A Book of Children's Rhymes

A Book of Children's Rhymes by Pixie Dean is exactly what it says on the tin, a book of children's rhymes.

It is a delightful book that is filled with poems that are both whimsical, downright funny, hilarious, magical and perhaps some that are a little bit scary, too?

There are also a good smattering of limericks and some cautionary tales, too!

Read about a pretend Gypsy and the smell that might just give her away, the day it rained sweeties, learn about the Tyrannosaurus that was bred in a shed, the man who got so big he was stuck in his garden gate, Jack and his magical blue stone and many more poems besides!

And you will be able to learn the fate of the Dancing Pig!

The book is vibrantly illustrated by Jackie (of KJA Artists) and the illustrations and the poems by Pixie Dean make this book a must have for the birthday boy or girl or to be put to one side for the canny parent looking for early Christmas presents.

It cost £7.99 and can be bought via the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which you will find to the right of this book review.  You'll also find thousands of other books, DVDs, presents, etc.., there, too.

Roseita and the Beast

Roseita and the Beast is a delightfully quirky thrilling book by someone who has decided to use the nom de plume of Ann Onymouse.

It is Ann's novelistic  début and it tells the story of a very privileged young girl called Roseita Fortesque.

Although she is only five years of age, she has some pretty firm ideas and convictions. And on of those is that dogs are destined to be loved as pets and not as the next meal.

Which is why, when she visits a bazaar she takes the decision to free the dog in the Kiruma bazaar as it was waiting to be sold for the table.

The Kirumese thought the dog had escaped and bitten her in passing. They never suspected the truth.

She loves that dog. Which is unfortunate as the Kirumese people believe that the existence of the dog will bring about the ruination of their nation.

She is also in love with the boy next door. His name is Hamish Martlett. Hamish is a boy with a mystery in his past life.

They combine forces to continue, in secret, to feed the dog.

But the consequences of their kindness might well turn out to be be staggering for all concerned. With far reaching implications down through the years.

The father of Hamish Martlett, Greg Martlett, suborns, by threats and bribery, a Kirumese man in to becoming the implacable nemesis of Roseita, sworn to kill her.

Down through the years of her life, Roseita is tracked and traced, fleeing from country to country, always trying to evade his murderous clutches.

She longs to once again find Hamish. But what is the tragic secret of Hamish? Why does Greg Martlett hate Roseita?

And what significance does the dog have throughout the years?

The book costs £7.99 and is published by Matador and is available through the That's Books and Entertainment online bookshop, which is to be found on the right hand side of this review.

Whatever Next?

Whatever Next is a memoir by Tony Porter.

Tony Porter's name will be best known to those who keenly follow the world of fashion, especially British fashion.

Indeed, Tony Porter was one of a select group of people who were at the forefront of organising British Fashion Week 40 years ago.

Tony Porter has lived a life that is rich and varied.

Ill-health dogged his young life, but he did not allow this to hold him back.

He began his foray into the world of work by selling paint for the British chemical giant, ICI.

ICI sent him to represent the firm in Nigeria. He married his fiancée Beatrice and they produced three children.

The Biafran war  commenced eight years later and ICI decided to bring Tony and his family home.

He decided that he needed a change and, as this was during the era of the swinging '60s, he went ot work in sales for the famous Biba fashion house.

As a result he met the stars of the day like Marianne Faithful, Cilla Black, Mia Farrowand Brigitte Bardot.

Eventually Tony departed from Biba and launched his own PR business specialising in the world of fashion in the heart of the West End of London.

It was then that Tony helped launch the group that would launch British (now London) Fashion Week.

Together he and Beatrice grew their PR company so that it prospered and became one of the top agencies in its field.

They bought a yacht (as you do) and then bought Burg Island, which is off the coast of Devon. (As you would like to do, but probably will not!)

They spent a considerable amount of time restoring the wonderful Art Deco hotel on the island, they took the decision to sell the hotel and island on.

And now Tony is concentrating on his new career as a writer.

Whatever next is a well-written, fascinating and compelling book that allows the reader to take a look back into the British fashion world.it is also illustrated throughout with interesting and evocative photographs.

The book, published by Matador, is available through the That's Books and Entertainment online bookshop at £9.99 and is ideal for anyone who wants to know what it was like back then.

Street Lamps Casting Pools of light on an adventurous life

Street Lamps Casting Pools of light on an adventurous life is a book by Peter Cruttwell.

It isn't an autobiography, insists Mr Cruttwell, although it seems to me to be one of the most erudite and interesting autobiographies that I have read in recent times.

Mr Cruttwell seems to claim to be an ordinary person. Well, whilst that may be true, he has certainly lived through some extraordinary adventures.

He begins his book with an interesting diversion about his family tree and the origins of the name. Her seemed intrigued that, as well as an array of the professional classes, including academics, medical men, the clergy, lawyers, academics and publishers there were also several butchers down through the years.

His book is written in a highly engaging and humorous style. In fact the essential basic humour of Peter Cruttwell is never far away, even when he is describing events that are far from humorous. It is, I think, a good example of the British ability to take things seriously without necessarily treating them seriously.

A little bit like the adverts for the insurance company of several years ago who promised "not to make a drama out of a crisis." But I digress.

In his 452 page book he covers a bewildering array of topics, written in such a way that one seems to be peering over his shoulder as he writes a highly personal memoir.

Surviving the blitz, working as an intelligent agent in the USSR, buying a Boeing 737, becoming a miner in the Amazon, meeting a number of people who were minor or major celebrities, working as a tutor to Liza Minnelli, being accused of murder in Kosovo, the citizenship for becoming an American citizen and a brief and utterly bizarre meeting with Teddy Kennedy on a plane. And another meeting on a plane with a ruptured appendix. His own.

This book is published by Matador at £18.99. (£24.99 in hardback) You can, as ever with books that are reviewed here, buy it via our very own That's Books and Entertainment online bookshop.

I am asking you to please buy a copy of this book as it is the best autobiographical book I have read in, well, in forever!

Glory the Lion Cub and the Dunnos

Glory the Lion Cub and the Dunnos is a new book for children by author Marianne Parry and illustrated by Dave Hill.

The tells children the stories of Glory, who is a lion cub, Magnus who is an elephant and Benedict who is a bear.

Glory is a very inquisitive little lion cub. And he wants to know why he can't have patterned fur like the cheetahs, the zebras and the snakes who he knows?

He asks them there names and he is astonished to find out that they all have the same name! How can this be? Why are they all called "Dunno?"

His friend Magnus the young elephant has decided that he wants to pursue a career in medicine and wants to become Doctor Magnus.

Whenever he meets animals who are inured or sickly he attempts to help them as best he can by copying techniques that had observed other animals using, previously.

However, when he sees a young cow elephant, Magnus swiftly abandons his burgeoning career in medicine. He wants to become a grown up male elephant, instead!

