Search results for ""author sister"
University of Texas Press The Unhappy Medium: Spiritualism and the Life of Margaret Fox
“Here, Mr. Split-Foot, do as I do!” exclaimed the child, and the spirits obeyed her command. Thus, in 1848, thirteen-year-old Margaret Fox inaugurated the age of spiritualism. Those early spirit manifestations in a humble New York farmhouse were “but the beginning of a grand seance which for the next half century was to see persons returned from the dead walking upon the earth, mingling freely with mortal Americans. Ceremonies were performed which united in wedlock the living and the dead; ghostly schoolboys returned from the land of the spirits to revisit their old schoolhouses, upsetting the dignity of earthly classrooms . . . Drivers of owl horsecars . . . were intrigued by beautiful female spirits who rode their cars at night and promptly vanished if approached for a fare.” The colorful career of Margaret Fox, the most famous medium of the era and the “fountainhead” of the cult of spiritualism, attracted the attention of the most prominent public figures of the day. For P. T. Barnum, this phenomenon was another novelty to present to the American public. Horace Greeley took a personal interest in Margaret and her sister; he gave the movement extensive publicity. Lincoln often invited Margaret Fox and other mediums to the White House for seances, during which attempts were made to invoke the spirit of the Lincolns’ dead son. Members of Congress, judges, and intellectuals of the day were well acquainted with her and with the spiritualist movement. The course of this spirit invasion and the many and varied means by which men communicated with dwellers of the other world are the subjects of this volume. With Margaret Fox the spirits spoke by rapping on floor and furniture. With others they communicated by writing on slates, by touching with ghostly hands, by moving furniture (one medium was so popular that his furniture followed him about like a pack of dogs). Some spirits spoke directly through the mouths of entranced mediums. And some were so bold—or so talented—that they were able to materialize in the flesh before properly receptive groups of people—and happy indeed was the devotee who received a warm embrace from a lovely young spirit lady or a handsome ghostly gentleman during such a materialization. The spirits who thus displayed their interest in this mortal world soon came to have a considerable influence over whole segments of the American population. For some, spiritualism was a comforting means of maintaining contact with loved ones now departed. For others it was a religion, a blessed aid on the road to salvation. For still others it provided practical assistance with more earthly problems. Many found in it intriguing puzzles for scientific investigation. And for the whole country it provided a constant source of excitement, interest, and entertainment. Written in spritely prose and permeated with a grave humor, this account of nineteenth-century spiritualism will be equally satisfying to the casual reader interested in a good story, and to the scholar seeking serious social history.
£19.99
Random House Publishing Group The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum
America’s first great organized-crime lord was a lady—a nice Jewish mother named Mrs. Mandelbaum.“A tour de force . . . With a pickpocket’s finesse, Margalit Fox lures us into the criminal underworld of Gilded Age New York.”—Liza Mundy, author of The SisterhoodIn 1850, an impoverished twenty-five-year-old named Fredericka Mandelbaum came to New York in steerage and worked as a peddler on the streets of Lower Manhattan. By the 1870s she was a fixture of high society and an admired philanthropist. How was she able to ascend from tenement poverty to vast wealth?In the intervening years, “Marm” Mandelbaum had become the country’s most notorious “fence”—a receiver of stolen goods—and a criminal mastermind. By the mid-1880s as much as $10 million worth of purloined luxury goods (nearly $300 million today) had passed through her Lower East Side shop. Called “the nuc
£23.94
St Martin's Press Fractured Fables
Implacable destiny is no match for courage, sisterhood, stubbornness, and a good working knowledge of fairy tales. Katherine Arden, bestselling author of the Winternight trilogy, on A Spindle SplinteredFollow professional fairy tale fixer, Zinnia Gray, as she helps women get the endings they deserve! First, Sleeping Beauty in A Spindle Splintered, featuring Arthur Rackham''s original illustrations for The Sleeping Beauty, fractured and reimagined. And then, Snow White''s Evil Queen in A Mirror Mended!In A Spindle Splintered, it''s Zinnia Gray''s twenty-first birthday. When she was young, an industrial accident left her with a rare condition and no one who has it has lived to twenty-two.Her best friend is intent on making Zin''s last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, she finds herself cast i
£15.29
Hodder & Stoughton Mummy's Boy: My Autobiography
Acting wasn't a long-held childhood dream for Larry Lamb, instead his childhood memories are filled with recollections of his parents continuously fighting. His mother and father were totally mismatched, the only thing they shared in common was their children and life in the Lamb household veered from laughter and happy moments to hysterical outbursts and terrifying episodes. Larry, the eldest of three children was only too often caught in the middle and found himself at the centre of his father's raging anger, tormented by a man who struggled with the enormity of fatherhood. When his parents' marriage finally broke down, Larry's mother moved out along with her baby daughter and as they grew up, Larry and his brother, Wesley, lived with their father, seeing their mother and sister only in rushed meetings at bus stops and in public parks. For years Larry didn't know where his mum lived and he didn't dare talk of her at home, his mother's presence left a gaping hole. As soon as Larry was old enough, he left home. Putting as much distance as he could between himself and his volatile childhood, he set off on a journey that would take him to work as an encyclopaedia salesman in Germany, in the oil business in Libya and Nova Scotia until he found himself starring on Broadway. In time it would take him to Hollywood too and bring him leading roles on the Square in Eastenders and in Billericay in the much-loved comedy Gavin and Stacey. Along the way Larry wasn't just trying to make his own way in the world, he was seeking the close female companionship he'd missed out on with his mother too. After a series of relationships, he found himself back in England and father to George. Facing fatherhood was a pivotal moment, so easily he could have fallen into the ways of his own father but whilst his marriage to George's mother didn't last, he couldn't let the same mistakes be repeated again and he vowed to have the relationship with his son that he'd never been able to have with his father. Mummy's Boy is by turns heartrending as Larry recalls the relationship broken beyond repair with his father, searingly honest as he describes the effect his childhood had in later life and hugely entertaining as he tells captivating tales of making it as an actor, breaking out from his little world in Essex and finding himself in a new life on stage and screen. 'What a life! I loved it. Almost as good as sitting with him and listening to his stories.' Rob Brydon 'A wonderful story of survival against the odds told with compassion and humour. This is so much more than a showbiz autobiography.' Anne Robinson 'Mummy's Boy manages to be touching, funny and uniquely warm all at once. A must-read.' Best
£14.99
Fordham University Press Sacred Shelter: Thirteen Journeys of Homelessness and Healing
Named a Gift Book for the Discerning New Yorker by The New York Times In a metropolis like New York, homelessness can blend into the urban landscape. For editor Susan Greenfield, however, New York is the place where a community of resilient, remarkable individuals are yearning for a voice. Sacred Shelter follows the lives of thirteen formerly homeless people, all of whom have graduated from the life skills empowerment program, an interfaith life skills program for homeless and formerly homeless individuals in New York. Through frank, honest interviews, these individuals share traumas from their youth, their experience with homelessness, and the healing they have discovered through community and faith. Edna Humphrey talks about losing her grandparents, father, and sister to illness, accident, and abuse. Lisa Sperber discusses her bipolar disorder and her whiteness. Dennis Barton speaks about his unconventional path to becoming a first-generation college student and his journey to reconnect with his family. The memoirists share stories about youth, family, jobs, and love. They describe their experiences with racism, mental illness, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Each of the thirteen storytellers honestly expresses his or her brokenheartedness and how finding community and faith gave them hope to carry on. Interspersed among these life stories are reflections from program directors, clerics, mentors, and volunteers who have worked with and in the life skills empowerment program. In his reflection, George Horton shares his deep gratitude for and solidarity with the 500-plus individuals he has come to know since he co-founded the program in 1989. While religion can be divisive, Horton firmly believes that all faiths urge us to “welcome the stranger” and, as Pope Francis asks, “accompany” them through the struggles of life. Through solidarity and suffering, many formerly homeless individuals have found renewed faith in God and community. Beyond trauma and strife, Dorothy Day’s suggestion that “All is grace” is personified in these thirteen stories. Jeremy Kalmanofsky, rabbi at Ansche Chesed Synagogue, says the program points toward a social fabric of encounter and recognition between strangers, who overcome vast differences to face one another, which in Hebrew is called Panim el Panim. While Sacred Shelter does not tackle the socioeconomic conditions and inequities that cause homelessness, it provides a voice for a demographic group that continues to suffer from systemic injustice and marginalization. In powerful, narrative form, it expresses the resilience of individuals who have experienced homelessness and the hope and community they have found. By listening to their stories, we are urged to confront our own woundedness and uncover our desire for human connection, a sacred shelter on the other side of suffering.
£23.99
Orenda Books The Opposite of Lonely
A body lost at sea, arson, murder, astronauts, wind phones, communal funerals, stalking and conspiracy theories … This can ONLY mean one thing! The Skelfs are back, and things are as tense, unnerving and warmly funny as ever! ‘A terrific read with all of Johnston’s trademark warmth and wicked wit in the latest gripping outing for this beguiling family’ A K Turner ‘Some of the best female characters in crime fiction. Pitch-perfect balance of dark and light … disturbing, compassionate and brilliantly funny’ Sarah Hilary 'The Skelfs series just gets better and better! Outstanding characters and a gripping plot … Doug Johnstone is one of the greats of Scottish crime fiction' Luca Veste ____________ Even death needs company… The Skelf women are recovering from the cataclysmic events that nearly claimed their lives. Their funeral-director and private-investigation businesses are back on track, and their cases are as perplexing as ever. Matriarch Dorothy looks into a suspicious fire at an illegal campsite and takes a grieving, homeless man under her wing. Daughter Jenny is searching for her missing sister-in-law, who disappeared in tragic circumstances, while grand-daughter Hannah is asked to investigate increasingly dangerous conspiracy theorists, who are targeting a retired female astronaut … putting her own life at risk. With a body lost at sea, funerals for those with no one to mourn them, reports of strange happenings in outer space, a funeral crasher with a painful secret, and a violent attack on one of the family, The Skelfs face their most personal – and perilous – cases yet. Doing things their way may cost them everything… Tense, unnerving and warmly funny, The Opposite of Lonely is the hugely anticipated fifth instalment in the unforgettable Skelfs series, and this time, danger comes from everywhere… _________________________ ‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly ‘Authentic female characters … Short, punchy chapters mean that the pace is brisk, and Johnstone’s deft way of portraying old and new characters means that even novice readers of the series won’t be left behind’ Scotsman 'An absolute joy to read … full of such wonderful characters, brilliantly realised, with more peril and intrigue. Certainly the best one yet' James Oswald ‘Wonderful characters: flawed, funny and brave’ Sunday Times Johnstone never fails to entertain whilst packing a serious emotional punch’ Gytha Lodge ‘A unique brand of crime fiction boasting rare heart and depth’ Ambrose Parry ‘Some of the most unique characters in crime fiction’ Daily Express ‘Gritty, atmospheric and, above all, profoundly moving. An emotional education in the most unexpected of ways … I loved it’ Sarah Sultoon ‘A must for those seeking strong, authentic, intelligent female protagonists’ Publishers Weekly ‘The Skelfs books are brilliant’ Miranda Dickinson ***SHORTLISTED FOR THEAKSTON’S OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR***
£9.99
Mira Books The Witches of Moonshyne Manor: A Halloween novel
“Bianca Marais is a genius” — Ann Patchett, #1 New York Times bestselling authorA coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist-gone-wrong. A looming threat.Five octogenarian witches gather as an angry mob threatens to demolish Moonshyne Manor. All eyes turn to the witch in charge, Queenie, who confesses they’ve fallen far behind on their mortgage payments. Still, there’s hope, since the imminent return of Ruby—one of the sisterhood who’s been gone for thirty-three years—will surely be their salvation.But the mob is only the start of their troubles. One man is hellbent on avenging his family for the theft of a legacy he claims was rightfully his. In an act of desperation, Queenie makes a bargain with an evil far more powerful than anything they’ve ever faced. Then things take a turn for the worse when Ruby’s homecoming reveals a seemingly insurmountable obstacle instead of the solution to all their problems.The witches are determined to save their home and themselves, but their aging powers are no match for increasingly malicious threats. Thankfully, they get a bit of help from Persephone, a feisty TikToker eager to smash the patriarchy. As the deadline to save the manor approaches, fractures among the sisterhood are revealed, and long-held secrets are exposed, culminating in a fiery confrontation with their enemies.Funny, tender and uplifting, the novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’ clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama through secrets, lies and sex. Heartbreaking and heart-mending, it will make you grateful for the amazing women in your life.
