New Releases
-
Star of Destiny
Flavius Septimus, the commander of the Sepphoris garrison in Galilee, harbors a dark secret that casts a shadow over the lives of his son, Linus Flavian, and Maria of Magdala. In these novels, Linus, Maria, and Joshua, the Biblical Jesus, are born under a mysterious star in a world steeped in superstition and intrigue. As the Jewish Temple hierarchy, the Herodian dynasty, and the Romans vie for power in tumultuous first-century Judea, their adolescent lives unfold, intertwined with personal destinies shaped by the beliefs surrounding their births under that enigmatic star.
“In providing historical, economic, and religious details, Peter Longley builds a bridge between spiritual divinity and traditional Christianity. Finally, it’s a relief to find a theologian that makes sense of the Bible and its many translations!”
– Jeanette Parker, USA“Longley blends a fantastic mixture of historical and fictional figures and events to narrate the early lives of Joshua, (also known as Jesus of Nazareth,) Maria, (also known as Mary Magdalene,) and Linus Flavius, (the fictitious son of a high-ranking Roman official.) Using simple, effective prose, Longley tells an engaging tale that offers plausible explanations of those well-known stories of the miraculous, such as the virgin birth and the turning of water into wine. Longley tells an intriguing story in a setting that is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.”
– Sacramento and San Francisco Book Reviews, USA“Longley’s feeling for the Roman and Jewish point of view is superb.”
– Dorothy Thompson, Scotland“I very much enjoy your interpretation of the life of Jesus and feel it is much more logical than the accepted version. I have always had a fascination with Mary Magdalene and her life as well. I found this book to be very interesting. Nothing I have read on Mary Magdalene has had the same sort of story line including that of her mother.”
– Cheryl Huffman, USA£15.99 -
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?
£16.99 -
In Deep & Shallow Water
Every individual, whether humble or powerful, shapes the world into which they are born. Imagine stepping into a bygone era with no chance of return, where a single variable alters the future forever. In this tale, ghosts are not mere spectres but real people existing in the same space at different times, or perhaps guardians of time itself. The allure of unlocking the secrets of time travel is irresistible. But can a woman, especially one who is dead, be trusted with such profound mysteries?
£6.99 -
75 Men, A Shipwreck and Me
Seventy-Five Men, A Shipwreck and Me is the true story of a daring race to recover a treasure trove of silver from a torpedoed wreck lying one-and-a-half miles beneath the Indian Ocean. The quest unites seventy-five seasoned seafarers, each skilled in navigating the ocean’s mysteries. However, they face an unexpected challenge: adapting to Catherine, an English woman aboard their converted drill ship.
“Catherine Bailey’s true story of a salvage expedition to the Indian Ocean is a vivid account of her own experience aboard a salvage vessel, the only woman in a large crew of hard men hungry to locate a vast fortune of sunken treasure. Told with energy, wit and unflappable composure, Bailey’s account of the voyage is by turns exhilarating, comic and fraught with tension. A marvellous account of an extraordinary adventure.”
– Patrick McGrath, author of Asylum and Martha Peake.
£9.99 -
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.
£7.99 -
The Little Odds
Hold on to your hats… here comes a roller-coaster, magical, mystical, and hilarious adventure for children of all ages. Little Odd lives happily on Cloud Ninety-Nine-a-Hundred, until one day, an accidental roll sends Little Odd tumbling to Earth.
Completely clueless and lost, Little Odd soon gathers a motley crew of misfits and outcasts. Together, they embark on a madcap journey through The Dump, The Land of Wonder, the Pits of Despair, the Underworld, and finally, a grand finale of fun and festivities.
The Little Odds Trilogy celebrates the joy of letting your imagination run wild while delivering serious messages about climate change, protecting our beautiful planet, and treating everyone with kindness and compassion. It is a whimsical tale about humanity that is truly like nothing on earth. Honestly.
£11.99 -
Nature Rules!
Stanley, a typical schoolboy, learns that nature has a playful but serious side. Each time he litters, animals like a cheeky squirrel and a wise owl teach him lessons in hilarious ways. From banana peels to eagle droppings, Stanley faces nature’s humorous wrath. These antics lead him to realize the importance of keeping the environment clean. Nature Rules! is a charming and educational tale by Lee Graham that blends humour and adventure, showing young readers the impact of their actions on the world around them.
£8.99 -
Heavy Luggage
“My brother Mark and I wake in the night to the sound of gunfire... The open window, with its mosquito-netting casement, allows us to hear male voices speaking outside, hushed and urgent. Then another volley of shots and bullets spray the side of the house. There is a soft thud against the wall above the bed on the opposite side of the room, where a few minutes earlier my brother had been sleeping. At the same time, a loud metallic twang outside is followed by the frightened bray of a donkey. Our donkey!”
Whether caught in a war zone in Lebanon, living in a castle in Hong Kong, or coping with extreme heat in a remote Arabian outpost, such experiences were normality for Philippa and her brother. Thought-provoking, humorous and poignant, Heavy Luggage is the extraordinary story of their adventure-filled childhood in the 1950s and 60s as they and their parents travelled on troop ships with the British Army to some of the remotest places on the globe.
Offering a glimpse into a bygone era towards the end of British Colonialism, when military families followed the Drum to wherever they were posted, Philippa and Mark take us on a personal voyage, exploring their unconventional upbringing. Their parents’ and grandparents’ similarly remarkable life stories are also woven into this unique memoir that examines a family legacy shaped by history.
£8.99 -
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.
£8.99 -
The Book of the Dead
This is the tale of Aria, an eighteen-year-old street urchin who survives day-to-day using her charms and street smarts. After stealing a loaf of bread from a baker, she narrowly escapes his wrath by fleeing to the rooftops of the city. There, she inadvertently overhears a conversation between a city guard and the shadow wizard Malachi. As Malachi attempts to flee using a teleport spell, the guard offers him an audience with King Orginald, who might be able to help him.
Intrigued, Malachi agrees, and Aria, familiar with the royal castle from her childhood forays in search of food, decides to follow him. She ends up on a balcony, where she overhears Malachi’s conversation with King Orginald. Aria learns about the Book of the Dead and discovers that Malachi has stolen it from the royal treasury.
Revealing her presence, Aria interrupts their conversation and offers her assistance in uncovering the secrets of the book. This marks the beginning of Aria’s adventure.
£9.99 -
The Religious Proclivities of Man
In the quest for meaning and purpose, humanity has long sought solace in religious beliefs and mystical practices. However, for those who find the concept of an omnipotent, external God difficult to accept or the idea of an afterlife questionable, this book offers a fresh perspective. Without detracting from conventional religion, the author explores an alternative spiritual path for sceptics, the uncommitted, and those who identify as atheist or agnostic.
Delving into the origin and nature of life, the book proposes thought-provoking views on the essence of God and the possibility of life after death. It presents a gospel rooted in the realities of nature, drawing parallels with the beliefs of the Australian Aborigines, whose religion is uniquely intertwined with the natural world.
This book invites readers to consider a spiritual framework that aligns with their observations and experiences, offering a compelling alternative for those seeking a deeper understanding of existence beyond traditional religious doctrines.
£8.99 -
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?
£15.99