< Back Marieke Lexmond The Magical Tarot Deck A spellbinding second instalment of the Madigan Chronicles, from author Marieke Lexmond In the second instalment of the Madigan Chronicles, Tara and her family are relieved when the Dagger of Consciousness, an artefact stolen by her evil twin sister Lucy, is recovered, and hidden safely away in a magical tarot card deck. The tarot deck, created by Tara’s husband Seamus, comprises twenty-two cards, and each card embodies a member of Madigan family. When someone draws a card from the deck, the card comes to life and the person painted on the card disappears from real life until they fulfil the question of the person who drew card. But, while Tara’s daughter Ceri is stuck in Fairyland, Lucy’s grandson, Cal, finds and steals the tarot cards and hands them over to Lucy. Lucy, set out on revenge, sees an opportunity to destroy the family and retrieve the dagger. The Madigan’s must stop Lucy before she uses their own tarot magic against them. The Magical Tarot Deck by Marieke Lexmond is an enchanting fantasy fiction novel, full of sorcery, mystery, and magic. Lexmond has written a truly unique and imaginative story, where the reader can escape to a wonderful, magical world of fairies and witches. This is a complex and fast paced story, but very easy to read. With a great plot and well-developed characters, each with their own distinctive personality traits, fantasy fiction fans will love this. You don’t need to read the first book in the series (although it is recommended) as the author provides a brief and useful summary of the previous events. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A unique and imaginative story, where the reader can escape to a wonderful, magical world of fairies and witches. A FINALIST 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 Dillon W. Buck The Stonecaster: A Modern Parable About Intention, Response, and the Ripples We Create Book blurb... Clarity creates freedom. James is stuck. He feels misunderstood and mistreated, captive to patterns he cannot escape. Every setback feels personal. Every day is beyond his control—until he encounters a mysterious mentor. Through a series of subtle lessons and quiet revelations divulged in his dreams, James realizes how his thoughts, assumptions, and emotional reactions have shaped his experiences all along. He begins to unroot deep-seated beliefs and release the weight of perceived injustice to expose an invaluable truth: accountability creates peace. In The Stonecaster, Dillon W. Buck invites readers to join James on his journey and look inward, recognize themselves, and reconsider the narratives that quietly govern their lives. This contemporary parable illustrates how to focus on what counts and stop tying self-worth to achievement. Reflective, transformative, and a powerful examination of breaking free from destructive patterns, The Stonecaster is the story of learning to replace the pursuit of perception with the discovery of true fulfillment. Purchase here

< Back Alayne Smith The December Postcards Reeda (“Ree”) Jones lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia, with her father James, and her thirteen-year-old daughter, Virginia. Ree is a reporter for a local newspaper, covering four to five stories a day on local issues. Her husband, Mason, was killed shortly after they were married while serving in the Army Air Corp in North Korea. Her mother, Mildred, was murdered thirty years ago, when Ree was just twelve-years old. James’ brother (Ree’s uncle), Richard, was accused of her mother’s murder, but he mysteriously disappeared just before the trial. Ree and her father struggled to come to terms with her death, but never believed Richard was capable or responsible for her murder. Since the year after Mildred’s death, James had received an anonymous postcard every December. The postcards were sent from all over Europe and North America, and James believed they were sent by Richard. As James looks through the collection of old postcards again, Ree decides to try and find her uncle. She hopes to clear Richard’s name, and bring the real perpetrator to justice. Ree visits the location of several postcards, and discovers a connection between her mother’s murder, and an infamous serial killer. As Ree learns more about her mothers life, and the tragic circumstances of her death, she receives a mysterious letter that puts her life in imminent danger. The December Postcards is an intriguing family saga and murder mystery novel, by author Alayne Smith. Set in the early 1960’s against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the book follows a reporter who reluctantly investigates her own mothers murder. As she learns more about her mother’s death, she uncovers dark secrets that have been buried for over thirty years. Ree is a compelling protagonist; flawed and vulnerable, yet strong and determined. The mystery itself is well paced, with plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Readers who enjoy murder mysteries, and thought-provoking fiction that is rich in historical detail, will enjoy this book. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : An intriguing family saga and murder mystery novel, with a unique and fascinating plot and interesting characters. Purchase here

< Back Michael Swerdloff Raised by Wolves, Possibly Monsters: From Mobster to Reiki Master Book blurb... This is a story about a boy who wanted to be kind and loving but was raised by wolves and monsters who taught him to choose violence and aggression. As the boy grew into a man, he wanted to protect women, but ended up being the one girls and women needed protection from. He lied, cheated, and scammed his way through life until he couldn't. This memoir is his moving account of discovering healthy masculinity from the inside out. His journey has been sensational at times and unbelievable at others, but for many readers, it has been absolutely inspiring. Will the hungry wolves outlast the desire to be loving and beautiful? Can men truly change? There is hope in witnessing the depth and commitment of a person willing to try to be better without knowing exactly how. This memoir captures one man’s struggle to transcend his past and imagine an entirely new future for himself, premised on compassion, care, and advocacy. We do not have to be what they did to us, but it's our responsibility to do something about it. A stirring memoir about childhood abuse and trauma, violence against women, addiction, recovery, spirituality, hope, and a balanced, healthy masculinity. An extraordinary journey that includes 10 days with the Dalai Lama, a four-month silent retreat, and a solo backpacking expedition in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. If you are ready for a raw and impactful memoir with redemption and transformation through personal and spiritual healing, Raised by Wolves, Possibly Monsters is that memoir! Purchase here

