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Blushing at Both Ends
by Philip KempFunny, full of surprises and always arousing, this is a brilliant collection of stories about innocent young women drawn into scenarios that result in the sensual pleasures of spanking. Girls who feel compelled to manipulate and engineer situations in which older authority figures punish them, over their laps, desks, or chairs.
Blues
by John Hartley WilliamsSubversive and satirical, inventive, wry and unconventional, John Hartley Williams has long been celebrated for his maverick sensibility, for his outsider's take on the way we live our lives. In Blues, his eighth collection, he focuses with new directness on the turmoil of Germany and Eastern Europe, and writes eloquently about being English, and staying English, in a continental climate, through all the upheavals of the last fifteen years. Alert to the intricacies and ironies of the language, to the musculature of politics and passion, these poems are chronicles of change, wired to the energies of jazz and science fiction, yet the under-song is a threnody for the loss of a kind of Englishness - voiced powerfully in a moving elegy for the poet Ken Smith. While there is no diminishing of his comic brio, no dulling of his incisive, questioning intelligence, Blues finds John Hartley Williams taking on subjects of new depth and complexity - while maintaining his characteristic lightness of touch, imagination and profound originality.
Bluebirds: An uplifting and heart-warming wartime saga, full of friendship, courage and determination
by Margaret MayhewFrom bestselling author Margaret Mayhew, a gripping wartime page-turner, full of the tension, emotion and adventure of World War II. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Donna Douglas and Rosie Clarke. READERS ARE LOVING BLUEBIRDS!"Beautifully written and...so well researched" - 5 STARS"Writes exceptionally well and, in particular,catches the mood of the time" - 5 STARS"If you like ww2 stories that are a good authentic read, her books are the best I've read and I've read quite a lot." - 5 STARS"From the very start this book grabbed me" - 5 STARS"Well written story, fabulous mix of characters, really could not put this book down" - 5 STARS*******************************************************BRAVE AIRWOMEN UNITE IN THE FACE OF WORLD WAR II1939: Officer Felicity Newman and a ragtag group of young women arrive at RAF Colston. They are the first of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force: brave female pilots ready to do their bit.But Station Commander, David Palmer, doesn't want them. They're a nuisance, unable to do the work of men, and they would undoubtedly fall apart if the station was bombed.Felicity is determined to prove the worth of her 'Bluebirds'. There's Anne, who loves to dance but finds herself peeling vegetables in the station kitchens. Winnie, who longs to work on the aeroplanes themselves but meets rejection at every turn. And Virginia, who is desperate to build a new life for herself.As the war goes on, so the girls make their mark - behaving heroically under fire, supporting the pilots with their strength, loyalty, and often their love - a love sometimes tragic, sometimes passionate, but always courageous....
Bluebell Windows: (The Rising Family Book 3): the next instalment in the extraordinary West Country family saga by bestselling author Susan Sallis
by Susan SallisBluebell Windows continues the story of the Rising Girls, begun in A Scattering of Daisies and The Daffodils of Newent. Fans of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Fiona Valpy will love this captivating and compelling saga from multi-million copy seller and Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis, that expertly captures the lives and emotions of a family in the run up to World War Two.READERS ARE LOVING BLUEBELL WINDOWS!'An engrossing read' -- ***** Reader review'An amazing inter-generational story that I kept reading way too fast' -- ***** Reader review'Excellent read, very enjoyable.' -- ***** Reader review'Loved this book [...], well written and down to earth. Just the way I like it!' -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************************************BEHIND SEEMINGLY HAPPY FAMILIES, ANYTHING CAN LIE HIDDEN...The Rising sisters - the Daffodil Girls - are older now. The anguish of growing up in the twenties has gone. All three are - apparently - happily married and there are children to swell the vibrant Rising family.But the problems that had begun in youth still remained.March, the eldest and the most difficult, loves but cannot trust her clever, manipulating husband. He deserted her once and she has never quite forgiven him.May has her own worries - a son who seems more than usually promiscuous, and a husband who grows more attractive and handsome even as she approaches her fortieth birthday.April has a husband she loves, and two small, gentle daughters. But she is the only one who knows that Davina is not her husband's child.As the country heads towards unsettling times, can they find the strength and unity they'll need?Bluebell Windows is the third book in the Rising Family sequence and is followed by Rosemary for Remembrance. The story began in A Scattering of Daisies and The Daffodils of Newent.
