Books published by FeedARead.com

At the age of seventy-five Audrey Monkton, a respectable Welsh pensioner, decides to steal a substantial amount of money from Nottswood Council, of which she is the mayor. Audrey flees to South America, specifically the Welsh settlement in Patagonia where she was born, and takes back ownership of her family farm. Robert Fry, a forty-year-old British diplomat based at the embassy in Buenos Aires has been on a path of self-destruction for many years and hopes that a new posting back in London might help him rejuvenate his life. However, he is given one last task before leaving for London: to locate Audrey Monkton and the stolen money. When Robert arrives in the remote region of Patagonia he finds that the task is not quite as simple as he expected, and Audrey is far from the frail little old lady he had imagined.

This is the story of wonderful westies who live far away in a magical kingdom full of beauty and happiness. The hero is Sir Paddy, a westie knight, who lives in a beautiful garden with his trusted steed Lancelot and five silly chicks who act as his squires. The silly chicks love to play tricks, which always go wrong making them look very silly indeed. Luckily Commando Kit, a Special Forces elite snail, and his troop of snails are on hand to keep the garden running smoothly. Enter the magical kingdom and join Sir Paddy and all his friends on their many adventures and laugh at the antics of the silly chicks in this delightful book.

There were two men called Barabbas, both of them called Jesus Barabbas. They crucified the wrong one - but what about the one that got away? This book tells you. Jerusalem AD 33 was a city in uproar, the authorities were struggling to keep the peace. An unusually candid view of the infighting that followed the death of Jesus, as seen by a lucky but unrepentant eye witness. An account which might help answer some of the New Testament's more puzzling questions. WHY are the gospel accounts of Jesus' trial almost certainly untrue? Why if Mary Magdalen was so central to Jesus' life does she abruptly vanish from the story? WHY if Paul was such a misogynist were so many early churches led by women? WHY do the disciples seem to have rejected Jesus' nominated successor? One highly unlikely source might just have the most likely answers. In the words of Barabbas the robber - "I was there, and I saw, and I remember." A plausible and fascinating suggestion of what might have happened. Why has no one written this story before?

In the cold light of day a solemn vow is made, with it's origins firmly rooted way back in the 1970's and centred around four lads with a pocket full of dreams and a lust for fame and fortune. Harbouring a desire to escape the monotony of factory life they embark on a roller coaster ride to stardom. Under the spell of a hypnotic and enigmatic manager "Barry Sullivan", they step straight into the bright lights of celebrity, transforming their lives forever. They cross paths with Shirley Bassey, Freddie Mercury and Paul McCartney - to name but a few. T.V., radio and national press exposure become the norm, momentarily making them household names. Thunder clouds begin gathering on their horizon bringing a series of tempestuous and turbulent events ultimately leading to a pledge lost in the annals of time being realised. This extraordinary true story takes us full circle, exploring the gritty world of wanna be pop stars, leaving no stone unturned. A plethora of wonderful characters bring this story to life, Bright Lights Dark Days is a beautiful, moving and humorous tale that will stay with you long after the final chapter - charmingly British and simply stunning.

The Balkans at the dawn of the twentieth century where crowned heads lie under the shadow of the assassin and the blood feud still flourishes... A near fatal attempt on the life of the reckless and self-indulgent Roman Jovanovich, a prince and an army officer, changes him for ever. He pursues his quest for vengeance with a conspicuous lack of good judgement, committing one folly after another and there is a price to be paid, not least by the women in his life; but when eventually he finds peace of mind it is where he least expects it.

In late 1949 Jon Cadwallader inherits a rich gold mine in Western Australia, but he wants to preserve the land and the Dreaming from a gold rush. Chips Carpenter's quest for a lost gold reef threatens the plan. Jon's life is further complicated by his friendship with Val, a fellow Pom, and Alice Macarthur's resentful nephew, Greg. A spell in the goldfields provides the cover Jon needs for his new wealth, and his future finally looks assured, but news from England turns his world upside down. Soon afterwards the fallout from a political decision made by the British and Australian Governments affects him, and others, setting in motion a chain of events that ultimately requires him to re-evaluate his feelings towards those closest to him.

