This is a gripping narrative of the most critical years in modern Ireland`s history
- from Charles Townshend, author of Easter
...

Midwinter in the early years of this century. A teenage girl on holiday has gone missing in the hills at the heart of Engl&. The villagers are called up to join the search, fanning out across the moors as the police set up roadblocks & a crowd of news reporters descends on their usually quiet home. But the aftershocks of Becky Shaw’s disappearance have origins long before then, & those in the village have losses, & secrets, & stories of their own…A woman remembers a son’s inexperience – & a father’s rage; a young wife pushes against the boundaries of her marriage, whilst an older one finds ways to ensure the survival of hers. A hunt for a birthday present takes an alarming turn, & a teenage game grows serious. Fresh hurts open old wounds, salvation comes from unexpected quarters & chance encounters release long-buried memories. First broadcast as a series of specially-commissioned stories on BBC Radio 4, The Reservoir Tapes returns to the territory of the Booker-longlisted Reservoir 13, revealing the web of connections that bind us, & the many layers on which we all build our truths. ...

America`s first families are among the most private public figures on earth. From the mystique of the glamorous Kennedys to the tumult that surrounded Bill & Hillary Clinton during the president`s impeachment to the historic yet polarizing residency of Barack & Michelle Obama, each new administration brings a unique set of personalities to the White House--and a new set of challenges to the fiercely loyal & hardworking people who serve them: the White House residence staff. No one understands the president of the United States, & his family, like the men & women who make the White House run every day. Now, for the first time, their stories of fifty years, ten administrations, & countless crises, large & small, are told in The Residence. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with butlers, maids, chefs, florists, doormen, & other staffers--as well as former first ladies & first family members--Kate Andersen Brower, who covered President Obama`s first term, offers a group portrait of the dedicated professionals who orchestrate lavish state dinners; stand ready during meetings with foreign dignitaries; care for the president & first lady`s young children; & cater to every need the first couple may have, however sublime or, on occasion, ridiculous. In the voices of the residence workers themselves--sometimes wry, often affectionate, always gracious & proud--here are stories of The Kennedys--from intimate glimpses of their marriage to the chaotic days after JFK`s assassination The Johnsons--featuring the bizarre saga of LBJ`s obsession with the White House plumbing The Nixons--including Richard Nixon`s unexpected appearance in the White House kitchen the morning he resigned The Reagans--from a fire that endangered Ronald Reagan late in his second term to Nancy`s control of details large & small The Clintons--whose private battles, marked by shouting matches & flying objects, unsettled residence workers The Obamas--who danced to Mary J. Blige on their first night in the White House And just as compelling are the stories of the workers themselves, including Storeroom Manager Bill Hamilton, who served eleven presidents over fifty-five years; Executive Housekeeper Christine Limerick, who married a fellow residence worker; Chief Usher Stephen Rochon, who became the first African American to hold the post; Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, who feuded fiercely with Executive Chef Walter Scheib; & Butler James Ramsey, who made friends with presidents Bill Clinton & George W. Bush, & whose spirit animated the White House through six administrations before his death in 2014. Working tirelessly to provide impeccable service & earning the trust & undying admiration of each new first family, these extraordinary White House workers served every day in the midst of history--and lived to tell the tales. ...

As the adults sit down to gossip over a long wedding lunch & the rest of the children rush off to play, a young boy slips out of sight beneath the table. At twelve years old, Tommy`s weak heart prevents him from joining his cousins` games, so he sets his MP3 player to record the voices chattering above him. But then the conversation turns to his mother`s death & he overhears something he was never meant to know: that she didn`t die of an illness, but suicide. Confused & hurt, Tommy keeps what he has learned to himself & begins his own secret investigation into what really happened. At the same time, his father & step-mother have problems of their own to contend with. Juan is racked by private grief & guilt after the death of one of his patients (a boy of his son`s age), & Alma, his second wife, senses an increasing distance in their marriage & gradually finds herself drawn back towards an old flame. As all three withdraw into their own worlds, leaving more & more unsaid between them, their family story moves inexorably, affectingly towards its devastating conclusion. ...

Filled with all the larger-than-life characters & enchanting storytelling that made readers fall for The Reader on the 6.27, Jean-Paul Didierlaurent`s follow-up novel, The Rest of Their Lives, is set to charm the world. It`s difficult to find love in a profession like Ambroise`s
- even his father despises what he does... And while Manelle, a home-help for the elderly in the same small French town, adores her days spent with her eccentric clients, she too often ends her evenings alone. So when an unusual request from Manelle`s favourite client
- eighty-two-year-old retired chef-gourmand Samuel
- brings the two of them together for an unlikely road-trip to Switzerl&, along with Ambroise`s cake-loving grandmother, it might just be time for the rest of their lives to begin...


...

