Search results for ""forever""

A selection of insights into the relationship between men and women Have you wondered: Why women are more sympathetic than men toward O. J. Simpson? Why women were no more supportive of the Equal Rights Amendment than men? Why women are no more likely than men to support a female political candidate? Why women are no more likely than men to embrace feminism—a movement by, about, and for women? Why some women stay with men who abuse them? Loving to Survive addresses just these issues and poses a surprising answer. Likening women's situation to that of hostages, Dee L. R. Graham and her co- authors argue that women bond with men and adopt men's perspective in an effort to escape the threat of men's violence against them. Dee Graham's announcement, in 1991, of her research on male-female bonding was immediately followed by a national firestorm of media interest. Her startling and provocative conclusion was covered in dozens of national newspapers and heatedly debated. In Loving to Survive, Graham provides us with a complete account of her remarkable insights into relationships between men and women. In 1973, three women and one man were held hostage in one of the largest banks in Stockholm by two ex-convicts. These two men threatened their lives, but also showed them kindness. Over the course of the long ordeal, the hostages came to identify with their captors, developing an emotional bond with them. They began to perceive the police, their prospective liberators, as their enemies, and their captors as their friends, as a source of security. This seemingly bizarre reaction to captivity, in which the hostages and captors mutually bond to one another, has been documented in other cases as well, and has become widely known as Stockholm Syndrome. The authors of this book take this syndrome as their starting point to develop a new way of looking at male-female relationships. Loving to Survive considers men's violence against women as crucial to understanding women's current psychology. Men's violence creates ever-present, and therefore often unrecognized, terror in women. This terror is often experienced as a fear for any woman of rape by any man or as a fear of making any man angry. They propose that women's current psychology is actually a psychology of women under conditions of captivitythat is, under conditions of terror caused by male violence against women. Therefore, women's responses to men, and to male violence, resemble hostages' responses to captors. Loving to Survive explores women's bonding to men as it relates to men's violence against women. It proposes that, like hostages who work to placate their captors lest they kill them, women work to please men, and from this springs women's femininity. Femininity describes a set of behaviors that please men because they communicate a woman's acceptance of her subordinate status. Thus, feminine behaviors are, in essence, survival strategies. Like hostages who bond to their captors, women bond to men in an effort to survive. This is a book that will forever change the way we look at male-female relationships and women's lives.

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THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE 'QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) 'Neat and startling . . . P. D. James is simply a wonderful writer.' New York Times'A totally absorbing book that is beautifully written. The plot as always hooks you in and P. D. James's command of language is beguiling. One of those books you want to keep forever.' 5* reader review 'Excellent: a genuine page-turner.' 5* reader reviewPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________Adam Dalgliesh has never failed to solve a case - yet. A piercing scream shatters the evening calm, bringing Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh hurrying to the Steen Psychiatric Clinic, where he discovers the body of a woman sprawled on the basement floor, a chisel through her heart.The building was locked, and no-one has been able to enter or leave since the murder, so it seems to Dalgliesh that the killer must be one of the shocked group waiting to meet him. But he quickly discovers an intricate web of lies and grudges among both patients and staff which threatens to derail the investigation. And as Dalgliesh works to uncover the truth, the murderer is preparing to strike again . . . __________________________________________________________________________________ 'Another belter from P. D. James. With stunning prose and the brilliant character of Dalgliesh at the helm, it's another winner.' 5* reader review'A great whodunnit and I also love the social history as this was written/published circa 1963. Defo recommend.' 5* reader review'Highly recommended.' Daily Telegraph**Now a major Channel 5 series**__________________________________________________________________________________READERS LOVE THE ADAM DALGLEISH SERIES:'Adam Dalgleish is one of the best characters in modern detective fiction.' 5* reader review'If you are not already an Adam Dalgliesh fan, I urge you to become one . . . James can describe a scene or delineate a character with precision and depth, like no other writer I have read . . . I usually stay up all night to read a P. D. James novel once I start one.' 5* reader review'I would never give less than 5 stars to any P. D. James book. She is one of a kind, always constant, always wonderful writing, always great characters, and always a good mystery that you cannot put down.' 5* reader review'P. D. James writes mysteries for ordinary people. Her characters are relatable and her hero is dynamic. But don't expect cell phones or computers. Her stories are strictly old school, which is what I love about them.' 5* reader review'Crime writing at its very best!' 5* reader reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:'A legend.' VAL MCDERMID'Masterful.' MICK HERRON'James manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' THE TIMES'One of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.' MARI HANNAH'There are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.' SPECTATOR'P. D. James [was] simply a wonderful writer.' NEW YORK TIMES'The queen of English crime.' GUARDIAN

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'Tense, fast-moving and bloody. Broadfoot's best yet' Mason Cross'A true rising star of crime fiction' Ian Rankin'Beautifully crafted . . . There's no filler, no exposition, just action, dialogue and layering of tension that'll hold you breathless until the very end' Helen Fields How far would you go to find the truth?After more than a decade of being in prison for the brutal murder two Stirling University students, Colin Sanderson has been released after his conviction was found to be unsafe. Returning home to a small village not far from Stirling, Sanderson refuses police protection, even in the face of a death threat. But the PR firm that has scooped him up to sell his story does know of a protection expert in Stirling. They want Connor Fraser.Connor reluctantly takes the assignment, partly as a favour to DCI Malcolm Ford, who is none too keen to have Sanderson on the loose, particularly as he was involved in the original investigation that saw him imprisoned. When a body is found, mutilated in the same way as Sanderson's victims were, all eyes fall on the released man. But how can he be the killer when Connor's own security detail gives him an alibi?As Connor races to uncover the truth, he is forced to confront not only Sanderson's past but his own, and a secret that could change his life forever.-----Praise for Neil Broadfoot: 'Wonderfully grisly and grim, and a cracking pace' James Oswald'A frantic, pacy read with a compelling hero' Steve Cavanagh'Broadfoot is here, and he's ready to sit at the table with some of the finest crime writers Scottish fiction has to offer' Russel D. McLean'Crisp dialogue, characters you believe and a prose style that brings you back for more . . . a fine addition to a growing roster of noir titles with a tartan tinge' Douglas Skelton'This is Broadfoot's best to date, a thriller that delivers the thrills: energetic, breathlessly paceyand keeping you guessing till the end' Craig Russell'Neil Broadfoot hits the ground running and doesn't stop. With the very beating heart of Scotland at its core, your heart too will race as you reach the jaw dropping conclusion of this brilliant thriller. First class!' Denil Meyrick'A deliciously twisty thriller that never lets up the pace. Thrills, spills, chills and kills' Donna Moore'An explosive, gripping page-turner with dark and utterly twisted murders. Simply brilliant!' Danielle Ramsay'An atmospheric, twisty and explosive start to a new series by one of the masters of Scottish fiction. Get your wee mitts on it' Angela Clarke'No Man's Land is a stunning, fast-paced, multi-layered thriller. Disturbing political unrest and psychological horror written with great confidence by Neil Broadfoot, who has one hand on Ian Rankin's crown as the king of Scottish crime' Michael Wood'[A] gritty and fast-moving tale of shifting loyalties set against the backdrop of Scottish and Irish politics' Nick Quantrill'Definitely a must read for all lovers of Tartan Noir: or anyone else who simply wants to enjoy a compelling tale' Undiscovered Scotland

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The one book you need when considering a move. "Our homeowners are always asking us: Should I stay or should I go? This book helps you answer that question and move on from there, step by step. Everything starts at home, as we like to say. Home is where you start every day of every chapter in your life. With Wise Moves, you can make it good, safe, secure, and yours forever." --Drew and Jonathan Scott, HGTV's Property Brothers, editorial directors of Reveal magazine Considering a move? This easy-to-use guide helps you make the best choice for you, whatever stage you are in. Should you stay put? Would a few inexpensive renovations make your home the home of a lifetime? If you need a little help at home, where can you find it? Or should you move? And if so, where? And how to pay for it all? Topics covered include: Fitting your home to your needs Downsizing to rental apartments, condos, and coops Choosing independent living and active adult communities Finding quality assisted living and memory care Getting the best nursing care Buying second homes Deciding whether timeshares are worth it Moving abroad The authors, experts in the field who also have a broad range of personal experience, provide checklists in each chapter to help you discern your next steps and walk you gently through the process. "Everyone I know seems to be talking about downsizing or where to move next, yet there are so many considerations when weighing the rest of your life. This comprehensive book organizes everything you need to know, from aging in place, independent living, and assisted living facilities to paying for it all, with practical information and checklists to help your decision making. This is the book I've been waiting for someone to write." --Lee Woodruff, journalist, bestselling author, and cofounder of the Bob Woodruff Foundation for injured veterans "Cut the medical jargon, cut the legalese, cut the stereotypes and give us a map--clear and comprehensive--and a compass. That’s what this Wise Moves accomplishes, thanks to the vast experience and acumen of its two authors. Hurme and Frolik know their stuff and know how to equip you with smart tools for choosing or creating the right environment for your loved one’s or your own later years." --Charlie Sabatino, Director, ABA Commission on Law and Aging “A practical book filled with useful information. An invaluable resource for older Americans thinking about a move to a different home or locale.” --David English, Former Chair, ABA Commission on Law and Aging "So many people wait to plan a move to a senior living community until they're 'ready.' Unfortunately, by then, it's often too late. They make decisions in the midst of a crisis and miss the opportunity to live in an environment that will support their well-being. This book provides tools for proactively assessing what’s important in deciding your future." --Jill Vitale-Aussem, CEO of The Eden Alternative and author of AARP's Disrupting the Status Quo of Aging: A Mindshift

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In the first book on this tragic event, 4:09:43, Hal Higdon, a contributing editor at Runner’s World, tells the tale of the Boston Marathon bombings. The book’s title refers to the numbers on the finish-line clock when the first bomb exploded. In 4:09:43, Higdon views Boston 2013 through the eyes of those running the race. You will meet George, a runner from Athens, birthplace of the modern marathon, who at sunrise joins the eerie march of silent runners, all aimed at their appointments in Hopkinton, where the marathon starts. You will meet Michele, who at age 2 helped her mother hand water to runners, who first ran the marathon while a student at Wellesley College, and who decided to run Boston again mainly because her daughter Shannon was now a student at Boston University. You will meet Tracy, caught on Boylston Street between the two explosions, running for her life. You will meet Heather, a Canadian, who limped into the Medical Tent with bloody socks from blisters, soon to realize that worse things exist than losing a toenail. In what may be a first, Hal Higdon used social media in writing 4:09:43. Sunday, not yet expecting what might happen the next day, Higdon posted a good-luck message on his popular Facebook page. “Perfect weather,” the author predicted. “A ‘no-excuses’ day.” Within minutes, runners in Boston responded. Neil suggested that he was “chilling before the carb-a-thon continues.” Christy boasted from her hotel room: “Bring it!” Then, the explosions on Monday! Like all runners, Higdon wondered whether marathoners would ever feel safe again. Beginning Tuesday, runners told him. They began blogging on the Internet, posting to his Facebook page, offering links to their stories, so very similar, but also so very different. Over the next several hours, days, and weeks, Higdon collected the tales of nearly 75 runners who were there, whose lives forever would be shadowed by the bombs on Boylston Street. In 4:09:43, Higdon presents these stories, condensing and integrating them into a smooth-flowing narrative that begins with runners boarding the buses at Boston Common, continues with the wait at the Athletes’ Village in Hopkinton, and flows through eight separate towns. The story does not end until the 23,000 participants encounter the terror on Boylston Street. “These are not 75 separate stories,” says Higdon. “This is one story told as it might have been by a single runner with 75 pairs of eyes.” One warning about reading 4:09:43: You will cry. But you will laugh, too, because for most of those who covered the 26 miles 385 yards from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, this was a joyous journey, albeit one that ended in tragedy. This is a book as much about the race and the runners in the race as it is about a terrorist attack. In future years as people look back on the Boston Marathon bombings, 4:09:43 will be the book that everyone will need to have read.

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HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The first book in the award-winning, international hit fantasy adventure series for children age 9+, and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023! 'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10 Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . . Get ready for unlikely HEROES, elemental MAGIC, sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and FEROCIOUS UNICORNS, in this EPIC ADVENTURE series that will have your heart soaring.THE EPIC ADVENTURE CONTINUES . . . Skandar and the Phantom Rider is out now! And be one of the first to read the highly-anticipated third story, coming in April 2024. Pre-order now!Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief: ‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series ‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey ‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear ‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn ‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

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A selection of insights into the relationship between men and women Have you wondered: Why women are more sympathetic than men toward O. J. Simpson? Why women were no more supportive of the Equal Rights Amendment than men? Why women are no more likely than men to support a female political candidate? Why women are no more likely than men to embrace feminism—a movement by, about, and for women? Why some women stay with men who abuse them? Loving to Survive addresses just these issues and poses a surprising answer. Likening women's situation to that of hostages, Dee L. R. Graham and her co- authors argue that women bond with men and adopt men's perspective in an effort to escape the threat of men's violence against them. Dee Graham's announcement, in 1991, of her research on male-female bonding was immediately followed by a national firestorm of media interest. Her startling and provocative conclusion was covered in dozens of national newspapers and heatedly debated. In Loving to Survive, Graham provides us with a complete account of her remarkable insights into relationships between men and women. In 1973, three women and one man were held hostage in one of the largest banks in Stockholm by two ex-convicts. These two men threatened their lives, but also showed them kindness. Over the course of the long ordeal, the hostages came to identify with their captors, developing an emotional bond with them. They began to perceive the police, their prospective liberators, as their enemies, and their captors as their friends, as a source of security. This seemingly bizarre reaction to captivity, in which the hostages and captors mutually bond to one another, has been documented in other cases as well, and has become widely known as Stockholm Syndrome. The authors of this book take this syndrome as their starting point to develop a new way of looking at male-female relationships. Loving to Survive considers men's violence against women as crucial to understanding women's current psychology. Men's violence creates ever-present, and therefore often unrecognized, terror in women. This terror is often experienced as a fear for any woman of rape by any man or as a fear of making any man angry. They propose that women's current psychology is actually a psychology of women under conditions of captivitythat is, under conditions of terror caused by male violence against women. Therefore, women's responses to men, and to male violence, resemble hostages' responses to captors. Loving to Survive explores women's bonding to men as it relates to men's violence against women. It proposes that, like hostages who work to placate their captors lest they kill them, women work to please men, and from this springs women's femininity. Femininity describes a set of behaviors that please men because they communicate a woman's acceptance of her subordinate status. Thus, feminine behaviors are, in essence, survival strategies. Like hostages who bond to their captors, women bond to men in an effort to survive. This is a book that will forever change the way we look at male-female relationships and women's lives.

