never dull

Schooldays at St Clare's are never dull for twins Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan in Enid Blyton's much-loved boarding school series. The Second Form at St Clare's The twins have made it to second form. New girls Gladys and Mirabel have great talents for acting and music, and Elsie, the form's unpopular Head Girl, learns to be less spiteful. The Third Form at St Clare's It's time for a new head girl. There are plenty of candidates, but after a terrible accident, and an hilarious school play, the true leaders are revealed. Kitty at St Clare's Pat breaks her arm and misses the first weeks of term. Will Pat be upset when new girl Amanda becomes Isabel's new best friend? There'll be mischief at St Clare's! Between 1941 and 1946, Enid Blyton wrote six novels set at St Clare's. Books 5, 6 and 9 are authorised sequels of the series written by Pamela Cox and feature storylines set in between the original Blyton novels. These books were published in 2000/2008 and are unillustrated.

Bloomsbury presents Saturdays at Sea by Jessica Day George, read by Grace Andrews. Jessica Day George's magical bestselling series comes to a rousing conclusion as Celie and her family set sea on a grand ship made in the likeness of their beloved Castle! There is never a dull moment for Celie and her family in Castle Glower—even when they're not in the Castle itself! After traveling to the seaside kingdom of Lilah's betrothed prince, Lulath, Celie and her companions are busy training griffins, enjoying wedding festivities, and finishing construction of a grand ship built from parts of the Castle. But on their maiden voyage, the Ship steers them far off course into uncharted waters. Celie and Lilah hope that the Ship is taking them to the ancient island where unicorns once roamed, but as the journey grows longer and supplies run low, they are in trouble. Celie, Lilah, and Rolf know they must trust the Ship as they trust the Castle, but what if they never reach land again?

In this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's beloved No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe and her loyal associates take on a sensitive new case and learn valuable lessons. "Delightful . . . The warm humanity infused throughout [these] novels is what brings readers back . . . [McCall Smith] brings out the profound importance of everyday revelations." --San Francisco Chronicle Life is never dull for Botswana's premier lady detective, Precious Ramotswe. As a particularly delicate situation is brought to her attention, she must, with the help of her loyal associate Grace Matsuki, set out to investigate the peculiar circumstances surrounding the case. Over the course of their inquiries, unexpected information continues coming to light, leaving the pair puzzled--eventually, Mma Ramotswe will realize that the truth, as ever, is more complicated than it first seems. With the generosity and good humor that guide all her endeavors, Mma Ramotswe will untangle these questions for herself and her loved ones, and prove that with a healthy dose of wisdom and a steaming cup of red bush tea, compassion will always win the day.

Contradictions (both real and apparent), oppositions, enigmas, provocations, challenges——this is the kind of material that makes a life, and is the kind of material that, in fiction, one is never quite sure of. With Pretty Ugly, Kirsty Gunn reminds us again that she is a master of just such stuff, presenting ambiguity and complication as the essence of the storyteller's endeavour. The sheer force of life that Gunn is able to load these stories up with is both testament to her unrivalled skill and an exercise in what she describes as 'reading and writing ugly', in order to pursue the deeper truths that lie at the heart of both the human imagination and human rationality. So here we have all the strange and seemingly impossible dualities that make up real life——and pretty ugly it can be, as well as beautiful, hopeful, bleak, difficult, exhilarating. But never, ever dull.

The hilarious adventures of everyone's favourite bear, Paddington, now a major movie star! "My legs are a bit short for the pole vault!" repeated Paddington hotly. "But they've always been that way." Somehow Paddington always manages to find himself in unusual situations. So it is no surprise when he gets into a spot of bother with some shaving cream, causes a London bus to be evacuated, and is mistaken for a famous Peruvian hurdler by a film crew. There's never a dull moment when a certain bear is around! For more than sixty years, Paddington Bear has touched the hearts of adults and children worldwide with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures.

