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Devil's Child
by Jerry CoyneDeserted by his mother and abandoned by his father at just three months old, Jerry Coyne was sent to live in a Catholic children's home run by nuns of the order of the Sisters of Nazareth. Life soon settled into a rhythm and then, one day, the beatings started. Harsh, vicious punishments became part of everyday life for the bemused little boy as the nuns attempted to beat the Devil out of him. Jerry began to hide behind bad behaviour and at the age of 12, his defiance resulted in him being sent to a boarding for boys with behavioural problems. Life then got worse when his housemaster, the man whose job it was to take care of him, began a regime of mental, physical and sexual abuse. Years of self-hatred and guilt led to Jerry suffering from a severe stammer and, eventually, he tried to hang himself. This was the turning point and, after finally finding the courage to go to the authorities, Jerry and numerous other victims came forward and were instrumental in the conviction and imprisonment of their abuser. Devil's Child is the devastating true story of a childhood destroyed by abuse and of a young man's struggle to try to come to terms with the past and believe in the future.
Banged Up
by Ronnie ThompsonDavey Sommers should've ended up in a nice job, with a nice wife, living in a nice house... Instead, he ends up an eight-man unlock in prison, serving 17 years for assaulting a police officer, possession of firearms, obtaining money by intimidation and drug dealing. But then, Davey's never done what's expected of him. We've seen how prison works from one side of the door - now Ronnie Thompson has teamed up with Davey Sommers to tell the story of what it's like from the other side. BANGED UP is a gritty account of one man's descent into crime - from small-time dealing to big time. And it's about the realities of being a 'face' in prison - having to keep your fearsome reputation intact, even while you're behind bars. Life inside is revealed in all its gory detail - the smells, the tastes, the unsavoury company (and that includes the screws). Perhaps that's why Davey thought he'd try his luck and escape rather than serve his time... This is a story of drugs, violence, life on the run and, ultimately, justice.
Banged Up
by Ronnie ThompsonDavey Sommers should've ended up in a nice job, with a nice wife, living in a nice house... Instead, he ends up an eight-man unlock in prison, serving 17 years for assaulting a police officer, possession of firearms, obtaining money by intimidation and drug dealing. But then, Davey's never done what's expected of him. We've seen how prison works from one side of the door - now Ronnie Thompson has teamed up with Davey Sommers to tell the story of what it's like from the other side. BANGED UP is a gritty account of one man's descent into crime - from small-time dealing to big time. And it's about the realities of being a 'face' in prison - having to keep your fearsome reputation intact, even while you're behind bars. Life inside is revealed in all its gory detail - the smells, the tastes, the unsavoury company (and that includes the screws). Perhaps that's why Davey thought he'd try his luck and escape rather than serve his time... This is a story of drugs, violence, life on the run and, ultimately, justice.
Knifer
by Ronnie ThompsonDrug addiction. Criminal behaviour. Murder... and all before his sixteenth birthday. From foster home to children's home to living rough on the streets, Cain never had a normal childhood. By the age of 8 he was carrying a knife. Seven years later he was serving time for killing someone. Based on real events, ex-prison officer Ronnie Thompson tells Cain's shocking story and reveals what really happens to teenage offenders both on the streets and once they're behind bars. Prison riots, assaults on officers, roof-top protests and brutal acts of violence - this is an inside account of life in a young offender's institute and of an angry young man spiralling dangerously out of control.
Knifer
by Ronnie ThompsonDrug addiction. Criminal behaviour. Murder... and all before his sixteenth birthday. From foster home to children's home to living rough on the streets, Cain never had a normal childhood. By the age of 8 he was carrying a knife. Seven years later he was serving time for killing someone. Based on real events, ex-prison officer Ronnie Thompson tells Cain's shocking story and reveals what really happens to teenage offenders both on the streets and once they're behind bars. Prison riots, assaults on officers, roof-top protests and brutal acts of violence - this is an inside account of life in a young offender's institute and of an angry young man spiralling dangerously out of control.
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story
by Lily KoppelAs American astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from shy military spouses to American royalty: having tea with Jackie Kennedy, attending high society galas, and being featured on the cover of Life magazine. They quickly grew into fashion icons, donning sherbet-swirled Pucci dresses and lacquering their hair into extravagant rocket styles (to match their husbands' spaceships).Annie Glenn was the envy of the other wives, with her many magazine features; platinum-blonde bombshell Rene Carpenter was proclaimed JFK's favourite; homely Betty Grissom worried her husband was having affairs; Louise Shepard just wanted to be left alone to her card games; and licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived on base with a dirty secret. Together they rallied to form the Astronaut Wives Club, which has now turned into over 40 years of enduring friendship. Sexy and sophisticated, rich in melodrama, and set against the uniquely atmospheric backdrop of the Space Age, THE ASTRONAUTS' WIVES CLUB tells the real story behind some of the biggest heroes in American history, chronicling their romantic, domestic, and public dramas during the Mad Men era.
