Book picks similar to
Near and Dear by Pamela Evans
20th-century
bought-charity-shop
britain
e
The Balloonatics: A Tale of the Great War
Andrew Wareham - 2021
On his watch.It is early 1915 and he had been looking forward to joining the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. Now he must accept a posting to obscurity or volunteer for hazardous duty. To save his career, he joins the Blimps of the Royal Naval Air Service – he becomes a Balloonatic.Sat in a flimsy cockpit under 70,000 cubic feet of inflammable hydrogen with a crew of one, a Lewis Gun, and a single bomb, he potters out every day to chase submarines in the English Channel. Occasionally, he catches one.Onshore, he juggles the demands of Josephine, a young English rose, and Charlie, much more of a hothouse flower, while he decides just what his future shall be.
Driving in the Dark
Deborah Moggach - 1994
Now a coach driver, he is at the most crucial crossroads of his life. His wife has thrown him out. The crisis serves only to deepen his despair over another failed liaison - until he elects to steer his coach on a spectacularly reckless quest for the son he has never seen.
Sea of Wolves
Philip K. Allan - 2020
Across the stormy North Atlantic battle rages between wolfpacks of U-boats and escort ships fighting to protect the Allies’ vital convoys. Meanwhile teams of codebreakers at Bletchley Park struggle to penetrate the German Navy’s Top-Secret Dolphin code, and unlock the flow of vital intelligence that will swing the battle in the Allies favour.Sea of Wolves plots the lives of three people caught up in the centre of the battle. Vera Baldwin, a young crossword-enthusiast, lifted from her quiet suburban life and thrown into the middle of the greatest codebreaking effort the world has seen. Otto Stuckmann, the rookie commander of U70, a German naval veteran struggling with the ceaseless demands being placed on him. Leonard Cole, the newly appointed first lieutenant of HMS Protea and a man with unfinished business to resolve.Each is unknown to the others as their fates spiral around each other, touching and twisting towards a final encounter that will change their lives forever.
Erma Bombeck: A Life in Humor
Susan Edwards - 1997
Here is Erma Bombeck, laughing her way through childhood, marriage, motherhood, and celebrity status, even keeping her sense of humor as she battled terminal illness.
The Sure Thing: The Greatest Coup in Horse Racing History
Nick Townsend - 2013
But one man has been proving them wrong for four decades. In the summer of 1975 Barney Curley, a fearless and renowned gambler, masterminded one of the most spectacular gambles of all time with a racehorse called Yellow Sam. It cost the bookmakers millions of pounds. They said that it could never happen again. But in May 2010, thirty-five years after his first coup, Curley staged the ultimate multimillion pound-winning sequel.The Sure Thing tells the complete story of how he managed to organise the biggest gamble in racing history – and how he then followed up with yet another audacious scheme in January 2014.
The Wild Child
Anne Baker - 2007
There's no problem with mousy Hilary, but Isobel is a wayward beauty who can never forgive her plainer sister for stealing her boyfriend, and will be pregnant before she marries. Worse, the father of Isobel's baby isn't her new husband – and when the truth comes out, her marriage is likely to hit the rocks. Hilary's life seems to be moving along more calmly, until her husband is badly injured in an accident. And as she takes charge of his business Hilary also faces the discovery that her adored children are struggling at school. There's hope if the sisters can pull together at last – but can they ever put the past behind them?
