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6 years, 9 months and 21 days
Xanthe’s life has been a 24/7 struggle for almost a decade. As a single parent she has been juggling a full-time job from home, raising two teens with intense extra-curricular activity schedules, navigating a long messy divorce, budgeting on her sole income, all with no family to fall back on. The joy of life has been sucked out of her over the years. She is living in a prison of duties and responsibilities, with no prospect of breaking out. But when she starts a YouTube channel to vent and share her woes with the world, new and unexpected opportunities start to develop. Could there be light at the end of the tunnel?
£10.99 -
Class Conflict
Biggsy’s challenging school year continues into the spring term. The 50-year-old head of English at a West London boys’ secondary school is at a critical point in his career. Jaded with the state education system and nearing professional burnout, he prepares for a change of role in the school.
The new year started badly, with health issues resulting in him being rushed to the local casualty ward. At school, problems abound as the new term starts. He agrees to a risky venture to raise extra funds for essential textbooks; a first-year pupil disappears; a colleague is threatened by a management bully; the school is targeted for business by a drug gang; and there is a tragedy within his department.
At home, he is alarmed by his daughter’s decision to become a teacher, the one career against which he has determinedly advised her. Fortunately, Biggsy’s wife Myra is there to keep her husband afloat amidst the overwhelming tide of school demands. She and his sixth-form tutor group provide the humor in the novel. Her unfailing support and the admiration of his students enable him to soldier on in his teaching career.
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Katherine the Great
From the moment she arrives, Alfred’s baby sister Katherine is destined for greatness!
She knows it deep down, and she’s determined to make sure the whole family knows it too!
But Alfred has a clever trick up his sleeve!
Could it have something to do with Great Granny’s secret recipe for irresistible chocolate mice treats?
£8.99 -
Areus
Embark on the captivating journey of Areus, a brilliant Greek linguist whose life unfolds like an epic odyssey. From his early romances to ageless adventures, Areus’ charm knows no bounds, captivating women from his youth at 17 to the seasoned age of 75. His linguistic prowess opens doors to international business ventures across continents, blending professionalism with a thirst for challenge.
At 19, he achieves incredible feats in a Danish lunatic asylum, later managing a five-star hotel and pioneering business ventures in the Emirates. Areus becomes a jeweller in the Middle East, selling exquisite gems to sheikhs, a football agent, and a high-stakes player in the Monte Carlo Casino. His entrepreneurial spirit takes him to the stock exchange as the owner of a public company, and he establishes restaurant and fitness centre chains in China.
In the heart of China, where Alexander the Great’s legacy lingers, Areus finds himself drawn into a unique responsibility, intertwining his fate with young virgin girls to preserve a lineage reminiscent of the ancient conqueror. However, tragedy befalls him in Libya during an oil trade pursuit, as the Wagner Group abducts him, erasing his identity during 12 harrowing years in the desert.
Yet, amidst the shadows, a poignant twist awaits. Areus, once lost in the abyss of memory loss, reunites with his family in a tragic yet ultimately joyous conclusion. The resilient linguist triumphs over adversity, piecing together the fragments of his past for a bittersweet resolution that underscores the enduring strength of the human spirit.
£14.99 -
Josh Won’t Wash
We all remember that childhood phase of eschewing bath time. But what happens when our own kids decide dirt is a badge of honour? This playful book meets little ones in the muck and mire of their no-wash zone, taking parents along on the messy ride.
Infused with humour about a universal childhood ritual, Washing Woes breaks the cleanliness standoff gently. It highlights, through chuckles not chiding, the very grown-up importance of washing up. No heavy-handed lecturing here! Instead, this book meets children where they are while bringing parents laughter and wisdom.
Whether your offspring is currently waging war with water or would just enjoy giggling through the tribulations of a dirt-loving tyke not unlike themselves, Washing Woes delivers fun for all. It reminds us that while the path to cleanliness brings some funny detours, the destination is a very good place to be.
So settle in alongside some sudsy showdown stories, and appreciate anew the critical life lesson masked in bubbly delight: dirty kid today makes for healthy adult tomorrow. Happy washing!
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Wild & Woolly
Alice likes her life exactly the way it is. At home she has Mumsie, and at boarding school she has her alien-obsessed best friend and roommate Sally, and she doesn’t see why anything should have to change. Then – everything starts to. Sally decides that Alice needs to have an adventure and signs them up for a school trip: a week of archery, raft building, and zip-wiring (with the chance of alien watching) in the great outdoors. Alice doesn’t see what’s so great about it, especially when she finds out Nadia her once best friend turned enemy who never misses the chance to torment her, is also signed up for the trip. But now she has bigger issues. What began months ago as a small white lie is about to become a BIG problem and Alice only has five days to fix her mistake – before the truth gets out. What more could possibly go wrong?
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Heist Denial
One year after the death of the fourth member of the infamous Gang of Four, the remaining trio of aged bank robbers is struggling to adapt to life outside prison walls. Having served their last stint in jail following a botched robbery of a closed-down post office, during which they donned gorilla costumes, hi-viz jackets, and colourful Bermuda shorts, the gang now faces a two-year suspended sentence and the challenge of honouring their fallen comrade’s dying wish to stay on the straight and narrow.
