Search results for ""the book guild ltd""

Christopher is the eldest of seven in a middle-class English family. Theresa is the thirteenth child of Chinese immigrants in the British colony of Singapore. This is the story of how they met after the war, having grown up on opposite sides of the world. Despite vastly different backgrounds, they shared a common bond, having both survived the Second World War in Asia – Christopher as a prisoner on the Burma-Siam railway, Theresa a young woman working in Japanese-occupied Singapore. Real-life characters, from sardonic ex-POWs to affectionate siblings and cousins in the armed forces, eccentric spinster aunts, hilarious ex-girlfriends and ebullient colonial types leap off the page as they tell the story in their own words, collected in this memoir through letters and diaries dating from the 1930s to 1959, interspersed with Theresa’s tape-recordings about her life made in 2000.

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Kenny spills his love of Cornwall onto the pages of All Summer Long. His four years as a lifeguard on Cornwall’s gorgeous beaches during the ‘swinging’ Sixties and Seventies saw him reveling in the liberating glories of surf, sand and their sensualities. These Cornish summers were a celebration of hedonistic ‘coming-of-age’ where the coast distills Kenny’s reflections on dealing with holidaymakers, locals and girlfriends various. His life has the unceasing theme of water running through it from surfing, diving, sailing, rowing and feasting on the fruits of seafood and seaweed. Did you know that an appreciation of surfing can wash your life clean? This is Kenny's cherishing of the unexpected profitability of dead seals and the life-saving sustenance of hot pasties: gaze on the sea, climb aboard, paddle out, “catch a wave and you’re living on top of the world; from a wave-crest everything becomes clear”.

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This is a wedding that will change lives – and not just the lives of the bride and the groom. Devon-born London lawyer Kate Densham is to marry her colleague, Robert Harrington. Her father, a senior university professor, is involved in a substantial land deal in which the university is seeking to sell a large chunk of the land it owns to a developer. Kate and her fiancé are acting for the possible buyers of the land. They know that the organisation is involved in criminal activity and has strong ties to the chairman of the local planning committee, and believe they can take effective action against them 'from the inside’... But don’t forget – as all of this is happening, there’s still the wedding to attend. From Matthew Densham, the uncle of the bride, to Celia Harrington, the grandmother of the groom; Phyllis Drayton, friend of the bride’s parents, to Simon Roche, an ex-university friend of the groom; this is a wedding that will impact the lives of all that are involved.

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Would you risk everything for a single wish? Nelson Hitchcock's life is forever changed when a stranger begs for help during a school trip to the museum. The reward is his heart's desire and Nelson's only wish is the return of his father, who mysteriously disappeared three years before. But there is a price, for the stranger will be dead before Halloween is out, setting Nelson on a desperate race against time to keep the bargain he has struck. One hundred years earlier, police sergeant Caleb Fitzgerald is searching in vain for his son, one of four children snatched in the dead of night during The Vanishings of 1903. The only clue is a chilling calling card left at each scene, 'Critch'. When the sergeant's journal is unearthed at a family party, Nelson is convinced his ancestor has left hidden clues to help him unmask the killer. But Nelson has no idea he is about to unleash a blood feud that has crossed a century; a supernatural vendetta where past and present are set to collide with terrifying results. What must he sacrifice to save those he loves?

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Set in a small fishing town in southern Italy called Termoli and centred around, and narrated by, the ancient castle at the heart of the town that views the stories and lives of the towns’ inhabitants. The novel revolves around Thomas (an English fisherman), his flatmate Roderigo and a mysterious woman, Mariella. Thomas and Roderigo both fall under Mariella’s spell, but as their relationships strengthen, friendships are destroyed, falsehoods are told, and dark pasts are revealed. Emeralds Among the Sand considers the subject of love in many forms, from conditional to unrequited love and shows how love can both trap us and set us free. Francesca Fratamico takes us to the heart of an Italian town full of intriguing characters and complex stories.

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Upper-class teen Sara flees her parents' middle-England mansion after a disastrous party. She happens upon Nork, a mysterious young, orphan boy seemingly from nowhere. Together they go on the run. Evading the authorities and becoming ever more inter-dependent during their long journey, they finally land up in the Scottish wilderness. They find themselves in a small loch-side town, but will they become the victims of the ruthless, hotel owner McTavish – or can they discover a new life and purpose there? This is a coming-of-age story with comedy, romance and sexual references, that is both thought-provoking and amusing.