Raising My Rainbow is Lori Duron's frank, heartfelt, and brutally funny account of her and her family's adventures of distress and happiness raising a gender-creative son. Whereas her older son, Chase, is a Lego-loving, sports-playing boy's boy, Lori's younger son, C.J., would much rather twirl around in a pink sparkly tutu, with a Disney Princess in each hand while singing Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi." C.J. is gender variant or gender nonconforming, whichever you prefer. Whatever the term, Lori has a boy who likes girl stuff-really likes girl stuff. He floats on the gender-variation spectrum from super-macho-masculine on the left all the way to super-girly-feminine on the right. He's not all pink and not all blue. He's a muddled mess or a rainbow creation. Lori and her family choose to see the rainbow. Written in Lori's uniquely witty and warm voice and launched by her incredibly popular blog of the same name, Raising My Rainbow is the unforgettable story of her wonderful family as they navigate the often challenging but never dull privilege of raising a slightly effeminate, possibly gay, totally fabulous son. Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader's guide and bonus content

Why bother fighting spectral foes like all the other exorcists when you can just eat them? Straight A student Eugene Korekishi doesn’t believe in ghosts…but his classmate Mogari Shishikuno is an exorcist who swallows them whole! Mogari can’t see ghosts on his own, but once he and Eugene meet someone with the sight, there’s only one path left—form an exorcist club at school and embark on anything but a normal high school life! From karaoke battles with ghosts to run-ins with the student council, there’s never a dull day in the lives of the Phantom Busters! But when they discover that Kanzaki is struggling with a certain hangup concerning his psychic abilities, the crew decides to hold a sleepover to help him open up to them!

The untold story of Sherlock Holmes’ greatest rival, Moriarty! Before he was Sherlock’s rival, Moriarty fought against the unfair class caste system in London by making sure corrupt nobility got their comeuppance. But even the most well-intentioned plans can spin out of control—will Moriarty’s dream of a more just and equal world turn him into a hero…or a monster? While there’s never a dull moment at 221B Baker Street, things are about to get a whole lot more lively. Or rather…lovey? And that’s because John has just announced to everyone that he is happily engaged to the lovely Mary Morstan. She has a very odd request for Sherlock, however—one that makes him question her true intentions. Or perhaps he’s just jealous that Watson is being taken from him!

Celebrate thirty years of the Large family in this stunning anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic. "If you are not familiar with these stories, you really have not lived ... you just couldn't get better" Guardian A stunning 30th anniversary edition of a family picture book favourite, this is the story of Mrs Large the elephant - who just needs five minutes of peace and quiet away from her boisterous children! So, taking refuge in the bathroom, she fills herself a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes in a tray of her favourite breakfast and the morning paper. But there's never a dull moment with the Larges, and it soon becomes clear that mum's quiet time is to be very short-lived! Family life is beautifully observed in this warm and funny modern classic from Jill Murphy, one of Britain's most treasured author-illustrators.

When the Lyons were let loose the nation roared - with laughter! Starry Hollywood husband and wife Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon set up home in England and gave radio one of the great domestic comedies. Throughout the '50s the ditzy Bebe and the laconic, wise-cracking Ben - plus their children Barbara and Richard - played themselves in a series of hilarious (and fictional) misadventures in which they were usually joined by Scots housekeeper Aggie and nosey neighbour Florrie. Here they are again in four classic slices of life, including the episode in which Ben and Bebe reflect on their first meeting (playing bridge with Charles Laughton and Gary Cooper at the Beverley Hills home of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford) and the very last programme in the saga, 'Roaming Scandals' from 1961. Life with the Lyons was always frantic, furious and funny. Never a dull moment! 2 CDs. 2 hrs approx.

Schooldays at St Clare's are never dull for twins Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan in Enid Blyton's much-loved boarding school series. Claudine at St Clare's Eileen's mother is the new Matron and Mam'zelle's niece, Claudine, joins St Clare's and causes havoc wherever she goes. The twins are enchanted by rebellious Claudine and her mad-cap plans, but will she last the term? Fifth Formers of St Clare's The girls are in the fifth form, about to reach the sixth, but they are not too old for tricks and escapades, jokes and excitement. Especially amusing is French girl Antoinette who, like her sister Claudine, doesn't always understand the ways of St. Clare's. The Sixth Form at St Clare's The unimaginable has happened - the twins made head girl! It's a tough job - cheeky first formers and cruel Priscilla keep the girls on their toes. There'll be mischief at St Clare's! Between 1941 and 1946, Enid Blyton wrote six novels set at St Clare's. Books 5, 6 and 9 are authorised sequels of the series written by Pamela Cox and feature storylines set in between the original Blyton novels. These books were published in 2000/2008 and are unillustrated.

