That's Christmas: Georgina A song of youth

That's Christmas: Georgina A song of youth: Georgina A song of youth is a new novel by Cedric Paul Foster. It relates the story of Georgina, who is an extraordinary woman. She is...

That's Christmas: Love Across the Decades

That's Christmas: Love Across the Decades: In his new collection of short, romantic stories, writer Steven Baker (who we just met, you will remember!) has produced an entirely diffe...

That's Christmas: Battling Spirits and Kindly Hearts

That's Christmas: Battling Spirits and Kindly Hearts: Battling Spirits and Kindly Hearts is a new novel from author Steven Baker. It tells the story of young Londoner Michael Forbes. His was...

That's Christmas: More Sherlock Holmes than James Herriot

That's Christmas: More Sherlock Holmes than James Herriot: More Sherlock Holmes than James Herriot is subtitled The Veterinary Detectives. Written by one such veterinary detective, Roger S. Winds...

Shifting Stories How changing their story can transform people

It's said that everyone has a story. But what if you could help people to change their story? What would happen to them? What would become of them?

In his new book, Shifting Stories How changing their story can transform people, Andrew Scott, a freelance management training consultant and coach who has worked with top blue chip organisations and many universities during the past three decades, points out that you can help people change their story and, therefore, change themselves.

If your job requires you to help others to become more effective in a workplace setting, then this book will be of immense value and help to you.

It uses a completely revolutionary approach  to addressing the life of your organisation in order for oyu to be better able to coach your staff members more effectively, boosting your team to work more successfully, deal with and resolve interpersonal difficulties, bring about change (by leadership!)  and resolve conflicts.

Andrew began a five year process of examining the multitude of different approaches that are available, ranging from Narrative Theraphy to CBT.

He has created a synthesis which has brought about a new and unique method to assist people to re-write the stories within their lives which, Andrew, contends, impede and block their progress, their abilities and their effectiveness.

The book is broken down inot three distinct sections.  

What's the Big Idea?

The ManyStory Approach in Approach in Practice

Concluding Thoughts.

Section one covers how everyone lives our lives through story, how problems could arise because of the stories that people have created, how people can make their stories come true, for good or for ill, sometimes,  and how people can be helped to work with their stories to achieve better, more positive outcomes.

Section two deals with how the ManyStory approach can be applied. There are a number of very helpful case studies that explore and demonstrate all aspects of the system.

The final section, section 3, brings together everything that has been learned, but it also examines instances where the system has been seen to have not worked and he examines the lessons that we can learn from them.

The book will be a useful tool in the tool kit available to anyone in Human Resources, training, business coaching and management.

It costs £14.99 and is published by Matador. Copies are available for purchase at our own book shop at >>> https://goo.gl/qPctIy.

That's Christmas: Actual Reality

That's Christmas: Actual Reality: We have all heard of Virtual Reality, but what of Actual Reality? Cat Mantra has spent his working life as a journalist and as a perform...

The Adventures of a Mzungu

In his latest book, The Adventures of a Mzungu, David Ardron takes a retrospective look back at his times spent travelling through the continent of Africa.

The book is a light-hearted and compelling look back at his times spent in Africa, whilst there for pleasurable travel and also for work.

He was a travelling novice when he first started his sojourns inot the African continent and he saw everything through the fresh and unjaded eyes of a travelling novice.

On his first visit to a shanty town in Nairobi, he was startled by a Masai security guard, enjoyed (if that's the correct word...) is first experience of public transport in Africa and managed to survive his first encounter with African wildlife. You will be glad to know that neither he, or the water buffalo, were any the worse for their mutual experience.

Throughout the coming years David met a great many interesting people, sometimes in hospital and prison visits, flew to and from a number of airports (an adventure in itself, to be honest) met even more wildlife (and, thankfully, continued to survive these encounters) and he even (somehow!) managed to survive his attempts at negotiating African traffic as a driver.

In 2007 he spent a year in Uganda, where he realised that there was a problem with the idea of arranging training for village church leaders. They had not the funding to attend training courses in distant cities, so David hit on the idea of bringing the necessary training to them, instead.

He found the required training course, found training to enable him to present the training courses and this is what he now does, taking the training to even the remotest villages where this training is desperately required.

This is a very inspirational book and it will make an ideal Christmas present for people who want to learn about travel and inspirational people like David Ardron.

The book isd from Matador and costs £11.99.

It's available to purchase at our own shop, here >>> https://goo.gl/qPctIy.

That's Christmas: A Cuddle of Cats

That's Christmas: A Cuddle of Cats: A Cuddle of Cats is the perfect Christmas present for all cat lovers, everywhere. It is written by author Heather Cook and it is copious...

Telling Tails: the Confessions of a Handyman

You may have heard of author E. James Chapman before.  His first book The Train Now Standing at Platform 3 is a pure joy to read. (I have just checked. It is still available and will make a super Christmas present.)

After living in Spain for several years British expat E. James Chapman has gathered a number of what he describes as "hilarious anecdotes" more, actually, than he could possibly hope to count.

In Telling Tales: the Confessions of a Handyman, he uses a mere seven of these hilarious anecdotes.

He points out that the majority of the stories actually happened to him and his family.

We read a compilation of seven stories that all, really, actually, took place in the southern Spanish area called Costa del Sol.

How did all this happen to him? Perhaps, upon quiet reflection, he might have had an easier life if he had not taken the expat career that he did. That of a property manager-cum-butler within the expat community in the costa del Sol!

In the pages of the book we meet a whole array of characters from the barking mad to the bewildered and from the lustful to the loony. But all, the author assures us, fictional! Of course...

We meet Helga, a sort of Viking troll, the mysterious signals used -or not!- by ladies who might be requiring some type of servicing arrangement, involving a certain brand of powder detergent or a brand of coffee much loved in Spain.