The Mighty Hood
Ernle Bradford - 1977
Launched in 1918, she spent the interwar years cruising the oceans of the world, the largest vessel afloat and a proud symbol of the Royal Navy. ‘The greatest and most graceful ship of her time, perhaps of any time, she was the last of the Leviathans — those mighty ships, whose movement upon the high seas had determined policy since the last quarter of the 19th century. A generation of British seamen had been trained in her. To millions of people she had represented British sea power and imperial might. With her passed not only a ship, but a whole era swept away on the winds of the world.’ Bradford tells the fascinating story of two ships coming out — the new Prince of Wales, and the old, world-famous Hood, whose history remained in the memories of all those who sailed on her. Their silhouettes visible now against the lines of the sea and the islands: the long sweep of their foredecks, the banked ramparts of their guns, and the hunched shoulders of bridges and control towers. We shall never see their like again, but no one who has ever watched them go by will forget the shudder that they raised along the spine. The big ships were somehow as moving as the pipes heard a long way off in the hills. There was always a kind of mist about them, a mist of sentiment and of power. Unlike aircraft, rockets, or nuclear bombs, they were a visible symbol of power allied with beauty — a rare combination. The thrilling history of a ship who battled the infamous Bismarck, inspired alliances and revenge in a time of great uncertainty and went out with a bang when her one fatal flaw was exploited... Ernle Bradford (1922-1986) was an historian who wrote books on naval battles and historical figures. Among his subjects were Lord Nelson, the Mary Rose, Christopher Columbus, Julius Caesar and Hannibal. He also documented his own voyages on the Mediterranean Sea.
Brighter Days Ahead
Mary Wood - 2017
War pulled them apart, but can it bring them back together? Molly lives with her repugnant father, who has betrayed her many times. From a young age, living on the streets of London’s East End, she has seen the harsh realities of life . . . When she’s kidnapped by a gang and forced into their underworld, her future seems bleak. Flo spent her early years in an orphanage, and is about to turn her hand to teacher training. When a kindly teacher at her school approaches her about a job at Bletchley Park, it could be everything she never knew she wanted.Will the girls' friendship be enough to weather the hard times ahead?
Whatever it Takes: An Erotic Novella
Monica Walters - 2019
As a successful dietician, she started her own business, by traveling and doing home visits for patients instead of working for someone else. She always knew she was destined for greatness. The only area she struggles in is her love life. After taking a trip home to visit her parents, she runs into her high school sweetheart. It has been seven years since she’s seen him, but her feelings haven’t changed, and she discovers that immediately after seeing him. Chance Sylvester has accepted mediocrity in his love life, since he felt like he couldn’t have the woman he wants. As a successful accountant, he’s made the best of life and his career, feeling like he was on the brink of making partner. His mediocre love life comes to a screeching halt when he sees Amesha, after seven years, in the grocery store. He is determined to hold onto her this time, no matter what it takes. This chance encounter is only the beginning. Despite the rekindling, they are now adults and don’t know if they will be as compatible as they once were as kids. Can they turn a past, immature attraction into an undeniable love?
The Body in the Graveyard
Jack G. Hills - 2016
Inspector Rudolph Riley is one of the many people enjoying a day out and the spell of good weather, until the two ice-creams, which he’s just purchased from the pop-up kiosk, are sent flying from his hands by a young man who seems hell bent on getting as far away as possible from the crowds. But if losing his much anticipated ices isn’t bad enough, his day off is soon completely ruined by the unexpected arrival of his sergeant and half the Fleetmouth police force, who have descended upon the abbey in response to a report that there is a body in the graveyard. An event, which normally wouldn’t be thought too unusual… but as the police soon discover, this corpse is lying on top of the gravestone, rather than six feet underneath it. As the subsequent investigation begins to unfold, it transpires that the murder victim could be involved in the illegal importation and distribution of anabolic steroids that seemed to be flooding the town through a network of bars and gymnasiums… whilst the spot in the graveyard where the body was found, is a hotspot for the ghostly sighting of a woman, who locals and experts alike call the Spanish Lady… a woman of noble birth who died of the plague some four hundred years earlier around the time of the Spanish Armada. Intrigued by the possibility of a ghostly apparition stalking the corridors of Fleet Abbey, DC Eleanor Jenkins sets about trying to learn more about the woman in question and whether the discovery of her skeleton could have any connection to the present day murder. What she uncovers during the course of the investigation, are rumours of a fabulous jewelled crucifix and a hoard of gold coins, which were taken from a captured Spanish galleon by Sir Richard Drew and buried somewhere on the estate by his father, who was the sixteenth century ancestor of Cedric Drew… who himself was the last surviving member of the Drew dynasty and the unfortunate victim found in the graveyard. Of course Riley doesn’t see the connection and doesn’t believe in coincidences. For him there’s a much more rational explanation that lies in the present day and one that peddles drugs to unsuspecting fools who are hell bent on improving their bodies at any price… and anyway, he has a new chief superintendent to impress and a chief constable to prove wrong… But if all that isn’t sufficient to turn his hair grey and make him a candidate for early retirement, the local businessman he suspects of being involved with the drug smuggling, has his boat stolen right from under the noses of the police… a theft which confounds the investigation, and sends Sergeant Thomas off on a dangerous voyage of discovery into unchartered waters. Away from work, but still helping to move the investigation along in her own inimitable way is Dolly… Riley’s not so silent partner, and a parrot with more attitude than most detective constables and more to say than is usually prudent.
