On a sharp winter's morning a man turns his back on prison. Joseph Scott has served his term. He's lost almost everything: his career as a teacher his wife the future he'd envisaged. All he has left are his three children but he is not allowed anywhere near them. This is the story of Joseph who killed his wife Zoe. Of their three children who witnessed the event. Of Zoe's parents Hannah & Frederick who are bringing up the children & can't forgive or understand Joseph. They slowly adjust to life without Zoe until the day Joseph is released from prison... ...

In the sixth century Celtic Christian monks are thought to have made dangerous & difficult journeys from the west coast of Scotland to seek solitude in Icel&. This evocative pared-down sequence of poems
- the imaginary fragments of a lost manuscript
- tells their remarkable little known story of faith courage & determination. A Song among the Stones was first commissioned by BBC Radio 3s The Verb.

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Lovers are torn apart in World War Two & a mother & daughter separated by guilt & shame in a stunning new novel from the author ...

It is 1964 & Maya Angelou is on her way back home leaving behind her beloved
- & now seriously teenage
- son Guy to finish university

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On 7 July 2005 Julie Nicholsons life was changed forever. Her daughter Jenny was killed on her way to work in the London bombings shaking Julies beliefs. With heartbreaking honesty & integrity Julie tells her story of love tragedy & heartache for the first time. Jenny Nicolson was travelling to work when a bomb exploded at Edgware Road Tube station. Her mother Reverend Julie Nicholson struggled to comprehend the tragedy her sorrow & longing for her daughter turning to rage & anger. Finding herself unable to articulate the three parts of the Eucharist: peace reconciliation & forgiveness because she felt so far from those herself Julie made the difficult decision to resign her role as priest-in-charge of St Aidan with St George Church Bristol unable to reconcile her feelings with her position. She continued working with the church in a youth arts project. ...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2012 Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus an awkward young prince has been exiled to the court of King Peleus & his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences Achilles befriends the shamed prince & as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war & medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper
- despite the displeasure of Achilless mother Thetis a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped Achilles must go to war in distant Troy & fulfill his destiny. Torn between love & fear for his friend Patroclus goes with him little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
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Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus an awkward young prince has been exiled to the court of King Peleus & his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences Achilles befriends the shamed prince & as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war & medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper
- despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped Achilles must go to war in distant Troy & fulfill his destiny. Torn between love & fear for his friend Patroclus goes with him little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
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The war is ending perhaps ended. For the castle & its occupants the troubles are just beginning. Armed gangs roam a lawless land where each farm & house supports a column of dark smoke. Taking to the roads with the other refugees anonymous in their raggedness seems safer than remaining in the ancient keep. However the lieutenant of an outlaw band has other ideas & the castle becomes the focus for a dangerous game of desire deceit & death. Iain Banks masterly novel reveals his unique ability to combine gripping narrative with a relentlessly voyaging imagination. The narrative technique & sheer brio of A SONG OF STONE reveal a great novelist at the height of his powers. ...

A long time ago magic faded away leaving behind only yo-yos the extremely useful compass-pointing-to-North enchantment & the spell that keep bicycles from falling over. Things are about to change. Magical power is on the rise & King Snodd IV of Hereford has realised that he who controls magic controls almost anything. One person stands between Snodd & his plans for power & riches beyond the wildest dreams of avarice. Meet Jennifer Strange sixteen-year-old acting manager of Kazam the employment agency for sorcerers & soothsayers. With only one functioning wizard & her faithful assistant Tiger Prawns Jennifer must use every ounce of ingenuity to derail King Snodds plans. It may involve a trip on a magic carpet at the speed of sound to the Troll Wall the mysterious Transient Moose & a powerless sorceress named Once Magnificent Boo. But one thing is certain: Jennifer Strange will not relinquish the noble powers of magic to big business & commerce without a fight. ...

A long time ago Magic faded away leaving behind only yo-yos the extremely useful compass-pointing-to-North enchantment & the spell that keeps bicycles from falling over. Things are about to change. Magical power is on the rise & King Snodd IV of Hereford has realised that he who controls Magic controls almost anything. Only one person stands between Snodd & his plans for unimaginable power & riches. Meet Jennifer Strange sixteen-year-old acting manager of Kazam the employment agency for sorcerers & soothsayers. She may only have one functioning Wizard & her faithful assistant ' Tiger' Prawns to help her. But one thing is certain: she will not relinquish the noble powers of Magic to big business & commerce without a fight. ...