Learn what happened when the secret lift urinator was discovered and his utterly bizarre excuse for micturating in the lift of the complex, why a police officer got hit in a highly unfortunate part og his anatomy by a flying TV remote control, how the advent of a secret CCTV system gave one poor resident far, far more than he bargained for. Or even wanted, poor fellow. Three hours worth, apparently.

There are problematic building contractors, Pepe the plumber -who looked, or so we are told, more like a Chippendale, than a plumber- and a whole host of other characters.

You might like to buy this book as a Christmas present. But if you do, buy two copies, one for you, too! It's published by Matador at £8.99 and includes some amusing line drawings, too.

You can purchase (and his first book) it at our very own shop, right here >>> https://goo.gl/qPctIy.

The Wolf of Dalriada

The Wolf of Dalriada is a historical novel set in the Highlands of Scotland.

It is set in 1793 and deals with the problems faced by Scottish landowners set against the backdrop of the painful and bloody revolution that was then sweeping through France.

If there is one person who is set to ride out these mighty and powerful forces for change, then it would be Malcolm Craig Lowrie. Otherwise known as The Wolf of Dalriada, a man who was a legend within his own lifetime.

The clearances in remote Argyll are causing horrors and heartaches for the populace and they are calling out for justice.

A beautiful and mysterious Frenchwoman is living under the malign thrall of the man who captured her, Sir William Robinson, a man whose debauchery was well known throughout the area.

His people need his protection. But can The Wolf of Dalriada prove equal to this challenge? Can he protect his people? Can The Wolf of Dalriada smash his enemies who, ruthless as they are, threaten to destroy all who are in their path?

And what about the debauched and wicked Sir William and his captured Frenchwoman? What is to become of them?

The Wolf of Dalriada is the start of a series of chronicles penned by debut author Elizabeth Gates and it is ideal for those who love their romances to be well written, historical and exciting.

It is published by Matador at £8.99 and makes an ideal stocking filler for the lover of historical romances.

You can purchase it here>>> https://goo.gl/qPctIy.

Rescuing God From Religion

In this slim volume author Muriel Seltman points out the sceptics should be able to "design their own God, free of religion."

She points out that, throughout the history of the human race, God or Gods have played a key role.

From her position as what she calls a "nontheist" she has written a book for those people who are wavering in their religious beliefs in a "creator-God" as she puts it.

They might feel a requirement for security, both of an intellectual and/or an emotional nature that can arise from the belief in a loving, personal God.

It might be hard, she argues, for individuals in these circumstances to question their faith and to, ultimately, reject their religion.

The purpose of the book is to encourage such sceptics to build their own idea of a God which can provide comfort and consolation but in a way that negates what she describes as "the burden of religious dogma."

It's an interesting book which costs £9.99 and is published by Matador.

It is available for purchase here>>> https://goo.gl/qPctIy.

That's Christmas: Peggy

That's Christmas: Peggy: Peggy is the story of a little girl called Susan. She loves ponies. But she doesn't have one of her own because her father cannot af...

That's Christmas: The Haunted Painting on the Wall

That's Christmas: The Haunted Painting on the Wall: The Haunted Painting on the Wall is a new spooky novel for children from the imagination of author Devika A. Rosamund. Tracy and Sebasti...

Rethinking Psychotherapy

Rethinking Psychotherapy is a new and very thought-provoking critique of the current mental health system and how psychotherapy is practiced.

Paul Hingston originally trained as a lawyer who began working in the financial sector.

He became used to working within a business environment that promoted and celebrated a culture in which a clear focus was maintained on the problem at hand. That also gave great value to the concept of the well-reasoned argument.

After Paul decided to embark on a radical re-think of his career path and to train as a psychotherapist, he was shocked and horrified to discover that there was no such culture within the field of psychotherapy, at all.

Over the last 15 years Paul has been employed as a private practice therapist who has also worked as a front line manager of mental health service providers.

The experiences that he has gained, plus his previous nine years during which he trained at some of the UK's top mental health institutions have combined together to enable him to offer a critique of modern psychotherapy that is worrying, challenging and yet, ultimately, inspiring.

He calls into question some dearly and long-held beliefs. He challenges the efficacy of using a diagnostic approach to the problem of everyday unhappiness.

He also questions the wisdom of, in effect, choosing to label as symptoms of mental illness what are, he asserts, merely perfectly normal and natural reactions to the challenges of life.

Paul believes that modern psychotherapy has it all wrong. Therapists should not, he concludes, provide treatment or encourage introspection. Instead, he avers, they should help clients to learn how to cope with and come to terms with unusual and/or distressing circumstances that they find themselves in by referencing them to a wider social and personal context.

The book will be of great value to all people who work in the field of mental health. It is published by Matador at £9.99 and is available for purchase here >>> https://goo.gl/qPctIy.

That's Christmas: The Film Director's Wife

That's Christmas: The Film Director's Wife: We all love a good autobiography, especially if it can shed light on the lives of the rich and famous from the perspective of someone who ...

Calling Time

Calling Time is a new and extremely important novel by Judith Hereford.

Judith Hereford witnessed terrible cruelty being meted out to elderly people when she was in his first job as a young woman.

So she feels compelled to bring this issue to the attention of others.

(EDITOR: Recent reports of the jailing of two young women for acts of gross cruelty to elderly women at a carehome mean that, sadly, this book is of special relevance and should be read bearing that in mind.)

The novel draws on her own experiences and touches on a wide variety of highly emotive and equally important concepts regarding the provision of care for the elderly.

It follows the lives of two entirely different people, starting in the New Zealand of the 1950s.

There's Kristine and Angela.