Blue-Water Empire: The British in the Mediterranean since 1800
by Robert HollandBlue-Water Empire is Robert Holland's magnificent narrative of Britain's military and cultural ties with the Mediterranean Sea, in the style of the epic naval histories of N. A. M. Rodger.Britain has been a major presence in the Mediterranean from the Battle of the Nile to the end of empire, as both a military and a colonising force on the islands and coastlines of the sea. Robert Holland traces the fascinating story of that presence, from its legacies in culture, language and law to the Mediterranean's own influence on Britain. Evoking the conflicts and contrasts between British and local societies caught up in dramatic events, as well as their mutual resilience under pressure, Blue Water Empire charts with vigour, flair and clarity the British experience in the Mediterranean in the age of empire.Reviews:'An important corrective to current historical amnesia ... the definitive account of Anglo-Mediterranean history for years to come' Amanda Foreman, New Statesman'A rich and readable account of the British in the Middle Sea ... As Holland's learned, lucid and enjoyable work makes clear, many British politicians saw the Mediterranean as the pre-eminent global strategic arena, representing the key to victory in Europe and Asia' Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times'This is an important subject, and it has never before been drawn together into a single coherent narrative ... Blue-Water Empire puts the land, not the sea, at the heart of the story' Literary Review'Robert Holland's masterly history of the Mediterranean is a pleasure to read. Blue-Water Empire shows how Britain's mastery of the Middle Sea shaped the modern world, whilst reminding us how profoundly the Mediterranean has influenced the British' Simon Ball (author of The Bitter Sea: The Struggle for Mastery in the Mediterranean, 1935-1949)'Lively and absorbing' Philip Mansel, SpectatorAbout the author:Robert Holland is one of the world's leading historians of the Mediterranean and the author of Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus, 1954-59, and (with Diana Markides) The British and the Hellenes: Struggles for Mastery in the Eastern Mediterranean, 1850-1960. He holds professorial positions at the Centre for Hellenic Studies in King's College London and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in the same University.
Blue River, Black Sea
by Andrew EamesThe Danube is Europe's Amazon. It flows through more countries than any other river on Earth - from the Black Forest in Germany to Europe's farthest fringes, where it joins the Black Sea in Romania. Andrew Eames' journey along its length brings us face to face with the Continent's bloodiest history and its most pressing issues of race and identity.As he travels - by bicycle, horse, boat and on foot - Eames finds himself seeking a bed for the night with minor royalty, hitching a ride on a Serbian barge captained by a man called Attila and getting up close and personal with a bull in rural Romania. He meets would-be kings and walks with gypsies, and finally rows his way beyond the borders of Europe entirely...
Blue Planet II
by James Honeyborne Mark BrownlowA lavish and definitive view of the oceanic world - accompanying the landmark 7-part BBC series narrated by Sir David Attenborough. With over 200 breath-taking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, this awe-inspiring study of life below the surface will amaze and enthral.'Jaw-dropping' - Variety'Substantial and awe-inspiring' - Publishers Weekly'Breath-taking' -- ***** Reader review'An incredible book and a must buy' -- ***** Reader review'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************Take a deep breath and dive into the mysteries of the ocean...Our understanding of ocean life has changed dramatically in the last decade, with new species, new behaviours, and new habitats being discovered at a rapid rate. Blue Planet II, which accompanies the epic BBC 7-part series, is a ground-breaking new look at the richness and variety of underwater life across our planet.From ambush hunters such as the carnivorous bobbit worm to cuttlefish mesmerising their prey with a pulsating light display, Blue Planet II reveals the never-before-seen secrets of the ocean.With over 200 breath-taking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, each chapter of Blue Planet II brings to life a different habitat of the oceanic world.As well as shining a light on ocean life, coral reef and arctic ice communities and shoreline existence, Blue Planet II examines unflinchingly what the future holds for our ocean dwellers. It's a book that will amaze, educate, captivate and astound.
Blue of Noon (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Georges BatailleSet against the backdrop of Europe's slide into Fascism, Blue of Noon is a blackly compelling account of depravity and violence. As its narrator lurches despairingly from city to city in a surreal sexual and mental nightmare of squalor, sadism and drunken encounters, his internal collapse mirrors the fighting and marching on the streets outside. Exploring the dark forces beneath the surface of civilization, this is a novel torn between identifying with history's victims and being seduced by the monstrous glamour of its terrible victors, and is one of the twentieth century's great nihilist works.