£9.99
University of California Press The Road Out: A Teacher's Odyssey in Poor America
Can one teacher truly make a difference in her students' lives when everything is working against them? Can a love for literature and learning save the most vulnerable of youth from a life of poverty? The Road Out is a gripping account of one teacher's journey of hope and discovery with her students - girls growing up poor in a neighborhood that was once home to white Appalachian workers, and is now a ghetto. Deborah Hicks, set out to give one group of girls something she never had: a first-rate education, and a chance to live their dreams. A contemporary tragedy is brought to life as she leads us deep into the worlds of Adriana, Blair, Mariah, Elizabeth, Shannon, Jessica, and Alicia: seven girls coming of age in poverty. This is a moving story about girls who have lost their childhoods, but who face the street's torments with courage and resiliency. "I want out," says 10-year-old Blair, a tiny but tough girl who is extremely poor and yet deeply imaginative and precocious. Hicks tries to convey to her students a sense of the power of fiction and of sisterhood to get them through the toughest years of adolescence. But by the time they're sixteen, eight years after the start of the class, the girls are experiencing the collision of their youthful dreams with the pitfalls of growing up in chaotic single-parent families amid the deteriorating cityscape. Yet even as they face disappointments and sometimes despair, these girls cling to their desire for a better future. The author's own life story - from a poorly educated girl in a small mountain town to a Harvard-educated writer, teacher, and social advocate - infuses this chronicle with a message of hope.
£22.50
Little, Brown Book Group WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power and Change the Game
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Based on her inspiring, viral 2018 commencement speech to Barnard College's graduates in New York City, New York Times bestselling author, two-time Olympic gold medallist and FIFA World Cup champion Abby Wambach delivers her empowering rally cry for women to unleash their individual power, unite with their pack, and emerge victorious together.Abby Wambach became a champion because of her incredible talent as a football player. She became an icon because of her remarkable wisdom as a leader. As the co-captain of the 2015 Women's World Cup Champion Team, she created a culture not just of excellence, but of honour, commitment, resilience, and sisterhood. She helped transform a group of individual women into one of the most successful, powerful and united Wolfpacks of all time.In her retirement, Abby's ready to do the same for her new team: All Women Everywhere.She insists that women must let go of old rules of leadership that neither include or serve them. She's created a new set of Wolfpack rules to help women unleash their individual power, unite with their Wolfpack, and change the landscape of their lives and world.· Make failure your fuel: Transform failure to wisdom and power. · Lead from the bench: Lead from wherever you are. · Champion each other: Claim each woman's victory as your own. · Demand the effing ball: Don't ask permission: take what you've earned.In Abby's vision, we are not Little Red Riding Hoods, staying on the path because we're told to. We are the wolves, fighting for a better tomorrow for ourselves, our pack, and all the future wolves who will come after us.
£10.99
University of Wisconsin Press Alien Miss
In her stunning second collection, Carlina Duan illuminates unabashed odes to lineage, small and sacred moments of survival, and the demand to be fully seen 'spangling with light.' Tracing familial lore and love, Duan reflects on the experience of growing up as a diasporic, bilingual daughter of immigrants, exploring the fraught complexities of identity, belonging, and linguistic reclamation. Alien Miss brings forth beautifully powerful voices: immigrants facing the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first Chinese American woman to vote, and matriarchal ancestors. The poems in this ambitious collection are immersed in the knotted blood of sisterhood, both celebrating and challenging conceptions of inheritance and homeland.I browse througharchives full of men and women with long black hair,throwing themselves into the land. thread of grass. threadof immaculate touch. paper son, or paperdaughter. my own papers marked with wings, the pointedtip of an eagle's beak. here, I'm made prey.I pledge allegiance.-Excerpt from 'Alien Miss Confronts the Author'
£16.95
Little, Brown Book Group Star Bringer: One ship. Seven strangers. A space adventure like no other.
One ship. Seven strangers. And all hell's about to break loose.Firefly meets The Breakfast Club in this high-concept sci-fi romance from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff and bestselling author Nina Croft, perfect for fans of Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy.Readers are blown away by STAR BRINGER!'Everything you could possibly want in a story: Action, Romance, Political intrigue, Amazing sci-fi elements, Forced proximity, Found family, Enemies to lovers, Grumpy/sunshine, and so much more' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I love everything about this book. The made-up places, animals and society. The characters and all their quirks. The plot. It is everything'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The twists and turns that this amazing book will give you is indescribable'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐...........................How much space does one princess need?The sun is dying . . . and it's happening way too damn fast.With the clock ticking, the Nine Planets' only hope of survival rests on a fancy space station and the alien artefact it's carrying. Which is why it really sucks when some jackass doesn't want the universe saved and blows that station up - while you're still on it.So if your only choices are flaming death or stealing a flying hunk of space junk - you pick that busted-ass spaceship. Even if it leaves seven strangers with deadly secrets trapped together: a princess, a prisoner, a con artist, a warrior, a priestess, a mercenary, and an asshole in charge of us all.Now every faction in the galaxy is hunting this ship - from the Sisterhood to the Corporation, and the rebellion's joining in on the fun, too. We just need to stop drinking, fighting, and screwing long enough to evade them all and save the freaking universe . . . somehow.Because apparently the only thing standing between a dying sun and ultimate salvation is seven unlikely misfits . . . ahem, heroes............................'Readers will gobble this up' Publishers Weekly
£20.00
James Clarke & Co Ltd Living With Eagles: Marcus Morris, Priest and Publisher
Eagles seemed to dominate Marcus Morris's life. As a clergyman's son, he grew up with the eagle of the church lectern; as a priest himself he had his own lecterns. A brass inkwell topped by a flying eagle became the symbol of the most famous eagle of all - the children's magazine that influenced a generation. Eagle and its sister papers Girl, Swift and Robin were read by millions throughout the 1950s and 60s. They offered excitement in the adventures of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, brilliantly drawn by Frank Hampson; of PC49, Riders of the Range, Tommy Walls, Luck of the Legion, Harris Tweed and Captain Pugwash. Small boys were fascinated by the cutaway drawings of modern wonders like the first jet airliner, by features on science, history and nature, and by the adventures of a roving Special Investigator. The religious and moral framework was strong, though not overstated, with Bible stories and lives of missionaries and saints featured regularly, and young readers were encouraged to become good citizens. David Hockney and Gerald Scarfe had their teenage drawings published in Eagle (the first published work for Scarfe), and many of the original illustrators of the magazine are well-known today - some have contributed cartoons drawn especially for this book. Each issue of Eagle had an Editor's Letter, signed by Marcus Morris, a name as widely known to his young readers as any modern pop idol. The fascinating story of this extraordinary man is now told for the first time. Morris was a radical priest, continually at odds with the Church establishment. His desire to spread the word of Christianity led him into journalism, and his Lancashire parish magazine was read throughout Britain and as far afield as Australia. This magazine was a commercial failure, but its literary success made Morris determined to spread its ethos to children. Eagle was the immensely successful outcome. Morris was a man of contrasts. His clerical status did not prevent him, or his beautiful and successful actress wife, from indulging in extramarital affairs. The success of Eagle and his other magazines brought him no substantial wealth, and his way of life was funded by a generous expense account. After arguments with new masters in Fleet Street he left the company and spent the rest of his working life with the fourth eagle in his life, the symbol of the National Magazine Company which he made one of the most successful publishers in Britain. Though he became disillusioned with the Church, he remained a priest, and in spite of being happily married until his death, he continued to enjoy liaisons with beautiful women. Although a legendary drinker and lover of good living, he was greatly respected, loved, and mourned by employees, parishioners, and his many friends. Prof Stephen Hawking, when asked what influence Dan Dare had on him: 'Why am I in cosmology?' Kenny Everett, on Eagle: 'Marcus made my childhood a lot easier to bear. Every week this divine colour magazine came through the letter box with lots of fab colour adventures; it was glossy and other worldly ... You don't know what this magazine meant to me. It saved me.' With a foreword by Sir Tim Rice.
£13.42
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Before the Dawn: An absolutely heartbreaking WW2 historical romance novel perfect for spring 2023!
When everything you hold dear is torn apart by war, can love put you back together again? It's 1943, and the Second World War is raging. Ruby Mottram works for her local newspaper, the Bartonford Herald, typing up adverts and obituaries, whilst dreaming of a more exciting life. Between her shifts as an ARP warden and caring for her ailing father, the chance for escape doesn't come often to Devon. Meanwhile, in America's deep south, Sam Archer is hatching a plan to raise enough money to get his mother and sister away from his abusive stepfather. Using falsified documents to hide his age, he enlists with the U.S. Army. Two chance encounters bring Ruby and Sam together from opposite sides of the Atlantic, giving them the chance of love, hope and freedom from their troubled lives. But fate, in the shape of D-Day and Omaha Beach, has other ideas. When their very lives are at risk, will their promise to wait for one another be what keeps them alive? For fans of Suzanne Kelman, Ellie Midwood and Catherine Hokin. Readers love Before the Dawn! 'An absolutely stunning book... I adored everything about this. I would definitely watch this if it were a movie! I already can't wait to re-read this' NetGalley 5* Review 'OH MY GODDESS this book has become a new favourite... Ruby and Sam's love is addicting and heart-warming, leaving me feel the same emotions alongside them through every bump in the road. Their love was so enchanting and strong' @haleyyneal, 5* Review 'What a gorgeous book!!... It would make an exquisite movie. The chemistry between the two main characters was off the charts. This book kept me up late into the night turning page by page like it was on fire to see what happened next' NetGalley 5* Review 'I need this to be a movie!... A beautiful story of love and the dual perspective was perfect! I am adding this to my historical fiction favourites' NetGalley 5* Review 'I couldn't put this down! Beautiful writing kept me turning the pages!' NetGalley 5* Review 'Lovely, raw WWII romance... Quite heart-breaking... Definitely a rocky and emotional one... A really great WWII historical romance' Wayfaring_reader, 5* Review 'Wonderful book... If you are a fan of World War novels of history and romance, then you need to read this... A stunning book I couldn't put down. At the end I was overwhelmed with the story and replayed it in my mind for several days. A read not to be missed' Goodreads 5* Review 'I read this over a rainy stormy weekend... Just what I needed to curl up with... This was an immersive, historically well researched story of WW2... All that one might want from this genre: romance, historical fact and some sense of suspense... 5 stars from me!' NetGalley 5* Review
£9.99
Headline Publishing Group Crazy Stupid Bromance: The Bromance Book Club returns with an unforgettable friends-to-lovers rom-com!
