The Spark

The Spark is a new and compelling read from author Trevor Stubbs.

It addresses a range of issues that are, unfortunately, all too common in this day and age. Mental health, post traumatic stress disease (PTSD) and the identity of the self.

It is the aim and the intention of Trevor Stubbs to celebrate what he describes  as: "the indestructible spark of love which offers an opportunity for healing."

The Spark tells the continuing story of the White Gates Adventures series of novels.

In it we meet Shaun who is now 20 years of age. Shaun is a good chap. OK, he might not be quite as quick or as confidant as his older sister, Kakko, and perhaps he is not as clever as Randi, his younger brother, but Shaun is known for being steady and of a quiet nature.

He decides that he will continue his studies and decides that he will follow a pathway of  youth and community studies.

But it's sometimes said that a person's plans are what they do whilst they are waiting for everything to go wrong.

And as far as poor Shaun is concerned, things do go wrong. Horribly and disastrously wrong.

But how can Shaun cope when vicissitudes and circumstances conspire to utterly destroy his chosen way of life?

 However, there is something that can help Shaun, if he is able to accept it. It is the gift of love that brings with it the promise and potential of healing and redemption.

It's a fantasy novel that is aimed at younger readers and will make a super Christmas present.

It is published by Matador at £8.99 and can be bought at https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

The Devil Gets Lonely Too

This is an anthology of poems written by Liverpool's own Thomas B. Langton.

The poems are described as being "gritty" in nature, so are probably best read by people who are able to cope with life not as they might wish it tog be, but life as it actually is. The underbelly of the society we all live in, the world we all inhabit, but with a slightly, and sometimes not so slightly twisted, view of our society.

Violence, isolation, broken promises, love, hate, fear, sorrow, men, women, monsters, demons and devils.

All of these and many more are to be found as rich subject matter for the probing and witty poetry of Thomas B. Langton.

If you don't like strong language, this book isn't for you. But if you don't mind strong language, these poems will take you on a very memorable journey.

It's the debut of Thomas B. Langton. Here's hoping that Liverpool's new poetic voice will long reign supreme!

It costs £6.99 from Matador and can be purchased here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

A Carer's Chaos

A Carer's Chaos is an important new book by Julie Wiltshire.

It offers a valuable and unique insight into the problems and struggles that carers must face very single day of their lives.

The book tells the story of how Julie Wiltshire coped and managed when her husband David was diagnosed with cancer, not once, but twice.

Julie records the details of their long journey from the diagnoses, the treatments and their daily lives as they battled to survive.

It's an honest and open account and tells of periods of love and of hate, anger, feelings of loneliness and the utter terror of having to face the fact that your loved one is seriously ill and could even succumb to this disease.

It takes the reader through the terrible trials and tribulations of the carer as they attempt to help and support their ill spouse or family member without breaking under the strain of the situation that is not of the making of themselves or the victim of cancer.

This book is a must have for every doctor's surgery, every oncology unit, every hospice and every psychological counsellor who has to help carers cope with their unwanted role and every library in the land.

It is published by Matador at £9.99 and is available to purchase here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Come Sweet Sexton, Tend My Grave

Come Sweet Sexton, Tend My Grave is a black comedy written by Eleanor Berry.

Professor Isaac Stone is in his mid thirties. He is an American (Bostonian by birth) professor of psychiatry.

He is an expert in a range of severe mental health disorders and is known to possess an incredibly short temper. He also declines to tolerate any nonsense whatsoever.

He is called upon to visit a female patient called Esmerelda Harris. who is currently incarcerated within the Rudyard Kipling Hospital where she is receiving treatment for a severe nervous breakdown. Which is, apparently, the result of her witnessing a particularly harrowing  and shocking event.

It will be the professor's job to help her to recover from this traumatic event and to regain her mental equilibrium.

But what did Esmeralda Harris witness that was so distressing that it caused such a dreadful breakdown?

Can the professor help her? Does he want to?

The story is told from the point of view of Charlie Yates, described as "a delightful raconteur" who has a large fund of anecdotes which are sure to keep the reader captivated and enthralled.

The climax of this novel is hideous and dramatic and very tragic.

