World Book Day: Not just one for the kids!

As I’m sure you know World Book Day is fast approaching. It's on 5th March 2020.

Whilst kids are choosing their costumes and deciding which book to use their tokens for we have something special for the grown-ups out there. 'Awakening' by Nevsah is winging its way to the UK after being launched with much success in the USA, published by a division of Hay House.

‘Awakening’ is a book for all ages ranging from young adults to those older and wiser, we can all benefit from the awakening of this book. With this book, author Nevsah hopes to expand the readers’ consciousness and provide tools on how to live an extraordinary life by staying awake and connected.

Nevsah is a respected global expert and educator who has been teaching and lecturing for  nearly two decades.

In this book, she explores the subject of the many misconceptions surrounding spirituality and what Awakening actually is.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about Awakening which is one of the reasons I wrote the book,” explains Nevsah. “I have come to a realisation that Awakening is not what people think it is. People think awakening is some spiritual experience where you get filled with love and light. But actually, those kinds of experiences are there because of some chemical shift in the body, they are not even real.”

The Private UK Book Launch will be held on March 9th 2020 at The Swiss Church in London. Followed by a Hay House LIVE on May 2nd and 3rd.

The skills and tools shared in the book ‘Awakening’ will be conducted and taught in a 12-hour intense workshop called ‘Awakening to The Executive Mind’ hosted by Nevsah herself on Friday, March 21st 2020 in London.

Awakening: Awakening is not what you think is available to buy at Amazon, Waterstones and Foyles.


Nevsah F. Karamehmet is a respected global teacher and published author who is dedicated to expanding human consciousness and has impacted over 100,000 individuals through her workshops, talks and training.

She is an expert in Breathing and Behavioral Sciences with a 20-year track record of unrivalled expertise.

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Oranges and Lemons

Oranges and Lemons is a debut novel from Paula F. Andrews.

Jessifer Jordan is an outgoing teenage girl. She is known for being a loyal friend and always open and she has a love of acting.

When Adeline, a friendly but ghostly girl from the Victorian era makes an appearance in her life, naturally Jessifer confides in her best friend. But when it becomes obvious that her best friend doesn't believe her, Jess decides that secrecy is the way forward.

Before Adeline came into her life, Jess had been outgoing and sociable, but now she had turned into a far more serious girl, cutting herself off from others as she tries to establish exactly what it is that her ghostly friend wants.

Jess finds herself taken back to the 1860s where she meets with a medical doctor who seems to be of a somewhat mercurial nature and who has a somewhat obsessive relationship with the potentially fatal drug morphine. 

Jess slips between the time of Adeline and her own time, and as she does, she begins to understand that Adeline is bring back memories of Jess' own deceased sister. Which means that her own, hidden, grief begins to reassert itself.

Can the help of her own and wise great aunt Ruby help her? Will she be able to confound the maniacal doctor? And what about the mysterious cat? What does the cat have to do with what is happening?

And what of the Victorian ghost child, Adeline? What does she really want? And can Jess help her achieve it?

With this novel, aimed at children, but enjoyable by adults, too, Paula F. Andrews has hit the ground running and I will state that Paula F. Yates is an author to watch for in the future.

It's published by Matador at £8.99

Dream job: Get paid to view James Bond films every day for a fortnight

You can get your Licence to watch: Get paid to view James Bond films every day for a fortnight.

CarTakeBack UK is offering one lucky applicant their dream job, who they will pay to watch the entire James Bond film collection.

The lucky successful applicant will be paid £500 for the two-week job.

The applicant will also receive the entire James Bond catalogue for free.

Finer details of the job remain top secret, but will require the winner to watch the entire collection of James Bond films!

How does getting paid to watch James Bond films sound? If you’re someone who just can’t get enough Bond, then you really are in luck; the perfect job has come up for you.

CarTakeBack UK is on a mission to find one lucky 007 fan to fulfil the dream job of watching every single James Bond film (and completing a set task, too).

They’ll earn a one-off fee of £500 for their efforts and the entire set of 24 films to date for free.

Got A Golden-Eye for Detail?

The exact details of the successful applicant’s top-secret assignment will be kept under wraps until they’re selected. The successful applicant will then be tasked with watching all 24 James Bond films over a fortnight, for a specific reason.

Applicants must be:

18 years or over
Live in the UK
Have access to a laptop to record information about each film
Oh and of course, absolutely love James Bond movies.

You don’t even need your CV up to date - applicants just need to answer questions such as, what’s your favourite Bond movie, who you think should play the next James Bond and where their next mission should be.

Applicants will need to apply here https://www.cartakeback.com/blog/just-for-fun/dream-job-get-paid-to-view-james-bond-films-every-day-for-a-fortnight by 23:59 on 27th February 2020 for their licence to watch.

Shaun the Sheep: New Series Coming Soon!

Mother Love

Mother Love is a debut novel from author Elizabeth Brown.

Margret is a loving mother to three adult children. Life wasn't always easy as they had, whilst growing up, had to develop coping skills to deal with the constant flashes of anger from Margaret.

But what caused these moments of anger? It wasn't the children, though they had to cope with her rages. Margaret's problem is that she is being crushed by the weight of a family secret.

Her daughter Caroline serves the role of a peacekeeper. She moves into married life and becomes a mother in her own right.

Her son Matthew strives to become independent and self-reliant, carving out a successful career in botany, enjoying life in his organic smallholding, with his family and friends gathered in close to him.

There's Chloe, a very talented violinist and the favourite of her mother. However, this favouritism comes with no small price for Chloe, as she finds it impossible to flee from Margaret's influence as her own life seems to deteriorate.

However, Margaret's actions seems to become even stranger and downright bizarre, causing even more worry to her children. All of whom had been damaged by their mother, to a greater or lesser extent.

But what does any of it matter, so long a her secret is protected at almost any cost?

Elizabeth Brown largely tells the story through the medium of  family letters and journal entries.

By the time I had finished the last page, I knew all of the family members very well. But I think I had learned to hate Margaret only part way through. The sub title: a blessing or a curse? is most appropriate.

This is a very moving novel which is a very worth debut.

It's published by Matador at £8.99.

The Breaking Storm

The Breaking Storm is the second part of the Nethergate Trilogy set during the time of the American Civil War.

It follows from the first novel, Gathering Clouds, telling how Killcaid, the ambitious and ruthless overseer at the Nethergate Tobacco Plantation in Kentucky, tightens his control over the community as he continues his evil vendetta against the slave called Matthew, which actually foments a rebellion, no matter how limited it was in scope.