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"Die, die the hand is mine, to be human, is to live your life in the blind." “There was mud in my mouth, my knees dripped blood onto the uneven pavement—little spatters of crimson rain. I bit down on my fist. I wouldn't cry, it would only distract me from running." "Ahead of me, a little girl is sleeping in the alley, her hand clenched around a bundle of forget-me-nots. The moonlight spilling on her pale skin turns her from innocent to wraith. Two days ago, I was her, a forgotten face in a sea of the living dead—yet I was different. At night I would shed my human skin and go back to my own kind. Go back to my world with wings of light to carry me through the sky, where no element, flame or weapon forged could claim my life." "That was two nights ago, I am a fairy no longer. Tonight, I am human...and if they catch me, I will die.” On the day the god Cronus was born, it is said, the earth quaked and screamed at its core. The cliffs bordering the sea crashed together, flames shot into the open sky. Each flame carried a Seelie fairy. In their blood flowed the magic of the old worlds and the fire of immorality. The Unseelie were formed in the ashes that fell to the ground, they carried no flame and could die. The ruling gods struck an accord with the Unseelie who protested their fate: Every hundred years, a Seelie fairy must be human for three days, in that time, the Unseelie could hunt their immortal flame, and gods would close their eyes. A princess of firelight and next in line for the Seelie throne, Selyara is a girl who wants only freedom. Given no protection, she must face three days as a human, alone. Lavara sits on the Seelie throne as queen regent until Selyara has completed and survived her human trial. If Selyara dies, Lavara will take the throne. On the first eve of her humanity, Selyara stands under the moon, trying to accept the fact that, like so many ancestors before her, she may not survive the hunt. Brought up in the ways of the Unseelie and trained as a blood hunter, Lore captures the fairy named Selyara. Mystified and drawn to the girl with the fire-red hair, he watches her trade her throne for the promise of a friend’s life. Faced with loyalty to his own queen and betraying everything he knows, Lore must give his sword to a kingdom he has always opposed, and a strange, magical girl—fast becoming more precious to him than any immortal fire. Side by side, Selyara, and Lore unlock dark secrets to break a blood promise that will change their stars forever. Together, they fall into a world of fairytales and all the Theories of Magic. JP Roth & Sabine Rich’s Theory of Magic graphic novel holds seven chapters of full color art, drawn and colored by Sabine Rich, a cover gallery as well as sketch and layout pages.

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In Working Class Heroines acclaimed historian Kevin C. Kearns brings us the voices of the forgotten women of Dublin’s tenements. If it weren’t for his work the lives of these everyday heroines would be lost forever. Based on 30 years of research spent interviewing and recording the life stories of the working-class women of Dublin, it covers the squalid tenement days of the early 1900s, through the mid-century decades of ‘slumland’ block flats, and into the 1970s when deadly drugs infiltrated poor neighbourhoods, terrifying mothers and stealing away their children. What emerges is an intimate and poignant celebration of the mammies and grannies who held the fabric of family life in an environment of hardship and, often, cruelty. Through vivid tales of how they coped with grinding poverty, huge families, pitiless landlords, the oppressive Church, dictatorial priests, feckless and often abusive husbands, these remarkable women shine with astonishing dignity, wit, pride and a resilient spirit, despite their struggles. Working Class Heroines gives voice and pays tribute to the long silent, unsung heroines who were the indispensable caretakers of both family and community, and remains one of the most important Irish feminist documents of our times. “The ordinary woman has long been absent from our national narrative. I think we should be grateful that Working Class Heroines exists, and we can benefit now from listening to these voices.’ Ellen Coyne, The Sunday Times “Those of us who know and love Dublin owe Kearns a huge debt". Roddy Doyle Praise for Kevin Kearns’ other unique oral histories of Dublin The Legendary “Lugs” Branigan: Ireland’s Most Famed Garda ‘A revealing portrait not just of a passionate and dedicated public figure, but also of a society undergoing great and constant change.’ The Irish Independent Ireland’s Arctic Siege: The Big Freeze of 1947 This story might have come from some Polar Expedition. It is almost unbelievable that such conditions could exist in Ireland.’ The Irish Times The Bombing of Dublin’s North Strand, 1941: The Untold Story ‘What shines through is the courage and goodness of ordinary people, untrained for such catastrophe, in their attempts to save and help their fellow Dubliners.’ The Irish Times Dublin Tenement Life: An Oral History ‘Among the finest books ever written about Dublin.’ The Sunday Tribune ‘This is truly an admirable book, capturing echoes of a vanished world. It is only by reading this book that I was enabled to re-imagine the society which the respondents recalled to Kevin Kearns during what must have been many hundreds of hours of patient interviewing.’ The Irish Times ‘This book will long stand as the definitive social history of Ireland’s gulags, where the poor were herded together in conditions worse than animals and will hopefully serve as further inspiration to those who still campaign for decent housing for all our citizens.’ Joe Duffy ‘Those of us who know and love Dublin owe Kearns a huge debt.’ Roddy Doyle Dublin Voices: An Oral Folk History ‘This book is a goldmine of tiny details. The narrative voices that speak from every page of this book do so in an unfiltered language entirely their own.’ The Sunday Times

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'This brilliantly written and captivating story instantly drew us in and refused to let go. Fresh, funny and utterly fabulous, it’s the perfect holiday read' HeatMeet the residents of number 24 in the warm, witty and wonderful novel from bestselling author Juliet Ashton. When your marriage falls apart, the last place you'd want your husband to move to is downstairs. Unfortunately for Sarah, up in the eaves at number 24, her ex-husband now lives one floor beneath her with his new wife. Their happiness floats up through the floorboards, taunting her. A child psychologist, Sarah has picked up great sadness from the little girl, Una, who lives with her careworn mother three floors below, but is Sarah emotionally equipped to reach out? The Spring brings a new couple to the house. Jane and Tom's zest for life revives the flagging spirits, and Sarah can't deny the instant attraction to handsome Tom. Having seen at first hand what infidelity does to people, she'll never act on it ... but the air fizzes with potential. The sunshine doesn't reach every corner of number 24, however. Elderly Mavis, tucked away in the basement, has kept the world at bay for decades. She's about to find out that she can't hide forever. Juliet Ashton weaves a story of love, friendship and community that will move you to laughter and to tears. Think Cold Feet meets David Nicholls, with a dash of the joy of Jill Mansell added for good measure. 'This book delivered so much more than I expected. Emotion, laughs and mystery, I simply adored every minute of reading it' Netgalley reviewer 'Wow! Just a beautiful read, like a breath of fresh air. Very heart warming and easy to read. A great 5 Stars from me!' Netgalley reviewer 'This book is like wrapping yourself up in a blanket on the sofa and watching your favourite film. Warm, heart-felt and witty' Lara Marshall, Netgalley reviewer'The Woman at Number 24 is an absorbing story full of wonderful moments ...This was my first Juliet Ashton book to read and I really fell in love with her accurate, vivid and flowing writing' Netgalley reviewer 'This book was positively packed with intriguing storylines and plenty of twists and turns I did not see coming ... this was a really lovely story about community and seeing beauty in our fellow humans. Sarah was a truly genuine and caring character and I really enjoyed reading about her growing friendship with Mavis, her elderly neighbour. I really loved Jane as well- she added a special something to Number 24. This is the first Juliet Ashton book I have read and I will certainly be looking out for more books by this author!' Netgalley reviewer Praise for Juliet Ashton:'Funny, original and wise' KATIE FFORDE on The Valentine's Card ‘Gloriously and irresistibly romantic … It's like One Day with all the additional trials and tribulations of female friendship’ HANNAH BECKERMAN on These Days of Ours ‘Warm, witty and surprising’ Louise Candlish on These Days of Ours

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Investigating the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it."With First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat, Christopher Shaw makes a brilliant case for polishing the USPS up and letting it shine in the 21st century."—John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation and author of Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiteers: Accountability for Those Who Caused the Crisis"First Class is essential reading for all postal workers and for our allies who seek to defend and strengthen our public Postal Service."—Mark Dimondstein, President, American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIOThe fight over the future of the U.S. Postal Service is on. For years, corporate interests and political ideologues have pushed to remake the USPS, turning it from a public institution into a private business—and now, with mail-in voting playing a key role in local, state, and federal elections, the attacks have escalated. Leadership at the USPS has been handed over to special interests whose plan for the future includes higher postage costs, slower delivery times, and fewer post offices, policies that will inevitably weaken this invaluable public service and source of employment.Despite the general shift to digital communication, the vast majority of the American people—and small businesses—still rely heavily on the U.S. postal system, and many are rallying to defend it. First Class brings readers to the front lines of the struggle, explaining the various forces at work for and against a strong postal system, and presenting reasonable ideas for strengthening and expanding its capacity, services, and workforce. Emphasizing the essential role the USPS has played ever since Benjamin Franklin served as our first Postmaster General, author Christopher Shaw warns of the consequences for the country—and for our democracy—if we don’t win this fight.Praise for First Class:"Piece by piece, an essential national infrastructure is being dismantled without our consent. Shaw makes an eloquent case for why the post office is worth saving and why, for the sake of American democracy, it must be saved."—Steve Hutkins, founder/editor of Save the Post Office and Professor of English at New York University"The USPS is essential for a democratic American society; thank goodness we have this new book from Christopher W. Shaw explaining why."—Danny Caine, author of Save the USPS and owner of the Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS"Shaw's excellent analysis of the Postal Service and its vital role in American Democracy couldn't be more timely. … First Class should serve as a clarion call for Americans to halt the dismantling and to, instead, preserve and enhance the institution that can bind the nation together."—Ruth Y. Goldway, Retired Chair and Commissioner, U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, responsible for the Forever Stamps"In a time of community fracture and corporate predation, Shaw argues, a first-class post office of the future can bring communities together and offer exploitation-free banking and other services."—Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen

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With 1001 questions asking everything you never knew you didn’t know about yourself, this guided journal encourages exploration into the curious corners of yourself.This is Me can be an informative read for others or an informative writing journey for you. Broken up into 4 sections–About Me, A Little History, The Present is a Present, and Looking forward to the Future–these thoughtful questions flesh out every aspect of a person. Both reflective and entertaining, these questions offer a chance to delve into the depths of your soul or joke around with yourself in an insightful way. Use these answers to discover more about yourself, write an autobiography, or just pass the time with something other than doom scrolling. Check out the following prompts as a taste and see if they offer any insight into your innermost self. Have you ever had a second home? Is there an aspect of home it replicated? Or did this second home have something your first home didn’t? Do you remember the last time someone told you what your shortcomings were? Did you agree with them? Pick a random person and imagine what they would say are your shortcomings. Make a list of what you consider to be your worst habits. Then make a list of your best habits. Are there any habits that other people can view as both excellent and sinister? What is the one thing you’ve ever wanted but realized later on that you didn’t need it? How did you come to that realization? Prompts are thoughtful yet encourage brevity. Simple answers often yield the most interesting and thoughtful conclusions. Create and fully realize the best and most interesting version of yourself with these 1001 questions. With so much of our lives and contact going digital, the Creative Keepsakes journals offer an intimate way to nurture your connection with yourself and the people around you. An entertaining way to get off your screen, these guided and free-form journals are great for writers and artists alike. Each journal offers content around a different theme, including silly prompts for a laugh, random yet thoughtful questions, inspiration for art and composition, interactive prompts to learn about your heritage, and blank interiors on high-quality paper stock to use as your creative canvas. Beautifully designed and full of mindful prompts, channel your inspiration as you put pen (or pencil, or marker, or crayon!) to paper to learn more about yourself, your talents, and the people you love. Also in this Series: 3,001 Questions All About Me, 3,001 Would You Rather Questions, 3,001 This or That Questions, 301 Things to Draw, 301 Writing Ideas, Anti-Anxiety Journal, Complete the Drawing, Create a Poem, Create a Story, Create Comics: A Sketchbook, Design & Destroy, Forever Friends, Gratitude Journal, Inner Me, Inspired by Prayer, Internet Password Book, Mom & Me, My Family Story, My Father's Life, My Grandfather's Life, My Grandmother's Life, My Life Story, My Mother's Life, Our Love Story, Sermon Notes, Sketch - Large Black, Sketch - Large Kraft, Sketch - Medium Black, Sketch - Medium Kraft,Write - Medium Black, Write - Medium Black

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Kate O’Reilly loves a stroll down memory lane.Nowadays she’s a mother to Declan and Phoebe, has the semi-detached in suburbia and the dependable husband, Seamus – but when faced with a never-ending pile of laundry and new chin hairs sprouting overnight, no wonder she daydreams about the past.A time when the music was better (Girl Power forever!), her social circle was wider, Cool Britannia reigned supreme and only a penalty shootout stood between England reaching the finals of Euro ’96.So, when a freak electrical storm takes her back in time to 1996, Kate’s elated – this is her chance to discover what might have happened if she’d only done things a little bit differently in the Nineties.But as she relives her youth again, will Kate realise some things really are best left in the past? And will she ever be able to get back to the family she misses so much? Even if none of them know how to load the sodding dishwasher…A laugh-out-loud, relatable read for anyone who wishes they could take a holiday from adulting… fans of Why Mummy Drinks and Jane Fallon will love this!Previously published as A Mother Dimension, this has been extensively edited and rewritten.Readers are loving The Glory Years:‘A quick, easy and fun read that I adored…I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and it made me laugh.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader ReviewWow!...It completely exceeded all my expectations… a lot of twists and turns throughout the book which keeps you captivated’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I think pretty much everyone can relate to this book… I laughed out loud several times!’ Reader Review'This book had me turning pages without even realizing. It was so good!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Kate was such a fun relatable character…Very nostalgic and cute! I remember so much of the blasts from the past which was fun!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Adorable, heartwarming and inspiring.’ Reader Review‘It’s such a jovial, humorous and light-hearted book… Overall a fantastic read.’ Reader ReviewPraise for Mink Elliott:‘Nothing short of a delight… I would recommend this book if you are looking for a lighthearted and feel good read’ Reader Review‘So fun to read. It reminded me of Bridget Jones’ Diary (for 50 year olds!)…Highly recommend!’ Reader Review‘This book had me laughing because it is so relatable and down to earth…Within the first few pages, I found myself chuckling…Highly recommend this read.’ Reader Review‘Lighthearted and full of comedy…the story was relatable and enjoyable.’ Reader Review‘A really easy, feel good read which is particularly relatable for those of us of a certain age!!!’ Reader Review‘A brilliant, enjoyable and entertaining book that made me smile and laugh… I loved the humour and the likeable cast of characters. Highly recommended.’ Reader Review‘This book was hilarious…a great way to escape for a few hours.’ Reader Review

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She's starting over. And the real her is letting loose.From the author of the 100,000+ copy-selling rom-com, Love to Hate You! No one makes you laugh like Jo Watson!If you love by Mhairi McFarlane, Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Paige Toon, you'll LOVE Jo Watson - readers are raving about her glorious rom-coms!Readers are already WOWED by Just The Way I Am!'Without a doubt Jo Watson's best book so far, and I've almost read all of them''I have read ALL of Jo Watson's previous books and this is quite possibly my new favourite''An intricate and delicate romance with themes of loss, love, self discovery and a little bit of fate thrown in too!''A laugh-a-minute journey of self-discovery that was far too easy to read in one sitting''I loved, loved, loved this story!! I feel as though there aren't enough stars to give it''This was my first Jo Watson book and it will not be the last I have found my new fave author. 5 out of 5 stars from me, loved it'.................................................................................Has Fate given her a second chance?'Zoe' is having a very bad day. As if getting trapped in a faulty elevator wasn't bad enough, losing her memory has made it much worse. If there's one piece of luck, it's that the paramedic on the scene, Noah, is both kind and a handsome distraction... Now a completely blank canvas, with the help of Noah, 'Zoe' is excited to fill her world with colour, creativity and sweet and spicy food. She just knows from the tips of her toes, right to her fleek brows, that these things were all part of her make-up. But when her identity is traced, the life 'Zoe' was living before the accident bears no resemblance to that of the person she's convinced she is. What happened to make her world so narrow and colourless? And now she has the chance to start over, is it time to let the real Zoe out?.................................................................................It all started with a faulty elevator - don't miss Becca story in You, Me, Forever and Frankie's in Truly, Madly, Like Me!Readers are raving about Jo Watson's glorious rom-coms!'A hilarious, laugh-out-loud romance that is a breath of fresh air' 5* reader review'A masterclass in character development... This is truly a novel for the times we live in. I would highly recommend' 5* reader review'Another absolutely gorgeous read by one of my favourite authors...completely impossible to put down' 5* reader review'I loved this book. It was so funny and I really wish a movie could be made of it' 5* reader reviewLove funny, romantic stories? You don't want to miss Jo Watson:'The perfect choice for fans of romantic comedies' Gina's Bookshelf'It was amazing, it was hilarious' Rachel's Random Reads'A brilliant read from beginning to end' Hopeless Romantics'Sitting here open mouthed in disbelief at just how wonderful this book is' Rachel's Random Reads'A stunning heart-warming read' Donna's Book Blog