The Bromance Book Club was one of Bustle's '21 Rom-Coms To Give You Warm And Fuzzy Feelings All Season Long'!If you love Ali Hazelwood, Sally Thorne and Helen Hoang, you'll LOVE Lyssa Kay Adams!Readers say ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐! 'If you're looking for a feel-good contemporary romance then look no further''This is becoming my favourite romance series. This third instalment maybe the best one yet' 'I cannot even begin to explain how much I love this series! It was sweet and clever and entertaining and had a lovely mix of comedy and seriousness that kept me reading well into the night. Brilliant!!' 'Crazy Stupid Bromance has all the magic I loved about the original . . . A cute, wholesome romance with excellent family dynamics and a realistic show of overcoming one's demons to become a better person' .........................................................................Has the Bromance Book Club met its greatest challenge? Alexis Carlisle and her cat café, ToeBeans, shot to fame after she came forward as a victim of a celebrity chef's sexual harassment. When a new customer approaches to confide in her, the last thing Alexis expects is for the woman to claim they're sisters and to make a life-altering request. Unsure what to do, Alexis turns to the only man she trusts - her best friend, Noah Logan. Computer genius Noah left his rebellious teenage hacker past behind to become a security expert, using his old skills only for the right cause. But Noah has a secret: he's madly in love with Alexis and has never found the right moment to confess his crush. Now that Alexis needs him more than ever, luckily The Bromance Book Club are on hand with their trusty 'manuals' to guide this romance-novel-sceptic out of the friend zone and into taking a shot at the best relationship he's ever had............................................................................Raves for The Bromance Book Club:'A you're-gonna-burn-dinner book because you will not want to put it down. Laugh out loud with tons of heart, this is an absolutely adorable must read' AVERY FLYNN'A delight! . . . I raced to finish this book, but still never wanted it to end!' ALEXA MARTIN'A delightful, fast-paced read with the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud and swoony moments - every town should have a Bromance Book Club' EVIE DUNMORE'It is the reading aloud in this story that ultimately wins my heart, and shows that everything worth knowing can be learned from romance' KC DYERDon't miss any of the charming and swoonworthy Bromance Book Club reads!The Bromance Book ClubUndercover BromanceCrazy Stupid BromanceIsn't It Bromantic?A Very Merry Bromance
£10.99
Sourcebooks, Inc The India Fan
"A mesmerizing story of blackmail, romance, and deception."—Associated PressA parson's daughter, Druscilla Delaney is enthralled by her wealthy, glamorous neighbors—the Framlings—and their handsome son, Fabian. They gift her with a priceless heirloom, a beautiful fan that brings with it a terrible curse. Beautiful as its peacock feathers may be, the priceless fan hidden deep in the Framling mansion has a legacy of death and destruction. And Druscilla has no idea she's been marked by its curse. But the fan's dark past might prove less of a danger than Fabian Framling himself. Dark, brooding, and dominating, will he be the one to save her from the fan's cruel fate…or cause her demise? Including elements of historical romance and romantic suspense, The India Fan is a spellbinding tale from the Queen of Gothic Romance. Fast-paced and gripping, fans of Georgette Heyer, Mary Stewart, and Daphne Du Maurier will be awestruck by this Victorian gothic thriller complete with romance, murder, and mayhem. Other Titles from Victoria HoltPride and the Peacock: To secure her inheritance, Jessica Clavering agrees to a marriage of convenience, but will her handsome new husband's desire for her ever surpass his obsession with a famously cursed opal?The Shivering Sands: Caroline Verlaine's sister has gone missing and no one can tell her why. The only option is to go where Roma was last seen—an estate with a deadly history. The Time of the Hunter's Moon: According to legend, a girl will see her future husband at the time of the hunter's moon. But when the handsome stranger revealed to Cordelia Grant disappears after an all-too-brief encounter, she has to wonder: Was he merely an apparition...or something more?What readers are saying about The India Fan"The India Fan was beautiful. It was long and complex and draining. It was gripping.""Once you start, you can't put it down.""A knock-out novel of mysticism and murder…""This book brings memories!!! I read it when I was in high school and it remains one of my favorite books to read."What reviewers are saying about The India Fan "…romance, curses, dark secrets, and a Gothic tale of epic proportions"—My Book Addiction and More"…an absolutely engrossing read. The story-telling is excellent and I found the historical background fascinating."—Romantic Historical Lovers"Enthralling."—The New York Times Book Review"Fresh and steadily compelling."—Kirkus"Readers will savor this sweeping coming-of-age tale"—Publishers Weekly"The India Fan is one of those epic stories that you can completely immerse yourself in and it will stay in your memory for years."—Great HistoricalsWhat everyone is saying about the Queen of Gothic Romance Victoria Holt"Victoria Holt's writing is captivating"—Bookfoolery"She spins history with romance and intrigue and always leaves me wanting more.""Holt's stories are spell binding....page turners.""I love her books! I have read all of them again and again. She is a wonderful storyteller.""One of the supreme writers of gothic romance, a compelling storyteller whose gripping novels have thrilled millions."—RT Book Reviews
£15.72
Orenda Books Hydra
Elusive online investigative journalist Scott King investigates the case of Arla Macleod, who bludgeoned her family to death, in another episode of the chilling, award-winning Six Stories series.‘Bold, clever and genuinely chilling with a terrific twist that provides an explosive final punch’ Deidre O’Brien, Sunday Mirror‘A genuine genre-bending debut’ Carla McKay, Daily Mail'Impeccably crafted and gripping from start to finish’ Doug Johnstone, The Big Issue________________A family massacreA deluded murderessFive witnessesSix storiesWhich one is true?One cold November night in 2014, in a small town in the north west of England, 21-year-old Arla Macleod bludgeoned her mother, father and younger sister to death with a hammer, in an unprovoked attack known as the Macleod Massacre. Now incarcerated at a medium-security mental-health institution, Arla will speak to no one but Scott King, an investigative journalist, whose Six Stories podcasts have become an internet sensation.King finds himself immersed in an increasingly complex case, interviewing five witnesses and Arla herself, as he questions whether Arla’s responsibility for the massacre was a diminished as her legal team made out.As he unpicks the stories, he finds himself thrust into a world of deadly forbidden ‘games’, online trolls, and the mysterious black-eyed kids, whose presence seems to extend far beyond the delusions of a murderess…Dark, chilling and gripping, Hydra is both a classic murder mystery and an up-to-the-minute, startling thriller, that shines light in places you may never, ever want to see again.________________Praise for the Six Stories seriesMatt Wesolowski brilliantly depicts a desperate and disturbed corner of north-east England in which paranoia reigns and goodness is thwarted … an exceptional storyteller' Andrew Michael Hurley‘Beautifully written, smart, compassionate – and scary as hell. Matt Wesolowski is one of the most exciting and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North‘Wonderfully horrifying … the suspense crackles’ James Oswald‘Original, inventive and dazzlingly clever’ Fiona Cummins‘A complex and subtle mystery, unfolding like dark origami to reveal the black heart inside’ Michael Marshall Smith‘Endlessly inventive and with literary thrills a-plenty, Matt Wesolowski is boldly carving his own uniquely dark niche in fiction’ Benjamin Myers‘Disturbing, compelling and atmospheric, it will terrify and enthral you in equal measure’ M W Craven‘Readers of Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping and fans of Ruth Ware will enjoy this slim but compelling novel’ Booklist‘A relentless and original work of modern rural noir which beguiles and unnerves in equal measure. Matt Wesolowski is a major talent’ Eva Dolan‘The very epitome of a must-read’ Heat‘Haunting, horrifying, and heartrending. Fans of Arthur Machen, whose unsettling tale The White People provides an epigraph, will want to check this one out’ Publishers Weekly‘For those who like the book they curl up with in their favourite slipper socks to generate a powerful sense of unease, and impel them to check all doors are locked and as many lights turned on as possible, Matt Wesolowski has just the formula to meet your self-scaring needs… ‘ Strong Words
£8.99
Hodder & Stoughton The Prey: the gripping international bestseller and Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year 2023
'Mesmerising and atmospheric, with entrancing descriptions of landscape' *** A SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR ***THE FIRST PHONE CALL SHOCKS A FAMILYA box of photo albums is found in the attic of a house in Höfn, a small fishing village on the south coast of Iceland. The new owners return it to the man who sold them the house, along with a muddied child's shoe with a name written on the sole: Salvor. The man is baffled; they never knew anyone called that. Shortly after the phone rings - it's the nursing home where his mother, an Alzheimer's patient, lives. She's suffered a heart attack and the doctors don't expect her to live much longer. The nurse asks him to let his sister, Salvör, know as well. Their mother has been asking for her.THE SECOND TRACKS TWO MISSING COUPLES Jóhanna is a member of a search and rescue team in Höfn and she's searching for two couples from Reykjavik. Their phones' last location has been pinpointed as the road leading up into the highlands. It's far from clear why these people would have made such a risky trip in the middle of the harsh winter, and they soon find the first dead body. More troubling, Johanna senses her team is being tracked out in the snow.A THIRD FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE? Hjörvar works at the Stokksnes Radar Station in the highlands. He is alone when the phone connected to the gate rings. It's the first time it's done so since he began working there five months ago. He picks up the phone but can hear only interference and what sounds like a child's voice asking for her mother.How are these events connected? And what may be searching for its prey out on the ice?'A nail-biting, ice-cold tale of horror. Twisty, twisted and scary as hell' C.J. TUDOR'Sigurdardottir is a skilled hand and ties all her threads and twists together neatly, but it's her thrilling tale of a struggle to survive in freezing temperatures, under a sky that never seems to lighten, that provides the real chill factor here' OBSERVER'Atmospheric, twisty' HEAT'An extraordinarily creepy mystery. Sigurdardottir can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up whether describing the weird and wintry terrain of southern Iceland or the odd behaviour of a cat called Puss. The outer darkness reflects that within the characters. One of the doomed hikers asks herself: "Was there no end to the wretchedness and cruelty of the world?" The answer she receives will make your blood run cold' THE TIMES'Dark, creepy, and gripping from beginning to end' STUART MACBRIDE'Yrsa gets better with each book' LIZ NUGENT'Such engaging characters and a compelling, twisted and creepy mystery' SHARI LAPENA'Atmospheric, mysterious and brilliantly plotted' MARI HANNAH
£22.41
Allen & Unwin Her Mother's Daughter
Hello! magazine's April 2018 'book of the week'Set across two decades in London and Ireland, Her Mother's Daughter sees the lives of a troubled and emotionally abusive mother and her innocent ten-year-old daughter change forever after one summer holiday.1980: Josephine flees her home in Ireland, hoping never to return. She starts a new, exciting life in London, but as much as she tries, she can't quite leave the trauma of her childhood behind.Seventeen years and two children later, Josephine gets a call from her sister to tell her that their mother is dying and wants to see her - a summons she can't refuse.1997: Ten-year-old Clare is counting down to the summer holidays, when she is going to meet her grandparents in Ireland for the first time. She hopes this trip will put an end to her mum's dark moods - and drinking.But family secrets can't stay buried forever and following revelations in Ireland, everything starts to unravel. Have Josephine and her daughter passed the point of no return?What readers are saying about Her Mother's Daughter:'Beautifully written; it really draws you in and keeps you engrossed all the way through. I actually read it in one sitting because I just got so absorbed in it. It's a heartbreaking novel but it does leave you with a real feeling of hope. I definitely recommend this book!' Rather Too Fond of Books'An impressive debut... a book that will make you stop and think...and that can only be a good thing.' Writing.ie 'A novel which reflects on a wider, more universal exploration of mental health, the role of a mother, parenting and formative experiences.' Bibliomaniac'A deft evocation of the damage caused by family... Disturbing yet engaging read.' NeverImitate'It engaged me as a reader so much so, I read into the early hours to find out how Josephine and Claire faired, if their frail and damaged relationship could be healed... This book is a perfect example of the powerful influence literature can have on the reader.' BOOKSAREMYCWTCHESBOOKSAREMYCWTCH'A gripping and moving read which dealt with some harrowing themes as it tells the story of a family coming to terms with the impact of long hidden secrets.' The Owl on the Bookshelf'This story has a raw, heartfelt quality that I found very arresting... There's insight, subtlety and compassion in the handling of mental illness... A compelling read.' Charity Norman, five-star review'WOW, I felt every emotion possible reading this story. I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down until I finished it.' Audrey, five-star review'A poignant and well-observed tale of how the consequences of tragic and traumatic events can unravel over a lifetime, and throughout the generations of a family.' Cat T, five-star review'An emotionally honest portrayal of how trauma can be passed down through generations.' Felicity Hughes, five-star review'An extremely poignant tale, told from the two perspectives of mother and daughter... It was wonderfully uplifting to hear the thoughts of a child and also, at times, desperately heart breaking.' Melanie Lewis, five-star review
£8.42
Little, Brown Book Group Absolutely Smashing It: When #fml means family
***Unmissable, hilarious and kind, this is the first novel from Kathryn Wallace, who blogs as I Know, I Need to Stop Talking***"SAM! AVA! Get downstairs, NOW. Have you done your TEETH? HAIR? SHOES? Come on, come on, come on, we're going to be bastarding late again. No, I haven't seen Lego Optimus Prime, and nor do I give a shit about his whereabouts. Sam, will you stop winding your sister up and take this model of the Shard that I painstakingly sat up and created for you last night so that I wouldn't be in trouble with your teacher. I mean, so that you wouldn't be in trouble with your teacher. No, it doesn't smell of 'dirty wine'. Well, maybe it does a little bit. Look, Sam, I haven't got time to argue. Just hold your nose and get in the car, okay? AVA! TEETH! HAIR! SHOES!" Gemma is only just holding it together - she's a single parent, she's turning 40 and her seven-year-old daughter has drawn a cruelly accurate picture which locates Gemma's boobs somewhere around her knees. So when her new next-door neighbour, Becky, suggests that Gemma should start dating again, it takes a lot of self-control not to laugh in her face. But Becky is very persuasive and before long Gemma finds herself juggling a full-time job, the increasingly insane demands of the school mums' Facebook group and the tricky etiquette of a new dating world. Not only that, but Gemma has to manage her attraction to her daughter's teacher, Tom, who has swapped his life in the City for teaching thirty six to seven year olds spelling, grammar, basic fractions - and why it's not ok to call your classmate a stinky poo-bum...It's going to be a long year - and one in which Gemma and Becky will learn a really crucial lesson: that in the end, being a good parent is just about being good enough.Readers love this hilarious, fast paced slice of family life:***** Utterly hysterical - NetGalley Reader***** Brilliant... Funny, touching and modern... just amazing - NetGalley Reader***** I have been a mum at the school gates and the observations in this book are spot on. I shall be recommending it to all the school mums I know - NetGalley Reader**** A perfect read to snort with laughter over whilst lying in a bath with a glass of bubbles (if you can get the kids to stay out of the bathroom for long enough)! - NetGalley Reader**** Kathryn Wallace has Absolutely Smashed It with this novel. I loved it and couldn't put it down... had me properly laughing out loud several times - NetGalley Reader**** This will make you giggle about life as a parent where we are all spinning plates of different sizes and at different speeds. I would recommend wholeheartedly to fellow friends who are also spinning their own plates! - NetGalley Reader***** A hilariously, honest, open, recognisable and highly relatable story - NetGalley Reader***** A light hearted but honest look at mummies, yummy mummies and can't quite manage everything mummies - NetGalley Reader
£13.49
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Book of Magic
