The heart-warming true story of a little boy & the cat that changed his life. Nine year old George was severely autistic; quiet & withdrawn he appeared lost in his own world most of the time. His mother Julia despaired but try as she might she couldnt bring him out of his shell. Then one day a small black-&-white stray cat appeared at the bottom of her garden & Georges face lit up at the sight of him. Despite herself Julia agreed to adopt him as a pet. George named his new friend Ben & the four-legged addition to the household had a wonderful & unexpected side-affect. George & Ben bonded & George began to open up; to play with Ben to converse with him & make up stories about their adventures together to excitedly recount to Julia. For Julia this was a magical way to communicate with her son
- & Ben had made it possible. For three happy years the trio were inseparable & George made remarkable progress. But then disaster struck
- Ben went missing. The small cat who had coaxed George out of a world of silence had disappeared & nobody could find him. George was utterly devastated & pining for his lost friend he began to retreat into himself. Sensing her son was slipping through her fingers once more Julia embarked on a desperate search; a search that would see her travelling across numerous counties risking injury & enlisting help from all different places & all different people. The weeks turned into months & Christmas was fast approaching but George did not want to celebrate without Ben by his side. Julia privately despaired of ever finding her sons best friend but four days before Christmas Day during the worst snowfall ever Julia got a call from a family living in Brighton over 50 miles from their home in London which finally offered a ray of hope.. . Captivating uplifting & genuinely touching A Friend like Ben is the remarkable true story about the extraordinary devotion & empathy between a little boy & his cat & a mothers determined journey to make her son whole again.

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This is the inspiring account of a family's struggle to break into their son's autistic world
- & how a beautiful retreiver dog
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When Karen Drew is found sitting in her wheelchair staring out to sea with her throat cut one chilly morning DI Annie Cabbot on loan to Eastern Area gets lumbered with the case. Back in Eastvale that same Sunday morning 19-year-old Hayley Daniels is found raped & strangled in the Maze a tangle of narrow alleys behind Eastvale's market square after a drunken night on the town with a group of friends & DCI Alan Banks is called in. Banks finds suspects galore while Annie seems to hit a brick wall--until she reaches a breakthrough that spins her case in a shocking & surprising new direction one that also involves Banks. Then another incident occurs in the Maze which seems to link the two cases in a bizarre & mysterious way. As Banks & Annie dig into the past to uncover the deeper connections they find themselves also dealing with the emotional baggage & personal demons of their own relationship. & it soon becomes clear that there are two killers in their midst & that at any moment either one might strike again. ...

Meet the Londons a family in need of a friend. Gerry & Bernie London are proud parents of Tony Sean & Ned three wayward lads whose lives have suddenly reached crisis points: Newly divorced Tony is fantasizing about someone he really shouldn't; prize-winning novelist Sean's got a hot new girlfriend & a dose of writer's block; & Ned's just back from Australia without the girl he took with him or a clue what he's going to do with his life. If that wasn't enough for one household the Londons also have a new lodger a mysterious rockabilly called Gervase. Will he turn out to be a friend or foe to the family? ...

From master storyteller Michael Morpurgo comes Friend or Foe". Evacuated from London David & Tucky feel like the war is a long way away from their new life in the countryside. Then one night the skyline of the moor is lit up with gun flashes & the distant crump of bombing miles away brings the war back to them & shatters their new-found peace. When a German bomber crashes the boys feel they should hate the airmen inside. But one of them saves David's life..." ...

Blossom is going to have a sleepover party so she flies off to invite all her Secret Fairy friends.. .A celebration of all that makes friends special this fabulous fairy treat

Includes:: a silvery charm bracelet & charms that little girls will treasure!

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Ally seems to have developed a siamese twin: Sandie! Suddenly Sandies got the same hairstyle as her the same outfit & same bedroom decor. Talk about Attack of the Clones... As if that wasnt enough Ally also has the Nightmare School Project to worry about. Until inspiration strikes & the Raspberry Pink Windowsill Bird Table is born... ...

Isabel Dalhousie thinks often of friends sometimes of lovers & on occasion of chocolate. As an Edinburgh philosopher she is certain of where she stands. She can review a book called In Praise of Sin with panache & conviction but real life is...well perhaps a bit more challenging
- particularly when it comes to her feelings for Jamie a younger man who should have married her niece Cat. Jamies handsomeness leaves Isabel feeling distinctly uneasy & ethically disturbed. I am a philosopher she thinks but I am also a woman. & more disturbance is in store. When Cat takes a break in Italy Isabel agrees to run her delicatessen. One of the customers she discovers has recently had a heart transplant & is now being plagued by memories that cannot be rationally explained & which he feels do not belong to him. Isabel is intrigued. So intrigued that she finds herself rushing headlong into a dangerous investigation. But she still has time to think about the things that possess her
- things like love & friendship & of course temptation. The last of these comes in many forms
- chocolate for example or seductive Italians...


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Vivien last saw her mother when she was nine years old. When Hilda suddenly reappears after eight years she stirs up painful memories. Now at last Vivien has the opportunity to find out her father's identity
- but Hilda refuses to reveal his name & so Vivien decides to track him down with the help of her boyfriend Nick. Determination becomes obsession & Nick comes to resent Vivien's quest. When she travels to America to find her father will she lose the love of her life?
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Alice Hart has perfected the art of feeding crowds & in her new book she shows not only how to serve people memorable meals but also how to host all sorts of gatherings in a relaxed & convivial way. From what kitchen kit youll need to take to a music festival how to multiply up the number of servings or how to get around a shortage of cutlery or plates the book contains all you need to know about the practical side of making large numbers of people feel comfortable & well fed taking the stress out of organising hosting & catering. & to make the occasions even more special Alice also

Includes:: fabulously whimsical ideas for how to entertain your guests. The book

Includes:: a diverse selection of party menus for each month of the year although all the dishes can be taken out of context & served for simpler occasions. Break through Februarys gloom with a Honey-roast Beetroot & Carrot Salad served on a mezze evening complete with indoor games for a winters night or throw a beach barbecue in August & impress with Blueberry Almond & Vanilla Choux Buns with instructions for beach cricket & how to recognise clouds. Alice serves an eclectic mix of dishes from all around the world but all are made simple & easy to prepare. & these parties wont break the bank
- being young busy & hard-working Alice understands the demands on her generation when it comes to being low on budget time & space.




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