Search Results for: very good lives/

A very personal look at Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Cindy Wockner was a journalist reporting the story of two surly drug smugglers. She was there from the beginning and would become a good friend of the two changed men.

At 12.35 a.m. on 29 April 2015, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were led out in front of a firing squad. Strapped to wooden crosses, they looked straight down the barrels of their killers’ rifles. On that day, the Indonesian government did not execute two drug smugglers, they executed a pastor and a painter.

But who were Andrew and Myuran?

In 2005, the lure of drugs, money, fast cars and a better life led them and seven other Australians into a smuggling plot to import heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Unbeknownst to them all, the Australian Federal Police knew of their plan and tipped off the Indonesian authorities. Charged with drug trafficking, Myuran and Andrew were found guilty and sentenced to death. Andrew was 21 years old. Myuran was 24.

At the time, Cindy Wockner was the Indonesia correspondent for News Limited: for a decade she covered their story and she got to know Myuran, Andrew and their families. They let her into their lives and she watched them transform from angry, defiant young inmates into fully rehabilitated, good men.

This is the intimate, and untold, story of Andrew and Myuran. It details their redemption inside Kerobokan prison and their passion for helping others – through Andrew’s growing commitment to his faith and Myu’s burgeoning artistic talent. It reveals the boys they were and the men they became, in a potent cautionary tale and a poignant reminder of what we all lose when we ignore the power of mercy.

‘gripping’ DAILY TELEGRAPH on Cindy Wockner and Madonna King’s BALI 9

Most of us never think about how we get from one place to another. For most people, putting one foot in front of the other requires no thought at all. Yet the fact that we and other species are able to do so is one of the great triumphs of evolution. To truly understand how life evolved on Earth, it is crucial to understand movement. Restless Creatures makes the bold new argument that the true story of evolution is the story of locomotion, from the first stirrings of bacteria to the amazing feats of Olympic athletes. By retracing the four-billion-year history of locomotion, evolutionary biologist Matt Wilkinson shows how the physical challenges of moving from place to place,when coupled with the implacable logic of natural selection,offer a uniquely powerful means of illuminating the living world. Whales and dolphins look like fish because they have been moulded by the constraints of underwater locomotion. The unbending physical needs of flight have brought bats, birds, and pterodactyls to strikingly similar anatomies. Movement explains why we have opposable thumbs, why moving can make us feel good, how fish fins became limbs, and even why,classic fiction notwithstanding,there are no flying monkeys nor animals with wheels. Even plants aren’t immune from locomotion’s long reach: their seeds, pollen, and very form are all determined by their aptitude to disperse. From sprinting cheetah to spinning maple fruit, soaring albatross to burrowing worm, crawling amoeba to running human,all are the way they are because of how they move. There is a famous saying: nothing in biology makes sense unless in the light of evolution.” As Wilkinson makes clear: little makes sense unless in the light of locomotion. A powerful yet accessible work of evolutionary biology, Restless Creatures is the essential guide for understanding how life on Earth was shaped by the simple need to move from point A to point B.

1619 offers a new interpretation of the significance of Jamestown in the long trajectory of American history. Jamestown, the cradle of American democracy, also saw the birth of our nation’s greatest challenge: the corrosive legacy of slavery and racism that have deepened and entrenched stark inequalities in our society.

After running Jamestown under martial law from 1610-1616, the Virginia Company turned toward representative government in an effort to provide settlers with more control over their own affairs and more incentive to invest further in the colony. Governor Edwin Sandys dreamed of creating a real commonwealth, to provide for the interests of settlers and Indians alike. Thus, in late July 1619, the newly-formed General Assembly gathered to introduce “just Laws for the happy guiding and governing of the people.” It was the first legislature in America, and history has cast it as the foundation of American freedom and democracy. From that moment on, propertied white colonists became accustomed to freedoms that would have been unthinkable in England with its layers of customs and hierarchy of courts and regulations, and these expanding political and economic freedoms attracted countless British immigrants and other Europeans to Virginia and the American colonies.

But those very freedoms also permitted the wholesale and largely unchecked exploitation of poor white laborers and non-European peoples. More than nine-tenths of all those arriving in Virginia at this time were brought in some form of servitude or labor contract. In a cruel irony, 1619 also saw the arrival of the first African slaves in Virginia. The establishment of the General Assembly did nothing to ameliorate these disparities, but rather put ever more power in the hands of local grandees. Sandys’s dream of creating a commonwealth in the interests of settlers and Indians proved short-lived. But the twin pillars of democracy-the rule of law and representative government based on the consent of the people-survived and flourished. It was his greatest legacy to America. What was lost was his steadfast conviction that serving the common good served all.

