Lots of news today from Joffe Books, so let’s get to it: Seconds to Die by Rebecca Bradley is Joffe’s Book of the Week, and has all the twists and turns required of a bestseller:  a killer who sends drawings of the murders he will commit.  A detective who will do anything to stop him.

At only 99p/99c to celebrate the launch.

And yet more:

Murder under the Bridge by Roy Lewis. 99p/99c

Meet Arnold Landon, mild-mannered history buff turned amateur sleuth. Really truly, a fabulous read. I gulped it down. And what a jacket.

“Assembling layer upon layer of details . . . Lewis brings an insidious cleverness to his latest offering . . . canny enough to keep us enthralled.” Publishers Weekly

“The skilful Mr Lewis has made Arnold Landon an unforgettable character.” New York Times

Quiet Neighbours by Catriona McPherson 99p/99c

After a horrendous year, Jude buys a train ticket to the last place she remembers feeling happy.  A bookshop in the Scottish Highlands.  Sometimes the place you run to is even more dangerous than where you came from . . .

Collateral Damage Paul Bennett  99p/99c

The very title summons a chilling suspicion. An innocent hurt? Whaaat? So let’s have a look …

Nick Shannon knows what it’s like to be on the inside. He has the perfect experience for a job in the Fraud Squad, it’s just a shame that the cases thrown his way are about as stimulating as watching paint dry.

But now things are about to explode. I should say so. Behind the sofa with you. Duck!

MORE EXCITING NEWS.

The Joffe Books Store is here.  Joffe Books wanted to create one space especially for its readers where we can discover the work of Joffe’s authors, all in one place.

Ta ra… Roll of drums … Enter the Joffe Books Store which  allows us to browse all our old favourites, discover exciting new reads, shop for box sets and more. With Christmas on the way – oh yes it is, this could save time all you readers as you bustle in from the shops, and want to collapse over a cuppa, having plodded around shop after shop. Here it is, made easy for you, just one  convenient location.

Joffe Books Store UK    Joffe Books Store US

Visit the store today and tell Joffe  what you think.

And finally:

Join Joffe Books authors Margaret Murphy and Susanna Beard for a full day of exclusive events at Perfect Crime Festival 2021!

Margaret and Susanna are joined by some of the biggest and most exciting names in the world of crime writing to discuss how Liverpool as a city inspires crime writing and why are we fascinated by the murderous mind. A fabulous list of speakers including Ann Cleeves and Sophie Hannah and many many more. A feast of authors, a great time will be had.

Book your tickets here today.

September 11^th 2001, a date where  many people around the world know exactly where they were and what they were doing.

I was nine, my mum picked me up from a after school club and we went to a friend’s house where we all  watched the horror unfold on TV, I remember the broadcasters’ screams as they witnessed the second plane strike the twin towers, I struggled to understand what I was seeing, the smoke, the shock in my parents’ faces, the horror, the fear. I wondered why it was happening, what did all of those innocent people do to deserve their fate  as they started work for the day? Suddenly everything seemed to have changed in my life.

In the years since I have watched a couple of documentaries with stories from survivors and eyewitnesses. Initially I wanted to write about the unsung heroes of that fateful day but morally I felt I couldn’t do so as everyone in their own way was a hero; some ran up the stairs towards the danger in a effort to save as many as they could, some did everything in their power to help strangers get to safety, some dug through the mountain of debris to help save someone’s life, some stayed calm and listened to the heart-breaking phone calls from those trapped above the fires and relayed messages to their loved ones.

Our Frost Magazine editor was at an auction sale. The sale stopped, people went home in silence, raw with shock. Her husband was in a meeting with Americans nearby. They rushed to the airport. What did it all mean? everyone thought. What? What was going to happen?

In 2008 I visited New York City and one of the many places I went to was Ground Zero, which was at the time under construction as the memorial was being built. Unlike the other stops on my trip, it was not full of hustle and bustle and crowds of people. It was quiet and sobering and incredibly emotional. I struggle to find the words to describe exactly what it was like , unless you have been there it is something you may not understand.