Angela is concerned about the quality of life afforded to the elderly. So he decides to take matters into her own hands and kills four of the patients under her care to "put them out of their misery."

But it all goes wrong when a fifth victim causes questions to be asked into the matter.

As a result, Angela is frightened and decides to resign from her position.

However, Kristine is a model carer who would not dream of murdering those vulnerable elderly people who have been placed in her charge.

But after moving to the UK, Kristine finds that looking after her own mother-in-law is much more difficult than she could have imagined.

Eventually she realises that she cannot cope and takes the decision to have her mother-in-law placed within a nursing home.

The novel makes clever use of a variety of voices -care staff, residents, the matron, etc. to tell the story of how things can, and sadly, do, go so badly wrong with the residential care for the elderly.

This novel is published by Matador at £8.99 and is a very creditable debut novel. It is to be hoped that This is only the first of many novels from Judith Hereford.

It is available for purchase from our bookshop which you will find here >>> https://goo.gl/apr0hq.

The Cruelty of Free Will

In his book The Cruelty of Free Will, author Richard Oerton has written a sequel to his previous work, The Nonsense of Free Will.

He does not believe in the concept of free will and he argues his case against the concept of free will in a trenchant and erudite fashion.

He believes that free will is a cruel concept, that it brings about much confusion and causes untold amounts of destruction, incomprehension and outright cruelty.

He points out that the concept of free will is a dangerous one in that it rules out biological determination and cal cause people to blame others for matters that are not a product of free will at all, but of biological and environmental "luck."

This is an interesting book which students of biology, theology and atheism might like to read in order for them to better understand the human condition. And to learn more about their own viewpoints. 

It costs £8.49 and is published by Matador Books and is available to purchase at our very own book shop which you will find here>>>> https://goo.gl/apr0hq.

Madeira in a Nutshell

Madeira in a Nutshell is described as the essential guide to Madeira.

Written and compiled by travel expert Anita Montonen, Madeira in a Nutshell tells you all you need to know about the green and luscious archipelago of Madeira.

There are are stunning selection of bright and colourful images, and you'll never be short of places to go and things to do as there are details of in excess of 200 wonderful attractions that you can visit.

Plus there are over 70 festivals and events that you can enjoy attending.

And if you really delight in really getting into the swing of things when you are on holiday, there is a special section that contains a list of some 300 useful words and phrases in Portuguese, to help you really get to know the local population that little bit more.

But that's not all! There's also an amazing food vocabulary plus listings of local speciality foods and drinks for you to try out.

Learn about the wine that Madeira is famed for, visit the wineries and the special wine museums (there's more than just one!)  and enjoy learning about local plants, flowers and trees, especially those housed in over 30 stunning and spectacular parks and speciality gardens.

For those of you who want to get out and about for some great sporting action, you'll learn of 40 sports and activities that are available for your enjoyment on Madeira. Plus there's another section of activities that are specifically aimed at children and teenagers.

Learn about the local geography, the culture, the history and the arts that go together to make Madeira a very unique place for a vacation.

And learn the best places to hunt down great souvenirs in a host of traditional shopping area, some modern shopping centres and speciality shopping streets.

There are also some useful colour maps, too.

There's even a section at the back for you to include your own notes!

This is an ideal Christmas gift for the armchair traveller or for the person who is going to holiday in Madeira.

The book is published by AM-Marketing at £20.00. It is available at the That's Books and Entertainment book and gift shop which you will find here>>> https://goo.gl/WNNZUm.

That's Christmas: Arcanum

That's Christmas: Arcanum: Arcanum is a stunning psychic novel that is set in Ireland, in the past and the present. It is written by author Ann Mann. A troupe of...

A new Detective Inspector Moon novel is out! Blood Ties

Blood Ties is the latest novel in the Detective Inspector Charlie Moon series.

It's two years on from the events in the novel The Silent Passage, which saw DI Moon suspended for not following the rules.

He's now back on the job, yet he has a disturbing, nagging feeling that his superiors are waiting for him to make one more mistake so that they can dispense with his services.

A body is discovered hidden under a pile of leaves deep within the centre of some woodland.

The investigation is given to DI Moon and it sets him off on a case that is interesting and filled with a number of surprises.

The victim is fairly rapidly identified as being a local minor villain by the name of Sean Mattox. The cause of death was identified as being a shotgun blas from fairly close quarters.

There are no links established to the place where the victim was found and the forensic evidence is worryingly scant.

As DI Moon proceeds through the investigation he is stymied by one dead end after another.

He again seeks out the assistance of his journalist friend Jo Lyon. As the investigation stumbles on, they uncover a trail that eventually leads to a case involving a missing person and a case of sexual abuse.

Nothing seems to fit, there are reports of strange events in country lanes, but surely these are unrelated to the murder? DI Moon is not so certain and, eventually, he begins to make some rather startling discoveries.

Will he be able to bring the killer of Sean Mattox to justice? Or will his superiors scupper his chances?

This book will make a great stocking filler for all fans of detective novels and it comes from the pen of Jenny Francis, the pen name of writing team Patricia Scudamore and Hilton Catt.

It's published by Matdor at £8.99 and is available for purchase at the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop, which is just here >>>> https://goo.gl/WNNZUm.

That's Christmas: The A to Z of Stuff The Indispensable compendium o...

That's Christmas: The A to Z of Stuff The Indispensable compendium o...: The A to Z of Stuff, The Indispensable compendium of wisdom, as it is subtitled is one of those "must buy" Christmas presents th...

Religion Can Be Fun

Religion Can Be Fun is a light-hearted and humours approach to how religion can be taught as a subject.

Huib van Hoeven, who lives in the English county of Norfolk has spent a great many years doing religion. This has included a wide range of activities from conducting intercessions to leading morning praise services.

