Amazing Journey


Book Description

Walter Zehl’s story provides a rare, first-hand glimpse into a German soldier’s adventures, fighting in World War II. Walter’s numerous brushes with death are chronicled and how he used resilience, forged in adversity, to conquer all. But this autobiographical narrative is much more than a war story. It describes Walter’s early life in prewar Germany and tells of his daring escape over the border to West Germany, immigration to America and his struggles in pursuit of the American Dream. For those who aspire to write their own oral history, a step-by-step guide is included as an added bonus. This guide contains valuable tips and insights sure to bolster the success of any oral history project.




Among Our Books


Book Description




Ursula's Secret


Book Description

In just a few heartbreaking days, Lexy Shaw's world has fallen apart. After her mother is killed in a tragic hit-and-run, her mother's childhood guardian, Ursula, also dies suddenly, leaving everything to Lexy. But as Lexy reads through Ursula's hidden papers, what she discovers raises doubts about her own identity and if she really is now all alone in the world. Desperate to find out if she has any surviving family, Lexy travels to Africa hoping she can unravel the mystery she's now tormented by, only to find that she's stumbled into a past full of lies and deceit and that her life is in grave danger. Winner of the Sunday Mail Fiction Competition 2014 "Part detective thriller, part emotional journey, Ursula's Secret is a highly enjoyable and intelligent adventure that will appeal to fans of Kate Atkinson and Maggie O'Farrell. A very promising debut." SOPHIE COOKE, author of The Glass House "Lovely straightforward and absorbing story telling of complex lives and a secret that spans decades and continents." ISLA DEWAR, author of Dancing in a Distant Place "The complex story accelerates to a dramatic denouement that leaves Lexy enlightened and chastened, and on the verge of a new phase in her life, and leaves the reader wholly satisfied with Wilson's adept, sympathetic and colourful storytelling." MORAG JOSS, award-winning author of the Sara Selkirk novels 'Ursula's Secret is packed full of tension, questions, problems, secrecy and intrigue right until the concluding chapter.' EMMA CROWLEY, Shaz's Book Blog 'This book is filled with twist after twist, secret after secret which will keep you guessing right to the end.' PORTOBELLO BOOK BLOG 'I was completely captured from the beginning of Ursula's Secret, enveloped in the mystery and memories of Ursula and the beauty of her home. With it's 'smiling' staircase and Lexy's obvious wonder I was lost to the tale and it's descriptive content... I loved this read.' **** TRACY SHEPHARD, Postcard Reviews Blog




What We Leave Behind


Book Description

In 1947, war bride Ursula arrives in Minneapolis torn between guilt over leaving loved ones behind and her desire to start a new life—and a family—in this promised land. But the American dream proves elusive—she is struck with polio, and then shocked by the sudden death of her GI husband. Without a spouse or the child she so desperately wanted, Ursula must rely on her shrewd survival skills from wartime Berlin, and she takes in a boarder to help make ends meet. She soon falls in love with the Argentinean medical technician living in her spare bedroom, but his devotion to communism troubles her—and when she finds herself pregnant with his child, she is faced with a dilemma: how to reconcile her dream of motherhood with an America that is so different from what she imagined.













A fourth form friendship


Book Description

"A Fourth Form Friendship" by Angela Brazil is an enchanting novel that delves into the lives of young students as they navigate the complexities of school life, develop close bonds of friendship, and embark on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery. Set in the backdrop of a prestigious boarding school, the story follows a group of students who find themselves in the fourth form, a pivotal stage in their education. The term "Fourth Form" refers to a specific year or grade level in the school, suggesting that this is a crucial period for the characters' academic and personal development. At the heart of the narrative is a profound friendship that blossoms among the central characters. As they face academic challenges, engage in extracurricular activities, and navigate the intricacies of school hierarchy, their bond strengthens and deepens. The novel portrays the transformative power of friendship and the ways in which it can shape individuals' lives. Throughout the story, readers are treated to a vivid portrayal of the boarding school environment, including classrooms, dormitories, and communal spaces. The challenges and triumphs experienced by the characters are intertwined with their daily interactions, providing insight into their growth and evolution. The novel likely explores themes such as camaraderie, loyalty, resilience, and the importance of mutual support. As the characters support each other through academic endeavors and personal struggles, they learn valuable life lessons that extend beyond the classroom. The term "friendship" in the title suggests that the characters' connection is at the heart of the narrative. Their interactions, shared experiences, and emotional journeys create a rich tapestry that underscores the transformative nature of their time in the fourth form. As the characters navigate the academic demands of the fourth form and grapple with their own aspirations and challenges, they undergo significant personal growth. The term becomes a period of not only academic learning but also of self-discovery, as the characters come to understand themselves and each other more deeply.




Deadly Inheritance


Book Description

Accompanying American heiress Belle Seldon on a visit to her ancestral family home in Somerset, Ursula Grandison soon discovers that the decaying stately Mountstanton House and its inhabitants has many secrets, including a crumbling marriage and a missing dowry. When Ursula discovers the drowned body of the nurserymaid, she is determined to reveal the killer and, in doing so, reveals a tangled web of deception and adultery that threatens the reputation of the house of Mountstanton.