The Blue Note: a beautifully moving and unmissable wartime saga of love and loss from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamFans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jefferies and Kristin Hannah will not be disappointed by this magically romantic and dynamic saga by the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham."Will satisfy all Bingham's fans" - SUNDAY TIMES"Great summer escapism from an award-winning romantic novelist" - CHOICE"Her imagination is thoroughly original" - DAILY MAIL"This is a novel so heartbreaking........so touching it kept me glued to the pages just anticipating the outcome for these wonderful characters." -- ***** Reader review"A wonderful read and very hard to put down" -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************A TOUCHING STORY OF FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS....World War Two: Londoners Miranda and Ted are sent to the country with another young evacuee, Roberta (Bobbie), to live with two unmarried sisters in their idyllic rectory. The time they spend with Aunt Sophie and Aunt Prudence turns their lives into something very near to Heaven: the archetypal idyllic countryside childhood.But when the two sisters learn they cannot adopt all three of them, it is Bobbie who is sent away to live with the Dingwalls in very different circumstances. And when the aunts die, Miranda, Tom and Bobbie are eventually parted, seemingly forever.The three find each other after the war, and Miranda, now a beautiful young model, falls in love with grown-up Ted Mowbray, but he can only think of her as a sister. In turn, he loves Bobbie, yet she has already met her beloved Julian, getting to know him during a summer by the sea in Sussex.How many hearts are destined to be broken and can they find their way to a happy and fulfilled future?
Blue Moon
by Julia GreenFifteen-year old Mia lives with her dad in a small rural community. When she discovers that she's pregnant she doesn't know where to turn - her elder sisters have left home, her mum left when Mia was six, her boyfriend, Will, is too scared to be anyhelp and her dad tries to push her into an abortion. Backed into a corner, she runs away and joins two women on a canal boat. Nobody can find her now but she discovers that the women have their own tragic stories. A fire on the boat makes her realise that she must take responsibility for the baby and herself and that home is the most likely place to get help. Her mother re-enters her life and Will's mother involves herself. Mia learns about love and realises how much her father has done for her.
Blue Moon: The Modern Football Classic of a Season Down Among the Dead Men
by Mark HodkinsonBlue Moon traces a season in the life of Manchester City. Not just any season, but 1998-99, when the once-proud club, with two League Championships and four FA Cup wins to its name - not to mention a phenomenal fan base - was forced to battle the likes of Macclesfield Town, Colchester United and Wigan Athletic in English football's third flight.Mark Hodkinson was involved in every aspect of the club through a long, stirring season, one which culminated in the euphoria of promotion: mingling with players, ex-players, directors, office staff and fans, he was constantly on the look-out for the unusual, the offbeat, the hopeful and the heartbreaking. Through it all, he remained impartial, steadfastly resisting the temptation to become a mere pawn for the club's PR operation. Originally commissioned as a series of weekly articles for The Times newspaper, Hodkinson's column soon acquired cult status among fans. Now, in Blue Moon, the author has brought these articles together and, along with a considerable number of further anecdotes, both comical and moving, provides an unprecedented insight into the passionate community that is Manchester City FC.
The Blue Hour
by Alonso CuetoAdrián Ormache, a high-flying lawyer with a beautiful wife and two daughters, leads a privileged and glamorous life in one of Lima’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. But when his mother dies, he discovers a letter amongst her possessions making shocking claims about her now long-dead husband, Adrián’s father – a commander in the army during the Peruvian Civil War of the 1980s. As well as being linked to atrocities committed against the ‘Shining Path’ guerrillas, it appears that he also kidnapped and kept a local girl, whose family now seeks retribution.Shocked out of his comfortable existence, Adrián becomes obsessed with finding the girl at the heart of the mystery, and sets out to face the harrowing realities of Peru’s recent past, and uncover the truth about his father.
The Blue Hotel
by Cherri PickfordRamon can't understand why bestselling author Floy Pennington has come to stay at his quiet hotel in rural England. All he knows is that she denies him the knowledge of her body that he so desperately wants. Yet if she is so innocent, why does she keep flaunting herself in front of him - and what of her increasingly wanton encounters with the other guests at his hotel?
The Blue Guide
by Carrie WilliamsCocktails, room service, spa treatments: Alicia Shaw is a girl who just can't say no to the little perks of being a private tour guide in London. Whether it's the Hollywood producer with whom she romps in the private screening room of one of London's most luxurious hotels, or the Australian pilot whose exhibitionist fantasies reach a new height on the London Eye, Alicia finds that flirtation - and more - is part of the territory. But when internationally renowned flamenco dancer and heartthrob Paco Manchega, and his lovely young wife Carlotta, take her on as their guide, Alicia begins to wonder if she has bitten off more than she can chew. As the couple unleash curious appetites in Alicia, taking her to places more darkly beautiful than she has ever known, she begins to suspect she is being used as the pawn in some strange marital game.