Schooldays at St Clare's are never dull for twins Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan in Enid Blyton's much-loved boarding school series. The twins at St Clare's Pat and Isabel find life at St Clare's is not as easy as they thought. They have several surprises and arguments before they admit their troubles are of their own making, and settle down to make friends. The O'Sullivan Twins at St Clare's It's the start of the Easter Term and the twins are looking forward to meeting all their friends at St Clare's once more. They are determined to be obedient and studious, but the new girls prove to be so much fun. Poor Mam'zelle had better watch out. Summer Term at St Clare's The twins look forward to their first summer term at St Clare's. They soon make friends with new girl Carlotta, who has a secret past that she's desperate to hide. But sneaky Prudence finds out and tells everybody. How will the class react? There'll be mischief at St Clare's! Between 1941 and 1946, Enid Blyton wrote six novels set at St Clare's. This collection features the original text and is unillustrated.

The fifth book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary's series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won't be able to resist Jodi Taylor. A Fete Worse Than Death... The St Mary's Institute of Historical Research has finally recovered from its wounds and it's business as usual for those rascals in the History Department. From being trapped in the Great Fire of London to an unfortunately timed comfort break at Thermopylae, which leaves the fate of the western world hanging in the balance, Max must struggle to get History back on track. But first, they must get through the St Mary's Fete - which is sure to end badly for everyone. Only one thing is certain, life at St Mary's is never dull! Readers love Jodi Taylor: 'Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything ... Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine "Max" Maxwell have seduced me' 'A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun ' ' Addictive. I wish St Mary's was real and I was a part of it' 'Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked ' 'A tour de force'

The wildest, strangest, best Dresden adventure to date...Butcher s blending of modern fantasy with classic noir sensibilities ensures that there s never a dull moment. SF Site Paranormal investigations are Harry Dresden s business and Chicago is his beat, as he tries to bring law and order to a world of wizards and monsters that exists alongside everyday life. And though most inhabitants of the Windy City don t believe in magic, the Special Investigations Department of the Chicago PD knows better. Karrin Murphy is the head of S. I. and Harry s good friend. So when a killer vampire threatens to destroy Murphy s reputation unless Harry does her bidding, he has no choice. The vampire wants the Word of Kemmler (whatever that is) and all the power that comes with it. Now, Harry is in a race against time and six merciless necromancers to find the Word before Chicago experiences a Halloween night to wake the dead...

Christopher Briden, der Sohn des Earl of Wraithe, ahnt nichts davon, dass sein Vater einst ebenfalls zum magischen Zirkel der Sieben gehörte. Mit Huren und wahnwitzigen Duellen vertreibt der junge Adelsspross sich die freie Zeit, während Robert Swanson einer brandheißen Spur nachgeht: Es soll angeblich noch ein Grimoire geben, das Armand de Nevers damals übersehen hat. Swanson bittet den Earl of Wraithe um Beistand und Unterstützung, denn beide wissen, dass die Göttin aus dem Totenreich erwacht ist. Doch Swanson ahnt nicht, wie dicht seine Begegnung mit ihr bevorsteht...

