Showing results by narrator "Tom Lawrence" in All Categories

A breath-taking debut from an author whose vision is both acerbic and tender. Seb's beautiful, beloved wife Leda has been killed by a swan. With a name like that, with a bizarre family history like hers, it isn't really surprising. Seb has a grip on her story and its aesthetics; he knows how it should go. Except that he doesn't. Sorting through her belongings after her death, he comes across a packet of unopened letters from a man whom Leda has never mentioned.

Self-belief is vitally important, but when we are overconfident we miss important signals, misjudge situations and leave ourselves open to criticism from others. This profound book shows through simple practical advice and cutting edge research how to be confident without falling into the trap of arrogance. Often the only thing separating successful people from the crowd is the beliefs that they have running around inside their heads and their innate self-confidence.

Jake is sure he's going to hate the village where he's moved with his mum and twin sister, Jenna. There are only about ten houses and a green - boring. But when Jenna spots the ghost of a cute-looking beagle with a lead in its mouth, Jake and Jenna begin to realize that the village might not be as boring as it first seemed and that there are some very spooky goings-on...not least, the deserted derelict house and the creepy noises that are coming from somewhere inside it....

A new couple have moved into Hardstone House, and it's just Jake's luck that instead of a cool, footballing grandson they have a granddaughter called Claire, who likes tap dancing and tea parties. But then Claire tells Jake and Jenna that Hardstone House was once a school, with a cruel and heartless headmaster, and she reckons it's haunted. But by whom? And why?

After accidentally summoning a demon while playing poker, the normally mild-mannered Chesney Anstruther refuses to sell his soul…which leads through various confusions to, well, Hell going on strike. Which means that nothing bad ever happens in the world – and that actually turns out to be a really bad thing. There’s only one thing for it. Satan offers Chesney the ultimate deal – sign the damned contract, and he can have his heart’s desire.

Chesney’s efforts to 'Save the Day' and 'Win the Girl' make slow progress. This superhero lark is a bit more complicated than he thought. But even as Chesney is trying to learn the ropes, Boss Greeley has made a deal with the Devil. A deal that is making Greeley stronger by the minute. Soon he will be untouchable. Meanwhile Reverend Hardacre digs deeper and finds that not everything in reality is quite what it seems… Now Chesney, the one-time actuary-turned superhero must continue the fight.

Meet Chesney Arnstruther. Once a mild-mannered insurance actuary, now a full-time crime-fighting superhero, it’s all he can do to kick bad-guy ass while at the same time holding down a steady relationship with the gorgeous Melda. Something is going on. Meet Xaphan, wise-cracking demon and the source of (almost) all of Chesney’s powers. He’s been asked by his infernal master to give Chesney whatever he needs…but surely stopping bad guys is not in Hell’s plan?

Marvo is a stage magician. His magic is real. Marvo grows up without knowing his parents, without knowing his heritage, without knowing much about life. The magicians have always been with us, since the beginning of civilisation. They fill our heads with the mist, keeping us from witnessing the stark reality of existence. But are things so bad that Marvo will bring it down on all of us, forever? Marvo begins to understand those around him, and his place in the world; he discovers that his remarkable powers can be put to good, or to evil.

In 1961, Derek Leech emerges fully formed from the polluted Thames, destined to found a global media empire. In 1978, three ambitious young men strike a deal with Leech. They are offered wealth, glamour, and success, but a price must be paid. In 1994, Leech's purpose moves to its conclusion, and as the men struggle, they realize to truth of the ultimate price.

Another rapid-fire selection of short, stimulating and entertaining capsules of philosophy from the master of the genre. This time Baggini applies his philosophical scalpel to famous sayings, proverbs and pieces of homespun wisdom. Should you really do as the Romans do when in Rome and practice what you preach? Is the grass always in fact greener on the other side of the fence, and is there ever smoke without fire? Is beauty always in the eye of the beholder and is it actually better to be safe than sorry?

Eddie, Adam, and David have the same gift. Separated by generations, they are linked by their ability to time travel. Using their dreams, they can appear like ghosts, wherever and whenever they want. The first is the genius who discovers dreamwalking. The second is a Haunter, a dreamterrorist, determined to change history for his own ends. The last is the novice dreamwalker who must battle to save his family, and himself, from oblivion.

Jack only wants to feel normal. But how can he? His mum doesn't seem to care, his dodgy uncle scrapes a scruffy kind of living, and they all live together in a run-down railway station. Things start looking up when Jack finds an old saxophone.

Three boys, two dogs and a whole lot of trouble! Jordan, Ryan and Boy Dave always get blamed for EVERYTHING. And OK, most of the time it is their fault - but this is one time it definitely wasn't! How could they have known that trying to save the world and being accidental reality TV stars would end in DISASTER?

Ned is starting at a new school. There's just one problem: everyone else can do magic. Ned can't. The only thing he can do is play the goosehorn.

When Nat Carver and his Wolven pal Woody learn that their arch enemy is creating a bad werewolf pack, they know they must stop him. Although it doesn’t help that Nat’s having problems with his own shape-shifting ability. Digging deep into history, the boys have to solve clues and riddles to stop one of the worst monsters ever!

Jamie may be a 12-year-old with his first summer job cleaning cars, and with a hopeless crush on 17-year-old receptionist Kitty - but in reality he is Jamie B., a dynamic superspy on a top secret undercover mission.

Nat Carver and Woody, his hairy shape-shifting friend, have escaped from barking-mad werewolves and scientists - and joined the Twilight Circus of Illusion. But the boys are far from safe.Soon they’re caught up in a terrifying new mission against an evil black widow vampire...The second fabulous story starring Nat and Woody from bestselling author Di Toft.

Not sure what to do when you've been dumped? Join The Ex-Files society and let them help you. Pete Johnson takes another affectionate and funny look at the ups and downs of teenage life in this sparky tale of love and how to get over it.

Delving into the interesting, amusing and often bizarre lore of numbers, this intriguing book uncovers the numbers that have shaped our history and culture, from ancient Babylon to the present day. Light-hearted and entertaining, but chock-full of fascinating and little-known detail, here you'll find the origins of many well-worn numeric words and phrases, explanations of numbers in art and popular culture, and numbers of religious and mythical significance and the superstitions surrounding them.

When Nat Carver takes home a strange and smelly mutt, his life is changed forever. Woody is the last of his kind, a Wolven, thought only to exist in legend. Then Nat discovers Woody has escaped from a top-secret science project - and some very bad guys want him back....A fast, funny, howlingly hairy adventure featuring a very odd dog, from début author Di Toft.