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< Back Lynne Golodner Cave of Secrets Eve, a Jewish American research student working at the National Archives of Scotland, is hiking through the forests around Loch Lomond. When she shelters from the rain in a cave, she finds a leather-bound satchel half buried in the dirt. Inside the satchel are letters written by a woman named Shira to her lover, Benjamin. Eve suspects the letters are from the mid-nineteenth century and takes them home for safe keeping. Returning back from the walk, she stops by at a local pub and meets the owner, Mac, the son of a wealthy landowner, the Earl of Monteith. Eve and Mac develop a romantic relationship and fall deeply in love. Meanwhile, Eve and her boss at the National Archives find more letters hidden in a trunk deep inside the cave. They uncover shocking evidence about Shira Levenson-Macalaster, the wealthiest woman in Great Britain in the 1870s, who was married to the Prime Minister of Great Britain. As Eve continues her research, she finds a connection between the Macalaster family and Mac’s family, the Montieth’s. The revelations could damage the reputation of the Monteith family and the whole of the British aristocracy. When Mac’s mother discovers that Eve is planning to write a book about her research, she will stop at nothing to keep the family secrets hidden. Cave of Secrets by Lynne Golodner is a captivating novel about an ambitious American woman who discovers the dark family secrets of a British aristocratic family. While in the midst of her research, she meets a charming Scotsman who quickly sweeps her off her feet. As their relationship develops, a family mystery slowly unravels. With an atmospheric backdrop of sweeping landscapes, rugged terrain, and cosy pubs, the book transports readers to the idyllic Scottish countryside and the beautiful city of Edinburgh. The novel seamlessly blends the past and present, as Eve’s research threatens to shatter the pristine image of the British aristocracy. Golodner accomplishes her goal of addressing serious topics, such as homophobia, antisemitism, social class and power in a heart-warming and engaging romance. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A beautiful and touching tale of love, loss, and family, set in the atmospheric Scottish highlands. Purchase here

< Back Heather Mateus Sappenfield The River Between Hearts A young girls’ American Dream is thwarted when her family is deported, by author Heather Mateus Sappenfield Ten-year-old Rill Kruse reluctantly follows her cat to Fort Kruse, the tree house built by her father. Fort Kruse is a special place for Rill and the Kruse family, but she hasn’t visited since her father went missing over a year ago, following a kayaking accident on the Colorado river. Krill refuses to accept her father is gone, and believes he is lost somewhere down the river and will return home safely one day. As she enters the tree house, Krill is surprised to see a young girl, about the same age as her, hiding out in the tree house. She recognises the girl, but when she tries to approach her, the girl runs away. Rill eventually catches up with the girl, and learns her name is Perla. Perla is a Mexican immigrant, whose family have been caught by immigration services, taken into custody, and sent back to Mexico. Rill befriends Perla and allows Perla to hide out in the tree house. She brings her clothing, a sleeping bag, and food to eat, and helps her to write a letter to her family in Mexico. The two girls become good friends and Rill learns more about Perla’s family, their difficult life in Mexico, and their treacherous journey to the United States. As Rill comforts Perla, she starts to think about the loss of her own father, and slowly begins to accept that he will never return home. The River Between Hearts is a heartfelt, emotional novel for middle grade readers about two young girls, from different countries and different cultures, who share similar experiences of loss and grief. Despite their cultural differences, and some language barriers, the girls realise they share many things in common, and develop a close friendship. The book deals with difficult socio-political issues, such as death, illegal immigration, deportation and discrimination, in a way that young people will understand and relate to. Whilst the book deals with difficult issues, it is a wonderful story of love, friendship, compassion, hope and courage. A great novel for middle grade readers, but would also appeal to teens and adults alike. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A heartfelt, emotional novel for middle grade readers about two young girls who find a connection through unimaginable loss. Purchase here

The Christmas Trials < Back William Carroll The Christmas Trials Book blurb... When seventeen-year-old Morgan is unexpectedly summoned to the North Pole, she discovers she's been chosen to compete in the ancient trials to become the next Santa Claus. As she faces magical challenges and rival candidates from around the world, Morgan learns that the true test isn't about power or perfection, but about about kindness, courage, and the quiet strength that has always lived inside her. Purchase here