7-in-1 Vielseitigkeit für endloses Spielvergnügen: Kombiniert Kletterleiter, Kletterwandimitation, Rutsche, Bogenkletterer und Sicherheitsmatte in einem Set. Perfekt für Indoor-Spielzeiten, bietet sowohl aktive Kletter-Abenteuer als auch entspannende Lese- oder Ruheräume am Bogen – never a dull moment für Kinder 1-3 Jahre. Hochwertige Birkenholzkonstruktion & europäische Sicherheitsstandards: Das Montessori Spielset besteht aus massivem Birkenholz mit klarer Holzmaserung, robuster und langlebiger als MDF oder Furnier-Produkte. Vorinstallierte Handläufe der Rutsche eliminieren Instabilitätsrisiken, vollständig konform mit EU-Sicherheitsnormen für Kleinkinder – Sicherheit steht an erster Stelle. Verstellbare Schwierigkeitsgrade für langanhaltende Kindentwicklung: Mit 4 einstellbaren Winkeln passt sich unterschiedlichen Altersstufen und Fähigkeiten an. Von einfacher Kletterübung für Toddler bis zu anspruchsvollen Herausforderungen fördert es Gleichgewicht, Koordination und motorische Fähigkeiten – langanhaltende Nutzung ohne schnellen Austauschbedarf. Ergonomisches Design für Komfort & Familienbindung: Der gebogene Bogen ist ergonomisch gestaltet, ideal zum Entspannen und Ausruhen nach spielerischen Aktivitäten. Das kompakte Design eignet sich für Wohnzimmer oder Kinderzimmer, ermöglicht Eltern-Kind-Interaktion und stärkt die Familienbindung – typisch Montessori-Prinzipien in der täglichen Nutzung. Einfacher Aufbau: Dieses Kletterset ist einfach aufzubauen und enthält alle benötigten Teile. Eine verständliche Anleitung sorgt für einen problemlosen Aufbau, sodass Ihr Kind sofort mit dem Spielen beginnen kann. Montessori-Kletterspielzeug lässt sich leicht auf- und abbauen und ist somit praktisch für die Aufbewahrung und Verwendung während des Spielens., Hersteller: STYPLZ

7-in-1 Vielseitigkeit für endloses Spielvergnügen: Kombiniert Kletterleiter, Kletterwandimitation, Rutsche, Bogenkletterer und Sicherheitsmatte in einem Set. Perfekt für Indoor-Spielzeiten, bietet sowohl aktive Kletter-Abenteuer als auch entspannende Lese- oder Ruheräume am Bogen – never a dull moment für Kinder 1-3 Jahre. Hochwertige Birkenholzkonstruktion & europäische Sicherheitsstandards: Das Montessori Spielset besteht aus massivem Birkenholz mit klarer Holzmaserung, robuster und langlebiger als MDF oder Furnier-Produkte. Vorinstallierte Handläufe der Rutsche eliminieren Instabilitätsrisiken, vollständig konform mit EU-Sicherheitsnormen für Kleinkinder – Sicherheit steht an erster Stelle. Verstellbare Schwierigkeitsgrade für langanhaltende Kindentwicklung: Mit 4 einstellbaren Winkeln passt sich unterschiedlichen Altersstufen und Fähigkeiten an. Von einfacher Kletterübung für Toddler bis zu anspruchsvollen Herausforderungen fördert es Gleichgewicht, Koordination und motorische Fähigkeiten – langanhaltende Nutzung ohne schnellen Austauschbedarf. Ergonomisches Design für Komfort & Familienbindung: Der gebogene Bogen ist ergonomisch gestaltet, ideal zum Entspannen und Ausruhen nach spielerischen Aktivitäten. Das kompakte Design eignet sich für Wohnzimmer oder Kinderzimmer, ermöglicht Eltern-Kind-Interaktion und stärkt die Familienbindung – typisch Montessori-Prinzipien in der täglichen Nutzung. Einfacher Aufbau: Dieses Kletterset ist einfach aufzubauen und enthält alle benötigten Teile. Eine verständliche Anleitung sorgt für einen problemlosen Aufbau, sodass Ihr Kind sofort mit dem Spielen beginnen kann. Montessori-Kletterspielzeug lässt sich leicht auf- und abbauen und ist somit praktisch für die Aufbewahrung und Verwendung während des Spielens., Hersteller: STYPLZ

Soundings and Choc Lit present the audio edition of Mistletoe and Mayhem at the Little Shopping Mall. There's a saying about all work and no play - but there's never a dull moment for Caroline working at Holly Walk Mall, especially at Christmas. When she's not dealing with orders from Ian, 'the manager who can't manage' as her friend Rachel puts it, she's overseeing the usual late-night shopping sessions, Santa's grotto construction and, most importantly, the sampling of many delicious festive treats at the Italian café her friends Nina and Marco own. But when a new jewellery shop moves in and brings 'mysterious guy with the cute bottom' to Holly Walk, Caro isn't yet aware just how much mayhem she's in for in the countdown to Christmas. With strategically placed mistletoe, revealing cowboy outfits and even a bit of sleuthing, could this festive season turn out to be the liveliest yet for both Caro and her beloved Mall?