In the next part of the story we travel to New York, home to profiteers and the exploiters of both sides of the Civil War, without any thought to the likely consequences of their actions.

The slave community are stirred by the notion that freedom from their enslavement might be on its way.

However, the times are also riven with romance, passions that run high and the thirst for revenge are interleaved with unexpected moments of hope and compassion.

The scope of the novel leaves the confines of the Continental disunited States and takes in the action on the island of Nassau, known for its hedonism and wild lifestyles.

But there's a blockade operated by the US Navy (those wicked Yankees) that must be breached if they are to have any chance of success and victory.

It's another highly readable novel in the series by Sandhurst-educated former army officer and school master Derek H. Skinner.

It's published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

13 Ancient Things that don't make sense in History

13 Ancient Things that don't make sense in History AKA - An idiot's guide to Archaeology & Anthropology is a highly interesting and readable book by historian and author Robert John Langdon.

His book will make you think. He raises some very interesting points about history which tends to challenge things that we think we know.

For example, how could a boat be found atop of a hill in Britain that was found to be 10,000 years old, when this dating showed that the boat was made 7,000 years before they were even invented?

How can it be when, at a time sea levels are apparently rising, Roman ports have been found miles away from the coast?

And how could there be gigantic prehistoric canals constructed to technical standards that were even superior to Victorian engineering?

How can it be that the dragon myths are shared the world over, by civilisations that had no contact with each other?

Could ancient monuments really have been constructed with nothing more than antler picks?

If Columbus was the first European to find the Americas, how come there are artefacts and bones indicating that other Europeans actually arrived 10,000 years before him?

If Troy was located in Turkey, why did it take Jason 10 whole years to get back home to Greece?

What about the world's oldest and greatest civilisation? Where was it? What happened to it? Learn about its surprising location on page 81 of this intriguing book.

And what secrets did our ancient British forbears know about our weather?

All these and even more puzzling and bizarre facts are to be found within this amazing book.

It's illustrated by Annette Jones with editorial support by Luke Holliday.

Published by the ABC Publishing Group, this book will challenge what you think you know about history, but in a logical, compelling fashion.

It costs £20.35, though is available from Amazon at £14.99 or £5.30 in Kindle format.

Got a history buff in your family? Then this is the ideal gift for them.

Ray Barra A Life in Ballet

Ray Barra A Life in Ballet is a celebration of the life and works of ballet dancer Ray Barra, written by Victor Hughes.

It relates how Barra was a principal dancer for John Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan in Stuttgart, and how he was fundamental in defining the role of the male dancer in modern terms, bringing a manliness to the role of the male dancer.

Victor Hughes takes his readers on an extraordinary journey through the professional life of Barra, dancer, ballet master and choreographer.

He covers his early days with the San Francisco Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre and then onto Europe, in Germany and Spain and Greece as he worked as an international presence in the world of ballet as he worked as a freelance dancer.

The biography also covers a great deal about Barra's private life, including his time when he was drafted into the US Army and served in the Korean War and how he came to learn of the existence of Japanese ballet. And how he was asked to perform dancing to entertain other troops and that he had given dance workshops, too, during his military years.

Victor Hughes (a dancer himself, as well as a writer) has extensively interviewed Ray Barra and this is obvious as the book gives a detailed account of his life, his homosexuality and his relationships with other dancers and people from outside the world of ballet.

The book is also well illustrated with a wide range of photographs

As Ray Barra is now nearing his 90th birthday this will become an important work in the world of ballet.

It's published by The Book Guild at £12.99.

Vis-Ability

The author of Vis-Ability, Vicki L. Griggs was diagnosed with a very rare eye condition at the age of four.

When she was 13 she required the fitting of a prosthetic eye and she had to deal with problems and issues with her remaining eye, having to cope with terrible, chronic pain resulting from a genetic eye condition.

Vicki relates the problems and difficulties she suffered as she grew up, coping with her pain and the problems she met with at school.

However, Vicki also writes about someone who has a sight impairment can be helped to cope with the situation, and what options are available to them and their family members.

Vicki has been a patient at Moorfields Eye Hospital since she was four years old and has spent the last decade working there as a Play Leader in the Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre.

If you, or someone you know, has vision problems, then you really need to make sure they get a copy of this book. And it is printed in a format that is helpful for those with a "vision impairment."

It should also be in every optician, every eye department and doctor's surgery throughout the UK, in my opinion.

It's published by Matador at £10.99.

PEP Talk

In this new book by expert Ken Hancott, we learn that sometimes, a PEP Talk is what we need to get us motivated and raring to go, again.

There's positivity and empowerment aplenty in this amazing book, that draws upon proven psychotherapy techniques that the readers of the book can work through at their own pace so that they can boost and improve their positive mental health performance.

You'll be taken through personal life examples in a lighthearted and humorous fashion.

The author shows us how our beliefs our habits and how we behave in life can have impacts upon our well-being and mental health. And our physical health, too, for that matter.

You'll learn why being silly is not a daft idea, how to cope with certain awkward people who we will meet throughout our life (that's in chapter nine) the difference between a Placebo and a Nocebo, how negative notions can be implanted and how they can be dealt with, the tricky matter of attentional bias and much, more besides.

It's not only informative it's a darn good read and at a mere £9.99,  you really cannot afford to not buy a copy.

PEP Talk is published by The Book Guild.

How to harness the power of digital transformation

According to recent reports, 85% of enterprise decision-makers stated that digital transformation will be a part of their organisational optimisation strategy in the next few years.

But only 34% of companies have undergone some sort of digital transformation. This means two-thirds of organisations haven't yet adopted any digital transformation strategies. Those that don't adopt such strategies will fall behind and risk losing revenue in the future.

To help business leaders better understand and create winning digital transformation strategies for their organisation, Maulik Shah CEO of technology consults Invonto, has released a book, The Digital Transformation Cookbook: How to Transform Your People, Process, and Data.

It offers deep and revealing insights into the benefits of transformation, technology trends, and process for preparing winning digital strategies for your organisation.

In his two decades of industry experience, Maulik has worked with many corporations across the USA in growing their business through adoption of digital technologies. Maulik’s consulting firm, Invonto, has been instrumental in the successful transformation of leading businesses across construction, finance, manufacturing, retail, consumer products, high-tech, healthcare, and entertainment.

Broken into seven easy-to-read sections, Maulik reveals why all organisations should begin implementing digital transformation strategies now.