A dazzling, feminist fairytale from the bestselling author of The Miniaturist & The Muse. An essential gift, this inspirational story about family, sisterhood, imagination & bravery is a modern classic to be handed down from mother to daughter for generations `A fierce fairytale for the rebel girl` KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE`A complete revelation` THANDIE NEWTON`A magical modern retelling of an old fairytale.. . Exquisite` JACQUELINE WILSON` Wild, wise, generous, ferocious` KATHERINE RUNDELLFor her twelve daughters, Queen Laurelia`s death in a motor car accident is a disaster beyond losing a mother. Their father, King Alberto, cannot bear the idea of the princesses ever being in danger & decides his daughters must be kept safe at all costs. Those costs include their lessons, their possessions &, most importantly, their freedom. But the eldest, Princess Frida, will not bend to his will without a fight & she still has one possession her father can`t take: the power of her imagination. & so, with little but wits & ingenuity to rely on, Frida & her sisters begin their fight to be allowed to live. ...

` The sure-footedness of a pro, an amazing debut` Jeffrey Archer Absorbing & richly observed, THE RESTLESS SEA is a masterful story of the turbulent years of the Second World War. Three lives collide in a way that only the war makes possible... Jack, a child of the Blitz, has fled the law to become a seaman in the Merchant Navy. The frozen world of the Russian Arctic convoys may be harsh, but it opens his eyes to a new life. While on leave in the Navy`s secret Scottish harbour, Jack meets Olivia, the cossetted daughter of an officer family. Free to roam, Olivia relishes the new freedom granted by war. But her family
- & especially the well-connected Charlie, now a fast-rising pilot
- don`t welcome these changes. Least of all the arrival of Jack, the boy who casts doubt on each of their futures. The war inflicts danger & social upheaval like never before. But the most unlikely friendships are forged in times when people live like they don`t want tomorrow to come...

...

Restoring a fibreglass yacht is not something for the faint-hearted, even if you don`t intend to do all the work yourself (you still need to understand the processes to be gone through). But the satisfaction of the job well done, not to mention the possible cost savings on buying a new yacht, are immense. Nevertheless, it is not something that should be undertaken lightly & without careful consideration. That is where this book comes in, as Enric Rosello takes you through his restoration of a 30-year-old 40-foot yacht. Broken down into 46 chapters, Enric details the stages of his restoration in chronological order. For each he starts with an overview of the task & the thinking behind the approach he took. Just these introductory pieces alone are ideal for someone contemplating a restoration (of all or part of a boat) to read before making the final decision as to whether to go ahead. For those who decide to take on the challenge, each overview is followed by an in-depth step-by-step account of what they did, accompanied by numerous informative photo sequences (with over 800 colour photos in total). The material in this book would be invaluable both to boat owners who are considering a complete overhaul & to those who have one or two smaller jobs to do. All possible subjects are covered, including dealing with osmosis, the interiors, deck, rigging, electrics & electronics, plumbing, engine, galley, heads & much more. The author is very honest about the amount of work & commitment required & also offers advice about when to call in the professionals & when to consider doing the work yourself. Anyone contemplating a complete or partial restoration is advised to read this book beforeh&, so you know what is ahead, & to follow its guidance if you to decide to proceed. ...

In 476 AD the last of Rome`s emperors was deposed by a barbarian general, the son of one of Attila the Hun`s henchmen, & the imperial vestments were despatched to Constantinople. The curtain fell on the Roman Empire in Western Europe, its territories divided between successor kingdoms constructed around barbarian military manpower. But if the Roman Empire was dead, the dream of restoring it refused to die. In many parts of the old Empire, real Romans still lived, holding on to their lands, the values of their civilisation, its institutions; the barbarians were ready to reignite the imperial flame & to enjoy the benefits of Roman civilization, the three greatest contenders being Theoderic, Justinian & Charlemagne. But, ultimately, they would fail & it was not until the reinvention of the papacy in the eleventh century that Europe`s barbarians found the means to generate a new Roman Empire, an empire which has lasted a thousand years. ...

In 476 AD the last of Rome`s emperors was deposed by a barbarian general, the son of one of Attila the Hun`s henchmen, & the imperial vestments were despatched to Constantinople. The curtain fell on the Roman Empire in Western Europe, its territories divided between successor kingdoms constructed around barbarian military manpower. But if the Roman Empire was dead, the dream of restoring it refused to die. In many parts of the old Empire, real Romans still lived, holding on to their lands, the values of their civilisation, its institutions; the barbarians were ready to reignite the imperial flame & to enjoy the benefits of Roman civilization, the three greatest contenders being Theoderic, Justinian & Charlemagne. But, ultimately, they would fail & it was not until the reinvention of the papacy in the eleventh century that Europe`s barbarians found the means to generate a new Roman Empire, an empire which has lasted a thousand years. ...