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'''Read [[Forthcoming Publications|reviews of books about to be published]].{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Abbott Nez Onyi Nwabineli|title=Cromwell Dixon's Sky-CycleAllow Me to Introduce Myself|rating=4.5|genre=For SharingGeneral Fiction|summary=Meet Cromwell Dixon. HeAnuri spent her childhood on display to the world, thanks to her step-mother Ophelia's increasingly popular presence on social media, where she posted every step of Anuri's a real tinkererchildhood for sponsorships and influencer deals and, basically, forever in a barn or somewhere building something manically unusualmonetary gain. Luckily Now Anuri is in her twenties and she is slowly trying to regain her confidence and to get her life back, suing her step- although his long-suffering mother may disagree with that word - heto take down the content about her. Anuri is battling alcoholism, failing to start her PhD, undergoing therapy and secretly abusing people online and receiving money from them for doing so. Most importantly, she is desperately worried about her little sister, who is the new focus of Ophelia's around online empire. Can she save her sister, and perhaps herself and her relationship with her father at the birth of powered flight. Will his plans for a pedalled air machine worksame time?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0399250417</amazonuk>0861546873
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sue MoorcroftDavid Chadwick|title=Starting OverHeadload of Napalm|rating=4.5|genre=Women's FictionThrillers|summary=The story opens when Tess bumps her old reliable car into a breakdown truck. ThatIt's rather convenientSeptember 1973 in Hicks, since she isn't hurt, and the guy driving it California. Hicks is able to tow her to his garage, a Mojave desert town of a few thousand people with its nearest neighbours of LA and then give her Las Vegas both a lift to her new homesignificant drive away. Naturally, since this is the 'chick-lit' genre, Tess Not much happens in Hicks. A silver mine and a defence contractor are the truck-drivermain local employers but otherwise, who goes by the unlikely name of Ratty (an abbreviation of his surname) feel mutual antipathy of the sort thatthere's clearly going to leadnot much of note other than dive bars and Joshua trees. Life is quiet, sooner or later, to strong attractionuntil....|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906931224</amazonuk>B0D321VJ76
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Mary BeardTom Percival|title=It's A Don's LifeThe Wrong Shoes
|rating=5
|genre=LifestyleConfident Readers|summary=Professor Mary Beard, feisty Cambridge classics don, keeps an eye open for architectural detail wherever she goes. Even on holidayWill's life is difficult, she notices the changing urban landscape and records interesting parallels with ancient cities in her sparky bloga multitude of ways. She He is engaged in writing a detailed history of Pompeii and suddenly realisesbullied because he has 'the wrong shoes', whilst perambulating he has the backstreets of wrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn't have enough money for even the Mexican city most basic of Oaxacan, that this is exactly what Pompeii must have been things like. She observes the low rise shopsfood, dirt tracks across dusty streets and his dad can't work because he lost his job at the close juxtaposition of rich college, was working a cash-in-hand job on a building site and poorhad an accident. Impressive portals of grand residential properties tower above humble workshops, and this prompts her Throw into imaginative reconstruction. In her blog, from which this intriguing book is culled, she tells us about just how Oaxacan encourages her to ponder again that mix the curious cart ruts of Pompeii. She even finds walls splashed with political slogans fact that his mum and dad are just like Roman ''dipinti''. Indeedseparated, here in Mexico, the local library displays an edifying message in Spanish which originates in Ciceroand Will's speech life seems bleak in his Pro Archiaevery direction. And yet, he still has a tiny amount of hope. He is good at art, ''Science and letters are clings to the nourishment moments of youth and joy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the diversion end of old agea long, dark tunnel.''|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846682517</amazonuk>1398527122
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate TremayneSylvie Cathrall|title=The Loveday ConspiracyA Letter to the Luminous Deep|rating=45|genre=Historical Science Fiction|summary=Trevowan Manor has been the home of the Loveday family for generations. It will still be owned by There are few greater joys than a Loveday but St John Loveday lost the house on the throw of book which lives up to a dice before killing himself – and now his cousin Tristan has the housecompelling premise. St John's twin, Adam, vows that he will punish the man responsible. Amelia has been forced from Trevowan and And this is now living in a cottage with the other dispossessed women. As if this wasn't enough one of a problem, her son from her first marriage, Richard, has become even more than wayward and Amelia is forced to make a difficult choicethem.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755347676</amazonuk>0356522776