Based on real life examples, he shows investing in technology results in more agile and efficient businesses, happier customers, engaged employees, and profitable ventures overall.

“Risks of not adopting digital can be significant. You will continue to face growing threat from the digital-savvy competitors. In the digital age, the only way to survive and thrive is to embrace digital. Digital transformation is no longer a question of Why? It is now a question of When?” Maulik said.

This book has already received great reviews by digital publishers and readers.

“The Digital Transformation Cookbook shows the importance of digital transformation, the current state of digital, and what organisations need to define a successful digital transformation roadmap for all their digital initiatives.” - Buzzfeed

“Maulik Shah teaches entrepreneurs and founders why digital transformation is critical in today’s business environment, how to develop a strategy that can be implemented easily, as well as the companies that are paving the digital transformation future.” - Thrive Global

“At a time when digital everything surrounds us, it’s hard to keep up with all the advancements in technology. That’s why I look for resources like this one that tells me everything I need to know in a digestible format with examples of practical application. Not only does it clearly define the latest in digital innovation, but it makes it all relevant by highlighting how some of the world’s leading brands are embracing digital transformation to stay ahead of the competition.” - Stephanie Y

You can get your copy of “The Digital Transformation Cookbook” today from Amazon https://amzn.to/2SrGTQv. To learn more about Invonto, visit https://www.invonto.com.

Black Blood

In Jane Eddie's Black Blood we meet Danni. She was a trainee corporate lawyer. All seemed great, until she was forced to flee the worlds she knew in London to escape from an abusive and controlling partner.

She finds herself living and working in Aberdeen, working in the oil industry. All seems good, but in the uncertain world of post-Brexit Europe, things start to devolve and not in a good way.

A number of the oil outfits have felt compelled to sell out to the Russians. But then a top oil industry CEO is found dead.

Is this death somehow linked to a number of apparently mysterious deaths on the offshore oil wells?

Who are the terrorists who are attacking the platforms? Who is behind them? Who is giving the orders?

And what if Danni starts to become suspicious that there might be something far, far worse than an abusive and controlling spouse, an abusive and controlling employer?

There's a complex web of deceit, corruption and evil surrounding Danni. What can she do? What can she do?

Danni is minded, of course, to do the right thing. But what if doing the right thing could result in her losing her life?

But what, exactly, was really happening? Who could she trust?

This is a remarkable, exciting novel and I believe that Jane Eddie is a name to look out for.

It's published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

Ned and the Chocolate Cheats

In Ned and the Chocolate Cheats Mark Jarvis introduces his young readers to a world were animals can communicate by talking and where there are plenty of adventures to be had.

Meet Ned, an ebullient Jack Russell. His friend who lives next door is a cat called Gizzmo, who knows all about technological stuff.

Ned is told by Gizzmo about a robbery that has occurred at the local shop. Ned gets his human to take him there, for a walk, obviously, to investigate the events for himself.

Jeff, his human, and Ned decide to try to help solve the mystery, but they soon learn more than they bargained for. They become enmeshed with the worlds of organised crime and MI5!

But what, exactly, is going on? Ned and Jeff zip all over the country and even overseas, to try to make sense of events and to thwart the evil plans of their enemies.

What has chocolate got to do with the situation? And exactly how evil are their opponents? Would they be willing to kill Jeff and Ned?

And if so, can they escape them?

And what did the mobility scooter of Mrs Perkins have to do with it all? And what, exactly, are the chocolate cheats up to?

It's an exciting and very funny novel aimed at children 9 to 11 and their adults, as it's an ideal book to share.

It's published by Matador at £7.99.

Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound is a debut novel from filmwriter Richard Smith.

It's all about rock 'n' roll music, the life choices that we all make and the dream we have.

Meet George, our protagonist. George is 79 and has recently become a widower. Back in the day, the heady 1960s, George had nearly, but not quite, managed to find success as a rock star.

And George is not a happy person. His house is now providing refuge to Tara, his teenager of a granddaughter. Wearied by the constant sniping and arguing between her parents, she left home to live with George.

However, there's the additional problem of Toby, George's son-in-law. He wants to see George stashed away in a care home. 

However, although they all think they know all there is to know about George, they don't. Because George has some pretty interesting secrets.

For example, they don't really know why George's musical career didn't take off. And only George knows how much this sense of failure still gnaws at his guts all these decades later.

Age is no obstacle to ambition and George dearly wants to take one more chance at actually making it as a star.

Unexpectedly the chance to redeem his long moribund musical career comes along, but at the price of the involvement of a long vanished distant relative, who has reappeared in his life. 

And what about Tara? She has ambitions of a musical career of her own. However, the clashes between different generations have caught her unawares and how will she cope with her granddad's dreams and memories and his collection of old vinyl records?

At first the start of their relationship (as people sharing a house) gets off to a less than stellar beginning, but they start to gel together and Tara is soon to face the exact same dilemma that George had to face 50-odd years ago.

What can Tara do? Who can she turn to? Her parents? George? Who? And who, exactly, can she really trust?

It's a vivid and very readable book and will have cross-generational appeal. Although it's a feelgood novel, it does not shy away from the unpleasant aspects of life and is all the more readable for that.

It's published by Matador at £10.99.

That's Christmas: Blood on His Hands A New DI Carmichael thriller!

That's Christmas: Blood on His Hands A New DI Carmichael thriller!: Detective fiction fans will be well blessed this Christmas, because you'll be able to buy them the latest DI Carmichael thriller from ...

A Bunch of Wild Roses

A Bunch of Wild Roses is a new novel from the pen of Edward Forde Hickey.

It is set in the fictional surroundings of Rookery Rally, in northern Tipperary, Ireland.

It pays homage to the rural communities of Ireland, where although poverty was a reality for many of the inhabitants, the people were, in general, fairly contented with their lot in life. They made the best of what they had.

The story opens not long after the dreadful famine that swept Ireland, and we witness the arrival of Dandy, a man of Galway, as he arrives in the community of Rookery Rally.

We follow him and the other residents of the area, look at their colourful lives, how they work and live together during a time that, to modern day eyes, seems strange, almost alien, as one might say.

The stories cover a period of time from the 1860s right through until 1930. Although it spans 70 odd years, the times they lived through did not change all that much in the rural community of northern Tipperary. Changes came. Of course they did. But not at any great rapidity.

Readers will follow the life and times of the Spallidagh family and the people that they know and who they lived and worked with.

The book is written in such a fashion that it is episodic and almost diary like in its construction and style.