The must-have bestseller from the Happy Pear twins! 'These lovely boys always create incredibly tasty food' Jamie Oliver Let's face it: while we want to eat more fruit and veg and things we know are good for us, we sometimes fall short because we're not sure how to turn all that great produce into great food. Well, welcome to the Happy Pear way of eating - healthy but never worthy, easy but never dull, and packed with mind-blowing flavour, exciting texture and vibrant colour. The Happy Pear opened when David and Stephen Flynn, passionate about starting a food revolution in their home town, took over their local fruit and veg shop and later opened a café. Their revolution has not only succeeded, but it is spreading, and The Happy Pear's fans range from young parents to pensioners, ladies-who-lunch to teens-on-the-run, hipsters to Hollywood stars. David and Stephen's first cookbook is full of irresistible recipes for everything from everyday breakfasts, lunches and dinners, to scrumptious - and yes, still wholesome! - cakes and sweet treats, to special occasion splurges . David and Stephen also tell their story (how they transformed from jocks to hippies before finally finding their groove), share their top tips for maximizing taste and goodness in food, and explain how they've succeeded in building a food business based on flavour, health and community. _____________ 'The poster boys for a healthy way of life' Sunday Times ' Proper good food . . . hearty, decent and delicious' Russell Brand 'I love The Happy Pear . . . genuinely good food that brings healthy eating in from the cold' Irish Times 'My favourite [vegetarian cookbook] . . . packed with recipes, health advice and inspirational stories' Huffington Post 'A healthy eating phenomenon' Mail on Sunday 'These Irish twins are on a roll' Time Out '[They] couldn't look healthier or happier . . . the poster boys for vegetarianism in Ireland' The Times

She let herself out of the large, untidy house and into her own beautiful, hyacinth-scented one. She sat down in the bay-window of her bedroom and combed her hair before the mirror. She took it all down and built it up again, but there was no one to see what she had done. * In the faded coastal village of Newby, everyone looks out for - and in on - each other, and beneath the deceptively sleepy exterior, passions run high. Beautiful divorcee Tory is painfully involved with her neighbour, Robert, while his wife Beth, Tory's best friend, is consumed by the worlds she creates in her novels, oblivious to the relationship developing next door. Their daughter Prudence is aware, however, and is appalled by the treachery she observes. Mrs Bracey, an invalid whose grasp on life is slipping, forever peers from her window, constantly prodding her daughters for news of the outside world. And Lily Wilson, a lonely young widow, is frightened of her own home. Into their lives steps Bertram, a retired naval officer with the unfortunate capacity to inflict lasting damage while trying to do good. * 'Her stories remain with one, indelibly, as though they had been some turning-point in one's own experience' - Elizabeth Bowen 'Always intelligent, often subversive and never dull, Elizabeth Taylor is the thinking person's dangerous housewife. Her sophisticated prose combines elegance, icy wit and freshness in a stimulating cocktail' - Valerie Martin 'A magnificent and underrated mid-20th-century writer, the missing link between Jane Austen and John Updike' - David Baddiel, Independent

What if the deadliest assassin in all of Mexico, a man with dozens of kills to his name, was actually a vacuum repairman in Arizona? Falcon City, Arizona. Jacques Ramirez works at Robotop, the leading home appliance company in the southwest United States. Jacques is efficient, thorough, and discreet. That last one is easy: he's also mute. But everything changes when two members of one of Paso del Rio's largest drug cartels stumble upon Jacques and believe him to be the deadly hitman who betrayed them in the past: the ruthless Ramirez. Could it be that the cartel's legendary clean-up man is really a legendary vacuum cleaner expert? Now that they've found him, the men of the cartel will do everything they can to kill this traitor! Nicolas Petrimaux presents a tribute to the action thrillers of the 1980s and 90s, a brutal narrative with never a dull moment. Gunning for Ramirez is as much a descendant of Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A. as it is Taratino's Pulp Fiction or Rodriguez's Mexico Trilogy.