< Back Brittany Severn Ancora, Book One Book blurb... Pippa Wilder thought that being struck by lightning and being dead for fourteen minutes would be the worst thing that would happen to her… But when she begins to see ghosts, she has to wonder what this new gift, or curse, could mean for her future. With her newfound abilities, Pippa meets Shazo, who works in Ancora–a notorious suicide forest in Alabama–searching for those who have ventured inside. He entices her into the role of a ghost whisperer tasked with helping lost souls cross over. Leaving behind her familiar life, Pippa takes her chances in Alabama, where she meets Felix Murdock, a hearse-driving member of the crew at Ancora. Despite his reserved demeanor, a magnetic attraction kindles between them, fueled by his gentle heart. As the trio seamlessly works in service of the dying and the dead, Pippa falls into her role as she begins to accept her new abilities. But a sinister twist emerges when bodies that appear to have been slaughtered surface, leading to the unsettling belief that there might be a killer on the loose. And then she meets a ghost–Fin –who changes everything. Purchase here

< Back Jessica Anne Pressler Traitor Within: How her Fear of Abandonment Led her to Abandon Herself Book blurb... On a dark stretch of highway, Cassandra Kurtz is left alone — terrified, abandoned. But this is not the beginning of her story. It is her pattern. The cycle of manipulative and abusive relationships begins when Cassie is just fifteen, on a date with a college guy she barely knows. As the adopted daughter of a state senator and an emotionally cold mother, she is already battling a feeling of not belonging when she falls for Al, four years her senior. Her journey leads her to meet her birth mother, endure sexual harassment from her boss, and lose her virginity to Al — and slowly, Cassie evolves into a woman held captive by her own fear of abandonment, which keeps pulling her back into relationships that promise the love she craves but will never give it to her. Every decision seems fueled by fear, doubt, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Will she ever find a way to break free of her internal cycles and come home to herself? Traitor Within is a poignant story of a woman led into a painful life shaped by self-sabotage and hidden trauma. Purchase here

< Back Marlayne Jan Giron Second Chance Inn A couple cross cultural boundaries and find love after tragic loss. Rachel Winston is grieving the loss of her husband, Barry, who died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. After a year of financial struggles following his death, Rachel decides to sell her home in Southern California, and moves to Pennsylvania with her sixteen-year-old adopted daughter, Karen. With the proceeds from the sale of her house, she buys a six-bedroom farm from an Amish man, Samuel Miller. She plans to convert the farm into a traditional Amish style bed and breakfast. As part of the sale agreement, Samuel will continue to work on the farm and is allowed to live rent-free in the Dawdi (in-law) house. Samuel is grieving the loss of his wife and five children, following a tragic buggy accident. As Rachel and Karen settle into their new home, they learn about Amish life, values, and culture. Karen misses her old friends and complains about the lack of internet, electricity, and plumbing. Rachel and Karen’s relationship becomes strained, and Samuel intervenes when Karen disrespects her mother. Rachel and Samuel grow increasingly close, but Rachel feels it is too soon to start a new relationship; and Samuel fears he would be excommunicated from the Amish community. Karen soon settles into the community, meets other teenagers, and starts a relationship with a young Amish man. Meanwhile, Rachel struggles to fit in, and experiences further financial hardship as the renovation costs escalate. Rachel and Samuel have important decisions to make about their life in Pennsylvania and their future in the Amish community. Second Chance Inn by author Marlayne Jan Giron is a compelling and heartwarming novel about a couple from different cultures, who unexpectedly find love after tragic loss. Set in the picturesque countryside, the novel follows the journey of Rachel, a spirited Englisch (non-Amish) woman, as she builds a new life for herself in Pennsylvania and falls in love with Samuel, a devout Amish man. The book provides a fascinating insight into the Amish community, exploring their values, customs, beliefs, and ways of life. It is a testament to the transformative power of love, and the strength to follow one’s heart. The novel is a must read for readers who enjoy romance, and those interested in Amish culture. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A compelling and heartwarming novel about the transformative power of love. Purchase here