It's almost as if we, the readers, enter into a dreamlike world in which we take a peek back at times that might have been. Although the book is presented as a work of fiction, it's clearly more than that as it contains many great truths and reflects the early life of the author as he lived in a community very much like Rookery Rally, in Dolla, northern Tipperary.

The book is published by Matador at £9.99.

I think RTE should take an option on turning this into a television series.

The Telephone Call

The Telephone Call is a new DCI Appleman thriller from Michael Pakenham.

All seems perfectly well and ordinary in the life of Rosemary Sherwood. Until she overhears a very troubling phone conversation between her husband and someone else. As a result of what transpired, her life is altered, irrevocably, for good.

Harry Sherwood threatens to kill their son if she mentions anything about what she overheard. As a result of this threat she flees to France, scared for her life.

Twelve years on and she is conflicted. On the one hand, she wants to remain safe, but on the other hand she feels a need to establish a re-connection with her son who she has been estranged from.

But surely now she should be safe from the threat her husband had made? But the truth is the situation, made worse by years of deception, lies and intrigue, is now even more desperate. As Harry and his cohorts will do anything to make sure their secrets are not exposed. And as they have already committed murders, it's probable that Rosemary's life is still at risk.

But they hadn't counted on the intervention of private detective Daniel Appleman, who is a former DCI.

But can ex-DCI Appleman trace the group of men before they can continue to cause mayhem and bring more harm to Rosemary and her family?

This is a wonderful thriller from a master of the craft and it's due for publication by The Book Guild on 28th January.

That's Christmas: Happy New Year to all our readers

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Hippocrocohog

In the new book from Adam Nuth, Hippocrocohog, readers of all ages from 0 to 90 are introduced to the Hippocrocohog.

Poppy and Lilly love to visit their grandparents. And their grandparents love to take Poppy and Lilly to visit their best loved lake.

They love to look at the lake, to see the beautiful surroundings and the wildlife and to feed all the birds who live there.

But the lake is home to a secret. A secret that is so important that Maria, who is Queen of the Swans, must guard against it.

There's an island at the very middle of the lake. And on that island lives the Hippocrocohog. It's nasty tempered, it has hard skin and is the owner of 100 slave rats!

His aim is to entrap anyone he can grab hold of! Can Mariah,Queen of the Swans, Grey the Squirrel and the grandparents of Poppy and Lilly keep them safe?

But is the Hippocrocohog all bad? And what happens after granddad and grandmother confront him?

This is a fantastical story told in wonderful rhyming couplets illustrated with some very colourful and splendid drawings provided bu Alice Samways.

It's published by Matador at £8.99 and will make a super Christmas gift which young children and adults will all enjoy reading together.

Step Into Darkness

In Step Into Darkness, a thriller from David Fletcher, we meet Dan. Dan is a troubled man, his life now has absolutely zero meaning. It's now a burden to him. No love, nothing but dire thoughts.

However, by chance he encounters a situation that means that he might be able to redeem his life, to once again find meaning and purpose.

With the assistance of a group of people  he finds himself embarking on a journey into Africa, the Africa that, to this day, remains largely unexplored and unknown to all but a few intrepid people.

Will Dan be able to leave his own darkness behind and to find new light and new life?

His mettle will be tested, his resolve, stamina and endurance put to the test.

But Dan had one last trick that meant his life would, after all, have much more meaning than it used to.

There's enough twists and turns in this novel to satisfy even the most dedicated thriller fan and you'll be thanked when you give this book as a Christmas present to the thriller fan in your life.

It's published by Matador at £9.99. 

The Mulholland Files

In the debut thriller from Sandy Jones, The Mulholland Files, we meet Edward.

Edward is luxuriating in his partial retirement enjoying himself, greatly.

However, the arrival of a mystery photograph on the doormat of his home drags him back into a world that he had hoped he had been able to put behind him.

His relationship with Abby, his new relationship, is put under strain, especially when it transpires that not only is his life in  danger, that the life of Abby is at risk, also.

Things are not what they might appear. The waters become even more muddied, and Edward finds that his options are limited.

Who is involved in this case? Who is hiding behind the scenes? Who can he trust and rely on? The woman who contacted him. Who is she? What does she really want? What does she really know?

His life is in danger and his reality is put under stress. Who is following him? Why are they following him?

Can he work out exactly what is happening, find out who is behind it or will he and Abby lose their lives before he can recognise the source of the danger and neutralise it? And what are The Mulholland Files?

This is a very good debut novel. The first of many books from Sandy Jones? I certainly hope so.

It's published by Matador at £9.99 and should be making an appearance in many Christmas stockings this year.

All Six Legs

Got a dog? Know someone who has a dog or dogs? Then you need to buy this book All Six Legs.

Written by dog behaviourist expert Denise McLeod this book is a worthy follow up volume to her debut book A Dog Behaviourist's Diary.

The book is a very valuable collection of "real world" stories featuring canines of all types, puppies, older dogs and canine education, all spiced very nicely with some humour, too.

Denise includes case studies written as stories. It contains the same information as other more technical documents, but in a way that is more entertaining, eminently readable and easily absorbed by all types of dog owners.

It's not only educational but also diverse, too. Each chapter is written in a storybook fashion, each chapter contains a key learning point for all dog owners. It's about dogs, obviously, but Denise has also worked hard to include the humans who live and work with their dogs.

It deals with a wide range of issues and emotions from joy to horror, or terror. There are stories of hope, joy and humour, too.

Some of the stories deal with genuine life-or-death situations and all dog owners will benefit from Denise's 'Turn and Face' technique.

The book will be an ideal Christmas present for all dog owners and also for professional dog trainers and breeders, too.

If you know all there is to know about dogs, buy this book because I can guarantee that you will learn stuff that you either didn't know or had simply forgotten.

At only £12.99 you cannot afford to be without this book. 

Seventy Thousand Camels

Seventy Thousand Camels is a very moving and inspiring memoir from Angelica A. Brewer.

Angelica was born in Rome in 1965. Unfortunately her home life was unpleasant, her childhood was harsh and lonely. She was not only abused by her mother she was also abused by so-called family friends. She was able to use her time spent at school as a refuge from the horrors of her home life.

Her mother was, sadly, a classic narcissist and, at the age of 16 Angelica realised that she could take no more of her abuse and ran away from the new home the family had in Australia.

Angelica lived for a time on the streets and in a youth refuge. She found love. But she realised later that her loving encounter was not real love after all and that she lost a good deal more than she had gained.

