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13 Little Blue Envelopes
13 Little Blue Envelopes
Maureen Johnson
¥58.86
Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of 13 little blue envelopes… Perfect summer read from Queen of Teen 2012 Ginny, aged 17, is left 13 little blue envelopes by her free-spirited young Aunt Peg. Little does she know just how much they will change her life… ? Inside envelope No 1 is money and instructions to buy a plane ticket. ? Inside envelope No 2 are directions to a specific London flat ? Inside envelope No 3 a note to Ginny says: Find a starving artist. ? And because of envelope No 4 Ginny and a man called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous – though utterly romantic – results.
Darkmans
Darkmans
Nicola Barker
¥68.67
Shortlisted for the 2007 Man Booker Prize, an epic novel of startling originality which confirms Nicola Barker as one of Britain's most exciting literary talents. If history is a sick joke which keeps on repeating, then who keeps on telling it? Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's jester, whose favourite skit was to burn people alive? Or could it be Andrew Boarde, physician to Henry VIII, who wrote John Scogin's biography? Or could it be a Kurd called Gaffar whose days are blighted by an unspeakable terror of salad? Or a beautiful bulimic with brittle bones? Or a man who guards Beckley Woods with a Samurai sword and a pregnant terrier? Darkmans is a very modern book, set in ridiculously modern Ashford, about two old-fashioned subjects: love and jealousy. And the main character? The past, creeping up on the present and whispering something quite dark into its ear. Darkmans is the third of Nicola Barker's visionary Thames Gateway novels. Following Wide Open (winner Dublin IMPAC award 2000) and Behindlings it confirms one of Britain's most original literary talents.
The Fields of Grief
The Fields of Grief
Giles Blunt
¥53.76
A terrifying psychological thriller in which a spate of suicides could just be the work of a serial killer; featuring homicide detectives Cardinal and Delorme from the award-winning ‘Forty Words for Sorrow’. Photographer Catherine Cardinal’s fatal fall from a high building one moonlit night is ruled an act of suicide. She has a history of depression, a note is found and her psychiatrist is not surprised. But her husband, John Cardinal, won’t accept this conclusion. Driven by grief and guilt, he launches his own investigation, helped by his reluctant colleagues. And when vicious notes appear, taunting him for his loss, his theory that she was murdered suddenly seems to be credible. Cardinal revisits his past, searching for a possible suspect among his previous arrests. Someone with a grudge, a person twisted enough to target his innocent wife in revenge. But could he be looking in the wrong place? The mystery deepens when he uncovers a spate of tragic suicides, leading him to investigate a startling new possibility – one so shocking, it has never been suspected…
The Tyranny of Numbers: Why Counting Can’t Make Us Happy
The Tyranny of Numbers: Why Counting Can’t Make Us Happy
David Boyle
¥82.01
Never before have we attempted to measure as much as we do today. Why are we so obsessed with numbers? What can they really tell us? Too often we try to quantify what can’t actually be measured. We count people, but not individuals. We count exam results rather than intelligence, benefit claimants instead of poverty. The government has set itself 10,000 new targets. Politicians pack their speeches with skewed statistics: crime rates are either rising or falling depending on who is doing the counting. We are in a world in which everything designed only to be measured. If it can’t be measured it can be ignored. But the big problem is what numbers don’t tell you. They won’t interpret. They won’t inspire, and they won’t tell you precisely what causes what. In this passionately argued and thought-provoking book, David Boyle examines our obsession with numbers. He reminds us of the danger of taking numbers so seriously at the expense of what is non-measurable, non-calculable: intuition, creativity, imagination, happiness… Counting is a vital human skill. Yardsticks are a vital tool. As long as we remember how limiting they are if we cling to them too closely. Americans who claim to have been abducted by aliens = 3.7 million Average time spent by British people in traffic jams every year = 11 days Number of Americans shot by children under six between 1983 and 1993 = 138, 490