The 52 Seductions
by Betty HerbertIf you loved Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, you'll adore The 52 Seductions... When Betty and Herbert first fell in love, they were caught in a whirlwind of mutual lust and sexual chemistry - they couldn't keep their hands off one another. Ten years of marriage later, they're still deeply in love... but the memory of all that frenzied passion is growing increasingly hazy. The 52 Seductions charts Betty and Herbert's quest to invite the lust back into their relationship and rediscover their desire for one another. Drastic action is needed, and so Betty sets a challenge: they must spend a whole year seducing each other, taking it in turns to create a steamy new scenario every week. We follow their progress as they explore their erotic fantasies (with varying degrees of success); embark on saucy role play and attempt some sexual gymnastics. Racy, funny and ultimately moving, this is the story of how one couple lost their inhibitions and reignited their desire.
The 52 Seductions
by Betty HerbertIf you loved Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, you'll adore The 52 Seductions... When Betty and Herbert first fell in love, they were caught in a whirlwind of mutual lust and sexual chemistry - they couldn't keep their hands off one another. Ten years of marriage later, they're still deeply in love... but the memory of all that frenzied passion is growing increasingly hazy. The 52 Seductions charts Betty and Herbert's quest to invite the lust back into their relationship and rediscover their desire for one another. Drastic action is needed, and so Betty sets a challenge: they must spend a whole year seducing each other, taking it in turns to create a steamy new scenario every week. We follow their progress as they explore their erotic fantasies (with varying degrees of success); embark on saucy role play and attempt some sexual gymnastics. Racy, funny and ultimately moving, this is the story of how one couple lost their inhibitions and reignited their desire.
Kill Switch
by Bill ShawFrom surviving a horrific terrorist attack in Northern Ireland, to the violence of the Gulf War and an assault course of harrowing experiences in Iraq, Bosnia and Columbia, Major Bill Shaw had seen it all. But Bill's strength and courage was tested to its absolute limits when he was arrested for a crime he did not commit. Posted in Afghanistan after two years in Iraq, Bill was responsible for the safety of four hundred men in a full-scale danger zone in one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The married father and grandfather, who had risen through the ranks to become a commander of men and an MBE, had long accepted that each day could be his last. But he never expected to find his own life at risk under a corrupt legal system. Thrown into prison and forced to share a cramped, vermin-infested cell with sixteen Afghans, among them members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Bill had no idea when, or even if, he would see his family again. This is the incredible true story of a brave soldier who survived some of the toughest war zones in the world only to face the nightmare of being wrongfully imprisoned a very long way from home. Gritty and gripping, this powerful military memoir is an eye-opening account of life on the frontline.
Kill Switch
by Bill ShawFrom surviving a horrific terrorist attack in Northern Ireland, to the violence of the Gulf War and an assault course of harrowing experiences in Iraq, Bosnia and Columbia, Major Bill Shaw had seen it all. But Bill's strength and courage was tested to its absolute limits when he was arrested for a crime he did not commit. Posted in Afghanistan after two years in Iraq, Bill was responsible for the safety of four hundred men in a full-scale danger zone in one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The married father and grandfather, who had risen through the ranks to become a commander of men and an MBE, had long accepted that each day could be his last. But he never expected to find his own life at risk under a corrupt legal system. Thrown into prison and forced to share a cramped, vermin-infested cell with sixteen Afghans, among them members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Bill had no idea when, or even if, he would see his family again. This is the incredible true story of a brave soldier who survived some of the toughest war zones in the world only to face the nightmare of being wrongfully imprisoned a very long way from home. Gritty and gripping, this powerful military memoir is an eye-opening account of life on the frontline.