She then married Rhys, but this marriage proved to be troubled and more than a little stormy. She realises now (hindsight is a wonderful thing) that the marriage lasted far too long. But it did produce three children, including a boy who "lives with autism."

Divorced and still more than a little bit lost (but now with three children) Angelica decided that she would seek for love using the medium of Internet dating sites. These often proved to be less than fulfilling, chipping away at even more of her psyche.

However, a career move brought some peace and purpose into her life when she started working as a Juvenile Justice Officer working with and supporting young detainees who were aged 10 to 21.

After this she decided to move over to working with adult offenders, moving from one Australian state to another in the process.

Once there is met and fell for "Brew" who was a fellow correction officer. His love was genuine and true, and her gave her his full support, but her life continued on a spiral of depression and suicidal thinking.

Eventually, Angelica was able to recover and she has taken the opportunity to take stock of her life and share with her readers what she has learned so far.

It is a moving account of what happens to children born to parents who are, in reality, too damaged to be able to care for themselves, let alone look after children.

But it's also a fantastically motivational memoir that shows how, with love and support, even those who have been damaged can find peace, love and happiness and a real, genuine family.

You'll find sniffles, tears and some laughter in this book.

It will be a fine Christmas gift for the person you know who can benefit from the emotional support they'll find in this book. It should also be given to medical professionals who work with the children of abusive or uncaring parents as it will help them see the damages that can be done to such children. And it may give them some vital clues as to how they can be better prepared to help such children.

It's published by Matador at £19.99. 

Appetites

Appetites is a new collection of 19 short stories from the imagination of author Maggie Ling.

The book's sub-title is stories of love, sex and death and they are an eclectic collection of stories covering a wide range of emotions, moods and concepts.

There are stories of people who are watching, people who are being watched, of people who are lonely, people who are seeking love, of apparently philosophical debates, which mean much more than might at first appear.

There are stories about love, of unrequited love, of love lost (or not) and stories of sacrifice, and yearning.

The stories all have a certain feel to them, the characters seem to be people we either know or who we might know. We see them very vividly.

Is this because as well as being an author Maggie Ling has spent her working life as a successful cartoonist and illustrator? Perhaps so. When you read these stories you will see what I mean.

The book is published by Matador at £9.99 and will make a very acceptable Christmas gift for the short story fan in your life.

The Stolen Planet

The Stolen Planet is the second children's fantasy novel from author Pearl Denham. It's part of a trilogy.

Readers will meet again Eirwen, who they will have met in Eirwen and the Gossamer Rainbow.

At age two, Eirwen and her sisters were banished to the planet Earth. Now, at the age of twelve, Eirwen feels that she is ready to seek out the answers to a number of questions.

Her Nereid talents and skills are beginning to grow and develop. Skills she will need on her long and lonely voyage of discovery.

She will traverse the depths of the Earth's oceans, facing many monsters until she can eventually find the sea god, Neptune. It's her belief that Neptune will be able to answer the questions that she has in her mind and heart. Why was she banished from her home world to planet Earth? Why were her two sisters stripped of their Nereid form?

Adaro Kato, her giant squid enemy, is constantly following her, riding a giant Weta, a vicious creature, once thought to be extinct.

Can she best Adaro Kato? But Eirwen is not without support or friends. Galene, the goddess of the Near Sea, the Decapods and other creatures of the realm of Neptune become her friends and her allies.

This book is intelligently written and is for readers who are middle grade.

It's published by Matador at £7.99 and will make an excellent Christmas present for young readers who are ready to move their reading up a notch or two.

Doreen Warinner's War

Doreen Warriner's War is a book by Henry Warriner about his aunt, Doreen Warriner.

It tells the captivating story of an extremely gifted and talented young woman.

She was a young academic who gave up her Rockefeller Scholarship for travel in the West Indies in 1938. Instead she departed for Prague.

Once there she joined up with a tiny but dedicated group of like-minded people who were to be credited with the rescuing of thousands of anti-Nazi men and women.

But she did more. With Nicholas Winton, Jewish children. For this in 1941 she was warded an OBE.

This bbok is also the biography of her subsequent life, the loves and losses, all retold by her nephew using the words of her own diaries, letters and contemporaneous accounts.

Doreen joined the Political Warfare Executive in London. She subsequently worked for the Middle East Supply Centre in Cairo, then becoming Head of Food Supplies, a Belgrade-based job, for the United Nations relief effort created to prevent starvation in war ravaged Yugoslavia.  Both were male dominated words. But this did not cause any pause for Doreen. She took everything in her stride.

After the war's conclusion Doreen returned to the life of an academic, working at University College, London, where she served as a Professor there until she retired in 1866.

She built up considerable expertise as an expert on economics and agrarian difficulties in developing countries. Writing extensively on these issues, working on secondment, to a number of international organisations.

Last year, in 2018, 45 years after her death, Henry Warriner was able to collect, on her behalf, a 'British Heroes of the Holocaust' medal which was awarded by the British government.

It's an extremely well-written and well-researched work, which is a very fitting tribute to Doreen Warriner, a most extraordinary woman.

It will be a perfect Christmas present for anyone interested in the history of World War 2 or in strong, independent women.

It's published by the Book Guild at £10.99.

Umtata

Umtata tells the story of Barney. Barney is very well qualified for his chosen career.

Unfortunately his chosen career was that of a trained assassin.

However, he decides that he no longer wishes to be a hired killer, so he leaves his old life behind, seeking a more tranquil and peaceable existence.

He cloisters himself in a small town in Southern Africa. He is fully aware that there are certain people who want him captured or want him dead. Some of them are government officials, some are not related to any governments. 

He meets a grieving and lonely mother, Naomi, who is separated from her children. In fact she is unsure if they are even alive.

Barney decides that he will assist her in tracing her family, but as time progresses the situation begins to look more and more hopeless.

At the bleakest point, hope is renewed and it seems likely that he will be able to help Naomi find her lost children. But at what cost to Barney? Will his acts of kindness reveal him to the people who wish him harm?

What does he do next? What can he do next?

Author Brian Godfrey has brought us a real and complex character in Barney, a man with conflicting moral imperatives.

The book is published by Matador at £8.50.

The Legacy of Mr Jarvis

The Legacy of Mr Jarvis is a new novel from Jude Hayland which is based on a true story.

In 1966 Mary Foster is 12 years of age and her ordered, peaceful life is disturbed and fragmented by a precipitous move from a nice house in suburban London to a badly neglected Victorian house on the south coast of England.