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Myth meets history in a blockbuster retelling of the Persian Wars from multi-award-winning author of Rubicon and Persian Fire Tom Holland, lavishly illustrated by Jason Cockcroft.“The Persians are coming…” Hearing these words, Gorgo of Sparta is plunged into a dangerous world of vengeful gods and invincible heroes. For a mighty empire threatens Athens, Sparta and all who stand in its path... Calling on the ancient power to transform into a wolf and the blood of Zeus that runs through her veins, Gorgo must lead her nation in one of history's greatest wars. Multi-award-winning author Tom Holland and acclaimed illustrator Jason Cockcroft boldly weave myth and history in this dramatic tale of Greeks and Gods.Gripping and powerful, this extraordinary illustrated novel will be treasured by readers young and old. Ideal for fans of Percy Jackson, Neil Gaiman and Kevin Crossley-Holland, and the mythical retellings of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker and Stephen Fry, this is a book to be read again and again."BREATHTAKING adventure on every page, and just the kind of detail, colour and vitality that young readers adore." STEPHEN FRY"A spectacularly illustrated account of the Persian Wars ... A MUST-HAVE for any child who loves Greek myths." THE SUNDAY TIMES“A RIP-ROARING, ADRENALINE-FILLED recounting of the infamous Persian wars [...] a gripping and educational volume. […] Gorgeously illustrated.” DAILY MAIL"SPECTACULAR... A tour de force for mythology and military history fans.” GUARDIAN"A GLORIOUS WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE through classical history ... a book that any child is likely to remember well into their later years." DAILY TELEGRAPH"A GLORIOUS mixture – of history, fiction and thrilling legend, with pictures to swim the Hellespont for." SEBASTIAN FAULKS"A clear contender for one of those totemic books whose memory you carry into adulthood. A TRIUMPH.” THE TIMES, CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK "AS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT AS IT IS ENTRANCING TO READ. Jason Cockcroft's illustrations are jaw-dropping, and Tom Holland's prose took me back to my own childhood introductions to these extraordinary mythological worlds in Roger Lancelyn Green's Tales of the Greek Heroes and Leon Garfield's and Charles Keeping's The God Beneath the Sea." FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE"A BEAUTIFUL, immersive work of narrative history to treasure forever." WATERSTONES“This TRULY EPIC adventure includes elements of ancient Greek myth and legend, and it is full of magic, mystery, danger, excitement and wonder. Strirking illustrations by Jason Cockcroft bring its ancient landscapes and heroic characters to life.” THE WEEK JUNIOR, BOOK OF THE WEEK"TERRIFIC ... has the feel of a contemporary classic." TONY BRADMAN, BOOKS FOR KEEPS"Tom Holland's masterly interweaving of myth, imagination and deep classical learning makes this an EXTRAOARDINARY treat ... Jason's illustrations are also MAGNIFICENT, packed with talent and sensitivity ... It reminded me of my own favourite childhood books of Greek myth and The Iliad." AMANDA CRAIG"Cockcroft’s illustrations are expectedly brilliant. DARK, BROODY AND MAGICAL – like the written material. […] A lovely introduction to both the legends and the legendary stories of the Persian Wars.” JUST IMAGINE

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'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Woman's HourIf you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you'll LOVE Glenda Young's 'amazing novels!' (ITV's This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall)'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My WeeklyWhat readers are saying about Glenda's dramatically powerful and romantic sagas of tragedy and triumph:'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review...........................................'Put me to work on the pit lane, would you? Is that all you think I'm worth?' When her mother dies in childbirth, Pearl Edwards is left in the care of her aunt, Annie Grafton. Annie loves Pearl like her own daughter but it isn't easy to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Annie knows the best way to supplement their meagre income is to walk the pit lane at night, looking for men willing to pay for her company. As Pearl grows older she is unable to remain ignorant of Annie's profession, despite her aunt's attempts to shield her. But when Pearl finds herself unexpectedly without work and their landlord raises the rent, it becomes clear they have few choices left and Annie is forced to ask Pearl the unthinkable. Rather than submit to life on the pit lane, Pearl runs away. She has nothing and nowhere to go, but Pearl is determined to survive on her own terms..............................................Praise for Glenda Young:'The feel of the story is totally authentic... Her heroine in the grand Cookson tradition is Pearl... Inspirationally delightful' Peterborough Evening Telegraph 'I really enjoyed Glenda's novel. It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere...a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga and I loved Meg; she's such a strong and believable character. A fantastic debut' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life and Meg is a likeable, loving heroine for whom the reader roots from start to finish' Jenny Holmes 'I found it difficult to believe that this was a debut novel, as "brilliant" was the word in my mind when I reached the end. I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I've read' Margaret KaineLook out for all of Glenda's compelling sagas - Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child, Pearl of Pit Lane, The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon, The Paper Mill Girl and The Miner's Lass - out now!Plus, Glenda has launched a brand-new cosy-crime mystery series - don't miss Murder at the Seaview Hotel and Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel - out now!

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'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Woman's HourDiscover the engaging new trilogy from the author of THE SIXPENNY ORPHAN, about three women working in a WWI toffee factory in the North-East!In 1915 three women start work at a toffee factory in the market town of Chester-le-Street, Durham.Anne works for the enigmatic owner Mr Jack. She is highly efficient and whips Mr Jack's disorganised office - and Mr Jack himself - into shape. However, behind her business-like façade, Anne hides a heart-breaking secret.Elsie is feisty, fun and enjoys a good time. However, her gadabout ways get her into trouble when she falls for the wrong man in the sugar-boiling room. And there's dependable Hetty, who's set to marry her boyfriend when he returns from the war. But when Hetty is sent on an errand by the toffee factory boss, her life changes in ways she could never imagine and a whole new world opens up.The toffee factory girls begin as strangers before forging a close bond of friendship and trust. And, as the war rages on, they help each other cope through the difficult times ahead.The Toffee Factory Girls is a heart-warming novel about love, friendship, secrets, war . . . and toffee! It is the first in a trilogy from hugely popular author Glenda Young - 'such a good writer, she's fantastic!' Woman's Hour'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Woman's Hour'A gripping saga' People's Friend'Using her local knowledge and her eye for human frailty, Young creates a believable and richly detailed world in this emotive story full of hardship, kinship and resilience, and with a memorable cast of beautifully drawn characters' Lancashire Evening Post'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere . . . a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell'I really enjoyed . . . It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin'All the ingredients for a perfect saga' Emma Hornby'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life' Jenny Holmes'The feel of the story is totally authentic . . . Her heroine in the grand Cookson tradition . . . Inspirationally delightful' Peterborough Evening TelegraphWhat readers are saying about Glenda's heartwrenching sagas:'Definitely an author not to be missed when it comes to family sagas' The Book Magnet'Writes superb historical fiction that bring the era alive. Her books are unbeatable and unputdownable' Ginger Book Geek'The perfectly imperfect, human nature of Glenda Young's characters are what keeps her readership hooked' Clyde's Corner'Gritty, compelling and full of heart . . an exceptional saga' Bookish Jottings'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader reviewLove Glenda's sagas? Don't miss her cosy crime mystery series starring Helen Dexter and her trusty greyhound, Suki, starting with Murder at the Seaview Hotel, Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel and Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel, out now!

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HEROES AND UNICORNS AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. The first book in the award-winning, international hit fantasy adventure series for children age 9+, and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn. Give the gift of adventure this Christmas!WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023! 'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.' – The Times Children's Book of the Week‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland ‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns‘The best book I’ve ever read.’ – Patrick, age 10 Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero. But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . . Get ready for unlikely HEROES, elemental MAGIC, sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and FEROCIOUS UNICORNS, in this EPIC ADVENTURE series that will have your heart soaring.THE EPIC ADVENTURE CONTINUES . . . Skandar and the Phantom Rider is out now! And be one of the first to read the highly-anticipated third story, coming in April 2024. Pre-order now!Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief: ‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series ‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey ‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear ‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn ‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' – The Sunday Times

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Readers LOVE One Puzzling Afternoon:'I loved it. I loved it. I loved it''Wow . . . one of my books of the year''A beautiful and touching novel that will completely grab you''Edie Green is one special character & I think I'll remember her for a long time yet''What a beautiful, emotional, intriguing, touching novel''I loved this and finished it in one sitting. It truly is glorious'A captivating mystery perfect for fans of Joanna Cannon and Elizabeth is Missing. On a suburban street filled with secrets, 84 year old Edie Green must look back into the past to discover what happened to her friend Lucy, who went missing years before . . .Selected as an Indie Book of the Month..It is 1951, and at number six Sycamore Street fifteen-year-old Edie Green is lonely. Living alone with her eccentric mother - who conducts seances for the local Ludthorpe community - she is desperate for something to shake her from her dull, isolated life.When the popular, pretty Lucy Theddle befriends Edie, she thinks all her troubles are over. But Lucy has a secret, one Edie is not certain she should keep . . .Then Lucy goes missing.2018. Edie is eighty-two and still living in Ludthorpe. When one day she glimpses Lucy Theddle, still looking the same as she did at fifteen, her family write it off as one of her many mix ups. There's a lot Edie gets confused about these days. A lot she finds difficult to remember. But what she does know is this: she must find out what happened to Lucy, all those years ago . . .'A captivating and poignant book, I was completely hooked. You can't help but fall for Edie' Marianne Cronin, author of 100 Years of Lenni and Margot'This is such a delicate web of a book, a mystery deftly woven with tension and compassion. Edie is a heartbreaking figure, struggling to catch her last memories before they're blown away forever - her quest/plight is absorbing and extremely poignant' Beth Morrey, author of Saving Missy'Completely captivating. A real page-turner' Louise Hare'Marvellous . . . a special gem of a book, a perfectly executed double timeline mystery with a twist you don't see coming' Inga Vesper, author of The Long, Long Afternoon'Beautifully written . . . the perfect book for lovers of Elizabeth Is Missing, but has its own distinct voice and charm' Jo Leevers, author of Tell Me How This Ends'An uplifting, bittersweet story with a page-turning mystery at its heart . . . I was drawn in to Edie's world from the very first page. Beautifully atmospheric and endearing'' Freya Sampson'An intriguing, unsettling mystery told over a dual timeframe by one of the most endearing lead characters you'll come across this year. Utterly compelling, darkly unnerving and a joyful masterclass in storytelling, Emily Critchley's debut adult novel hits the mark on so many levels' LoveReading Debut of the Month'This truly unique story blends past and present in a way that feels real. Great atmosphere and even better characters' Lucy Gilmore, author of The Lonely Hearts Book Club

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Single-mother Fran returns to her sleepy hometown to care for her dying father when a devastating bush fire breaks out. A heartbreaking, nail-biting disaster-noir thriller from the bestselling author of The Cry and Worst Case Scenario. ‘Urgent, angry, absolutely terrifying, yet suffused with the humanity and humour you expect from a Helen Fitzgerald novel’ Erin Kelly ‘Tantalisingly powerful’ The Times ‘Ash Mountain is the author at her masterly best … I loved it!’ Louise Candlish ________________ Fran hates her hometown, and she thought she’d escaped. But her father is ill, and needs care. Her relationship is over, and she hates her dead-end job in the city, anyway. She returns home to nurse her dying father, her distant teenage daughter in tow for the weekends. There, in the sleepy town of Ash Mountain, childhood memories prick at her fragile self-esteem, she falls in love for the first time, and her demanding dad tests her patience, all in the unbearable heat of an Australian summer. As past friendships and rivalries are renewed, and new ones forged, Fran’s tumultuous home life is the least of her worries, when old crimes rear their heads and a devastating bushfire ravages the town and all of its inhabitants… Simultaneously a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life – and a woman and a land in crisis – and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever, Ash Mountain is a heart-breaking slice of domestic noir, and a disturbing disaster thriller that you will never forget… ________________ ‘A new novel from Helen Fitzgerald is always a major event, and Ash Mountain is magnificent’ Mark Billingham ‘There is plenty of human depravity in the plot but none of that is as terrifyingly overmastering as the fire’ Literary Review ‘Domestic life is rarely served up quite so dark as this – but that only makes you hungry for more’ The Sun ‘Dark, atmospheric and terrifying’ Ambrose Parry ‘Compelling’ Independent ‘A hugely entertaining writer, with lovingly constructed landscapes and so-real-you-can-actually-hear-it dialogue but the thing she does best of all is create a little warm and cosy microcosm of life, then throw in a bloody great firecracker of a detail that sends the whole thing off into a completely different direction’ Crime Fiction Lover Praise for Helen FitzGerald ***Worst Case Scenario was Shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020*** ‘The plotting is intricate and beautifully handled, and the narrative pace is absolutely breakneck … a wonderful, energetic, hard-hitting and deeply funny novel’ The Big Issue ‘The main character is one of the most extraordinary you’ll meet between the pages of a book’ Ian Rankin ‘A dark, comic masterpiece which manages to be both excruciatingly tense and laugh out loud funny at the same time’ Mark Edwards ‘The classic thriller gets a hell of a twist’ Heat ‘FitzGerald writes like a more focused Irvine Welsh or a less misogynist Philip Roth’ Daily Telegraph ‘Domestic life is rarely served up quite so dark as this – but that only makes you hungry for more’ The Sun