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At The Stroke of One is the memoir of Ian C Graham, who was born and raised in Berry Brow, Huddersfield and moved to Cornwall with his family in 1996 to take over the running of the Bossiney House Hotel. It is a tale of an ordinary man, a happy life, and the aftermath of dealing with a life changing stroke. Covering his childhood, working life, sporting life as a keen cricketer and footballer as well as his family life (including his marriage and children and divorce), At The Stroke of One evaluates life before, during and after the stroke Ian experienced aged forty-seven. Restricted on use in his right-hand side from his shoulder down to his right foot, Ian suddenly found life very different and simple activities became a challenge. Ten weeks of recuperation in a specialist unit opened his eyes to the reality that life is precious and needs to be lived to the full.

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It's a pretty boring job, tuning pianos, isn't it? Anyway, isn't it a dying craft now? It has been called a dying craft for years and it still holds a mystery for many people. Step back in time to the 1970s as Steven Harris begins an unusual and unexpected career as a piano tuner at Harrods Ltd, London's most famous department store. Prestigious emporium of the rich and elite, what was it like working there as a teenage trainee piano technician? How and why did the author – brought up in care and leaving school with virtually no qualifications whatsoever – get offered a position there? Steven Harris tells all in The Man from Harrods – a thoroughly entertaining and terrific tale! "A brilliant book written from the perspective of a piano tuner." Pianist International magazine

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A couple are shocked to discover the naked body of a woman in their garden. She has been strangled. Acting Inspector Beauregard, who has never led a murder investigation, doesn’t understand how or why the body of a woman ended up in the garden and seeks assistance from ex-detective inspector Clive Walsingham. Clive is now running a hotel in Carlow Valley, but when Beauregard asks for his help, he jumps at the chance. As intriguing details of the dead woman’s past emerge, suspicion falls upon a notoriously unscrupulous local businessman but, before he can build a case against him, Inspector Beauregard is called away to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Lord Westleigh’s daughter, leaving Clive to continue the investigation with the support of an abrasive Detective Constable. A seemingly innocent entry in the dead woman’s notebook, the strange behaviour of her family and the arrival of a mysterious guest at his hotel drag him deeper into the murky investigation. Clive has to use all his powers of deduction to uncover the truth. But, in doing so, he realises his own life is in serious danger.

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Charles, an anthropologist, is studying for his doctorate degree on the culture and traditions of the Herero tribe in Southern Africa. Before his departure from Durham University to undertake his research in Botswana and Namibia, he is recruited to become an informer for MI6 who are particularly interested in Chinese and Japanese corporations competing to exploit the substantial mineral wealth of both countries and their clandestine dealings with tribal elders and corrupt governmental officials. On arrival in Botswana, Charles is welcomed into a local village as the guest of a tribal chief but soon realises that blackmail, witchcraft and murder is endemic and starts to understand just how far the mineral corporations are prepared to go.

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It is 1967. A mysterious disease appears in an English town. People fall down suddenly, poleaxed, and many die. Is it caused by a bacterium, a virus, a poison? Nobody knows, and top doctors squabble over its cause. But then two junior doctors and a young anthropology student, who has recovered from the disease, join together. The three investigators continue their work to find out the cause of the disease, a virus whose worst effects are only shown in those who are very anxious. They think they have found the cause and the solution. But will they be in time? This is a gripping dystopian tale, very much relevant to events unfolding today and written by Emeritus Professor of Community Psychiatry at Imperial College, London, Peter Tyrer whose long-standing interest in the connections between mental and physical health informed the novel.

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This is an account of a year in the life of Peter Berry, an ordinary man living in a sleepy Suffolk village. Happily married and running a successful business, Peter's life changes when, at the age of fifty, he is given a terminal diagnosis of early-onset dementia. Since that day, he has learned to live with his very own 'dementia monster'. From depression and suicide attempts through to his determination to confront his dementia, Peter has embarked on a series of challenges to show that 'life isn't over with dementia, it's just a little different'. Peter has now raised thousands of pounds for dementia charities, cycling hundreds of miles in his quest to show that life is always worth living. When Peter meets Deb, recently retired, they embark on regular cycle rides and, as their friendship grows, Deb is able to look at her own life through the lens of Peter's dementia. In 'Slow Puncture', Peter tells the world what it is really like to live with a terminal condition and Deb learns to enjoy each day more fully. With a foreword by best-selling author Wendy Mitchell, author of 'Somebody I Used to Know', this is an inspirational look at both living in the present and coping with dementia.