< Back Pearl Allen Andree Maud and Pearl: The Matriarch and the Odyssey Maud and Pearl: The Matriarch and the Odyssey is a deeply personal and comprehensive family memoir that spans multiple generations, offering a vivid portrayal of the lives of Stella Maud Allen, her youngest daughter Pearl, and their extended family. The narrative begins with Maud’s early life in late 19th-century Oklahoma, her marriage to Ezekiel Allen, and their struggles as pioneers and farmers during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era. It highlights Maud’s resilience, faith, and dedication to raising her nine children amidst poverty and loss, showcasing her ability to create beauty and unity through her passion for quilting. The memoir is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the Allen family’s history, including their migration westward and their experiences in Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. It provides a rich historical context, touching on significant events like World War II and the Great Depression, and delves into the family’s efforts to overcome adversity and build a better life. The second part shifts to Pearl’s life, detailing her upbringing, education, and marriages to Jimmy Goggin and later Bill Andree. Pearl’s reflections on her blended family’s life in the 1960s and beyond are filled with humor, tragedy, and triumph, capturing the essence of family bonds, personal struggles, and the challenges of blending families. The narrative also explores the Andree family’s time in Australia, where they lived for several years. The memoir is enriched with anecdotes, photographs, sketches, and family trees, providing depth and visual context to the stories. It also includes reflections from various family members, offering multiple perspectives and adding layers to the narrative. Pearl’s writing is introspective and heartfelt, blending humor with candid accounts of sensitive topics such as divorce, loss, and mental health. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A compelling and heartfelt memoir of family and faith, love and loss. 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 Gail Scoates Paws, Purpose and Possibilities: How therapy dogs and faith healed my heart Author Gail Scoates shares her story of how therapy dogs gave her a sense of purpose following the death of her beloved younger sister. Dogs had always played a significant part in Gail’s life. Growing up, there were many dogs in the family, and Gail recalls happy memories and adventures with her sister, Karen, and their dogs. She describes how dogs provided a sense of comfort and security throughout her whole life. When Karen was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at the age of thirty-eight, Gail witnessed the special love and bond between Karen and her two dogs, Preston and Tanner. When Karen sadly passed away, Gail’s dog, Tucker, provided comfort and helped her through the grieving process. Following Karen’s passing, Gail became involved with the PAWS ministry, a therapy dog program. Gail trained up Tucker as a therapy dog, and together they visited a residential home for children with emotional and behavioural challenges, providing them with an opportunity to play and have fun, while learning how to interact with a dog safely. When Tucker passed away, Gail adopted a rescue dog, Max, and also trained him up as a therapy dog. Through many dog therapy visits, and observing the positive impact on children, Gail was able to find a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Later, Gail set up her own dog therapy program, named Karing Partners in memory of her sister. She was successful in setting up a program in a hospital and recruited other volunteer handlers and their dogs. With Max, and a subsequent dog, Sadie, the program made a significant difference to the lives of many patients and their families, hospital visitors, and health care staff. Paws, Purpose and Possibilities: How therapy dogs and faith healed my heart is a beautiful memoir by author Gail Scoates. Gail shares her story of how dogs supported her through many difficult periods of her life, including the death of her younger sister, and how therapy dogs have changed the lives of many others. This is a powerful story that not only shows the special bond between humans and dogs, but how dogs can help support, heal and rehabilitate people. A ‘ Paws for Reflection’ section at the end of each chapter, provides the reader with an opportunity for personal reflection. Gail’s commitment and dedication to dog therapy work is remarkable and her story is inspiring. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A beautiful and inspiring memoir, by an inspirational woman. Purchase here

< Back Jim Sarto Is School Really Out For The Summer?: Abbreviated Musings of a High School Principal Book blurb... Think summer's a break for principals? Think again. Dr. Joey Strat, Avenue Ridge High School's veteran principal, trades sunny relaxation for endless school drama in this laugh-out-loud satire. From unruly students and apathetic staff to demanding, clueless parents, Joey's vacation is a non-stop whirlwind of chaos. Amid the madness, Joey wistfully recalls his idyllic fifth-grade summer of 1964 - a time of boundless freedom, family, and adventure. Through vivid flashbacks, he contrasts the golden days of his youth with the ridiculous, real-life challenges of running a school. Is School Really Out for the Summer? serves up hilarity, heartfelt nostalgia, and a behind-the-scenes peek into school life. Perfect for educators, parents, and anyone who' s ever needed a laugh, this book proves that while school might be out, the lessons (and headaches) never end. Purchase here

