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< Back Kathleen Welton Pigs Have Wings Pigs can’t fly, or can they? Miz Peg is a petite pig, with awfully big feet. She likes to jump and leap, but her feet get in the way! Miz Peg would love nothing more than to have wings and fly, fly away. But her friends won’t listen to her dreams and laugh at her , “Oh, my dear! You know pigs don’t have wings.” Peg watches the birds and tries to fly, but falls flat on the ground. When an owl finds Peg crying, she encourages Peg to believe in herself. Peg believes she has wings, leaps into the air, and all of a sudden, she is flying in the sky. Pigs really do have wings! Pigs Have Wings is a sweet, illustrated picture book by author Kathleen Welton. The book follows the journey of Miz Peg, a cute little pig, who dreams of flying like a bird. But no matter how hard she tries, she cannot fly. Pigs don’t have wings after all, or do they? Miz Peg and the other woodland creatures are adorable. Young children will love to hear about Peg’s dreams and will be captivated by her journey. The illustrations by Chau Pham are dreamy and capture Peg’s personality and her fantastical journey perfectly. This is an imaginative picture book, written in rhyme. The book will encourage young children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams, no matter how improbable or impossible they might seem. Miz Peg’s unwavering determination teaches young children about resilience and the importance of not giving up, even when the odds are stacked against them. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A sweet and charming picture book about an adorable little pig, with a big dream. Purchase here

< Back Michael Dow Nurse Florence for Beginning Readers: Help, Im Bleeding! Jean learns basic first aid, with the help of the school nurse, Florence. Three little girls, Jean, Sonia, and Condi are playing outside at school when Jean trips over a rock and falls down. She cuts her hand on the rock and is sent to the school nurse to stop the bleeding. Nurse Florence puts on her gloves and puts pressure on Jeans hand. She explains how Jean’s own body will heal itself and stop the bleeding by using the food she has eaten. She puts some anti-bacterial cream on the wound and covers it with a band-aid to keep it clean. To help her wound heal faster, Nurse Florence recommends that Jean eats a healthy diet, including green vegetables, cereal and eggs, and drinks plenty of milk. Jean thanks Nurse Florence and hopes one day she might become a nurse herself. Nurse Florence for Beginning Readers: Help, I’m Bleeding! is an illustrated picture book By author Michael Dow. Inspired by the nursing profession and particularly the remarkable work of Florence Nightingale, the book provides a basic lesson in first aid for very young readers. It follows a young girl who is injured at school and is treated by the school nurse, Florence. Nurse Florence treats the girls wound, but also gives advice about how to help her own body heal. The girl is so inspired by Nurse Florence, she hopes to become a nurse one day too. The book is an educational and engaging story, that will help young readers understand basic first aid, and may even inspire them to pursue a career in nursing, medicine, or science. It shows the important work that nurses do to help others when they need treatment, but also the work they do in health promotion and disease prevention. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A great introduction to first aid for young readers, and a fascinating insight into the nursing profession. Purchase here

< Back Jana L. Farris The Chicken on the Moon A little chick, dreams big. Little Chick was tiny on the day he was born, but he wanted to grow big and tall, so he ate all his corn. He dreams of travelling to outer space, but he is still too small. So, Chick studies hard, morning, noon, and night, and learns everything there is to know about space. One day, all of his hard work pays off when he is selected as an astronaut. But when they try to send him to the sun, Chick knows it is a bad idea, and he takes a detour to the moon instead! The Chicken on the Moon by author and illustrator Jana L. Farris is a fun, creative and quirky illustrated picture book for young children about a little chick who dreams of becoming an astronaut. The little chick is told he will never make it, but he never gives up hope and continues to follow his dream. The book will encourage young children to work hard and follow their dreams. If a little chick can do it, anyone can! This is a fun picture book, written in rhyme. Children will love the chicken characters and will laugh out loud at Chick’s amazing space adventure. The illustrations are cute, colourful, and quirky. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fun, creative and quirky illustrated picture book for young children about a little chick who dreams of becoming an astronaut. Purchase here