This is a pattern we recognize all too well in modern American society-opportunities are not shared, inequality is rampant, racism is systemic. We would like to think these are problems that can be solved by expanding representative democracy; Jamestown teaches us, instead, that these are problems have long been created and encouraged by American democracy. Casting a skeptical eye on deeply-cherished myths, 1619 will be essential reading for anyone struggling to understand the paradox of American freedom.

“My tendency to make up stories and lie compulsively for the sake of my own amusement takes up a good portion of my day and provides me with a peace of mind not easily attainable in this economic climate.” – Chelsea Handler, from Chapter 10 of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

It’s no lie: Chelsea Handler loves to smoke out “dumbassness,” the condition people suffer from that allows them to fall prey to her brand of complete and utter nonsense. Friends, family, co-workers–they’ve all been tricked by Chelsea into believing stories of total foolishness and behaving like total fools. Luckily, they’ve all lived to tell the tales and, for the very first time, write about them.

It’s ten years following Sisters and Lovers, and Beverly, now aged 39, is engaged to a man her family and friends agree is a great catch. Everyone is happy that Beverly will finally settle down, especially since this is her third engagement in the last five years -having backed out about two weeks before the wedding date for one reason or another.

Julian, Beverly’s fiancé, is the epitome of a good black man – gorgeous, loyal, trustworthy, successful, and very much in love with Beverly. Nothing could be better in the couple’s lives than being in love and planning their wedding. That is, until Beverly’s oldest sister’s marriage falls apart, dampening the mood for what should have been the happiest time in her life. Now Beverly is forced to wonder if marriage really works, as she begins to second guess her own nuptials. Will Beverly stick it out? Or will her fears cloud her judgement once again?

From the record-breaking, four-time Hugo Award-winning N. K. Jemisin comes ‘a glorious fantasy’ (Neil Gaiman) – a story of culture, identity, magic and myths in contemporary New York City. The sequel to the critically acclaimed The City We Became, this is the final book of the Great Cities Duology.

Every great city has a soul. A human avatar that embodies their city’s heart and wields its magic. New York? She’s got six.

But all is not well in the city that never sleeps. Though Brooklyn, Manny, Bronca, Venezia, Padmini, and Neek have temporarily managed to stop the Woman in White from invading–and destroying the entire universe in the process–the mysterious capital “E” Enemy has more subtle powers at her disposal. A new candidate for mayor wielding the populist rhetoric of gentrification, xenophobia, and “law and order” may have what it takes to change the very nature of New York itself and take it down from the inside. In order to defeat him, and the Enemy who holds his purse strings, the avatars will have to join together with the other Great Cities of the world in order to bring her down for good and protect their world from complete destruction.

‘Hopeful and enthralling, The World We Make is more evidence of [Jemisin’s] ferocious talent’ Esquire

‘Jemisin brings her living-city saga to a satisfying conclusion, maintaining a sense of energy and excitement throughout‘ Booklist

‘Jemisin embodies the spirit of the city in as lush and lively a voice as ever and does a masterful job incorporating even more history and magic’ Publishers Weekly

‘The conclusion to Jemisin’s Great Cities duology is a searing commentary on present-day politics as manipulated by a primordial evil…This riveting and powerful urban fantasy duology is masterfully written’ BuzzFeed News

The Great Cities Duology
The City We Became
The World We Make

‘THOROUGHLY ENTHRALLING’ Booklist

A young witch must choose between love and loyalty, power and ambition, in this magical novel set in Gilded Age New York and London.

In 1692, Bridget Bishop was hanged as a witch. Two hundred years later, her legacy lives on in the scions of two very different lines: one dedicated to using their powers to heal and help women in need; the other, determined to grasp power for themselves.

This clash will play out in the fate of Annis, a young woman in Gilded Age New York who finds herself a pawn in the family struggle for supremacy. She’ll need to claim her own power to save herself – and resist succumbing to the darkness that threatens to overcome them all.

‘A must-read for those who like magic, love, and a little bit of feel-good feminism in their historical fiction’ Library Journal

‘An Austen-esque romance, a heart-racing mystery full of dangerous twists and an anxiety-inducing yet enthralling family feud, Louisa Morgan’s The Age of Witches is anything but a traditional tale of good versus evil’ BookPage

‘Morgan’s beautifully conjured tale of three women, social mores, and the sanctity of self-determination is thoroughly enthralling’ Booklist

‘[A] robust tale of matriarchal magic in a lushly depicted Gilded Age New York . . . Readers will root for these powerful women as they struggle to overcome the social limitations of their time, whether through magic or force of personality’ Publishers Weekly

‘This is a book about witches, told from their perspective. As such, it’s a lyrically and lovely written triumph about independent, unusual women’ Book Riot


Novels by Louisa Morgan:
A Secret History of Witches
The Witch’s Kind
The Age of Witches

‘Highly amusing … Eloquently snarky prose’ – Publishers Weekly

‘Inventively entertaining …make you both laugh out loud and stop and think’ – SFX

When the Supreme Being and his son decide that being supreme isn’t for them any more, it’s inevitable that things get a bit of a shake-up.