So many changes, but I speak of only those I experienced: before 9/11 as I flew out to America, it was not necessary to have a ticket before walking around a airport or to wait at the gate, passenger ID’s were not checked prior to boarding a plane and the only item that people had to remove when passing through security was loose change. Airport staff did not need background checks prior to employment and checked baggage was never scanned.

But most importantly for that nine year old that was me, is that  from that age I  realised our safety is not a given, because up until that moment this child named Natalie had assumed the rock like foundations on which her life was lived were assured forever.  Out of the blue , I realised, everything can change as it did that day.

I also learned that this is when the rebuilding begins… Life resumes. We go on. 

9/11 is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a day  that stopped the world, one that showed the worst and the best in so many.

Images courtesy of Kim Knight.

“a weighty and wonderful addition to any bookshelf”

Do you need to see a doctor if you have a water butt? What’s the proper response if someone knocks you up? Is it correct to go to the stationer’s if you have no lead in your pencil? Our language is confusing enough for the British, so imagine what it must be like trying to understand us if you’re not from these Isles. English is chock-a-block with idioms, colloquialisms and slang – see what I did there?!

Well, Marshall Hall, an American resident in the UK, has over many years collected hundreds of phrases and compiled them into his ‘Britspeak for Yanks’ lexicon Blimey, I’m Knackered!

Split into chapters, the book is a delightful way to discover over 1,200 genuine down-to-earth differences between the two nations’ languages. It doesn’t just explain, it educates with factual references throughout. All done in Marshall’s calm and witty style – and he doesn’t shy away from the naughty bits!

There are intermittent illustrations by Mark Cowie, enhancing what is already a perfect book to dip in and out of. The hardback has 348 pages – making it a weighty and wonderful addition to any bookshelf.

Published by Imbrifex Books – available now in Hardback and ebook

Email BlimeyImKnackered@outlook.com

Facebook @MarshallHallAuthor

Instagram @MarshallHall15

Photo credit: Peter Thody

Is it ever too early to think of who to give what for Christmas? No, especially the men in your life.

So Bee Bald was definitely worth a look, and a try… So did it pass the test?

For a start Bee Bald is a complete line of men’s premium quality grooming, shave and skin care products which seem to tick the boxes. A gentle face wash, a deep cleansing/exfoliating pre-shave scrub, a quality shaving cream, and for after… a healing balm and moisturiser.

But wait… Is this only for the Bald? Nope, if you have  hair Bee Bald is for you too. So why the name, Bee Bald? Well, why not, when honey and pollen extracts are components in each of Bee Bold’s products and  Dennis Fisher is … bald  and wanted to create products that were suitable for his face and head.

So has he done it?

Living with a man who has sensitive skin and is always changing his mind between a beard or clean shaven and having a buzz cut or letting his hair grow. I have witnessed the shaving burns  on his face and head, Not just that, but the  irritation  is not only painful to him but can cause self confidence issues.

Of course, being a busybody I have recommended some products that I have used and that have helped me but without success. He found they had a harsh floral or fruity scent and were not sensitive enough for his skin.

Since using the Bee Bald regime irritation is a thing of the past, and his skin is so smooth, I was jealous so I thought that I would try the moisturiser as well. All I can say is “wow” no more irritated skin, Bee Bald is now the go to product for both of us , it is incredible.

www.beebald.co.uk

Wouldn’t you love to have Michelin chef, Shaun Hill peering over your shoulder as you’re putting together a quick Chicken Bourride? ‘No dear, not flour, pop in a big dollop of garlic aioli to thicken the sauce, your guests will love it.’

If that resonates with you, then you need this fabulous new cookbook. Not just Shaun Hill, but sixteen top British chefs from around the UK share their secret tips for luxurious cuisine including: Chef Patron at KOL, Santiago Lastra; Great British Menu finalists Kerth Gumbs and Roberta Hall-McCarron; Executive Chef at Barrafina, Angel Zapata Martin; and Head Chef at acclaimed gastropub The Parkers Arms, Stosie Madi.

