Month: June 2022

Forgotten Bastards Of The Eastern Front by Serhii Plokhy

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The Blurb On The Back:

In October 1943, with the outcome of the Second World War hanging in the balance, the Allies needed a new plan.  The Americans’ audacious suggestion to the Soviets was to open a second air front, with the US Air Force establishing bases in Soviet-controlled territory.  Despite Stalin’s obvious reservations about the presence of foreign troops in Russia, he was persuaded, and in early 1944 Operation Baseball and then Frantic were initiated as B-17 Flying Fortresses were flown from bases in Italy to the Poltava region in today’s Ukraine.

Award-winning historian Serhii Plokhy tells the gripping, little-known story of this encounter between American and Soviet soldiers and how their collaboration quickly fell apart, anticipating the transition from the Grand Alliance to the Cold War.  Soviet secret policemen watched over the Americans, shadowing their every move.  A catastrophic air raid by the Germans revealed the limitations of Soviet air defences.  As their initial enthusiasm turned into disappointment, the American soldiers started calling themselves the Forgotten Bastards of Ukraine.  Ultimately, no common purpose could overcome their cultural and political differences.

Drawing on newly opened KGB and FBI records, Forgotten Bastards of the Eastern Front offers a riveting bottom-up history of one of the Second World War’s most unlikely alliances.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book

You can order FORGOTTEN BASTARDS OF THE EASTERN FRONT by Serhii Plokhy from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Sustainable Planet: How Respecting The Earth Is Protecting Our Future by Anna Claybourne

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The Blurb On The Back:

Sustainable Planet

Planet Earth is facing BIG challenges.  As the population steadily grows, we’re creating more and more waste, using up natural resources, polluting our seas and skies and even changing our climate.  To save our precious home, we all need to learn to live more sustainably.

SUSTAINABLE PLANET looks at what sustainability is, why it is so important and how we can all help to create a better, more sustainable world for the future.  It explores some effective and achievable ways of improving sustainability, both with global actions, such as investing in renewable energy and protecting biodiversity, and individual ones, such as avoiding fast fashion, eating less meat and even planting trees.

SUSTAINABLE PLANET was released in the United Kingdom on 14th April 2022.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order SUSTAINABLE PLANET by Anna Claybourne from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Buzz! Inside The Minds Of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, And Adrenaline Junkies by Kenneth Carter

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The Blurb On The Back:

Most of us crave new experiences and sensations.  Whether it’s our attraction to that new burger place or the latest gadget, newness tugs at us.  But what about those who can’t seem to get enough?  They jump out of planes, climb skyscrapers, and will anything (even poisonous pufferfish) … Prompting others to ask “what’s wrong” with them.  These are sensation-seekers and they crave intense experiences, despite physical or social risk.  They don’t have a death wish, but seemingly a need for an adrenaline rush, no matter what.

Buzz! describes the world of the high sensation-seeking personality in a way that we can all understand.  It explores the lifestyle, psychology, and neuroscience behind adrenaline junkies and daredevils.  This tendency, or compulsion, has a role in our culture.  But where is the line between healthy and unhealthy thrill-seeking?  THe minds of these adventurers are explained page by page.  

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order BUZZ! INSIDE THE MINDS OF THRILL-SEEKERS, DAREDEVILS, AND ADRENALINE JUNKIES by Kenneth Carter from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Ten Minutes To Bed Little Fairy by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton

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The Blurb On The Back:

Poppy the fairy has very small wings, but that won’t stop her flying!

When a lost gnome needs her help, can Poppy fly to the rescue and still get to sleep on time?

This bestselling series is the perfect way to help little ones settle down for bedtime.

TEN MINUTES TO BED LITTLE FAIRY was released in the United Kingdom on 12th May 2022.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book

You can order TEN MINUTES TO BED LITTLE FAIRY by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Mr Men And Little Miss: The Royal Party by Roger Hargreaves and Adam Hargreaves

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The Blurb On The Back:

Mr Men Little Miss

The Royal Party

Little Miss Helpful is organising a very special party.  A street party with Little Miss Princess as the guest of honour, no less!

