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1722 Books

Odd Boy Out

by Gyles Brandreth

The compelling, witty and remarkably honest autobiography from beloved star of Just a Minute, QI, Have I Got News For You and Celebrity Gogglebox THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Hilarious, ribald, eye-popping, unforgettable, will make you laugh out loud' DAILY MAIL 'Warm, witty, charming. A moving and very affectionate family history. An enthusiast for life' THE TIMES ________ Enter the world of Gyles Brandreth - broadcaster, actor, writer, former politician - as he takes us on an extraordinary journey into his past. From growing up in an apparently well-to-do but strapped-for-cash middle-class English family to his adventures in swinging London, Gyles encounters princes, presidents, pop stars and prime ministers, gets involved in everything from setting up Scrabble championships to examining Danish sex shops, and thrills us with countless tales of family, friends and acquaintances, both famous and infamous. Filled with incredible and sometimes shocking stories, Odd Boy Out is the story of Gyles Brandreth's fascinating life told with his unique wit and charm. ________ 'Staggeringly brilliant, funny and touching, I loved it' JOANNA LUMLEY 'Light-hearted and dark events alike are described with his customary jaunty style, making them funny, moving an sometimes deeply shocking ' Sheila Hancock

Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day

by Captain Tom Moore

Embark on an enchanting journey into our country's past hundred years through the remarkable life of Captain Sir Tom Moore THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A wonderful life story with lessons for us all . . . beautifully written' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Gloriously enthralling' DAILY MAIL __________ Captain Sir Tom Moore's story is all our stories . . . Born at the tail end of the Spanish flu epidemic, Tom Moore was raised in the Yorkshire Dales by a loving family that had not escaped tragedy. Yet when the clouds of war threatened, Tom raised his hand and joined up to fight. The Second World War took him to the Far East, where his can-do spirit was forged. Whether fighting for his life in Burma or helming a firm back home, racing motorbikes or raising a family, he always sought to do his very best. To make a difference to those around him. Captain Tom's story is that of our parents and our grandparents. It is the story of the past hundred years here in Britain. __________ 'Engaging . . . His upbeat nature shines through and reminds us how much worse this year would have been without him' Evening Standard 'A wonderful read. Captain Tom is a beacon of light, and hope, and positivity' Piers Morgan, Life Stories, ITV 'A great book' Good Morning Britain 'A beautiful book. We have so much to learn from Captain Sir Tom' Chris Evans, Virgin Radio 'Fascinating. It's the life story of an ordinary man who is extraordinary' Michael Ball, BBC Radio 2

The September Girls

by Maureen Lee

In Liverpool, on a stormy September night in 1920, two women from very different backgrounds give birth to daughters in the same house. Enemies at first, they later become friends when separate troubles unite them. But friendship between their daughters, Cara and Sybil, is a different matter. Nineteen years later, at the beginning of the Second World War, Cara and Sybil find themselves thrown together when they enlist and are both stationed in Malta. It is a time of live-changing repercussions for them both while, back home in Liverpool, the bombs rain down on a defiant city. The September Girls is a compelling story of two families, their loves, secrets, and betrayals, and a powerful evocation of war-time Liverpool.

Take My Hand

by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

'Unforgettable' Celeste Ng 'One hell of a book' Stylist 'Heartbreaking and utterly immersive' Kirsty Capes 'Deeply moving' AJ Pearce 'Wonderful' Cathy Rentzenbrink 'Magnificent' Bonnie Garmus 'Brims with hope' Elle 'Storytelling at its finest' Glamour ---------------- HISTORY REPEATS WHAT WE DON'T REMEMBER . . . Montgomery, Alabama. 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend has big plans to make a difference in her community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she intends to help women make their own choices for their lives and bodies. But when her first week on the job takes her down a dusty country road to a tumbledown cabin, she's surprised to find that her new patients are just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling their welfare benefits, that's reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her new responsibilities, she takes India and Erica into her heart and comes to care for their family as though they were her own. But one day she arrives at their door to discover the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same. Inspired by true events and a shocking chapter of American history, Take My Hand is a novel that will open your eyes and break your heart. An unforgettable story about love and courage, sisterhood and solidarity, it is also a timely and hopeful reminder that it only takes one person to change the world. ---------------- Readers have been captivated by TAKE MY HAND too: ***** 'Incredibly powerful, moving and heartbreaking' ***** 'Realistic historical fiction at its best' ***** 'Fans of The Colour Purple, The Help, Where Crawdads Sing and To Kill A Mockingbird will love this' ***** 'Stunning, shocking, absolutely fantastic novel . . . I could not put this down!' ***** 'Definitely a must-read. So, so moving. Can't recommend highly enough'