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After almost a quarter-century as the BBC’s Chief Football Correspondent, Mike Ingham MBE shares a candid, comprehensive and sometimes controversial account of how the world of broadcasting and football changed beyond recognition throughout his career. His broadcasting experiences saw him attend eight World Cups, commentate on twenty-eight F.A. Cup Finals, work with ten full-time England managers, introduce Sports Report, present his own music show on BBC Radio 1, and he even covered Princess Diana’s funeral. He has enjoyed working with a who’s who of personalities from the world of football and has tales to tell about all of them… This book is a timely reminder of England’s campaigns in tournaments over the last half-century with a detailed and eyewitness account of what the atmosphere was really like over the years behind the scenes in the England camp. Mike Ingham MBE was the BBC’s Chief Football Correspondent for almost a quarter of a century and only the third person to hold this post after Brian Moore and Bryon Butler. In a radio career of over forty years, Mike attended eight World Cups, commentated on twenty-eight F.A. Cup Finals and worked with ten full-time England managers. Starting out as a DJ in a nightclub, music and football have been his twin obsessions and often the two worlds have bounced into each other as many of his musical heroes have also been football fans. The start of his broadcasting career at BBC Radio Derby coincided with the glory years for Derby County with Brian Clough and Dave Mackay and his final commentary for the BBC was at the Maracanã Stadium‎ in Rio for the World Cup Final of 2014. Shortly after his retirement Mike became the first broadcaster to be given a Lifetime Achievement by the Sports Journalists Association. What made this even more special for him was to be presented with this honour by four of the men he respected most of all in the industry, Hugh McIlvanney, James Lawton, Jeff Powell and Patrick Collins.

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Kettlethorpe, a modest little group of buildings deep in the English countryside, has housed many lives woven of great events and private joys and griefs. It was the home of Katherine Swynford, perhaps the most romantic figure of medieval times, but before and after her of knights and farmers, soldiers and lawyers, maids and maidservants, whose footsteps echo through the house's history. In telling the story of Kettlethorpe, this story touches on some of the greatest events in our history, from the Danish invasion and the Norman Conquest to the Battle of Lincoln Fair, the Pilgrimage of Grace and the Civil War. These were events that took place on Kettlethorpe's doorstep. It passes through the great days of the Georgian country house to the fate of a converted ruin, a farmhouse and dower house for a hunting widow, keeping the estate going until close to the outbreak of the Second World War. A war in which, once more, Lincolnshire - "Bomber County" - would play such an important part. What's more, this is a story not about the great or whom grand houses were built, but about what Cromwell called "the middling sort" - a little up in some generations, down in others, but with lives always within the compass of our imagination.

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As a mine-owning family, the Howells are used to the trials and tribulations that the business can bring. But after a knife-wielding miner breaks in and accuses one of the family members of murder, they realise that their safety could be at risk... George and Elizabeth, and their children, Charlie, Francis, Charlotte, Anne and Alice are settled in their Northumbrian home, or so they thought... Told in five parts through the years 1844-1866, these chronicles visit the family at historical intervals, choosing momentous days to reflect the point reached in the family's rich history. We follow Charlie through his battles in the Crimean War; Francis, through his fights to make the mines safer, Charlotte, through her marriage to a substantial local landowner, Alice, through her involvement with a major mining disaster and Anne, through her marriage to a local firm clerk. Howell Grange is a northern history.

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Charles Lamb (1775-1834) was a poet, critic and, above all, an essayist of great distinction.As the 250th anniversary of his birth approaches, Charles Lamb: Man and Brother First tells the story of a man beset by domestic responsibilities and family tragedy. He worked as a clerk at the East India House in the City of London for most of his adult life. Despite the physical and emotional demands heaped upon him, he succeeded in carving out a unique place for himself in English Literature.This biographical account not only delves into Lamb''s literary accomplishments but also recounts the loving relationship between a brother and sister who spent their entire lives together, often in an atmosphere of considerable domestic uncertainty and upheaval.Charles Lamb: Man and Brother First is an exploration of both filial devotion and literary achievement, shedding light on his remarkable life.

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Two very different worlds are about to collide.Feisty country girl Annabeth Hope has sworn off men since her ex abandoned her. Juggling three resentful step-teens, a hyperactive toddler, a smallholding, and a herd of rescued llamas, she has her hands full.With the roof about to collapse on her crumbling New Forest home, she is desperate to find a way to hold her patchwork family together. The last thing she needs is an attractive distraction moving in next door.Burnt-out inner-city doctor Rick Mahon has left London and his medical career behind in a moment of professional crisis. A malpractice lawsuit is on the horizon, and the cancel culture mob are snapping at his heels. His plan to stay under the radar is thrown off course when he meets his new neighbour and sparks start to fly.Annabeth and Rick couldn''t be more different, but maybe they hold the key to each other's happinessWhat more could we want from life? Family, friends, llamas, and hope..