‘Full of Hoffman’s bewitching and lucid prose and vivid characters, The Book of Magic is ultimately about the very human magic of family and love and actions that echo through generations… it casts a spell’ —Matt HaigTHE STUNNING, UNFORGETTABLE CONCLUSION TO THE BELOVED PRACTICAL MAGIC SERIES For centuries, the Owens family has been cursed in matters of love. When beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the sound of the deathwatch beetle, she knows that it is a signal. She has finally discovered the secret to breaking the curse, but time is running out. She has only seven days to live. Unaware of the family’s witchcraft lineage and all it entails, one of the young sisters of the new Owens generation has fallen in love. As the curse strikes once again, her love’s fate hangs in the balance, spurring three generations of Owens to venture back to where it all began and use their gifts to break the spell that has marked all their lives. But doing so threatens to destroy everything the family has fought so hard to protect. How much will they give up for the greatest gift of all?'This page-turning Atlantic-crossing caper is, above all, a paean to family love... These fast fairytales for grown-ups are full of enchanting comfort – more escapist than curse' —Sunday Times'A satisfying tale springs from a slow beginning, packing in escapist fable, real-world savvy and incidents galore' —Mail on Sunday'Delightfully witchy... Alluring on its own, it's also a satisfying end to a timeless saga' —New York Times Book ReviewPRAISE for ALICE HOFFMAN ‘Beautiful, harrowing, a major contribution to twenty-first century literature’Toni Morrison ‘I am still reeling from The Dovekeepers – from the history Alice Hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. But most of all, this novel is one that will never be forgotten by a reader.’Jodi Picoult ‘In her remarkable new novel, Alice Hoffman holds a mirror to our ancient past as she explores the contemporary themes of sexual desire, women’s solidarity in the face of strife, and the magic that’s quietly present in our day-to-day living. Put The Dovekeepers at the pinnacle of Hoffman’s extraordinary body of work. I was blown away.’Wally Lamb ‘Alice Hoffman takes seemingly ordinary lives and lets us see and feel extraordinary things.’Amy Tan ‘Miss Hoffman heals wounds with the gentle touch of an angel’Joseph Heller 'Oh, what a book this is! Hoffman’s exploration of the world of good and evil, and the constant contest between them, is unflinching; and the humanity she brings to us – it is a glorious experience.'Elizabeth Strout
£9.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd The Book of Magic
‘Full of Hoffman’s bewitching and lucid prose and vivid characters, The Book of Magic is ultimately about the very human magic of family and love and actions that echo through generations… it casts a spell’ —Matt HaigTHE STUNNING, UNFORGETTABLE CONCLUSION TO THE BELOVED PRACTICAL MAGIC SERIES For centuries, the Owens family has been cursed in matters of love. When beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the sound of the deathwatch beetle, she knows that it is a signal. She has finally discovered the secret to breaking the curse, but time is running out. She has only seven days to live. Unaware of the family’s witchcraft lineage and all it entails, one of the young sisters of the new Owens generation has fallen in love. As the curse strikes once again, her love’s fate hangs in the balance, spurring three generations of Owens to venture back to where it all began and use their gifts to break the spell that has marked all their lives. But doing so threatens to destroy everything the family has fought so hard to protect. How much will they give up for the greatest gift of all?'This page-turning Atlantic-crossing caper is, above all, a paean to family love... These fast fairytales for grown-ups are full of enchanting comfort – more escapist than curse' —Sunday Times'A satisfying tale springs from a slow beginning, packing in escapist fable, real-world savvy and incidents galore' —Mail on Sunday'Delightfully witchy... Alluring on its own, it's also a satisfying end to a timeless saga' —New York Times Book ReviewPRAISE for ALICE HOFFMAN ‘Beautiful, harrowing, a major contribution to twenty-first century literature’Toni Morrison ‘I am still reeling from The Dovekeepers – from the history Alice Hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. But most of all, this novel is one that will never be forgotten by a reader.’Jodi Picoult ‘In her remarkable new novel, Alice Hoffman holds a mirror to our ancient past as she explores the contemporary themes of sexual desire, women’s solidarity in the face of strife, and the magic that’s quietly present in our day-to-day living. Put The Dovekeepers at the pinnacle of Hoffman’s extraordinary body of work. I was blown away.’Wally Lamb ‘Alice Hoffman takes seemingly ordinary lives and lets us see and feel extraordinary things.’Amy Tan ‘Miss Hoffman heals wounds with the gentle touch of an angel’Joseph Heller 'Oh, what a book this is! Hoffman’s exploration of the world of good and evil, and the constant contest between them, is unflinching; and the humanity she brings to us – it is a glorious experience.'Elizabeth Strout
£15.29
Chronicle Books Wash Day Diaries
From writer Jamila Rowser and artist Robyn Smith comes a captivating graphic novel about the daily lives of four best friends in the Bronx, told through five interlocking short stories. “Wash Day” follows Kim through the quiet self-care rituals of her wash day—the universal experience shared by Black women of setting aside all plans and responsibilities for a full day of hair care. “Group Chat” sees Tanisha filling her many hours at the salon by texting her friends all her latest gossip. “Bright Side” is a quiet portrait of Davene missing a hair appointment as she struggles with her mental health and gets well-meaning, but misguided support from Cookie. In “La Bendición,” Cookie receives an unexpected request from her estranged abuela and heals a family rift during a tender moment of hair care. “Ride or Die” takes place on Saturday night, when the girls have each other’s backs as they head triumphantly to the club for Kim’s big show. Inspired by her own wash day ritual and a desire to see more comics for and by women of color, Jamila Rowser collaborated with Robyn Smith to create the critically acclaimed mini comic, WASH DAY. In expanding the story of Kim and her friends, the authors pay tribute to Black sisterhood through portraits of shared, yet deeply personal experiences of Black hair care. Smith brings these stories to life in her art through thoughtful color choices, expressive storytelling, and deeply real characters. Full of tender, relatable, and laugh out loud funny moments, the stories of WASH DAY DIARIES pay a loving tribute to the beauty and resilience of Black women’s hair and friendships.
£13.49
Atria Books Purple Rising: Celebrating 40 Years of the Magic, Power, and Artistry of The Color Purple
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize–winning masterpiece The Color Purple—as well as the acclaimed 1985 film from Steven Spielberg, the Tony-winning Broadway musical, and the all-new film adaptation with this gorgeously designed exploration of the novel’s enduring legacy, featuring contributions from Alice Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Danny Glover, and more. Since its publication in 1982, The Color Purple has resonated with generations of readers across the globe. The novel catapulted author Alice Walker to international fame, brought Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg acting acclaim in the 1985 film adaptation, and inspired theatrical productions around the world, including the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical. This cultural touchstone—which so profoundly touches on race, family, survival, spirituality, sisterhood, and love in all forms—continues to beget new iterations, most recently a feature film. Now, an in-depth exploration celebrates The Color Purple’s ever-expanding legacy as never before: Purple Rising features oral histories and fresh anecdotes based on more than fifty original interviews, as well as vibrant, never-before-seen images. It reveals the crucial real-life experiences that inspired the novel, and the transcendent humanity of its themes that continue to connect with audiences, each new adaptation speaking to the changing times and cultural contexts. Creators, actors, producers, activists, cultural critics, and well-known fans comment on the power of Walker’s story and how it has affected their lives and artistic choices, including Whoopi Goldberg, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, Halle Bailey, Blitz Bazawule, Jon Batiste, H.E.R., Salamishah Tillet, Ricky Dillard, Gabrielle Union, and many more. An insightful and vivid celebration of an enduring classic, Purple Rising is the ultimate gift for fans of all ages and a true celebration of Black joy, storytelling, and achievement.
£31.50
Johns Hopkins University Press Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico: Heloderma, Micruroides, Micrurus, Pelamis, Agkistrodon, Sistrurus
Carl and Evelyn Ernst have completely revised their landmark reference Venomous Reptiles of North America to present the most comprehensive review of these animals in years. Volume One of this definitive work presents dramatically improved species accounts of the venomous lizards and elapid and viperid snakes found north of Mexico's twenty-fifth parallel. Volume Two will cover the twenty-one rattlesnakes found in the United States, Canada, and, for the first time, species found only in northern Mexico. Ernst and Ernst have painstakingly researched and verified the highly valuable and detailed information in this volume, including every detail of the lives of these fascinating and sometimes deadly animals. Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico provides facts on each animal's diet, reproductive behavior, physiology, ecology, and conservation status. The book also covers details on snakebite, how venom is delivered, venom composition, antivenom production, and medical treatments of envenomation. Each species account includes vivid photographs that aid with identification and detailed maps that show the species range. Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico represents the latest research on these animals and includes the most extensive bibliography of literature on the subject. Anyone with an interest in venom, snakes, or herpetology in general will find a wealth of information within the pages of these impressive volumes.
£77.75
Johns Hopkins University Press The Chesapeake Book of the Dead: Tombstones, Epitaphs, Histories, Reflections, and Oddments of the Region
"There is a romantic, nostalgic, pleasantly melancholy feeling to old cemeteries that is hard to define but easy to experience. Perhaps it is because we can feel the direct link to our past that no history book, no movie, no historical fantasy can ever convey. These stones and these unkempt grounds are the hard evidence of lives that came before us. Once, these people lived and breathed, loved, worked, fought, hoped and despaired, and experienced their triumphs and failures just as we do today. And, although we seldom care to acknowledge it, we will inevitably go where they have gone."-from the Preface For the many people who enjoy walking through old cemeteries, exploring forgotten and overgrown graveyards, and reading the names, dates, and epitaphs of the dead, the Chesapeake Bay region offers a rich assortment of final resting places, many dating back to the early 1600s. From Williamsburg to Havre de Grace, it is not uncommon to see a number of the living wandering among the markers of the dead. Some are genealogists and historians, others come in search of quietude and a tangible connection to the past. In The Chesapeake Book of the Dead, Helen Chappell and photographer Starke Jett survey this rich legacy, from the vast and imposing Arlington National Cemetery to lone graves so modest as to have been lost almost as soon as they were dug. Chappell and Jett visit graveyards of the famous and the obscure, wander through cemeteries dotted with both elaborate funerary and simple, weather-beaten headstones, and discover epitaphs that range from the literary to the amusing to the poignant. As old grave sites disappear under developers' bulldozers, through neglect, and at the hands of unscrupulous headstone collectors, this remarkable book offers a unique and elegiac look at our past and its tales of love and tragedy. Among the cemeteries explored are Southeast Washington's Congressional Cemetery (posthumous home to composer John Philip Sousa, FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, pioneering feminist and muckraking journalist Anne Royall, and Choctaw chief and notable military tactician Pushmataha); Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery (built in the 1830s as Baltimore's first sylvan graveyard); and Westminster Burying Ground in downtown Baltimore. At Westminster lies the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, which a mysterious figure visits each year on Poe's birthday to leave roses and a bottle of brandy. The book also describes the final resting places for such celebrities as Dorothy Parker (Chappell located her ashes at the NAACP headquarters in Baltimore), F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (buried in Rockville at Scott's wish, because, he insisted, "I belong here," in Maryland, "where everything is civilized and gay and rotted and polite"), and cosmopolitan actress Tallulah Bankhead (interred in a plot her sister provided near Chestertown). Included throughout this fascinating book are essays on mourning fashion and deathbed performances, graveyard ghost stories, discussions of efforts to save historic cemeteries, and notes from the diary of a nineteenth-century doctor who today is buried in Rising Sun Cemetery alongside many of his patients. Chappell's lively prose, accompanied by Jett's haunting black-and-white photographs, will delight all those drawn to the seclusion, peacefulness, and melancholy of old graveyards. Jacket illustration: Lower Hooper's Island, Maryland
£36.91
St Martin's Press A Spindle Splintered
USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow's A Spindle Splintered brings her patented charm to a new version of a classic story. Featuring Arthur Rackham's original illustrations for The Sleeping Beauty, fractured and reimagined. "A vivid, subversive and feminist reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, where implacable destiny is no match for courage, sisterhood, stubbornness and a good working knowledge of fairy tales." -Katherine Arden It's Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no-one has lived past twenty-one. Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.
£13.99
Hay House Inc Mind to Matter: The Astonishing Science of How Your Brain Creates Material Reality
Best Health Book of 2018 - American Book Fest. Best Science Books of 2018 - Bookbub. Every creation begins as a thought, from a symphony to a marriage to an ice cream cone to a rocket launch. When we have an intention, a complex chain of events begins in our brains. Thoughts travel as electrical impulses along neural pathways. When neurons fire together they wire together, creating electromagnetic fields. These fields are invisible energy, yet they influence the molecules of matter around us the way a magnet organizes iron filings. In Mind to Matter, award-winning researcher Dawson Church explains the science showing how our minds create matter. Different intentions produce different fields and different material creations. The thoughts and energy fields we cultivate in our minds condition the atoms and molecules around us. We can now trace the science behind each link in chain from thought to thing, showing the surprising ways in which our intentions create the material world. The science in the book is illustrated by many authentic case histories of people who harnessed the extraordinary power of the mind to create. They include: Adeline, whose Stage 4 cancer disappeared after she imagined "healing stars" Raymond Aaron and two of his clients, each of whom manifested $1 million in the same week Elon Musk, who bounced back from devastating tragedy to found Tesla and SpaceX Graham Phillips, who grew the emotional regulation part of his brain by 22.8% in two months Jennifer Graf, whose grandfather's long-dead radio came to life to play love songs the day of her wedding Harold, whose 80% hearing loss reversed in an hour Joe Marana, whose deceased sister comforted him from beyond the grave Rick Geggie, whose clogged arteries cleared up the night before cardiac surgery Matthias Rust, a teen whose "airplane flight for peace" changed the fate of superpowers Wanda Burch, whose dream about cancer told the surgeon exactly where to look for it An MIT freshman student who can precipitate sodium crystals with his mind John, who found himself floating out of his body and returned to find his AIDS healed Dean, whose cortisol levels dropped by 48% in a single hour In Mind to Matter, Dawson Church shows that these outcomes aren't a lucky accident only a few people experience. Neuroscientists have measured a specific brain wave formula that is linked to manifestation. This "flow state" can be learned and applied by anyone. New discoveries in epigenetics, neuroscience, electromagnetism, psychology, vibration, and quantum physics connect each step in the process by which mind creates matter. They show that the whole universe is self-organizing, and when our minds are in a state of flow, they coordinate with nature's emergent intelligence to produce synchronous outcomes. The book contained over 150 photos and illustrations that explain the process, while an "Extended Play" section at the end of each chapter provides additional resources. As Mind to Matter drops each piece of the scientific puzzle into place, it leaves us with a profound understanding of the enormous creative potential of our minds. It also gives us a road map to cultivating these remarkable brain states in our daily lives.