A Private Place
Amanda Craig - 1991
With its progressive curriculum, complacent staff and beautiful grounds, it looks like Paradise. But the clever, the odd and the bookish are relentlessly persecuted as pupils make their own rules in a bubble of privilege and prejudice. When Alice, the Headmaster?s intellectual step-daughter, and the much-expelled American millionaire Winthrop T Sheen join forces against the school bully, Grub Viner, a gifted pianist and school ?joker?, has to choose between love and loyalty, and black comedy escalates to murder. Savagely funny, compelling and a cult classic, A Private Place has struck a chord with generations. `A viciously clever satire on progressive schools... Will cause distress in liberal circles? Independent `Bitingly funny and horribly accurate? Daily Telegraph `A genuinely gripping novel? Spectator `Craig writes with ruthless honesty and jet black wit? Cosmopolitan
Lost for Words
Paula Kay - 2020
She'd set aside her career as a writer to build a home for them on a vineyard in the Tuscan hills, which was a dream come true for any woman. And it had been for Isabella too--until recently. After years of not writing, she finds herself under a deadline and faced with the worst case of writer's block that she's ever known. When a friend invites her to come stay at her beautiful house in Indonesia, Isabella reluctantly agrees, thinking it just might be the thing she needs to get back to her work. But when she finds distraction--and comfort--with another man, she must face the truth about her problems before she makes a mistake that will cost her everything. Lost for Words is the first standalone book in The Nomadic Sisterhood series, an exciting new series that features women who travel to find adventure and themselves. If you love the books of Debbie Macomber, Bette Lee Crosby, Fern Michaels and Lisa Wingate, you will love Lost for Words and The Nomadic Sisterhood series. Order the book today and get ready to escape to the enchanting islands of Indonesia.
Indoor Games: 21 Fun Indoor Games for Kids
Camelia Gherib - 2017
Maybe your kids have never liked games. Are you out of fun ideas to try? Whatever your situation you are sure to find some amazing games in this book!Would you like your child to get up and get moving? You will find lots of amusing games that incorporate all types of movement to get the wiggles and giggles out of your child.
Does your child love watching stories where the hero beats the bad guy?
Would your kid enjoy hunting for lost treasure?
Can you imagine playing basketball inside?
Are you interested in helping your child learn new things while having fun?
No problem! This book includes different games for a variety of interests.If you are looking for new ideas or want an update on an old game, there is something here for you to share with your kids to keep them entertained for hours! Most of the games are designed to be played alone, with a parent, or with a group. If you have an only child, don’t worry about inviting a whole brigade of neighborhood children into the house to play these games. Another great thing about the indoor games you will find in this book is that they are played with relatively few items. Most of the parts are made from items lying about your house, like construction paper, paper plates, masking tape, ping pong balls, bean bags, pool noodles, and a timer. This means there’s no need for you to run out and get anything before you can begin playing. So even if a rainy day catches you by surprise, you will be ready to roll, hop, hide, kick, and toss with just a few household items.21 Fun Indoor Games for Kids Book Includes
FREE BONUS
Baskets, Balls & Drinking Straws
Stand Up, Sit Down, Turn Around, Touch the Ground
Don’t Stand By . . . Let It Fly
Indoor games will have you laughing and playing in all new ways with your child! In the process of learning the games, you will spend quality time teaching and learning from each other. Isn’t that what every parent wants? Extra special time set aside with their kids to connect and have fun? You bet it is!So take a few minutes to read through the instructions and then pick out one game to try today. You will not regret the time invested in creating meaningful and active play experiences for your child!