It soon becomes apparent that our new owners, the Venturi brothers, have a very different perspective on all sorts of things. Take Good and Evil, for example. For them, it’s an outdated concept that never worked particularly well in the first place.

Unfortunately, the sudden disappearance of right and wrong, while welcomed by some, raises certain concerns amongst those still attached to the previous team’s management style.

In particular, there’s one of the old gods who didn’t move out with the others. A reclusive chap, he lives somewhere up north, and only a handful even believe in him.

But he’s watching. And he really does need to know if you’ve been naughty or nice.

What would happen if good and evil were replaced with a more dynamic system based on sound economic principles? Find out in Tom Holt’s wickedly funny new comic novel!

Books by Tom Holt:

Walled Orchard Series
Goatsong
The Walled Orchard

J.W. Wells & Co. Series
The Portable Door
In Your Dreams
Earth, Air, Fire and Custard
You Don’t Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps
The Better Mousetrap
May Contain Traces of Magic
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages

YouSpace Series
Doughnut
When It’s A Jar
The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice
The Good, the Bad and the Smug

Novels
Expecting Someone Taller
Who’s Afraid of Beowulf
Flying Dutch
Ye Gods!
Overtime
Here Comes the Sun
Grailblazers
Faust Among Equals
Odds and Gods
Djinn Rummy
My Hero
Paint your Dragon
Open Sesame
Wish you Were Here
Alexander at World’s End
Only Human
Snow White and the Seven Samurai
Olympiad
Valhalla
Nothing But Blue Skies
Falling Sideways
Little People
Song for Nero
Meadowland
Barking
Blonde Bombshell
The Management Style of the Supreme Beings
An Orc on the Wild Side

***OVER A MILLION COPIES OF THE IRON DRUID BOOKS SOLD***
‘American Gods meets Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden’ SFF World

Book one in the New York Times bestselling Iron Druid Chronicles, the vastly popular contemporary fantasy series starring hero Atticus O’Sullivan – filled with mystery, magic and mayhem.

Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old – when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.

Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power – plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish – to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.

Praise for the Iron Druid Chronicles:

‘Entertaining, steeped in a ton of mythology, populated by awesome characters’ Civilian Reader

‘Atticus and his crew are a breath of fresh air! . . . I love, love, love this series’ My Bookish Ways

‘This is one series no fantasy fan should miss. Mystery, suspense, magic and mayhem’ SciFiChick

The Iron Druid Chronicles
Hounded
Hexed
Hammered
Tricked
Trapped
Hunted
Shattered
Staked
Scourged
Besieged (short stories)

HAVE YOU TRIED…
Kevin Hearne’s new adventure set in the world of the Iron Druid Chronicles, INK & SIGIL – described by Booklist as ‘a new action-packed, enchantingly fun series’ . . .

Kevin Hearne’s epic fantasy novel A PLAGUE OF GIANTS – described by Delilah S. Dawson as ‘a rare masterpiece that’s both current and timeless . . . merging the fantasy bones of Tolkien and Rothfuss with a wide cast of characters who’ll break your heart’. Out now!

You can’t keep a good wizard down – even when he wants to stay that way.

For years, Harry Dresden has been Chicago’s only professional wizard, but a bargain made in desperation with the Queen of Air and Darkness has forced him into a new job: professional killer.
Mab, the mother of wicked faeries, has restored the mostly-dead wizard to health, and dispatches him upon his first mission – to bring death to an immortal. Even as he grapples with the impossible task, Dresden learns of a looming danger to Demonreach, the living island hidden upon Lake Michigan, a place whose true purpose and dark potential have the potential to destroy billions and to land Dresden in the deepest trouble he has ever known – even deeper than being dead. How messed up is that?

Beset by his new enemies and hounded by the old, Dresden has only twenty four hours to reconnect with his old allies, prevent a cataclysm and do the impossible – all while the power he bargained to get – but never meant to keep – lays siege to his very soul.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

‘Those who appreciate heroines with a good measure of spunk, sass and strong-arm savvy will find this a fun if fitful read.’ – Publishers Weekly

‘Mesmerizing . . . the ‘other-worldly’ atmosphere conjured up by Armstrong begins to seem strangely real. Armstrong is a talented and original writer whose inventiveness and sense of the bizarre is arresting.’ – The London Free Press

Eve Levine – half-demon, black witch and devoted mother – has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life and can’t be killed again – which comes in handy when you’ve made as many enemies as Eve. Yes, the afterlife isn’t too bad – all she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter Savannah and she’ll be happy.