< Back Phyllis Harris The Gift Shop Bear A bear is for life, not just for Christmas! For most of the year, the little gift shop bear lives inside a box, in a dusty attic, above the gift shop. Once a year, at Christmas time, Annie takes him out of the box, to join in the Christmas festivities in the shop. Annie and the Bear fill the shop with fun and laughter, they help decorate the shop, drink lots of cocoa and listen to the Christmas carol singers. All the children that visit the shop want to take the bear home, but this special little bear is not for sale. He takes pride of place underneath the Christmas tree in the shop window. But, on Christmas Eve, the bear overhears a conversation that the gift shop is closing, and the bear is worried he might never see Christmas, or Annie, again. But the bear receives the most wonderful Christmas gift, as he finds a new home where he belongs and can be loved and cuddled, all year round. The Gift Shop Bear by author Phyllis Harris is a charming picture book for younger children about a little bear and his friendship with a little girl, Annie. The book will delight younger children, who will relate to the story, as they experience the joy of unpacking their favourite Christmas toys every year, and the sadness when they are all packed away. Beautifully written and illustrated by Phyllis Harris, this is a sweet, sentimental and nostalgic story, and I expect it will become a future Christmas classic. This book is a wonderful festive treat and would make the perfect Christmas eve story or Christmas gift. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A sweet, sentimental and nostalgic story, about a little bear and his friendship with a little girl. Beautifully written and illustrated by Phyllis Harris. Purchase here

Dead Girl < Back Kerrie Faye Dead Girl A girl resurrected from the dead, seeks answers. It is the first day back at Wilson County High School for sophomore, Ember O’Neill. Ember had a tough time as a Freshman. She struggled with depression and synesthesia (a neurological condition where stimulation of one sense leads to involuntary experiences in other senses), and was bullied by classmates Wayne Wilson, Maddison Miller, and others. Longing to fit in and have a better school experience, Ember has five goals for her sophomore year: 1) to get a bestie, 2) to stay off Maddison’s radar, 3) to avoid and ignore Wayne, 4) to become popular, and 5) to get a boyfriend. When she meets and develops a friendship with new girl, Hallee, Ember achieves her first goal. But she is still ostracism and targeted by her peers and receives hateful and threatening messages. Ember reluctantly goes to a ‘back to school’ party, but following an incident with Wayne, Ember almost drowns in the hosts’ swimming pool. She is dead for around twenty minutes and brought back to life by paramedics. News of the incident spreads, and Ember becomes a local celebrity. As Ember’s popularity increases, Wayne is incarcerated in a juvenile detention centre. Life for Ember improves, and she begins dating a new boy, Logan Lauder. But, following her near-death experience, Ember experiences visions and nightmares, and her father is tragically killed by a rabid bobcat. As Ember tries to make sense of the visions and her father’s death, she soon learns the truth about her neurological condition and her ancestry. Dead Girl is a gripping coming-of-age, supernatural drama by Kerrie Faye. S et in the 1990’s, the book follows Ember O’Neill in her sophomore year, as she grapples with depression and synesthesia, and struggles to find her place. Her life is transformed following a freak incident at a pool party, and she discovers she possesses extraordinary abilities. As she learns to control her powers, she must also defeat a deadly assassin hired to kill her. With a blend of reality and fantasy, plenty of teen drama, and an unexpected, supernatural plot twist, this is a compelling, captivating, and hard-to-put-down novel. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A captivating and gripping teen drama, with an unexpected supernatural twist. Purchase here