Yet Huib is, rightly, some would say, concerned about how religion is often portrayed as being very serious. And this, he believes, is why it often fails to give a spark to the imagination of younger people.

In his book he points out that religion does not have to be dull or boring and can, actually, be a whole lot of fun, instead.

But how can this be achieved, you might ask?

Huib's own worship style is light in heart and aims to bring a smile to the face of those who are wanting to learn more about religion.

He is quoted as saying: "In general the church comes over as heavy and serious and vestments, rituals and practices that are seen as incomprehensible."

He goes on  to say that "though the High Church (so called) has many followers, it has little place for the younger generation. In compiling this book, I hope to show there can be another side to religion, which may be more attractive to younger people."

Huib believes that the church could offer much more to people, especially younger people.

Readers of the book are challenged to experience the impact of the powerful messages that are contained within this book and see the differences they make within themselves.

For those who are sceptical or who are doubters, it is the intention of Huib to show them how they can take the opportunity to rethink their position on their views on God and religion.

Readers who might feel that they are at the end of their tether could, Huib hopes, face their life with renewed vigor and stimulation.

It contains stories from the Bible, including Paul's shipwreck, how to recharge our batteries, a prayer for laughter and a whole host of other contents.

The forward is written by Jonathan Meyrick, the Bishop of Lynn.

Published by Matdor at £7.99, this book is a wonderful companion for those wishing to learn more about the Christian religion.

It's an easy, yet thought-provoking read and will make an admirable Christmas present.

It can be purchased at The That's Books and Entertainment book and gift shop which you can access here https://goo.gl/WNNZUm.

That's Christmas: Love is Small Talk

That's Christmas: Love is Small Talk: Love is Small Talk is a delightfully drawn and very amusing book of cartoons by Fred Jefferies. It's a large format book and it is, ...

That's Christmas: Bored? This super stocking filler will remove all ...

That's Christmas: Bored? This super stocking filler will remove all ...: Author Graham Lanceley has written a new book that will certainly provide the reader with hours of harmless fun and amusement as they read...

That's Christmas: Ben and the Spider Lake

That's Christmas: Ben and the Spider Lake: Ben and the Spider Lake is another magical book from children's author Angela Fisher. She returns to the Spider Kingdom for this her...

That's Christmas: Mischief

That's Christmas: Mischief: Mischief is the latest novel by popular writer LIz Vincent. It tells the story of the younger generation of the Lange family, who reader...

That's Christmas: Blackmail

That's Christmas: Blackmail: Blackmail is the debut thriller novel by retired judge, Michael Stokes. Stokes uses his training as a lawyer and his experiences in the ...

That's Christmas: The Boathouse

That's Christmas: The Boathouse: The Boathouse is a romantic debut novel from Dane Anthony Howard. It's the story of how a young couple,  Ben and Louise, fall in lov...

That's Christmas: Amazing Pages has a perfect stunner of a gift for ...

That's Christmas: Amazing Pages has a perfect stunner of a gift for ...: Seeking out a truly personalised, high quality Christmas gift like nothing you have ever seen before? Well, Amazing Pages can help you, ...

Visions of the Righteousness of God

Visions of the Righteousness of God is a new book on theology from Dr Danson Enogiomwan Ubebe.

It starts with the concept of who created god and covers the structure of the human spirit, the soul and the body.

It then takes a renewed look at the Gospel  of grace and offers the reader a fascinating insight into the mystery of what, exactly, the concept of grace is all about,.

It also examines the visible and the invisible world and the fall of Lucifer and of man.

It also covers a wide range of other theological subjects and topics including the Judgement, the Second Coming of Christ, the demise of the world (as we know it) the Garden of Eden and much more besides.

A Theologian told the reviewer: "It is obvious that the author has put an awful lot of work and thought into the studies that underlie this book."

This book will make a fine Christmas present for students of theology or those who want to know things about religious matters.

It is available in paperback at £9.99 and can be bought through the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop at this address:- https://goo.gl/flkjvu.

That's Christmas: Voice Behind the Mask

That's Christmas: Voice Behind the Mask: The book Voice Behind the Mask is a thrilling book by Doctor George Lahoud, MD. From the first page I was gripped by the terse yet compe...

A Healing of Gardens

A Healing of Gardens is a debut novel from the pen of L R Gray.

It's the first part of a two part series and it concentrates on the life of Jackie, who is a young boy who leads a sad life.

He is part English, part German and part Gypsy. But due largely to his appearance (which horrifies and disturbs people) he is cruelly and heartlessly rejected by his own family and rendered utterly friendless.

On his 15th birthday Jackie is taken in bu his paternal grandmother.

Although a "high born" Romany Gypsy, she, too, knows isolation, as she is, in effect, isolated.

She teaches him the secrets of operating her various business enterprises. Unfortunately she also inculcates within him her own warped character traits, her vicious, cold nature, her cruelty and her detestation of any sign of weakness.

This has a deleterious impact on young Jackie as it has a negative impact on his sanity and on the people who try to get close to him.

It's also the story of some beautiful people who are involved within his life.

Especially, there is Suzanne who is a young and attractive artist who he meets later on in his life.

She realises that Jackie is a tormented and troubled soul and she sees within him what ha cannot see within himself.

Their relationship is a troubled one, beset by horrors as cruelty upon cruelty threatens the sanity of both of them.

This is a hardback novel published by Matador and the adult themes that it covers are both disturbing and electrifying.

It costs £10.99 and is available at the That's Books and Entertainment Bookshop https://goo.gl/KUU3gK.

That's Christmas: Merchant Seafaring Through Word War 1 1914-1918

That's Christmas: Merchant Seafaring Through Word War 1 1914-1918: Merchant Seafaring Through Word War 1 1914-1918 is a new book by Peter Lyon, Peter Lyon is an acknowledged expert on maritime matters an...