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The new TikTok-hit rom-com! Adored The Love Hypothesis? You won't want to miss A Brush with Love, the most sparkling rom-com of the year!Mazey Eddings returns next year with another unique and swoony rom-com starring Indira in The Plus One, and don't miss Lizzie Blake's Best Mistake out now!Readers are giving A Brush with Love ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ SHINING STARS!'A Brush with Love is going to be a TOP romance of 2022. Calling it. In January''Oh my TOOTH FAIRY!! This book was so much more than I expected and swept me off my feet' 'Swoony, steamy, adorable . . . Read. This. Book. You won't be disappointed. It's a keeper and Mazey Eddings is on my auto-read list forever''There was so much to love about this book . . . Thank you to Mazey Eddings for this romance with its messy, true, and painfully real representation of anxiety . . . We need more books like this in the world'........................................Anxiously awaiting news from the residency program of her dreams, dental student Harper Horowitz is laser focused. So crashing (quite literally) into Dan Craige is exactly the sort of dreamy distraction that she is trying to avoid.First-year student Dan may not have the same passion for pulling teeth that Harper does, but he's instantly smitten. When Harper makes it clear that she's not interested in trading fillings for feelings anytime soon, they set out to be 'just friends' - a plan with the best of intentions and the poorest of follow-throughs.Late nights in the dental lab (and the rather unsubtle match-making efforts of their friends), draw Dan and Harper closer. Still, Harper can't shake the worry that a romance with Dan might risk everything she's worked so hard to build.Harper may have no trouble acing her studies, but falling in love is a whole new challenge.Nine out of ten dentists agree, A Brush with Love makes your smile brighter!**not scientifically proven........................................'Blends sweetness, breathless romance, and moments of striking vulnerability' HELEN HOANG'Prepare to smile, laugh, and cry your way through this witty, fast-paced rom-com starring a passionate heroine and a delicious cinnamon roll hero who knows how to love her just right' EVIE DUNMORE'Mazey Eddings stole my heart with this laugh-out-loud funny, almost unbearably cute debut (and she made me care about dentistry)' ROSIE DANAN'I'm obsessed with this book, and I fully intend to never stop yelling about it. With a shimmering voice and razor-sharp wit, Mazey Eddings has crafted a contemporary romance masterpiece that made me want to hug my dentist . . . The most intoxicating slow burn I've read in ages' RACHEL LYNN SOLOMON'Harper and Dan have my whole heart . . . A Brush with Love is funny and cute while also exploring serious topics, powerfully underscoring the truth that relationships require work, and that happy endings are for everyone' SARAH HOGLE'Tenderly written and oh-so-sexy, A Brush with Love brims with emotional depth, whip-smart banter, and sizzling chemistry' CHLOE LIESE

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Record your grandfather’s life story in this beautiful keepsake journal with 200 guided exercises and prompts that take him back through each stage of his life and its accompanying adventures. Whether called Papa, Grampie, Grandpa, or something else, grandfathers are a family’s most-prized treasure and whose patriarchal wisdom, love, and support are needed and appreciated by every member. Grandfathers have lived full lives that show that, even though times may change, most of life’s truths are timeless. With a compassionate ear always at the ready, their experiences have also gifted them with profound insight to share. In this second edition of My Grandfather’s Life featuring a new cover design, both thought-provoking and lighthearted writing prompts and guided exercises are organized into chapters based on your grandfather’s life stages to help him record his life’s memoir. Beginning with early childhood, questions like What are some family holiday traditions you remember? followed by early adulthood prompts such as Did a particular person inspire you in pursuing a job or career? and then moving to the wisdom he has learned and would like to share such as If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?, the My Grandfather’s Life journal jump starts the reflective writing process to open your grandfather’s mind to dig deeper into who he is, where he started, and, most importantly, what he has learned. Complemented with poignant quotes about grandfathers throughout history, this beautifully designed journal will give your grandfather everything he needs to record his life’s experiences to not only shed light on the events that shaped him into the man he is today, but also to preserve his life’s memories and stories for you and your family to learn from, become inspired by, and cherish for future generations. With so much of our lives and contact going digital, the Creative Keepsakes journals offer an intimate way to nurture your connection with yourself and the people around you. An entertaining way to get off your screen, these guided and free-form journals are great for writers and artists alike. Each journal offers content around a different theme, including silly prompts for a laugh, random yet thoughtful questions, inspiration for art and composition, interactive prompts to learn about your heritage, and blank interiors on high-quality paper stock to use as your creative canvas. Beautifully designed and full of mindful prompts, channel your inspiration as you put pen (or pencil, or marker, or crayon!) to paper to learn more about yourself, your talents, and the people you love. Also in this Series: 3,001 Questions All About Me, 3,001 Would You Rather Questions, 3,001 This or That Questions, 301 Things to Draw, 301 Writing Ideas, Anti-Anxiety Journal, Complete the Drawing, Create a Poem, Create a Story, Create Comics: A Sketchbook, Design & Destroy, Forever Friends, Gratitude Journal, Inner Me, Inspired by Prayer, Internet Password Book, Mom & Me, My Family Story, My Father's Life, My Grandmother's Life, My Life Story, My Mother's Life, Our Love Story, Sermon Notes, Sketch - Large Black, Sketch - Large Kraft, Sketch - Medium Black, Sketch - Medium Kraft, This is Me, Write - Medium Black, Write - Medium Black

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Venice was where it all began…Libby and Will spent a glorious honeymoon in this magical city. They didn’t have much money, but they had a whole lot of love and a bright future ahead of them.And Venice was where it all went wrong…Two kids and twenty-five years later, they are struggling with money problems but somehow Will manages to fulfil his promise to Libby to take her back to Venice for their anniversary. This time, they are doing it in style and a masked ball awaits. But among the beautiful buildings and romantic canals, Libby learns that her husband has a secret that breaks her heart.The trust is broken and the marriage is over. But there are decades of love and two grown sons between them.Can they ever find their way back to each other or have they missed their chance forever?A funny and heartwarming second-chance romance, perfect for fans of Milly Johnson and Julie Caplin.Readers are falling in love with My Heart is in Venice:'A believable story with laugh-out-loud moments...so relatable and true to life! Loved it!' Harriet J. Kent'Funny, heartwarming and addictive.' Susan Buchanan'I would highly recommend this fabulous book which is full of the trials and tribulations of family life, love, drama and intrigue together with lovable characters that you don't want to leave behind when the book ends.' Rosy Gee‘I did not want it to end, I fell in love with the characters and this is my favourite rom com of the year!...I am absolutely in love with this book... This story reached into my heart, broke it and put it back together.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘I loved the characters...A really sweet book with some twists and turns, and a perfect ending. Highly recommend for curling up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘Love how this author writes about real people and relatable issues and targets those in their 40s and 50s in their stories. This was so much more than just a romantic read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader ReviewPraise for Helga Jensen:‘I simply couldn’t put this down. I laughed out loud several times before I’d even finished the first chapter.’ Jules Wake‘A joyous tale of rediscovering your dreams, love and sense of self. Sheer fun and absolute UpLit!’ Pernille Hughes‘I love this book so much! All I wanted was for it not to end! It’s right there on my top romcoms list now.’ Natalie Normann‘A charming, funny story… Ideal sunshine reading.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘I loved every page and still think about the characters… lots of laugh-out-loud moments to be enjoyed’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘A beautiful story … well worth 5 stars and I recommend this great summer read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review‘Wow, just wow … It’s funny, cute and romantic and that twist… What more can you ask for?’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review

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The lives of five strangers collide on a London train carriage, as they become involved in an incident that will change them all forever. A shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original new thriller from Will Carver… ‘Impossibly original, stylish, sinister and heartfelt. The Daves Next Door is so wildly fresh and unmatched, and once again proves that Will Carver has talent and creativity to burn’ Chris Whitaker ‘Once again, Will bends and twists the genre with a novel that is astonishing, profound and hard-hitting’ David Jackson ‘So clever, so dark, so utterly original. Where does Will Carver get his ideas?’ Victoria Selman ‘Stirring. Ambitious. Irreverent. Compassionate. Completely devoid of giveable f*@ks’ Dominic Nolan ___________________________________________________________ A disillusioned nurse suddenly learns how to care. An injured young sportsman wakes up find that he can see only in black and white. A desperate old widower takes too many pills and believes that two angels have arrived to usher him through purgatory. Two agoraphobic men called Dave share the symptoms of a brain tumour, and frequently waken their neighbour with their ongoing rows. Separate lives, running in parallel, destined to collide and then explode. Like the suicide bomber, riding the Circle Line, day after day, waiting for the right time to detonate, waiting for answers to his questions: Am I God? Am I dead? Will I blow up this train? Shocking, intensely emotive and wildly original, Will Carver’s The Daves Next Door is an explosive existential thriller and a piercing examination of what it means to be human … or not. ___________________________________________________________ ‘Will Carver is a thought-provoking and masterful writer of gut-punching fiction ... a powerhouse of a novel. Think Ira Levin at his best’ Michael Wood ‘Will has this uncanny knack of delving into your soul and revealing all the things you really think but are too scared to voice. Absolute GENIUS’ Lisa Hall ‘Another ingenious genre-bender … provocative, twisted and mind-bendingly original’ Sarah Sultoon ‘Sharp, wild and thrilling’ Danielle Louise ‘Completely unpredictable and definitely unputdownable’ Little Miss Book Lover ‘Risk-taking, provocative fiction at its absolute finest … unmissable’ Hair Past a Freckle ‘You don't just read a Will Carver, you experience it. It draws you in and not only entertains, but challenges you’ From Belgium with Booklove Praise for Will Carver ‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain. After this, he’ll have his own cult following’ Daily Express ‘Unlike anything you’ll read this year’ Heat ‘Move the hell over Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk … Will Carver is the new lit prince of 21st-century disenfranchised, pop darkness’ Stephen J. Golds ‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce ‘I fell in love with Carver's murderous Maeve. This is an Eleanor Oliphant for crime fans. Carver truly at his best’ Sarah Pinborough ‘A darkly delicious page-turner’ S J Watson ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North ‘Weirdly page-turning’ Sunday Times ‘Laying bare our 21st-century weaknesses and dilemmas, Carver has created a highly original state-of-the-nation novel’ Literary Review ‘Arguably the most original crime novel published this year’ Independent ‘This mesmeric novel paints a thought-provoking if depressing picture of modern life’ Guardian ‘This book is most memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Utterly mesmerising…’ Crime Monthly ‘Will Carver’s most exciting, original, hilarious and freaky outing yet’ Helen FitzGerald ‘Vivid and engaging and completely unexpected’ Lia Middleton

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Has the perfect man been there all along?Lucie Quigley hates Christmas. So when she’s asked to be a bridesmaid at her friend Petra’s Manhattan wedding, she jumps at the chance to escape the festivities at home. Her best friend Dale Treharne jumps at the chance to be her plus-one, seeing it as a way to help Lucie get through the most miserable time of the year.In New York, as the snow begins to fall, Lucie and Dale realise that their feelings run deeper than friendship. But can they overcome their pasts, and make it a very merry Manhattan Christmas?The perfect uplifting and escapist read to curl up with this Christmas, ideal for fans of Helen J Rolfe and Mandy Baggot.Praise for A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas‘I just loved this book, every single page of it! … it was full of depth with unexpected moments of poignancy … So make sure you cuddle up this Christmas and enjoy a few hours of perfect, festive escapism with Lucie and Dale and their sumptuous love story.’ My Chestnut Reading Tree‘A lovely Christmas story … takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a page turner and I found it hard to put down … beautifully written.’ Stephanie Reads‘An amazing festive story that immediately filled my heart with joy … Darcie Boleyn has a wonderful way with words and she has a great sense of humor as well … Darcie Boleyn combines sadness with lightness and cheer in a fantastic balanced way. Her story is very romantic and I enjoyed it so much that it's now on my list of favorite Christmas reads. I highly recommend this dreamy Christmas story.’ With Love for Books‘Another enchanting book from the talented Darcie Boleyn … What starts and looks like your general light hearted Christmas book, evolves around mid way into something that is very compelling to read, and has a bit more depth to it and plenty of strands of storylines.’ Rachel’s Random Reads‘Oh I do love this author's writing! … The development of the romance was well paced, their reticence in risking their friendship, the historic events which impinge on their relationship, the expectations of others, all make this an enthralling and highly entertaining read.’ Splashes into Books‘Okay let me say up front I love books by Darcie, NYC is my favourite place and Christmas just adds to the joy … giggles a plenty. Follow Lucie and Dale as they experience the magic and the test on their friendship … it's real melt-your-heart stuff. I could rave about this forever but suffice to say it's made it into my top books of the year list and I encourage everyone to read it and prepare for the festivities’ Ali - The Dragon Slayer‘Pretty sure this is one of my favourite Christmas books of the year!’ Goodreads reviewer‘Can I just say right here … Dale … oh Dale. Everyone needs a Dale this Christmas, I think he could be the book boyfriend of the year … With her warm and witty writing style, teamed with some sensitive sub plots, Darcie made A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas a delight to read. It was a real page turner.’ Lozza’s Book Corner

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A moving, compelling story about three women fighting to break free, from the Richard & Judy recommended bestselling author Julie Cohen.'Haunting, tender and true - this story cast a spell on me' Kirsty Logan'Wonderfully written and evocative' Woman & Home, BOOK OF THE MONTH'This haunting story about the power of love will give you the shivers' Best------------------------------------------Viola has an impossible talent. Searching for meaning in her grief, she uses her photography to feel closer to her late father, taking solace from the skills he taught her - and to keep her distance from her husband. But her pictures seem to capture things invisible to the eye . . .Henriette is a celebrated spirit medium, carrying nothing but her secrets with her as she travels the country. When she meets Viola, a powerful connection is sparked between them - but Victorian society is no place for reckless women.Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, invisible threads join Viola and Henriette to another woman who lives in secrecy, hiding her dangerous act of rebellion in plain sight.Faith. Courage. Love. What will they risk for freedom? Driven by passionate, courageous female characters, SPIRITED is your next unforgettable read!Perfect for fans of other bestselling historical novels The Binding by Bridget Collins, The Familiars by Stacey Halls, and Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield. ------------------------------------------Praise for SPIRITED:'A testament to the enduring power of love' Sunday Mirror'Mindful, vivid, and strong Spirited explores death, grief, faith, class and gender, while at its heart relationships expand to make this such an engaging and rewarding novel' Love Reading'This vivid tale is simmering with passions - some more repressed than others' The People'A tender and haunting tale, this is a slow-burn read which sparks into flame, as passion kindles in the heart of her beautifully realised characters' Daily Mail'A thrilling, spooky tale that has all the ingredients of a bestseller' Cambridge Independent------------------------------------------Praise for the Richard & Judy Bookclub Pick TOGETHER by Julie Cohen:'A bold, breathtaking and truly compelling love story' Lisa Jewell'Moving and beautiful' Joanna Cannon'One of the most beautiful and heart-breaking stories I've read' Emma Flint'Reminded me of One Day & The Time Traveler's Wife' Erin Kelly'The kind of novel that will stay with you forever' Rowan Coleman'A page-turner with real emotional punch' Catherine Isaac'Original, poignant and beautifully told' S Magazine'A must read' Good Housekeeping'A taut, beguiling love-story-in-reverse that reveals just how far people will go to protect themselves from facing the truth' Elle'Every now and again, a novel comes along that is so different, so affecting and so unforgettable, that you simply must tell everyone you know to read it' Heat------------------------------------------Praise for the Polari Prize 2019 longlisted novel THE TWO LIVES OF LOUIS & LOUISE by Julie Cohen:'Brilliant . . . I enjoyed it hugely' Marian Keyes'Hugely original and heartbreakingly real' Rosie Walsh'Not often does a story remind us of what beautifully complex creatures we are. Julie Cohen has given us that rare gift' Christina Dalcher'Elegant, thoughtful and powerful' Daisy Buchanan'So cleverly done and authentic' A J Pearce'Beautifully written and thought-provoking' Kate Eberlen'A timely read that will stay with you long after you put it down' Libby Page'A cobweb of a book: beautifully intricate and delicate' Veronica Henry'Engaging, moving, arresting' Sunday Times'A powerful and memorable story' Sunday Express'A modern tale told with heart' Grazia