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Julian Barnes0008517061|title=Staring at the SunDeath in a Lonely Place|author=Stig Abell
|rating=4
|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=Jean's first Incident involved Uncle LeslieFormer Metropolitan Police detective, hyacinths and golf tees. It's perhaps best forgottenJake Johnson, but Jean doesn't forget. Uncle Leslie figures large in her has settled into his rustic life - mostly on the golf course - until the War comes and he runs away to Americaat Little Sky. He's replaced by Tommy Prosser, There’s perhaps a grounded pilot who once saw little uncertainty about the sun rise twice in one day future of his life with his vet girlfriend, Livia and excites her daughter Diana, as many questions moving in Jean as he ever answers. Tommy is replaced by Michael, together would mean a policeman, whom Jean eventually marries. He doesn't know why minks are excessively tenacious lot of compromise: does Jake give up his off-grid and relaxing life and he doesn't much care. But Jean to move in with Livia or does. She cares much less Livia move to Little Sky despite her reservations about whether or not this is the future she wants for herself and her daughter? For the Dutch cap that Michael sent her off to obtain before moment they’re enjoying life in the wedding present and much less again for their rather disastrous adventures in putting the future on the bedroomback burner. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099540096</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alexandra Bruce1786482126|title=2012: Science or SuperstitionThe Janus Stone (Dr Ruth Galloway)|author=Elly Griffiths|rating=34.5|genre=Popular ScienceCrime|summary=The fuss about 2012 has not started just recentlyBuilders were demolishing an old house in Norwich - the site was going to hold seventy-five 'luxury' apartments - when they discovered the bones of a child beneath a doorway. The first book to feature the story There was from no skull. Was this a Yale professorritual killing or murder? Inevitably, in 1966Dr Ruth Galloway finds herself working with DCI Harry Nelson. WeIt've also had prog rock bands named after Popol Vuhs difficult as Ruth knows, the Maya creation myth. But but Nelson doesn't, that she is pregnant with his child as the crunch date a result of December 21st, 2012 - the winter solstice that year - nears, it's becoming a very big story indeedone night they spent together some three months ago. Even though it sounds absurd - the end of a 5,125-year Her condition will be obvious before long cycle of the Maya calendar, which started on August 13th, 3114BCE - or was judged not least because Ruth is prone to start then, when they came across this concept a couple sudden bouts of thousand years into that periodsickness. Surely they couldn't predict the future from their 'primitive' state with such accuracy?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1934708283</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jeff Kinney0008551324|title=Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog DaysThe Devil You Know (D S Max Craigie)|author=Neil Lancaster
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=It is a truth universally acknowledged that school summer holidays are only enjoyable if you want 's unusual for anyone from the Hardie family to enjoy summerapproach the police. Greg here doesnNeither side likes or has any respect for the other. But Davie Hardie is struggling in prison and he't want s prepared to notice ittell the police where the body of a missing person is buried and who was responsible for her death. This person, he promises, is someone big and would prefer it will be worth the police doing what he wants. And what he wants is to be transferred to an open prison to spend serve the remainder of his days curtains drawn, face glued sentence and to late night TV or a computer game, hand either clicking away at a controller or shovelling in snacksget an early parole date. The last thing he needs, thenNot much to ask, is his mother, on a it? The new Deputy Police Constable doesn't think so and she'family togetherness'' trip, s even prepared to do the other thing that Hardie demanded - make certain that DS Max Craigie and on a budget, anyone who works with bad ideas of him is kept well away from what Greg should be doing instead's happening.