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Leading industrialist and donor to the Conservative Party, Ralph Manningham, forced his father into early retirement so that he could take over the family business. Many years later, he is discovered dead at his home, the spilled bottle of pills on his desk a clear suggestion of suicide.The news of Ralph's death causes a stir within his political circles; influential figures are worried that a potential scandal will engulf them. Inspector Max Bellamy's task is to pick up the pieces, but as events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that Ralph's apparent suicide is not as it seems.Who has the motive to want Ralph dead?In this perplexing and challenging whodunnit', will Inspector Bellamy succeed in solving the case, or will the shadows of deception prevail?

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Sir Bob Scott looks back on an unusual life with several careers. A single theme through it all has been getting things off the ground. There has been both success and failure. After a childhood spent abroad as the son of a diplomat and in England with his astonishing Grandmother, Bob sailed through schooling and Oxford mainly because he was large and noisy. From his brief stint as an actor to being a theatre manager in Manchester; from remote corners of Europe to the broader reaches of the globe as the Olympic bug took hold and led to successfully getting the Commonwealth Games, the Millennium Dome and Liverpool’s successful bid to be 2008 European Capital of Culture, Bob Scott has a myriad of stories to tell. Fifty years in the Arts and Sport inevitably lead to some colourful – and sometimes funny – encounters, with the likes of Burton and Taylor, Pavarotti, Nureyev, Topol, Olivier, Finney, Lloyd Webber, Bobby Charlton, Clive Lloyd, LS Lowry, Mrs Thatcher, John Major, Vladimir Putin, the Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Anne to name just a few. In terms of wins and losses what is the Final Score?

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Harmsworth. A remote, mist-shrouded island in the Russian Arctic. Archaeology Professor Callum Ross makes the discovery of a lifetime: a prehistoric ice mummy preserved for thousands of years by the sub-zero temperatures. Only, they didn’t die of natural causes... As Callum races to unravel the mystery of the mutilated corpse, others race to sabotage the expedition. He and his team are left stranded, and they are not alone on the island. Someone, or something relentless, is stalking them. As the arctic mist descends and the death toll rises, the team is thrust into a nightmare fight for survival, involving submarines, cyber warfare and Spetsnaz. But none of this can prepare them for the real terror that survives deep within the island’s heart: a secret so ancient it’s been overlooked by time itself.

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An extraordinary turn of events sees Marylebone cab proprietor, Henry Gough, propelled from the familiar streets of Victorian London into the grip of a stirring adventure, full of danger, political intrigue and ruthless treachery in faraway Siam.When Henry becomes the only witness to the brutal murder of his passenger on one of London's richest avenues, he is given a clandestine mission to perform. It will end on the banks of Bangkok's steamy Chao Phraya River, where he uncovers a sinister plot that may bring chaos to Siam.When Henry draws ever closer to revealing the assassin's true identity, he is forced to confront powerful forces that threaten his life. As Britain and France's colonial ambitions clash inside the court of Siamese King Chulalongkorn, the scene is set for a bitter struggle that will decide the fate of Siam itself.

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How would Queen Victoria have liked her very own Underground train line?What happened on the Bakerloo when a rude guy with large headphones met THE MAGNIFICENT ELEPHANT (with his small brain)?Why does Peggy, named after famous astronaut, Peggy Whitson, love to ride the futuristic Jubilee line?And do pigeons really use the Underground?Jam-packed with wonderful characters, cultural and factual London references, and cross-generational wit, hop onboard Wonderground to find out. A delightfully imaginative and beautifully illustrated book that contains 11 tailored rhymes for the 11 Underground lines and culminating in some tantalising Tube-Train-Trivia.

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Muddleton is a comic novel about the Hogg-Marchmont family a dysfunctional and delusional aristocratic dynasty as they desperately try to save their beloved ancestral home from demolition.When Hogg Hall is condemned by the local council and ordered to be torn down, Earl Hardy Hogg-Marchmont, head of the family, thinks challenging the council will be a wasted effort, until he is visited by the furious ghosts of his ancestors, who convince him to put up a fight.Spanning a period of two hundred and fifty years, Muddleton describes the history of this hapless family from the middle of the 18th century to the present day. It's a tale of absurdity, supernatural encounters and surreal events, making it a truly unforgettable read.

