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Fate/Destiny
Cassie Blake, a recently retired teacher, faces an uncertain future and wonders what comes next after decades of working. But a serendipitous meeting just before Christmas rekindles a long-forgotten passion within her.
Across the Atlantic, James Madison, a TV celebrity, grapples with recent upheaval in his personal life. Seeking solitude, he spends the holiday season alone in the UK.
A fateful encounter on a snowy December night entwines the lives of Cassie and James. From the tranquil Welsh countryside to the kinetic energy of California, their budding connection is put to the test. Can they learn to trust their feelings and overcome their emotional barriers? This chance romance shows it’s never too late to embrace new beginnings.
£11.99 -
In Every Season
Straddled over two continents with a range of vivid characters, In Every Season celebrates the enduring power of love. An inventive novella for modern times, it is by turns tragic, funny, and deftly unpredictable.
A pithy book with insightful dialogue, In Every Season extols the courage of women fighting back after adversity. Following a period of turmoil, Perdy uses her hard-won journalistic prowess to propel herself forward. Readers mindful of the pressures heaped on young people will relish her heroic journey to independence.
Infused with social realism, the touching novella weaves together a series of emotive stories. Plunged into the murky world of crime, Perdy draws strength from Rocco, her eternal soulmate who guides her from afar.
After the dark days of estrangement, Perdy begins to form close relationships with those around her. When she returns home, the thrall of nature and an encounter with an old friend pull her in a new direction. Only one thing remains certain for Perdy: in every season of her life, Rocco will be part of her.
£7.99 -
Blue
From the late fifties to the present-day, Harriet’s story is one of bereavement and loss, and how she lives through them to a fulfilled and happy old age. Losing her brother and then her father at a young age, she is obliged to run the family farm and consequently does not pursue the career she might have had. She gives up ideas of studying History of Art at university and accepts the loss of opportunity as she resigns herself to following her mother’s advice to be happy being ‘just a wife and mother.’ She settles into a contented marriage to steady Sam and as times change them and their lives, she expresses her love of beauty and colour in designing gardens.
Harriet never relinquishes her love of art and when time allows, she begins to study Medieval painting, specialising in the early Italian Renaissance. She escapes into a world of lapis lazuli blue, aquamarine, cerulean, cobalt blue, and azure. And here she finds a guide in James who is so knowledgeable, so charming and so attractive… Thus, Harriet moves from the lost idyllic rural landscapes of her youth to the fantasy ‘hortus conclusus’ of medieval Madonnas. And beside her is James, party to this beautiful fantasy.
£8.99 -
Five Days in February
It was a cold Saturday morning in her well-ordered and happy life as Izzie headed off to her usual ballet class. She had lots to look forward to, a close circle of friends and a boy she fancied.
But on the way, something happened that would change her in life in ways she couldn’t have imagined. She met Seb, a boy whose life had been very different to her own.
Over the course of just a week the ripples from the events that happened touched not only her own life but the lives of others around her.
Did she wish she hadn’t met Seb? She certainly didn’t like some of the consequences but in every situation maybe there is something to be learned.
£8.99 -
Tangled Web
‘Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive.’
- Sir Walter Scott
In Tangled Web, the past isn’t merely history, it’s a living, breathing entity that refuses to be ignored. Each character has been outrunning their history, seeking sanctuary in the present. But when long-buried secrets come to light, the impact reverberates through relationships, forever altering the course of their lives. As each individual becomes entangled in the complicated web of consequences, they encounter both loss and gain. Yet, in the midst of upheaval, an unexpected boon emerges: a deeper understanding of themselves. This emotionally resonant story explores the complexities of family, friends, and neighbours, ultimately revealing the transformative power of self-discovery.