Another of Glory's friends is an American Brown Bear, who is called Benedict. Benedict sees a telephone pole and and hears the humming of the wires. He mistakes this humming noise for the buzzing of bees, so quite naturally climbs up the pole in order to find the bees and eat some honey.

But he hears a voice from the wires. And he communicates with... but ot find out who he speaks to, you will have to read this very fun book.

It is published by Matador and is available for £6.99 from the That's Books and Entertainment online book shop, to be found to the right of this review, along with thousands of other books, DVDs, etc.

The Tinker Spy

The Tinker Spy is a new story written by Marianne Parry and with a cover illustration by Andy Unitt.

The story relates how Solo overhears two men who are planning a robbery. But not only are these two rogues planning a robbery, they are also planning on leaving a series of fake clues which would point toward a Gypsy called Silas to be unfairly and unjustly named as the robber.

Solo and his brother Jacko enlist the assistance of their father, Felice, who is, himself, of Gypsy blood, to track Silas down and to warn him to keep well away from the village.

Felice decides that he will don the disguise of a simple Tinker so that he can travel from village to village without raising any suspicions as to his true mission to find Silas and take the opportunity to warn him of the nefarious plans of the evil duo.

In the meantime Solo and Jacko are working together to discover the exact location of the house where it is intended the robbery will take place and, of equal importance, the exact time when  it is intended to take place.

But as they have the assistance of their friend a Police Constable called Pip, to help hem, so they'll be totally safe from the ruthless robbers. Well, they will be safe. Won't they?

To learn if the boys will be able to escape without injury and if Felice ever is able to race Silas, you will have to buy this delightful piece of juvenile crime fiction which is published by Matador at £8.99.

You'll be able to purchase it and thousands of books like it, plus DVDs, toys, etc., through the That's Books and Entertainment online bookshop, which you will find to the right hand side of this book review.

Sheepy and the Riddle of the Occurrence

Sheepy and the Riddle of the Occurrence is a new book for children -and their parents and grandparents!- which has been written by Henrietta Williams.

20 years ago Henrietta's eldest son was doodling. And one of the creatures he doodled was a sheep.

Almost immediately Henrietta's fertile imagination created the entire world that Sheepy inhabited.

Nothing happened with Sheepy for a couple of decades until Sheepy was being turned into some images by professional illustrator Richard Berner.

Henrietta was entranced by the illustrations that Richard was creating but she said: "I wanted to try and make Sheepy so much more than an image on a T-shirt! I never intended to write a book!"

She noticed that, as Richard's illustrations progressed, that a whole mysterious world was being created that featured Sheepy and his friends, so, eventually, the idea of a book was born.

And so we are introduced into the magical and mysterious world of Sheepy and his friends.

Meet Sheepy, Mouse, Sox, Bob and Martha. There's a mystery to be unravelled and riddles to be solved as this admittedly unlikely band of heroic figures work to solve the puzzling Riddle of the Occurrence.

There's a whole range of equally interesting creatures who our intrepid gang will meet. Such as Twewdle Twitchers, Wizzles and Tree Stompers. And Mr Shouty. And the Chief. And... Well, to find out more, you'll have to read the book.

Like most good books for children this is multi-levelled.

Yes, it's a fantastic adventure for children to read, but there's so much more to it than that.

Young readers will see and learn about a variety of important concepts and ideas such as friendship, teamwork and loyalty.

The story is Henrietta's début book. It is to be hoped this will be the first of many equally inspired books.

The illustrations by Richard Berner are evocative of the best d.rawings of the late 1960, but with a new contemporary millennial vibe to them.

It is published in hardback by Matador at £12.99 and will make a great book for children to share with the adults in their lives, should they wish to.

It is due for publication on March 28th and will be available through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which you will find to the right-hand side of this book review, along with thousands of other books, DVDs, etc.

www.worldofsheepy.com.

Chuckle Verse. Poems by Lizzy Wade

Chuckle Verse is a collection of poems by Lizzy Wade.

Poetry can be difficult to write. And also sometimes difficult to read.

This judgement cannot be laid at the feet of Lizzy Wade.

The only thing that can be laid at the feet of poetess Lizzy Wade are a collection of accolades.

For Lizzy's poetry is always amusing and, if not merely amusing, downright bloody hilarious!

And often makes you, the lucky reader (trust me, if you take the time to purchase Lizzy's book you will be very lucky!) say: "Well blow me down! I thought that kind of stuff happened only to me?"

Such as this extract from one of her poems called Trying to see my GP

"I try to make an appointment
To see my own GP
But the battle-axe I encounter
Gives me the third degree"

She has a wit that shines a million candle power light into all sorts of nooks and crannies of everyday life.

From Doctor's receptionists to botox, from sexism to the problems of allowing men to barbecue, from from the confusion engendered by cricket to driving lessons, from boozing vicars to shopaholics and the problems of being a doctor to blind dates and the horrors of having a hot gran, all human life is here.

Each poem has a witty and pithy coloured illustration which perfectly matches the relevant poem.

If you spend your £7.99 on this excellent book of poems (it's from Matador) you will laugh and you'll live a little better, too, as these poems will remind you of truths you already knew or teach you things you should already have known but which you might have been away from school when that particular lesson was taught. (EDITOR: That's why I never came to grips with quadratic equations, apparently)

This book is promoted on the basis that all women will be able to relate to this book, in some way.

I have some hopefully welcome news for Lizzy and the staff at Matador. I think all men can relate to this book in some way, too!

Of course it is purchasable from the That's Books bookshop, which is to the righthand side of this book review, along with many other books of poems from Lord Byron to his newest and most distinguished rival, Lizzy Wade.

Bruno and the Little Donkey

Bruno and the Little Donkey is a story by Marianne Parry, which is illustrated  by Dave Hill.

It is a charming, well-illustrated tale of two friends, one a little boy called Bruno and the other, a little donkey who is called, Little Donkey.

Bruno and Little Donkey live and work on two different farms. Sad to relate, Bruno and Little Donkey are unhappy because they are both treated very badly on the farms.

When they meet at the market Bruno realises that Little Donkey is just as badly treated as he is. so, on impulse, he advises the donkey to escape.

A little while later Bruno follows his own advice and also runs away.

On the road from the village and the bustling, hustling market place, the two meet up again and they commence upon a journey away from their cruel, heartless masters they wander off together to face their new life as escapees from their previous cruel masters.

Life on the road was not easy for the two friends, for they meet characters who would wish them harm and ill fortune, but they face these and other troubles until, eventually, Bruno and Little Donkey manage to trudge their way to a new home which will be filled with much love and happiness.

This book is aimed at children -and their parents and grandparents!- from age six upwards.

It is published by Matador at £8.99 in paperback and is available from the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, alog with thousands and thousands of other titles and DVDs, to the right of this book review.

Poetry for PSHE

Poetry for PSHE is a book by teacher and author Jay Clarke and if you are a teacher or a homeschooler who deals with children who are being taught at secondary school level, then this book is one that you must have.