However, she manages to forge a new friendship which provides her with some comfort in a world that is alien to her.

But suddenly there comes a realisation that her life is not what she thought, that there has been deceit and deception that wrecks her life, leaving her feeling bitter and full of resentment. But she feels it necessary to keep her silence.

It's now 40 years later and Mary feels that now, as a mature woman, she needs to know more. Times are now different, we are in a different century. The secrecy of 40 years ago now seems awkward and strange. And now Mary is anxious to uncover the truth.

But what if the truth is something she might not really wish to learn? Should the secrets of the past remain buried or should they be exposed to the light?

What should Mary do? Keep on seeking and learning the secrets of 40 years ago? Or not?

The book is published by Matador at £9.99.

Charlie Palmer Says

In Charlie Palmer Says author Beverley Bowry introduces us to Nathan Clark. Nathan is ten and he is given the gift of a metal detector for Christmas.

Obviously, he's ecstatic with this present, so he rushes outside on Christmas Day  to use it. But what he actually discovers is a ghost by the name of Charlie Palmer.

Charlie Palmer tells Nathan a very sad story. He reveals that he was murdered by his neighbours, Mr and Mr Kimble. Not only are they murderers, they are also planning to undertake an armed raid.

When Nathan's parents are away for the weekend, he is left in the charge of his big sister. The family jewels go missing and, somehow, Charlie gets the blame.

When Nathan tells the police about the truth about Charlie Palmer, the police are sceptical about what he is telling them.

In fact, only a French scientist called Monsieur Dupont is listening to Nathan and believing him. But then he is the former owner of Nathan's house and he is very, very old. 128 years old.

But Monsieur Dupont wants something, too. But what? And can he get it?

Can Nathan beat the dreadful and murderous Kimble family? Or could he end up sharing the fate that happened to Charlie Palmer?

It's a quirky and very readable book for children and is published by Matador at £6.99.

It's going to be a great Christmas present.

Stiff Guy Yoga

Stiff Guy Yoga is a new book from Yoga expert Nikki Lynds-Xavier which is a guidebook for older, stiffer chaps who need to regain their good, younger selves.

Need to sit down to put your socks on, problems with hips that aren't supple anymore, back and shoulders that don't feel right, now?

Then you need this book. It's aimed at people who are beginners, who have no previous experience with Yoga. And all you need to get started, other than this book, is a Yoga mat.

And the author promises that you can get your good, younger self back, within 30 days.

You will be able to improve your flexibility, reboot your energy levels, cut down on your stress levels, and get back the two zeds. Your zip and your zeal!

The book is very well illustrated and contains a great deal of useful information and tips on healthy living and leading a healthier life.

It's published by Matador at £12.99 and will be a great Christmas gift for the stiff person in your life.

Poetic Justice: Oxford

In Poetic Justice: Oxford author Fran Raya brings us the latest instalment of the story of Randal Forbes.

It's what he, Randal Forbes, calls "the gift" the mysterious, dark powers that he employs, his telepathic mind powers.

However, the trail of destruction that his powers have left behind him has not gone unnoticed and has come to the attention of the police, who are investigating him on several potential charges of murder.

But he was never near the scene of any of the crimes. He was there, however, within the head of each victim who he had targeted.

By now Forbes is a student in Oxford, at Beaumont College, he glories in his successes and is on the way to becoming an author of considerable repute.

But by now he has discovered more enemies who he feels the need to deal with. People who are suspicious of his paranormal abilities he feels the need to eliminate.

His poetic justice is unpleasant and twisted, yet, conversely, he is loyal to his own family members.

Clearly, nobody would be able to offer any challenge to Forbes and his abilities. But what if Forbes isn't the only person in the world with such powers, such psychic abilities? Would they be able to face Forbes and take him on at his own game?

It's published by the Book Guild at £8.99 and will make a great Christmas gift.

Geraldine

In the novel Geraldine by John Mead, Inspector Matthew Merry and Sergeant Julie Lukula are tasked with investigating the death of Geraldine Driver, whose body has been found on the banks of the River Thames.

As Metropolitan Police detectives they are, of course, used to dealing with the results of crimes, such as violence and murder.

But what type of crime was was this murder? Was it a hate crime linked to a spate of other hate crimes?

However, Inspector Merry is not convinced. He believes that the crime against Geraldine Driver might well have been a hate filled crime, but he isn't convinced that it's linked to the other hate crimes.

But there's a shock at the autopsy, as it soon becomes apparent that things might not be what they at first appeared to be.

Who was Geraldine Driver? Who might have wanted Geraldine Driver dead? And the manner of his death was shocking and extremely brutal indeed and was obviously filled with a searing level of hatred that was diabolical in its intensity.

The case is complicated, with links to other incidents. Merry, Lukula and their colleagues are all dedicated professionals. But can they bring the perpetrators to justice?

This is a very well written police procedural murder mystery and if you give this as a Christmas present this year don't expect to see the recipient for a while as the action will grip them from the first page onward.

It's published by the Book Guild at £8.99.

Despite the Darkness

Despite the Darkness In his debut novel David Maughan Brown takes a look back to the dark days of the South African Apartheid regime. Times which he lived through himself. 

It's 1985, a State of Emergency has been declared in South Africa as the country is becoming more and more ungovernable.

Cameron Beaumont is a history lecturer who, in common with many people like him at the time, was under constant surveillance by the South African security services. He is also subjected to death threats because some people just didn't like his views.

His is undergoing something of an existential crisis. What should he do? Keep his head down and do nothing? Or continue to play his part in the anti-apartheid movement? But if he does continue in the struggle, what could he do to protect his beloved wife Jules and their children?

And those death threats? They are not merely empty gestures and they are, in fact, just the very start of  what might happen.

But what would happen if he was pushed beyond his limits? What would he do to protect or avenge his loved one?

This is a very thought provoking novel and recreates the terrible days of Apartheid.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.   

The Ring's List

The Ring's List is a new mystery novel from new author Jade Nicole-Bracken.

The protagonist, Steven M. Johns spent the entirety of the 1980s in jail. Unfortunately he had been convicted of a murder that he had not committed.

Rather than ignoring what had happened to him, Johns decides to set out on the path, after his successful appeal, to find out who had really committed the murder and to seek some measure of revenge on them for putting him in jail for a decade for a crime he didn't commit.

A fellow inmate gives him a list of people who might have been involved in the murder. And, after his release from jail, he seeks out the helped of his cherished Uncle Reg, Johns sets out to seek out those who framed him.