All Teachers Bright and Beautiful (Book 3): A light-hearted memoir of a husband, father and teacher in Yorkshire Dales
by Andy SeedMore lessons and life from the Yorkshire Dales...All Teachers Bright and Beautiful is the concluding volume in Andy Seed's trilogy. As always, the book is peppered with the hilarious and heart-warming incidents that a life living and working with children inevitably contains. Andy Seed is sure to charm fans of Jack Sheffield and Gervase Phinn.Andy Seed is beginning his fifth year teaching at Cragthwaite Primary in the Yorkshire Dales, and as always a new term is full of surprises.These take the form of a beautiful, but not terribly bright, student on placement from the local teacher training college, and a particularly pushy and problematic parent with a fine line in complaining. It looks like Andy's pupils are the least of his problems...At home in Applesett, things aren't all rosy either. Barbara is forced to take a job as a postie to help pay the mortgage, which means finding someone to look after Tom and Reuben. When two old friends move into the village it looks like the problem has been solved, but it soon transpires that rural life is not for everyone...What readers are saying about All Teachers Bright and Beautiful:'A sequence of classroom tales told with considerable wit and charm that will raise a chuckle and perhaps even make you shed a tear''Delightful read. Humorous, warm and really interesting finding out about all the little personalities of the primary school children he teaches''Another gem. The book flows nicely with alternating chapters about his school life and home life. A sweet book'
All Teachers Bright and Beautiful (Book 3): A light-hearted memoir of a husband, father and teacher in Yorkshire Dales
by Andy SeedMore lessons and life from the Yorkshire Dales...All Teachers Bright and Beautiful is the concluding volume in Andy Seed's trilogy. As always, the book is peppered with the hilarious and heart-warming incidents that a life living and working with children inevitably contains. Andy Seed is sure to charm fans of Jack Sheffield and Gervase Phinn.Andy Seed is beginning his fifth year teaching at Cragthwaite Primary in the Yorkshire Dales, and as always a new term is full of surprises.These take the form of a beautiful, but not terribly bright, student on placement from the local teacher training college, and a particularly pushy and problematic parent with a fine line in complaining. It looks like Andy's pupils are the least of his problems...At home in Applesett, things aren't all rosy either. Barbara is forced to take a job as a postie to help pay the mortgage, which means finding someone to look after Tom and Reuben. When two old friends move into the village it looks like the problem has been solved, but it soon transpires that rural life is not for everyone...What readers are saying about All Teachers Bright and Beautiful:'A sequence of classroom tales told with considerable wit and charm that will raise a chuckle and perhaps even make you shed a tear''Delightful read. Humorous, warm and really interesting finding out about all the little personalities of the primary school children he teaches''Another gem. The book flows nicely with alternating chapters about his school life and home life. A sweet book'
All Teachers Wise and Wonderful (Book 2): A warm and witty memoir of teaching life in the Yorkshire Dales
by Andy SeedA further memoir of lessons and life in the Yorkshire Dales...All Teachers Wise and Wonderful is the second in Andy Seeds's trilogy about life as a Yorkshire Dales teacher. This is as warm, witty and refreshing as the first, full of colourful anecdotes from village and school life. Andy Seed is sure to charm fans of Jack Sheffield and Gervase Phinn's nostalgic style. After two years in the job, Andy Seed returns to Cragthwaite brimming with confidence and looking forward to a year that is bound to bring its own rewards, as well as its share of mishaps and misadventures. But even he didn't anticipate exploding piggy banks, bottle-rocket missiles, and actually deafening Dracula.At home, Andy and Barbara are enjoying life with little Tom, and are expecting again. Meanwhile, a new friendship is formed with hill farmer Adam. Adam proves both an inspiration and a confidante for Andy, and through him he begins to see the light with the troubled nine-year-old Sheena. What readers are saying about All Teachers Wise and Wonderful:'Andy Seed brings the Dales to life with his memorable storiesabout rural life in the 1980s. I loved this book. Brilliant''This had me crying out loud with laughter in places. Thoroughly enjoyable book, which will beenjoyed by teachers and non-teachers alike''A great read with a genuine love and affection for the subject shining through'
All Teachers Wise and Wonderful (Book 2): A warm and witty memoir of teaching life in the Yorkshire Dales