£12.99 -
Bluest Dream of Mine
Bluest Dream of Mine: A Journey Beyond Boundaries by Alex Liu is a profound exploration of identity, purpose, and the human condition, stretching across the vast landscapes of finance, science, and the intricate tapestry of personal history. Beginning his career in the high-stakes world of finance at Citadel, Liu embarks on an unconventional path that leads him to the realms of medicine and chemistry, seeking a foundation in the tangible truths of the physical sciences. This narrative is more than a career memoir; it delves deep into Liu’s philosophical musings, his struggles with mental health, and his quest for understanding within a world framed by the monumental events of World War II.
Liu’s narrative weaves together the personal and the historical, presenting a tapestry that spans continents and epochs. Through his eyes, we explore the complexities of the Chinese human condition, the enduring legacy of World War II, and the existential battles fought on the fields of mental health and identity. This book is a testament to the power of change, the importance of grounding in reality, and the unending search for meaning amidst the chaos of existence.
Dedicated to Rhiannon, Bluest Dream of Mine is not just a reflection on a life lived across the spectra of finance, science, and medicine; it is an invitation to the reader to ponder the larger questions of who we are, where we are headed, and how history, both personal and collective, shapes our journey through life. Alex Liu’s narrative is a bold statement on the resilience of the human spirit, a dream blue in its depth and scope, compelling and richly layered, offering insights that resonate with anyone who has ever sought to understand their place in the vastness of history and the intricacies of the human heart.
£12.99 -
Cyclone Season
Shelley is accustomed to rebuilding after tropical cyclones ravage Northern Queensland. But rebuilding her life after her husband leaves and her career crumbles has proven more difficult. Her daughter barely speaks to her, and her sensible granddaughter has abruptly joined a band.
Like many women in their 50s, Shelley faces tough questions:
How much should she intervene in others’ lives?
Can she form her own social circle after decades as part of a couple?
With her history, can she trust any man? Especially one who is meddling, irritating, and addicted to internet dating?
Most of all, how does she pick up the pieces after the inevitable storms life brings?
Shelley is finding out what it takes to start over and weather life’s personal cyclones.
£10.99 -
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 -
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 -
Transcending Me
This breathlessly compulsive novel, by turns savage and tender, funny and wise, horrifying and uplifting, tells the story of Aloisio, born male in Latin America, who is convinced from an early age that she is a woman in a man’s body. Moving to the United States to work in the theatre, the butterfly emerges; she finds love and her place in the world, but also depravity and danger, as the book’s narrator, Aloisio—Holly to her friends—navigates the ups and downs of her life with style, wit, perceptive intelligence and blazing honesty.Taking inspiration from the impact of transgenderism on the women’s movement, Elba Barnes has created a wonderfully rich, fully alive protagonist and surrounded her with a supporting cast of vividly realised characters.
£8.99 -
Threeways
Tim has lived in Threeways Mental Hospital for thirty odd years. And, as he will tell you, these are odd years.Threeways Mental Hospital, 1975. Tim Cavendish has spent most of his life within the nicotine-stained walls of the institution. With friends Mike and Sid, he endures the never-ending boredom and grinds out his days. It has been a long time since he thought about the possibility of leaving, until well-meaning nurse Ron comes along.Now, faced with the prospect of leaving his girlfriend, Millie, and abandoning his friends to the sadistic man in the hospital workshop, Tim has a decision to make, and something has to give...
£9.99 -
The Smallest Show on Earth
From the 60s through to the present day Patrick Church has worked in the cinema from Peterborough through to Bury St Edmunds. In The Smallest Show on Earth he takes us through that experience in an autobiography that draws the reader into the trials and joys of a being a projectionist screening blockbusters like ‘Jaws' and a curious period of Indian films where half the time is spent splicing the films back together.The role of projectionist was always a low paid, but with the advent of TV and bingo and other demands on people's time it also became a precarious one as the decades rolled by. Sometimes Patrick had to plead his case as cinemas changed hands from ABC, to Odeon and bingo conglomerates, just to keep his job going and the buildings in operation. The fact that he succeeded is testament to his love for cinema and this passion shines through in this engaging book.
£9.99