Believe < Back Angie Bailey Believe Abigale believes there is more to life than the dull, grey world she inhabits, by author Angie Bailey Thirteen-year-old Abigale Johnson was born into a family of Never-Believers. A family who did not believe in Christmas, or birthdays, or fun, adventure or magic. A family whose life was dull and grey. But Abigale was a little different from the Johnson’s. She had dreams of a better life, and a life a little less grey. So Abigale spent most her time tyring to avoid her family, particularly her brothers who were the meanest of the mean, and teased and taunted Abigale every single day. One day, on a dreaded train trip to visit her despicable and very grey Aunt Violet, Abigale’s life changes for ever. After a knock on the head, Abigale discovers an alternate Fae world of wonder and magic, fae-folk, and Believers. Whizzing along on the Faedora magic train, Abigale meets lots of new friends and discovers Christmas and other wonderful celebrations. At thirteen, Abigale has her first ever birthday party, full of love and laughter. But not everyone on the magical train is happy with Abigale’s arrival, and they plot a sinister spell to extract her from the train during the next pink moon, putting her life in mortal danger. As Abigale’s new friends try to save her from doom, they soon discover Abigale has some important royal connections, and even her despicable Aunt Violet is not quite who she seems. Believe is an imaginative and enchanting novel. Well written by Angie Bailey and full of wonder, mystery and magic, the book has fabulous characters and a magnificent plot. This book will captivate both adults and younger readers. The book is the first part of a series, and we can’t wait to read the next instalment in Abigale’s magical journey. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘An enchanting novel, with fabulous characters and a magnificent plot. This book will captivate both adults and younger readers.’ A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Angela White Stopping Time: Life After War Another thrilling instalment in the Stopping Time series, from author Angela White Marc and the mission team have left the protection of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp, to stop the great reset following the nuclear war. Leaving behind Angela, his pregnant wife, and leader of the Safe Haven, to maintain law and order on the island. As news arrives that Marc and his team have been captured, imprisoned, and brutally tortured, Angela faces increasing pressure to rescue the mission team, from her son, Charlie, and other camp members. Tensions rise and a rage illness spreads throughout the camp, threatening the survival of the entire community. Before Angela will agree to send a team to rescue Marc, she must first be assured that her leadership team are ready to lead, and that the community will follow their orders. As Angela prepares her leaders, she embarks on a cunning plan to give the ‘normals’ the freedoms they desire. She hopes that with greater freedom, they will make bad decisions and turn on each other, which will destabilise the community. If her plan is successful, the ‘normals’ will understand the benefit of the controls that have been imposed on them, and will succumb to the leaders demands. But as Angela’s plan unfolds, an adored camp member, Samantha, is kidnapped and taken off the island. Angela and the Eagles must leave the island to find Samantha and bring the kidnapper to justice. Angela knows that Samantha is simply the bait, and that she is the real target, but puts herself in danger to rescue her friend. Ultimately, their mission to bring Samantha home will be a crucial test of any future attempt to rescue Marc. Will Angela find Samantha and bring her home? Will the kidnapper capture his real target? And how will the camp fare, when their esteemed and feared leader is away from the island? Stopping Time: Life After War, is a post-apocalyptic, science fiction novel, and the seventeenth book in the Stopping Time series from author Angela White. Life After War is an intense and high energy book with a gripping and thrilling plot. Angela has built a rich and imaginative post-apocalyptic world with strong, complex, well-developed characters. Angela’s writing is intricate, but easy to read. The plot is complex, fast paced, and full of action. With many twists and turns, the book will keep readers on the edge of their seats. This is a mammoth read, which will appeal to committed readers of this series and fans of this genre. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Life After War is an intense and high energy book with a gripping and thrilling plot. Purchase here

< Back C.J. Hudson Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street A young boy finds love with the girl next door, by author CJ Hudson Twelve-year-old CJ lives in constant fear of his drunken, abusive father. Life at school is no better, as he is frequently tormented and bullied by other children. When CJ gets into a scrape at school, his father is enraged and beats him with his belt. But when CJ’s mother tries to intervene to protect her son, he beats her close to death, and she ends up in hospital. His father leaves the family home, and his mother later marries another equally unpleasant man, Dick. The family move to a new house on Fairhaven Street, where CJ meets his new neighbor, Danielle. Danielle’s home becomes a sanctuary for CJ, where he can escape his miserable life at home. CJ and Danielle become inseparable, but their parents dismiss their relationship as ‘puppy love.’ As the love between CJ and Danielle grows, CJs mother announces she is seeking full custody of CJ, and the family are moving from Florida to Michigan. CJ is distraught when he has to leave Fairhaven Street, and he promises to wait for Danielle and return back to Florida when he can. CJ soon settles into school in Michigan, and meets new friends, but misses Danielle and dreams of the day when they can be reunited. Eight years later, following his graduation, CJ returns to Florida to try and track down Danielle. Will CJ find Danielle? Will Danielle remember her childhood sweetheart? And will the couple rekindle their relationship? Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street is a beautifully written, heart-breaking, and poignant memoir by author CJ Hudson. Written for his sons, CJ Hudson tells the story of his troubled life, the abuse he suffered as a child from his father and school bullies, and the depression he experienced throughout his life. But this is also a story about love and hope, how the love he found from the girl next door, and other significant people in his life, including his grandma and his karate teacher, helped him move forward and break the cycle of violence and abuse. There is an unexpected twist towards the end of the book, which brings a whole new and slightly disturbing perspective to the story. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A beautifully written, heart-breaking, and poignant memoir about love and hope. Purchase here