That's Christmas: "Amma Tell Me" a fantastic Christmas gift for your...

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Tony Collins: Football Master Spy

Tony Collins: Football Master Spy tells the fascinating and enlightening story of Tony Collins who was dubbed as football's "master spy" and who was also the Football League's first black football club manager.

The book, written by Quentin Cope and Sarita Collins, tells the story of his life, his childhood, his time in the army during World War 2. particular his time serving in Italy.

It also covers his time as a professional footballer, with 47 appearances with Fourth Division Rochdale, before he was promoted to the manager of Rochdale, a position he held for seven years from 1960 until 1967.

His career as a footballer and manager was far from easy. He suffered racial prejudice and scorn, yet he was able to time and time again prove the doubters to be in error as he garnered well-deserved sobriquets such as "The Teacher" and "Football's Master Spy."

He discovered and nurtured some football players who would become some of the greatest names in this modern history of football.

He had battles with the likes of Clough and Ferguson during his 44 days as the manager of Leeds United.

However he had close relationships with the real men of English football management, such as Don Revie and Ron "Big Ron" Atkinson.

And the remarkable thing? This book is the first time the story of Tony Collins has been told!

And as Tony is 90 year old, it's a very welcome publication!

It's published by the Book Guild in paperback at £9.99.

The book is written by Tony's daughter Sarita,with the assistance of Quentin Cope.

There is also a fulsome and heartfelt introduction by "Big Ron" Atkinson, himself.

This book will make an ideal Christmas present for the footie fan in your life. You can purchase it via the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop which you can access here:- https://goo.gl/nYxiYk.

Libya, A Love Lived, A Life Betrayed

Libya, A Love Lived, A Life Betrayed is a memoir by Susan M. Sandover.

It is a real love story that spans multiple decades and several continents.

The genesis of the 320 page memoir was one blog post that Susan write after the death of her beloved husband.

With a twelve hour period that blog post had received in excess of 6,000 hits.

Many of the readers of the blog post pleaded with Susan to expand on the post to tell the story behind it.

And in 2014 Susan began to write the entire story.

Susan had chosen her spouse well, Bashir was a career diplomat i the Libyan Civil Service, who was a very enlightened and forward-thinking man.

They were there for each other, through thick and thin, living through the dangerous time of the Libyan Gaddafi regime, of dangers and traumas, of horrifying experiences brought about by Gaddafi and his government, the bombings by NATO armies including the USA.

There were also coups and a revolution and a blasphemy case, too.

But Susan does not want her readers to think that it was all bad. For Susan and her husband Bashir also enjoyed good times and good years together.

Unfortunately, Bashir fell ill and his family, who hated her and who tried to steal his lands during his illness, attempted to, unsuccessfully, destroy their relationship.

After his death Sharia law would only allow her to take one quarter of his property, the three quarters going to his siblings.

It is a truly gripping memoir and will be a wonderful Christmas gift for those people in your life who are interested in the stories of real people and the personal stories behind recent history.

It is published in paperback by Matador at £8.99 and is available from the That's Books and Entertainment book shop, the link to which is here:- https://goo.gl/nYxiYk.

Low Life Lawyer

Low Life Lawyer is the story of the rise and precipitous fall and rise again of a colourful lawyer who is also something of a talent in the world of jazz music, the clarinet being his weapon of choice.

Richard Gregory is his name and the novel is set back in the heady days of the 1950s and 1960s.

The novel comes from the pen of author and retired lawyer and journalist Michael Simmons.

Richard's career as a solicitor had been a stunningly successful one. But things hadn't gone quite to plan, well, in truth there had been a rather spectacular failure that pitched him into the different world of being down and out.

He had, by dint of hard work and a little bit of luck, managed to claw his way back up to some semblance of his previous elevated heights.

But then came a further setback and he had failed to renew his career as a successful solicitor. Well, as any type of solicitor, to be honest.

Yet he still posses his very own slightly careworn piece of paper that announced to the world that he was a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales.

However, that would only carry a fellow so far. For if anyone were to bother to attempt to verify his credentials with the Law Society they would find that he was not a member in good standing. There was the little matter of not actually having paid his membership dues in a considerable period of time, plus there were some rather, let's say unfortunate, blots of his record at the Law Society.

This is the exceptionally well-crafted and beautifully written novel of what happened after this and what Richard "Dick" Gregory did next.

And also what happened when he met and played with Sidney Bechet.

An ideal Christmas gift for the lover of legal thrillers, it's published by The Book Guild at a rather nifty £7.99 in paperback.

You can buy a copy at the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop at this link here  https://goo.gl/nYxiYk.



 

The Loony Bin Blues

The Loony Bin Blues is a collection of poems from the pen of Tristram Cooke.

The subject matter is wide ranging and extremely thought-provoking.

What happens to a person if the are "sectioned" and placed in a "loony bin?"

For as the first line of his poem "The Loony Bin Blues" "There ain't no cure for the loony bin blues."

Other subjects dealt with in a lively and succinct fashion are  stigma and prejudice, what happens if people gather around the wrong flag, what it is like to be an underdog in Mexico, what the rise of Jeremy Corbyn looks like to a British person living in Mexico.

We read about poets and where they might gather, our capital city (that's London) the works of William Blake, secularism, how a FE college grew into a university, exchange trips, and much more, besides, plus an interesting poem about the late Amy Winehouse.

The anthology is well-illustrated with colourful pieces of art.

It is published by Matador at £8.99.

It is available for purchase at the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop at https://goo.gl/nYxiYk.

Latest release from Penguin Books: The Obsidian Throne

Top selling writer J. D. Oswald's fantasy series is reputedly one of the best ever in the history of fantasy writing.