£18.99
Headline Publishing Group Meant to be Mine: What if you knew exactly when you'd meet the love of your life?
What if you knew exactly when you'd meet the love of your life?'(A) fun yet surprisingly emotional romp that's tailor-made for beachside reading' VOGUE'Beach-reading at its best' COLLEEN OAKLEY'Orenstein is the master of the modern romance' ELYSSA FRIEDLANDA witty and modern new love story in the vein of Rebecca Serle and Chloe Benjamin about a woman who knows the date she'll meet her true love - only he isn't quite as perfect as she always imagined.'I LOVED this book! It had an incredibly unique and fun premise and I absolutely fell in love with Edie's family'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'Orenstein writes fabulous rom-coms, full of delightful characters, guaranteed to melt your heart and make you smile, and this is no exception'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'A romance with a very unique twist'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'A brilliant rom com that I highly recommend'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'This book completely surpassed my expectations in so many ways'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review'A gorgeous and mind altering thing to read!'⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review..................................................Edie Meyer knows her date. Her grandmother Gloria has accurately predicted the day every single member of the family has met their match. Edie's is June 24, 2022, when she's twenty-nine years old. That morning, she boards an airplane to her twin sister's surprise engagement, and when a handsome musician sits beside her, she knows it's meant to be. But fate comes with more complications than Edie expected, and she can't fight the nagging suspicion that her perfect guy doesn't have perfect timing. And after a shocking revelation rocks Edie's carefully constructed world, she's forced to consider whether love chooses us, as simple as destiny, or if we choose it ourselves...................................................'With its unique premise and a lovable cast of characters (including one super-hot rock star) Meant to Be Mine is beach-reading at its best' COLLEEN OAKLEY'Meant to Be Mine is a compulsively-readable, effortlessly charming and thoroughly relatable book about the role of fate and the meaning of a soulmate. Orenstein is the master of the modern romance, and in this book she is at her best' ELYSSA FRIEDLAND'A heartfelt and unique spin on the concept of fate versus free will, Hannah Orenstein's Meant to Be Mine had me turning pages at a breakneck speed. The ending was absolutely perfect' TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES'Orenstein takes a fascinating premise . . . and spins it into a sparkling celebration of love in all of its forms. This book has plenty of swoon-worthy romance, but it's also an effervescent love letter to family, New York City, and the magic of a great martini' LAURA HANKIN'A rom-com-styled novel in the vein of Cecilia Ahern's PS, I Love You, exploring the power of tradition, obligation, and free will. A perfect beach read, Meant to Be Mine is a fun and flirty story dripping with style and charm' BOOKLIST
£9.99
Little, Brown Book Group Absolutely Smashing It: When #fml means family
***Unmissable, hilarious and kind, this is the first novel from Kathryn Wallace, who blogs as I Know, I Need to Stop Talking***"SAM! AVA! Get downstairs, NOW. Have you done your TEETH? HAIR? SHOES? Come on, come on, come on, we're going to be bastarding late again. No, I haven't seen Lego Optimus Prime, and nor do I give a shit about his whereabouts. Sam, will you stop winding your sister up and take this model of the Shard that I painstakingly sat up and created for you last night so that I wouldn't be in trouble with your teacher. I mean, so that you wouldn't be in trouble with your teacher. No, it doesn't smell of 'dirty wine'. Well, maybe it does a little bit. Look, Sam, I haven't got time to argue. Just hold your nose and get in the car, okay? AVA! TEETH! HAIR! SHOES!" Gemma is only just holding it together - she's a single parent, she's turning 40 and her seven-year-old daughter has drawn a cruelly accurate picture which locates Gemma's boobs somewhere around her knees. So when her new next-door neighbour, Becky, suggests that Gemma should start dating again, it takes a lot of self-control not to laugh in her face. But Becky is very persuasive and before long Gemma finds herself juggling a full-time job, the increasingly insane demands of the school mums' Facebook group and the tricky etiquette of a new dating world. Not only that, but Gemma has to manage her attraction to her daughter's teacher, Tom, who has swapped his life in the City for teaching thirty six to seven year olds spelling, grammar, basic fractions - and why it's not ok to call your classmate a stinky poo-bum...It's going to be a long year - and one in which Gemma and Becky will learn a really crucial lesson: that in the end, being a good parent is just about being good enough.Readers love this hilarious, fast paced slice of family life:***** Utterly hysterical - NetGalley Reader***** Brilliant... Funny, touching and modern... just amazing - NetGalley Reader***** I have been a mum at the school gates and the observations in this book are spot on. I shall be recommending it to all the school mums I know - NetGalley Reader**** A perfect read to snort with laughter over whilst lying in a bath with a glass of bubbles (if you can get the kids to stay out of the bathroom for long enough)! - NetGalley Reader**** Kathryn Wallace has Absolutely Smashed It with this novel. I loved it and couldn't put it down... had me properly laughing out loud several times - NetGalley Reader**** This will make you giggle about life as a parent where we are all spinning plates of different sizes and at different speeds. I would recommend wholeheartedly to fellow friends who are also spinning their own plates! - NetGalley Reader***** A hilariously, honest, open, recognisable and highly relatable story - NetGalley Reader***** A light hearted but honest look at mummies, yummy mummies and can't quite manage everything mummies - NetGalley Reader
£8.99
Levine Querido Salsa Magic
BEST OF THE YEAR: Chicago Public Library - Kirkus A magical debut middle-grade novel filled with loud but loving family members, santería, and powerful orishas, set in New York City. Thirteen-year-old Maya Beatriz Montenegro Calderon has vivid recurring dreams where she hears the ocean calling her. Mami's side of the family is known as Los Locos, so maybe she actually is going crazy. But no time for that; the family business is where it's at. Whenever Maya, her sister Salma, and her three cousins, Ini, Mini, and Mo, aren't at school, you can usually find three generations of Calderones at Café Taza, serving up sandwiches de pernil, mofongo, and the best cafés con leche in all of Brooklyn. One day, an unexpected visit from the estranged Titi Yaya from Puerto Rico changes everything. Because Yaya practices santería, Abuela tells Maya and the other Calderon children to stay away from her. But If la viejita is indeed estranged from the family, why does Maya feel so connected to this woman she has never met before? And who is this orisha named Yemaya? On top of figuring all this out, Maya has a budding soccer career to consider, while fending off the local bully, and dealing with nascent feelings toward her teammate. But through it all, there's that alluring connection to a forbidden ancient practicefilled with a pantheon of Yoruban gods and goddessesthat keeps tugging at her, offering her a new perspective in life, tying her past to her present and future. Which path will Maya choose to fulfill her destiny? P R A I S E ? Beguiling Maya's lively voice dazzles amid a standout cast that includes her lovably unruly cousins as well as memorable neighbors and classmates of varied Black and Latine heritages. In this evocative multigenerational tale, Marrero cultivates a rich N.Y.C. setting that feels like a character in itself, bursting with even richer depictions of cultural traditions. Publishers Weekly (starred) ? An expertly written exploration of an Afro-Latine family's history and the pantheon of West African gods. Marrero's debut beautifully weaves together themes of family trauma, first crushes, spirituality, and history as Maya embarks on her journey of self-discovery. An uplifting, beautifully rendered story of family bonds and embracing the unknown. Kirkus (starred) ? In this novel steeped in family lore and West African Yoruba beliefs, Maya navigates old ideas and thirsts for new knowledge as she discovers how she fits into her vibrant family and the world beyond. Maya's first-person narrative is endearing and relatable, and peppered with Spanish. Readers are transported to the streets of Brooklyn and treated to the sights, sounds, and smells of life in the restaurant. Characters are as diverse as the streets of New York. School Library Journal (starred) Richly textured Marrero, who is of Puerto Rican and Black Dominican descent, does a wonderful job of weaving the spiritual into corporeal affairs like soccer matches, clumsy flirting and sibling rivalry. But it's Maya who ultimately steals the show. Matt de la Peña for the New York Times Book Review A spirited debut about finding oneself, familial love, and forgiveness. Booklist
£11.74
Orenda Books The Source
A young TV journalist is forced to revisit her harrowing past when she’s thrust into a sex-trafficking investigation in her hometown. A startling, searing, debut thriller by award-winning CNN journalist Sarah Sultoon. ‘A brave and thought-provoking debut novel. Sarah Sultoon tackles a challenging and disturbing subject without sensation, and her sensitive handling, tight plotting and authentic storytelling make for a compelling read’ Adam Hamdy ‘A stunning debut … a powerhouse writer’ Jo Spain ‘Delving into corruption, abuse of power and the resilience of the human spirit, The Source is a taut and thought-provoking book that’s all the more unnerving for how much it echoes the headlines in real life’ CultureFly –––––––––––– One last chance to reveal the truth… 1996. Essex. Thirteen-year-old schoolgirl Carly lives in a disenfranchised town dominated by a military base, struggling to care for her baby sister while her mum sleeps off another binge. When her squaddie brother brings food and treats, and offers an exclusive invitation to army parties, things start to look a little less bleak... 2006. London. Junior TV newsroom journalist Marie has spent six months exposing a gang of sex traffickers, but everything is derailed when New Scotland Yard announces the re-opening of Operation Andromeda, the notorious investigation into allegations of sex abuse at an army base a decade earlier... As the lives of these two characters intertwine around a single, defining event, a series of utterly chilling experiences is revealed, sparking a nail-biting race to find the truth ... and justice. A riveting, searing and devastatingly dark thriller, The Source is also a story about survival, about hopes and dreams, about power, abuse and resilience ... an immense, tense and thought-provoking debut that you will never, ever forget. For fans of Holly Watt, Abigail Dean, Fiona Barton, Abi Daré, Kate Elizabeth Russell, Sarah Vaughan and Casey Kelleher ––––––––––––– ‘Carly and Marie’s stories are about to collide, the secrets of the past are devastating, the investigation in the present urgent. This is a tense thriller, a remarkable debut, heartbreaking, but ultimately this is a story of resilience and survival’ New Books Magazine ‘A powerful, compelling read that doesn’t shy away from some upsetting truths … written with such energy’ Fanny Blake ‘Tautly written and compelling, not afraid to shine a spotlight on the darker forces at work in society’ Rupert Wallis ‘So authentic and exhilarating … breathtaking pace and relentless ingenuity’ Nick Paton Walsh, CNN ‘A powerful, intense whammy of a debut that is both uncomfortable and exhilarating to read … Thought-provoking, tense, and expressive, The Source is an utterly compelling debut’ LoveReading ‘A gripping, dark thriller’ Geoff Hill, ITV ‘A cleverly constructed story that offers an authentic view behind the scenes in a British newsroom … an original and wholly engaging debut. Definitely a name to watch’ Crime Fiction Lover ‘My heart was racing … fiction to thrill even the most hard-core adrenaline junkies’ Diana Magnay, Sky News ‘Unflinching and sharply observed. A hard-hitting, deftly woven debut’ Ruth Field ‘With this gripping, fast-paced debut thriller, it’s easy to see what made Sultoon such a great journalist’ Clarissa Ward, CNN ‘A hard-hitting, myth-busting rollercoaster of a debut’ Eve Smith ‘I could picture and feel each scene, all the fear, tension and hope’ Katie Allen
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Girl Up
They told you you need to be thin and beautiful.They told you to wear longer skirts, avoid going out late at night and move in groups - never accept drinks from a stranger, and wear shoes you can run in more easily than heels. They told you to wear just enough make-up to look presentable but not enough to be a slut; to dress to flatter your apple, pear, hourglass figure, but not to be too tarty. They warned you that if you try to be strong, or take control, you'll be shrill, bossy, a ballbreaker. Of course it's fine for the boys, but you should know your place. They told you 'that's not for girls' - 'take it as a compliment' - 'don't rock the boat' - 'that'll go straight to your hips'. They told you 'beauty is on the inside', but you knew they didn't really mean it. Well screw that. I'm here to tell you something else.Hilarious, jaunty and bold, GIRL UP exposes the truth about the pressures surrounding body image, the false representations in media, the complexities of a sex and relationships, the trials of social media and all the other lies they told us. 'Bates takes a myth-busting approach to body image, food, sex and advertising, and is particularly good at boiling down feminist language into a snappy, everyday vernacular without diluting its power.' Metro 'Essential reading for young women and girls, Girl Up is set to become a key guiding text for the next generation like The Beauty Myth and The Feminine Mystique have for preceding generations. Morning Star Online It’s hardly headline news that feminism can be funny. But, heavens, is it refreshing to see it done as well as it is [in this book]. Telegraph ‘Girl Up is something between a self-help book and a bracing love letter to today's teenage girls... I wish I'd had Girl Up when I was growing up. I could have used such no-nonsense survival guide.’ Sunday Times‘Girl Up will be the first book on feminism many young women will read.’ Guardian [Girl Up] tackles all the propaganda that women get bamboozled with from childhood. From the myth of the 'ballbreaker’ in the office to the ‘dangers’ of short skirts, Bates is funny, piercingly astute and will have you furious and politicized over the impact social media, pornography and advertising have on our bodies.’ Stylist ‘If you have a daughter or a niece or a younger sister or a god-daughter, buy it for them now… the book is an absolute must for girls navigating our hyper-sexualised, deeply sexist culture.’ The Pool ‘Feminist writer Laura Bates returns with another hard-hitting but hilarious book which exposes the truth surrounding pressures on body image, false representations in the media and lots of issues very relevant to girls today. This no-nonsense guide to being a girl in 2016 and is one all teen girls should read.’ Red magazine ‘For any woman who is sick of being told how to act, how to dress, or how to ward off unwanted advances, this book could be for you. Independent ‘This book is fabulous. It is inclusive and empowering. It is funny and frank and, as actor Emma Watson writes in the preface, “not for the faint-hearted”. It is the kind of sex and life education you wished you had at your at your disposal when you were 14.’ Irish Times