The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea (Pelican Books)
by Guy StandingA FINANCIAL TIMES BEST ECONOMICS BOOK OF 2022 'A landmark book... The Blue Commons is at once a brilliant synthesis, a searing analysis, and an inspiring call to action.' - David Bollier'With remarkable erudition, passion and lyricism, Guy Standing commands the reader to wake up to the threat posed by rentier capitalism's violent policies for extraction, exploitation and depletion of that which is both common to us all, but also vital to our survival: the sea and all within it.' - Ann Pettifor 'Shines a bright light on the economy of the oceans, directing us brilliantly towards where a sustainable future lies.' - Danny Dorling'This is a powerful, visionary book - essential reading for all who yearn for a better world.' - Jason HickelThe sea provides more than half the oxygen we breathe, food for billions of people and livelihoods for hundreds of millions. But giant corporations are plundering the world's oceans, aided by global finance and complicit states, following the neoliberal maxim of Blue Growth. The situation is dire: rampant exploitation and corruption now drive all aspects of the ocean economy, destroying communities, intensifying inequalities, and driving fish populations and other ocean life towards extinction.The Blue Commons is an urgent call for change, from a campaigning economist responsible for some of the most innovative solutions to inequality of recent times. From large nations bullying smaller nations into giving up eco-friendly fishing policies to the profiteering by the Crown Estate in commandeering much of the British seabed, the scale of the global problem is synthesised here for the first time, as well as a toolkit for all of us to rise up and tackle it.The oceans have been left out of calls for a Green New Deal but must be at the centre of the fight against climate change. How do we do it? By building a Blue Commons alternative: a transformative worldview and new set of proposals that prioritise the historic rights of local communities, the wellbeing of all people and, with it, the health of our oceans.
The Blue And Distant Hills
by Judith SaxtonA young girl's search for her identity and for a love that can overcome her past.Questa Adamson is stranded in Italy for the duration of the Second World War. When she finally returns to England she is haunted by terrible memories. She finds that the safe childhood world she remembers has disappeared and that she is as alone in her home country as she has been in Italy.She also finds that she has inherited a tumbledown manor house in Shropshire and is determined to restore the estate to its former glory, despite rationing and post-war austerity. And when she meets her mysterious neighbor, Marcus, it seems as if she might, at last, begin to drop her guard and learn to love.But loving Marcus brings its own special difficulties and Questa soon finds herself faced with an extraordinary and painful choice.
Blue Above the Chimneys
by Christine Marion FraserDiscover the heart-warming and uplifting story of a Glasgow tenement urchin finding her way against adversity Born during the Second World War in Glasgow, Christine Fraser was her mother's eighth child.Growing up with her siblings in a tiny flat, learning to avoid her hardworking, hard-drinking one-eyed father, making a menace of herself in the streets along with the other urchins, Christine lived an impoverished life but never once cared.Until she was struck down by a terrible illness.Suddenly, her wild days of childhood were over. A long spell in hospital completely changed her life. Now she found herself dependent on others for so many of her needs. And on top of that, her mother and father have died.Yet Christine was always resourceful and never once looked down.She knew that always there, if you looked hard enough, was some blue up above the chimneys . . .Readers are captivated by Blue Above the Chimneys'Keeps you enthralled from the first to the last chapter' 5***** Reader Review'Christine wrote with so much passion that you could envisage each and every scene' 5***** Reader Review'A joyous read' 5***** Reader Review
Blowing It: a brilliantly funny, mad-cap novel guaranteed to make you laugh from bestselling author Judy Astley
by Judy AstleyReaders of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson will love this wonderfully witty and whimsical comedy from bestselling author Judy Astley. Perfect to settle down with!'A fun romp ... funny and surprisingly thought provoking.' -- Sunday Express'A hugely entertaining novel' -- Cambridge Style Magazine'Another fluffy, fun read from Astley.' -- In The Know'I loved it ... a lovely summer read' -- New Books Magazine'A smashing novel' -- ***** Reader review'Great story line, a lot of fun, kept my interest and didn't disappoint' -- ***** Reader review'A fun book!' -- ***** Reader review'A thoroughly enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review*********************************************************************************************WILL THE KIDS GET WHAT'S COMING TO THEM?Sorrel is about to go off on her Gap Year. She sooo wants a home to come home to.Ilex, her brother, is trying to upgrade his flat and marry his smart girlfriend Manda. He'd like some immediate equity.Clover, the elder sister, has plans that involve a bijou second home in France. And she wants it now.If only their parents would be sensible. If only they would sell their large, rather grand but somewhat dilapidated home and hand over their inheritance.But parents aren't always as sensible as their children. They are planning on blowing the lot...