But now with his latest work, J. D. Oswald brings this stunning series to a truly staggering conclusion.

For the Northlands, annihilation is looming.

Will it be utter destruction by the dragons?

Or will it be utter devastation by Queen Beulah?

Either way, things are not looking too promising for the Northlands.

However, beneath the city rests a sectret that the House of Balwen have closely guarded for millennia.

It is a treasure so vast that it is beyond comprehension and beyond counting.

However, in truth only a direct descendent of the original Balwen could open the escape routes from this subterranean cavern.

However, in order to unlock the power of this treasure, Pincess Iowen must needs to claim the Obsidian throne for herself.

At the same time, Errol and Sir Benfro are discovering that their destinies are drawing ever closer together.

In fact the future of all life within the Twin Kingdoms rests in the uneasy hands of these two heroes, unlikely though that might appear.

There must be dreadful betrayals and terrible self-sacrifice. And events will forever change the lives of both boy and dragon.

But who or what will prevail?

This is a perfect conclusion to this stunning series and at only £7.99 for nearly 600 pages will make a wonderful Christmas gift for the fantasy readers in your life.

You can buy it, and the other books in this series, at the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop at this link here https://goo.gl/nYxiYk.

 

Titanic Rose Walsh McLean's Story

Titanic Rose Walsh McLean's Story is a novel by Walden DCaprio Carrington which takes a fictional look at the life of Rose Walsh McLean and the time that she spent on board the Titanic.

We read how Molly Brown has decided to thrown a 16th birthday party for Rose Walsh McLean. This was in the May of 1911.

Rose bumps into Cad Carnegie in the foyer of the venue and on the 4th of July, he proposes marriage to her. She accepts his proposal.

Their engagement lasts until April the following year (1912). At this point the wedding party is making the return crossing of the Atlantic from Europe to the United States of America.

Unfortunately they were travelling on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic.

Rose captivates a handsome steerage passenger by the name of Jake Lawnsan. He is more impecunious than pecunious, but he manages to captivate the youthful young fiancee of another man.

When disaster strikes the ship Rose makes the decision to renounce her betrothal to her fiancee and to throw her lot in with Jake.

She remains with Jake as the ship sinks to its watery grave, taking the name Rose Lawnsan when she boards the Carpathia and she makes the return trip to Denver with Molly.

But in the pocket of her overcoat she has the Blue Heart Diamond necklace that Cad had deposited in the pocket.

Many decades later Rose looks at a TV news broadcast that contains a report of the efforts of Brice Bruhaven who is in charge of the attempts to undertake an excavation of the Titanic wreck site.

Rose realises that now she must tell her story and the story of the man she has always loved.

But Rose realises that there is one more thing that she must do.

This is an interesting novelisation of the James Cameron Titanic film.

Fans of the characters will consider this to be a most excellent Christmas gift, as it goes inot more depth than the part of the story depicted in the film.

It is published by The Book Guild at £8.99 and is available from the That's Books and Entertainment book shop. You'll find it to the right of this book review.

Rendezvous With Death

Rendezvous With Death is the latest novel by former lawyer turned novelist Gil Hogg.

A VIP in the form of a British diplomat has been abducted in Pakistan.

At first it is believed that the kidnapping is a terrorist outrage. But then evidence comes to light that this may not be the case, that the disappearance may have been engineered on behalf of a powerful tycoon with vendetta on his mind.

Nick Dyson is a London-based Barrister who decides to accept an  apparently lucrative position as the personal assistant to an old friend of his, Robert Laidlaw who is employed as a Special Envoy to the Middle East, based in Islamabad.

Unfortunately Robert and his wife Emma and also now Nick have made a bitter personal enemy of an influential tycoon who is based in the city of Islamabad, a man by the name of Gerald Macbeth.

Robert suddenly vanishes and his security guard is discovered, beheaded.

Nicks' suspicions are raised and he begins to believe that Gerald Macbeth, and not 'terrorists' are involved in the murder of the security guard and the disappearance of Robert Laidlaw.

He attempts to persuade Emma to escape from Pakistan with him.

But is Nick all that he seems? And who, exactly, are the guilty ones?

Who are the real sinners? Who the really sinned against?

And what dreadful events from the past have reached their bony fingers down to the present day?

This is a fascinating book with more than a few twists and some rather unexpected turns.

It's a welcome addition to the canon of works of Gil Hogg.

It is priced at £8.99 and is published by Matador and is an excellent stocking filler for the mystery novel fan in your life.

You can buy it from the That's Books and Entertainment book shop and gift shop. You'll find the portal to said shop just to the right hand side of this book review.


 

Find a Better Life

You can Find a Better Life. That's the promise of author Brian Fitzpatrick.

Throughout much of his life he felt that there was something that was lacking. Something missing.

He took the decision to dig deeper and to consider a new view.

Brian said: "I went in search of answers and finally found the clarity and contentment I had been lacking."

He decided that he would not merely keep what he had discovered to himself, that he would share it with everyone else who was struggling for answers, for a sense of direction.

There's a good deal of information and advice available to us from all types of sources.

But if that is the case, how is it that worry, tension and stress are always so close at hand?

Brain acknowledges that there are many causes for this, but he believes that the major cause is a lack of personal growth. A common problem, he asserts.

Brian's book will help you to take a step back and take in the wider, broader view. To eschew the temptation to just follow the crowd.

Brian feels that we must ask ourselves some deep and penetrating questions, even if this might make us feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But by following the principles in this book you can Find a Better Life.

It is published by Matador at £9.99 and will be a good Christmas gift for the thinker in your life.

You can buy it at the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop and gift shop, the portal to which is just to the right of this book review.

You can also find some related music that Brian has created in the store. Just search under "Love & Happiness Brian Fitzpatrick."