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Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Woman's Hour'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My Weekly'Heart-warming, emotional and simply wonderful . . . If you think family sagas aren't for you, you've never read Glenda Young's books - pick one up today and you'll be converted' 5 * reader reviewIf you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you'll LOVE Glenda Young's 'amazing novels!' (ITV's This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall)'A super saga with a sparky heroine' People's FriendWhat readers are saying about Glenda's heartwrenching sagas:'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review'Definitely an author not to be missed when it comes to family sagas' The Book Magnet'Writes superb historical fiction that bring the era alive. Her books are unbeatable and unputdownable' Ginger Book Geek'The perfectly imperfect, human nature of Glenda Young's characters are what keeps her readership hooked' Clyde's Corner'Gritty, compelling and full of heart . . . an exceptional saga' Bookish Jottings..................................................'You're a Dinsdale lass, Ruby. Nothing and no one keeps us lot down.'A life of poverty in a cramped pit cottage is all that seventeen-year-old Ruby Dinsdale has known. Even with her father and younger brother working at the coal mine, money is tight. Her mother Mary is skilled at stretching what little they have, but the small contribution Ruby makes from her job at the local pub makes all the difference. So when Ruby is sacked, and Mary becomes pregnant again, the family's challenges are greater than ever.When charming miner Gordon begins to court Ruby it seems as though happiness is on the horizon, until she uncovers a deeper betrayal than she could ever have imagined.But although the Dinsdales are materially poor, they are rich in love, friendship and determination - all qualities that they will draw on to get them through whatever lies ahead...................................................Look out for all of Glenda's compelling sagas - Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child, Pearl of Pit Lane, The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon, The Paper Mill Girl and The Miner's Lass - out now!Plus, Glenda has launched a brand-new cosy crime mystery series - don't miss Murder at the Seaview Hotel and Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel - out now!Praise for Glenda Young:'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review'I really enjoyed Glenda's novel. It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere . . . a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga and I loved Meg; she's such a strong and believable character. A fantastic debut' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life and Meg is a likeable, loving heroine for whom the reader roots from start to finish' Jenny Holmes 'I found it difficult to believe that this was a debut novel, as "brilliant" was the word in my mind when I reached the end. I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I've read' Margaret Kaine

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TWO GUYS - FOREVER FRIENDS - write their fifth TWO GUYS BOOK. Rather than reading and sharing their views on books or baseball scores, this time The TWO GUYS are traveling and sharing their adventures! In TWO GUYS ON THE ROAD, Steve Chandler and Terry Hill write e-mails, postcards, and letters to each other as they travel the world. Terry mostly takes lengthy travels for pleasure abroad with his wife Miranda while Steve takes short business trips around the country, at times with his wife Kathy. In their usual style, Steve and Terry often launch into digressions to discuss whatever piques their interest in the moment resulting in a collage of places, people, opinions, travel tips, and sometimes tenuously-related memories. Steve and Terry's first fiour TWO GUYS books are as follows:1. TWO GUYS READ MOBY DICK, 2006 (Seven reviews on Amazon including: Delightful! 5 stars; Quirky, Interesting Fun 5 stars; A Great Read 5 stars; For anyone who likes surprises 4 stars; Melville, Moby & More 5 stars; An inspiring, thought-provoking, delightful, fun read 5 stars.) 2. TWO GUYS READ THE OBITUARIES, 2006 (Six reviews on Amazon including: I loved it - absolutely loved it! 5 stars; The Guys Hit It Out of the Ballpark Again 5 stars; A slightly skewed view of life 5 stars; Even better than their first one! 5 stars.) 3. TWO GUYS READ JANE AUSTEN, 2008 (Eight reviews on Amazon including: Do real men read Jane Austen 5 stars; A hilarious and 'Austentatioius' combination 4 stars; They Did it Again!!!! 5 stars; THREE CHEERS FOR TWO GUYS 5 stars; Another Great Two Guys Read! 5 stars; They did it again.... 5 stars; The World of Jane Austen from a Man's Vantage Point: 5 stars; and Do real men read Jane Austen? 5 stars.) 4. TWO GUYS READ THE BOX SCORES, 2010 (Six reviews on Amazon including: Baseball heals, even if you're a Tiger fan 5 stars; The guys hit it out of the park! 5 stars; What fun! 5 stars; Baseball Reminiscences from a Championship Duo: 5 stars; and voted the most helpful critical review, 3 and a hearty half star. Woud have been five if they had been... fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates... Because this review (and others) write about enjoying the memories Steve and Terry share, it exemplifies that whatever topic the men center their title around, it is their digressions that grab the readers' attentions and make their books so intriguing. This fifth TWO GUYS book does not center around a book; it is all about them and their experiences, opinions, and memories. 5. TWO GUYS ON THE ROAD, 2012 (Is sure to get good reviews too!) I wish I could go out and buy many more 'Two Guys' books... they have a wonderful franchise going... the writing is dazzling, charming, and witty.~ Dale Dauten King Features SyndicateIf you ever catch yourself taking life a little too seriously, I recommend you sit back, relax, grab any one of the Two Guys books, and enjoy yourself for a while. ~ Michael Neill, Hay House Radio Talk Show Host and Author of Feel Happy Now 600 baseball books are published every year and 599 of them are not worth the paper they never should have been printed on. Two Guys Read the Box Scores is the other one. It is splendid. - George Will, Washington Post columnist

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A little man with big ideas attempts to find TV fame with an unruly group of young singers, in a gritty, dark, hilarious and all-too-believable drama about the elusivity of stardom, in an age when ‘making it’ was ‘having it all’… ‘A real new talent on the Scottish literary scene' Press & Journal ‘Ross brings his ever-so-dark humour and caustic eye to 1970s Glasgow, and it proves to be the perfect pairing’ Alistair Braidwood ‘David Ross carved out an enduring place for himself among contemporary Scottish novelists’ Alastair Mabb, Herald Scotland ‘This is hardboiled tartan noir with a musical edge, streetwise intelligence and exactly the sense of humour you’d hope to find as showbiz meets Duke Street and high society enforcers battle gentlemen of the Sarry Heid and graduates of the Bar L’ A L Kennedy –––––––––––––––––––––––– Welcome to the Heady Heights … It’s the year punk rock was born, Concorde entered commercial service and a tiny Romanian gymnast changed the sport forever. Archie Blunt is a man with big ideas. He just needs a break for them to be realised. In a bizarre brush with the light-entertainment business, Archie unwittingly saves the life of the UK’s top showbiz star, Hank ‘Heady’ Hendricks’, and now dreams of hitting the big-time as a Popular Music Impresario. Seizing the initiative, he creates a new singing group with five unruly working-class kids from Glasgow’s East End. Together, they make the finals of a televised Saturday-night talent show, and before they know it, fame and fortune beckon for Archie and The High Five. But there’s a complication; a trail of irate Glaswegian bookies, corrupt politicians and a determined Scottish WPC known as The Tank are all on his tail… A hilarious and poignant nod to the elusivity of stardom, in an age when ‘making it’ was ‘having it all’, Welcome to the Heady Heights is also a dark, laugh-out-loud comedy, a heart-warming tribute to a bygone age and a delicious drama about desperate men, connected by secrets and lies, by accidents of time and, most of all, the city they live in. –––––––––––––––––––––––– Praise for David F. Ross ‘Capturing the horror and futility of life on the fringes of its criminal underworld, it is a gloriously dark read’ Liam Rudden, Scotsman ‘More than just a nostalgic recreation of the author’s youth, it’s a compassionate, affecting story of a family in crisis at a time of upheaval and transformation, when disco wasn’t the only thing whose days were numbered’ Herald Scotland ‘One of the most thoroughly and unapologetically enjoyable novels you’ll read this year – riotous, courageous, and laugh-out-loud funny. It’s also gritty, gallus and Glaswegian to its core – with Welcome To The Heady Heights David F. Ross has given us a novel to revel in’ Scots Whay Hae ‘Welcome to the Heady Heights’ is powerful and punchy, with well placed, darker than dark humour highlighting a visual feast of a read’ LoveReading ‘Full of comedy, pathos and great tunes’ Hardeep Singh Kohli ‘Warm, funny and evocative’ Chris Brookmyre ‘Dark, hilarious, funny and heart-breaking’ Muriel Gray ‘Just brilliant’ Bobby Bluebell ‘This is a book that might just make you cry like nobody’s watching’ Iain MacLeod, Sunday Mail

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FROM THE PREFACESince Federal funding is scarce for massive upgrades, and/or complete new Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) construction, treatment plant operators, superintendents, managers, city councils, boards, etc. must get more creative on funding and coordinating process equipment replacements. Contained herein you will find hints, tactics and procedures aimed at getting the "biggest bang for your public buck." During the 1970s and 1980s, through grants, the Federal Government paid 80% of costs to build new or expanded wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and collection system renovations. The majority of the grants were to upgrade primary treatment facilities to secondary, and secondary to tertiary treatment status based on Clean Water Act regulations. If your facility was fortunate enough to receive grants, you were in good shape for approximately 20 to 30 years (depending on community growth rates). Since most wastewater treatment facilities are designed to last 20 years, many of the new or expanded facilities in the 70's and 80's are reaching the end of their service life. Some may have reached it sooner due to growth beyond the expected rate, inadequate preventive maintenance, or design inadequacies when built. Now you have identified problems with insufficient aeration capacity, equipment mechanical failure, insufficient pump station capacity, infrastructure deterioration, etc. and need to do something about it before you violate your NPDES permit (if you have not already). This equipment seems very costly to replace because you now must pay 100% opposed to 20% with the grants. Many WWTP are in need of replacement and/or upgraded equipment. The equipment itself is typically about 25% to 50% of the total project cost. This cannot be changed much. However, the remaining 50% to 75% (engineering, installation labor costs and project management) may be whittled down dependent on how active and creative the project coordinator (yourself) wants to be in the process. When EPA funded 80% of project costs in prior years, it was no big deal to have an "open pocketbook" attitude. Those days have changed forever and so have procurement procedures for projects. A Management Guide to Retrofitting Wastewater Treatment Plants is geared towards the managerial and administrative scope of a Lead Operator, Superintendent, Facility Manager type of Wastewater individual. All the junior college courses available, practical operator experience, and certification status will still not offer the opportunity to learn administrative and cost savings techniques (similar to operating a business). But soon, your job may demand these skills. This book is a handy reference for making the task of upgrading/retrofitting wastewater process equipment easier and less costly. It includes ideas for selling upgrade ideas to superiors, pre- and post-project activities, and certain management techniques useful for successful retrofitting or upgrading in past projects. This book should prove helpful to those who find themselves involved in retrofitting their facility, and need assistance on resolving facility problems, including treatment plant operators, superintendents, managers, city council members, and boards. It is also a valuable reference guide for municipal operations individuals who want to retain control of their facilities, but don't quite know how. It was written with the front line operator, superintendent, and manager in mind, in common operator language in order to allow easier understanding. It contains many tips and techniques which operators can implement immediately.

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From the preeminent Edison scholar . . . The definitive life of the inventor of the modern age The conventional story is so familiar and reassuring that it has come to read more like American myth than history: With only three months of formal education, a curious and hardworking young man beats the odds and becomes one of the greatest inventors in history. Not only does he invent the phonograph and the first successful electric light bulb, but he also establishes the first electrical power distribution company and lays the technological groundwork for today's movies, telephones, and sound recording industry. Through relentless tinkering, by trial and error, the story goes, Thomas Alva Edison perseveres-and changes the world. In the revelatory Edison: A Life of Invention, author Paul Israel exposes and enriches this one-dimensional view of the solitary "Wizard of Menlo Park," expertly situating his subject within a thoroughly realized portrait of a burgeoning country on the brink of massive change. The second half of the nineteenth century witnessed the birth of corporate America, and with it the newly overlapping interests of scientific, technological, and industrial cultures. Working against the common perception of Edison as a symbol of a mythic American past where persistence and individuality yielded hard-earned success, Israel demonstrates how Edison's remarkable career was actually very much a product of the inventor's fast-changing era. Edison drew widely from contemporary scientific knowledge and research, and was a crucial figure in the transformation of invention into modern corporate research and collaborative development. Informed by more than five million pages of archival documents, Paul Israel's ambitious life of Edison brightens the unexamined corners of a singularly influential and triumphant career in science. In these pages, history's most prolific inventor-he received an astounding 1,093 U.S. patents-comes to life as never before. Edison is the only biography to cover the whole of Edison's career in invention, including his early, foundational work in telegraphy. Armed with unprecedented access to Edison's workshop diaries, notebooks, and letters, Israel brings fresh insights into how the inventor's creative mind worked. And for the first time, much attention is devoted to his early family life in Ohio and Michigan-where the young Edison honed his entrepreneurial sense and eye for innovation as a newsstand owner and editor of a weekly newspaper-underscoring the inventor's later successes with new resonance and pathos. In recognizing the inventor's legacy as a pivotal figure in the second Industrial Revolution, Israel highlights Edison's creation of the industrial research laboratory, driven by intricately structured teams of researchers. The efficient lab forever changed the previously serendipitous art of workshop invention into something regular, predictable, and very attractive to corporate business leaders. Indeed, Edison's collaborative research model became the prototype upon which today's research firms and think tanks are based. The portrait of Thomas Alva Edison that emerges from this peerless biography is of a man of genius and astounding foresight. It is also a portrait rendered with incredible care, depth, and dimension, rescuing our century's godfather of invention from myth and simplification. Advance Praise for Edison: A Life of Invention "Familiar Edison stories come alive with fresh insight . . . Israel's scholarship is impeccable while his deceptively easy grace transforms a challenging story into a page turner. One hundred years of history texts have been right all along. Thomas Edison, a protean actor on the American landscape, requires our attention. Paul Israel has given us a book to satisfy that requirement for a long time to come."- John M. Staudenmaier, S.J., Editor, Technology and Culture

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The strategy that consistently gets high returns with low risk--because it knows when to adaptAfter examining more than two hundred years of data across dozens of markets and asset classes, the conclusion is clear: Momentum continually outperforms. However, most mainstream investors haven't had a way to fully discover and implement the benefits of momentum investing . . . until now! Whether you're an independent investor, investment professional, or money manager, Dual Momentum Investing enables you to consistently profit on major changes in relative strength and market trend.Based on the award-winning work of Gary Antonacci, an expert in modern portfolio theory and optimization, this groundbreaking guide presents an easy-to-understand, straightforward model that transforms momentum concepts into an actionable investing strategy called Global Equity Momentum (GEM). By combining relative-strength momentumand absolute momentum, this proven methodology lets you take advantage of intramarket trends while avoiding large drawdowns. A disciplined implementation of his proven strategy enhances the ability of every trader to: Lock in profi ts and mitigate risk with a minimal number of switches per year among US equities, non-US equities, and bonds Establish meaningful control over investment risk once an asset's value begins to decline Remove emotional and behavioral biases from your decision making while taking advantage of these same biases in other traders to achieve exceptional returns Each facet of GEM is explained with simple clarity using the perfect amount of supporting theory, historicalanalysis, and understandable data. Pragmatic techniques come to life with real-world relevance that both deepens your understanding of why dual momentum trading works and better prepares you for using it with your own investments. From picking a cost-effective brokerage firm, to making asset choices, to customizing your strategy as you near retirement--this reliable guide helps you do it all with the confidence you'll gain through repeated success.You put a lot into earning your wealth; now take the next step with Dual Momentum Investing and properly protect it while it's working for you.PRAISE FOR DUAL MOMENTUM INVESTING:"Gary Antonacci takes us on a comprehensive tour of investment methods, exploring their strengths and weaknesses, and lays out a strong case for combining absolute and relative momenta. I consider Dual Momentum Investing as an essential reference for system designers, money managers, and investors." -- ED SEYKOTA"Gary Antonacci's Dual Momentum Investing is what happens when Ed Thorpe's Beat the Dealer meets Seth Klarman's Margin of Safety. This is an ambitious and must-have book." -- CLAUDE ERB, retired Managing Director, TCW Group, Inc."Antonacci presents a clear and scholarly sound case for the success of a simple momentum-based strategy. Give it a try; you'll be hooked!" -- JOHN NOFSINGER, PhD, Seward Chair of Finance, University of Alaska Anchorage, and author of The Psychology of Investing"A treasure of well-researched, momentum-driven investing processes. Antonacci clearly shows a number of different methods that anyone who is serious about a long-term strategy will find easy to implement. This is one of those five-star books; it is logical and easy to grasp." -- GREGORY L. MORRIS, Chief Technical Analyst and Investment Committee Chairman, Stadion Money Management, LLC, and author of Investing with the Trend"A must-read for both individual investors as well as financial advisors. It will forever change the way you think about developing investment and asset allocation strategies." -- DR. BOB FROEHLICH, retired Vice Chairman, Deutsche Asset Management