£11.69
Skyhorse Publishing Bestselling Graphic Novels for Minecrafters (Box Set): Includes Quest for the Golden Apple (Book 1), Revenge of the Zombie Monks (Book 2), and The Ender Eye Prophecy (Book 3)
Age range 9 to 12For fans of Minecraft and graphic novels, an epic, full-colour box set of three bestselling adventures. Join the young hero Phoenix as she navigates the world of Minecraft. This compilation of bestselling graphic novels for Minecrafters includes the following titles:The Quest for the Golden Apple (Book #1)Phoenix longs to see the world outside of her village. One day, she risks a trip over the town’s wall to see the dark forest. Her quick adventure releases a monster that turns her brother into a zombie! It’s up to Phoenix to save him by leaving her village and finding the enchanted golden apple.This graphic novel for kids is followed by other Minecraft graphic novels, including Revenge of the Zombie Monks, Saving Xenos, Chasing Herobrine, The Ender Eye Prophecy, and Battle for the Dragon’s Temple. They are easy graphic novels and are sure to be enjoyed by all who love Minecraft and stories filled with adventure, courage, and action. Quest for the Golden Apple is especially ideal for those who aren’t inclined to read but love Minecraft. This graphic novel is a quick and engaging read for ages 9-12 with more than 750 pictures.Revenge of the Zombie Monks (Book #2)Phoenix, Wolfie, and their friends are back in this exciting second part of the Unofficial Graphic Novel for Minecrafters series! Past the walls of their monastery, the monks of Xenos grow enchanted golden apples for their neighbour villagers. As readers learn in Quest for the Golden Apple, these golden apples have magical healing abilities and have the power to keep the villagers save. The monks also have and protect the knowledge that connects Xenos to her sister worlds. This knowledge keeps Xenos and her citizens safe. But when the monks are zombified, Xenos’s citizens need a new hero. Following the design of zombie comics and Minecraft comics, follow Phoenix and her friends as they fight to save the citizens and monks of Xenos. But Phoenix and her crew of heroes have no idea and do not suspect the culprit behind this disaster — an incredibly powerful foe who will do anything to keep Phoenix from saving her world.The Ender Eye Prophecy (Book #3)Peace has finally been restored in Xenos, but Phoenix longs to return home to her family of miners. Sheltered by the monks who guard the border world, she spends her days searching for clues about her real identity.Just when Phoenix is losing hope that she’ll ever discover the truth, two miner ambassadors arrive at the monastery, looking for a girl from their ancient legends who is said to wear an enchanted Ender eye necklace and is destined to save their village. Could that girl be Phoenix?Determined to follow every clue that could set her free, Phoenix decides to join them on their quest to restore peace to their land. But along the way, zombie pirates attack, capturing Phoenix and taking her to the Nether. Now it’s up to Xander to convince the villagers and miners to put aside their differences and come to Phoenix’s rescue. The fate of their world depends on it.
£26.31
Headline Publishing Group Black Candle Women: a spellbinding story of family, heartache, and a fatal Voodoo curse
'[An] evocative and tender book . . . everyone who reads it will be enchanted like I was' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader reviewA Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Seen on the Today Show and named a Best Book of the Month by: Shondaland, MS. Magazine, TODAY.com, Reader's Digest, Katie Couric Media, AARP Sisters, Goodreads, BookRiot'Propulsive and poignant, Black Candle Women concocts an intoxicating potion of warmth, wisdom, and wonder. This gorgeous debut novel is a sweepingly fashioned love story where romance and rebellion intertwine with fear and family. And the stakes are epic. I was completely and gladly under Ms. Brown's spell' AVA DUVERNAY*************************************'All of you are cursed, you hear me?An ugly death for the ones with whom you fall in love'For generations, the Montrose women have lived alone with their secrets, their delicate peace depending on the unspoken bond that underpins their family life - Voodoo and hoodoo magic, and a decades-old curse that will kill anyone they fall for.When seventeen-year-old Nickie Montrose brings home a boy for the first time, this careful balance is thrown into disarray. For the other women have been keeping the curse from Nickie, and revealing it means that they must reckon with their own choices and mistakes.As new truths emerge, the Montrose women are set on a collision course that echoes back to New Orleans' French Quarter, where a crumbling book of spells may hold the answers that all of them have been looking for...Rich in its sense of character and place, Black Candle Women is a haunting and magical debut from a talented new storyteller.*************************************'If you like Practical Magic . . . you will love Black Candle Women' Jenna Bush Hager'A big-hearted debut, with complex, flawed, and compelling characters I was rooting for every step of the way' E.M. TRAN'Richly imagined and elegantly told, with plenty of satisfying secrets, heartaches, and twists' SADEQA JOHNSON'A spellbinding romp. The Montrose women will have you clutching your pearls on this rollercoaster of a debut' CAROLYN HUYNH'Written with warmth and an eye for detail, Diane Marie Brown's Black Candle Women explores the bonds of family and the magical power of belief to transform our lives' SHAUNA J. EDWARDS & ALYSON RICHMAN'Black Candle Women is a compassionate novel about motherhood, sisterhood, independence, and the reflection and forgiveness required to break generational curses' DE'SHAWN CHARLES WINSLOW'Brown deftly portrays an insular family of women in all of its complicated glory . . . The spiritual angle gives this powerful family drama a magical twist that will delight readers' BOOKLIST (starred review)'Black Candle Women is a bold and tender story about three generations of women each attempting to find their way amidst the gifts and curses they've inherited . . . This novel is a wondrous celebration of womanhood' CLEYVIS NATERAEarly readers are LOVING Black Candle Women!'I LOVED IT SO SO MUCH. Magic? A cursed family tree? Badass women? This was an adventure from start to finish and it was my pleasure to read''What a fascinating story about some amazing women. I was caught on page one and stayed captivated until the very end. Bravo!!''This book was amazing from start to finish. I was so captivated by each of the characters''I was invested from the first page and really loved these characters and their story'
£20.32
Hebrew Union College Press,U.S. In the Illuminated Dark: Selected Poems of Tuvia Ruebner
Loss defines the crossbeams and chronicles of Tuvia Ruebner’s life. Born in 1924 into a semi-secular Jewish family in Slovakia, Ruebner was also born into the catastrophe that would follow - the extermination of European Jewry and of his own family in the Holocaust. Hitler became chancellor of Germany on Ruebner’s ninth birthday. Six years later, the race-laws enacted in Slovakia banned all Jewish students from school and Ruebner’s formal education ended with ninth grade. His involvement in the Socialist-Zionist youth movement bought him a ticket out to Palestine and, in 1941, the seventeen-year-old bid his family farewell at the Pressburg-Bratislava train station, unaware that he would never see them again.The disasters of the twentieth century swept Ruebner from Europe to Israel, from German to Hebrew, from the familiar to the strange. Despite his truncated formal education, he became a poet and man of letters in Israel’s fledgling intellectual community alongside other Jewish immigrant-refugee-survivors like Ludwig Strauss, Werner Kraft, Lea Goldberg and Dan Pagis, eventually gaining international esteem as professor of comparative literatures at Haifa University and as translator of Nobel prize winner S.Y.Agnon’s stories into German. Ruebner’s early work in Israel took shape in German, the language he spoke to his lost beloveds and the language of Kafka, Hoelderlin and Rilke, whose work he loved, a language that protected him from the overwhelming strangeness of his new land and life. He began composing poetry in Hebrew in the 1950s, beginning a life-long relationship with the newly-revived ancient tongue. The result: fifteen poetry collections in Hebrew, from The Fire in the Stone in 1957 to Last Ones in 2013, a poetic oeuvre that has received countless awards and accolades in Israel and Europe alike and has established Ruebner as an elder of the tribe.Ruebner’s poetry offers us an exquisite and indispensable voice of the twentieth century. His little sister, murdered in Auschwitz, and his youngest son, who disappeared in South America, wander unceasingly through his poems. Beyond the personal losses, the devastation of the century informs all of his work. Textual rupture and fragmentation echo historical rupture and fragmentation. The wonder of Tuvia Ruebner is that, after a lifetime of loss and tragedies, he remains open to the possibility of happiness. This openheartedness accommodates the many paradoxes and conflicts of life and infuses his poetry with an enduring and encompassing compassion for the lost and for the living alike.Rachel Tzvia Back’s graceful translations of select poems representative of Ruebner’s seven-decade poetic trajectory are ever-faithful and beautifully attuned to the Hebrew originals, even as they work to create a new music in their English incarnations. Her comprehensive introduction and annotations supply the context in which these poems were produced. This first-ever bilingual edition, published as Ruebner marks his 90th birthday, gives readers in both Hebrew and English access to stunning poetry that insists on shared humanity across all border lines and divides.
£25.16
Faber & Faber Shroud for a Nightingale: Now a Major TV Series – Dalgliesh
THE FOURTH NOVEL IN THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE 'QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) 'Kept guessing until the final pages! Read in one go. Totally unputdownable. Ready to read the next one.' 5* reader review'Plenty of scrupulously laid false trails, credible detectives and a totally unexpected ending.' Sunday Telegraph'P. D. James at the top or her form, the twisting plot laid out with clarity and an acid wit.' 5* reader reviewPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________First, do no harm . . .On a crisp January morning, a group of third year nursing students gather in Nightingale House for a clinical lesson. One student will play the patient, while the others practice their nursing skills. But none of them is prepared for the demonstration to end in a gruesome murder. When a second student dies, this time by apparent suicide, Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh thinks the deaths must be connected, but in order to prove this and unmask the murderer, he must sweep away a cloud of secrets, lies and blackmail at the nursing school - before they can kill again.__________________________________________________________________________________'Probably the best Dalgliesh.' 5* reader review'Absolutely brilliant.' 5* reader review'An assured mystery, with a closed community and a great cast of characters.' 5* reader review'A very clever and accurate portrait of the strict, claustrophobic atmosphere of nursing sisters, nurse tutors in the training school and the student nurses in their care. Brilliant.' 5* reader review**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
£9.99
Orenda Books Suicide Thursday: The chilling cult bestseller
A disenchanted man struggles to get beyond the first chapter of the books he’s writing, and to separate fact from fiction in his own life. His friend’s suicide changes everything … The mind-blowing, heart-rending new thriller from cult bestselling author Will Carver. ‘Ambitious, dark and funny … a compelling and thought-provoking book from a highly talented writer. Bravo!’ Mike Gayle ‘One of the most exciting authors in Britain’ Daily Express 'Unflinching, blunt and brutal, Carver's originality knows no bounds. Simply brilliant' Sam Holland _________________________________________ Eli Hagin can’t finish anything. He hates his job, but can’t seem to quit. He doesn’t want to be with his girlfriend, but doesn’t know how end things with her, either. Eli wants to write a novel, but he’s never taken a story beyond the first chapter. Eli also has trouble separating reality from fiction. When his best friend kills himself, Eli is motivated, for the first time in his life, to finally end something himself, just as Mike did… Except sessions with his therapist suggest that Eli’s most recent ‘first chapters’ are not as fictitious as he had intended … and a series of text messages that Mike received before his death point to something much, much darker… _________________________________________ ‘Gave me nightmares … I loved it’ S J Watson ‘Brutal and brilliant' Lisa Hall 'Challenging, perceptive and unexpectedly enlightening' Sarah Sultoon 'Will Carver is a unique writer. I loved Suicide Thursday' Greg Mosse ‘A smart, stylish writer’ Daily Mail 'Carver's trademarked cynicism and contemptuousness run rampant here … [a] dark, dangerous novel' Jack Heath ‘One of the most compelling and original voices in crime fiction’ Alex North Praise for Will Carver ‘Deliciously fresh and malevolent story-telling’ Craig Sisterson ‘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 ‘Most memorable for its unrepentant darkness…’ Telegraph ‘Unlike anything else you’ll read this year’ Heat ‘Incredibly dark and very funny’ Harriet Tyce ‘Wickedly fun’ Crime Monthly ‘Will Carver’s most exciting, original, hilarious and freaky outing yet’ Helen FitzGerald ‘Vivid and engaging and completely unexpected’ Lia Middleton ‘Dark in the way only Will Carver can be … oozes malevolence from every page’ Victoria Selman ‘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 ‘Carver truly at his best’ Sarah Pinborough
£9.99
HarperCollins Publishers Speak Up!
