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Go East
The Sweedies are an average modern family with their share of quirks. They face life with humour and cherish family time, especially with the Grannies.
A trip to Spain brings mishaps – Sally Sweedie, mother to Jen and Ted, misplaces her phone while dealing with treacherous weather.
Back home in Southend for Christmas, two new arrivals join the Sweedies. Howard, father of the household, feels restless and buys a motorcycle, much to his wife’s chagrin.
Fast forward to 2033 and the fortune teller proves accurate – the Sweedies are thriving as always. Now, seven-year-old Flora joins the clan.
£7.99 -
Yellow Leaf
In Yellow Leaf, discover the journey of pianist Will as he navigates the uncharted waters of starting again after the unexpected breakdown of his fourteen-year long marriage to his childhood sweetheart. As he reflects on his past and his marriage, Will must confront the question of who he is outside of his relationship and what he truly wants from life, work, and love. With humour and heart, the novel follows Will’s evolution as he immerses himself in the world of film making and encounters a diverse cast of characters from the music, media, academic and cultural spheres. Through this journey of self-discovery, Will not only reinvents himself but also challenges the perceptions of classical music. This introspective and thought-provoking story offers a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of a man amid a mid-life awakening.
£12.99 -
Homeless Companions
Harmony Harringdon is a teenager with her whole life ahead of her. She is beautiful, sweet, and talented. Harmony and her best friend Jake Butler are inseparable. As the pair grow from children to teenagers, their friendship becomes love. They weren’t to know what fate has planned for them. It would all become too much for Harmony, despite having Jake there to support her.
Fleeing the shame and devastation she believes she has caused, Harmony leaves all she knows behind her. Bearing witness to the cruel realities of life, this time fate is kind and brings Harmony a Carnival.
With newfound purpose, Harmony’s talent and tenacity propels her on an unexpected journey. However, all Harmony longs for more than anything is for something or someone to save her.
£9.99 -
Homeless Companions
Harmony Harringdon is a teenager with her whole life ahead of her. She is beautiful, sweet, and talented. Harmony and her best friend Jake Butler are inseparable. As the pair grow from children to teenagers, their friendship becomes love. They weren’t to know what fate has planned for them. It would all become too much for Harmony, despite having Jake there to support her.
Fleeing the shame and devastation she believes she has caused, Harmony leaves all she knows behind her. Bearing witness to the cruel realities of life, this time fate is kind and brings Harmony a Carnival.
With newfound purpose, Harmony’s talent and tenacity propels her on an unexpected journey. However, all Harmony longs for more than anything is for something or someone to save her.
£9.99 -
Life Drawing
“Art gotta be high up and dangerous,” the graffiti artist tells his mother. It has to be practiced diligently like playing the piano, the longtime members of a life drawing studio believe, and if your view of the model is the model’s backside, you don’t move for a better view. Art is a mysterious way into your model’s sorrow when words fail. Art can open the rooms of your childhood. It existed before there was perspective. It can even be a dinner party. It can make a still life come alive, and it can heal a wounded spirit.
Barbara de la Cuesta taught and worked as a journalist in South America. She now teaches Spanish.
Her novel, The Spanish Teacher, was winner of the Gival Press Fiction Prize.
About her most recent novel, Adam’s Chair, Lauren Stafford, of the Manhattan Review of Books, wrote:
“A tapestry of literary elegance… A contemporary novel for the ages.”
£8.99 -
Greeted by Kindness
Can you always trust Kindness?
The ghost writer of her autobiography thought so. The government that made her Lady Kindness and its minister thought so too.
Kindness definitely believed it, but fact checking left some big questions unanswered.
Whatever Kindness believed, it does matter that you are who you say you are.
£9.99 -
Old Crow
Your father, an obnoxious vagabond, who left you thirty years ago for the free life of a sailor with no responsibilities, comes back into your life unannounced, saying he wants a chance to make amends and achieve reconciliation, both with you and with your younger brother who is now living in New York.
But your father begins to settle in with you, and he shows no sign of leaving. A terrible truth emerges: he has returned to torment you. If he does not leave forever, you will be destroyed.
What do you do?
£8.99 -
The Top Valley Enigma
In The Top Valley Enigma, a tale unfolds of a wealthy American conservationist whose solitary and zealous nature leads him to Australia. Motivated by the discovery of ancient human remains and the threat of a new coal mine, his journey takes a turn when he meets a businesswoman from the United States in Melbourne. Their shared interests spark an unexpected partnership, and together they embark on a captivating adventure.