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*THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER**A Times Best Music Book of 2023*'This is the most glorious of books. I am besotted by the life I never knew he had.' -Elton John'Every page of Scattershot is a delight, a joy, a name-dropper fan's delight. Divine. I couldn't put it down.' -Pete Townshend'Hilarious and so emotionally true, Scattershot is like a letter from a cherished friend. You'll want to keep it close, so you can read it again and again.' -Cameron Crowe'Touching. Charming. Humble. Witty. And exquisitely written. Taupin's words need no musical accompaniment. They sing with a poets voice.' -Gary Oldman'Eloquent and inspiring' -Robert Hilburn, author of Johnny Cash: The Life'A funny, zippy narrative' -MOJO'An entertaining ride that doesn't spare the horses' -RTE Guide'Sharply written' -The Independent'Self deprecating and refreshingly honest' - Sunday TimesThis is the memoir music fans have been waiting for. Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits, and sold millions and millions of records. Together, they were a duo, a unit, an immovable object. Their extraordinary, half-century-and-counting creative relationship has been chronicled in biopics (like 2019's Rocketman) and even John's own autobiography, Me. But Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest, until now.Written with honesty and candour, Scatterhot allows the reader to witness events unfolding from Taupin's singular perspective, sometimes front and center, sometimes from the edge, yet always described vibrantly, with an infectious energy that only a vivid songwriter's prose could offer. From his childhood in the East Midlands of England whose imagination was sparked and forever informed by the distinctly American mythopoetics of country music and cowboys, to the glittering, star-studded fishbowl of '70s and '80s Beverly Hills, Scattershot is simultaneously a Tom Jones­-like picaresque journey across a landscape of unforgettable characters, as well as a striking, first-hand account of a creative era like no other and one man's experience at the core of it.An exciting, multi-decade whirlwind, Scattershot whizzes around the world as we ride shotgun with Bernie on his extraordinary life. We visit New York with him and Elton on the cusp of global fame. We spend time with him in Australia almost in residency at an infamous rock 'n' roll hotel in an endless blizzard of drugs. And we spend late, late night hours with John Lennon, with Bob Marley, and hanging with Frank Sinatra. And beyond the world of popular music, we witness memorable encounters with writers like Graham Greene, painters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and scores of notable misfits, miscreants, eccentrics, and geniuses, known and unknown. Even if they're not famous in their own right, they are stars on the page, and we discover how they inspired the indelible lyrics to songs such as "Tiny Dancer," "Candle in the Wind," "Bennie and The Jets," and so many more.Unique and utterly compelling, Scattershot will transport the reader across the decades and around the globe, along the way meeting some of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century, and into the vivid imaginings of one of music's most legendary lyricists.

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Hailed as "the single most effective pilot at Midway" (World War II magazine), Dusty Kleiss struck and sank three Japanese warships at the Battle of Midway, including two aircraft carriers, helping turn the tide of the Second World War. This is his extraordinary memoir. NATIONAL BESTSELLER • "AN INSTANT CLASSIC" —Dallas Morning NewsOn the morning of June 4, 1942, high above the tiny Pacific atoll of Midway, Lt. (j.g.) "Dusty" Kleiss burst out of the clouds and piloted his SBD Dauntless into a near-vertical dive aimed at the heart of Japan’s Imperial Navy, which six months earlier had ruthlessly struck Pearl Harbor. The greatest naval battle in history raged around him, its outcome hanging in the balance as the U.S. desperately searched for its first major victory of the Second World War. Then, in a matter of seconds, Dusty Kleiss’s daring 20,000-foot dive helped forever alter the war’s trajectory. Plummeting through the air at 240 knots amid blistering anti-aircraft fire, the twenty-six-year-old pilot from USS Enterprise’s elite Scouting Squadron Six fixed on an invaluable target—the aircraft carrier Kaga, one of Japan’s most important capital ships. He released three bombs at the last possible instant, then desperately pulled out of his gut-wrenching 9-g dive. As his plane leveled out just above the roiling Pacific Ocean, Dusty’s perfectly placed bombs struck the carrier’s deck, and Kaga erupted into an inferno from which it would never recover. Arriving safely back at Enterprise, Dusty was met with heartbreaking news: his best friend was missing and presumed dead along with two dozen of their fellow naval aviators. Unbowed, Dusty returned to the air that same afternoon and, remarkably, would fatally strike another enemy carrier, Hiryu. Two days later, his deadeye aim contributed to the destruction of a third Japanese warship, the cruiser Mikuma, thereby making Dusty the only pilot from either side to land hits on three different ships, all of which sank—losses that crippled the once-fearsome Japanese fleet. By battle’s end, the humble young sailor from Kansas had earned his place in history—and yet he stayed silent for decades, living quietly with his children and his wife, Jean, whom he married less than a month after Midway. Now his extraordinary and long-awaited memoir, Never Call Me a Hero, tells the Navy Cross recipient’s full story for the first time, offering an unprecedentedly intimate look at the "the decisive contest for control of the Pacific in World War II" (New York Times)—and one man’s essential role in helping secure its outcome. Dusty worked on this book for years with naval historians Timothy and Laura Orr, aiming to publish Never Call Me a Hero for Midway’s seventy-fifth anniversary in June 2017. Sadly, as the book neared completion in 2016, Dusty Kleiss passed away at age 100, one of the last surviving dive-bomber pilots to have fought at Midway. And yet the publication of Never Call Me a Hero is a cause for celebration: these pages are Dusty’s remarkable legacy, providing a riveting eyewitness account of the Battle of Midway, and an inspiring testimony to the brave men who fought, died, and shaped history during those four extraordinary days in June, seventy-five years ago.

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On a small island off the Scottish coast, Isla and her family are grieving the loss of her older sister Flora, who died three years ago. Then they’re offered the chance to be part of a top-secret trial, which revives loved ones as fully lifelike AI robots using their digital footprint. Isla has her doubts about Second Chances, but they evaporate the moment the ‘new’ Flora arrives. This girl is not some uncanny close likeness; she is Flora – a perfect replica. But not everyone on their island feels the same. And as the threats to Flora mount, she grows distant and more secretive. Will Isla be able to protect the new Flora and bring the community back together? An intriguing, thoughtful and poignant exploration of what makes us ‘us’, for fans of SHOW US WHO YOU ARE, A POCKETFUL OF STARS and TROOFRIEND. “A beautiful exploration of grief, hope, and what it means to be human … This is an outstanding middle-grade debut from one of my favourite authors.” - Simon James Green, author of LIFE OF RILEY “A powerful exploration of grief, technology and what makes us human, Our Sister, Again skilfully combines warm-hearted contemporary with a scifi twist to create a thought-provoking, thrilling read” - Lucy Powrie, author of THE PAPER & HEARTS SOCIETY series. “Our Sister, Again expertly weaves family drama with high concept sci fi. It’s a captivating tale about AI written with real, human heart.” - Annabelle Sami, author of LLAMA OUT LOUD “I loved this book, it was perfect soft sci-fi with very real themes of love and loss. Sophie Cameron has written a wonderful exploration of what it means to be human.” - L. D. Lapinski, author of THE STRANGEWORLDS TRAVEL AGENCY “This book is an absolute triumph. Layers and layers of beautifully crafted intrigue. A book about family, friendship, and what it means to be you. One of those books you read in one day and think about forever.” - Wibke Brueggemann, author of LOVE IS FOR LOSERS “A heart-warming and bittersweet examination of personhood, familial bonds and healing from loss” - Lauren James, author of THE QUIET AT THE END OF THE WORLD “Our Sister Again is a rich, heartfelt story about family, grief, and what it means to be human told with immense gentleness and skill” - Ciara Smyth, author of THE FALLING IN LOVE MONTAGE “An intriguing and tender portrayal of a life changing 'what if' – Sophie Cameron is a fabulous storyteller” Polly Ho-Yen, author of BOY IN THE TOWER “Utterly adored it! Heart-breakingly, life-affirmingly beautiful … An astonishing story about love, loss & life.” - Nicola Penfold, author of WHERE THE WORLD TURNS WILD “This book is brilliant. It's poignant – sometimes sad – but at the same time it's a cracking, page-turning sci-fi mystery. And it has the perfect hopeful ending. I loved it.” - Perdita Cargill, author of WAITING FOR CALLBACK “Beautifully written, incredibly well-imagined, and a complex, compelling plot mean this is a definite ***** read” - Sinéad O’Hart, author of THE EYE OF THE NORTH "A truly remarkable story. Sad and life-affirming all at the same time. Asks a lot of big questions. These characters are going to stay with me for a long time." - Lee Newbery, author of THE LAST FIREFOX "Philosophical and affecting, this exploration of grief, layered experience and what it means to be human will appeal to sci-fi fans aged nine and up" - Guardian

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WINNER OF THE 2020/2021 ALCUIN SOCIETY BOOK DESIGN AWARD FOR POETRYWINNER OF THE ROBERT KROETSCH CITY OF EDMONTON BOOK PRIZE WINNER OF THE 2023 STEPHAN G. STEPHANSSON AWARD FOR POETRYWINNER OF THE GERALD LAMPERT MEMORIAL AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE DAYNE OGILVIE PRIZE FOR LGBTQ2S+ EMERGING WRITERSLONGLISTED FOR THE RAYMOND SOUSTER AWARDWINNER OF THE INDIGENOUS VOICES AWARD FOR PUBLISHED POETRY IN ENGLISHAn Indigenous resistance historiography, poetry that interrogates the colonial violence of the archive Whitemud Walking is about the land Matthew Weigel was born on and the institutions that occupy that land. It is about the interrelatedness of his own story with that of the colonial history of Canada, which considers the numbered treaties of the North-West to be historical and completed events. But they are eternal agreements that entail complex reciprocity and obligations. The state and archival institutions work together to sequester documents and knowledge in ways that resonate violently in people’s lives, including the dispossession and extinguishment of Indigenous title to land. Using photos, documents, and recordings that are about or involve his ancestors, but are kept in archives, Weigel examines the consequences of this erasure and sequestration. Memories cling to documents and sometimes this palimpsest can be read, other times the margins must be centered to gain a fuller picture. Whitemud Walking is a genre-bending work of visual and lyric poetry, non-fiction prose, photography, and digital art and design."Whitemud Walking is so smart and so ceaselessly innovative. It represents for me a fully assured instantiation of the Indigenous literary project: a confrontation of history's terrors head on and an articulation in the present of our beauty and indomitability. Weigel refuses the archive's efforts to flatten Indigenous subjectivity and, in so doing, opens up a kind of boundless space to remember and grieve but also to hope and imagine otherwise. A deeply felt accomplishment." –Billy-Ray Belcourt, author of A History of My Brief Body"Whitemud Walking is a testament to the power of grief and outrage that so much theft has been allowed to bulldoze Indigenous land rights. Matthew James Weigel's passion for research both honours and mourns what has been trampled and lied about. This is a devastating read but one to learn from. Mahsi cho, Matthew. Your grief is our call to action to learn our own histories and build upon our own Indigenous testimonies of what really happened and when and who was there to witness it. Mahsi cho." –Richard Van Camp, Tlicho Dene author of The Lesser Blessed and Moccasin Square Gardens"Whitemud Walking is a textual ecology, that through archival troubling, sampling, and reframing, allows the material, human, truly cellular historicity of treaty to enter as a living presence in our contemporary moment. Weigel writes, 'Here treaty means reciprocity and obligation. Here, treaty lasts forever'. This book is not the document you may hold in your hands but the shift in consciousness it foments within you. It is a gift." –Liz Howard, author of Infinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent"Echoing the caw and grackle of magpies, Matthew James Weigel’s Whitemud Walking lives the sound of Treaty 6. Voices whisper sanctuary in creekbeds, papers rustle precedence in archives; there’s a buzz in your ear, a catch in your throat – listen." –Derek Beaulieu, Banff Poet Laureate

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*** THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AND REESE WITHERSPOON BOOKCLUB 2018 PICK! ***The perfect couple.The perfect crime? ‘Deftly paced, elegantly chilly thriller… Steadman brings similar qualities of wit, timing and intelligence to this novel… a proper page-turner’ New York Times Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough; Mark a handsome investment banker with a bright future. They seem to have it all. But do they? On a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, Mark takes Erin scuba diving. Everything is perfect. Until they find something in the water. Something that will change their lives forever. Erin and Mark decide to keep their discovery a secret. No one else need know; they trust each other implicitly. But someone else does know. And in situations like these, it is far better to trust no one, not even those closest to you … Set to be the blockbuster read of the summer, this is an unmissable, fast-paced, jaw-dropping thriller from a debut writer destined for great things. ‘A wild, page-turning ride! It’s the perfect beach read!’ Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine book pick) ‘Worthy of Hitchcock’ Sunday Times ‘Pure adrenaline: I swallowed this book whole’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said ‘A thriller for our times’ Louise Candlish, author of Our House ‘A stunning debut. Superbly written, clever and gripping’ BA Paris, author of Behind Closed Doors ‘A fascinating moral dilemma’ Gillian McAllister, author of Everything but the Truth ‘It was the relatability of Erin's voice that set it apart from so many other thrillers as it automatically got me thinking ‘What would I do in her position?’ Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies ‘This debut’s opening hook, which jumps ahead in the story to reveal a shocking outcome, teamed with Erin’s spunk and the threat of Russian mobsters, creates irresistible suspense—of both the what-will-happen and the how-did-that-happen varieties’ Booklist ‘A delicious page-turner’ New York Post ‘Catherine Steadman bursts onto the thriller scene with this exceptional debut psychological thriller, written in the vein of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn... Deftly plotted and told with lightning-quick pacing... Something in the Water is psychological suspense at its absolute finest, and Steadman has all the makings of a writer poised to shoot straight to the top of the genre' Book Spy ‘I loved this. It was so addictive… What follows is a twisty adventure that is a whole lot of fun and does actually beg the question ‘what would YOU do?’ Highly recommended' Liz Loves Books 'A terrific debut’ Criminal Element ‘Bombshell thriller… Drawing you in from the very first sentence ... and becomes a nice twist on the typical psychological thriller’ Book Tribe ‘If you like thrillers with a huge twist and great plot this is for you’ Fiction Obsession ‘Catherine Steadman’s enthralling voice shines throughout this spellbinding debut novel’ Dwell in Possibility 'A taut, relentless read. Written in the early stages to the beat of a steady drum, once the ‘something’ in the water appears, it sets off a chain of events that build to a Bourne-like intensity, delivering a shocking discovery at the very end' Better Reading AU ‘A sumptuous read, packed with numerous cinematic scenes and a plot that will make your head spin. It is brilliantly written' Year of Reading Selfishly Blog