Sentimental Murder: Love and Madness in the Eighteenth Century (Text Only)
Sentimental Murder: Love and Madness in the Eighteenth Century (Text Only)
John Brewer
¥82.01
On an April evening in 1779, a woman is shot on the steps of Covent Garden. Her murderer is a young soldier and Church of England minister; her lover, the Earl of Sandwich, one of the most powerful politicians of the day. This compelling account of murder, love and intrigue brings Georgian London to life in a spellbinding historical masterpiece. On an April evening in 1779, Martha Ray, mistress of the Earl of Sandwich, was shot on the steps of Covent Garden by James Hackman, a young soldier and minister of the Church of England. She died instantly, leaving behind a grief-stricken lover and five small children. Hackman, after trying to kill himself, was arrested, tried and hanged at Tyburn ten days later. The story was to become one of the scandals of the age. It seemed an open-and-shut case, but why had Hackman killed Ray? He claimed he suffered from ‘love’s madness’ but his motives remained obscure. And as Martha Ray shared the bed of one of the most powerful and unpopular politicians of the day (and one of Georgian London's greatest libertines), the city buzzed with the story, as every hack journalist sharpened his pen. John Brewer has written an account of this violent murder that is as thrilling and compelling as the best crime novel. Atmospheric, beautifully written, and alive with the characters and bustle of 18th-century London, the book examines in minute detail the events of a few crucial moments and gives an unforgettable account of the relationships between the three protagonists and their different places within society. However, the interest in Martha's murder did not end with the Georgians, and ‘Sentimental Murder ‘ranges over two centuries, populated by journalists, biographers and historians who tried to make sense of the killing. And so it becomes an intriguing exploration of the relations between history and fiction, storytelling and fact, past and present. John Brewer has transformed a tragic tale of murder into an historical masterpiece.
Rosa and the Special Prize (Magic Ballerina, Book 10)
Rosa and the Special Prize (Magic Ballerina, Book 10)
Darcey Bussell
¥16.87
Return to the magical world of Enchantia in the captivating second series of Magic Ballerina by Darcey Bussell! King Neptune, ruler of the underwater kingdom, has accused King Tristan of taking his special sceptre and as a punishment he's cast a storm spell over Enchantia! Can Rosa and Nutmeg find out who really has the sceptre or will Enchantia be gloomy forever?
Book Lover
Book Lover
Jennifer Kaufman,Karen Mack
¥72.99
One woman’s passion for books and search for romance lie at the heart of this touching and funny novel about literature and longing in Los Angeles. ‘Women do different things when they’re depressed. Some smoke, others drink, some call their therapists, some eat…And I do what I have always done – go off on a book bender that can last for days.’ Whenever she’s in crisis – her marriage ends, her career stalls, her fantasy man shows signs of human frailty – Dora (named after Eudora Welty) escapes into not one, not two, but a carefully selected stack of books, shutting the door on the outside world until she emerges from her book binge strong enough to face her problems. Books have always been her saving grace, sheltering her during a difficult childhood and arming her with lessons and epigrams that are right for nearly every situation. But life is more complicated than a-book-a-day, and people – like her ex-alcoholic mother and judgmental sister – aren’t as compliant as beloved characters in a novel… Whether she’s being seduced by a quotation-quipping Quixote, or explaining death to a child by reading from ‘Charlotte’s Web’, Dora is Every-reader, and her charming story, shot through with humour and humanity, will delight anyone who’s ever sought solace in the pages of a book.