by Andy SeedA further memoir of lessons and life in the Yorkshire Dales...All Teachers Wise and Wonderful is the second in Andy Seeds's trilogy about life as a Yorkshire Dales teacher. This is as warm, witty and refreshing as the first, full of colourful anecdotes from village and school life. Andy Seed is sure to charm fans of Jack Sheffield and Gervase Phinn's nostalgic style. After two years in the job, Andy Seed returns to Cragthwaite brimming with confidence and looking forward to a year that is bound to bring its own rewards, as well as its share of mishaps and misadventures. But even he didn't anticipate exploding piggy banks, bottle-rocket missiles, and actually deafening Dracula.At home, Andy and Barbara are enjoying life with little Tom, and are expecting again. Meanwhile, a new friendship is formed with hill farmer Adam. Adam proves both an inspiration and a confidante for Andy, and through him he begins to see the light with the troubled nine-year-old Sheena. What readers are saying about All Teachers Wise and Wonderful:'Andy Seed brings the Dales to life with his memorable stories about rural life in the 1980s. I loved this book. Brilliant''This had me crying out loud with laughter in places. Thoroughly enjoyable book, which will be enjoyed by teachers and non-teachers alike''A great read with a genuine love and affection for the subject shining through'
All Teachers Great and Small (Book 1): A heart-warming and humorous memoir of lessons and life in the Yorkshire Dales
by Andy SeedA memoir of lessons and life in the Yorkshire Dales...Warm, touching and very funny, All Teacher's Great and Small transports you to a time that may be gone but has never been forgotten. Andy Seed's memoir is sure to charm fans of Jack Sheffield and Gervase Phinn's nostalgic style. 'Heart-warming and hilarious' - Daily Mail Dear Mr Seed, I am sorry that are Jack was not at school yesterday. He put on such a groth spurt in the night that nun of his clowthes fitted im next morning so I had to take him to the shops. Mrs R. Twenty-five years ago, newly qualified teacher Andy Seed moved to a remote village in the Yorkshire Dales with his wife Barbara, anticipating breath-taking views and the gentle simplicity of the countryside. The picturesque scenery did not disappoint. But life as a primary school teacher was anything but simple. With a classroom full of colourful characters whose capacity for misunderstanding was exceeded only by their enthusiasm and their ability to leave him incredulous, Andy fell in love with teaching and with village life. All Teachers Great and Small tells the true story of Andy's first year at Cragthwaite Primary School - how he bravely negotiated the vagaries of the local dialect, made disastrous bids to provide a family home, naively and hilariously tried out new-fangled ideas in a school stuck in a 1950s time warp, and ultimately discovered a little part of England he was proud to call home.What readers are saying about All Teachers Great and Small:'I howled with laughter on many occasions reading this book - it's a treasure!''Andy Seed brings the Dales to life with his memorable stories about rural school life in the 1980s. I loved this book' 'This book spoke to me on so many levels. It really is a jolly good read, and written with love and enthusiasm'
Doctor's Notes
by Dr Rosemary Leonard'I'm in the wrong job,' I said to our practice nurse, 'I should definitely have been a detective.' For BBC Breakfast's Dr Rosemary Leonard, a day in her GP's surgery is full of unexplained ailments and mysteries to be solved. From questions of paternity to apparently drug-resistant symptoms, these mysteries can sometimes take a while to get to the bottom of, especially when they are of a more intimate nature. In her second book about life in her London surgery, Dr Rosemary recalls some of her most puzzling cases... and their rather surprising explanations.
Doctor's Notes
by Dr Rosemary Leonard'I'm in the wrong job,' I said to our practice nurse, 'I should definitely have been a detective.'For BBC Breakfast's Dr Rosemary Leonard, a day in her GP's surgery is full of unexplained ailments and mysteries to be solved.From questions of paternity to apparently drug-resistant symptoms, these mysteries can sometimes take a while to get to the bottom of, especially when they are of a more intimate nature.In her second book about life in her London surgery, Dr Rosemary recalls some of her most puzzling cases... and their rather surprising explanations.
Doctor, Doctor: Incredible True Tales From a GP's Surgery
by Dr Rosemary LeonardIn DOCTOR, DOCTOR, Dr Rosemary writes with warmth, humour and honesty as she recalls the stories of 20 of her most memorable patients from her 25 years working as a GP in south London. These include an eco-protestor with appendicitis, an octogenarian nymphomaniac, a teenager in labour with a baby she didn't know about, a lonely ex-coal miner with a chronic chest condition and a middle-aged man who can't quite bring himself to tell her the real problem. Funny, heart-warming and a little bit gory, DOCTOR, DOCTOR reveals the truth about day-to-day life as a GP. Heartbreaking diagnoses, challenging patients and the strong bonds that are formed, Dr Rosemary takes us from the waiting room to the consultation room and lifts the lid on what life as a GP is really like.