The search takes in a variety of locations including the Home Counties of England and all the way to the Gulf Coast of Florida.

However he finds himself enmeshed in a world of large scale money laundering and mortgage fraud.

He doesn't allow this to deter him, and he continues on his mission to trace and track down those who he believes were responsible for framing him for murder.

But the deeper he searches the more he realises that his investigations are throwing up some very worrying facts and that he risks causing damage to other people.

And who, exactly, can he really trust? But blood is thicker than water. It is, isn't it?

This book is published by Matador at £9.75 and will make a great Christmas present for the mystery fan in your life.
 

Girl Without a Face

Girl Without a Face is a posthumously published novel from established author Nasser Hashmil.

Laura Danes, a happy, perfectly normal, happy young lady who had dreams and ambitions to become a successful filmmaker. And she was talented and dedicated enough to be able to pull this off.

That was until one night outside a lonely railway station she was subjected to an attack from a gang who, when they chose to throw acid in her face, destroying her looks and, apparently, destroying her future.

Three months later and Laura is facing a number of severe issues such as trying to make sense of what had happened to her and why it had happened. Why had she been targeted by the gang?

Of course, Laura has the full support of her mother, but Laura doesn't see any cause for joy in her life. Not with the pain, her ruined features and her wrecked future.

But then the unthinkable happens. Jake, a member of the gang who attacked her, reaches out to Laura and pleads for her forgiveness.

When Jake contacts her, this sets off a spark within Laura. As a filmmaker, shouldn't she want to learn more about the gang culture where Jake and others like him, come from?

Laura again starts to become interested in her life. She learns that perhaps she should start taking risks again, and prove to people that a dreadful event shouldn't, ideally, have the power to influence or control the rest of your life.

This book is a triumphant novel that has several important messages for young adults. It will make you cry, it will make you smile, but it will also make you think.

It's a wonderful tribute to the writing prowess of Nasser Hashmi and his widow, Shabina, who made sure that it was published.

It was long listed for the Peggy Chapman-Andrews award and the Bath Novel Prize, 2017.

It's published by Matador at £9.99.

Gold Dust: How to Become a More Effective Coach, Quickly

Gold Dust: How To Become A More Effective Coach, Quickly was released on November 28th and is now a #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the UK. It was co-authored by David and Keith Mayer.

This book is dedicated to Dick Bate. The footballing circle lost a pioneer, a maverick and one of the finest coach educators the World has seen when Dick passed away in April 2018.

In dedication to Dick's memory, 10% of proceeds from this book will be donated to The Giles’ Trust, the brain tumour fund within the University Hospital Birmingham Charity.

Gold Dust talks about the importance of connection, and how you can maximise the connections you build.

It's chock full of golden nuggets and absolute gems of information, knowledge and sports coaching wisdom.

You'll learn how to build on relationships, gain and maintain motivation with your athletes, how you can be a highly effective coach, and how you can communicate effectively.

It shares stories and experiences from people at the top of their game in the respective sports and gives you clear insights of what you can do to be even better at coaching than you already are.

A lot of people talk about sports from a technical and tactical standpoint, but they are only a tiny part of coaching.

The best coaches across all sports generally get success because of their ability to connect and relate to their athletes.

They are able to enhance the learning environment for athletes, make athletes feel better about what it is they do, and in turn optimise the athletes performances, regardless of their age.

To purchase this best-selling book while supporting an amazing cause, please click the Amazon link below at £14.99 in paperback or £4.99 for Kindle.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1709301805.

Here are just some of the 100% positive reviews on Amazon:-

Antgodfrey:-

"I can't emphasize just how important and powerful this book is and the effect it can have on any coach in any sport. Myself being from a football background, I couldn't help to think as I was ploughing through this book and in my opinion that there has got to be more within coaching qualifications on the relationship building between the coach and athlete, finding out the different ways of peeling the layers back in truly finding who the person is behind the athlete in order for us coaches to nurture, develop and guide in the most effective to meet their needs. The book is refreshing and has many pages that has you constantly thinking about yourself as a coach and how can i do things better going forward and having an even more meaningful relationship with my players. A very well put together book with some extracts that absolutely hit the sweet spot in the pursuit of finding excellence. Sport, business, parenting and good humility skills/lessons.....This book is for you! 5*"

Amazon Customer:-

"Absolutely fantastic book. A must read for any coach. I coach both boxing and football, and this book gives me a great insight on how to develop my coaching practice. Credit to the father and son authors."

In the opinion of That's Books, this book will make an excellent Christmas gift for the sports coaches in your life. 

We also feel that this book is a "must buy" for every school and college with a sports department and for every sports club, both amateur and professional. 

How to Live Your Life

How to Live Your Life is subtitled Guidance from Georgie.

It is written by Julie Lewis and her co-author, in spirit, Georgie.

It brings to readers a wide ranging variety of topics. It covers what happens when people die and return to spirit, where they go, how to live life in spirit, how we transition from a physical state to a spiritual one, what life in spirit is, what happens before you return to Earth.

How to make the best of your opportunities on Earth, why it's vital you speak up for yourself, how to enjoy yourself whilst you are here.

The book also reminds you of how to embrace what's available to you, how to recognise what your aims are and how to achieve them, the importance of learning, what technology is and some concerns about it.

How to achieve what you need to achieve, how to embrace the world and what it has to offer, including how to recognise this, too.

It's an interesting book that is published by Matador at £9.99.

Pickle & LIly

Pickle & Lily is a wonderful collection of superbly illustrated stories about a delightful and very lovable black and white cat called Pickle and Lily, who is a bouncy ball of energy in the shape of a Welsh Terrier puppy.

Pickle finds himself in many, many different scrapes and adventures with an amazing array of characters, from Rufus (his arch enemy!) a fierce tabby cat, a giant rabbit and a pair of very friendly Airedale Terriers.

It's written by Annie Stewart and illustrated by Michael Avery.

Although aimed at children, the stories will also be firm hits with adults, too.

Oh, yes! There are appearances by a variety of humans including the owners of Pickles, Patsy and Peter Purrkins, plus The Partridges, Mrs Chattergood and more.

This is a must have Christmas gift and will be a great read together book for children, parents and grandparents.

It's published by the Book Guild at £8.99.

Hey Dog! Sniffs Are For Feet!

Hey Dog! Sniffs Are For Feet! is the companion to Hey Dog! Let's Talk!