< Back Dr Pietro Emanuele Garbelli The Doctor's Voice - Empowering Solutions to Physicians' Frustrations, Burnout and Healthcare Inefficiencies ‘Empowered doctors are catalysts for purposeful healthcare transformation’. In The Doctor's Voice - Empowering Solutions to Physicians' Frustrations, Burnout and Healthcare Inefficiencies, Pietro Emanuele Garbelli, Doctor of Medicine and founder of Transforming Healthcare Ltd, shares his experience of working as a doctor in the National Health Service in England. Dr Pietro describes his journey to becoming a doctor, from his own experiences as a young patient in Northern Italy and his struggles to fit in in an environment full of prejudices; through to his medical training in Italy, and his move to London to further develop his skills and clinical practice. Drawing on his own personal experiences, he shares his frustrations of working in a modern, complex healthcare system, and offers potential solutions to the common problems faced by doctors. He discusses ten common sources of frustrations and their impact on the workforce, such as: constrained budgets; the imbalance of supply and demand for healthcare services; increasing bureaucracy and restrictions placed on doctors; workload pressures, retention, stress, and burnout; and management and leadership challenges. As Dr Pietro writes, ‘ A common feeling I have experienced and observed time and time again is disempowerment: perceiving that we have no control over any of the problems affecting us, believing that the solutions depend on remote higher powers we cannot control or even influence, essentially feeling stuck and powerless .’ Dr Pietro aims to empower doctors and encourages them to become changemakers. This is an inspirational and provocative book that gives a much-needed voice to all those doctors and healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. Through this book, Dr Pietro hopes to raise awareness of work-related frustrations, stress and burnout that are so common in healthcare and in many other workplace environments. Dr Pietro has written this book about/to f rustrated doctors, to help raise awareness of these issues and to drive a more positive workplace culture and environment. What I particularly liked about the book is that Dr Pietro doesn’t complain about these issues, he acknowledges the challenges and offers thoughtful and practical solutions to help doctors and improve patient care. Authentic, engaging, and accessible for all audiences, the book is a must read for anyone working in or with healthcare, including students, junior doctors, consultants, and healthcare managers. It will also appeal to those who are interested in the National Health Service and are passionate about health care reform. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: An inspirational and provocative book that gives a much-needed voice to all those doctors and healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. Purchase here

< Back Kate Grant No Woman Left Behind: A Journey of Hope to Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth No Woman Left Behind: A Journey of Hope to Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth is a memoir by Kate Grant about her life and work with the Fistula Foundation, a not for profit organisation set up to provide life-transforming surgery for women with obstetric fistula. Fistula is a debilitating childbirth injury, which can leave a woman incontinent and, as a result, often abandoned by her family and shunned by her community. With a background in advertising, Grant was keen to put her skills to use in the nonprofit sector. She completed a master’s degree in public affairs and found work at the United States Agency for International Development, where she met her first fistula patient at the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, led by Dr. Hamlin. She later met Ric Haas, the founder of the Fistula Foundation, and was asked to join the board to support Dr. Hamlin’s work. In 2005, Grant became the Fistula Foundation’s first Chief Executive, and led the expansion of the Foundation from supporting one hospital in Ethiopia, to become the global leader in fistula treatment, supporting women in more than 30 countries across Africa and Asia. No Woman Left Behind: A Journey of Hope to Heal Every Woman Injured in Childbirth is a candid and inspiring memoir, which captures Kate Grant’s personal journey, with a powerful account of women’s health inequalities and global health advocacy. Grant’s journey, from corporate advertising to becoming a leading voice for women suffering from debilitating obstetric fistula, is marked by dogged determination, endless energy, and enduring empathy for women impacted by this debilitating condition. Grant’s reflections on leading a global non profit organisation, developing partnerships with local healthcare providers and fundraising under pressure, offer valuable lessons for anyone working in, or interested in, global health and international development issues. The book humanizes and destigmatizes a medical condition that affects hundreds of thousands of women in the developing world. Grant shares personal stories of many women whose lives were transformed following surgery. Their stories are heart breaking, yet uplifting, and shine a much needed light on women’s health and obstetric fistula in vulnerable populations. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : An inspiring and deeply moving memoir that shines a much needed light on obstetric fistula. Purchase here