But fate – or more exactly, the Fates – have other plans. Eve owes them a favour, and they’ve just called it in. An evil spirit called the Nix has escaped from hell. She feeds on chaos and death, and is very good at persuading people to kill for her. The Fates want Eve to hunt her down before she does any more damage, but the Nix is a dangerous enemy – previous hunters have been sent mad in the process.

As if that’s not problem enough, it turns out that the only way to stop her is with an angel’s sword. And Eve’s no angel . . .

A brilliant novel of suspense with a supernatural twist – packaged in the stunning new Kelley Armstrong series style.

Books by Kelley Armstrong:

Women of the Otherworld series
Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living with the Dead
Frost Bitten
Walking the Witch
Spellbound
Thirteen

Nadia Stafford
Exit Strategy
Made to be Broken
Wild Justice

Rockton
City of the Lost
A Darkness Absolute
This Fallen Prey
Watcher in the Woods
Alone in the Wild

Darkest Powers
The Summoning
The Awakening
The Reckoning

Otherworld Tales
Men of the Otherworld
Tales of the Otherworld
Otherworld Nights
Otherworld Secrets
Otherworld Chills

Darkness Rising
The Gathering
The Calling
The Rising

Cainsville
Omens
Visions
Deceptions
Betrayals
Rituals

“Elsie Silver’s writing is a true revelation!” ALI HAZELWOOD

Small-town, big characters, four addictive love stories . . . meet the single dads of Rose Hill’s recreational bowling team. Perfect for fans of steamy romance, Lucy Score, and Elsie’s smash hit Chestnut Springs series.
____

She’s been driving him wild for years . . . the good kind of wild.

The kind of wild that comes with wanting your best friend’s little sister and knowing you can’t have her.

Forbes may have labeled Ford Grant the World’s Hottest Billionaire, but all he cares about is escaping the press and opening a recording studio in gorgeous small town Rose Hill. Something that comes to a screeching halt when he ends up face-to-face with a young girl who claims he’s her biological father. Now, he spends his days balancing business with parenting a sullen twelve-year-old, all while trying desperately to keep his hands the hell off his best friend’s sister, Rosie Belmont.

After living in the city, Rosie came blasting back into town like a storm. Beautiful, messy, and chaotic. And one wide-eyed, desperate plea for a job is all it takes for Ford to hire her. He vows to keep her at arm’s length. Tries to stick to scowls and grumpy one-liners. But with her, verbal sparring is a type of foreplay―friction that soon turns to blistering heat.

Ford knows damn well he shouldn’t cross this line. But shouldn’t and can’t are two very different things.

And the only thing he truly can’t do is resist her.

Readers can’t get enough of Wild Love . . .

‘Billionaire romance but make it rustic . . . Elsie Silver just hits the mark every time’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Hands-down my favorite book Elsie has written. HIGHLY recommend‘
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Did I devour this in a single day? You bet I did!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Elsie Silver is the queen of small-town romances’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘The banter. The tension. The relationship between Ford & Rosie. The character development. Wow‘
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘I was hooked from the first chapter’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

A new contemporary romance from the author of the TikTok sensation ARCHER’S VOICE.
………………..

The follow-up to New York Times bestseller Archer’s Voice and its sequel, Travis. Full of charm and heart, this small town romance will sweep you off your feet from beloved bestselling author Mia Sheridan.

How is it possible that perfect Gage Buchanan is still single after all these years?

He can’t quite figure it out himself. Perhaps he hasn’t met the right woman. Maybe he’s spent too many years focusing on work – or maybe he just isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks he is.

Gage thought he left his days of one-night stands behind him, however something about the gorgeous cocktail waitress in a town three hours away is far too intriguing. But when she shows up weeks later in his hometown, Calliope, pretending to be an art appraiser, Gage is completely blindsided – not to mention still very attracted to the (apparent) little liar. He can’t figure her out: not her angle nor the persistent pull between them.

Aurora ‘Rory’ Casteel is determined to find her father. All she knows from her late mother is that he lives in Calliope and he’s an important part of the town. So when Rory’s gallery-owning friend offers to run cover for her while she sleuths around town, she jumps at the chance. But she doesn’t anticipate the man she spent one wild night with turning out to be a local.

Sure, it puts a wrinkle in Rory’s plan, but she can work around Gage Buchanan. Even as it gets harder to pretend her heart doesn’t flip every time he’s in the room. She has a suspicion he isn’t everything he seems, either, but maybe it’s ‘perfect’ Gage’s flaws that are what she’s really drawn to.
………………..

Praise for Mia Sheridan:

‘The bible to how to write a good, convincing love story’ L.J. Shen

‘There is no love story like a Mia Sheridan love story’ A.L. Jackson

The next escapist romance from Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of TikTok favourite, The Unhoneymooners!

