Riley Bloom died aged twelve in a car crash with her parents & her beloved dog Buttercup. Her sister Ever survived -- but thats another story. Riley must let go of Ever & all the things that tied her to life -- & discover what shes meant to be in the afterlife. Riley is a soul catcher. That means helping the unhappy lost souls who stick around in the human realm to move on -- & find their own place over the bridge in the great hereafter. With her spirit guide Bodhi & Buttercup by her side Riley embarks on an adventure that will take her around the world -- sending ghosts back where they belong until she can finally make it there herself. ...

Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy Riley Buttercup & Bodhi are enjoying a little time-off. But then Riley encounters a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca's sweet appearance Riley soon learns she's not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner Rebecca is furious about being murdered during the slave revolt of 1733. Her uncontrollable anger is keeping other ghosts who also died in the revolt trapped in a shimmering bubble. & when Bodhi & Buttercup inadvertently fall into Rebecca's trap Riley is the only one who can save them. This is a suspenseful & heart-warming novel about the great hereafter... ...

This time Riley might really have bitten off more than she can chew. After begging the Council for a more challenging Soul Catch she is assigned an actual Roman gladiator Theocoles the Pillar of Doom. How is Riley a skinny twelve-year-old supposed to get through to him? Then she meets the beautiful Messalina who convinces her that the only way she will convince Theocoles to move on is to become part of his world. Messalina gives Riley a dramatic makeover transforming her into the beautiful & mature teenager she's always wanted to be. Finally Riley can experience her first boyfriend & her first kiss. With a dream this enchanting will she ever want to leave? ...

Great title poem plus Kubla Khan " " Christabel " 20 other sonnets lyrics odes: " Sonnet: To a Friend who asked how I felt when the Nurse first presented my Infant to me " " Frost at Midnight " " The Nightingale " " The Pains of Sleep " " To William Wordsworth " " Youth & Age " many more. Alphabetical lists of titles & first lines." ...

Rin Tin Tin was born on a battlefield in France towards the end of WW1. He died in 1932 supposedly in the arms of Jean Harlow the original blonde bombshell epic in death as he was in life. In his prime he was one of Hollywoods the biggest stars. He received two thousand fan letters a month had jewels furs & a private driver had his paw-print set for posterity on Hollywood Boulevard & was credited with saving Warner Brothers from bankruptcy
- twice. His owner Lee Duncan was so completely devoted to him that when his wife sued for divorce she cited Rin Tin Tin as co-respondent. Rin Tin Tins story is a great yarn with a big heart & in Susan Orleans hands it is also very funny. But at its core lies a profound & moving meditation on the idea of heroism: of what it means to dream of a figure who is brave & bold & strong & why those ideals hold such power over our imagination. This book is set to become an eccentric classic.
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The excitement surrounding the marriage of Prince William to Kate Middleton has prompted four of Britain's top historical biographers to look closely at Royal Weddings from 1066 to the present day. Professionally Alison Weir Kate Williams Sarah Gristwood & Tracy Borman do events & television together & are known affectionately as the ' History Girls'. They bring an elan & a passion for detail & dramatic narrative to all their subjects. Each writer focuses on different areas of interest. Alison Weir deals with the medieval Tudor & Stuart periods. Kate Williams scrutinises the Georgians & Victorians. Sarah Gristwood takes up the story in 1919 when Princess Patricia of Connaught revived the tradition of royal brides marrying in Westminster Abbey & goes on to examine the weddings of the Queen Mother (1923) the Queen (1947) & Princess Margaret in 1960. Lastly Tracy Borman brings the book right up to date with accounts of the wedding of Prince Charles & Diana Spencer through to the fanfare that will celebrate the nuptials of Kate & William. Every kind of wedding features
- from those attended by great public celebrations to the many that took place in private chapels parish churches & even in secret. Fascinating anecdotal details are revealed in the course of this most informative & entertaining overview of royal weddings through history some amusing some poignant some bawdy. The Ring & the Crown" places the royal wedding of the heir to the throne in historical perspective & it does so with carefully selected illustrations that help make the authors' insights come even more vividly alive."
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Hailed a masterpiece when it was first published the story of Gavin Maxwell's life with otters on the remote west coast of Scotland remains one of the most lyrical moving descriptions of a man's relationship with the natural world. One of the outstanding wildlife books of all time."-New York Herald Tribune First published 1960 by Longmans Green & Co." ...

Fifty years ago Gavin Maxwell went to live in an abandoned house on a shingle beach on the west coast of Scotl&. A haven for wildlife
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Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth" is the fourth book in this blockbuster series by Chris Bradford. Jack Fletcher is on the run with no sensei to guide him he has just his wits & his swords against many new & unknown enemies as he journeys along the treacherous road to the port of Nagasaki & perhaps home... But the Shogun's samurai are hot on his trail. Barely escaping their clutches Jack runs headlong into a trap. Kidnapped by ninja & led to their village deep in the mountains Jack has no means of escape. The only question is who will kill him first
- the ninja or samurai? "A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one & keeps them there until the end". (Eoin Colfer). Chris Bradford has trained in karate kickboxing & samurai swordsmanship. He earned his black belt in Zen Kyo Shin Taijutsu the secret fighting art of the ninja. Before writing the " Young Samurai" series he was a professional musician & songwriter & has performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II."
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Young Samurai: The Ring of Fire" is the sixth book in this blockbuster series by Chris Bradford. Jack Fletcher faces his toughest challenge yet. After a snowstorm forces him to take shelter Jack comes across a village in need of protection from raiding mountain bandits. Torn between moving on or helping Jack is persuaded to stay & fight the villagers' cause. But Jack is the first & only samurai to do so. Now he must enlist other warriors to the villagers' aid before the bandits return to steal their harvest. No easy task when the reward is so little & he is a foreigner. If only he had his friends to call on... Using the " Ring of Fire" can Jack overpower the bandits & win? "A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one & keeps them there until the end". (Eoin Colfer). Chris Bradford has trained in karate kickboxing & samurai swordsmanship. He earned his black belt in Zen Kyo Shin Taijutsu the secret fighting art of the ninja. Before writing the " Young Samurai" series he was a professional musician & songwriter & has performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II." ...