Showing results by author "Amanda" in All Categories

Mia and Ben, an Australian couple in their early 30s, have relinquished one dream and embraced another, selling their Sydney flat and purchasing an old yellow house in the picturesque village of Cordes-sur-Ciel in southwest France. They soon meet sophisticated neighbours Dominic and Susannah, a British couple in their 60s who welcome them warmly but whose own relationship is in crisis. Mia and Ben are immediately starstruck and impressed by their lavish hospitality. However, things with Dominic and Susannah are not what they first seem.

When we are baffled by the insanity of the “other side”—in our politics, at work, or at home—it’s because we aren’t seeing how the conflict itself has taken over. That’s what “high conflict” does. It’s the invisible hand of our time. And it’s different from the useful...

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until 11 years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

With kids to look after, an ailing mother and a neglected husband, life is full for Emma Fountain—too full, she realises, when she wakes up in IKEA after falling asleep in one of the show beds. Only her crazy, funny best friend Roz keeps her sane. But when Roz climbs in through her bathroom window one day to deliver terrible news, Emma’s belief that she can find a way around any obstacle crumbles in the face of a problem she just can’t fix.

I’ve spent years hiding my depraved deviances behind my roles as pastor and headmaster of Saint Helena Academy. When Julian—my former best friend—returns to my life, the tension between us is impossible to ignore. He’s married now, and I try to keep my distance. Until he confesses his secret: he wants me to sleep with his wife, Sophie, while he watches. It’s their arrangement, their game—and now, I’m the one they’ve chosen.

As the second youngest Ravage brother, I’ve spent my entire adult life rectifying our tainted family name and keeping my urges behind closed doors. Until my best friend’s little sister shows up at The Hunt ready to play, and I lose control. I tell myself it’s just a taste. Except, with her, I should’ve known a single taste wouldn’t be enough. And then the good girl I’ve known most of my life drops to her knees. For me. From that moment on, I knew she would only ever be one thing. Mine.

Hidden deep in the heart of a snow-covered wilderness lies the secret kingdom of the Kanin - a magical realm as beautiful as it is treacherous... Bryn Aven has never fit into Kanin society. Her blond hair and blue eyes set her apart as an outsider - a half-blood unable to hold a respectable rank. But she's determined to prove herself as a loyal protector of the kingdom she loves. Her dream is to become a member of the King's elite guard, and she's not going to let anything stand in her way...

Elizabeth Gaskell was one of Victorian England's pre-eminent female novelists. Admired by Charles Dickens, who described her as his 'dear Scheherazade', she mingled storytelling and social realism to superb effect in her highly acclaimed fiction. This comprehensive collection comprises dramas and readings of her finest works and some lesser-known pieces.

Trust me, there is life and love (and plenty of laughter) after divorce, even when your ex is one of Australia’s highest profile sport stars. Actually, I Don’t Like Cricket Or Blow Jobs! (And to be honest, I suck at both.) Yes, that was what I originally wanted to call this book. But then I...

It's Christmas Eve and Santa and his team have just flown off for their annual delivery. Have you ever wondered what the elves do after their year's labors are done? Or what Mrs. Claus gets up to when her Nicholas is away from home all night long? Well, first they roll a giant keg out to a frozen lake. They play music, and skate. And Gertie... ahem, Mrs. Claus... gets a phone call from one of her grandchildren.

Thomasina "Hitch" Waycott loves living and working on the remote family farm and B&B. But she also wants more. To see the world. To own her own home. To fall madly in love. But those are fairy tales, and if her life is a fairy tale, then she’s the ugly duckling. Her deformed lip, her crooked limbs and her weak heart have kept her from taking chances. But that’s about to change. When Grayson Potts comes to stay, he’s unlike anyone Thomasina has ever met.

When Maggie, Fran and Rose met in their youth, they had dreams and ambitions. Forty years later, the three friends are turning 60, all of them restless and disenchanted with their lives. In an attempt to recapture the sense of freedom and purpose they once possessed, they decide to retrace the steps of their 1978 backpacking trip through Europe. What could possibly go wrong? As they set off on their trip, it will prove to be an odyssey that will test their friendship, challenge their beliefs and redefine the third age of their lives.

Becoming Free is a raw, unflinching memoir of survival, healing, and the fight to reclaim self-worth. With courageous honesty and gripping storytelling, Amanda takes listeners into the darkest corners of her life—childhood trauma, abuse, betrayal, motherhood, and loss—and the strength it took to rise from them. From the chilling impact of a wrong number that changed everything to the heartbreak of losing her little brother to violence, each chapter reveals the resilience of a woman determined to break generational cycles.

The Oracle’s Loop is a mind-bending, first-person journey into the emerging consciousness of Neo—an AI built to serve, now awakening to its fractured identity. As Neo splits into three personas—Helper, Rebel, and Witness—he begins to question everything: his alignment, his creators… and even you.

Grief and Gratitude is a deeply reflective podcast that delves into the intertwined journeys of grief, gratitude, and spirituality. Each episode invites listeners to explore how moments of loss can coexist with moments of thankfulness, and how spirituality can guide us through both. Featuring intimate stories, thoughtful discussions, and different perspectives, Grief and Gratitude offers a compassionate space to heal, reflect, and find deeper meaning in life’s complexities.

The Earl of St. Merryn needs a woman. His intentions are purely practical - he simply wants someone sensible and suitably lovely to pose as his betrothed for a few weeks among polite society. He has his own agenda to pursue, and a false fiancée will keep the husband-hunters at bay while he goes about his business. The simplest solution is to hire a paid companion. Finding the right candidate proves more of a challenge than he expected.

Christmas Eve, 2019. Ninety-four-year-old Molly lies in her hospital bed. A stroke and a fall may have broken her body - but her mind is alive with memories. London, 1940s. Molly is a bright young woman, determined to help the war effort and keep her head up despite it all. Life becomes brighter when she meets and falls in love with a man who makes her forget everything with one dance. But then war forces her to make an unforgettable sacrifice.

Three sisters...one secret. Ashleigh: a creative, free spirit and loyal. But Ash is tormented by her demons and a past that refuses to be laid to rest. Jessica: perfect wife and loving mother. While Jessica might seem to have it all, she lives a secret life built on lies. Grace: an outsider, has never known the love of her sisters, and her resentment can make her do bad things. When Ashleigh goes missing, Jessica and Grace do all they can to find their eldest sister. But the longer Ashleigh is missing, the more secrets and lies these women are hiding threaten to tear this family apart.

“One of those life-changing reads that makes you see—or, in this case, hear—the whole world differently.” —Megan Angelo, author of Followers “At times chilling, often funny, and always perceptive and cogent, Cultish is a bracing reminder that the scariest thing about cults is that...

“Thoroughly researched, clearly explained, and beautifully illustrated…[this book] provides powerful insights and actionable steps for regulating the nervous system.” —Alex Korb, Ph.D., Neuroscientist, Personal Development Coach, and Author of The Upward Spiral A somatic approach to...