And if you are the head of an English Department then you simply have got to buy multiple copes of this book for your department and/or the school library.

PSHE means Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education and the book is a collection of poems that are aimed at secondary school aged children.

It is a anthology of a variety of poems that cover a wide range of different subjects such as friendships, bullying, secrets, social media, families, ill health  and the like.

The subjects are covered in such a way that the pupils are, in general terms, enthused and wish to read the next poem.

They introduce the children to a variety of real life situations that they may already be facing (such as bullying) and provides them with potential ways to face up to the situations and to learn coping skills and to help others if required.

The positive impact of this book will remain with the children for years to come. Perhaps for the rest of their lives.

The book is short, but deals with the subjects in a highly effective way and is aimed at the modern curriculum.

At £11.99 this Matador textbook deserves a place on your book shelf and also in the resource library at your school.

It is available for purchase -as single or multiple copies- from the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which you will find at the right hand side of this book review.

You can also purchase all other textbooks through the bookshop, too.

Last Tango in Buenos Aires Sketches from the Argentine

Last Tango in Buenos Aires Sketches from the Argentine is a highly evocative book by David Marsh.

David March travels into and through Argentina.

He takes his readers into the heart of this massive and highly varied country.

Through his eyes and skilled pen we meet with Indians and also a variety of religious figures from nuns and pilgrims to priests.

We see other people who inhabit the Argentine, teachers, veterans of the ill-fated war of the South Atlantic, coal miners and gold miners, ranchers and a whole host of other people who populate this country.

He also meets with those who are still bearing physical and mental scars from the wicked and horrible "Dirty War" and, astonishing though this night seem, he even meets some people who are still in favour of what happened during that filthy time and who act as apologists for what is arguably a very shameful event in recent Argentinian history.

There are also people who dream of the golden, olden days, when Argentina was one of the richest nations in the world and when Evita Peron kept many Argentinians captivated.

At £9.99 this book by Matador is ideal for people who have either a passion for Argentina or for travelogues in general.

It is available for purchase or order via the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which is to the right of this review, along with thousands and thousands of other books, DVDs, etc.

Willoughby Wind Has Fun!

Willoughby Wind Has Fun! is a fantastic new book for children written by Maggie Lycett and illustrated by Jan Woods.

It is a charmingly written and well-illustrated book that tells the story of the wind, the sun and the clouds.

It is guaranteed to capture the imagination of all children from ages three to five.

The illustrations are bright and colourful skilfully blending reality and fantasy.

The book introduces children to stories about the weather, and it also brings to their knowledge (in language that is aimed at their age range) the concepts of being good or being bad/naughty.

Children will be able to identify with the character Willoughby Wind who is really neither naughty or particularity bad, but who is a little bit mischievous!

This book is ideal for children and is perfect for their adult careers to share. Will also be idea for nursery or infant classes, too.

It is published by Matador Books at £9,99, and can be ordered through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which you will find to the right of this review.

The Skyscar. Début novel by Xander Macdonald.

The Skyscar is the début  novel by Xander Macdonald.

What happens to souls after they leave this mortal realm?

The Skyscar takes us on a journey into the afterlife. 

What happens to the souls who failed in life? Those who are the condemned?

They might become a demon, inhabiting one of a myriad different types of hells.

Where they will be fated to live out a life of misery and torture, with all the demonic overlords and their lower order demons battling for supremacy, whilst all fighting to gain supremacy on The Skyscar, which is the name for the mortal realm, which includes planet Earth, itself. 

Somehow, a pure soul becomes involved. A pure soul which has the ability to grant untold and immense powers to its owner.

Unfortunately this pure soul has suffered the fate of falling  into the clutches of Mullroch, who is an arch-demon.

But all the other demons are desirous to wrest the ownership of the pure soul from Mulltroch, so battle is commenced.

However, there are other beings who seek to restore order and remove the chaos. Angelic beings who range through the afterworlds seeking to impose harmony. One such angelic creature seeks to hide amongst the battling demons, working to save the soul, removing it from the demonic forces that would take it and keep it for their own nefarious purposes. 

But the task is not as easy as one might suppose.

This novel is published next month and, of you are a fan of fantasy novels and the works of authors such as Lovecraft, Tolkien and the like, you will need to purchase this book, available from the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which is to be found to the right hand side of this review.

It is published by Matador in paperback at £8.99.

Written Off

Written Off is a new and satirical novel that casts a weary, and wary, eye on the world of wannabe authors.

Charles Dickens did it, so why shouldn't you do it?

What? Write and publish your own book!

In his novel Paul Carroll follows the fate and fortunes of four very different wouldbe authors as they struggle to get their book published.

In their attempts to follow their dreams of literary fame and fortune they decide to employ the path of self-publishing.

In his novel Paul Carroll turns his beady eye and satirical pen on a variety of targets: Batty and self-important writers, Literary agents who like to imagine that they are far more important than they really are, publishers who are bewildered by the constant pressure of their lives and what about the self-proclaimed experts who promise (oh, the promises they make!)  to turn the aspiring authors into a publishing star. All for a not inconsiderable price, of course!)

The book is filled with humour, of that there is no doubt. It's a fun read that guys those who deserve to be guyed and also pokes gentle fun at the credulous and the well-meaning.

But as they say, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or a life...

But the author points out that behind the humorous aspects of this book the avid reader (and those of us with several novels that require just that little bit more polishing before publication!) will find more genuine and worthwhile information and guidance on how to get your novel or non-fiction book published than you will find in any of the over-priced writing courses and the workshops that are available and, it would seem, designed to part aspiring writers from their money.

And with courses starting at £500 for a ten week beginners course, the smart option would appear to be to pay £8.99 of the paperback version of this book (published by Troubador) or £2.99 for the e-version.

You can purchase this book -and thousands of other books- via the That's Books and Entertainment online book shop, which you will find to the right of this review.

Couple Finds $10 Million Dollars During Unplanned Treasure Hunt

Diamonds for Rice

Diamonds for Rice is a biography that tells the remarkable yet entirely true story of Eric Evans.

Eric survived a terrorist bomb, a civil war and cancer of the blood. Two of his bone marrow transplants came fro the same young donor.

 Eric was standing directly next to the terrorist who bombed Orley Airport, in France.

He survived being interrogated several times in war-ravaged Liberia and was able to buy his way out of the civil wear in that country by the use of a bag of rice.

Eventually, Eric was lying in a hospital bed, pondering his life. In six decades he had seen a great deal and lived through a lot. Including blood cancer.

He knew that he must now finish off writing the story of his extraordinary life.

The result is his book Diamonds for Rice, which skilfully interweaves the various aspects of his incredible journey through the North Sea oil boom, his first Million Pounds by age 28 and his adventures and escape from Liberia and his battle with blood cancer aided and abetted by many people, but most especially by Axel, his double marrow donor.