Doctor, Doctor: Incredible True Tales From A Gp's Surgery
by Dr Rosemary LeonardIn DOCTOR, DOCTOR, Dr Rosemary writes with warmth, humour and honesty as she recalls the stories of 20 of her most memorable patients from her 25 years working as a GP in south London. These include an eco-protestor with appendicitis, an octogenarian nymphomaniac, a teenager in labour with a baby she didn't know about, a lonely ex-coal miner with a chronic chest condition and a middle-aged man who can't quite bring himself to tell her the real problem. Funny, heart-warming and a little bit gory, DOCTOR, DOCTOR reveals the truth about day-to-day life as a GP. Heartbreaking diagnoses, challenging patients and the strong bonds that are formed, Dr Rosemary takes us from the waiting room to the consultation room and lifts the lid on what life as a GP is really like.
Can't Stand Up For Sitting Down
by Jo BrandThe Stand-Up while Sitting Down Years...Jo Brand tells the story of how she crawled to fame and fortune, managed to persuade someone to marry her and had some children at an age when she should have been in a bath chair on the seafront. In this second volume of her memoirs, Jo recounts wild times on the comedy circuit, the attempts to tart her up for the TV screen, running the marathon, rally driving, her numerous, occasionally extremely inebriated, Edinburgh festival appearances, her 'acting' career, and much, much more.Jo Brand is one of our best-loved comedians, according to a quote she made up. This memoir is full of hard-won wisdom, hilarity and her views on life, laughs, friendships and all the good and bad things in the world. If she was Prime Minister, the country would be in even more of a mess than it is.(P)2010 Headline Digital
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior And The Golden Retriever Who Saved Him
by Bret Witter Luis Carlos MontalvánUNTIL TUESDAY is the story of how Tuesday, a service dog, helps to heal a shattered soldier. Luis Carlos Montalván is a 17-year veteran and retired captain of the US Army. Even after suffering stab wounds, a traumatic brain injury and three broken vertebrae, Captain Luis chose to remain at his post on the Iraq-Syria border. In his mind, he had come this far, now wasn't the time to abandon his comrades. However, when Luis returned home, the pressures and injuries proved too much to bear. Physical disabilities, agoraphobia and crippling PTSD drove him to the brink of suicide. And that's when he met Tuesday. UNTIL TUESDAY entwines Luis' story of courage and bravery with that of his trusted dog, Tuesday, and shows how a brave soldier who fought tirelessly for his country, found a way back from the devastation of being injured in action, with the help of his canine friend.
Emma Darwin: The Wife of an Inspirational Genius
by Edna HealeyMuch has been written about Charles Darwin but this is the first biography of his strong, intelligent wife. Emma Wedgwood, granddaughter of the famous Josiah, married Charles Darwin in 1839, three years after he returned from his extraordinary voyage on the Beagle. Their life together was intellectually exciting though overshadowed by personal tragedy. Edna Healey has discovered new, and hitherto unpublished, material and has had the full support of the Darwin family in writing this major biography.
Emma Darwin: The Wife of an Inspirational Genius
by Edna HealeyMuch has been written about Charles Darwin but this is the first biography of his strong, intelligent wife. Emma Wedgwood, granddaughter of the famous Josiah, married Charles Darwin in 1839, three years after he returned from his extraordinary voyage on the Beagle. Their life together was intellectually exciting though overshadowed by personal tragedy. Edna Healey has discovered new, and hitherto unpublished, material and has had the full support of the Darwin family in writing this major biography.
Basil Hume: The Monk Cardinal
by Anthony HowardFollowing Cardinal Basil Hume's death on 17 June 1999, The Times concluded his obituary with a remarkable accolade: 'Few churchman in this century, inside or outside the Catholic Church, have died more deeply loved.' Basil Hume served as Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster for twenty-three years and his holiness and wisdom made him an extraordinary leader. In this enthralling biography, Anthony Howard, who has had unique access to Cardinal Hume's private papers and the people who knew him best, traces his life, from his Newcastle upbringing through to his schooling at Ampleforth and his reign at Westminster, including his long and ultimately successful fight on behalf of the Maguire Seven and the Guildford Four.
Basil Hume: The Monk Cardinal
by Anthony HowardFollowing Cardinal Basil Hume's death on 17 June 1999, The Times concluded his obituary with a remarkable accolade: 'Few churchman in this century, inside or outside the Catholic Church, have died more deeply loved.' Basil Hume served as Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster for twenty-three years and his holiness and wisdom made him an extraordinary leader. In this enthralling biography, Anthony Howard, who has had unique access to Cardinal Hume's private papers and the people who knew him best, traces his life, from his Newcastle upbringing through to his schooling at Ampleforth and his reign at Westminster, including his long and ultimately successful fight on behalf of the Maguire Seven and the Guildford Four.