Make Standout, Effortless and Appetizing Meals Using Your Most Versatile Kitchen Tool! Get ready to fall in love all over again with your Dutch oven. Through 60 mouthwatering recipes, Emily and Matt Clifton, authors of Cork and Knife, show you just how practical and exciting this essential kitchen appliance can be. Be it sweet or savory, long-simmered or last-minute, there is little you can't do in your Dutch oven-your dinners will never feel dull or complicated again. These are just some of the extraordinary dishes you'll be making time and again for your loved ones: - Slow-Braised Lamb Shoulder and Potatoes with Yogurt-Mint Sauce - Olive and Roasted Garlic Pull-Apart Focaccia - Plum, Raspberry and Almond Crumble - Hard Cider-Braised Turkey Thighs with Apples and Onions - Pommes Frites with Three Dipping Sauces - Beer-Steamed Mussels with Chorizo and Fennel - Wonton Soup with Homemade Dumplings and Bok Choy Whether you are gathering your family for a memorable feast, or settling in for a more intimate tête-à-tête between friends, The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook promises a no-fuss (and delectable!) answer to all your mealtime conundrums.

Has there ever been a history of the world as readable as this? In The Human Story, James C. Davis takes us on a journey to ancient times, telling how peoples of the world settled down and founded cities, conquered neighbors, and established religions, and continues over the course of history, when they fought two nearly global wars and journeyed into space. Davis's account is swift and clear, never dull or dry. He lightens it with pungent anecdotes and witty quotes. Although this compact volume may not be hard to pick up, it's definitely hard to put down. For example, on the death of Alexander the Great, who in a decade had never lost a single battle, and who had staked out an empire that spanned the entire Near East and Egypt, Davis writes: "When they heard how ill he was, the king's devoted troops insisted on seeing him. He couldn't speak, but as his soldiers -- every one -- filed by in silence, Alexander's eyes uttered his farewells. He died in June 323 B.C., at the ripe old age of thirty-two." In similar fashion Davis recounts Russia's triumph in the space race as it happened on an autumn night in 1957: "A bugle sounded, flames erupted, and with a roar like rolling thunder, Russia's rocket lifted off. It bore aloft the earth's first artificial satellite, a shiny sphere the size of a basketball. Its name was Sputnik, meaning 'companion' or 'fellow traveler' (through space). The watchers shouted, 'Off. She's off. Our baby's off!' Some danced; others kissed and waved their arms." Though we live in an age of many doubts, James C. Davis thinks we humans are advancing. As The Human Story ends, he concludes, "The world's still cruel; that's understood, / But once was worse. So far so good."

The prequel to The Crown: the first truly candid portrait of George V and Mary, the Queen's grandparents and creators of the modern monarchy Shortlisted for the Elizabeth Longford Historical Biography prize and the History Reclaimed Book of the Year prize The lasting reputation of George V is for dullness. However throughout his reign, the monarch navigated a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the fall of thirteen European monarchies and the rise of Bolshevism. The suffragette Emily Davison threw herself under his horse at the Derby, he refused asylum to his cousin the Tsar Nicholas II and he facilitated the first Labour government. How this supposedly limited man steered the Crown through so many perils is a gripping tale. With unprecedented access to the Royal archives, Jane Ridley has been able to reassess the many myths associated with this dramatic period for the first time. 'Wonderful... Never a dull paragraph' Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times 'Magnificent... An evocative and touching portrait of a surprisingly impressive man' Philip Hensher, Spectator 'A big, beautiful beast of a book. Fair, thorough and unexpectedly funny' Lucy Worsley