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141327650</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rick Yancey0008405026|title=The Monstrumologist: The Terror BeneathA Stranger in the Family (Maeve Kerrigan 11)|author=Jane Casey|rating=45|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=In late 19th century AmericaIt's sixteen years since nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared from her bed one summer night. She was never found and the investigation ground to a halt. Now, her mother, young Will Henry has been the apprentice of the sternHelena, and her father are dead in their bed. Initially, forbidding Dr Warthrop since it looks like a straightforward murder/suicide but there's something about the death positioning of his parents, who were also employed by the doctorbodies that makes DS Maeve Kerrigan and her boss DI Josh Derwent suspicious. The twelve year old boy has seen many things in his service What looked as though it was going to the monstrumologist be an open- a specialist in monsters and- but nothing can prepare him for the fateful day when an elderly grave robber brings the doctor the twin corpses of shut case is now a young girl and complex double murder. Kerrigan is convinced that the headless creature with fangs explanation lies in his chest who had tried to feast on herRosalie's disappearance: others (such as Derwent's boss, Una Burt) are less convinced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184738546X</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stella Whitelaw0571379877|title=Midsummer MadnessThe Kellerby Code|author=Jonny Sweet|rating=43.5|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=You'll like Sophie Gresham. She wanted to be an actress but suffers from paralysing stage fright Edward Jevons is a working-class young man, obsessed with his upper-class friends, Robert and when the side effects became too much for her she worked behind the scenesStanza. SheRobert's a very good prompt despite the fact that you need to wrap up very warmly to survive in the prompt corner she loves her job and most of the cast in the theatre companydirector. ItHe's a bit of a shock though when she realises that the guest producer from New York is Joe Harrisonalso self-obsessed, demanding, the man she helped out when he had nothing to eat handsome and entitled and nowhere uses Edward to sleeprun errands for him. Sophie was a little softer Edward has been in those love with Stanza since their university days – in the meantime she- and he's had drunkenly confided how he feels to develop a protective shell.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089147</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Bonnie Greer|title=Obama Music|rating=3|genre=History|summary=This is an interesting read, but unless I'm missing something, the focus of the book seems a little difficult to graspRobert. ItMost men in Robert's best if I start with the authorposition would stay away from Stanza or tell Edward that a relationship had begun between them but he's intentions as set out in her Prologue. It not like most men: Edward is a mixture of tales of her own life growing up on the South Side, she writes, interspersed with stories and observations about Obama, linking it with left to stumble upon the music, musicians and music scene, past and present, including hip hop, country, classical, and rock'n'roll. All two of these, she notes, were heard on the President's Inauguration Day. To them she adds the blues, gospel, soul and jazz of the South Side, when the people began to build the great institutions and great solidarity that enabled him to become the most powerful man on the planetkissing in a dark passageway.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906558248</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=P J ParrishJo Callaghan|title=Dead of WinterLeave No Trace
|rating=4
|genre=Crime
|summary=Loon Lake, Michigan When a man is picture-postcard pretty – an idyll that sits serenely and snugly in found crucified on the midst top of a pine-peppered winter wonderlandhill in Nuneaton, DCS Kat Frank finds herself assigned to the case alongside her sidekick, the AI detective Lock. Louis Kincaid needs a little serenity in his life and on arrival in Loon Lake he feels almost as if he has come home. Life has not It's their first live case together, having previously been easy for Kincaidvery successful with several cold cases. A troubledBut when there is a second body found crucified a few days later, unhappy child of mixed race, passed around various institutions Kat is suddenly struggling with a potential serial killer and foster homes, Louis figures a very high profile case that if he is going draws a lot of unwanted attention to their AI Future Policing project. Will they be able to put some integrity back into solve the worldcase in time, he or will need to wear Kat find herself taken off the case and, potentially, out of a badge to do it.career?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847391346</amazonuk>139851120X