This is a truly remarkable book as not only does it relate Eric's amazing story it also promotes the campaigns to help beat blood cancer.

The book is published by Matador at £10.99 and is, of course, available through the That's Books book shop which you will find on the right hand side of this review.

For details of how to help the campaign you can visit  http://www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk/en

Judith Wants to be Your Friend

Judith Wants to be Your Friend is the début novel by Annie Weir.

Judith Dillon is 36. Somehow, she has yet to work out what she wants to do with her life.

She has failed to find her own way in the world, and can't quite work out what her place in society is.

She has problems in establishing relationships and can't seem to maintain them. She seems to have special difficulties with relationships with women.

And then Judith becomes attracted to Joanna.

Judith decides to follow Joanna, she tracks her down, learns more about her and her family and, eventually, manages to work her way into Joanna's family.

Judith attaches herself to Joanna and her family over one Christmas period.

All seems to be going well, until Joanna's mother takes a little more drink than might be wise for her and starts asking questions of Judith. Questions that are about her past life, questions that might prove to be somewhat awkward to answer.

Eventually Judith's past life begins to catch up with her.

This is an edgy, mysterious novel. It is published by Matador at £8.99 and is available from the That's Books Book Shop, which is to the right hand side of this review.

The Silent Children

The Silent Children is a book by Amna K. Boheim.

It is a modern-day ghost story set in Vienna.

It has a multitude of themes covering secrets and horrors that beset Austria in the 1930s,

It is 1938. Annabel Albrecht notices that things are not quite right within her once happy and stable home.

First, there is the mysterious disappearance of Eva, her favourite maid.

Then her good friend Oskar also vanishes

But those events are a mere drop in the ocean, when compared to the dreadful event that occur next, when her beloved brother is murdered.

In a horrendous continuation of these evil events, her mother is taken away from her and Annabel is left to, somehow, fends for herself.

Nearly 70 years later Max, who is Annabel's son, decides to dig into his mother's mysterious past and is able, with persistence, to disinter the secrets of his mother's vanished friends.

Now that his estranged mother is dead, all he has is a photograph of his mother and of Oskar, taken in 1938.

But something appears to be amiss. Are the missing completely silent?

The ghosts of the past are haunting Max.

The house in the photograph. There seems to be something wrong with it. Something amiss.

Can Max learn what it is? Can he help the ghosts of the past?

This is a highly evocative first novel by Amna K. Boheim.

It is published by Matador at £8.99. It can be bought from the That's Books bookshop, just to the right of this book review.

A Time of My Life

A Time of My Life is a remarkable book penned by nurse Mo Ruddling.

Back in the 1960s a young and qualified nurse, Mo Rudling, decided to take up a two year posting (no holidays allowed!) as a nurse on the island of Taraway (now called Kiribati) with the British Colonial Service.

She had the opportunity to work with the peoples of the atolls of the central Pacific Ocean tending to their medical needs, during the last days of the British Empire, close to the Equator.

The natives of the islands are bedevilled by a range of problematic conditions. Infant mortality, poverty and general medical necessities, which Mo does her best to help alleviate.

Based on Tarawa, Mo had to be transported by boat to the other neighbouring islands, wading ashore through the shallow seas to tend to the requirements and needs of her far flung patients.

She had to tend to a variety of medical needs, including those who were in a a leprosarium, where some 20 people who were suffering from chronic leprosy were living out their lives.

Medical supplies, were, Mo realised, in scant supply.

As well as providing medical care Mo was responsible for organising and overseeing the training programme to ensure that there would be a constant supply of locally-born nurses who would, eventually, be able to tend to the needs of the people on the islands.

This is a charming book and will be of great interest to lovers of books on  travel and medicine.

It is published by Matador and costs £15.99. It is available via the That's Books book shop, which you will find to the right of this review.

Enchanted Realms

Enchanted Realms is a new fantasy novel. Or perhaps it is a true story?

The author of Enchanted Realms, Valan Peters, is a intriguing character.

Middlesex-born, a riding instructor who eventually re-trained as a therapist using the complimentary medicine paradigm, and, ultimately, a teacher.

Valan saw a horse who was at death's door, a victim of tetanus. But the expected did not happen.

As a recipient of distance healing, the horse made a miraculous recovery from the dreadful disease.

Which brings us to the book that Valan Peters has written.

Soon after the Battle of Hastings two men were allotted their rewards for their bravery.

They were gifted two large areas of lands that were quite close to the Kingdom of Wales.

On their journey toward Wales, they met a powerful wizard.

He was able to make a prophesy about the births of their two two children.

The two would, at birth, betrothed to each other. And, so it was, when the two children, named David and Gwendolyn, were born, they were, indeed, betrothed.

And the other prophecies he made. Would they, could they come to fruition, also?

This is an extremely well-written story which melds fact, fiction and fantasy into a seamless tale that is guaranteed to beguile the reader.

It is published by Matador at £9.99 and is available via the That's Books Book Shop, which is to be found to the right-hand side of this book review.

Bruce Dickinson Insights

Bruce Dickinson  Insights is a stunningly original book by Brigitte Schon.

It is subtitled An Interpretation of his Solo Albums.

Known for his great musicianship, his lyrics, hisability as a TV presenter, a pilot a fencer a record producer,  and his specialist real ales (Just try his Trooper real ale. It'll be a real revelation to you!)  Bruce Dickinson is a sort of modern day renaissance man. Or a polymath.

This book helps the reader explore Bruce Dickinson through the interpretation of his lyrics from his solo albums.

Unfortunately the powers that be behind Iron Maiden decided that it would be wise to refuse Brigitte permission to reprint the lyrics. Which, one might argue, would somewhat risk devaluing the whole thrust of the book.

The problem is with the powers that be of this type is that although they know the cost of everything, they know the value of nothing.

However, despite the attempt to hobble this book Brigitte is able to use her considerable skills as a researcher and a writer to throw some illumination onto the lyrics of Bruce Dickinson.

Brigitte manages to use snatches from the lyrics and interviews with Bruce and others to offer a sensitive and heartfelt  analysis of the lyrics that  Bruce has created and sent out to the world.

This is a truly amazing book and of you Bruce Dickinson  Insights a fan of Bruce's  music,  you really do need to buy this book.

It costs £9.99 and is worth every penny.

The Parrot Tree

The Parrot Tree is a romantic fictional novel by Barbara Kastelin.

It tells the story of Vivien. And of Karl.

Vivien is a talented young woman who lives in suburbia in the 1980s.

She feels stultified and suffocated in a marriage that she feels is loveless. It has damped her creativity so she, in effect, runs away from home and finds her way to Madison Avenue where she fully intends to discover professional and romantic fulfilment.

Karl is a genius (of the type often described as "tormented or tortured") who, as a young boy, had to flee from the Nazis by making a daring run for freedom in the sewerage system that was below the city of Bratislava.