Use your voice to change the world!Don’t just read about inspiring women: become one! Speaking up can be difficult, but did you know just how powerful your own voice can be? Speak Up! is the must-have empowering book to inspire a whole new generation of rebel girls. Written by Laura Coryton, who led the international campaign against tampon tax, Speak Up! is a vital and timely book exploring what it means to stand up for what you believe in on both a public and personal level. Laura explores how to make sure your voice is heard as well as what happens when your voice is challenged by others. She tackles tricky subjects like feminism, consent, online bullying and self-confidence in a meaningful but accessible and entertaining way. With a positive message about friendship, female empowerment and standing up for who you are, this is the perfect gift for girls aged 12+. Inspiring, warm and honest, this conversational and big-sisterly guide is the must-have girl power book. "Speak Up! is a wonderful and timely guide to activism for women and girls brought up in the age of the internet and social media. It is wholly accessible, fun and quirky, full of Laura Coryton's own experiences with the very successful tampon tax campaign. I highly recommend it – and hope the book helps to galvanise the next generation." – Helen Pankhurst, great granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, author and women's rights activist Laura Coryton is an inspirational young woman who led the international campaign against tampon tax which gained over a quarter of a million signatures and has led to changes both in UK and European law. Laura was featured in the BBC's 100 Women series of 2016. She also won one of the Guardian's New Radical Thinker awards and was named 2015's top unknown world change maker by the Independent. She has recently completed an M.St in Women's Studies at the University of Oxford. Laura regularly speaks at schools about the trials and tribulations of being a female campaigner. She aims to advise and empower girls who might want to start their own campaigns or get involved with politics.
£11.06
Amazon Publishing One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow: A Novel
From the bestselling author of The Ragged Edge of Night comes a powerful and poetic novel of survival and sacrifice on the American frontier. Wyoming, 1876. For as long as they have lived on the frontier, the Bemis and Webber families have relied on each other. With no other settlers for miles, it is a matter of survival. But when Ernest Bemis finds his wife, Cora, in a compromising situation with their neighbor, he doesn’t think of survival. In one impulsive moment, a man is dead, Ernest is off to prison, and the women left behind are divided by rage and remorse. Losing her husband to Cora’s indiscretion is another hardship for stoic Nettie Mae. But as a brutal Wyoming winter bears down, Cora and Nettie Mae have no choice but to come together as one family—to share the duties of working the land and raising their children. There’s Nettie Mae’s son, Clyde—no longer a boy, but not yet a man—who must navigate the road to adulthood without a father to guide him, and Cora’s daughter, Beulah, who is as wild and untamable as her prairie home. Bound by the uncommon threads in their lives and the challenges that lie ahead, Cora and Nettie Mae begin to forge an unexpected sisterhood. But when a love blossoms between Clyde and Beulah, bonds are once again tested, and these two resilient women must finally decide whether they can learn to trust each other—or else risk losing everything they hold dear.
£10.15
John Wiley & Sons Inc Fictions of Business: Insights on Management from Great Literature
Find out what Joseph Conrad, Arthur Miller, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Mark Twain can tell you about being a more effective manager. Looking for business insights? Forget the Wall Street Journal. You can learn a lesson or two from Arthur Miller and David Mamet. Put down Forbes and Fortune for once and spend an evening with Chaucer and George Bernard Shaw. Not only will you enjoy yourself, you're also likely to discover some fresh management perspectives and ideas! Written by a former CEO of a global corporation who has also been an English literature professor, this provocative new business book proves that great novels and plays are a rich, untapped resource for businesspeople looking for solutions to problems they confront on the job. Robert A. Brawer digs deeply into fictions by literary legends such as Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad, Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, and Joseph Heller to unearth vital lessons that managers can readily apply to the real world of work. From tips on resolving office conflicts in James Thurber's "The Catbird Seat" to pointers on gaining client confidence found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Brawer finds nuggets of business wisdom in places where most businesspeople never think of looking. Focusing mainly on fiction that explores business themes, Brawer uses Heller's Something Happened and Shaw's Major Barbara to illustrate the dangers of allowing excessive faith in corporate hype to impair a manager's ability to accurately assess serious problems. From Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross and Dreiser's Sister Carrie, he infers important lessons about the art of salesmanship. He explores the problems of alienation and maintaining personal integrity in a corporate world through a close reading of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Sloan Wilson's The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit. And out of his analysis of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and John Dos Passos's The Big Money, among other major nineteenth- and twentieth-century works, Brawer develops an inspiring discourse on self-interest and efficiency versus ethical responsibility and compassion in a Darwinian business world. As instructive as it is entertaining, Fictions of Business shows you how to take advantage of great novels and plays in solving the human problems of management. Praise for Fictions of Business "What a fabulous concept: the bringing together of great literature and management theory. This is a business book that challenges the intellect and goes about unveiling the basic principles of management in a way that forces you to think about what you know in a completely different way. It's a business book that stays with you long after you've read it." -Shelly Lazarus, Chairman and CEO, Ogilvy & Mather "A truly refreshing contribution to the multitude of books on corporate management. Brawer has cleverly crafted a set of essays that are both inspirational and practical." -Robert A. Kavesh, Professor of Finance and Economics, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University. "Robert Brawer is both a successful entrepreneur and a distinguished literary scholar, and his book, Fictions of Business, is wise about both trade and fiction. Brawer writes with ironic wit and sharp observation about the culture of the corporation and the workplace." -Martin Peretz, Editor-in-Chief, The New Republic and Professor of Social Studies, Harvard University. "Brawer's message is clear and true: good literature enriches business leaders, making them more productive in their careers." -Richard D. Franke, former Chairman and CEO, John Nuveen Company. "Although commerce and literary analysis might seem worlds apart, Robert Brawer's book brilliantly weaves together fictional characters with larger-than-life figures from the corporate world. In Brawer's compelling narrative, literature offers striking models for good corporate practice." -Philip Gossett, Dean of Humanities, University of Chicago.
£23.39
Achilles Books (Achilles Productions) The Wicked Lord Byron
THE WICKED LORD BYRON recreates the soul and voice of Byron, whose unforgettable character marks a defining moment in modern consciousness. The great poet lives his life as if forging his own legend. Self-obsessed yet self-sacrificing, because of the astonishing breadth of his point of view he can always see the funny side of the tragedy of human existence. He evolves into the most iconic personality of the age – with irresistible beauty, poetic genius, outrageous sexuality, and a commitment to the revolution against tyranny in England, Italy and finally Greece. ****On his deathbed in Missolonghi, where he has come to lead part of the Greek army in their war of independence from the Turks, the two halves of Byron’s soul, laughing Dandy and tragic Romantic, split apart and, occasionally arguing over details, relive the life story - a process that might happen to us all at the end. The young Byron has a strange and stressful upbringing - including being sexually initiated by his maid at the age of ten, and living in the shadow of his great uncle the first “Wicked Lord” who killed his best friend in a duel. At Cambridge, where he keeps a bear in his rooms, he is befriended by eminent Dandy and professional gambler Scrope Davies, from whom he derives his sense of style, and the rather more sensible John Cam Hobhouse. ****After taking the “Grand Tour” of Europe he touches on the spirit of the age in the poem CHILDE HAROLD’S PILGRIMAGE and become the first modern celebrity - ludicrously famous around the world, the favoured icon of English high society, the essential guest in a series of balls and fashionable events in Piccadilly. Countless ladies hurl themselves at the handsome poet. But he cannot resist the one forbidden fruit, a romance with his beloved half sister Augusta, with whom he conceives a baby. ******In order to salvage his reputation he makes a disastrous marriage which has the opposite effect - when his prim wife Annabella files for a separation, the resulting scandals cast him down from the pinnacle of the fashionable society he once dominated, and exile him to the turmoil of revolutionary Europe. He considers suicide in the high purity of the Swiss Alps, then makes friends with the poet Percy Shelley and his entourage. On one opium fuelled evening they hold a contest to write a horror story: Mary Shelley begins writing Frankenstein and Byron begins the first vampire novel, the two greatest monsters of fiction born on the same night. *****He goes to Venice and fornicates his way through the most orgiastic high society in the world, where both wives and husbands are allowed to sleep with whoever they please after marriage. But finally the endless promiscuity palls and he decides to "go no more a-roving/ So late into the night." He falls in love with the Contessa TERESA GUICCIOLI, and joins her family in the Italian revolution for independence from Austrian rule. ****When the Italian forces are ruthlessly crushed, he sets up the legendary commune near Pisa with Teresa and family, brother poet Shelley, Mary Shelley, and the piratical adventurer Trelawny. But Shelley’s tragic drowning destroys the little community, prompting him to leave Italy to give his life and fortune to the Greek revolution for independence from the Turks. ****Completing the narrative frame we return to Byron’s deathbed in Missolonghi, where the two halves of his soul, laughing Dandy and tragic Romantic, reach the end of reliving their life together, and finally make peace at the moment of death.
£15.18
Headline Publishing Group The Book of Azrael: Don't miss BookTok's new dark romantasy obsession!!