‘My favourite kind of book to devour: something that manages to be hot and intense, yet still the very best comfort food’ JODI PICOULT
……………

Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and ‘reigning romance queens’ (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam ‘West’ Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents – his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.
……………

‘Sexy, swoony, heartfelt’ Library Journal (starred review)

‘Funny, angst-y, and extremely sexy’ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Find out why readers LOVE Christina Lauren . . .

‘Pure, irresistible magic from start to finish’ EMILY HENRY

‘Witty and downright hilarious . . . a perfect feel-good romantic comedy’ HELEN HOANG

‘Pure joy’ SALLY THORNE

‘Writing duo Christina Lauren are my go-to when I’m feeling sad’ BETH O’LEARY

‘What a joyful, warm, touching book! This is the book to read if you want to smile so hard your face hurts’ JASMINE GUILLORY

‘Incredibly fun . . . A lovely, compulsively readable story about finding your path and believing in your own worth’ Kirkus Reviews

‘This is a winning combination of a light read with serious emotional depth, the very mix Weiner’s many fans have come to expect from her’ Booklist

‘Charming . . . lively banter reels the reader in . . . this breezy outing goes down easy’ Publishers Weekly
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From the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and the power of a trip to change your life.

Thirty-four-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place, with good friends, her bike, and her bike club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body – at least, most of the time – and she’s on track to marry her childhood sweetheart. Abby and Mark met at the weight-loss camp Abby’s perpetually-dieting mother, Eileen, forced her daughter to attend. Fifteen years later, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, and finds out that he still adores her, it feels like fate.

Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right . . . or the memories of one mind-blowing night spent with a man named Sebastian two years ago. So when she gets a last-minute call to lead a group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, Abby is happy to have time away to make up her mind.

But on the first day, Abby is shocked when she sees Sebastian in the tour group. A serial dater, Sebastian is far from Mr Perfect, and Abby is determined to keep her distance, even if their chemistry is undeniable. To make things worse, Eileen, whom Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities, also joins the group unexpectedly.

Over the next two weeks, strangers become confidantes, hidden truths come to light, and a teenage girl with a secret will unite all the riders in surprising ways – while all of Abby’s certainties about herself, her mother, and the nature of love are challenged.
____________________________

Find out why everyone’s talking about Jennifer Weiner:

‘You’ll love this book and wish she was your friend’ MINDY KALING

‘Fiercely funny, powerfully smart, and remarkably brave’ CHERYL STRAYED

‘Like Helen Fielding, Weiner balances fresh humour, deft characterisations, and literary sensibility’ GUARDIAN

‘Mrs Everything is like Beaches but with mothers and daughters and sisters. I may never recover’ JILL GRUNEWALD

‘Generous and entertaining’ Publishers Weekly

‘You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to read it again’ TheSkimm

‘Jennifer Weiner has done it again. She has made me feel more emotions than I’ve felt in a long time’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Beautifully written and heart-touching’ Goodreads reviewer

The instant number one Sunday Times bestseller and thrilling sequel to the global phenomenon, Fourth Wing!

Don’t miss out on the series that the world can’t stop talking about:

‘An absolute romantasy sensation . . . Yarros is the true inheritor of Harry Potter and inspires Hunger Games levels of devotion’ – Guardian

‘Fear not, levels of fighting, rebelliousness and all-round sexiness are still sky-high’ – Daily Mail

‘Iron Flame is on course to set the world alight’ – Glamour

‘Yarros had me hooked from the first chapter’ – Mail on Sunday
__________________________________________

She survived her first year at Basgiath War College . . . but the danger is only beginning.

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College, Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is – unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits, and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College – and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.

__________________________________________

Reviews for Fourth Wing

‘Pure escapism – think Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades’ THE SUN

‘We weren’t expecting to become obsessed with Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, but we very much are – and we’re not alone . . .’ SUNDAY TIMES STYLE

‘I couldn’t put it down!’ MILLIE BOBBY BROWN

‘This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn’t warn you’ GLAMOUR

‘Throw in an enemies-to-lovers plotline, some life-threatening trials and the threat of war in the outside world, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously gripping dish, which I downed in one sitting’ STYLIST

‘2024 is the Year of the Dragon, according to the Chinese calendar. Dive into a fantasy narrative featuring these mythical, winged creatures.’ POP SUGAR

‘If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one’ READER REVIEW

‘I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again‘ READER REVIEW

‘This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read’ READER REVIEW

‘FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating’ READER REVIEW

‘There are some stories you read and enjoy but every so often you come across one that just obliterates everything and takes over your entire being within a few pages and becomes your world and personality. Well, this is the one’ READER REVIEW

‘The world building in this was phenomenal. I lived, breathed and became a part of the college’ READER REVIEW

‘You know when you finish a book, and it leaves an ache in your chest because it was so good, and now it’s over? That’s exactly how I feel after finishing Fourth Wing’ READER REVIEW


OTHER BOOKS IN THE EMPYREAN SERIES
– FOURTH WING
– IRON FLAME


*Rebecca Yarros’s Iron Flame was a Sunday Times Number One bestseller in hardback in the second week of November 2023

Don’t miss out on the series that everyone can’t stop talking about!