But Little Miss Helpful isn’t as good at organising things as her name would suggest and so it isn’t long before things start to go wrong, especially once Little Miss Naughty gets involved!

MR MEN & LITTLE MISS – THE ROYAL PARTY was released in the United Kingdom on 28th April 2022.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order MR MEN AND LITTLE MISS – THE ROYAL PARTY by Roger Hargreaves’s and Adam Hargreaves from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Rebel Skies by Ann Sei Lin

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The Blurb On The Back:

Welcome to a world of sky ships, flying cities and powerful paper sprites …

When servant girl Kurara’s trick of making paper come to life turns out to be a power treasured across the empire, she escapes her old life to become a Crafter on board a skyship.  There she learns to hunt wild paper spirits called shikigami – and a whole new world begins to unfold. 

REBEL SKIES was released in the United Kingdom on 5th May 2022.  Thanks to Walker Books for the review copy of this book.

You can order REBEL SKIES by Ann Sei Lin from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Doing Philosophy: From Common Curiosity To Logical Reasoning by Timothy Williamson

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The Blurb On The Back:

For those who are new to philosophy the methodology for philosophical thinking may seem almost mystical.

And yet the processes are more familiar than we may initially fear.

Drawing on examples throughout the history of philosophy’s successes and failures, Timothy Williamson demonstrates how philosophy begins with common-sense curiosity, and develops through our capacity to dispute rationally with each other.

As he shows, philosophy can clarify our thoughts.  This depends on the development of philosophical theories, which can be tested by imaginative thought experiments, and compared against each other by standards like those in science.  Overturning the widely held dogma of the special nature of philosophy, Williamson unravels its methods, uncovers both their power and their limitations, and assesses the future of philosophy.

From thought experiments to deduction to theories, this little book will make you rethink what philosophy is.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order DOING PHILOSOPHY: FROM COMMON CURIOSITY TO LOGICAL REASONING by Timothy Williamson from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Big Sister: Ruby And The New Baby by Fiona Munro

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The Blurb On The Back:

Ruby is used to being the centre of attention, until a baby brother comes along!

At first, she can’t wait to make friends with the new arrival – but Raj isn’t old enough to play yet.  And Ruby isn’t sure she likes having to share her mum and dad with a little brother.  Then, the incident with the bear happens …

This book is perfect for little ones who are about to get a new sibling.  

BIG SISTER – RUBY AND THE NEW BABY was released in the United Kingdom on 6th January 2022.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

You can order BIG SISTER – RUBY AND THE NEW BABY by Fiona Munro from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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Bad Actors by Mick Herron

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The Blurb On The Back:

In MI5 a scandal is brewing and there are bad actors everywhere.

A key member of a Downing Street think tank has disappeared without trace.  Claude Wheelan, one-time First Desk of MI5’s Regent’s Park, is tasked with tracking her down.  But the trail leads straight back to Regent’s Park HQ itself, with its chief, Diana Taverner, as prime suspect.  Meanwhile her Russian counterpart has unexpectedly shown up in London but has slipped under MI5’s radar.

Over at Slough House, the home for demoted and embittered spies, the slow horses are doing what they do best: adding a little bit of chaos to an already unstable situation.

In a world where lying, cheating and back-stabbing are the norm, bad actors are bending the rules for their own gain.  If the slow horses want to change the script, they’ll need to get their own act together before the final curtain.  

You can order BAD ACTORS by Mick Herron from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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The Worst Day Ever! by James Bishop

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The Blurb On The Back:

Chloe’s having a bad day.  

First she stubbed her toe.  Now she’s being followed by an alien.  It can only get better, right? WRONG.

Mylan’s travelling the universe, looking for someone having a bad day, to help them.

But after Mylan makes a TINY mistake, suddenly earth is about to be ‘recycled’.  Chloe and Dylan must save the planet!

Throw in a swanky spaceship, a grumpy queen of the universe and some technology that could go haywire at any moment … and you have an amazing INTERGALACTIC ADVENTURE!

THE WORST DAY EVER! was released in the United Kingdom on 6th January 2022.  Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book

You can order THE WORST DAY EVER! by James Bishop from Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

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