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What is a promise worth? To Saída, it is worth her life.Saída Abbas is a bounty hunter surviving in a galaxy controlled by the sinister Grand Design. She has spent a decade in pursuit of a single goal: rescuing her beloved Uncle Abbas from their colonised home planet of Sektor 47. Joining her in her mission is her android partner, Rodok, who was an instrumental part in her own escape from Sektor 47.Their quest takes them on a journey to find an elusive medallion a key to safe passage back to their home planet. But even as they make progress, the Grand Design stands in their way and it's not the only obstacle. Is Saída's promise to her uncle worth taking up arms against the greatest power in the galaxy?

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Fresh out of medical school and coping with the loss of their mother, life is chaotic enough for Lils Howells. But when a little boy introduces himself as the powerful wizard Merlin, and tells Lils they're in fact the reincarnation of King Arthur, life for Lils and their group of friends is destined to change forever.Lils' dreams offer glimpses of King Arthur's life in reverse, gradually convincing them of their true identity. As they grapple with the balance between their ordinary life and their newfound responsibilities, they must also lead the charge against the threat by the powerful enchantress Morgana to protect their world from impending doom.Lake Avalon's Champions: Lils Howells vs. the Dragon of Snowdown weaves an enchanting narrative featuring a non-binary main character, that explores the duality of existence, friendship and the timeless echoes of Arthurian myth in the modern age.

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Jake and his friends are due to spend their first summer at Camp Terra; a self-proclaimed haven for teenagers that encourages eager campers to surrender their grip on technology, in the hope that they can reconnect with nature'. However, it doesn't take long before what was meant to be a summer of bonding soon turns into a chilling mystery, as members of the group start disappearing under strange circumstances.Despite the camp's technology-free ethos, dozens of security cameras watch their every move as Jake and the others desperately try to uncover the dark secrets of Camp Terra. Will they be able to outsmart the suspicious counsellors and menacing security guards, or are they in way over their heads?

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Set against the backdrop of 1920s colonial India are the mysteries that follow little Stephen Crow when he is smuggled from England, by his corrupt uncle Jeremy, into a wealthy Indian household. Why is he hastily renamed Tom Spicer? And why are his origins, an heir to a vast fortune, hidden from them?Didi Guni, a widow in the native Indian compound, lovingly adopts Tom as her own. But the dangers that forced Tom's removal from England soon catch up with him here, far from his birthplace. A ruthless business magnate, who has already murdered Tom's parents, needs the orphan dead before he can seize his inheritance.Tom Spicer: A Still Small Voice is an expansive novel which takes the Oliver Twist narrative and reverses it skilfully transporting readers to a bygone era.

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Reflecting on seventy years of voracious reading, All Booked Up invites you to reflect on the transformative power of literature on a life through fifteen captivating chapters, each focusing on a different book.Opening with Five Go Off In A Caravan, the very first full-length novel that the author read, and ending with Miss Benson's Beetle, a recently admired book, you'll encounter beloved classics such as Rebecca, which marked the author's teenage years, as well as reflections on The Light and the Dark during her college days. Along the way, enjoy reflections on learning to read, teaching others to read, becoming a vegetarian, falling in love, motherhood, music making and much more.Whatever the author did, wherever she went and whoever she met, books were always at the heart of it this memoir will appeal to anyone who finds solace and joy in the world of reading.

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The designer luggage is packed. The bodily fuzz removed. It's time for Star Survivor.Hollywood star Zoe Stenson, TV darling June Sharp, author Toby Masters and mumfluencer Emily Chase, are ready to take part in the world-renowned reality TV show Star Survivor.The plan is to pretend to survive for the cameras, safe in the knowledge they'll be retiring to five-star comfort amongst the palm trees and sparkling blue sea when filming stops.But when the four celebrities are accidentally left on the wrong South Pacific island a truly deserted one no amount of Instagram followers or box office sales will help them.Forced to swap the spotlight for spearfishing, their Bollinger for beach finds, and with the world's press clamouring for them to be found, will it be the making or breaking of these washed-up celebrities?

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Architect Kate O'Connor appears to have it all. A lighthouse home, a successful politician husband and an eight-year-old daughter. Yet everything is not as it seems.A snowstorm approaches, and with it arrives a menacing stranger whose presence will change everything. A haunted man, driven by destiny, set to wreak havoc on Kate's carefully constructed life. Over the course of twenty four hours, as intersecting paths tragically entwine, Kate discovers that everything she holds dear is in peril.Isolated by the unrelenting storm, in a desperate race against time, Kate and her family face a battle of wits with the highest stakes. Their lives.