As they navigate the idiosyncrasies of their fellow residents at the residential home, the trio, now known as The Trio, must also contend with the suspicions of a relentless detective who believes their deceased friend is alive and well, secretly orchestrating a string of heists across the Home Counties. With the detective convinced that the coffin is filled with bricks and stolen loot, The Trio must prove their innocence while adhering to the terms of their friend’s generous will.
Amidst the chaos, the Colonel works on his memoir, ‘Confession of a Bank Robber’, and delivers after-dinner speeches to the legal profession. Jock finds himself as the kilted bagpiper for the Tartanettes, a troupe of middle-aged Burlesquers, while Lenny attempts to improve his social skills. As the three vow to honor their late friend’s wishes, a series of copycat heists and odd mysteries come to light, threatening to unravel their newfound freedom and redemption.
£9.99 -
You, Me & Them
Life can be boring or exciting, tough, or adventurous. The good news is that you can choose your own path. Why can’t you have it all? In these pages, Camilla takes you on a thrilling ride through the unpredictable journey of a double life. What really happens after dark? Where might life’s curiosities lead? The truth is, there is always more than meets the eye.
If you really think about it, we are all making choices, some we expose, some we keep to ourselves. If you really want to open pandoras box, the people you share it with better be ready for it. In Camilla’s case, her secrets have well and truly been kept, only she and her sassy cat Bubbles know the real her… for now.
We laugh, we cry, we fall in love, we fall out of love, we feel pain and we feel joy. It’s the circle of life. How many times does Camilla reach full circle? Stay tuned to find out.
£7.99 -
Never Pat a Burning Dog
A novel for everyone who has ever ridden the advertising and marketing roller coaster.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s London – a stark contrast to Mad Men’s buttoned down 1960s Madison Avenue – this story plunges us into the crazy world of Grimshaw and Welby, a small agency whose burgeoning creative reputation draws the unwelcome attention of a large French group in the shape of a hostile takeover.
Freddy Grimshaw’s team of eccentric personalities fight back the only way they know how: creatively.
We delve deep into the cut and thrust of agency life, the intricate dance of politics and presentations, the fraught relationships of staff and clients.
Where conservative marketeers are cajoled into buying the wild ideas of a gleefully irresponsible creative department. One that spends as much time devising childish antics and non-PC practical jokes as they do outstanding advertisements.
Written with an insider’s knowledge and eye for detail this is an entertaining insight into an era of advertising that’s hard to believe.
Unless you were there.
‘It’s advertising as I knew it. The fun, the mayhem, the excess. You couldn’t make it up: or could you?’
-Philip Putnam.
£12.99 -
The Quay
As Ken Trickett navigates the murky waters of separation and joblessness, a beacon of hope emerges when he inherits a quaint quayside inn from his dear Aunt. The prospect of a fresh start in his cherished hometown unfurls before him, especially when fate aligns his path with the girl who dances in his dreams, now working a stone’s throw away. Just as life begins to paint a rosier picture, a sudden unforeseen menace casts a long shadow over Ken’s budding renaissance, jeopardizing the future he’s barely begun to rebuild.
Yet, Ken isn’t one to bow to adversity. With a dose of cynical wit, a splash of misguided bravado, and the camaraderie of an eclectic band of characters that now colour his world, he is resolute to clutch onto the reins of hope and navigate through the storm.
£10.99 -
The Incredible Mrs Tomp
Set in the colourful town of Oombaroomba comes a charming story of an intrepid woman named Mrs. Tomp. Follow her exploits as she cleverly procures fertilizer, doles out folksy wisdom to her eccentric neighbours, and wrangles with the local authorities.
Though told with a wink and good humour, this tale touches on timeless themes of community, perseverance, and the human spirit. Mrs. Tomp’s antics will captivate readers as she faces life’s challenges with grit and grace. Some early readers have even compared this heartwarming story to the great Australian classics.
Pull up a chair and get to know the unforgettable Mrs. Tomp and the quirky residents of Oombaroomba in this delightful novel that will stay with you long after the last page.
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Guru Sal
Guru Sal is a wise woman in the modern world, one who has been gifted with valuable insight and eternal wisdom. Guru Sal has walked the paths of female angst herself and now seeks to assist Sisters of the world and guide them to their own solutions to their issues. Not all in this world is rosy, not everything is easy for women or girls. But with the help of Guru Sal, Sisters will have the support of a woman who holds this knowledge, insight, and intuition. She will help you to overcome personal issues and make your life easier.
Whether it is your man, your workload or wanting more of life’s simple pleasures, Guru Sal will strive to help you achieve this through her own expertise and objectivity.
Guru Sal invites Sisters to write in with their problems and she will respond with assertive, no-nonsense solutions. Names and places will be changed to protect privacy.
Power to my wily Sisters!
£8.99