< Back Sheldon Katz Portrait of the Author as a Young Atomist: Reminiscences Of A Developmental Ontology Book blurb... What if your earliest memories were filled not just with wonder, but with questions that shook the foundations of belief? In Portrait of the Author as a Young Atomist, Dr. Sheldon Katz invites readers into the raw, thoughtful terrain of a young mind awakening to the complexities of faith, free will, morality, and the very nature of existence. Blending memoir with philosophical reflection, Katz chronicles his journey from a tradition-bound childhood to an adulthood marked by intellectual emancipation. Through candid recollections - from battling guilt as a boy over breaking Sabbath rules to questioning the justice of God in the face of the Holocaust - the author explores the evolution of consciousness with clarity, wit, and emotional depth. Each chapter unfolds a layer of his internal transformation, leading to a powerful conclusion: that the meaning of life is not found in divine answers but in the courage to think, love, and live freely. This book is for seekers, skeptics, and thinkers - anyone who has dared to ask, 'What do I believe, and why?' Purchase here

< Back Juliet Rose We Don’t Matte A young film student captures police brutality on camera, by author Juliet Rose Seattle film student, Aiden, dreams of making it big as a film maker in California, but he is burdened with guilt over his brothers’ tragic suicide several years earlier. One day, while filming skateboarders at the local park, Aiden meets Zeke, a construction worker from Utah. Aiden feels an instant connection to Zeke, but he is unsure of his feelings and his own sexuality. As Aiden and Zeke’s relationship slowly develops, trouble erupts between the police and the residents of a homeless encampment. Aiden captures footage of police brutality and the murder of a defenceless autistic, homeless man, Enrique. Police officers notice Aiden is filming the incident, and he is chased through the streets and captured. He discards his camera in an alleyway, which is later picked up by a local resident. Aiden is wrongfully arrested by the police, beaten, and questioned. Enrique later dies from his injuries in hospital, but Aiden manages to recover his camera, and working with a local reporter, publishes the footage of Enrique’s murder. In fear of his life, from the police and radical police supporters, Aiden and Zeke travel across the country to the west coast and the safety of Aiden’s old friends, Sam and Smitty. With further civil protests, and reports of more police brutality, the couple are forced back to Seattle, to film and document the protests. The couple decide to turn their experiences of racism, discrimination, homophobia, and radical religious fanaticism, into something positive, and plan to travel the county and film people’s stories of oppression, injustice, and police brutality. But before they can move forward in their lives together, they must first address their own trauma. We Don’t Matter by author Juliet Rose is a powerful novel, which deals with issues of racism, discrimination, homophobia, radical religious fanaticism, and police brutality. Juliet Rose writes about these issues, sensitively and with compassion, and develops understanding and empathy for the main characters Aiden and Zeke, and the issues they face. Juliet Rose shows that we all certainly ‘Do Matter’. With some new characters, and some familiar characters from Juliet’s novel, ‘Do Over’, this book is a nice accompaniment to ‘Do Over’, but can also be read independently as a standalone novel. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A powerful novel, which deals with issues of racism, discrimination, homophobia, radical religious fanaticism, and police brutality, sensitively and with compassion. Purchase here

Magic and mystery at a prestigious ballet summer school, from author Colette Sewall < Back Colette Sewall Kiki Macadoo and the Graveyard Ballerinas Twelve-year-old Kiki Macadoo and her sister Alison are excited to spend the summer at Mount Faylinn Conservatory, a prestigious ballet school run by Madame Dupree. Just before the sisters leave home, Kiki notices something very strange about the conservatory brochure and feels a little anxious. Then, when a stranger on the train warns her there could be danger ahead, Kiki wonders whether she made the right decision. Kiki is even more dismayed when she is placed in the bottom class with a group of younger kids, while her talented sister is placed in the top class. Kiki soon settles into camp, but everything changes one day when she stumbles across a secret gate and follows a mysterious boy through the forest. Kiki discovers a magical world of flower fairies, wee folk, and strange creatures. But the fairies are not as friendly as they look, and Kiki is besieged with a series of bad luck, when she fails to follow the forest rules and crosses the path of an elder fairy. As Kiki rebuilds her relationship with the fairies, her luck turns from bad to worse on the night of her sister’s surprise sixteen birthday. Kiki must summon all of her strength and courage to try and rescue her sister from the gruesome graveyard ballerinas, and to save the ballet school from ruin. This is a fantastic, well-written book for middle-grade readers, packed full of drama and suspense. The haunting and captivating front cover will entice readers who love ballet, as well as those who love ghostly adventures and mystery stories. Sewell captures the beauty and joy of ballet, and the bond between two sisters perfectly. Ideal for readers aged eight to twelve. Highly recommended. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A fantastic book packed full of drama and suspense, for those who love ballet and mystery stories. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

