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Trick or Treat

Lisa Morton

The first history of the misunderstood festival Halloween, and its current global popularity.

Trick or Treat is the first book to both examine the origins and history of Halloween and explore in depth its current global popularity. Festivals like the Celtic Samhain and Catholic All Souls’ Day have blended to produce the modern Halloween, which has been reborn in America – but there are also related but independent holidays, especially Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Lisa Morton explores the explosion in popularity of haunted attractions and the impact of events such as the global economic recession, as well as the effect Halloween has had on popular culture through literary works, films and television series.
Trick or Treat takes us on a journey from the spectacular to the macabre, making it a must for anyone who wants to peep behind the mask to see the real past and present of this ever more popular holiday.

The Worst Military Leaders in History

Chuck Steele, John M. Jennings

Spanning countries and centuries, a “how-not-to” guide to leadership that reveals the most maladroit military commanders in history—now in paperback.

For this book, fifteen distinguished historians were given a deceptively simple task: identify their choice for the worst military leader in history and then explain why theirs is the worst.

From the clueless Conrad von Hötzendorf and George A. Custer to the criminal Baron Roman F. von Ungern-Sternberg and the bungling Garnet Wolseley, this book presents a rogues’ gallery of military incompetents. Rather than merely rehashing biographical details, the contributors take an original and unconventional look at military leadership in a way that appeals to both specialists and general readers alike.

While there are plenty of books that analyze the keys to success, The Worst Military Leaders in History offers lessons of failure to avoid. In other words, this book is a “how-not-to” guide to leadership.

All Mapped Out

Mike Duggan

From cave paintings to Google, a thought-provoking investigation of how maps do not just reflect the world around us, but shape the way we live.

Maps go far beyond just showing us where things are located. All Mapped Out is an exploration of how maps impact our lives on social and cultural levels. This book offers a journey through the fascinating history of maps, from ancient cave paintings and stone carvings to the digital interfaces we rely on today. But it’s not just about the maps themselves; it’s about the people behind them. All Mapped Out reveals how maps have affected societies, influenced politics and economies, impacted the environment, and even shaped our sense of personal identity. Mike Duggan uncovers the incredible power of maps to shape the world and the knowledge we consume, offering a unique and eye-opening perspective on the significance of maps in our daily lives.

Miracles of Our Own Making

Liz Williams

A bewitching and authoritative historical overview of magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism.

“An absolute must for anyone interested in the development of paganism in the modern world. I cannot recommend this book enough.”—Janet Farrar, coauthor of A Witches’ Bible**

“At last, we have a history of British Paganism written from the inside, by somebody who not only has a good knowledge of the sources, but explicitly understands how Pagans and magicians think.”—Ronald Hutton, author of The Triumph of the Moon and The Witch

What do we mean by “paganism”—druids, witches, and occult rituals? Healing charms and forbidden knowledge? Miracles of Our Own Making is a historical overview of pagan magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. Exploring the beliefs of the druids, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings, as well as Elizabethan Court alchemy and witch trials, we encounter grimoires, ceremonial magic, and the Romantic revival of arcane deities. The influential and well-known—the Golden Dawn, Wicca, and figures such as Aleister Crowley—are considered alongside the everyday “cunning folk” who formed the magical fabric of previous centuries. Ranging widely across literature, art, science, and beyond, Liz Williams debunks many of the prevailing myths surrounding magical practice, past and present, while offering a rigorously researched and highly accessible account of what it means to be a pagan today.

A Band with Built-in Hate

Peter Stanfield

Exploring the explosion of the Who onto the international music scene, this heavily illustrated book looks at this furious band as an embodiment of pop art.

“Ours is music with built-in hatred,” said Pete Townshend. A Band with Built-In Hate pictures the Who from their inception as the Detours in the mid-sixties to the late-seventies, post-Quadrophenia. It is a story of ambition and anger, glamor and grime, viewed through the prism of pop art and the radical leveling of high and low culture that it brought about—a drama that was aggressively performed by the band. Peter Stanfield lays down a path through the British pop revolution, its attitude, and style, as it was uniquely embodied by the Who: first, under the mentorship of arch-mod Peter Meaden, as they learned their trade in the pubs and halls of suburban London; and then with Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, two aspiring filmmakers, at the very center of things in Soho. Guided by contemporary commentators—among them, George Melly, Lawrence Alloway, and most conspicuously Nik Cohn—Stanfield describes a band driven by belligerence and delves into what happened when Townshend, Daltrey, Moon, and Entwistle moved from back-room stages to international arenas, from explosive 45s to expansive concept albums. Above all, he tells of how the Who confronted their lost youth as it was echoed in punk.