He became a gardener (to an Austrian Barron, no less!). fathered a daughter (out of wedlock) and decided to emigrate to America in the 1950s.

Eventually, Karl found fame and fortune in the world of advertising and eventually was able to launch his own highly successful advertising agency on Madison Avenue.

Karl has become involved in a project to help save the Amazon rainforest.

His assistant hires Vivien to work with them on the location shooting, down their in the Amazon.

And so off they go, heading for the headwaters of the Amazon.

After all, what on earth could possibly go wrong? Or right, even?

This novel is published by Matador at £7.99 and is available via the That's Books book shop, on the right hand side of this review.

Far, Far the Mountain Peak

Far, Far the Mountain Peak is the début novel by Arthur Clifford, graduate of Rugby School and Newcastle University, school teacher, explorer and mountaineer of some renown.

It tells the story of John Denby, conceived in a church(!) to parents that might have cruelly been referred to in the Sun or the Daily Mail as "rent-a-protest tin-pot socialist revolutionaries" and, once born, he was rejected by these self-regarding and self-styled revolutionaries and parcelled off from the working class north (though his parents were anything but working class) to his wealthy grandparents in the south of England.

His grandparents doted on him and he was a well-loved child. He was pampered at home, sent to one of the best private schools that their money could buy and he lived a happy, contented life in the London suburb where he created his own idyllic little life filled with model railways (steam, of course!) and the teachings and promises of eternal salvation of the Scripture Union.

But a sudden tragedy destroys all that his grandparents and he had carefully constructed for John.

And he must return to the north of England, a north of England that he had never known.

His parents are just as cold and indifferent to him as they ever had been, and he is made to attend a bizarre and somewhat weird "experimental" state school, partially because this is a school that his father was instrumental in helping to create and launch.

John just does not fit in. Well, with the rejection of his parents and being reared by his wealthy grandparents in an entirely different society hundreds of miles away, how could he have ever had any hope of fitting in?

But John is far from being stupid and pretty quickly he realises that, in order to survive, let alone thrive, he will have to develop the ability to become two entirely different people. A posh and sensitive boy and also a devil may care hard boy. One of the lads.

As he grows up in this strange and somewhat alien environment, John Denby has to try to make sense of it all and to work out what he really wants in life and also how he is to attain it.

This is a very moving first novel and is well worth reading as it takes us from the confused, self-regarding protest generation to their children who still had to try to make sense of the real world.

It is published by The Book Guild at £12.99 and is available from the That's Books book shop, which you will find to the right hand side of this book review.

Zweck

Zweck, in which musician and well-published musical composer Stephen Deutsch (he of well over 40 scores for concert works, films/movies and the theatre plus a couple of scripts for television dramas) explores the world of modern musical composers.

Zweck is set in 1972. Bernard Robbins is a typical American in London. He is a mixture of innocence, arrogance and has a certain lack of knowledge about many of the things in life that matter.

He is in London to further his career as a concert pianist, a conductor and also as a composer of music.

By utter chance Bernard meets the only other member of his family who lives in London, his great uncle, Hermann Heinrich Zweck.

Now into his 90s, Zweck once had it all, he was an eminent composer. But now? Well, not so much eminence as there has been a somewhat dramatic slipping away of any public recognition of his once highly esteemed works.

Now Zweck is a one man force fighting a sort of guerilla war against what he sees as cowardice. laziness, ineptitude and stupidity of the entire world.

How can Bernard cope with the eccentricities and the rages -often capricious- of his older relative?

For some reason Zweck is excessively enraged by the hapless and less than offensive English musicologist Charles Forsythe. And he seems to have it in for Bernard, too!

But why? What motivates and drives Zweck and his rages?

Is it wine, women and song? Or perhaps just the latter two?

The book is subtitled "A novel and mostly reliable musical history."

The book is a delightful tale, which wanders off into all sorts of odd and somewhat arcane areas of musical history. For example, did you know of the link between Chief Sitting Bull and Rachmaninoff?

This is an interesting and marvellously mischievous novel and at £9.99 from Matador is available via the That's books Book Shop, available on the right hand side of this book review.

Ripped Apart

Ripped Apart is a novel by Geoffrey Arnold.

It is a science fiction novel that tells the story of the twins.

Geoffrey Arnold relates that the story is based on what the twins told him, and that this process started, not very far from the Midlands city of Birmingham, one Saturday afternoon, when he took a notepad and a pen and began to transcribe the story (a true story, they assured him) of what had happened to them.

The book is a part of a four part series based on their recollections, "Quantum Twins -Adventures of Two Worlds."

Somehow thrust out of their own, very different, dimension, a boy and a girl (the twins) find themselves separated for the very first time ever at age 15, with the whole of planet Earth between them.

Even their telepathic link is severed. Which must have been devastating for them, as this was the first time they were not only alone from others of their kind, but of each other, too.

They revealed to Geoffrey that they were not the first of their people to visit the Earth. That others of their people had arrived here 75,000 previously. And were, in fact, the ancestors of the human race that populates the Earth.

The twins, coming from a place that is harmonious and at peace, are shocked and horrified at the situation that they find on Earth.

The twins were desperate to be reunited and they required the help of the humans of Earth if this reunification of the twins was to happen.

They also needed to avoid detection and capture and to, eventually, return to their own home.

True or the work of an exceptionally active imagination?  It doesn't matter, because Geoffrey Coldfield tells a good story.

It's £8.97 in paperback and is, of course, available from the That's Books bookshop, to the right hand side of this review.

A Passionate Spirit

A Passionate Spirit, a paranormal thriller, written by S C Skillman, tells the story of Zoe who, at 35, looks like she has it all.

She is young, attractive, is married to a priest who is less than conventional and together they have a beautiful baby daughter and they move to what should be a delightful new home in the idyllic Cotswold hills.

So, given that set of circumstances, what on earth could possibly go wrong?

Well... there's the dreams, you see? The recurring nightmare dream in which Zoe dreams of a young woman who is fleeing, fleeing for her life.

Zoe is disturbed by these dreams and she also has a darkening sense of foreboding. For somehow, Zoe knows that the life of her precious baby is at risk. As is her own life.

At which point, things become more sinister, as two totally unexpected guests arrive at their home. James and Natasha.

But there's nothing wrong with James and Natasha, surely?

However, Zoe's friend Alice wouldn't agree. For some reason she cannot quite trust the new couple. Even more so, Natasha.

But only Zoe agrees with Alice. Everyone else seems to trust them.

Natasha soon sets to work proving her abilities as a very talented healer. A very talented healer, indeed. In fact some say her healings are nothing short of miraculous and that Natasha is a miracle worker.

But the sense of dis-ease and foreboding will not leave Zoe.

But Zoe knows that she must challenge Natasha. But can she be prepared for the forces that she is suddenly confronted with? The sheer, stark terror that she will face?

Will she and her stalwart, true friend Alice be able to prevail against the malevolent forces that are suddenly directed toward them?