In 1946 Jon Cadwallader escapes from a Western Australian orphanage following a traumatic death. He returns to England to find the little sister he left behind in Liverpool, but much has changed and an unexpected setback ultimately affects his life in ways he does not foresee. He returns to Australia without his sister, but his new beginning is complicated and riven by lies, deception and death. Then, when he least expects it, a stroke of good fortune provides him with an opportunity that has the power to transform his life forever and confirms in him a growing conviction: Australia belongs to him as much as he belongs to Australia.

Men Cry Alone is a highly controversial novel that explodes the myth that men cannot be victims of domestic abuse by women. Although domestic abuse regularly receives a high profile in the media, for many people it remains a shameful secret. For men, the problem is compounded by an even greater reluctance to admit it is happening. With an increasingly ageing population, the problem of abuse between partners because one is suffering from dementia is a growing one. It is a hidden area within a hidden area in terms of domestic violence towards men.'I wept many times reading Men Cry Alone. It is a profoundly moving novel ... a compulsive read.' Erin Pizzey, who opened the world's first shelter for battered women in 1971.'The experiences of these fictitious characters echo the real life tragedies that I have dealt with for nearly thirty years.' Susan Brown, Minister of Dornoch Cathedral.'A sensitive and touching portrayal of the far-reaching effects that dementia can have within a marriage.' Alzheimer Scotland.

When Dragan set out to become a tailor he didn't know that his life would depend on how good he could be. As a mischievous adolescent, inspired by tales of his legendary ancestor, Djordje, Dragan was always seeking adventure. Together with his cousin and dearest friend Rada they dreamed of times gone by, re-enacting battles against the Ottoman Turks until adolescent first love threatened to destroy their friendship. As the Nazis begin to unleash their power across Europe, evil descends upon Dragan's beloved country once more, ripping it apart and Dragan's family are drawn into the local resistance, hitting back at the Nazis. Witnessing betrayal, torture and execution, the only way open to Dragan is to join the Royal Serbian Christian Army. As communist forces sweep through the country, the Royalists' only hope is that the British will help them liberate their country and restore the monarchy but are duped into surrendering to them instead. Exiled from Yugoslavia, they are moved from one internment camp to another. Faced with the constant threat of starvation and further betrayal, an unbreakable bond is forged between comrades as Djordje guides Dragan from the dark into the light.

Fantasy and history are woven throughout this enchanting tale of two young misfits. The year is 1850 and Alexander "Lexie" Marr is a lonely boy who escapes to his private haven on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland. Through the spooky misty gloaming, he meets Segolene, an odd looking girl who loves to dance to the haunting music of his flute. Lexie is oblivious to her strangeness and innocent ways until one day he witnesses a bizarre phenomenon. Could it be that she is part of the famous legend of the Silkie People? There has always been a rumour that they are seals that transform themselves into humans and live shadowy lives among the community.

Thespians is about the lives of actors, especially actors of a certain age who worked in and remember the golden age of the British repertory system. Thespians recounts the stories of over forty actors, interwoven into relevant themes. Many of the actors are household names, some of them relatively unknown. Famous or not, their stories are equally engrossing and provide a glimpse into the hard, exciting but rarely glamorous life of actors working in provincial theatre in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Most of the actors in the book have careers going back over fifty years, some even longer. Thespians is essentially, but not exclusively, about the good old days of rep, establishments that have now largely disappeared except in the memories of those who grew up in them. Fifteen or twenty years from now sadly none of those actors will be around to pass on their fascinating tales. As someone who worked in rep and knows and worked with many of the actors who have contributed to this book, I have tried to provide, in an entertaining and informative way, a record of all aspects of those times so they will, hopefully, not be forgotten.

** Winner of the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award for adult fiction, 2018 **After Kristallnacht in 1938 Doktor Theodore Goldstein, his wife Lisl, and their small son Theo, flee from Berlin, across the North Sea to Edinburgh. But then a friend from the old days arrives, and they find themselves once again facing ruin and terror.