It is published by the Book Guild at £8.99 and is available here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

Here Eleanor Berry talks about her own novel

When the Unacceptable Becomes the Norm

When the Unacceptable Becomes the Norm is subtitled "choosing a care home in the 21st century."

In this book author Bill Lawrence acts as an expert guide and takes the reader along a clear path, avoiding a variety of pitfalls from misinformation, lies and misunderstandings surrounding the selection of a care home for a loved one.

It is based on his own experiences of seeking out a suitable care home facility for his own mother and also on hour after hour of detailed, meticulous research into the shortcomings and problems of care homes that provide accommodation for the elderly.

Bill discovered that annually, there are tens of thousands of reports of complaints about the care of the elderly in such facilities.

Malpractice, deliberate abuse and neglect, both willful and as a result of ignorance or poor training or inadequate staffing levels.

The 2011 census figures showed that there were 320,000 people aged 65 and over in the UK who are residents in care homes. 190,000 of these people were over the age of 85. Which is the fastest growing age group in the UK, currently.

Estimates are that, by the year 2030 the number of care home places will have to grow by 80%.

The book is a concisely written work and should be required reading for everyone who works the the residential care home profession from the owners of the smallest care homes to the largest and to every care worker and nurse in the industry.

And everyone who has a relative in such a care home or who might need such a facility, let this book serve as your guide.

It's published by Matador at £9.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

William the Hedgehog Boy

In William the Hedgehog Boy author Robert A. Brown presents a children's novel that is an entertaining read but which also brings to their attention the plight of one of our best-loved animals, the Hedgehog.

William is out for a walk and he finds a gang of boys who are throwing sticks at a poor, defenceless hedgehog. 

With considerable bravery and daring, William rushes at the gang and chases them away from the injured hedgehog.

He takes the animal to a veterinary clinic and he help the hedgehog, who is now named "Lucky" back to health.

William is, understandably, upset when the vet tells William that Lucky must be released back into the wild.

Lucky makes the journey back to her den, yet she is confronted by a monster with sharp fangs! And a monster of a hedgehog!

Injured and bewildered Lucky manages to crawl away and finds herself a large pile of wood which she decides will make an ideal home for her to hibernate in.

William is searching for Lucky, but he is miserable. He is also in trouble with his stepfather because of his continued attempts to find his hedgehog friend.

But suddenly everything is changed for William by a dramatic phone call. William is compelled to launch himself into desperate and heroic action.

Can he save the life of both a boy and his best friend, Lucky?

This is a very good read and will make a wonderful Christmas present for both children and the adults who will buy it!

It's to be hoped this will be the first of many books from wild-life photographer Robert A. Brown.

It's published by Matador at £7.99 and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.

The Tall Tale of Maxwell Anderson

In the novel The Tall Tale of Maxwell Anderson, the plot came in a dream, author Steve Joyce brings his debut novel to the reader.

It tells the story of Maxwell Anderson. Maxwell is a growing lad. And that is the problem, for Maxwell cannot stop growing.

His birth had been difficult and he was fighting for his life. Under the desperate circumstances it was not a surprise that his father leapt at the opportunity to allow a new gene therapy treatment to be used on his son. Even though it was relatively untested, not authorised for use and not licenced.

The new therapy seemed to work on Maxwell, yet this did not come without dire and dreadful consequences. For Maxwell could not stop growing!

His father Mark had suffered the tragic death of his wife during the birth and had to battle against betrayal and heartbreaks as he finds new romance and attempts to provide something like an ordinary life for his extraordinary child.

Mark is not without friends and his friends, long-established friends and new friends he meets along the way offer him love, support and help.

But unbeknown to Mark, all is not as it seems, and he is kept blissfully unaware that some of them are not quite what the appear to be.

As Maxwell continues to grow and his condition becomes even stranger, rival groups attempt to become involved in his case, some even attempt to wrest control of the boy.

But Mark's fierce love for his son and his need to protect him come to the fore and Mark will do anything to protect Maxwell. Anything, no matter how extreme, no matter at what personal cost.

This book is an emotionally charged book which is a truly stunning first novel. Be prepared for some tears when you read this novel.

It's available at £8.99 from Matador and can be bought here https://goo.gl/wdCFDG.