The perfect gift for fans of All Creatures Great and Small, this is a charming collection of classic stories from James Herriot's much-loved books, with insights into his life and work from his children Rosie and Jim. With astute observations and boundless humour, country vet Herriot captures the spirit of the Yorkshire Dales and of rural communities on the cusp of change, before tractors and machines had taken over and modern medicines and antibiotics transformed veterinary work. Along the way a beloved cast of characters emerges, from the squabbling brothers Tristan and Siegfried to Herriot's hapless courtship and eventual family life with Helen Anderson. But it's the animals which are at the heart of Herriot's stories. Whether he's dodging a raging bull on a risky artificial insemination assignment, becoming pen pals with Tricki Woo the spoilt Pekingese pooch, or the inevitable trials and tribulations of lambing season, there's never a dull moment in Herriot's company. At times moving and often laugh-out-loud funny, The Wonderful World of James Herriot will delight fans old and new. 'I grew up reading James Herriot's books and I'm delighted that thirty years on, they are still every bit as charming, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny as they were then' - Kate Humble, on the works of James Herriot

Life is never, ever dull in Agatha Raisin's sleepy Cotswolds village! Agatha Raisin's private detective agency is working flat out on a series of burglaries which take a violent turn when a friend of Agatha's is murdered during a raid on his antiques shop. Although determined to nail the villains, Agatha still makes time to help Sir Charles Fraith prepare to stage a massive, hugely glamorous event in the grounds of his ancestral home, Barfield House. When Agatha begins to receive death threats she escapes to Majorca to lie low for a while. There she meets her partner who is working as a dance instructor on a cruise liner. Their relationship founders over John's closeness to his stage dance partner, so putting her love life on hold, Agatha heads home. Can Agatha track down the would-be killer, nail her friend's murderers and rescue her romance with John? 'Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy' Ashley Jensen 'No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' Mail on Sunday 'A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed' Daily Mail 'The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status' The Times

Sophie is bored with her perfectly nice but deathly dull boyfriend Matthew. Sensing he's about to lose her, Matthew takes her on a last-ditch attempt trip to the seaside, hoping to rekindle their dying flames. But things take a dark turn when Sophie visits Mr Sandman, a Haitian priest, who claims that he can change Matthew into the boyfriend that she wants. But does Sophie really know what she wants? Never has the phrase 'be careful what you wish for' been more apt. Because Matthew does change...just not in the way that anyone could've predicted.

Madame Bovary follows the tragic life of Emma Bovary, a young woman who yearns for romance, beauty, and excitement beyond the dull routines of provincial life. Trapped in a mundane marriage to a kind but unimaginative country doctor, Emma seeks escape through romantic affairs and reckless spending. Gustave Flaubert's masterpiece is a biting critique of bourgeois values and a psychologically rich portrayal of a woman driven by dreams and desires she can never fully satisfy. With its elegant prose and pioneering realism, Madame Bovary remains one of the most influential novels in literary history.

Paddington has warmed the hearts of generations of readers with his earnest good intentions and humorous misadventures. This edition of the classic novel contains the original text by Michael Bond and illustrations by Peggy Fortnum and R.W. Alley. Somehow Paddington always manages to find himself in strange situations. From a squishy miscommunication involving oysters and public transit to a case of mistaken identity, there's never a dull moment when a certain bear is around! Paddington Races Ahead is the thirteenth classic novel about Michael Bond's beloved classic character, Paddington Bear. What sort of trouble will Paddington find himself in this time? Funny Stories for Kids: Whether he’s puzzling over oysters or causing chaos with shaving cream, Paddington’s adventures are sure to make young readers laugh out loud. A Beloved Classic Character: Paddington’s earnest attempts to get things right always seem to go wonderfully wrong, making him a friend to readers of all ages. Heartwarming Family Story: Join the Brown family as they navigate the delightful chaos that follows Paddington wherever he goes, from the kitchen to the park. Perfect for Young Readers: An ideal chapter book for children ages 8-12, with timeless illustrations that bring Paddington’s world to life.

'This is a hell of dull talk...How about some of that champagne?' Paris in the twenties: Pernod, parties and expatriate Americans, loose-living on money from home. Jake is wildly in love with Brett Ashley, aristocratic and irresistibly beautiful, with an abandoned, sensuous nature that she cannot change. When the couple drift to Spain to the dazzle of the fiesta and the heady atmosphere of the Bullfight, their affair is strained by new passions, new jealousies, and Jake must finally learn that he will never possess the woman that he loves. VINTAGE DECO: Nine blazing, daring novels to celebrate the 1920s - 100 years on.