Tatiana and Alexander
Tatiana and Alexander
Paullina Simons
¥80.25
A powerful story of grief, hope and an epic love, from the Russian-born author of internationally bestselling novels, TULLY and ROAD TO PARADISE. The world at war … two people in love. Tatiana is eighteen years old and pregnant when she miraculously escapes war-torn Leningrad to the West, believing herself to be a widow. Her husband, Major Alexander Belov, a decorated hero of the Soviet Union, has been arrested by Stalin's infamous secret police and is awaiting imminent death as a traitor and a spy. Tatiana begins her new life in America. In wartime New York City she finds work, friends and a life beyond her dreams. However, her grief is inescapable and she keeps hearing Alexander calling out to her. Meanwhile, Alexander faces the greatest danger he's ever known. An American trapped in Russia since adolescence, he has been serving in the Red Army and posing as a Soviet citizen to protect himself. For him, Russia's war is not over, and both victory and defeat will mean certain death. As the Second World War moves into its spectacular close, Tatiana and Alexander are surrounded by the ghosts of their past and each other. They must struggle against destiny and despair as they find themselves in the fight of their lives. A master of the historical epic, Paullina Simons takes us on a journey across continents, time, and the entire breadth of human emotion, to create a heartrendingly beautiful love story that will live on long after the final page is turned.
The Beginning of Spring
The Beginning of Spring
Penelope Fitzgerald
¥39.34
From the Booker Prize-winning author of ‘Offshore’, ‘The Blue Flower’ and ‘Innocence’ comes this Booker Prize-shortlisted tale of a troubled Moscow printworks . Frank Reid had been born and brought up in Moscow. His father had emigrated there in the 1870s and started a print-works which, by 1913, had shrunk from what it was when Frank inherited it. In that same year, to add to his troubles, Frank’s wife Nellie caught the train back home to England, without explanation. How is a reasonable man like Frank to cope? How should he keep his house running? Should he consult the Anglican chaplain’s wife? Should he listen to the Tolstoyan advice of his chief book-keeper? How do people live together, and what happens when, sometimes, they don’t?
Jimmy the Hand (Legends of the Riftwar, Book 3)
Jimmy the Hand (Legends of the Riftwar, Book 3)
Raymond E. Feist,Steve Stirling
¥72.30
The whole of the magnificent Riftwar Cycle by bestselling author Raymond E. Feist, master of magic and adventure, now available in ebook Jimmy the Hand, boy thief of Krondor, lived in the shadows of the city. The sewers were his byways and a flea-ridden, rat-infested cellar his home. Although gifted beyond his peers, he was still but a nimble street urchin, a pickpocket with potential. Until the day he met Prince Arutha. Aiding the Prince in his rescue of Princess Anita from imprisonment by Duke Guy du Bas-Tyra, Jimmy runs afoul of Black Guy's secret police. Given the choice of disappearing on his own or in a weighted barrel at the bottom of Krondor's harbor, Jimmy flees the only home he's ever known, venturing south to the relatively safe haven of Land's End. Suspecting that the rural villagers have never encountered a lad with his talent and nose for finding wealth—other people's wealth—he's fairly optimistic about his broadening horizons. But Jimmy is completely unprepared for what greets him. For Land's End is home to others who tread the crooked path, and more, to a much darker secret: a dangerous presence unknown even to the local thieves and smugglers. And Jimmy's youthful bravado and courage will plunge him deep into the maw of chaos and even—if he isn't careful—death.
Black Dog (Cooper and Fry Crime Series, Book 1)
Black Dog (Cooper and Fry Crime Series, Book 1)
Stephen Booth
¥11.77
Dark, intense and utterly compelling, Black Dog was an extraordinary first novel from a writer who has rapidly become the most promising crime author to emerge in the genre in years. ‘Where Cooper stood was remote and isolated… but the smell that lingered under the trees was of blood’ The long hot Peak District summer came to an end when they found Laura Vernon's body. But for local policeman Ben Cooper the work has just begun. His community is hiding a young girl’s killer and a past as dark as the Derbyshire night. It seems Laura was the keeper of secrets beyond her years and, in a case where no-one is innocent, everyone is a suspect. But Cooper’s local knowledge and instincts are about to face an even greater challenge. The ambitious DC Diane Fry has been called in from another division, a woman as ruthless as she is attractive…
Mother of the Bride
Mother of the Bride
Kate Lawson
¥51.50
3 women. 1 wedding. Whose big day is it anyway…? Grab your big hat and pearls for the funniest read of the year, a must-read for fans of Carole Matthews and Jane Green. Molly Foster's daughter Jess is getting married… To Molly's delight - and surprise. And with Molly's show featuring a wedding countdown, the whole town of Wells-next-the Sea is ecstatic - even as Molly worries that groom-to-be Max's commitment may not be all it seems… Meanwhile, Jess's control freak step-mother Marnie is determined to turn the event into a chi-chi society bash - a world away from the day that Jess envisaged. But does Jess really know what she wants? Especially when she meets the gorgeous Oliver… Though there's no going back now - is there? Can Jess take back control of her wedding - or will the mothers of the bride run the show?