I love that this cookbook features the types of dishes so popular with modern entertaining: Small Plates, Sharing Platters, One Pots, Al Fresco, Dinner Party Starters, Dinner Party Mains, and Make-Ahead Desserts.

The recipes have that fine dining feel and yet are easy and fun to make, with plenty of supportive advice in the clear instructions. From Tuscan Fish Stew to Olive Oil Cake with Thyme Jelly and Elderflower Cream, even the titles make your mouth water.

The book’s beautifully illustrated, so you can see what you’re aiming for and it would make a fabulous gift (yes, Christmas is careering towards us rather too quickly).

Just to tempt you further the Wild Garlic Malfatti (an Italian gnocchi-dumpling hybrid) and the Sesame and Pink Grapefruit Treacle Tart are pictured below – how perfect for a late summer soirée?

Published by Great British Chefs, Around The Table is available from 2nd September 2021 priced at £24.99.

And now I need to start lunch – that Chicken Bourride isn’t going to make itself (even with Shaun Hill’s help).

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Although we have really only touched the tip of the iceburg on all things meditation & mindfulness, we’ve decided to move things on & now I’m going to focus on the second passion of mine – yoga.

Let’s get a few things straight, though first! I am not your typical yoga teacher. I’m partial to a good steak, will enjoy the odd glass at wine-o’clock & love a good party – who doesn’t? I have tight hips so my knees don’t elegantly grace the floor in lotus pose & I’m prone to drop the occasional f-bomb. But that doesn’t mean I don’t absolutely love yoga.

So what is yoga? Is it all sweat and stretch? Well, I do like my clients to feel they’ve had a good physical workout, but, and it’s an important but: yoga is more than the pose (in yoga speak poses are called asanas), it’s also what you learn on the way to attaining these poses.

What do I mean?

Yoga means union – union of body, mind & breath. Yoga is a very intentional practice, practicing yoga you are engaged & present. In the beginning you will concentrate on the asana itself & this has a calming effect as you focus on the bodily movements.

However, once you start uniting the pose with your breath this calms the mind, creating space in both the body and mind. This is when yoga moves onto a whole different level & it starts to become a more powerful, all round holistic practice. An emotional, mental & sometimes spiritual practice.

You see, as we start to release ourselves from our ego & forget about perfecting the pose, but instead bring our attention towards awareness, a voyage of self-discovery begins – this is when yoga becomes a practice for mind, body & soul.

As Amit Ray, one of yoga’s great spiritual masters says, “Yoga is the artwork of awareness on the canvas of the body, mind and soul.”

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ‘go to manual’ for all things yoga, states “Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind”.

On one level all asanas benefit both the external body building strength & muscle tone whilst balancing flexibility & mobility but they also cleanse the body internally – flushing out toxins out of the internal organs, balancing the hormones & the nervous system & reversing the aging process.

But by being intentional & engaged, bringing the awareness to the breath, over time the waves in our mind calm & we get to the point where we have created a palpable sense of peace & calm. We are truly focused & attentive, thinking only of the pose & the breath, totally in the moment & not distracted. We are in a state of flow or in ‘the zone’ which, many believe, is the secret of happiness. Put simply, as only Buddha can, ‘Rule your mind or it will rule you.’

And that’s why yoga is not just about the pose & it take you to a whole different plane than just the physical expression of the asana.

If you would like to practice yoga with Alex her YouTube channel offers free short classes for everyone & is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alternatively all of her classes are streamed on live on Zoom, for more information message her at alex@alexbannard.com

Free resources are also available on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexBannardYogaMindfulness

And her website is www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

Roberta leaves her six-week-old in the car as she nips to the shop. Surely nothing can go wrong when she’s only gone for a minute?

But when she returns, the baby is gone. Not only gone, but replaced with someone else’s child.

Get THE SUFFERING OF STRANGERS by Caro Ramsay today for a bargain price. Only £1.99 / $2.99 for launch!
              