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Russell Celyn Jones1399613073|title=The Ninth Wave (New Stories from the Mabinogion) Moral Injuries|author=Christie Watson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionThrillers|summary=Pwyll rules Olivia, Laura and Anjali met on the first day of medical school and their friendship would keep them inseparable for a medieval-style fiefdom in quarter of a century. Olivia is ruthlessly ambitious, which is a bonus when you aim to be a post-climate change Walescardiothoracic surgeon. Life Laura is different in many ways - there's a new-but-old social order built on feudalism perfectionist and horsepower a trauma doctor. Anjali is the main means free spirit of transportthe group and she becomes a GP. But in many ways When we first meet them they're at a drug and alcohol-fuelled party and it's much going to end in tragedy. We don't know who suffered the same tragedy or the consequences. Twenty- people still fight one anotherfive years later there will be an eerily similar event that will impact the three friends. This time, towns still have sink estates, rich boys still have too much time on their hands and precious little meaning in it's their livesteenage children who are involved. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115146</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Owen Sheers0241636604|title=White Ravens (New Stories from the Mabinogion)The Trading Game: A Confession|author=Gary Stevenson
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionAutobiography|summary=In the old tale, Branwen is the sister If you were to bring up an image of Bendigeidfran - the giant King of Britain. She marries the King of Irelanda city banker in your mind, who doesnyou't treat her wellre unlikely to think of someone like Gary Stevenson. She manages to send Bendigeidfran a message via a tamed starling A hoodie and war jeans replaces the pin-stripe suit and killings ensue. In this new talehis background is the East End, a young girl has just walked away from her brothers whowhere he was familiar with violence, in poverty and injustice. There was no posh public school on his CV - but he had been to the wake London School of the devastating foot Economics. Stevenson is bright - extremely bright - and mouth outbreak, are despoiling their heritage by rustling and illegally slaughtering sheep. She meets an old man who tells her he has a story involving the superstitions about the ravens in the Tower facility with numbers which most of Londonus can only envy. He also realised that most rich people expect poor people to be stupid. It was his ability at what was, propaganda work during World War IIessentially, and a card game which got him an equally doomed love affairinternship with Citibank. Eventually, this turned into permanent employment as a trader. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854115030</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jennifer Bohnet1035021803|title=Follow Your StarThe Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder|author=C L Miller
|rating=3.5
|genre=Women's FictionCrime|summary=It's three twenty years since Nanette Weston left MonacoFreya Lockwood has been back to the English country village where she grew up. She'd been engaged to s back now because of a Formula 1 racing driver request for help from her beloved aunt, Carole. Freya's former mentor and had lived Carole's close friend, Arthur Crockleford, is dead and the circumstances seem suspicious, to say the life of least. Arthur was the wealthy but a serious car accident reason why Freya had ended all thatnot been back to the village: Arthur, she feels, let her down badly. The accident could have killed her fiancé and Even though they were in business together as antique hunters, she lost her driving licence because of has not felt able to be near the man or pursue the alcohol profession she'd consumedloved. Her slow recovery was hindered by After the end of her engagement but split, she's found some contentment worked in being a nanny to two young children. When her friend and employer, Vanessacafe, remarries met and takes an extended honeymoon in married James (on the Amazon Nanette is asked to take rebound from the children back to Monaco where their father liveslove of her life, who was murdered) and Freya and James have now divorced.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089090</amazonuk>
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=AllTomorrowsFutureCover
|title=All Tomorrow's Futures: Fictions that Disrupt
|author=Benjamin Greenaway and Stephen Oram (Editors)
|rating=5
|genre=Science Fiction
|summary=''Opening up new ways of thinking about the shape of things to come.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stephen BakerSunny Singh|title=They've Got Your NumberHotel Arcadia|rating=43.5|genre=Popular ScienceThrillers |summary=If you are The Hotel Arcadia is a luxury hotel in an unnamed city that has suddenly been violently taken over by a terrorist group. Hiding from the slightest bit paranoidterrorists who are rampaging through, killing everyone on site, worry that ''Big Brother'' there is always watching or like to believe that you are not a numberSam, but a free man (or woman)wartime photographer and Abhi, then this may not be the book hotel manager. As Abhi continues to try to care remotely for youthe residents who are still alive in the hotel, as it will do nothing he forms a bond with Sam who refuses to dispel any of those worries. Ifbe cowed by events, and keeps on the other hand, you think 'the mathematical modelling venturing out of humanityher room to try to capture what' sounds like one of s happened through her photography. Although they only ever talk over the sexiest things everphone, their friendship grows as Abhi tries to help her keep safe and they both wait to see if they will be rescued before they are chomping at discovered by the bit to learn more about it, then you might well be interested in what Business Week journalist Baker has to sayterrorists.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099507021</amazonuk>086154742X