Little Professor and his Robot Factory

Little Professor and His Robot Factory is a wonderful new book for children -and their parents and grandparents, too!- that takes the reader on a whacky and wondrous journey through the world of science.

Marienne Parry is a retired teacher and she originally wrote The Little Professor and His Robot Factory as part of a lesson she was teaching her class about the world of robotics,

She eventually decided to re-write it as a book for all children.

It consists of three stories that introduce children to the fields of magnetism, electricity and light.

The readers follow the adventures of three of Little Professor's robots who are aided and abetted by their little helper friend, Scooper Man.

Children will learn about what happens when Magnet Man decided, not long after he had been built, to go out into the world beyond the factory to explore things for himself.

But as he is magnetic he attracts lots of metal things to himself, including a car, a gate and various other metallic items. 

In fact, local people mistake him for a weird monster!

Electric Man is a friend of Magnet Man. He can work out sums really, really quickly. so he goes to the local school to help the teacher. But what happens when the children misbehave? You might be surprised!

And then there is their best friend, Light Man. He is a little bit envious of his two friends who have had such big adventures outside the factory, but soon he, too, is having a wonderful adventure all by himself!

Then Light Man hits on the idea of holding a street party with the help and assistance of his friends and Scooper Man, to the delight of the local families!

The book is also charmingly illustrated.

This is a must buy book if you have children up to Primary School age and it is great for self-reading for older children and for parents or grandparents to read aloud to the children.

It's an excellent Christmas stocking filler.

It will be ideal for schools and local children's libraries. It can be bought via the That's Books and Entertainment book shop, which is just to the right hand side of this book review.

Thinking Lies Learning how to Believe in Yourself

Thinking Lies Learning how to Believe in Yourself is the new book from David Hulman.

It is based on and inspired by his own person experience and it is aimed at inspiring people aged 16 to 25 to gain belief in themselves and to go ahead with their lives and achieve their own dreams.

David Hulman points out that 16 to 25 is a period of immense physical and emotional changes for all of us.

He offers nine special techniques and strategies based on intensive research into the fields of numerous theories, psychology, neuro-linguistic-programming and a number of inspirational stories that are designed to help the reader to develop self-belief.

The background to this book is fascinating.

He developed a mental complex at the age of seven, which he called "thinking lies." He could not trust his own thoughts, what he believed or even what he remembered, or thought he remembered.

As he grew up and matured, he came to realise that this mental complex was merely doubt, something that everyone experiences but which, if left unchecked, can stop us from ever reaching our full potential. Which can thwart our attempts to attain our dreams.

David has written this book to enable those aged 16 to 25 to reduce or eliminate self-doubt and to help them attain their goals.

The book is published by The Book Guild at a remarkably decent price of only £7.99 and it will make a fantastic stocking filler for any person aged between 16 to 25.

He also runs a Youtube channel, #HelpFromHulman, in which he gives answers to commonly asked questions.

This book is available now from the That's Books and Entertainment book and gift shop. The portal to enter this bookshop is over to the right of this review.

Shine on, Marquee Moon

Shine on, Marquee Moon is the debut novel of Zoe Howe who is one of the UK's leading music writers.

Although this is her first novel, Zoe has written five non-fiction books on thr world of rock music and she is also a drummer.

The novel tells the story of Sylvie who works as a dresser for a New Romantic band that is currently undergoing something of a 21st century revival.

Sylvie manages to become romantically involved with band member Nick. Nick is a fairly rare bird in the music industry, one might say. how so? He is the least unhinged member of the band and although he is something of a heart-throb, he is a somewhat reluctant heart-throb.

Sylvie and Nick bond amidst the drama, angst, fun and chaos of the tour of the band. They have a shared passion for the highly important album by the group Television, called "Marquee Moon."

Things are going very well for them. Perhaps too well?

 For a secret, a rather dark, dirty secret, at that, could threaten to totally wreck and destroy not only their relationship and blight any possibility of a future for them as a couple, but it could bring about an even wider circle of destruction, too.

The novel is a free flowing excursion through the public and private lives of Sylvie, her fiance Nick, his dog Brando and the other members of the entourage of the New Romantic band Concierge as they toured again.

But what does actually happen when the band is on the tour bus, between gigs? You might be surprised to learn the truth.

And what occurs to Sylvie and Nick and the other extremely well-drawn characters in this novel? You'll want to find out, as you'll be gripped from the first paragraph to the last of this refreshing, highly readable novel.

It is to be hoped that this is the first of many novels by Zoe Howe.

It is published by Matador in paperback and a remarkably affordable £8.99 and will make a most excellent Christmas present for the modern music fan in your life.

It's available from the That's Books and Entertainment bookshop and gift store.The portal to which you will find on the right side of this review.

If You Can't Take a Joke

The Travels of a Naval Salesman is a memoir written by Gordon Gray, relating how he began his career in sales as an utter novice and how he rose through the ranks of his peers to become an expert in the field of the worldwide field of naval defence sales.


It's a fascinating read and is a tell all book that covers a vast range of subjects, topics and the highly intelligent musings of a man who has been there, done that and also sold it!

Join Gordon as he drinks some highly illegal and absolutely disgusting moonshine alcohol in Saudi Arabia. Gordon reveals that, on balance, he would rather have been drinking Cola!

Also puzzle with Gordon as to why certain sections of the media (you know who they are!) prefer to eschew the pedestrian descriptive phrase "international Defence Salesman) for the somewhat more pejorative term: "Arms Dealer?"

It couldn't be because they are -gasp!- clueless as to the reality of the situation, or perhaps even just a little bit biased?

It's clear from reading Gordon's book that this is his viewpoint and one that he puts forward with admirable alacrity and commonsense.