That Holiday in France

Rhoda Baxter

"A perfect lockdown escape read."

When Ellie's boyfriend forbids her from going to France to attend her best friend's wedding, she decides she's had enough. She dumps him and goes to France by herself. But travelling alone is scary and Ellie realises how reliant she'd become on the men in her life.
On holiday, she learns to trust her own judgement and grows in confidence. Just when she decides she doesn't need a man to complete her, she meets Ash, who is everything her ex wasn't.
But is Ellie willing to give up her new found independence and link herself to another man?

Christmas for Commitmentphobes

Rhoda Baxter

At Christmas time, the last thing you need is more commitments.

Lara is so busy working that she's up in Yorkshire, pitching for business, just before Christmas. When bad weather sees the trains cancelled, the only place she can find shelter is a small pub called the Trewton Arms.

Thilini ('Tilly') loves that her art helps feed her travel addiction. She's back in England for Christmas and can't wait to be on the move again.

When they meet their attraction is hard to deny. But what happens when the trains are running again and they have to go their separate ways?

Belonging

Rhoda Baxter

She's grieving her lost love. He's searching for his lost niece. Can attraction overcome family loyalty in this enemies to lovers romance?

Hiding away in a tiny Yorkshire village, Harriet is grieving for her lost love. His family won't talk to her and she can't move on from from his death. All this changes when his daughter, Niamh, turns up on her doorstep, needing a sympathetic ear.

Tim thinks Harriet broke up his sister's marriage all those years ago. His sister's enemies are his enemies. When his niece runs away to Harriet's house, he knows he has to get her back before his sister finds out. But that means talking with Harriet.

As they work together to console Niamh and get her home safely, Tim and Harriet become increasingly attracted to each other.

But with attraction comes guilt.

Can they overcome their respective loyalties and give in to love?

Girl Having a Ball

Rhoda Baxter

Sometimes event planning can be a load of balls.

Twenty two year old Stevie needs to prove to everyone that she's a grown up. So she throws herself into her dream of becoming an event planner by agreeing to organise a fundraising ball in Oxford. Add a rambling house, a committee that can't agree and budget that's far too small: Stevie thinks things can't get worse. Until her childhood crush, her big brother's old housemate, turns up.

Tom is working hard to be the success his mother wants him to be. When he realises that the ball his mum and her friends are organising will be run by his friend's baby sister 'poor, needy Stevie', he steps in to avoid disaster. But Stevie is no longer a teenager, she's a disturbingly attractive young woman … and she's not about to let anyone get in her way.

Shortlisted for the 2017 Romantic Comedy Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Girl Having a Ball is the second standalone novel in Rhoda Baxter’s Smart Girls series. Ideal for fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Sue Moorcroft.

Girl in Trouble

Rhoda Baxter

"If the song "Miss Independent" was a book, it would be Girl In Trouble" Jocelyn on Twitter

Olivia doesn't believe in happy families. She can't trust men to be reliable, so she’d rather manage without one. As for kids - she's never having those.


Marine biologist Walter is losing his daughter. He longs for a second chance to prove he can be a reliable dad.
When Olivia discovers she's pregnant by her douchebag ex, Walter finally sees a way to be more than just a friend-with-benefits to her.


But how can he persuade the most independent woman he's ever met to accept his help, let alone his heart?

Snowed In

Rhoda Baxter

A Cosy village pub. A secret millionaire.

A snowstorm that will change everything.

Introvert Tracey sold her beloved app for millions and now everyone wants to know what she's going to do next. Burned out and exhausted, she retreats to her Aunt's pub in Yorkshire for a much needed dose of anonymity. The village is cosy and adorable, and better yet, there's barely any phone signal.

Vinnie was dumped just as he was about to propose. He plans to nurse his broken heart, hiding from everyone until the new year.

Being snowbound at the old-fashioned pub for Christmas throws them together. But will Tracy's true identity tear them apart?

Girl at Christmas

Rhoda Baxter

"It's perfect reading for a cozy holiday night." Amazon review


Tammy is normally at her happiest at Christmas, but when her long term partner dumps her with no real explanation, her Christmas starts to look bleak.

Lawrence has just been told he has an inherited heart condition... and he's not allowed too many mince pies. Not exactly a recipe for a great holiday.

With time running out for Lawrence, will the two friends realise that the ingredients for a happy Christmas were right in front of them all along?

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