If you like your thrillers with more than a touch of the paranormal, then this is the ideal book for you. It is published by Matador and costs £8.99 in paperback and is available from the That's Books book shop which you will find to the right hand side of this book review.

Every Shade of Blue

Every Shade of Blue is a new novel by Linzi Drew-Honey.

It tells the story of what happens when Suzanne Perry-Jackson is cruelly dumped by her husband of two decades when he trades her in for a much younger woman.

Suzanne's life as she knew it, an easeful, comfortable, relatively simplistic world, is suddenly smashed to bits.

Within a couple of months of the break-up, Suzanne meets Angelo Azzurro. He is a stranger with the ability to capture her heart.

He senses that she is hurting and vulnerable and he lures her into a world of a sadomasochistic sex.

She decides that this event, a liberating, though painful, encounter will be a one off event. A moment of lunacy.

She later meets with the man of her dreams, a stunningly handsome orthopaedic surgeon,  Sebastian Black.

But Angelo is not a man to be thwarted. He is dangerous and is not used to people saying "no" to him.

So he kidnaps her and keeps her entrapped.

When Suzanne vanishes, Sebastian is frantic. He is fully aware that Angelo is behind the disappearance of his beloved Suzanne.

Will he find her? Can he save her from Angelo?

This novel is published by Troubadour in paperback at £8.99.

It will be available through the That's Books and Entertainment online bookshop, just to the right-hand side of this book review.

(EDITOR: This is a very raunchy book, so not for the faint of heart. In fact one description of it is: "Every Shade of Blue makes 50 Shades of Grey read like a brochure for a chandlery shop!")

The Price of Love by Deanna Maclaren

The Price of Love by Deanna Maclaren takes the reader straight into the global heart of Romance, Paris.

Helen, the protagonist of The Price of Love is living in London.

She seems to be trapped in a dead-end job, with no hope of doing very much, to be honest.

But that is where her story really, truly begins.

For her new found French lover, Jean-Paul, encourages her to leave London and her career (such as it is!) to go to Paris to spend Christmas there.

But then, from Jean-Paul's perspective, things start to go awry.

He is infuriated when Helen decides to take up a job as a cleaner and perhaps understandably enraged when she begins to have an affair with an attractive bad boy, Alexis.

Via the contacts of Alexis, Helen become au fait with the swinging scene of Paris and also the sister of Alexis, a so-called wild child, Malveen.

Then to add to the chaos (or le chaos as the French would put it) Jean-Paul dies without any real warning.

Marc, the adult son of Jean-Paul, does his best to offer his comfort to Helen.

Then, Malveen's marriage instantly takes a turn for the worst and Malveen is locked in a dungeon by her husband.

Malveen, not surprisingly, takes this marital decision by her husband rather badly (what with that and the horribly messy business with the nourriture pour chien) and manages to orchestrate her own escape from her espousal entrapment.

Unfortunately after she is able to effect her escape she  murders the employer of Helen. (As if Helen's life is not already complicated enough!)

Marc becomes beside himself and Helen takes the sensible step of fleeing Paris (indeed, fleeing France its entirety) and returning to the relative sanity and safety of life with her family in Southwold, Suffolk.

But Marc is made of sterner stuff and he tracks her down to England. And if you want to know how it all plays out, the book will cost you £9.99, from Matador.

You will be enchanted by the witty, breathless writing style of Deanna Maclaren. This is her tenth book.

The book is also available from the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop which you will find on the right hand side of this site. Also whilst there, search for Deanna's other novels.

That's Food and Drink: Enjoy Liquid poetry with Lord Byron's personal sin...

That's Food and Drink: Enjoy Liquid poetry with Lord Byron's personal sin...: Lord Byron was one of the world's best-loved and most influential poets of the Romantic period of world literature. Now you can shar...

Publishers! We will review books you publish at no cost to you

And at no cost to your authors.

Why do we do this? Because we feel that it is important that fellow writers get the chance to get details of their books out to the reading public, the people who read book reviews on That's Books and Entertainment.

How do you get your books reviewed for free? Please just send your details to us via Thatsbooks@mail.com.

And we will take it from there.

Tookey's Turkeys is a book we previously reviewed. It is a book on the most annoying films from the last 25 years, Arts Reviewer of the Year for 2013, Christopher Tookey.

You can read the review at
http://thatsbooks.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/tookeys-turkeys-most-annoying-144-films.html.

Also a reminder that you can buy this book and all other books that we have reviewed on That's Books and Entertainment at the That's Books and Entertainment book shop, which you will find to the right hand side of this article.

To Tell the Truth - John Thomas Scopes, subject of "Inherit The Wind" (O...

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That's Christmas: It's not too late to order your Christmas gifts: It is not to late to order your Christmas gifts. We all know how it is. A gift suddenly becomes out of stock, you realise you forget to ...

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That's Christmas: Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses

That's Christmas: Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses: I believe this is one of the best Christmas songs ever!

A War Symphony

A War Symphony is a new book by Keith Rumsey.

In it, Keith Rumsey, who is an academic expert in the German language, take a collection of writings in the original German and translates them into English.

The writings are taken from the periods between the World Wars and beyond into the mid-1950s.

they offer the reader a compelling and different view on the impact of both wars on the ordinary people of Germany, but, obviously, from a Germanic perspective.

The writings were all created by influential German writers.

You will igially written by a wide range of German voices, such as Hermann Hesse, Bertolt Brecht, Hans Bender, Elisabeth Langgasser and Ernst Glaser.

They all make reference to war on one way or another, yet they are not specifically war stories, as such.

They touch on a wide range of subject matter, such as the impact of war on both military personnel and on the civilian population.

Some are stridently anti-war, others are less so, but still manage to convey the futility of war and those who are more strident in their attitudes place the entire blame for the two World Wars on nationalism.

There are elements of humour and filled with sympathy for the victims of war.

The book is published by Matador and costs £7.99 in paperback.

It is available through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which is to be found to the right hand side of this review.

Terragaineous

Terragaineous is a new novel for children by Irish born author and storyteller A. O. Comerford.

As a child growing up on a farm in rural Ireland, he recalls a scrawny aged ash tree that grew on the side of a hill on the family farm.

Its roots were exposed as it clung, somehow, to the hillside.

He imagined that there were tunnels beneath the tree and its roots and that there was a busy civilisation of wee folk who lived out their lives there.

Which brings us to his novel Terragaineous...

Callum is 15 years old, an ordinary young boy, living an ordinary life, until fate decides that it has other plans for him, when Callum's mother unexpectedly dies.

Riven with grief and rage at this cruel turn of events,  Callum's life, his whole world, falls to pieces.

Several weeks later Callum becomes convinced  that he has finally succumbed to insanity caused by his grief when he is rescued by a homeless man. Yet this homeless man is no ordinary man. He is an extraordinarily small man. In fact, he is a tiny man.