Hope for the Railway Girls

by Maisie Thomas

Being a railway girl isn't always easy but together, they can overcome every challenge that stands in their way... ___________________ Manchester, 1942 A new year brings new hope for the railway girls. Alison's romance with the charming Dr Maitland is blossoming, but then she is posted away from Manchester. Working in a canteen isn't part of her plan, nor is meeting her beau's old girlfriend - one who just happens to want him back. Margaret is supportive of her friend's new relationship until she realises exactly who he is. Torn between keeping her secret and warning Alison, she turns to Joan for help. Working in Lost Property wouldn't be Joan's first choice of job, but with a baby on the way she knows she can't continue being a station porter. As she looks to the future, can she put the troubles of her past behind her? Readers LOVE the Railway Girls: 'Make yourself a cuppa and find a comfy spot on the sofa because you are not going to be able to put this down' 'I simply cannot wait for the next one - I am hooked!' 'Gives a vivid picture of women's lives in wartime Manchester' 'Dramatic, intriguing and sprinkled with plenty of wit and heart' 'It's just like catching up with old friends'

A Simple Life

by Rosie Thomas

A comfortable life in Franklin, Massachusetts, for Dinah Steward, her scientist husband and their two sons is a promise. But their career move from England has not eradicated a secret that may undermine this comfortable life forever.

The Consequences of Fear

by Jacqueline Winspear

As Maisie becomes entangled in a power struggle between Britains intelligence efforts in France and the work of Free French agents operating across Europe, she must also contend with the lingering question of Freddie Hacketts state of mind. What she uncovers could hold disastrous consequences for all involved.

The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes

by Ruth Hogan

An irresistible novel of unexpected friendships, second chances and dark secrets, from the bestselling author and Queen of Uplit Ruth Hogan. 'Warm and wise' Guardian | 'A book to really love' Stylist | 'Will soften even the hardest of hearts' Red | 'Subtle and poignant' Good Housekeeping | 'Plenty of spirit and heart' Daily Mail | 'An adorable heartfelt story' Prima | 'Filled with hope and the power of friendship' Evening Standard | 'A whimsical, wistful affair' Sunday Express | 'A wrenching story of recovery' Metro Once a spirited, independent woman with a rebellious streak, Masha's life has been forever changed by a tragic event twelve years ago. Unable to let go of her grief, she finds comfort in her faithful canine companion Haizum, and peace in the quiet lanes of her town's lido. Then a chance encounter with two extraordinary women - the fabulous and wise Kitty Muriel, a convent girl turned magician's wife turned seventy-something roller disco fanatic, and the mysterious Sally Red Shoes, a bag lady with a prodigious voice - opens up a new world of possibilities, and the chance to start living again. But just as Masha dares to imagine the future, her past comes roaring back ... Like her bestselling debut, The Keeper of Lost Things, The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes introduces a cast of wonderful characters, both ordinary and charmingly eccentric, who lead us through a moving exploration of the joy of friendship and the simple human connections that make life worth living. *And if you loved The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, check out Ruth Hogan's latest novel, Madame Burova . . . coming soon in 2021*

The Keeper of Lost Things

by Ruth Hogan

A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us. Lime green plastic flower-shaped hair bobbles—Found, on the playing field, Derrywood Park, 2nd September. Bone china cup and saucer—Found, on a bench in Riveria Public Gardens, 31st October. Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind—and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners. As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost. Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners. Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made. As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest? Full of character, wit, and wisdom, The Keeper of Lost Things is heartwarming tale that will enchant fans of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Garden Spells, Mrs Queen Takes the Train, and The Silver Linings Playbook.

A Pennyworth of Sunshine

by Anna Jacobs

Love can cross oceans . . . Keara Michaels doesn't want to leave her family in Ireland, but fate sends her first to Lancashire, then across the sea to Australia, pregnant and penniless. And Theo Mullane, the man who loves her, is married, with an ailing baby son, so cannot follow her as he longs to. Mark Gibson leaves Lancashire to avoid marriage. But gold prospecting is a dangerous pursuit, and when his gentle young wife dies in childbirth, his father-in-law kidnaps the baby. So Mark runs away again, this time to Western Australia, where he employs Keara in his country inn. But danger threatens them all, even in the bush, as Keara searches for her lost sisters, Theo comes looking for the woman he loves, and Mark at last confronts his past. ********************** What readers are saying about A PENNYWORTH OF SUNSHINE 'I couldn't put it down' - 5 stars 'An excellent read from start to finish' - 5 stars 'Brilliant, as always . . . Anna Jacobs never fails to keep the story line motivated, gripping, and endearing' - 5 stars