}}
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Toby OIt'Dare s 1979 and Margaret Thatcher is an extremely efficient hit man with a passion for musicPrime Minister. (A woman? I mean, history and playing his beloved lutehonestly... He) She's not what's worrying Miv's also something of a lost soul having turned his back on God many years agofamily, though. Women have been disappearing. Well, they've been murdered, but to have 'disappeared' doesn't sound quite so frightening. One day while on a Miv's upset because she's overheard that her father wants to move the family 'Down South'job. When you' he re from Yorkshire, Down South is visited by an Angel who offers him a chance at redemptionfrightening, foreign place, best avoided. Toby agrees For Miv, the move would mean leaving her best friend, Sharon, and she'll do anything to become prevent that. She's not worried about the Angeldangers or that her Mum's human instrument and help save lives rather than take them. He is sent on an assignment stopped talking - to help a Jewish couple accused of murder in 13th Century Englandanyone.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701178140</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ian Mortimer1398524085|title=1415: Henry V's Year of GloryHas Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?|author=Nicci French
|rating=5
|genre=HistoryCrime|summary=The medievalCharlotte Salter was expected at her husband's fiftieth birthday party but never turned up. Her children, sons Niall, Paul and Ollie and her daughter, in fact timeEtty. are all worried but - strangely -honouredher husband, Alec, view of King Henry V as one of England's greatest heroes was propagated though is not originated by Shakespeare. Shortly afterwards, Etty and again more recently to some extent by OlivierGreg, find the body of Greg's portrayal father, Duncan Ackerley, in filmthe river. At least one historian has called him ''It was an easy assumption for the greatest man police to make that ever ruled EnglandDuncan had murdered Charlie and then committed suicide when he couldn't stand the guilt. The Salter children are not convinced but there's little else they can do but get on with their lives and wonder about what really happened.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224079921</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Deborah Gregory1035906708|title=Dancing With The Dead|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I wanted to read ''Dancing with the Dead'', because I'm interested in family history. The blurb on the back of the book also mentioned Gill – our heroine of the piece – was moving from Bristol (my current home) to Lincolnshire (where I was born and brought up). I felt with all these links, the novel could not fail to interest me – but this was not the case.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1904529305</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewDiva|author=Miss Read|title=Christmas at Thrush GreenDaisy Goodwin|rating=4.5|genre=Women's General Fiction|summary=Set in the rural village We tend to think of Thrush GreenMaria Callas as Greek, this book is the latest but she was born to Greek parents in a series surrounding familiar characters. There is the feisty Ella BembridgeManhattan, New York, who is finally having in December 1923 and only moved to admit that old age is creeping up as her eyesight failsAthens when she was thirteen. Friends such as Dimity and Charles Henstock are concerned about Her original surname was Kalogeropoulos but her, but she refuses father changed it to accept any help. Albert Piggott has decided it's time Callas' to retire now make it more manageable in the States. When she was back in Athens - supposedly so that his wife, Nelly, is she could get appropriate training for her voice - she was raised under the Nazi occupation by a successful cafe owner mother who mercilessly exploited her and can afford to take care made no secret of him! And relative newcomer Phil Hurst and her husband are arranging the local nativity playpreference for her elder sister, despite a number of set-backsJackie. Will everything be in place for Christmas? And will independent Ella make a decision about her future?