< Back Vatika and Natalie Gulati Penelope and The Unicorns Penelope and the Unicorns: A Story About Saving the One-Horned Rhinoceros is a beautifully illustrated and heartfelt children's book by Vatika and Natalie Gulati. The book takes readers on a journey to the protected grasslands of Kaziranga in Northeast India, where Penelope, a timid yet brave one-horned rhinoceros, shares her story of survival and hope. The narrative is both engaging and educational, introducing young readers to the plight of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, which was nearly driven to extinction due to poaching fuelled by myths about the magical powers of their horns. Through Penelope's voice, the book highlights the devastating impact of humanity on wildlife, while also celebrating the efforts of conservationists who worked together to protect these majestic creatures. The story is empowering, showing how collective action can lead to meaningful change. The illustrations by Petra Paliskova are whimsical and vibrant, perfectly complementing the text. Her artwork brings the grasslands of Kaziranga to life, capturing the beauty of the rhinos and unicorns while also conveying the emotional depth of Penelope's journey. The historical note at the end of the book provides valuable context, explaining the real-life challenges faced by the one-horned rhinoceros and the ongoing conservation efforts that have helped their population recover. This section encourages readers to think critically about wildlife protection. Overall, this book is perfect for children and families who want to learn about wildlife conservation while enjoying a beautifully crafted story . Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A touching and impactful picture book about the majestic one-horned rhinoceros and wildlife conservation. Purchase here

< Back Mitzi Perdue Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul An insightful biography about an inspirational man, by author Mitzi Perdue Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul, is a biography about author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur, Mark Victor Hansen, by Mitzi Perdue. The book comprises thirty chapters, which follow Mark from early childhood, his teenage and college years, through to his sixties and right through to the present day. The book describes how even at a young age, Mark was a hustler, buying and selling greetings cards to buy a racing bike. During his teenage years he excelled at writing, and at college he was destined for a career in academia. Later, he ventured into business when his academic career was cut short, but his business failed, and he was made bankrupt at the age of twenty-five. Described as one of the lowest points of his young life, Mark felt a failure and contemplated suicide. But, his faith in God pulled him through, and with the help of his friends and trusted mentors, he became a successful motivational speaker. He set up two successful companies: The Million Dollar Forum, and The Three Percent Club. The stories he collected during this time became the foundation for his book, Chicken Soup for the Soul, coauthored with friend and business partner Jack Canfield. The Chicken Soup for the Soul series led to sales of half a billion books and a Guinness Book of World’s Records entry for the most books on The New York Times bestseller list at the time. Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul is an insightful and inspirational biography by Mitzi Perdue, based on interviews with Mark and many of his relatives, friends, and colleagues, who shared their personal stories and memories. The stories show how Mark strived hard to achieve his goals and didn’t give up when things got tough, and how he maintained a strong sense of faith during good and bad times. Throughout his life, Mark was supported by many friends and mentors who guided him on his journey, and he used his experiences to give back to others. He inspired millions of people across the world, through his books, speaking events, and philanthropic activities. After each chapter, there is a short section titled ‘Learn from Mark’, which includes hints and tips for the reader to help them achieve success in their own life. Mitzi Perdue has done a great job at bringing Mark Victor Hansen’s story to life, sharing the good, the bad and the ugly events of his life. This is an honest, respectful, well-researched and exhaustive biography, which covers Mark’s life from early childhood to the present day. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fascinating and insightful biography, packed full of life-lessons that will benefit any reader. Purchase here