A Bestselling Murder by Brian Battison  (Great title)   99p/99c

Bestselling author Glen Watkinson is murdered. His battered body is dragged inside and left in a car crusher. Only two teeth remain to identify him.

Three days after the murder, Billy Mason confesses to the crime. But why? The murder hasn’t even been reported yet . . .

An open and shut case – or is it?

Caribbean Flame  by Faith Mart writing as Maxine Barry  £1.99/$2.99

Keith sunk all his money into a luxury cruise liner . . . so when his death from a gunshot wound to the head is ruled as a suicide, his fiancée Ramona King finds it hard to believe.  Her prime suspect is the ship’s owner, the devastatingly handsome Damon King. But when they meet the passion between them is hard to deny.

Does Ramona have what it takes to resist Damon and uncover the truth?
 

Constable in the Wilderness by Nicholas Rhea OUT NOW – ONLY £1.99 / $2.99

Winter is coming to the North Yorkshire moors.  And the bobbies of Aidensfield had better be ready. The blizzard outside may be endless. But it’s nothing compared to Constable Nick’s caseload.

Dark days and ferocious weather engulf Aidensfield – can Constable Nick keep the peace despite the bitter cold? don piece together this murder mystery before anyone else gets killed?

And, great news and you are just in time to enter: The Royal Society of Literature has launched a short story competition that is now open for submissions!

The prize was founded by the RSL at the beginning of the new millennium to commemorate the centenary of an author widely regarded as the finest English short-story writer of the 20th century, and to preserve a tradition encompassing Pritchett’s mastery of narrative.

The annual prize of £1,000 goes to the best unpublished short story of the year. The winning entry is also published in Prospect magazine and the RSL Review.  This year’s judges are Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, Paul McVeigh and Emma Jane Unsworth.

Submission deadline is Friday 20th of August.

Find more about the prize at: https://rsliterature.org/award/v-s-pritchett-short-story-prize/

For more new books from Joffe Books: here

This month, the UK’s oldest remaining teddy bear manufacturer will celebrate the 100th birthday of Edward, Christopher Robin’s much-loved childhood bear who became the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh.

Purchased from Harrods, London, Edward Bear was given to Christopher Robin by his mother Daphne as a first birthday present on 21 August 1921. Daphne’s husband and Christopher’s father, AA Milne, was so enamoured by the partnership he witnessed between a boy and his bear, that he began to write stories about their journey through life together – and the stories of Winnie the Pooh were born. 

Now a century later, an adorable quartet of Edward bears created by Merrythought is charming a new generation of children and adults across the world. 

To celebrate this special bear’s 100^th birthday this year, Merrythought is also giving away a free commemorative gold-plated keyring with the purchase of every original 18in Edward bear, until the end of 2021.

Originally created by Farnell in 1921, Edward Bear was brought to life again for the 2017 Goodbye Christopher Robin film after Merrythought, which owns the Farnell brand, was asked to recreate the bear that featured throughout the award-winning film.

It has seen the Shropshire-based firm play its own part in the ongoing legacy of Winnie the Pooh, and the enduring stories of friendship which have connected people across the generations.

Hand-crafted in Shropshire, the premium teddy bear collection includes adorable Edward bears in three different sizes – 11inches, 18inches and 39inches and a cute limited edition 7in version.

Fourth-generation managing director Sarah Holmes said: “These very special bears have been handmade in our factory in Ironbridge using the same traditional skills and natural materials as Christopher Robin’s original Edward Bear, all those years ago.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 100th birthday of the bear which inspired AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.

“At its heart is the beautiful story of how a teddy bear captured a little boy’s imagination and how much joy and companionship children can find from teddy bears and soft toys. Now 100 years later, it’s wonderful to see how Edward is still enjoyed by so many adults and children alike, and we’re proud that he continues to be hand-made in Britain.”

Featuring a rich, golden mohair coat and sandy-beige pure woollen felt paws, Edward’s deep-set eyes, and hand-embroidered nose and friendly smile, give him real quintessential English charm. 

For more information, go to Merrythought.co.uk