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Travel back in time to the vibrant 1960s, and join Bridget and her friends, students at the Hereford College of Education, as they dare to defy convention and hitchhike their way through an era of change.Armed with sixpenny Esso road maps and thumbing rides from friendly lorry drivers, they journey through Wales, Scotland and onwards to London. Venturing abroad, they find themselves enchanted by the romance of France, navigate Spanish landscapes fraught with both beauty and danger, fend off proposals of marriage on the back of a lorry travelling through the Atlas Mountains, and revel in the soul-stirring folk music of Ireland.Hit the Road, Gals captures a time when the roads were open, the spirits were free and a group of daring young women carved their own path through a world in transition.

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Okay, I know what you're thinking, but let's get one thing straight: No. I'm not a vampire. I mean, yes, I rely on blood to sustain my part-human, semi-immortal lifestyle, but that's as far as it goes, alright?For the dead man talking, each death is only a new beginning as long as someone can be relied upon to donate enough blood to bring him back to life. But it's hard to fit in when you're legally dead, and a youth marred by constant reinventions has made relationships and employment seem futile. Unable to gain a foothold in the real world, he begins to question what it means to be human, to be a monster, and to exist.Offering a fresh and frequently hilarious take on immortality, Dead Man Talking is the story of one man''s many lives: from a hedonistic quest to determine whether pleasure alone can bring fulfilment, to a wayward journey of discovery with the self-styled King of the Goths. At the point of giving up, he finally comes to understand th

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Photography has long been used to capture events. His finest photograph was to cause them.When Derek takes an intimate photograph of his first love, he sets a sequence of events in motion that threatens them both.When he displays the photograph in public, she loses her freedom and he stands to lose the love of his life. Kidnapped by an extremist group, she faces a forced marriage and total denial of the lifestyle in which she thrives.To rescue her and redeem himself, Derek has to form an alliance with an unlikely source the handsome rival for her love.

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Do you lose hours of your life scrolling social media?Have too many group chats on your smartphone?Do you want to leave them, but don't know how?Then this book is for you. How to Leave a Group Chat is a practical guide that will help you navigate the world of digital communication.Since the late eighties, communication has been developing at a speed that has greatly outpaced us and continues to do so. Social media and instant messengers might just be the tip of the iceberg but, although we enjoy them, they have pushed us into a new digital dimension which has dehumanised us, and we haven't quite had the chance to understand what this means.How to Leave a Group Chat is a ground-breaking book which makes sense of this new digital age whilst providing a fascinating look at how we communicate and how this has changed over time.

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The Claret Pals are just an ordinary group of Burnley FC supporters who meet up at a pub before every away fixture to eat, drink and sing raucous football songs. However, a series of sickeningly gruesome murders begins occurring close to the pubs they're meeting in, and the killer is leaving clues seemingly trying to frame the group.With the evidence piling up, the police begin looking closely at The Claret Pals, assuming that the killer must be one of them. Members of the group decide to take matters into their own hands. With time running out, they desperately begin piecing together a puzzle that becomes more complicated. They need to act swiftly because, unknown to them, the killer has shifted their sights, and The Claret Pals are in the centre of the crosshairs.Will they solve the puzzle and prevent the killer striking against them? Or is it already too late?

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Once upon another time, about a million songs ago, there lived a musical group on a teenager’s bedroom wall. These persons raided her queendom on an ordinary October day, through her dad’s Bakelite wireless. The song they sang was a tuneful newness and she helped it touch number seventeen in a memorable chart of yesterday, specifically 1962. Take a trip across the 1960s through the eyes and mind of Rebecca Beacon, who is twelve years old when she becomes aware of The Beatles, at the very beginning of their ascendancy. Her teenage years are exciting but also saturated with angst and harsh realities, made bearable by her icons as she finds her own musical identity. This semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age story will strike a nostalgic chord for fans of the same generation, but also for the many admirers of the band, who are too young to have witnessed Beatlemania in full flow.