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'Debris from a comet drops a fabulously valuable new metal . . . turning it into a bloody, brawling boomtown. Great characters, fine writing, totally engrossing' - International bestselling author Stephen King on The Ninth MetalNamed a Most Anticipated SFF Fiction Book by New ScientistIt began with a comet. They called it Cain, a wandering star that passed by Earth, illuminating the night with a swampy green light and twinning the sky by day with two suns. A year later, Earth spun through the debris field the comet left behind. Suddenly, hundreds of thousands of meteors plummeted into the atmosphere, destroying swaths of electrical grids, leaving shores of beaches filled with deceased sea life, and setting acres of land ablaze. It was then, they say, that the sky fell. It was then that Jack lost Mia.Five years after the disappearance of his daughter, Jack has fallen. Once an accomplished professor of botany, he's now a shell of a man who has all but withdrawn from life. Nora, his ex-wife, has thrown herself into her investigative work. Separately, they have each bandaged over the hole Mia left behind.Just as Jack is uncovering a new form of deadly parasitic fungus in his lab, Nora is assigned to investigate the cases of ritualistic murders dotting Seattle. The rituals consist of etchings - crosshatches are carved into bodies and eyes are scooped out of their sockets. The attackers appear to be possessed.It only takes a moment - for a sickness to infect, for a person to be killed, for a child to be lost. When Nora enlists Jack to identify the cause of this string of vicious deaths, Jack is quick to help. Together, they fight to keep their moments - the unexpected laughter, the extraordinary discoveries, the chance that Mia could come back home - but they find that what they're up against defies all logic, and what they have to do to save the world will change every life forever.PRAISE FOR THE COMET CYCLE'When Benjamin Percy publishes a novel, I have got to read that novel. The Ninth Metal continues his streak of thrilling, incisive genre bending goodness. Audacious and intelligent and exactly what I was dying to read' Victor LaValle, author of The Changeling on The Ninth Metal'Whether you choose to think of him as the Elmore Leonard of rural Minnesota or the Stephen King of Science Fiction, Percy-with his extraordinary and unrelenting eye-dishes up humanity like some kind of otherworldly blue plate special, at once deeply familiar and wildly new' Margaret Stohl, No. 1 New York Times Bestselling Author on The Ninth Metal'Take one part dystopia, one part sci-fi, two parts apocalypse, then ride them roughshod through a bleak and bloody western, and it still wouldn't get close to what Ben Percy does here, which is blow open the core of humanity's dark heart' Marlon James, Booker Prize winning author of Black Leopard, Red Wolf on The Ninth Metal'Masterful . . . Combines a missing-person case, romantic reconciliation, and a riveting sci-fi what-if . . . A thoroughly satisfying near-future glimpse of both disaster and salvation' Publishers Weekly'Terrifying, entertaining, and thought-provoking. . . something for everyone, science fiction fans and mystery fans alike' Kirkus Reviews

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Douglas Mawson was determined to make his mark on Antarctica as no other explorer had done before him. What really happened on the ice has been buried for a century. Flaws in the Ice is the untold true story of Douglas Mawson's 1911-1914 Antarctic Expedition, mistakenly hailed for a century as a courageous survival story from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Prize-winning historian David Day takes off on a five-week odyssey in search of the real Douglas Mawson, famed colleague and contemporary of Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. Beginning his book on board an expedition ship bound for the Antarctic, Dr. Day asks the difficult questions that have hitherto lain buried about Mawson —, his leadership of the ill-fated Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911–14, his conduct during the trek that led to the death of his two companions, and his intimate relationship with Scott's widow. The author also explores the ways in which Mawson subsequently concealed his failures and deficiencies as an explorer, and created for himself a heroic image that has persisted for a century.To bolster his career and dig himself out of debt, Mawson would have to return from Antarctica with a stirring story of achievement calculated to capture public attention. South Pole expeditions, by-among others--Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen--were going on at same time With Amundsen having reached the South Pole-- and Scott having died on his return--Mawson would be forgotten if he did not return with an exciting story of achievement and adversity overcome. Mawson obliged, though the truth was something entirely different.For many decades, there has been only one published first-hand account of the expedition —Mawson's. Only now have alternative accounts become publicly available. The most important of these is the long-suppressed diary of Mawson's deputy, Cecil Madigan, who is scathing in his criticisms of Mawson's abilities, achievements, and character that he instructed that his diary was not to be published until the last of Mawson's children had died. At the same time, other accounts have appeared from leading members of the expedition that also challenge Mawson's official story. While most historians ascribe the deaths of the two men to bad luck, the author's re-examination of the existing evidence, and a reading of the new evidence, reveals that the deaths of two men on the expedition were caused by Mawson's relative inexperience, overweening ambition, and poor decision-making. In fact, there's some suggestion that Mawson was consciously responsible for one's starvation so that Mawson himself could survive on the limited food rations. After the death of his companions, Mawson's bungling of his return to the ship forced a team to remain for another full year during which he recovered his strength and began to craft an image of himself as a courageous and resourceful polar explorer. The British Empire needed heroes, and Mawson was determined to provide it with one.In this compelling and revealing new book, David Day draws upon all this new evidence, as well as on the vast research he undertook for his international history ofAntarctica, and on his own experience of sailing to the Antarctic coastline where Mawson's reputation was first created. Flaws in the Ice will change perceptions of Douglas Mawson—one of the icons of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration— forever.

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Inspired by the oldest and best compendium of military science and competitive strategies, these 120+ pages invite you to channel your own power and success as you color them in. Sun Tzu wrote his famous battle treatise in the sixth century BC for Ho Lu, the King of Wu. The story goes that the king was so impressed with The Art of War that he appointed Sun Tzu general. After that, Ho Lu’s armies won major victories—while Sun Tzu’s fame spread. What can we learn from his book? Though first written more than 2,000 years ago, The Art of War wasn’t translated into English until the twentieth century. While translations differ, one thing they agree on is that rather than the nitty-gritty specifics about warfare, it is about strategy and tactics…strategy and tactics that are often now applied to business, politics, and everyday life. Whether you’re in business or politics—or somewhere entirely different—there’s something for you in The Art of War Coloring Book. The 120+ gorgeous coloring designs are designed to help you get coloring while you explore your own personal creative side. Because, despite the conflict connotations of this topic, the rhythm and tactile experience of applying color to paper helps you connect to your body, while the simple act of picking up a crayon can calm the mind. Whether you’re focusing on coloring dragons and warriors or lanterns and quotations, you can quiet your everyday thoughts. In addition to images of dragons, tigers, and the landscapes and architecture of ancient China, pages also include colorable quotations from Sun Tzu, such as: "He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight." "In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity." "He who wishes to fight must first count the cost." "The greatest victory is that which requires no battle." Just as there is no right or wrong way to use this book, there is no right or wrong way to color. You can color these unique, line-drawn illustrations however you wish and in whatever way feels right to you. Deep blues, vibrant yellows, rich reds, it’s all up to you! This is about getting in touch with what makes you powerful and distinctive, so if one coloring template doesn’t appeal to you, simply move on to one that does. On the back of each page is a meditative pattern to color in, making each drawing unique. So why make such a coloring book? One of the great things about coloring is that it’s accessible to anyone. Being able to add your own colors helps make the experience more personal, and, unlike in the boardroom, there’s no pressure to make these drawings perfect. You can cherish these masterpieces forever. So, what are you waiting for? Pick a page and get coloring.Chartwell Coloring Books is the ultimate coloring book series, encompassing designs of every kind. From intriguing abstract patterns to beautiful pictures from the natural, technological, and fantasy worlds, each of these coloring books will soothe the mind and inspire the inner creative in anyone. With so many variations of complex, beautiful designs in each book, you’ll have plenty of pages to bring to life. Whether young or old, creative or not, this series has something for you.

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Scott King investigates allegations of demon possession in a rural Yorkshire village, where a 12-year-old boy was murdered by two young children. Book six in the spine-tingling, award-winning Six Stories series.‘Matt’s books are fantastic’ Ian Rankin‘An exceptional storyteller’ Andrew Michael Hurley ‘Matt Wesolowski is taking the crime novel to places it’s never been before’ Joseph Knox, author of True Crime Story'A stunning new episode of the powerful Six Stories series. A masterful storyteller, Matt Wesolowski is my go-to writer for literary horror' C J Cooke, author of The Lighthouse Witches____________In 1995, the picture-perfect village of Ussalthwaite was the site of one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, in a case that shocked the world.Twelve-year-old Sidney Parsons was murdered by two boys his own age. No reason was ever given for this terrible crime, and the ‘Demonic Duo’ who killed him were imprisoned until their release in 2002, when they were given new identities and lifetime anonymity.Elusive online journalist Scott King investigates the lead-up and aftermath of the killing, uncovering dark stories of demonic possession, and encountering a village torn apart by this unspeakable act.And, as episodes of his Six Stories podcast begin to air, and King himself becomes a target of media scrutiny and public outrage, it becomes clear that whatever drove those two boys to kill is still there, lurking, and the campaign of horror has just begun...____________ ‘Matt Wesolowski is boldly carving his own uniquely dark niche in fiction’ Benjamin Myers‘Matt’s real skill is in finding a deeply human story and twisting it with the paranormal, touching the reader and scaring the wits out of them’ Chris MacDonald‘One of the most exciting and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North‘A wonderful writer’ Chris Whitaker‘I’ll be rereading these books forever’ Sublime Horror‘The master of horror, of mixing folklore with urban myth and real life. Terrifyingly good’ Louise Beech‘A taut and gripping tale that deftly skewers the perfect balance of crime, thriller and horror. Intriguing, disturbing and impeccably crafted – I was riveted from the first page’ Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of Dead RelativesPraise for the Six Stories series: **Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year****Winner of the Capital Crime Best Independent Voice Award**’A captivating, genre-defying book with hypnotic storytelling’ Rosamund Lupton Original, inventive and dazzlingly clever’ Fiona Cummins‘Daisy Jones and the Six gone to the dark side. I couldn’t put it down’ Harriet Tyce‘Bold, clever and genuinely chilling with a terrific twist’ Sunday Mirror‘Insidiously terrifying, with possibly the creepiest woods since The Blair Witch Project’ C J Tudor‘Frighteningly wonderful … one of the best books I’ve read in years’ Khurrum Rahman‘Disturbing, compelling and atmospheric, it will terrify and enthral you in equal measure’ M W Craven‘A dark, twisting rabbit hole of a novel. You won't be able to put it down' Francine Toon‘First-class plotting’ S Magazine‘A dazzling fictional mystery’ Foreword Reviews‘Readers of Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping and fans of Ruth Ware will enjoy this slim but compelling novel’ BooklistFor fans of Serial, The Conjuring, C J Tudor, Fiona Cummins, Sarah Pinborough and Catriona Ward

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On the eve of a world war, a forbidden love will blossom in the garden of a stately home, where one young woman will make a choice that will change her life forever… ‘An emotional story of love and strength’ – LIZ FENWICK ‘Beautiful … Had me utterly captivated’ – JENNY ASHCROFT As the storm clouds of war gather, Cordelia seeks refuge in the grounds of her family estate. Handsome landscaper Isaac has recently arrived to tend to the gardens, and the connection between him and Cordelia is as immediate as it is forbidden. Isaac begins to secretly teach her how to cultivate the gardens, so when he and all the young men are called away to war, Cordelia takes over. From the battlefields of Europe, Isaac sends her letters, that give her hope for their future in peacetime. But when these messages abruptly cease, Cordelia must face up to the worst and take her future – and the fate of the garden they both loved – into her own hands… An epic, sweeping tale of love, war and the strength of the human spirit. Fans of Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton will be absolutely gripped by this historical page-turner. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Authors love The Hidden Letters : ‘A beautiful emotional story of love and strength’ Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us ‘Lorna Cook has had me utterly captivated with her latest. The Hidden Letters has it all – heartbreak and redemption, intense love and desperate loss. It's the type of book that first made me fall in love with reading, I adored every sumptuous, atmospheric page, and can't recommend it highly enough.’ Jenny Ashcroft, author of Under the Golden Sun ‘A beautiful, evocative story of love and coping with loss that kept me turning the pages late into the night. A triumph!’ Rachel Burton, author of The Secrets of Summer House ‘Magnificent. Broke my heart and put it back together again’ Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House ‘Kept me guessing right up to the last poignant page, I found it difficult to put down and impossible to stop thinking about when I did’ Iona Grey, author of The Glittering Hour ‘Lorna Cook’s lyrical novel transports us back to the last golden summer of innocence. Against the backdrop of a garden so beautifully depicted that I could smell the roses, she leads us through loss, heartbreak and heroism – and shows us that love can triumph over even the greatest adversity.’ Judy Summers, author of The Forgotten Sister ‘A story of heartache and deliverance, love and loss, brilliantly plotted and beautifully written – I could not put it down.’ Louisa Treger, author of Madwoman Readers love The Hidden Letters : ‘Upon leaving those final pages and closing the book … it's like coming home. A feeling of completeness. Of having lived, loved and survived. Everything about Lorna’s tales are just all encompassing, sweeping you away and back to another time far away.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A pleasure to read – I felt quite bereft when I had finished the final page.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful, evocative story of love and coping with loss that kept me turning the pages late into the night. A triumph!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A sweeping historical saga about war, duty, family, social change, sacrifice, loss, and unexpected love. The Hidden Letters made me cry, I found it really moving. ‘I really liked the way parts of the story were told through letters. The characters were both like able and believable. Definitely recommended.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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‘Absolutely loved this book from start to finish, I couldn’t put it down' ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader ReviewWhile the men are off fighting, the women keep the country moving…July 1914: Britain is in turmoil as WW1 begins to change the world. While the young men disappear off to foreign battlefields, the women left at home throw themselves into jobs meant for the boys.Hiding her privileged background and her suffragette past, Constance Copeland signs up to be a Clippie - collecting money and giving out tickets - on the trams in Staffordshire, despite her parents’ disapproval.Constance, now known as Connie, soon finds there is more to life than the wealth she was born into and she soon makes fast friends with lively fellow Clippies, Betty and Jean, as well as growing closer to the charming, gentle Inspector Robert Caldwell.But Connie is haunted by another secret; and if it comes out, it could destroy her new life.After war ends and the men return to take back their roles, will Connie find that she can return to her previous existence? Or has she been changed forever by seeing a new world through the tram windows?A captivating, lively, romantic saga set in WW1 that will engross fans of Johanna Bell and Jenny Holmes.Readers are loving Connie's story:‘Absolutely loved this book from start to finish, I couldn’t put it down…A great historical fiction read that has you wanting to finish the book to see how all their lives turn out. Loved it!’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘A wonderful WWI-era historical fiction novel that I truly, truly enjoyed…I look forward to what Ms. Johnson has in store for readers next.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘Set around World War One, it shows the grit the women of the war had to endure…well written and enjoyable.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘I enjoyed reading this book because I learned a lot about women during the first world war…There was sadness in the story but happiness and hope for the future. I do recommend that you read this book.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘I thoroughly enjoyed this story that captured the war, suffragette movement, class and working on the trams. I became embroiled in Connie's life and couldn't wait to see what happened next.’ Reader Review‘A wonderful book and highly recommended.’ ☆☆☆☆☆ Reader Review‘Historical Fiction and General Fiction readers ought to pick up this charming book.’ Reader Review‘An appealing story, with well-drawn characters…To be with Connie on her journey makes a thoroughly satisfying read.’ Reader ReviewReaders love Lynn Johnson's captivating WW1 sagas: ‘an emotional, captivating read which is perfect for anyone who loves a good saga!’ Over The Rainbow Book BlogA poignant, emotional and heart-wrenching read…best read with a box of tissues handy’ Bookish Jottings‘This truly was a fabulous story from beginning to end and I struggled to put it down!... richly detailed, beautifully written and the storyline along with the characters was enthralling’ Rose is Reading‘heartwarmingand emotional...If you enjoy historical fiction, this is definitely a book to read!’ Jessica Belmont Book Reviews‘An excellent historical fiction that had me compulsively turning the pages.’ Books and Bookends‘Overall, I loved it. There were lots of moments that made me gasp and others that almost made me cry, and then there were those that made me smile and sigh.’ Jess Bookish Life‘Johnson has a Cookson flair…she does capture the heart and soul of her characters.’ Cheryl M-M Book Reviews