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409101592</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Matt and DaveChristopher Edge|title=Yuck's Robotic BottomBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It's concerned me Lucas and his friends are all booked in for a while that it's relatively easy to pick up early readers for girls – princesses, magic soft toysmovie marathon at their local cinema, mermaids and pets abound – but there's a much smaller choice for boys. It's important too with early readers place that has the content is nickname of 'The Black Hole'interesting'. All big movie fans, they' re looking forward to lots of exciting films, and reading becomes more than just many, many snacks! However, as the movie starts, they very quickly realise that something which you ''have'' to do at school about this new film format is very different, and moves they are swept up into being funan adventure they couldn't even imagine. Matt But as they lurch from one film genre to the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the cinema, and Dave have found the answer in Yuck.to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847382991</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John E SmelcerRachel Greenlaw|title=The Great Death|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summary='As Western Europeans settled Alaska, they brought with them diseases against which the indigenous people had no natural immunity. At the beginning of the twentieth century, fully two thirds of all Alaska natives perished from a pandemic of measles, smallpox, Compass and influenza. No community was spared. In most cases, half of a village's population died within a week. In some cases, there were no survivors. It was the end of an ancient way of life. Natives still refer to the dreadful period as the Great Death.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842709194</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Maxine Barry|title=River DeepBlade
|rating=3.5
|genre=Women's FictionTeens|summary=Two young women both have a love of the Thames. Melisande Ray's beloved hotel, 'I can hear the Ray song of Sunshine is on the river banksea. It's here that guests come who want to be pampered and looked after in The call of the way that only deep, the best hotels can do well, but when Wendell James checks answering beat in to the hotel it's not pampering he's looking formy heart. He's buying a piece of land not far from the Ray of Sunshine and he's sussing out the competition. There's something personal in there too – if his new hotel means that the Ray of Sunshine goes under then that would be an added bonus. There's just a slight doubt in his mind when a red-haired maid catches his eye.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709088930</amazonuk>}}
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester ClarkJames Sherwood Metts|title=The Best of TimesPlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Most children enjoy Things have been a good traditional tale bit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and this lovely book by Michael Morpurgo seems to automation have all the right ingredients – a handsome prince and a beautiful princess who fall in lovebeen proceeding apace, get married often replacing jobs they're paid to do and live happily ever afterother tasks that took time to accomplish. Or do Just as they? Sadly, not long after Prince Frederico marries the lovely Princess Serafina, she becomes very sad. Nobody knows what has caused such great sadness, but poor Prince Frederico is desperate were beginning to get used to find a cure for his wife's misery. He tries everything in his power all this technological change and eventually decides starting to offer his kingdom think of other, new ways to anyone who can make her happy again before she dies of a broken heartspend time, along came an awful pandemic. Lots of people come to the palace to try Life was pretty much shut down and help but in , along with it, all the end the solution is a simple one provided by some very kind travellersmany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405232552</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Shirley JacksonMatthew Tree|title=We Have Always Lived In The Castle'll Never Know
|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=Mary Katherine Blackwood, also known as Merricat, is eighteenTimothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from his father, a drunk and lives with her older sister Constance in the family home where 'Blackwoods had always lived'. Merricat quickly draws the reader into her world by a series chronic underachiever whose dreams of matter being exceptional at any of fact but bizarre statements – her likes include her sister his artistic passions all failed miserably and death cap mushrooms, and everyone else in her family is deadwho had endless crises of self confidence. The wealthy Blackwood family has always kept the house 'steady against the world', shutting out other peopleSo Tim applied himself to his studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and they live near a village. Merricat believes that 'The people of the village have always hated us', and tells us that she hates them tooset himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141191457</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=A G Slatter
|title=The Briar Book of the Dead
|rating=5
|genre=Fantasy
|summary='' There's a part of me that wants to keep this just to myself for however long I can. This secret magic of my own, all mine, at last. I just want to enjoy it for a while.''