Their journey is marked by serene yachting days and a mesmerizing visit to the Great Barrier Reef, experiences that deepen their bond and become pivotal in their lives. The duo aligns with local conservationists and discovers a cattle farm that is crucial to their quest, revealing significant archaeological finds of early human life.
Meanwhile, the shadows of a complex past, including a major share trading deal, lurk behind the American conservationist. As their mission to thwart the coal mine gains momentum, they become entwined in a web of past endeavors in conservation. This ignites a wave of revenge from individuals with long memories, profoundly impacted by his previous actions. The Top Valley Enigma masterfully weaves a story of archaeological discovery, environmental activism, and the intricate play of human connections and past deeds.
£9.99 -
Escape to Woodshine
This compassionate novel depicts the disrupted lives of Greta and her daughter Lily, forced to abruptly relocate due to the unendurable violent behaviour of Pat, Greta’s volatile, alcoholic husband. Their move lands mother and daughter in the rural Australian town of Woodshine – a new beginning offering hope after trauma’s storm.
Yet forward is the only direction, Lily just five years old. A tranquil childhood shattered, she grapples beyond her years while still cradling stuffed toys at bedtime, seeking security. Greta battles exhaustion from hypervigilance, longing to banish bad dreams. Their refuge in Woodshine brings peace step by step – a gentle landlord, good-hearted townsfolk and possibility breathing optimism into each new day.
As Lily plays in grassy meadows under boundless skies, glimmers emerge that broken spirits can mend. While the indelible scars remain, maybe here they can continue writing their story without fear at the helm. Just maybe this move marks the start of budding happiness taking root for not just survival – but life thriving in the sunshine.
£13.99 -
The Wide, Flat Land
On a long car journey to Norfolk, Little Jo’s repetitive chant, ‘We’re going to the wide, flat land, the wide, flat land, the wide, flat land,’ resonates through the car, much to her older brother’s annoyance. Hailing from Surrey, the siblings have always been enchanted by the charm of East Anglia’s countryside, their anticipation heightened by the nostalgic tales of their mother’s own childhood holidays on the north-east coast.
Upon arrival at their quaint holiday cottage, a chance encounter with a neighbour sets them on a path that will change their lives forever. The Pritchards are soon faced with the unsettling shadows of their mother’s past. Through this unexpected journey, they learn the essence of overcoming, the grace of empathy, and the power of loving support in encouraging others. Amidst the expansive tranquillity of the wide, flat land, they discover a healing peace, a calming beauty, a secure haven, and a renewed hope for the future of their extended family.
£9.99 -
The Cry of the Curlew
The Cry of the Curlew tells the harrowing tale of Marnie, an Albanian refugee whose life is marked by constant upheaval and danger. The story begins with her dramatic rescue from an Essex Marsh by an elderly woman, setting the stage for a life perpetually shadowed by misfortune.
Marnie’s journey is a tumultuous one. Just as she begins to find solace with a new family, the intrusion of the council upends her life once more. Her situation grows even more perilous when an inheritance draws the attention of the Albanian Mafia, demanding repayment for her father’s debts to people smugglers.
Faced with overwhelming threats, Marnie is forced into slavery. Yet, her indomitable spirit leads her to escape and find refuge with another family, hoping for a life far removed from her turbulent past. However, the shadows of her debt loom large, and the sense of danger is ever-present.
This novel delves deep into themes of love, loss, and the devaluation of human life at the hands of people smugglers. It portrays the desperate struggle of individuals trying to escape poverty and their relentless search for love and belonging. The story oscillates between moments of humor and profound sadness, highlighting the resilience and kindness of people even in the face of the harsh realities of the modern world.
Through Marnie’s eyes, The Cry of the Curlew offers a poignant reflection on the immense challenges faced by refugees. It is a moving narrative that calls for empathy and understanding towards those who endure unimaginable hardships in their quest for a better life.
£9.99 -
Sliding Across Mountains
Sliding Across Mountains is a book about the power of friendship. In a small town in Tennessee, a writer, a mother, a widow, and a parish nurse form an unlikely friendship and a curling team. These four ladies learn more than sliding rocks down a sheet of ice. They learn what they can accomplish with a team of support and love is not always on the rocks.
£11.99