‘Pure escapism – think Hunger Games meets Fifty Shades‘ – The Sun

‘We weren’t expecting to become obsessed with Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing, but we very much are – and we’re not alone . . .’ – Sunday Times Style

‘I couldn’t put it down!’ – Millie Bobby Brown

‘The new publishing sensation’ – Daily Mail

‘This book contains an addictive, drug like essence that will make you relinquish all responsibility until the very last word. Do not say I didn’t warn you’ – Glamour

‘Yarros had me hooked from the first chapter’ – Mail on Sunday
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FRIENDS. ENEMIES. LOVERS . . .
EVERYONE HAS AN AGENDA

Violet Sorrengail expected to live a quiet life surrounded by books, until she was forced onto the world’s deadliest training ground. Now she must fight to join the army’s elite: dragon riders. But dragons don’t choose fragile riders, they incinerate them, and when your body breaks as easily as Violet’s does – death is only a heartbeat away.

EVERY NIGHT COULD BE YOUR LAST

Many cadets would kill Violet to better their own chances of success; the rest would kill her just because of her last name . . . including the ruthless Xaden Riorson, her family’s greatest enemy. With the odds stacked against her, Violet must use every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise, because once you enter Basgiath War College, there are only two ways out:
GRADUATE OR DIE
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OVER ONE MILLION READERS HAVE ALREADY GIVEN FOURTH WING FIVE STARS. ARE YOU READY TO ENTER THE WORLD OF BASGIATH WAR COLLEGE?

‘If I can convince you to read one book I recommend it would be this one’

‘I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat, and when I finished, I had the overwhelming urge to just start it all over again‘

‘This book is probably the best fantasy book I have ever read’

‘FIVE. FREAKING. STARS. There is no universe where I could give this book any less of a rating’

‘There are some stories you read and enjoy but every so often you come across one that just obliterates everything and takes over your entire being within a few pages and becomes your world and personality. Well, this is the one’

‘The world building in this was phenomenal. I lived, breathed and became a part of the college’

‘You know when you finish a book, and it leaves an ache in your chest because it was so good, and now it’s over? That’s exactly how I feel after finishing Fourth Wing’


OTHER BOOKS IN THE EMPYREAN SERIES:
– FOURTH WING
– IRON FLAME

*Rebecca Yarros’s Fourth Wing paperback was an instant number-one bestseller in the first week of April 2024.

Reasons Not to Worry is an accessible introduction to the Stoic principles of virtue, moderation and self-discipline, adapting this ancient knowledge to inspire practical advice for everyday life.

We’re all searching for answers to the biggest questions: How can we be good? Find calm? Properly grieve? Beat FOMO? Work out what truly matters? Well, the good news is that the wisest minds in history asked the exact same questions – and they found answers. The ancient philosophy of Stoicism shows us that we are already in possession of the very tools we need to excavate this much-needed wisdom for ourselves.

So into the past we go with journalist Brigid Delaney, to a time not unlike our own: one full of pandemonium, war, plagues, pestilence, treachery, corruption, anxiety, overindulgence, and – even back then – the fear of a climate apocalypse. By living and learning the teachings of three ancient guides, Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, Brigid shows us how we can apply their lessons to our modern lives in a way that allows us to regain a sense of agency and tranquillity.

Stoicism can be a tough medicine to swallow, but no longer – this book is awash with insight, humour and compassion. Timely, so very useful, and filled to the brim with ways you can wrest back control, here are all the reasons not to worry.

‘A pitch-perfect second chance romance with off-the-charts tension and chemistry‘ Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After

A former pop star finds herself back in the spotlight – along with an old flame from her past – in this ‘friends to lovers’ meets ‘enemies to lovers’ romance from the bestselling author of Funny You Should Ask, the sensational TikTok romance!

Then. Katee Rose is living the dream as America’s number one pop star, caught in a whirlwind of sold-out concerts, screaming fans and constant tabloid coverage. Everyone wants to know everything about her and her boyfriend, Ryan LaNeve, the hottest member of adored boy band CrushZone. Katee loves to perform but hates the impossible demands of stardom. Maybe that’s why she finds herself in the arms of another CrushZone member, Cal Kirby. Quiet, serious Cal, who’s always been a good friend to Katee, is suddenly Cal with the smouldering eyes and very good hands. One unforgettable night is all it takes to blow up Katee’s relationship with Ryan, her career, her whole life . . .