Learning to Hula (Mills & Boon M&B)
Learning to Hula (Mills & Boon M&B)
Lisa Childs
¥27.27
Being Strong Is a State of Mind… Everyone in town thinks Holly DeJong has handled her husband's death well, including her. Until the day she spots a cupcake display at Smiley's General Store and lets loose. Holly's husband is dead…because he cheated on her. He didn't have just one Kitty Cupcake on the side; he had boxes of them! Now everyone in town thinks she's lost it, except Holly. For the first time in months she feels as if she can handle anything, including her children, dating-minded family members and a certain deputy with more on his mind than the cupcake massacre. Just like the hula dancer on her husband's favorite lamp, Holly is learning that happiness comes from swaying with whatever possibilities life throws her way.
Lily and the Lawman (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Lily and the Lawman (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Marie Ferrarella
¥31.10
City girl Lily Quintano came to tiny Hades, Alaska, to get away from men. Her cheating ex-fiancé had turned her heart to stone–or so she thought. For the minute she saw Max Yearling, her pulse started racing. She had to avoid the sexy sheriff at all costs. But in a town the size of Hades, heated encounters with the handsome local hero were inevitable…and way too enjoyable. Max Yearling didn't believe in love–his deadbeat father made sure of that. So why did he feel the need to keep an eye on the pretty Ms. Lily? Perhaps she might get lost in the wilderness…or even better, lose herself in his strong, protective arms….
Navarro or Not (Mills & Boon American Romance)
Navarro or Not (Mills & Boon American Romance)
Tina Leonard
¥31.10
That Man's Only Interests Were Boots, Babes And Beds! A love-'em-and-leave-'em cowboy was not what Nina Cakes wanted when she asked for a muscular man to help move her heirloom bed. After all, it was a cowboy who had gotten her sister into trouble, and no handsome rancher–not even a notorious Jefferson brother named Navarro–would make Nina forget why she'd come to Lonely Hearts Station: to save her sister's good name. Staid, ordinary, respectable, Nina was a librarian on a mission, and it would take more than sweet talk, teasing grins and world-shaking kisses to tempt her onto the wild side…. She'd settle for nothing less than lassoing his untamed heart!
Nighttime Sweethearts (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Nighttime Sweethearts (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Cara Colter
¥31.10
Dearest Godmother, My very last match is almost made! Soon, the curse will be broken. If nothing goes awry… And that's asking quite a bit of fate. Because architect Rick Barnett's scars–physical and emotional–have made him a hard, cynical man. But I've seen the way his gaze follows beautiful Cynthia Forsythe. Her innocence and goodness call to him. No matter how often he uses the shadows of the night to disguise the desire in his eyes, I know she's the one for him! Merry
Nothing To Lose (Mills & Boon Vintage Intrigue)
Nothing To Lose (Mills & Boon Vintage Intrigue)
RaeAnne Thayne
¥23.45
Crime expert Wyatt McKinnon has built his career by turning high-profile cases into bestsellers. His most recent project–investigating the murders that landed a detective on death row–has reunited him with Taylor Bradshaw, the inmate's fiercely protective sister. Wyatt plans to help her exonerate her convicted sibling. Wyatt insists his attraction to the captivating redhead won't distract him, but he does concede that the recent attempts on Ms. Bradshaw's life have caused unexpected emotional complications.