The tiny man reveals to Callum that he is a member of an ancient subterranean civilisation made up of tiny folk just like himself.

He regales Callum with stories of how they reside, happily in a magical world where all live in harmony with nature. Far away from the turmoil of the life led by humanity.

Realising that he has not lost his mind, Callum latches on to this opportunity to live beyond his own hurt and he convinces his friends to help him assist the tiny man to find his way home.

But exactly where will their open, childish curiosity and kind-heartedness take them?

What will happen to their tiny friend? What will happen to them?

This is a book that will captivate children -and adults- as it draws them into the world of Terragaineous.

It is published by Matador at £8.99 and will make an excellent present for children of all ages. It is not available for Christmas (the official publication date isn't until 28 December) but you can pre-order it at the Amazon-powered That's Books and Entertainment book shop, which will be found at the right hand side of this review.

Pirates and Promises

Pirates and Promises is a new adventure book written especially for children by Peter Gredan Davies.

Whilst he was enjoying a holiday in the beautiful coastal village of Mousehole, Peter (who hales from Portwrinkle) discovered that in 1595 there was a Spanish attack on both Mousehole and also on the town of Penzance when the Spanish invaders set both of those Cornish towns ablaze.

Intrigued, Peter undertook further research and discovered that the coast of Cornwall was subject to frequent and numerous attacks by the Barbary pirates of North Africa.

He combined his research with his lifelong passion for the sea (he is a former Royal Navy officer and a seaman) to provide the basis for his novel, Pirates and Promises, which is written for children aged from 9 to 12.

Becca and Jack Tremayne are twins living in Cornwall. They find a mysterious man, Azfer Hakeem, shipwrecked on a neighbouring beach and they save his life.

But there is much more to Azfer Hakeem than appears at first sight. For it transpires that he is of the royalty of the country called Lebanon.

He is in command of a fleet of armed merchantmen, ships that trade between Europe and the Mediterranean.

However, under the circumstances of them saving him from certain death, Azfer Hakeem feels honour bound to assist the twins in their desire to locate and rescue their parents, Kerenza and Brethoc, who had fallen prey to Barbary pirate two years before.

During his recuperation he and the children build up a genuine rapport and, whilst showing them is magic tricks and regaling them with tales of his distant travels, he begins to formulate a plan of how he could use his royal and diplomatic connections to discover the fate of the parents and to rescue them, if possible.

He uses his network of spies to find that Kerenza is being help captive in the court of the Governor of Algiers, and there are rumours that Brethoc is enslaved to the team of rowers on a galley.

Eventually, Azfer Hakeem is well enough to command his brave and resourceful crew of all nations to take the twins on an adventurous and perilous mission to attempt to locate and rescue their parents.

Will they survive? Will they find their parents? Can they rescue them?

Buy this book as a Christmas present and you and your children can learn for themselves!

The book is published by Matador at a very reasonable £6.99. It's also available from the That's Books and Entertainment Amazon-powered bookshop (you'll find it to the right hand side of this book review) but if you want it before Christmas, we would suggest you go for one of the faster delivery options.)

The Little Read Book

The Little Read Book is a new book from Mike Arblaster that takes a playful and energetic look at facts and words.

Mike takes us through an enterprising and entertaining romp through the world of words and also through the word of worlds.

He takes what we know and shines a strong light on it and helps us to see that perhaps what we thought we thought we knew is not actually always the case.

He casts his sardonic and humorous gaze upon matters medical, fashion, science, food and drink, medicine, business, the military, music, people, nature, the law, entertainment and the media, geography, literature and much more, besides.

The tone of the section on medical matters "Delirious Diagnoses" is set by the deliciously apposite aphorism: "Most men have a body shaped like a Homeric hero -too bad that it's from the Simpsons and not the Iliad."

Mike doesn't just take a sideways look at a subject. He takes the subject, breaks it down into its component parts and then says, gleefully: "See? See what this thing is really all about?"

And you look at it and you say: "Yes! Yes! I see it all, now! Why are consultants so expensive? And why is there no rhyming slang for rhyming slang? What was AA Milne thinking when he called the bear Winnie? And why was he a pooh bear? Why is English a universal language? And why is dyslexia spelt like it is?"

And is it true that the love of evil is the root of all money?

This book has the ability to turn a common, well known fact on its head and make you actually think about what you think you already know.

At £9.99 this book, published by Matador in paperback, it is the ideal Christmas gift for anyone who loves words and language.

It is, of course, available through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop (you will find this to the right hand side of this book review) but we suggest that you use the faster delivery options if you want to make sure that it arrives before Christmas.

A Cold War Spy Hunt by a Crummy Army Newspaper

Thank goodness! A new and utterly wonderful book from novelist Tim Topps!

A Cold War Spy Hunt by a Crummy Army Newspaper tells the story of how Tim Topps, a recently commissioned officer (but one who does not feel in the slightest bit military-minded) is assigned to a laid-back army base in Shropshire, two years after the end of World War 2. Most of the people assigned to the base are "coming down" from the five years of the previous war.

But now a very different type of war was beginning to become noticeable, even at Tim's base. For this was the era when the Cold War began to become evident.

However, all Tim knew was that he was to perform the duties of an officer at the huge base, including being in charge of the stores, but what he might not have expected was that he would also have another duty dumped on him, that of serving as the editor of a "crummy army newspaper" that is "published" at the base every week.

Tim's remit as editor is to not only lick the weekly paper into some sort of shape, but to expand the paper, too.

However, all is not as it seems. For the true role that Tim is to serve  as the editor of the publication is to turn it into a tool (to "weaponise" it, to use a modern term) in order to trap a Communist sleeper agent who, MI5 is convinced) has managed to plant himself within the civilian staff of the base. 

In the meantime Tim manages -contrary to the rules- to fall deeply and madly in love with a very pretty and charming young ATS -who is also very good at her job- which merely adds to the general Mayhem of the situation as it develops and trundles along on its troublesome way.

Tim and his ATS assistant take their time but manage to narrow down the suspects not to a civilian worker but to an officer.

But is all it seems?

Is there a sleeper? If so, who is it? And who is working under him?

What is the connection with Southern France?

This book is an exciting romp, with some touching romance too, it must be mentioned, through the early days of the Cold War and is another must read book from Tim Topps.

This novel is available via the That's Books and Entertainment Amazon-powered bookshop to be found to the right hand side of this review. It will make an excellent Christmas gift. But may I suggest you order express delivery if you need it to fill a space in a Christmas stocking?

It is published by Matador in paperback at a very reasonable £8.99. 

(Incidentally your reviewer has a message for Tim Topps. When my father spent several years working as a civilian at COD Donnington in the early to mid-1960s, it was still just as laid-back as ever. And still is to this day, if stories are to be believed.)

The Devil Returns Twice as Deadly

The Devil Returns Twice as Deadly is a historic novel by Fred Smith.

It tells the tale of Robert Williams who is a County Bailiff.