Now. Kathleen Rosenberg is okay with her ordinary existence and leaving her pop star image in the past. That is, until Cal shows up with the opportunity of her dreams – a starring role in the Broadway show he’s directing and a chance to perform the way she’s always wanted. The two haven’t spoken since the joint destruction of their careers, and each of them blames the other. But rehearsals are long, those eyes still smoulder and those hands are still very good. Despite everything, Katee can’t deny the chemistry between them. Is it ever a good idea to reignite old flames? Especially if you’ve been burned in the past?

‘This book is catnip for those of us who love boybands, musical theater, and second chances at first love‘ Emma Straub, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow

‘The angsty, sexy backstage romance of my dreams‘ Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood

‘This stellar romance has all the passion, energy, and showstopping moments of a real Broadway musical’ Susie Dumond, author of Queerly Beloved

‘Smart and sexy, infused with crackling chemistry . . . I devoured it in a day‘ Laura Hankin, author of Happy & You Know It

‘Sussman dazzles in this smart second-chance romance’ Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

‘As fun and frothy as a Britney concert mashed up with a musical comedy‘ Entertainment Weekly

‘Dunmore is my new find in historical romance. Her A League of Extraordinary Women series is extraordinary’ JULIA QUINN, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

Bookish suffragist Catriona Campbell is busy: an ailing estate, academic writer’s block, a tense time for England’s women’s rights campaign – the last thing she needs is to be stuck playing host to her father’s distractingly attractive young colleague.

Deeply introverted Catriona lives for her work at Oxford and her fight for women’s suffrage. She dreams of romance, too, but since all her attempts at love have ended badly, she now keeps her desires firmly locked inside her head – until she climbs out of a Scottish loch after a good swim and finds herself rather exposed to her new colleague.

Elias Khoury has wheedled his way into Professor Campbell’s circle under false pretences: he did not come to Oxford to classify ancient artefacts, he is determined to take them back to his homeland in the Middle East. Winning Catriona’s favour could be the key to his success. Unfortunately, seducing the coolly intense lady scholar quickly becomes a mission in itself and his well-laid plans are in danger of derailing . . .

Forced into close proximity in Oxford’s hallowed halls, two very different people have to face the fact that they might just be a perfect match. Soon, a risky new game begins that asks Catriona one more time to put her heart and wildest dreams at stake.

Why readers love Evie Dunmore . . .

‘Evie Dunmore is my favourite new historical romance author!’ LISA KLEYPAS, New York Times bestselling author

‘Anyone who binge-watched Bridgerton needs this feminist regency romance on their radar’ Cosmopolitan

‘Pulls on every heartstring: perfection’ EMILY HENRY, New York Times bestselling author

‘Evie Dunmore writes the smartest, sexiest historical romances out there . . . The Gentleman’s Gambit absolutely sizzles!’ KATE QUINN, New York Times bestselling author

‘Absolutely brilliant from the first page to the last’ MIMI MATTHEWS, USA Today bestselling author

‘Excellent’ JODI PICOULT, No.1 New York Times bestselling author

‘Electric chemistry, witty dialogue and compelling characters light up the page in this delightful novel’ CHANEL CLEETON

‘Evie Dunmore is a phenomenon!’ ANNA CAMPBELL

The True Love Experiment, the next escapist romance from Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of TikTok favourite, The Unhoneymooners, is the book their fans have been waiting for, ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation!

‘My favourite kind of book to devour: something that manages to be hot and intense, yet still the very best comfort food’ JODI PICOULT
……………

They’re crafting the perfect Hollywood romance for the screen.
But the chemistry behind the camera might be the real story.

Felicity ‘Fizzy’ Chen is lost. Sure, she has an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with numerous bestsellers to her name, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practising what she’s preached.

She hasn’t been in love. In lust? Sure. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. And suddenly the optimism she’s encouraged in her readers starts to feel like a lie.

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves that his work allows him to live near his daughter. Then his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting it all in jeopardy. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels? But when production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him too.
……………….

‘Sexy, swoony, heartfelt’ Library Journal (starred review)

‘Funny, angst-y, and extremely sexy’ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Find out why readers LOVE Christina Lauren . . .

‘Pure, irresistible magic from start to finish’ EMILY HENRY

‘Witty and downright hilarious . . . a perfect feel-good romantic comedy’ HELEN HOANG

‘Pure joy’ SALLY THORNE

‘Writing duo Christina Lauren are my go-to when I’m feeling sad’ BETH O’LEARY

‘What a joyful, warm, touching book! This is the book to read if you want to smile so hard your face hurts’ JASMINE GUILLORY

‘Utterly hilarious . . . a stellar debut that’s sure to charm readers’ KATE BROMLEY

‘[A] raucously entertaining debut novel’ The Times
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Gloriously fun, romantic and feel-good, discover a 21st century London fairytale with an unforgettable twist

Once upon a time, in a flatshare south of the river, there lived an aspiring author named Bella Marble. Above all things, above her wish to be a writer, above absolutely anything and everything, Bella wants to find love.But one fateful week changes everything…

When her best friend moves in with the most boring ogre in history and her perfectly paired parents tell her their own love story is coming to an end, Bella’s illusions of finding ‘the one’ shatters.