The Blotting Book
by E F BensonA VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERYWH Auden, Nancy Mitford and Noel Coward were among his fans... But have you discovered E. F. Benson yet?Morris Assheton is in love and means to be married. But his happiness is spoilt when he discovers that someone has been whispering poisonous rumours about him to the girl’s father. The culprit is Mills, dastardly partner to the Assheton family's trusted lawyer. Morris vows revenge.When Mills’ body is discovered, brutally beaten, the ugly quarrel comes to light and suspicion naturally falls on Morris. His innocence is debated in a tense courtroom, as an eager public and press look on.Murder mystery... Courtroom drama. This is a classic whodunnit from the author of Mapp and Lucia. Crime fiction at its best.
The Blossom Method: The Revolutionary Way to Communicate With Your Baby From Birth
by Vivien Sabel'Ever uttered the words "What do you want?" in frustration to your crying, irritable or fractious baby? Well never again!'- Janette Roberts, author of the Healthy Parents, Better BabiesImagine how much easier life would be if you could talk to your baby and understand his or her emotions, needs and wants. In The Blossom Method™, body language expert Vivien Sabel allows you to do just that - through learning your baby's non-verbal communications. With this groundbreaking technique you will be able to meet your baby's needs before he or she cries.Discover how to:- Understand your baby's body language and 'tongue talking' signals- Recognise when your baby is hungry, irritable or ill- Help your infant feel understood and supported- Feel less frustration and gain more parenting confidenceThe Blossom Method™ allows you to understand and communicate with your baby from day one, leading to a happy, settled baby and a strong parent-child bond.#theblossommethod
Bloom & Thrive: Essential Healing Herbs and Flowers (Now Age series) (Now Age Series)
by Brigit Anna McNeillWorried about a big meeting? Can't sleep? Low on energy? Discover the powerful herbs and flowers that can help you to live your best life. Learn which herbs and flowers will aid calm, happiness, boost energy and how you can work simple natural remedies into your daily routine. This is a down-to-earth, expert introduction to the life-changing powers of nature's potent remedies from forager, herbalist and wild plant medicine teacher Brigit Anna McNeill.
Bloom: Using flower essences for personal development and spiritual growth
by Stefan BallInsightful and engaging, Bloom explains how to use the Bach Flower Remedies for personal and spiritual growth. Written by a key team member at the Dr Edward Bach Centre, Bloom reveals how the Bach flower essences offer a complete system that can help us to change our lives for the better. Chapters 1-7 explore the ways in which the remedies relate to different life experiences, as well as intriguing schools of religious and philosophical belief. Interspersed with chapters 1-7, chapters i-vii look closely at the individual remedies in the system, explaining when to take each one and what they will do for you. Containing a wealth of personal stories, individual testimonies and fascinating anecdotes, Bloom has something to offer to anyone interested in the Bach Flower Remedies or drawn to personal development in general. Discover how to use the remedies to improve your own life and to grow into your full potential.
Blood Water
by Dean Vincent CarterThey're all dead now. I am the last one.Dr Morrow can't identify the 'thing' he found living in the lake but he knows it's dangerous . . . then it goes missing . . . Caught in the flood that is devastating the town, brothers Sean and James stumble across Morrow and the carnage left at his lab. The missing specimen is some kind of deadly parasite that moves from person to person, destroying its hosts in disgusting, gory ways.The death toll will rise along with the waters unless the brothers can track down the homicidal specimen and find a way to destroy it.
Blood Sisters
by Barbara Keating Stephanie KeatingDuring their childhood years in the Kenya Highlands of the 1950s, three girls from vastly different backgrounds become blood sisters, promising that nothing will ever destroy the bond between them. But as they grow up love rivalries, broken promises and the tensions and violence of a newly independent Kenya threaten to tear their childhood dreams apart.
Blood on the Streets: A Murderous History of Limerick
by Anthony GalvinLimerick is known as the Treaty City, commemorating the site where peace was made during one of Ireland’s bloody wars. However, since the 1980s the city’s reputation has been tainted by gang feuds, earning it the infamous nickname ‘Stab City’.In Blood on the Streets, Anthony Galvin explores the many notorious murders that have been perpetrated in the city over the years, including the case of Deborah Hannon, who, along with her father’s lover, Suzanne Reddan, hacked her best friend to death with a Stanley knife. Galvin recounts the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, shot by the IRA during a botched armed robbery, and the story of the last man hanged in Ireland following his conviction of the rape and murder of a nurse on a quiet suburban road.Blood on the Streets also spotlights the city’s hit men, including the only hit man in the country to have been convicted of murder twice, and delves into some of the most notorious of the recent gangland killings.