo encounter painIt has so many faces: abuse, death, depression, the loss of selfTo keep on guarding hopeTo finally embrace beauty and loveTo findThe voice within
£7.99 -
East to West across Russia: The Long Journey Home
Embark on a captivating journey across the vast Russian steppe aboard the iconic Trans-Siberian Railway in this modern tale of self-discovery and introspection. The narrator, known only as D, begins his westward voyage in Vladivostok, traversing the ever-changing landscapes that unfold before him. As time moves inexorably onward, the everyday lives of the passengers intertwine with the rhythmic churning of the train’s propellers, contrasting sharply with the raw silence of the natural world beyond the windows.As the journey progresses, D’s physical expedition takes an unexpected turn, delving into the depths of his own psyche. A haunting presence, N, permeates the narrative, her essence imbued in the natural world, particularly at the breathtaking Lake Baikal in Siberia. N represents the one who got away, leaving a void and a profound fragility within D’s soul, scattering her ghostly influence across the many places his footsteps tread.Immersed in the tranquil vistas of the external world, D finds himself enamoured by the everyday characters he encounters along the way. As he navigates the complexities of his inner turmoil and the beauty of his surroundings, the narrator embarks on a transformative odyssey. The D who began his journey in Vladivostok will inevitably be different from the one who arrives in Moscow at journey’s end, but what will this transformation entail? Join D on this introspective voyage as he unravels the mysteries of his past, present, and future on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
£7.99 -
Ambra: The Long Journey
Spring awakens Doug the hedgehog from hibernation, reuniting him with Ambra the blackbird. Join these unlikely friends on a three-week adventure across the countryside! Who will they meet? What peril awaits Doug at the campsite? And who are the three surprise companions at the journey’s end? Discover friendship, courage, and wonder in this charmingly illustrated tale!
£7.99 -
Bedtime Stories for Clever Kids
Young children are more perceptive than we might imagine. Curiosity and intelligence are a heady cocktail for creative storytelling that informs, entertains and educates. This author could not resist.We might not realize how observant young children are. They have a lot of curiosity and intelligence that make them great at creating stories that can teach, amuse and enlighten. This author was drawn to this.You may wonder what a child understands about freedom, the environment, tolerance and self-worth. This book is for sensitive kids who want to know more about these tough topics. The themes are presented in small pieces in a safe and interesting setting, with colourful illustrations throughout. Moral questions are woven into the dialogues with the characters, with some humour and fun. The aim is that bedtime stories like these will encourage meaningful and loving conversations between parent and child. The imagination has a power that can take us anywhere. The experience can be thrilling and the lessons learned can be life-changing.Parents may not know how to broach a subject. These stories open a door for them to do so. The door is open. So, are you just going to stand there, or are you coming in?
£13.59 -
Waiting
An experimental clinic in Buckinghamshire is suspected of having ties to drug importation from East Africa, facilitated through the Mediterranean island of Gozo, where there are hints of Russian influence and potential money laundering. Hugo Stratton, Marcia, and agents from Britain’s Secret Services delve into these possibilities, while Group Captain Reginald Young investigates the ‘Clinic’ on UK soil. As the plot unfolds, a Russian ‘cell’ operating in Poland is uncovered, leading to the shocking revelation of a long-suspected traitor within the British establishment.This is the third and final book in a trilogy: Watching, Withstanding, and Waiting.
£9.59 -
The Dini Bridge Bible
Embark on an exciting journey into the world of bridge with Dini Thorne as your guide. From bidding basics to more advanced play, Dini’s friendly advice and clear explanations will have you enjoying this timeless game in no time. Whether you’re new to bridge or looking to sharpen your skills, The Dini Bridge Bible is your essential companion on the path to becoming a confident player. Let the adventure begin!
£6.39 -
1589 – The English Armada and the Fortunes of Don Antonio
Everything was set to deliver a body blow to Spain after the defeat of ‘The Invincible Armada’ in 1588. With aid anticipated from Turkey, Morocco and Holland, and the French looking on with interest, the English Armada, with Sir Francis Drake as its admiral and Sir John Norris as commander-in-chief of the land forces, on Queen Elizabeth’s instructions, was to assist the people of Portugal to rebel against their Spanish overlords, and to place on the throne Don Antonio, Prior of Crato, as King Antony the First of Portugal.That was the plan, and on the 28th of April 1589 the fleet set sail.A note about the cover illustrations:The background shows 16th century Lisbon with the River Tagus in the foreground, the portraits are of the main participants, Queen Elizabeth I of England, King Philip II of Spain, Sir John Norris, Sir Francis Drake, and in the centre, Don Antonio, Prior of Crato.
£7.99 -
Lakewood
In March 1926, Sam and Sally received a letter from a lawyer inviting them to attend an urgent meeting. They were shocked to find they had been left a thousand-acre estate. The mystery was that they had never met the man who bequeathed them the estate known as Lakewood, and that his son had been disinherited.The estate was deserted when they first visited it, since all the staff had been dismissed, but Sam and Sally resolved to try to rebuild it. The mystery as to why they had been left the estate is gradually revealed. Whilst struggling to run the estate, they met characters such as Rudge, their handyman; Tansy, the visiting gypsy; Agatha, the village witch who sold herbal cures; and Joe Button, who led a mysterious double life.Their optimism was shattered when they received a summons; the son was challenging the will. The stressful but sometimes humorous proceedings would determine whether they would be able to continue rebuilding the estate or be ruined. With everything at stake, Sam and Sally must navigate the complex web of secrets and alliances surrounding Lakewood to uncover the truth behind their inheritance and secure their future at the estate.
£10.39