With the help of her very own knight in shining Armani, Bella ditches the fairytale and decides it’s time to write herself a brand new kind of happy ending. And while London may be fresh out of Princes, it’s got a surplus of frogs – and as Bella learns, kissing frogs can be extremely fun.
______________

Fresh, funny and intelligent, this book will make any woman who’s experienced dating in the 21st century laugh, wince and cry in recognition, and is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Mhairi Mcfarlane and Beth O’Leary.

Find out why everyone’s talking about NOT THAT KIND OF EVER AFTER . . .

‘A wickedly funny exploration of finding one’s own Happily Ever After. If you’ve ever gone searching for The Fairytale within the hellscape of modern dating, Not That Kind of Ever After is for you’ ALISON ROSE GREENBERG

‘A laugh-out-loud and totally swoon-worthy read that will keep you turning the pages’ JO WATSON

The daughter of a legend finds the love of a lifetime in this passionate, heart-wrenching instalment in J. R. Ward’s #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series . . .

Nalla, the blooded daughter of Zsadist, has led a sheltered life. Protected by her father and the Brotherhood, kept away from the deadly war with the Lessening Society, she is chafing against the walls of the very safety that has ensured her survival. One night, she gives in to her restlessness . . . and finds herself face-to-face with a male whose inner darkness rivals even that of her sire’s horrific origins.

Nate is a fighter with nothing to lose-and nothing to live for. Tortured in a human lab as a young, then cursed with immortality, he is all vengeance and no purpose because he cares for no one-not even himself. The Brotherhood knows this all too well, and following Nate’s deliberate violation of the cardinal rule in the war, they declare him a dangerous liability that must be dealt with.

When Nalla and Nate find themselves fighting side by side, daggers aren’t the only things that fly. A sizzling attraction is ignited, though Nalla knows her sire will never accept him-and on his side, Nate has made a secret bargain to end his own immortality. As the enemy closes in, and Nalla realizes she must choose between her mate and her sire, what starts with such passion may well end with eternal sorrow and no chance of a reunion-even in the Fade.

Find out why readers are OBSESSED with the Black Dagger Brotherhood . . .

‘Insanely good! . . . Intensely romantic and straight up flipping steamy, violent and gruesome, heartbreaking and deep. Her addictive writing tells a story like none other’ Goodreads reviewer

”I can’t get enough of these sexy, tough, intriguing vampires’ Amazon reviewer

‘Emotional by epic proportions’ Kobo reviewer

‘The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a twisting, often surprising, but always awesome read’ Amazon reviewer

‘A must read’ Goodreads reviewer

‘The story had me captivated the whole way’ Kobo reviewer

‘Each and every character is compelling’ Amazon reviewer

‘Wickedly sexy’ Lisa Gardner

‘To die for’ Suzanne Brockmann

Return to the dark and sexy Black Dagger Brotherhood world in this second prison camp installment from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward . . .

Rio Hernandez-Guerrero has been working undercover to bring down Caldwell’s worst drug lord, the elusive and sadistic Mozart. She knows she’s finally getting close to him when she’s ordered to negotiate a massive deal with a shadowy supplier. But what shows up at the meeting . . . is nothing she expects.

Betrayed by his clan, Lucan was locked up decades ago for the crime of being both wolven and vampire. Forced to engage in drug-dealing by the prison camp’s despot, he is not looking for anything more complicated in his cold and isolated life. But then a human woman, with a stare that tames him, crosses his path . . .

Rio captures a predator’s heart, but they both have secrets that threaten not only their fate as soulmates but their very lives. Will they find a way to win at the deadly game they’re both playing . . . or will their inner natures shatter their love?

Find out why readers are OBSESSED with the Black Dagger Brotherhood…

‘It’s not easy to find a new twist on the vampire myth, but Ward succeeds beautifully. This dark and compelling world is filled with enticing romance as well as perilous adventure. With myriad possibilities to choose from, the Black Dagger Brotherhood series promises tons of thrills and chills’ Romantic Times

‘Insanely good! . . . Intensely romantic and straight up flipping steamy, violent and gruesome, heartbreaking and deep. Her addictive writing tells a story like none other’ Goodreads reviewer

‘I can’t get enough of these sexy, tough, intriguing vampires’ Amazon reviewer

‘Emotional by epic proportions’ Kobo reviewer

‘The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a twisting, often surprising, but always awesome read’ Amazon reviewer

‘A must read’ Goodreads reviewer

‘The story had me captivated the whole way‘ Kobo reviewer

‘Each and every character is compelling’ Amazon reviewer