!! NOW WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS CHAPTER !!One of Book Riot's 'Best and Swooniest Romantasy Books''Amber's series breaks the rules in the best way. Her main character is strong, capable, and unapologetically powerful. There is no damsel here. This story is filled with fast-paced action, an in-depth world, and a romance that goes from simmer to boil. If you like romantasy, read this!' RAVEN KENNEDY'A wicked ride from beginning to heart shattering end. Leaving me literally screaming for more. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to get more our morally corrupt heroine who you can't help but root for, along with the giggle inducing banter between her and the heroic god Samkiel' HANNAH NICOLE MAEHER'Once in a while I read a series that reminds me of just why I love enemies to lovers, slow burn, and morally grey characters so much. Gods and Monsters is that series. This is perfection. Amber Nicole's Dianna is the FMC of my soul' NISHA J. TULIDon't miss this addictive BookTok sensation - a perfectly steamy, high-stakes, TRUE enemies-to-lovers, dark epic romantasy!_________________________WHERE THERE ARE GODS, THERE ARE ALSO MONSTERS . . .For a thousand years, the Etherworld has known peace.Until now.Many centuries ago, desperate to save her dying sister, Dianna made a deal with Kaden, a monster far worse than any nightmare. Locked in servitude to him, she is forced to hunt down an ancient relic held by her most dangerous enemies: an army led by Samkiel, the World Ender.After the Gods War, Samkiel hid from everything, denying his crown and deserting his people. Now, an attack on those he loves sends him back to the realm he never wished to return to, and into the sights of an enemy he had hoped to forget.With every world at stake, Dianna and Samkiel are forced to set aside their animosity and work together, before all is lost . . .Don't miss the next book in this series, THE THRONE OF BROKEN GODS and look out for Book 3 coming soon . . ._________________________⭐ Readers can't get enough of Samkiel and Dianna! ⭐'I loved reading this book so much! The world building is amazing, Dianna is super badass and I love how she grew in the book . . . Can't wait to read the next in the series!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'So so so so good! Such a well written and addictive read! Brings all the emotions and a great amount of twists and turns. Highly recommend!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I am so glad BookTok showed me this book, I jumped in based off of one single line and I regret NOTHING! I especially love the fact that the characters are all very unique and feel very original . . . Loved it so much, cannot wait for book 2. And did I see that this will be a 5 book series? HELL YES PLEASE!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'An easy 5 ⭐ read. This is my favourite book of the year so far. You need to read this - I couldn't put it down. I need to go now and download the second book!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Well, what a read. I am so glad that I picked this bad boy up. My first 5 ⭐ read for a really long time. I think book 2 will blow it out of the park! Absolutely amazing characters and that ending!!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
£10.99
Mango Media Flipping the Script: Bouncing Back From Life's Rock Bottom Moments (Inspirational LGBT Book by a Social Influencer and Celebrity TV Host)
#1 New Release in LGBT Studies and Biographies & Memoirs ─ Stories to Help You PersevereLive Through the Hardships: Life is complicated and messy, but every now and then life gives you a syndicated talk show on a major network – and then fires you for being “all icing and no cake.” Then it sends your born-again Christian sister to take you out to lunch on your birthday, only to tell you she suddenly believes you can pray the gay away and that you should’ve used your time on the show do more for Christ. Then, because there’s always another “then,” you receive a tax bill from Uncle Sam that almost sends you out your tenth-floor bathroom window…literally. Luckily, AJ Gibson chose to step back and share his struggles because, well…not today Satan! He knows what it’s like when life feels like a never-ending roller coaster, and in his self-help book Flipping the Script, he doesn’t sugar coat the truth. After all, this isn’t Hollywood, errr…anymore. Know You’re Not Alone: AJ’s journey from a closeted gay boy from Ohio to that guy people kinda, sorta recognize from TV and Hollywood seems glossy, but the truth is anything but. In Flipping the Script, AJ shows how his life has been a series of personal roadblocks and rock bottom moments. Every time he thinks he’s in the clear, he finds a new way to crash and burn. Let’s just say insecurity was once a pretty close friend of his, so he knows what you feel like whenever you find yourself scrolling social media comparing yourself to others. Luckily, he’s a pretty smart guy and moderately witty, always finding his way out of life’s rock bottom moments – and you can too! Turn Bad Situations Around: AJ has a gift for shifting his perspective, turning crappy situations around and finding a way to persevere each time the world seems to be telling him he was born to fail. Through all of the mess, all of the hardships, he somehow manages to keep a smile on his face and a roof over his head. He also knows that we all have problems and he’s here to help. The true stories in Flipping the Script will make you laugh, encourage you to keep fighting for happiness and inspire you to turn your own rock bottom moments into your proudest accomplishments! Feel Empowered: AJ’s “Hollywood” situation may be unique, but his struggles are definitely relatable. After all, you’d be hard-pressed to find a person who has achieved success without problems – especially in the LGBTQ community. As a proud gay man working in the entertainment capital of the world, AJ’s personal and professional stories will leave you feeling empowered and a little less defeated. Flipping the Script will give you the strength to overcome your own personal roadblocks. In his book, AJ shares tips and tricks in the form of “Script Rewrites” at the end of each chapter that will help you persevere and find your true purpose. Flipping the Script will rip your heart out, make you want to fight somebody, and leave you feeling like you can solve world hunger – all in a single chapter. You will: feel deeply connected, knowing you’re not alone in your struggles have simple, real world tools to help you bounce back and live the life you were created to live see yourself as the wonderful, creative, capable human being that you have always been – but forgot somewhere along the way
£22.02
Sourcebooks, Inc Extra Witchy
The third in an adorable witchy rom-com series by New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre, perfect for fans of:The bonds of sisterhoodA career-driven heroine who thinks she isn't marriage materialA pan hero who struggles with depressionAnd a shocking family secretAfter two failed marriages, Leanne Vanderpol is here for a good time, not for a long time. She only loves the witches in her coven, and she cares more about her career than happily ever after. A difficult past makes her skittish, and she doesn't trust relationships to stick. But when she decides to run for city council instead of wasting her talents cleaning up messes for the mayor's office, she fears her past could be used against her.Unless she can find the right husband to shore up her political career...Trevor Montgomery might have peaked in high school. He was popular then, and in college as well, but he partied away his future, met the wrong person, and everything fell apart. Now he's jobless, dateless, and hopeless, at least according to his toxic family. Then a chance meeting with the redhead of his dreams offers an unexpected ray of light just when he needs it most.Can a woman who doesn't believe in forever find true love with a man who's stopped believing in anything at all?
£9.04
HarperCollins Publishers The Highland Girls at War (The Highland Girls series, Book 1)
Can the Highland girls prove everyone wrong? Don’t miss this poignant and heartwarming WW2 novel for fans of Rosie Clarke, Dilly Court and Rosie Archer, from the author of A Wartime Secret. Scotland, 1942.The Lumberjills, the newest recruits in the Women’s Timber Corps, arrive in the Scottish Highlands to a hostile reception from doubtful locals. The young women are determined to prove them wrong and serve their country – but they’re also all looking for something more… Lady Persephone signed up to show everyone she’s more than just a pretty face – but it’ll take more than some charm and her noble credentials to win handsome Sergeant Fraser over. Tall, strong Grace has led a lonely life working on a croft, with just her mother for company. All she wants is to find her place in the world – even if that’s a thousand miles from home. And Irene misses her husband terribly, so until he returns home from the frontline, she’s distracting herself with war work. But one distraction too far leads to devastating consequences… Can the Lumberjills get through their struggles together – even when tragedy strikes? Readers LOVE The Highland Girls at War! ‘I adored it!!… From start to finish, I loved it and couldn’t wait to get back to it whenever I had to rip myself away… It certainly left me wanting more! It was brilliant.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Love this book… The characters came to life as the story unrolled and I was sad the book ended as I felt I knew them and they were my friends too. Recommended to read ASAP.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely loved [it], great book from start to finish.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved this book from start to finish, the characters were so real and I felt like a member of the family.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A compelling, heartwarming tale… Full of laughter, heartache, humour and wistful romance… A story of sisterhood and one I am certain will stay with me forever.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A heart-warming story… Thoroughly enjoyable.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
£9.99
Union Square & Co. The Second Death of Edie and Violet Bond
Cross into the spirit realm with this thrilling supernatural debut about sisterhood and female defiance, perfect for fans of Kerri Maniscalco— inspired by lives of real teenage twin mediums in the 19th century. "Deliciously chilling and edge-of-your-seat suspenseful.” —Nina LaCour, Printz Award–winning author of We Are Okay Sacramento, 1885 Edie and Violet Bond know the truth about death. The seventeen-year-old twins are powerful mediums, just like their mother—Violet can open the veil between life and death, and Edie can cross into the spirit world. But their abilities couldn’t save them when their mother died and their father threatened to commit them to a notorious asylum. Now runaways, Edie and Violet are part of a traveling Spiritualist show, a tight-knit group of young women who demonstrate their real talents under the guise of communing with spirits. Each night, actresses, poets, musicians, and orators all make contact with spirits who happen to have something to say. . . notions that young ladies could never openly express. But when Violet’s act goes terribly wrong one night, Edie learns that the dark spirit responsible for their mother’s death has crossed into the land of the living. As they investigate the identity of her mysterious final client, they realize that someone is hunting mediums…and they may be next.Only by trusting in one another can the twins uncover a killer who will stop at nothing to cheat death.
£12.99
Baen Books Witchy Kingdom
An encounter with her father’s goddess has not turned out to be the end for Sarah Elytharias Penn. Now, with the Imperial fist tightened around her city of Cahokia and the beastkind of the Heron King ravaging across the river, she must find a way to access the power of the Serpent Throne itself—a feat, she has learned, that her father never accomplished. To complicate her efforts, Cahokia’s Metropolitan, a beloved and charismatic priest who despises the goddess as a demon, returns from a long pilgrimage and attempts to finalize the Wisdom-eradicating reform that dogged Sarah’s father when he was king. Meanwhile, Sarah’s brother Nathaniel and her brilliant but erratic servant Jacob Hop find their steps dogged by the Emperor’s Machiavel, Temple Franklin, as they hunt in New Amsterdam for the third Elytharias sibling. Isaiah Wilkes, having failed to awaken the Emperor by reminding him of his esoteric obligations, now travels north in disguise to seek other allies to stand against the destroying storm of the reign of Simon Sword. Chigozie Ukwu, the Shepherd of the Still Waters, finds his peaceful flock threatened and pressed into a dangerous mission in the service of Cahokia’s wild sister city Zomas, while his brother, the Vodun houngan Etienne Ukwu, pushes toward a final showdown with the mameluke assassins of the Chevalier of New Orleans. Praise for Witchy Winter: “Butler follows Witchy Eye with a satisfying second tale of a magic-filled early America. . . . Deep and old magic influences both places and characters, and the story is tightly focused on the determined Sarah . . . Fans of epic and alternate historical fantasy will savor this tale of witchery and intrigue.”—Publishers Weekly "For readers who love history-based fantasy, steampunk, or urban fantasy. . . this series that gives the genre a new twist."—Booklist Praise for Witchy Eye and D.J. Butler: “… you can’t stop yourself from taking another bite…and another…and another….I didn’t want to stop reading…. Kudos!”—R.A. Salvatore “Excellent book. I am impressed by the creativity and the depth of the world building. Dave Butler is a great storyteller.”—Larry Correia “Witchy Eye is an intricate and imaginative alternate history with a cast of characters and quirky situations that would make a Dickens novel proud.” —Kevin J. Anderson "Butler’s fantasy is by turns sardonic and lighthearted; ghoulish shadows claw into the most remote areas and heroism bursts out of the most unlikely people. Sarah is the epitome of the downtrodden hero who refuses to give up until she gets what she needs, and her story will appeal to fantasy readers of all stripes."—Publishers Weekly "David's a pro storyteller, and you're in for a great ride."—Larry Dixon "… a fascinating, grittily-flavored world of living legends. Hurry up and write the next one, Dave."—Cat Rambo "This is enchanting! I'd love to see more."—Mercedes Lackey “Goblin Market meets Magical Musketpunk... A great ride that also manages to cover some serious cultural terrain.” —Charles E. Gannon "Witchy Eye is a brilliant blend of historical acumen and imagination, a tour-de-force that is at once full of surprises and ultimately heart-warming. This is your chance to discover one of the finest new stars writing today!"–David Farland “A gritty, engrossing mash-up of history, fantasy, and magic. Desperate characters careen from plot twist to plot twist until few are left standing.”—Mario Acevedo "Captivating characters. Superb world-building. Awesome magic. Butler fuses fantasy and history effortlessly, creating a fascinating new American epic. Not to be missed!"—Christopher Husberg "[A] unique alternative-history that is heavily influence by urban and traditional fantasy and steeped in the folklore of the Appalachians. . . . Fans of urban fantasy looking to take a chance on something with a twist on a historical setting may find this novel worth their time."—Booklist
£22.99
Surrey Books,U.S. Fieldwork: A Forager’s Memoir
From National Book Award–nominee Iliana Regan, a new memoir of her life and heritage as a forager, spanning her ancestry in Eastern Europe, her childhood in rural Indiana, and her new life set in the remote forests of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Fieldwork explores how Regan’s complex gender identity informs her acclaimed work as a chef and her profound experience of the natural world.Not long after Iliana Regan’s celebrated debut, Burn the Place, became the first food-related title in four decades to become a National Book Award nominee in 2019, her career as a Michelin star–winning chef took a sharp turn north. Long based in Chicago, she and her new wife, Anna, decided to create a culinary destination, the Milkweed Inn, located in Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula, where much of the food served to their guests would be foraged by Regan herself in the surrounding forest and nearby river. Part fresh challenge, part escape, Regan’s move to the forest was also a return to her rural roots, in an effort to deepen the intimate connection to nature and the land that she’d long expressed as a chef, but experienced most intensely growing up.On her family’s farm in rural Indiana, Regan was the beloved youngest in a family with three much older sisters. From a very early age, her relationship with her mother and father was shaped by her childhood identification as a boy. Her father treated her like the son he never had, and together they foraged for mushrooms, berries, herbs, and other wild food in the surrounding countryside—especially her grandfather’s nearby farm, where they also fished in its pond and young Iliana explored the accumulated family treasures stored in its dusty barn. Her father would share stories of his own grandmother, Busia, who’d helped run a family inn while growing up in eastern Europe, from which she imported her own wild legends of her native forests, before settling in Gary, Indiana, and opening Jennie’s Café, a restaurant that fed generations of local steelworkers. He also shared with Iliana a steady supply of sharp knives and—as she got older—guns. Iliana’s mother had family stories as well—not only of her own years marrying young, raising headstrong girls, and cooking at Jennie’s, but also of her father, Wayne, who spent much of his boyhood hunting with the men of his family in the frozen reaches of rural Canada. The stories from this side of Regan’s family are darker, riven with alcoholism and domestic strife too often expressed in the harm, physical and otherwise, perpetrated by men—harm men do to women and families, and harm men do to the entire landscapes they occupy. As Regan explores the ancient landscape of Michigan’s boreal forest, her stories of the land, its creatures, and its dazzling profusion of plant and vegetable life are interspersed with her and Anna’s efforts to make a home and a business of an inn that’s suddenly, as of their first full season there in 2020, empty of guests due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She discovers where the wild blueberry bushes bear tiny fruit, where to gather wood sorrel, and where and when the land’s different mushroom species appear—even as surrounding parcels of land are suddenly and violently decimated by logging crews that obliterate plant life and drive away the area’s birds. Along the way she struggles not only with the threat of COVID, but also with her personal and familial legacies of addiction, violence, fear, and obsession—all while she tries to conceive a child that she and her immune-compromised wife hope to raise in their new home. With Burn the Place, Regan announced herself as a writer whose extravagant, unconventional talents matched her abilities as a lauded chef. In Fieldwork, she digs even deeper to express the meaning and beauty we seek in the landscapes, and stories, that reveal the forces which inform, shape, and nurture our lives.
£19.99