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For generations, American athletes have enjoyed the ever-escalating celebrity lavished upon them when they combine on-the-field talent with off-the field charisma, but never before have we seen as transformative a sports dynasty as the Mannings: a bloodline of strong arms, Southern values, and savvy business instincts—each man compelling in his own right, made whole by family. But how, in just fifty years, did this private trio achieve football immortality? A gripping and definitive account, In the Name of the Father traces Archie, Peyton, and Eli’s roots from red-clay Mississippi to the bright lights of the Super Bowl to reveal the truth of their grit and dedication, their inherent ability, and the drama they endured behind closed doors. As New York Times Notable biographer Mark Ribowsky meticulously chronicles, the road to football stardom was not paved smoothly for patriarch Archie. The most celebrated and beloved athlete to emerge from tiny Drew, Mississippi, Archie lost his father to suicide during his heyday at Ole Miss. Then, despite his playing through the pain, a string of surgeries prematurely ended a storied NFL career, most memorably spent with the New Orleans Saints. Similar savior-like expectations were passed to Archie’s eldest, Cooper, the most gifted of his brood, but the shocking discovery of a spinal condition prevented Cooper from ever playing a single snap of college ball. Luckily, Archie had been raising all three of his sons to love the gridiron, throwing deep balls to them off the front porch, and there were two more heir apparents in the wings. Raised watching dusty old game films in the family den, Peyton was swiftly hailed as a generational talent, his record-breaking tenure at Tennessee paving a clear path to the NFL. Winning Super Bowls with both the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos, he was able to overcome a debilitating neck injury—after barely being able to hold a football—to eclipse Archie in football success. It was Peyton who would first pair his football cachet with capitalism, selecting commercials and appearances to show off his humor and expand the now-ubiquitous Manning brand into mainstream popular culture. And finally there was quiet Eli, with an arm and a career to match his big brother’s but a reserved and enigmatic affect all his own. The good-boy who followed his father to Ole Miss, Eli entered the NFL even more carefully managed then his brother was, forcing a trade when the lackluster San Diego Chargers selected him with the first pick in the draft. Even with two dramatic Super Bowl wins with the New York Giants, Eli’s lows have been catastrophic, and he has never been quite the media darling his brother is. But even as their football careers wind down, the power of the Manning name only grows. Drawing on new interviews and research, Ribowsky reveals a family of transcendent talent and intense loyalty dedicated to maintaining an all-American façade that has, on occasion, shown cracks. From the family’s past steeped in problematic parts of Southern identity, to locker-room scandal turned lawsuit, to flashes of fraternal jealousy, Ribowsky leaves no stone unturned. Rich in gridiron dramatics and familial intrigue, In the Name of the Father is a quintessentially American saga of a multifaceted lineage that has forever changed the game.

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Está es la milagrosa historia de Dion Leonard, un corredor experimentado que se encuentra a una luchadora, perrita callejera mientras compite en una carrera de 15 millas a través del desierto de Gobi.La búsqueda de Gobi es la milagrosa historia de Dion Leonard, un corredor de ultramaratones experimentado que se encontró con una perrita callejera mientras competía en una carrera de 155 millas a través del desierto de Gobi en China. La adorable cachorro, que luego nombró «Gobi», demostró que lo que le faltaba en tamaño, lo compensaba con el corazón. Gobi recorrió junto a Dion gigantescas dunas de arena y atravesó las montañas Tian Shan, aldeas y las arenas negras del desierto de Gobi, manteniendo el ritmo con él durante casi ochenta millas. Dion fue testigo de la increíble determinación y corazón de Gobi, y se dio cuenta que su propio corazón experimentaba también un cambio. Dion permitía que Gobi durmiera en su tienda de campaña por las noches, le compartía agua y alimentos de sus propias provisiones limitadas, a veces también la cargaba, aun sabiendo que eso significaba retrasarse en la carrera, o peor aún, le impedería terminar en absoluto.En las carreras anteriores de Dion, él se enfocaba en ganar y ser el mejor, pero esta vez su objetivo era asegurarse que su amistad con Gobi continuara mucho después de llegar a la meta. Sin embargo, antes de que pudiera llevarla a casa, Gobi desapareció en una inmensa ciudad china. Con la ayuda de desconocidos y el apoyo de gente alrededor del mundo, Dion inició la búsqueda para reencontrar al asombroso animal que le demostró a él y al mundo entero que los milagros son posibles.A man, a dog, and the lengths to which love will go to sacrifice for its companion.This book is the miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner who crosses paths with a scrappy, stray dog while competing in a 150-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name “Gobi”, proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains, across massive sand dunes, through yurt villages and the black sands of the Gobi Desert, keeping pace with him for nearly 80 miles. As Dion witnessed the incredible determination and heart of this small animal, he found his own heart undergoing a change as well. Whereas in the past these races were all about winning and being the best, his goal now was to make sure he and Gobi’s friendship continued well after the finish line. He found himself letting Gobi sleep in his tent at night, giving her food and water out of his own limited supply, and carrying her across numerous rivers, even when he knew it would mean putting him behind in the race, or worse, prevent him from finishing at all. Although Dion did not cross the finish line first, he felt he had won something even greater – a new outlook on life and a new friend that he planned on bringing home as soon as arrangements were made. However, before he could take her home, Gobi went missing in the sprawling Chinese city where she was being kept. Dion, with the help of strangers and a viral outpouring of assistance on the internet, set out to track her down, and reunite forever with the amazing animal that changed his life and proved to him and the world that miracles are possible.

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Estranged brothers are reunited over plans to develop the tower block where they grew up, but the desolate estate becomes a stage for reliving the events of one life-changing summer, forty years earlier … the exquisitely written, moving new novel from West Camel.‘Unfolds like a spell’ Carol Lovekin, author of Ghostbird‘A deceptively complex and layered story; beautiful, traumatic and ultimately uplifting’ Louise Beech, author of This Is How We Are Human'A mesmerising portrait of toxic family relationships: one that perfectly captures a turbulent era in a changing Britain. I was gripped' Caroline Wyatt_____________________________Twins Aaron and Clive have been estranged for forty years. Aaron still lives in the empty, crumbling tower block on the riverside in Deptford where they grew up. Clive is a successful property developer, determined to turn the tower into luxury flats.But Aaron is blocking the plan and their petty squabble becomes something much greater when two ghosts from the past – twins Annette and Christine – appear in the tower. At once, the desolate estate becomes a stage on which the events of one scorching summer are relived – a summer that shattered their lives, and changed everything forever…Grim, evocative and exquisitely rendered, Fall is a story of friendship and family – of perception, fear and prejudice, the events that punctuate our journeys into adulthood, and the indelible scars they leave – a triumph of a novel that will affect you long after the final page has been turned.Illustrations by David F. Ross–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––**Shortlisted for the POLARI Prize**‘Fall’s characters will haunt me, its story will stay with me and I will return again and again’ Katie Allen‘Beautifully written, perfectly executed, a drama that captures your heart and mind’ Anne Coates'Architecture and morality: the only subjects worth writing about, and West Camel does so exquisitely through the eyes of people profoundly affected by both' David F. Ross‘A book about families, racism and the differences that bind us or push us apart …all bound up in West Camel's elegant prose’ Michael J. Malone‘Suspense and twists keep you turning the pages, while the unfolding of complex characters and relationships draws you in’ Valeria Vescina‘Both charming and conflicting … the author’s enticing storytelling has totally, utterly hooked me’ Sarah Sansom‘A page-turner and a literary delight, a book you devour’ Liz Loves Books‘Immersive, beautiful, and haunting … I adored it’ Live & Deadly‘A novel of mystic style and sensibility. West Camel tackles timeless themes of truth, power, family and justice … an extraordinary read’ Richard Fernandez‘A book to be embraced, a book to be kept in your heart … West Camel writes beautifully’ The Reading ClosetPraise for West Camel’s debut novel Attend‘From its opening gambit to its final line, Attend demands and rewards attention’ Foreword Reviews’With its blend of dark, gritty themes and gorgeous imagery, this is a book to make you believe there’s still magic in the world’ Heat ‘I’ve fallen in love with this absolutely glorious, spell-binding tale’ LoveReading‘It’s a genuinely pleasurable experience to encounter something couched in such alert and transparent language as West Camel’s Attend … In three hundred finely judged pages, West Camel leaves the reader eager for more from his pen’ Barry Forshaw, CrimeTime For fans of Sarah Moss, Bernadine Evaristo, Colm Toibin and Selina Godde

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From the preeminent Edison scholar . . . The definitive life of the inventor of the modern age The conventional story is so familiar and reassuring that it has come to read more like American myth than history: With only three months of formal education, a curious and hardworking young man beats the odds and becomes one of the greatest inventors in history. Not only does he invent the phonograph and the first successful electric light bulb, but he also establishes the first electrical power distribution company and lays the technological groundwork for today's movies, telephones, and sound recording industry. Through relentless tinkering, by trial and error, the story goes, Thomas Alva Edison perseveres-and changes the world. In the revelatory Edison: A Life of Invention, author Paul Israel exposes and enriches this one-dimensional view of the solitary "Wizard of Menlo Park," expertly situating his subject within a thoroughly realized portrait of a burgeoning country on the brink of massive change. The second half of the nineteenth century witnessed the birth of corporate America, and with it the newly overlapping interests of scientific, technological, and industrial cultures. Working against the common perception of Edison as a symbol of a mythic American past where persistence and individuality yielded hard-earned success, Israel demonstrates how Edison's remarkable career was actually very much a product of the inventor's fast-changing era. Edison drew widely from contemporary scientific knowledge and research, and was a crucial figure in the transformation of invention into modern corporate research and collaborative development. Informed by more than five million pages of archival documents, Paul Israel's ambitious life of Edison brightens the unexamined corners of a singularly influential and triumphant career in science. In these pages, history's most prolific inventor-he received an astounding 1,093 U.S. patents-comes to life as never before. Edison is the only biography to cover the whole of Edison's career in invention, including his early, foundational work in telegraphy. Armed with unprecedented access to Edison's workshop diaries, notebooks, and letters, Israel brings fresh insights into how the inventor's creative mind worked. And for the first time, much attention is devoted to his early family life in Ohio and Michigan-where the young Edison honed his entrepreneurial sense and eye for innovation as a newsstand owner and editor of a weekly newspaper-underscoring the inventor's later successes with new resonance and pathos. In recognizing the inventor's legacy as a pivotal figure in the second Industrial Revolution, Israel highlights Edison's creation of the industrial research laboratory, driven by intricately structured teams of researchers. The efficient lab forever changed the previously serendipitous art of workshop invention into something regular, predictable, and very attractive to corporate business leaders. Indeed, Edison's collaborative research model became the prototype upon which today's research firms and think tanks are based. The portrait of Thomas Alva Edison that emerges from this peerless biography is of a man of genius and astounding foresight. It is also a portrait rendered with incredible care, depth, and dimension, rescuing our century's godfather of invention from myth and simplification. Advance Praise for Edison: A Life of Invention "Familiar Edison stories come alive with fresh insight . . . Israel's scholarship is impeccable while his deceptively easy grace transforms a challenging story into a page turner. One hundred years of history texts have been right all along. Thomas Edison, a protean actor on the American landscape, requires our attention. Paul Israel has given us a book to satisfy that requirement for a long time to come."- John M. Staudenmaier, S.J., Editor, Technology and Culture

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A contributor to Donald Allen's seminal New American Poetry anthology, John Wieners was on the periphery of many of the twentieth century's most important avant-garde poetry scenes, from Black Mountain and the Boston Renaissance to the New York School and the SF Renaissance. Having achieved cult status among poets, Wieners has also become known for the compelling nature of his journals, a mixture of early drafts of poems, prose fragments, lists, and other fascinating minutiae of the poet's imagination. Stars Seen in Person: Selected Journals of John Wieners collects four of his previously unpublished journals from the period between 1955 and 1969. The first journal depicts a young, openly gay, self-described "would-be poet" dashing around bohemian Boston with writer and artist friends, pre-drugs and pre-fame. By the last book, decimated by repeated institutionalization (the first for drug-related psychosis, the rest the consequence of the first) and personal tragedies, Wieners is broken down and in great pain, but still writing honestly and with detail about the life he's left with. These journals capture a post-war bohemian world that no longer exists, depicted through the prism of Wieners' sense of glamour. Praise for Stars Seen in Person: "Like Rimbaud in Season in Hell, or Baudelaire with Intimate Journals, there's an unguarded spark and trust in John Wieners because impulse and imagination reign supreme. In 1955 he writes, "I shall try the only true thing I want to do. I shall go to my poems." Predating The Hotel Wentley Poems, moving through Ace of Pentacles, and ushering us into his life before Nerves, Stars Seen in Person further illuminates John as our future/former best unkept secret."--Micah Ballard "Thanks to Michael Seth Stewart's editorial legerdemain, at long last we have the magnificent John Wieners here before us, in his full undressed splendor: poet, stargazer, philosopher, shaman, flaneur, survivor. His journals----an inspiring monument, filled with taut provocations and purple illuminations----are valuable as cultural history, as lyric performance, as uninhibited autobiography, and as a motley, genre-defying epitome of gesamtkunstwerk aesthetic possibilities that seem as fresh and enticing as anything being dreamt up today." --Wayne Koestenbaum "These pages of notebooks and poetry--so exhaustively exhumed and returned to light and breath--are equivalent to Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, but in reverse. John Wieners (forever young) evolved through his prose notes towards a sustained poetics of adolescence, holding that tormented phase on a long unyielding band-wave, resisting the sop of adult living with all his might and undergoing the inevitable punishments that such persistence brings."--Fanny Howe "John Wieners remains one of the best poets of my generation. His work & life continue to influence younger poets. These journals reveal his deep commitment to poetry & the poem; they contextualize his constant questing & devotion to the art. I knew John during many of the periods his journals cover &, as always, remain amazed & moved by his deeply examined honesty & purity."--David Meltzer John Wieners studied with Charles Olson at Black Mountain College, and later edited the small magazine Measure. He lived for a year and a half in San Francisco, where he wrote his breakthrough book, Hotel Wentley Poems (1958). In the early seventies he settled into an apartment on Boston's Beacon Hill, where he lived and wrote until his death in 2002.

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