< Back Jo Anne Jeffries Sunward: Our Zigzag Path to High-Functioning Autism Book blurb... When author Jo Anne Jeffries’ first son, William, was born, in 1956, she and her husband, Bill, were overjoyed to have a beautiful, blond-haired baby boy. It wasn’t long, however, before William began displaying behaviors different from those of most children his age. He rarely cried and never with tears, avoided eye contact, walked past others as if they weren’t there, wouldn’t come when called, and didn’t progress from babbling and cooing to talking. In Sunward, Jeffries shares the story of her autistic child’s long journey toward wholeness. When William was born, little was known about his perceptual disability, but Jeffries and her husband were dedicated to ensuring William had a bright future. Written from the time William was born, this memoir addresses each step of their journey and all they discovered that autism is and all that it is not. It shares the studies they participated in, the extensive therapies they tried, the nutrition protocol they followed, and much more as the family fought to bring William to wholeness. Sunward narrates a miraculous story that offers new insights and ideas to parents of children diagnosed with autism, and to the teachers and therapists who work with them. Purchase here

< Back James Michael Matthew The Oceans and Deserts Stock Exchange: Financing Planetary Equilibrium With Humanity Book blurb... What if the solution to saving our planet isn’t sacrifice—but a smarter system? In this bold and thought-provoking work, James Michael Matthew challenges the limits of conventional economics and reimagines a world where prosperity and sustainability coexist. Moving beyond idealism, he presents a compelling vision for a business model that empowers billions to live in harmony with Earth—without diminishing human progress. This book doesn’t just ask urgent questions—it answers them. From redefining our collective purpose to aligning economic growth with environmental stewardship, Matthew delivers a framework that is both practical and deeply philosophical. At its core, this is a call to action: to recognize that individual choices matter, that humanity has a higher responsibility, and that the future of biodiversity, oceans, and the atmosphere depends on what we do next. Purchase here

< Back Juliet Rose Prick of the Needle Can Wren leave her troubled past behind her, to live a more simple and sustainable way of life? Twenty something Wren (Gretchen) Meyer was heavily bullied as a teenager. Seeking love and self-acceptance, she fell into a wrong crowd at school and became involved in illegal drugs. Her boyfriend, Gabe, died tragically in her bed of a heroin overdose. Overcome with grief for her first love, Wren falls into a deep depression, and spirals further into drug addiction. When the property she is squatting in is raided by the police, Wren is arrested, charged and sentenced to eight years in the state penitentiary. During her prison sentence, Wren enrols in a program to learn how to become a wildland firefighter. Soon after her release, she is offered a paid position with the fire department, and becomes a crew supervisor, tackling wildfires across Arizona. Wren meets new friends, and is happy and content in her role, but her depression and addiction never leave her, and she battles every day to stay clean. When a new crew arrives to help tackle the wildfires that are sweeping out of control, Wren meets Elijah, a Native American fire fighter, and single father, from the Navajo Nation. Both have been hurt previously and are afraid of commitment, but their relationship slowly blossoms over time, and they fall in love. When Wren has to leave town following her father’s sudden death, Elijah realises that he cannot live without her. He develops a plan to leave the fire service, and to make a living off the land as an ‘agricultural warrior’. Will Wren leave the job she loves and friends she adores and join Elijah? Can she leave her troubled past behind her, to live a more simple and sustainable way of life? And how can she use her own experiences of addiction, depression, and incarceration, to support others? Prick of the Needle by Juliet Rose is a wonderful novel about two young adults who must learn how to conquer their own fears, pain and trauma, to move forward in their lives together. This is a heart warming love story, with great characterisation, a unique setting, and an imaginative plot. The book highlights some of the stressors and pressures on young people today, and the great work being done to help rehabilitate offenders and provide meaningful jobs after release. The book also provides a fascinating insight into regenerative agriculture, that certainly made me question my own life choices. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A wonderful love story, with great characterisation, a unique setting, and an imaginative plot. Purchase here

< Back Kyli Santiago Healing Yesterday's Tears: An Inspiring Poetry Book about Overcoming Emotion and Discovering Love of Self A collection of heartfelt poems from author Kyli Santiago Healing Yesterday's Tears: An Inspiring Poetry Book about Overcoming Emotion and Discovering Love of Self is a collection of twenty-five poems by author Kyli Santiago. This is an inspiring and heartfelt collection of poems, based on Kyli’s own lived experience. The poems were written during the authors darkest moments and follow her personal journey from the depths of depression towards recovery. Kyli experienced significant trauma, as a child and throughout adulthood, and the cathartic process of writing poetry supported her healing process. This is an emotional, touching and deeply personal poetry collection, which deals with issues of abuse, rape and suicide. One cannot fail to be moved by this book – Kyli’s words are powerful and will remain with me for a very long time. The book will provide comfort and encouragement to anyone who has experienced trauma or depression, and hope that one can find true happiness and fulfil their potential, if they move forward in life, rather than look back. Kyli’s bio states she is a poet and performer, and I can imagine these poems would be even more impactful in the spoken word. The poems have a wonderful lyrical quality, and I would love to hear these poems performed on stage. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A beautifully written collection of poems about one woman’s journey from the depths of depression towards recovery and healing. Purchase here