Within a remote mountain pass, far away from the world, lies Silverton; a town under the protection of the Briar's, a family of witches who protect the town and the wider world from the Darklands. Though she has always wished for magic, Ellie Briar is the first non-witch to be born into her family for generations and as such since she was young, her training as a steward revolved around letters and administration rather than spells and potions. When her grandmother suddenly dies, Ellie's cousin Audra becomes the Briar Witch, the town's leader, and Ellie takes her place beside her. As challenges come her way left, right and centre, Ellie uncovers the rare ability to communicate with the dead, putting her at the heart of a maelstrom of chaos. Reeling from one family secret to another, Ellie must decide who to trust and determine what to do as the Briar witches' legacy, everything they have sacrificed to survive, is under threat.|isbn=1803364548}}{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Simon Weston1529900360|title=Nelson to the RescueThe Ghost Orchid|author=Jonathan Kellerman
|rating=4
|genre=Confident ReadersCrime|summary=Nelson used to pull Mike the MilkIt hadn't been Lt Milo Sturgis's milk float, fault that Alex Delaware had been badly injured but he has now retiredfelt responsible and even after Alex recovered, Sturgis was reluctant to ask for his help on difficult cases. He lives in His assertions that there were only open-and-shut cases which didn't need the stable at the back help of the dairy along with a couple of tricky ratspsychologist only worked for a while. Finally, it was Robin, Rhodri and RhysDelaware's partner, a pigeon who has no sense nudged Milo into asking for help again. She knew that the involvement was something that the man she loved needed. The next case did look simple, though. Two lovers were murdered in the swimming pool of direction, a frog who thinks heremote property in Bel Air. He was the heir to an Italian shoe empire and she is married to an extremely rich man and it's not the Italian. But which of them was the primary target?}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1529395224|title=Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: The Secret Life of a secret agent spy Vet|author=Sion Rowlands|rating=3.5|genre=Animals and an old racehorse who spends most of his time sleepingWildlife|summary=Siôn Rowlands fell into veterinary science accidentally. Rhodri His father was a GP and Rhys find a mysterious message Rowlands didn't want to follow in his footsteps, particularly when he considered the strain that being on-call put on Mikehis father's fridge life. When he was seventeen he took the opportunity of doing work experience with a family friend who was a vet and was convinced this was the animals believe that Mike has job for him. Before long, he was at Liverpool University. It hadn't - as with so many students - been invited to Buckingham Palace to receive an MBEhis dream since he was a child. Somehow our heroIf anything, Nelson, finds himself travelling down he'd wanted to London, pulling a ceremonial coach for Prince Charles as well as giving be a TV interview about his experienceprofessional footballer.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848510454</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elizabeth Baines0861541774|title=Too Many MagpiesA Nye of Pheasants|author=Steve Burrows
|rating=4
|genre=Literary FictionCrime|summary=Becoming DCI Domenic Jejeune's close friend and former colleague, Danny Maik, has taken a mother brings a whole new world of fear into your lifeshort holiday in Singapore to meet up with an old ally, Guy Trueman. Suddenly you see the danger Maik was involved in every situation, a street brawl - he would later maintain that he was facing a man armed with a knife - and fear and trepidation can be become your constant companionshe killed a Ghurka. In this novellaInitially, we meet he faced a young mother who is married charge of manslaughter but evidence came to light that suggested that he might have planned to a logical scientistmurder the man. Now he could be facing the death penalty. They attempt Domenic Jejeune can do nothing to control their childrenhelp as any interference from another police force could provoke a diplomatic incident and wouldn's futures on t help Danny at all.