Damage Control
Damage Control
Gordon Kent
¥54.25
An exhilarating tale of modern espionage and adventure featuring US Navy intelligence officer Alan Craik. During a fleet exercise in India, Alan Craik faces a minefield of explosive events that threaten to tear the country and a US battlegroup apart. A military base is attacked by 'fringe elements'; an Indian submarine mutinies and then shoots down a US Navy aircraft and a group of Indian scientists are killed when they are attacked with Sarin gas. Craik, ignoring the conventional wisdom that the incidents are unrelated, believes that a fanatical group have control of certain elements of both the Indian government and its armed forces. Then the rebels seize part of India's nuclear arsenal. Suddenly, a U.S. carrier battle group joins Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia on the target list. The world is faced with the spectacle of a nuclear-capable nation in the hands of a self-destructive religious cult, and it's up to Craik and a team of specialists to re-capture the nukes and prevent massive devastation. But with time running out and the cult leader still at large, are they already too late?
Prodigal Prince Charming (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Prodigal Prince Charming (Mills & Boon Vintage Cherish)
Christine Flynn
¥15.30
A TASTE FOR DANGER A simple mistake had cost caterer Madison O'Malley her livelihood–and the fault lay squarely with international playboy Cord Kendrick. Cord went out of his way to make things right…and Madison promised to keep the story out of the tabloids. But as sharing business strategies turned to sharing kisses, Madison knew she was playing with fire…and craved Cord nonetheless. Trouble had a way of finding Cord Kendrick. And as the second son of the revered Kendrick family, he'd do anything to avoid another scandal. But spending time with the lovely Madison was stirring up all kinds of extraordinary feelings. Cord was an adventurer at heart, but could this confirmed bachelor risk falling in love?
The Allotment Book
The Allotment Book
Andi Clevely
¥110.46
A wonderfully illustrated celebration of the blood, sweat and joy to be had ‘growing your own’ in an allotment – with the in-depth, practical gardening know-how for which Collins is renowned. No longer considered the preserve of old men in sheds, allotment gardening is currently enjoying a renaissance of interest. People of all ages and from all walks of life are digging their own plots in search of the ultimate in fresh, organic produce – and you cannot get more locally-sourced than your own allotment! This book testifies to the vibrancy of allotment culture, aiming both to inspire the next generation of plot-holders and to provide all the practical knowledge needed to turn a patch of soil into a lifelong adventure. Open to all the eco-gardening techniques, and the various weird and wonderful ways people make use of their plots, contents include: ? the history of allotments – from 19th century origins, through wartime ‘Dig for Victory’, to the cosmopolitan communities of today; features photos and interviews with current plot-holders ? planning your perfect allotment – finding it, assessing it, clearing the ground and working out what to grow ? the brown stuff – all you need to know about soil management, the key to growing success ? choosing a gardening method – organic, biodynamic, rotation beds, companion planting, greenhouse, multi-level, potager, cottage garden, and so on… ? the hard stuff – constructing sheds, compost bins, cold frames, fruit cages, ponds, seating and play areas ? selecting crops – what and how to grow, from parsnips and peas to chilli peppers and lemon grass ? cultivation techniques – digging, sowing, feeding, weeding and harvesting, plus troubleshooting pests and diseases ? the allotment calendar – extensive, month-by-month look at what’s in season, jobs for now and looking ahead
Make Your Garden Feed You
Make Your Garden Feed You
E. T. Brown
¥63.27
Looking for a purchase that combines your horticultural bent with your desire to save money? This brilliantly titled book does exactly what it says on the tin. Time travel back to the forties with this unique facsimile of a genuine archive title.Let horticultural expert E.T. Brown teach you how to get the most out of your garden, and slash your shopping budget at the same time. In this specially restored and reproduced book, you will learn: o How to grow berries and tomatoes o How to prepare an herb bed o The best way to keep birds and mice from your peas, and other enemies of your flower bed o How to utilise bees to get not only honey, but also fine fruit o What to think about when sourcing manure from poultry and rabbits Uniform with this volume:Sew and Save o Food facts for the Kitchen Front o The Archive Collection - because good advice never goes out of date.