He sees what he believes to be a chance to earn some extra, easy money.

But he could have had no understanding of the breathtaking and dangerous series of events that this engenders.

There's a ferryman who seems to have a problem, but what problem, exactly? Who, or rather, what was he? Man or something else?

Also there is a violent. troubled and bothersome landowner, a magistrate who is nursing a grievance that is ages old and what of Mary, the love of Robert's life? Has he inadvertently brought danger of an untimely end to her and even her entire family?

Can he save Mary and her family? Can he save himself?

This book is an ideal Christmas gift for anyone who likes a rip roaring adventurous novel, set in the olden days.

It is published in hardback by the Book Guild at £12.99.

It is, of course, available via the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop which is to be found to the right hand side of this review.

The Arabian Alchemist

The Arabian Alchemist is a fascinating new book by Edda Livingston.

It offers an intriguing look into the life of the body of people known as the Illuminati.

In it we read the account of a student search and discovery of a "Hidden Master".

We read how the narator, Gullvei, meets Michel Nizan, through mutual friends.

She, Gullvei, when she meets the magician and alchemist, is completely enthralled by him.

Their rapport is immediate and strong.

The reader is taken on a journey of discovery as Gullvei learns all that she can from her teacher.

The book is esoteric and one for followers of this path of knowledge.

It is published by The Book Guild and costs £9.99.

Wrack

Wrack is a novel by James Bradley.

It tells the story of David Norfolk who is an archaeologist who has the task of searching for the wreck of a Portuguese ship that is thought to have sunk 400 years ago off the coast of New South Wales, Australia.

If he were to find this ship it would lead to the complete rewriting of the history of the discovery of Australia.

But what happens is that instead of the prize he seeks, Norfolk discovers the remains of a man who had been murdered half a century earlier.

There is an elderly hermit who is living in a nearby shack. The man is dying and he seems to know something about the identity of the dead man. And tantalisingly points to a possible link between the corpse and the shipwreck that Norfolk is searching for.

The elderly man beings to reveal secrets from his own life, a life that was blighted by rivalry, passion abd betrayal.

But does he really know anything about the sunken ship and the story of the murder that took place all those years ago?

Will he reveal what he knows to Norfolk before it is too late?

This is a compelling and exciting story that is written by a master storyteller who is an excellent and highly skilled researcher.

The book will make an idea Christmas present for those who like adventure stories and is available through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which is to be found to the righthand side of this review.

It is published in paperback by Faber and Faber at £7.99.

Unicorn Power A Princess who can't dance

It's the middle of the night. Eliza is sleeping. Yet her twin sister Darcy wakes her up. Why? Because a princess called Jemima is in trouble and needs their help!

All at once Eliza is awake and the twins are putting on their pretty pink wellington boots, saddle up their flying unicorn and dash off to the rescue!

The princess is in the expert help of Darcy and Eliza. She has been invited to attend a special ball, yet she doesn't know how to dance the waltz! Every time she has tried, she has fallen over.

Thankfully, the girls love to give dancing lessons at midnight and with the magical assistance of their unicorn called Blossom, they think they should be able to turn their princess friend into a spectacular, sparkling dancer.

And, after a few false starts, they soon have her dancing like a champion dancer.

This book, written by Andrea Miller, is not only charmingly written, it is also charmingly illustrated throughout.

It is an ideal Christmas present for little girls who like pink wellingtons, dancing, unicorns and helping princesses out.

It is published in hardback at £8.99 by The Book Guild and is available via the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop ,which you will find to the righthand side of this book review.

My Hair Curls

My Hair Curls is a wonderful and charming book by Sheryl Richards and vibrantly illustrated by Noushka Galley.

It tells the story of Angeline who is an ordinary, but remarkably special, little girl of a third generation family of African-Caribbean heritage. She lives with her mum and dad and her little brother, George.

Angeline tells her own story in a charming way, using very simple, yet very powerful words to describe the differences and the similarities- of not only her hair, but the hair of her friends.

There are also 18 beautiful butterflies for you and your child to discover which are hidden -in full view!- throughout the book.

There are also interactive elements within the book which mean that the book will become highly personalised to the very lucky owner of this book.

This isn't one of those well-meaning yet potentially very annoying books that promote diversity in a tedious and dull way. This is a book that celebrates diversity in a bright, breezy and effective fashion.

Sheryl is not only a very talented writer, she is also a mother and her understanding of what children want and like is reflected in this "must buy" book which will make an ideal Christmas gift for any child (probably best for girls, though) no matter what their cultural identity.

It's ideal for reading together (remember to look out for the butterflies!) and costs £6.99 in paperback from Matador.

You can buy it through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which you will find to the righthand side of this review.

Just a Little Scratch

Just a Little Scratch, subtitled "Anesthesia a straightforward guide to what it is"  is a new book by Dr David Raitt.

The thought of a forthcoming operation can be unsettling, but now these concerns and fears can be allayed by this new and highly informative book by near-40 year veteran anaesthetist Dr Raitt.

Before the advent of anesthesia surgery was brutal and carried out as quickly as possible before the patient died of shock, due to the excruciating pain of having a broken bone set, an operation performed or a diseased limb cut off.

This was all changed, however, with the discovery and development of various types of anaesthesia.

Dr Raitt's guide to anaesthesia givers the reader a brief overview of the history and the development of the branch of medical science known as anaesthesia and modern, cutting edge techniques.

It takes the reader through how it works, what the anesthetist does during the operation, what the best anaesthetics are and much more, besides.

Dr Raitt had taken a look at the available books on anaesthesia and had realised that the available books on the subject were either all so filled with advanced medical jargon and terminology, or conversely, were so basic that thy were of very limited use.

Dr Raitt wanted to write a book that was suitable for everyone, but would be of special interest to patients and their families, before an operation was performed.

Dr Rait -who trained as an anesthetist whilst he was serving in the RAF- and who then spent near 30 years as a consultant anaesthetist in the city of Leicester, was fully aware of how daunting an operation could be, so wanted to provide a book that was as comforting as it was informative.

It is written in a very approachable style. Apparently this is the first informative guide that Dr Raitt has written. As this is the case it is to be hoped that this will be the first of many such books that he will write.

Before I picked up this book, I would have doubted that a book on anesthesia would have been enthralling, but this slim, but highly informative book, is enthralling and utterly engrossing.

Although Dr Raitt has intended this book to be for the layman it is my opinion that this book will make an ideal Christmas present for anyone who is either already a medical student, or is in pre-med classes at college or university.

It will also be of valuable assistance to nurses and healthcare assistants, hospital chaplains and other people who work with patients who are about to undergo an operation.

Hospitals really should consider buying this book by the case for staff and patients to read. It really is that good.

It's published by Matador at an incredibly modest £8.99 it is an ideal Christmas stocking filler for everyone from the first year medical student to someone about to undergo a surgical procedure.

You can buy it from the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, you'll find it to the right hand side of this book review.