}}{{Frontpage|author=Alexander McCall Smith|title=The Perfect Passion Company|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=The Perfect Passion Company is a scientific basisdating agency in Edinburgh, growing their own fruit run by Ness and vegetablesoperating as an alternative to all the online apps in providing a more personal, giving their children nothing sugarytailored service. Ness has asked her younger cousin Katie if she could come and look after the business, eating no eggs as Ness is planning to take a trip to Canada to get away for a whole year until any adverse affects from them were disprovedwhile. But after meeting Katie is coming out of a break up with an enigmatic stranger our young mother begins a bad boyfriend, and so jumps at the chance to come home to struggle as he introduces ideas of freedom into her worldEdinburgh. She And so begins this new story from Alexander McCall Smith, bringing us to an affair with himEdinburgh we already love, begins thanks to let things slip at home 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie novels, but with the childrensome new characters who quickly begin to charm. Katie has no experience in running a business, yet finds she is still continuously haunted by the sense of an everor in match-present danger.making, but Ness has full confidence in her abilities, and there's always her very helpful (and rather handsome) neighbour, William, to lend a hand…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1844717216</amazonuk>1846976596
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katherine May0811771741|title=Burning OutInstaKnits for Baby|author=Melissa Leapman
|rating=4
|genre=Literary FictionCrafts|summary=Violet has it all – Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a wellcollection of knits from toys to blankets. Some will be quick knits -paid jobothers are of the 'long, and a luxurious apartment all to herselfcosy afternoons in front of the fire' variety. Everything is catered for; her meals, her clothes, and her health The projects are all how she would like them to be. But divided by the life she is leading is beginning time they'll take to take its toll. On the verge of snapping, a drained and somewhat outcomplete -of-sorts Violetless than five hours, withdraws back five to her home town. Thereten hours, she meets someone familiar, a ghost reminding her of how she used ten to be ten years earlier – a young carefree girltwenty hours and more than twenty hours. All the projects are attractive, full of lifemodern and useable. Only this isn I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects't a ghost, but a girl living the life Violet once lived – exactly the same. Haunted by the past Violet realizes history is repeating itself and is convinced events will happen again. Events that will in turn haunt the girl's me being picky.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906727392</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Amanda DownumDean Koontz|title=The Drowning CityBad Weather Friend|rating=34.5|genre=FantasyParanormal|summary=In Benny is having a nutshellterrifically bad day. He loses his job, you're reading this because you're wondering whether The Drowning City is goodhe loses his fiancee, bad or mediocre. You've probably glanced at the rating and guessed the latterhis house gets trashed. I'm afraid Oh, and someone has delivered a really weird, disturbing coffin-sized object to his home, and it's not quite possible that simplewhoever or whatever was inside is the thing that has trashed his house! The thing is, Benny is the very last person to deserve all this bad luck. This He is a debut that provokes decidedly mixed feelingsnice person. A really nice person. I started off convinced So fortunately for Benny it turns out that I was going the delivery to love this book. The cover art his house is effortlessly coola new friend, the premise intriguinga bad weather friend called Spike, the characters laden with potential who has been sent to help him since Benny is clearly under attack from nefarious forces for greatness being a good person. Spike is going to take care of Benny, and the backdrop is will certainly evocativetake care of Benny's enemies, if he, Benny, and Harper (a waitress slash Private Investigator who finds herself roped into Benny's wild adventure) can figure out who exactly they are.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1841498149</amazonuk>1662500491
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|rating=4.5
|genre=Literary FictionConfident Readers |summary=After reviewing several long booksMurray is supposed to be a humble, it's been refreshing tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to read such a fluent yet pared down story as 'Kaminski sleep and eat and eat and sleep and Me'. In it, Sebastian Zollnerwell, whatever takes his fancy next of the obnoxious main charactertwo. But he's a bad magician's cat, shoves himself forward in so his favourite bun has been turned into a desperate attempt to research a best seller which will re-ignite his career as an art critic. Kaminskihyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the proposed subjectcatflap they both use can chuck them out, was a fashionable painter long agonot into the regular back garden, but now, ancient into a world of frightening adventure and chronically ill, has virtually slid into oblivionwhiffs. So the second-rate writer This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is on a loser unless expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he can dig 's turned up some juicy details and he'll have to hook the art world and general public.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847249892</amazonuk>0008561249
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