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In the wake of burnout, mental health struggles and a painful breakup, twenty-something Max is feeling lost and seeking solace. He is persuaded by a friend to visit an isolated meditation retreat nestled in the serene French countryside. At first the retreat seems idyllic, but as the week unfolds, Max’s intuition alerts him that something is not right. Why do the staff act so strangely? Why is there a curfew? What are the mysterious noises in the woods at night? As his stay progresses, Max gradually uncovers the retreat’s chilling truth – something that contradicts its façade of serenity and peace. With his sanity at stake, Max navigates the treacherous path within the retreat’s bounds and becomes determined to expose its sinister secret to the outside world. Will Max be able to confront the darkness hidden beneath the retreat’s tranquil surface before it’s too late?

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Against the backdrop of France during the Second World War, Nicole, a young British woman, must face her own challenges. As the Nazi forces advance, Nicole tries to escape to England but becomes separated from her family and eventually returns to occupied Paris. There, as the war intensifies, Nicole’s commitment to the Resistance deepens and she begins to write for the underground Valmy newspaper. However, her growing involvement leads her into increasing danger, facing the constant fear of arrest and execution or deportation. Nicole’s War is an evocative and moving exploration of love, the power of hope in the face of adversity and the unyielding spirit of those who fought for freedom during one of history’s darkest periods.

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Laura, a successful fashion journalist based in London, finds herself uprooted from the world she knows and loves after she moves with her husband and two small children to a dilapidated bungalow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Behind the house is an overgrown garden inhabited by monkeys, snakes and monitor lizards. A swimming pool sits in the shade of a beautiful jacaranda tree. Mariel, the Filipina maid Laura hires, hasn’t seen her own children for nearly ten years. She’s on a mission to escape her abusive past and finally marry the man she loves despite an ongoing battle against prejudice. Laura’s journey is one of self-discovery, Mariel’s is a fight for a better life.

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Danny knows his family is not poor because they have not one, but two tea towels. His mam never learned to cook, so Danny has to do his best. The family lives on the edge of legality, monitored by both police and social services. Life in a fishing port on the east coast in the 1960s is not easy. Aided by the local grocer, Danny takes an illegal job working at the newly opened Chinese restaurant and discovers a passion for cooking. However, he finds it hard to combine his barely functioning family life with his ambitions as a chef; fighting to protect his clever brother, idle sister and prostitute mother, while his father looks after no one but himself. Inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s series of semi-biographical vignettes, Childhood, Boyhood, Youth is a classic coming-of-age novel, cast in a rarely documented setting in the voice of a rarely heard narrator.

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Kit said she was fine. She lied. She said she didn’t care. She cared deeply. Kit’s story is one of control, deception, infertility and guilt, but most of all it’s one of a young woman who longs to be loved. Her life is dominated first by her alcoholic mother and then by Tom, her controlling partner. When his abusive behaviour comes to a head, she escapes the relationship, and takes her first tentative steps towards becoming a stronger woman. A journey on a luxurious cruise liner is going to be one of the most challenging of her life. Whether it has a happy ending or not depends on how brave Kit can be and whether she can shake off the shackles of her past. For Kit, there is everything to play for, but time is running out…

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1575: Nelan Michaels is a young Flemish man fleeing religious persecution in the Spanish Netherlands. Settling in Mortlake outside London, he studies under Queen Elizabeth’s court astrologer, conjuring a bright future – until he’s wrongly accused of murder. Forced into the life of a fugitive, Nelan is dramatically pressed into the crew of the Golden Hind. Thrust into a strange new world on board Francis Drake’s vessel, Nelan sails the seas on a voyage to discover discovery itself. Encountering mutiny, ancient tribes and hoards of treasure, Nelan must explore and master his own mystical powers – including the Mark of the Salamander, the mysterious spirit of fire. The Mark of the Salamander is the first in The Island of Angels series: a two-book saga that tells the epic story and secret history of England’s coming of age during the Elizabethan era.

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How do you get over the loss of your husband? And not only your husband but your home too and all the trappings of your old existence? Gennie moves back to Cornwall in search of a fresh start. Working for Marion’s children’s charity seems perfect. Tucked away in the countryside, close to an artists’ community, it’s a place for Gennie and her daughter, Alice, to rebuild their lives in peace and quiet – until ex-soldier Jack comes along with the same idea in mind, a face from the past, forcing Gennie to confront things she would rather forget and igniting fears of another turbulent relationship. Involving herself with Jack and his problems is the last thing she needs, not now she’s made new friends and opportunities are opening up again, but can either find happiness and a new direction without the other?