< Back Jennifer Ivy Walker The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven A wonderful adaptation of a medieval French fairy-tale, by Jennifer Ivy Walker Fourteen-year-old Issylte, the Emerald Princess of Ireland, is forced to flee her home, when her father, King Donnchadh of Ireland, marries Princess Morag of Scotland. Queen Morag, unable to conceive a child of her own and fearful of the heirs’ future claim to the throne, orders her death. Issylte is lured into the forest, but she is spared from death by two loyal guards. She is taken to the enchanted Hazelwood Forest, where she is sheltered by Maiwenn, a wizened witch, and the forest fairies. Issylte’s identity is hidden and she lives an idyllic life, where she learns how to wield the herbal essences of the forest and develops her powers of healing. After several years living in Hazelwood, Issylte’s true identity is discovered. Queen Morag is furious to learn the princess is alive and sends an army to find and kill her. Issylte is forced to flee again, leaving behind her dear Maiwenn, who is brutally murdered by the Queens army. Issylte finds sanctuary on the mystical island of Avalon, with Maiwenn’s friend and mother of Lancelot, Viviane. Her identity is changed once again and Issylte becomes an acolyte and gifted healer. She meets and falls in love with Ronan, an Avalonian Elf. When Queen Morag’s army savagely attacks the Kingdom of Cornwall, the Blue Knight of Cornwall and heir to the Cornish Crown, Tristan, is severely injured and sent to Avalon for treatment and recovery. Issylte heals Tristan and discovers a deep and powerful connection with the warrior. Queen Morag, now betrothed to the King of Cornwall following her murder of King Donnchadh, learns of Issylte’s and Tristen’s location on the protected Isle. She sends her army to kill both Issylte and Tristen, as the heirs to the Irish and Cornish crowns. Issylte must decide whether to leave the safety of Avalon and her beloved Ronan, or flee with Tristan to France, avenge her father’s death and become the rightful Queen of Ireland. The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is a sensational, well-crafted, medieval fantasy fiction novel by author Jennifer Ivy Walker. The novel is an adaptation of a medieval French classic, with a perfect blend of magic, mysticism, romance, tragedy, drama, and suspense. This novel will captivate and enthral readers from the outset. I was fully immersed in this wonderful story and invested in the two main characters, whose lives and journeys are seamlessly interwoven in this beautiful magical, fantasy world. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A sensational, well-crafted, fantasy fiction novel, with a perfect blend of magic, mysticism, romance, tragedy, drama, and suspense. Purchase here

< Back DF Kennedy Nothing But The Truth The third instalment of this psychological drama reveals the identity of the mystery stalker. Nothing But The Truth is the second book in the series from DF Kennedy, which picks up around a year after Dahlia’s kidnapping. Following the birth of her baby girl, Dahlia convalesces at home, while her movie-star husband, Roland, shoots his latest film. Dahlia continues to be harassed by an anonymous stalker, #forevermrshughes , and fears for her safety. Her birth father, Cameron, a former MI5 agent, promises to find and neutralise the threat. Cameron suspects the stalker is connected to his work and narrows the investigation down to a car bombing in the 1980’s. Meanwhile, pictures emerge of a woman and her baby, who was previously suspected of having an affair with Roland. Roland hires a private investigator to locate her. Alone and afraid with her new-born baby, Dahlia turns to her best friend Charlotte for comfort and company. Charlotte reveals she was forced into an arranged marriage by her wealthy parents, and has family connections to the Irish and Italian mafia. As Dahlia agrees to help her friend, Charlotte is attacked and hospitalised. Cameron’s investigations into the car bomber run dry, but he does find a surprising connection much closer to home. As Cameron and Roland continue their own inquiries, Charlotte’s husband is found murdered. Dahlia boards a private jet to spend some quality time with her husband, but when the regular crew falls down with food poisoning, and she notices her ex-husband on board, Dahlia realises she is in big trouble. Nothing But The Truth, is the third book in this gripping psychological thriller series, by author DF Kennedy. The third book introduces more characters and more twists and turns. I devoured it in one sitting, it just gets better and better! As the identity of #forevermrshughes is finally exposed, the revelation that Charlotte is connected to the mob introduces more complexity and intrigue. I thought this book was the final one in the series, but it ends on another heart-in-mouth cliffhanger. So many plot twists. So many questions remain unanswered. A brilliant, thrilling, trilogy so far, and pleading for the next instalment. Soon, please! Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A captivating series, from book one right through to book three. To keep up this level of energy and intrigue across three books is no mean feat. Purchase here