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.