Travel with Gordon as he takes his first steps in his career in 1977 with Decca Radar/Racal Decca, where he worked as Sales Manager and Far East Sales Manager, culminating with a position as International Sales Executive for BAE Systems. From which he took early retirement at age 57, with a voluntary redundancy package.

Find out why, during his career after he left the Royal Navy he turned down and eyewateringly high salary increase to tempt him to take a new job, and how some time later he was proven to be absolutely correct to turn the job down and the several desperate entreaties for him to please reconsider his decision.

Learn about Gordon's first and long lusted for first sales trip. Which was all the way to Bradford in West Yorkshire. Which helped him to decide on a sideways move to another part of the Decca group which, eventually brought Gordon to the field of international sales and visits to Saudi Arabia, Korea, Hong Kong and beyond.

This is a highly entertaining and informative read, amply illustrated with a variety of photographs,  and your reviewer can recommend this book as a stocking filler this Christmas for people in sales and also for those who are fans of well-written biographical memoirs.

It is published in paperback by Matador at a very reasonable £9.99 and is available to purchase from the That's Books and Entertainment book and gift shop, the portal to which you will find to the righthand side of this review.

Times Change

Times Change is the debut novel of solicitor turned novelist John Ellison.

It is set ten years prior to the introduction of the Children Act of 1989.

That act brought about radical and far reaching changes to a legal framework that had not changed in many decades and which struggled to be relevant in the modern world.

Newly qualified solicitor Robert Fordham has made the move from rural Somerset to the London Borough of Haringey.

He starts working on some fairly tough and stressful child removal court cases and also on the perhaps equally stressful task of finding himself a woman to share his new life with.

The author has based the novel on his own experiences as a solicitor working for the London Borough of Haringey during the time in which this novel is set.

He explains: "In those days, child protection law was a mess. On the one hand, when strictly applied, the rules deciding what evidence be given in the juvenile court to support the making of a care order were absurdly restrictive.

"But on the other hand," he continued: " the rights of both parents and children to be represented were inadequate. Results all too often resembled lotteries. But whilst it is true that the legal framework today is much safer, social work time has become obsessed with computer record keeping and impossibly restricted."

The novel explores the social life of Robert Fordham and also the professional life which saw Labour council members refusing to implement budget cuts demanded by the newly elected Conservative government and what happens when he comes face-to-face with the magistrate's bench in Haringey, a bench lead by a strong-willed female magistrates.

The book is published by Matador at £8.99.

Happiness Diary

Happiness Diary is a splendid new book from psychologist and researcher Narissa Phipps.

Narissa has undertaken detailed research on the concept of happiness and the result is this highly useful and extremely readable book called Happiness Diary.

It is aimed at helping and uplifting late teens and adults and helping them to become more happy.

Readers are encouraged to use the book for just five minutes a day and it is aimed at helping the reader to be able to create healthy and log-lasting habits towards happiness.

There are daily contemplations that are designed to inspire the read, plus there are daily challenges that are intended to test the reader.

It is intended that people reading this book will soon be able to experience the fact that actions really are better than mere words.

Narissa believes: "One day at a time, you can make a difference." And she is confidant that this can start for people once they begin to read her book.

The book can help readers to become inspired to change their attitudes to their own surroundings and also to others in their lives, in order to bring about a way of life that is truly happier.

Narissa was able to draw upon her qualifications as a psychologist and her experiences employed in the field of children's mental health.

The book will make an ideal Christmas present for those who are faced with the vicissitudes of life and who might need the highly valuable help that this book can offer.

It is published in hardback by The Book Guild and costs £11.99.

It is available from the That's Books and Entertainment book and gift shop, the portal to which you will find to the right hand side of this book review.

I believe this book will make a most excellent stocking filler this Christmas.

Peginoor Land of the Lost

Peginoor Land of the Lost is a new novel for children by Nanna Lambert.

What happens to all the objects ad things that get irretrievably lost?

They all travel to a very special, mystical land called Peginoor.

Sometimes they travel to Peginoor because they feel a call to go there because they are required there.

Sometimes they decide to travel there of their own volition, because they feel that they are unloved and unwanted.

Brother and sister Jack And Marcie are holidaying with their grandparents and whilst exploring their grandfather’s allotment they discover a strange code hidden there.

This single event is just the beginning of a fantastical journey which eventually leads them to the secret land that is Peginoor!

It is a truly wondrous place filled with mystery wisdom and much, much more.

But eventually they come to understand that the very realm of Peginoor is under threat from dark forces that challenge the important goodness that is at the very heart of the existence of Peginoor.

Jack and Marcie find themselves at the heart of a battle to defeat these dark forces, yet they ultimately become aware that Peginoor is holding them both captive. And to free themselves they must seek out and discover the object that they are searching for.

This is an ideal Christmas present for children aged 7+ (for parents or grandparents to read from) or for older children aged 9 and upwards.

The book is published by Matador at a very reasonable £7.99 and will make an excellent stocking filler.

You can buy this book just over to the right from the That’s Books and Entertainment bookshop.

Ilona Lost

Ilona Lost is a romantic yet tragic novel by author Jim Pinnells.

It is set during the First World War and it tells the story of an English nurse called Evelyn who is working with the wounded on the Eastern Front in the year 1916.

She witnesses great horrors, the mutilations, the loss of sight, the illnesses like tetanus, the problems caused by gangrene and even worse as the “lucky” ones are invalided back home to face an unknowable future filled with pain and heartache.

Evelyn rescues a teenage Polish girl, Illona, from being raped by Cossack cavalry.

Numbed by the horrors that they have seen the two women manage to flee as Lenin and the Red Army begin to take over and they fall in love.

Eventually they arrive in England but they quarrel and part.

But is their love story over?

Or is there still more tragedy to follow?

Read this novel to find out more.

It is published by Matador at £7.99.