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Following an unorthodox first meeting in London in 1964, Patricia Boccadoro got to know Rudolf Nureyev on a personal basis after she moved to live in Paris in the 1970s. In this amusing, informative book, she recounts how exciting it was to see him dance in those heady London years, during his legendary partnership with Margot Fonteyn, before giving a lucid account of his directorship of the Paris Opera Ballet, making it into one of the finest companies in the world. The book culminates with his legacy, demonstrating how, with his extreme intelligence, glamour and passion, he changed the image of the male dancer, making them the equal of the ballerina. Above all, the lively reminiscences of those closest to him, along with a selection of photographs, many rarely seen or unpublished, bring Rudolf to life, casting off the image of a temperamental superstar, and painting a true picture of the immensely kind, fun-loving man behind one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.

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‘Life advice: never unbury a body. Granted, better advice might be don’t murder, but I guess technically I never did that. So I stand by my original statement.’ Clementine Finch’s life just became complicated. Struggling with infertility in a society threatened by overpopulation, Clem returns to her childhood home to mourn the sudden death of her parents. Freedom from the extremist movement against pregnancy – #stopoverpopulation – is a welcome bonus. Reconnecting with figures from her past and chatting to the crows in her garden, Clem spends the winter months tending to her mother’s strangely thriving vegetable patch. But when her troubled brother Billy arrives, paranoid about the wellness brand he works for, Clem feels her quiet life slipping away. Then she discovers her mother’s hidden laboratory and her life is forever changed… Presenting a frighteningly believable version of our future, Fertile Ground examines one woman’s attempts to come to terms with the legacy her mother has left her. A legacy which has the potential to affect the future of every life she cares about – and those she doesn’t.

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Shirin has just arrived from war-stricken Iran to Sweden – her new home. Her and her family must learn to acclimatise to the weather, culture and socialisation of Sweden whilst still staying in touch with their Iranian heritage. Along with her response to such things as a traditional Swedish Christmas lunch, the dating rituals of European teenagers or the social dynamics of an unfamiliar and not always friendly classroom are fascinating glimpses into the lives of a varied community of refugees, eccentrics and drop-outs. These are interspersed with traditional Persian fairy tales and nostalgic memories of her beloved grandmother, which sustain her in her new life. Once Upon A Time in Uppsala is a remarkable, candid and moving account of a sensitive child on the verge of adolescence transplanted from her beloved but suffering homeland into a country which, although politically safe, offers unexpected challenges of its own. “A book of an unusual charm.” Irma Kurtz (Author of My Life in Agony, About Time and Agony Aunt for Cosmopolitan) “This is an exceptionally candid, sensitive and lively account of an immigrant’s experience in an alien society.” Jonathan Keates (Writer, biographer, novelist and former chairman of the Venice in Peril Fund) “Honest, unflinching and thought-provoking, this is a book that will stay with me for a long time...” Awais Khan, (Award-winning author of No Honour) “A moving and fascinating read about displacement, integration, solidarity and friendship.” Daphna Baram (Author of Disenchantment, The Guardian and Israel) “A beautiful, deeply moving account of love, family and friendship. Everyone should read this.” A.A. Chaudhuri (Best-selling author of The Scribe, The Abduction, She’s Mine and The Loyal Friend) “Perfectly captured that fish-out-of-water feeling of being thrown into a baffling new culture.” Heleen Kist (Author of What I Hid From You)

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As a child, Katie loved ponies, all things pink and sparkly and dashing event rider Roger Fleming Bowen. Now in her twenties, she’s escaped a desk job in London, packed her collection of pink polo shirts and moved to Northumberland to work for her childhood hero. The attraction between the two of them is instant and Katie’s keen to win more than rosettes and the silver spurs on offer at the Scottish Championship, but Roger has vowed to never again get involved with his staff, having learnt from casual but disastrous relationships in the past. Then, at an international competition near Inverness, catastrophe strikes for Katie, and Roger is forced to question everything he has been so certain of…

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1780. A time when graceful sailing ships plied the waters of the North Sea by day, but engaged lawlessness and subterfuge against His Majesty’s excisemen by night. Kate Goldsmith, a young woman from Orford, falls in love with a dashing young sailor, but there is more to him than first appears. When she finds out the truth, she hides it from her family and the respectable miller’s son who has come to court her. However, when Jack clashes with the preventive service and finds himself on the run, Kate becomes involved in his escape and unwittingly starts a feud between her two suitors. Set amongst the marshy waterways, rustling reed beds and windblown heaths of Suffolk, Whispers in the Shingle tells a story of ordinary eighteenth-century folk, whose poverty drove many to a life of crime, encouraged and abetted by those who benefited from it.

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