Hey Dog! Sniffs Are For Feet! is aimed specifically at parents and its intention is to help dog owners deal with the potential problems that might occur when a small child is introduced to a home with a dog, or when a dog is introduced into a home with a small child.

It takes a simpler approach to the subject matter and is not, thankfully, over-long. It gives you the information that you need as quickly and as succinctly as possible.

It's broken down into four chapters which are sub-divided into several section.

It starts at the beginning dealing with the pregnancy, then moving to the arrival of baby, how to deal with a toddler in the house and then, finally, to the growing child.

It deals with vital topics of safety in the home and raising your children to show respect, kindness and consideration to the dog members of the family. The book's author, Wendy Keefer, emphasises that dog owners must always remember that the dog has needs, too.

It uses a gentle, caring humorous writing style, assisted by some nice cartoons by Sarah Hobbs.

It's published by the Book Guild at £7.99 and will be an ideal Christmas present for people who have to act as dog and toddler wranglers!

Wendy Keefer is a qualified expert in companion animal behaviour and training.

The Mystery of Martha

The Mystery of Martha is a debut novel from Eliza Harrison. It's a spiritual fiction that deals with the two stories of two Marthas, who are separated by 2,000 years.

There is the story of Martha from Bethany in 31 AD who was a witness over the last three years of the life of Yeshua (Jesus) who inspired her own life and her journey to spiritual enlightenment.

It is also the story of another Martha who is from the English Lake District in 2000 AD who learns of the hidden, mystical teachings of Yeshua, which offers this Martha a pathway to self-realisation and self-awareness.

Eliza Harrison does not ignore the 2,000 year gap between the two Marthas, she actually uses it, in a way, draws a clear parallel between the two women, using them to illustrate that although each person is unique, that we are all seeking for truth and real purpose in our lives.

It's an interesting novel that is moving, inspirational and nurturing.

I believe it will make a fine Christmas present for those who are seeking enlightenment.

It's published by Mstador at £9.99.

Vladimir's Diary

Vladimir's Diary is a novel by Martin M. McShane.

It explores a "what if?" scenario. What if Stalin had kept his nerve at Potsdam? What if, when Nazi Germany was finally beaten and Hitler dead, Stalin had turned on his Allies and ordered the Red Army to sweep over an already war-ravaged Europe?

In this gripping novel country after country topple under the might of the forces of the CCCP and American attempts to seek a diplomatic solution bring about dire consequences for the inhabitants of the defeated countries of Europe.

But now, at the dawn of the 21st century, the bloated Soviet Union is beginning to fall to pieces, bringing about terrible fear and unrest for its two billion subjects.

The economy tanks, causing the Soviet Empire to fall backwards toward the Dark Ages. How does the Central Committee wish to restore order out of chaos? By bringing terror and abject fear to all citizens.

But they had not counted on the uprising of a group of young freedom fighters who would risk their all, their lives, in order to rescue their country from such a dire fate.

But can they possibly succeed against their powerful enemies, and the personal ambitions and desires for riches and power from some people, perhaps even within their own ranks?

And how, exactly, would the government deal with its pressing economic problems?

This is a very chilling book, all the more so because it could well have happened.

It's published by The Book Guild at £8.99.

The Rooks Die Screaming

The Rooks Die Screaming is a new Inspector Edwards mystery from Clive Tuckett.

It's Bodmin, Cornwall, in 1921. And people are dying. More specifically the people who are dying are members of a mysterious and secret organisation called The Nest of Rooks.

They are being murdered with efficiency and dispatch, but if they are members of a secret society, who know them enough to be able to kill them? And why are they being killed?

Who is after Harry Frobisher and his bride? Why are they having to enter into a game of survival? Can his past being catching up with him?

What is the significance of the rooks? How does poison figure in this mysterious case?

Who is really the threat to Harry Frobisher? And can Inspector Edwards work out who is behind the murders and can he thwart them and bring them to justice?

This is a fine period detective novel and will be turning up in the Christmas stockings of many mystery fans.

It's published by the Book Guild at £9.99

Life's a Banquet

Life's a Banquet is a guide book for your life. The author, Robin Bennett, reveals the techniques that are useful for helping us negotiate our pathway through life. Family life, education, relationships, business life, marriage and even failure and rejection.

At age 21 Robin had his life mapped out for him. He was going to be an officer in the cavalry. But well before his 22nd birthday he found himself working as a grave digger's assistant in South London wondering how everything had all gone so drastically wrong?

But he decided that he wasn't going to take this lying down. He was determined to turn his fortunes around and, at age 23, he founded the Bennett Group and ever since that early success he has gone on to create in excess of a dozen successful business enterprises, in a wide variety of different fields, including home tuition, something to do with cigars, translation and dog sitting. In fact in his book's prologue which contains ten highly valuable helpful Life Tips (worth the purchase price of the book, it must be noted) is a PS "Always be kind to animals... It is the truest measure of a person."

From growing up in Reading (it was fairly grim at the time) to being inadvertently marooned on an island with the family terrier by his father who panicked when he accidentally shot a hole in the canoe they were in, finding out about the use of live pigeons for hunting decoys, managing investment funds, Robin Bennett's life has never been dull, in fact, it's quite colourful.

This book will be an inspiration to anyone who reads it and it will make a wonderful self-Christmas gift to you or a great Christmas gift to anyone else.

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

Verbatim

In Verbatim Andrew Hill introduces his readers to two different writers.

There's Carol, who is an intelligent woman, known for being sensible, who is in her late 20s. She has her life together and is currently employed as a civil servant.

Grant, however, most certainly does not have his life together. Since his childhood Grant has suffered from mental health issues. Sadly these were just swept under the carpet and, as much as possible, merely ignored instead of being worked with and treated.

Grant is working as a barman and intends to get his life trued around.

Grant is looking for a publishing house to publish his debut novel, which he has titled 'Dead Letter Perfect, but after being rejected by publisher after publisher and by a curious twist of fate, he learns that another writer, a woman called Carol Green (who he has never heard of before now) is publishing a novel with exactly the same title.

But would it ever be possible for two writers, working totally independently of each other, with no prior knowledge of the existence of the other, to write a novel with not only the same title but with every detail and every word exactly, precisely the same?

Totally unaware of Grant's discovery, Carol's life continues as normal, but after the rejection of his novel, Grant's life continues to spiral out of control.

And when they finally meet things take a very, very dramatic turn for the worst.

It's a gripping a very moving novel and will make a very thought provoking Christmas gift for the writer or budding writer in your life.

It's published by The Book Guild at £8.99.