Claire Smith

Want to help your child learn to love reading, but no idea where to start? This book will guide you every step of the way. We are living through a reading crisis. Fewer children are enjoying books than ever before. The National Literacy Trust says reading for pleasure is at its lowest level in 20 years, and by the age of 18, only one in three still enjoy it. In the US, only 14% of children read for fun most days. This matters. Reading isn't just about school results. It shapes confidence, wellbeing, friendships, and even future opportunities. And while school is where reading is, home is where the real passion for books can be ignited. But today's parents all face the same questions: When should I start? How do I help without pushing? What if my child doesn't enjoy books? This book is for them. It's for the mum holding her newborn and wondering when to begin, for the grandparent of a four-year-old coming over to visit them at home with their first phonics book, and for the dad of a teenager who seems to have drifted away from books. Reading for pleasure is one of the most important predictor's of a child's success, and this book will show you how to help your child become not just able to read, but a reader.

Some loves are written in ash. Some curses are older than gods. Lyra has always dreamed of fire. In the flicker of candlelight, in the shadow of strangers, she sees pieces of lives she has never lived-deaths she cannot explain, desires that feel older than her own body. When a stranger appears at a funeral, watching her with eyes that burn like centuries, the dreams sharpen into memory. Eryx is the man who does not die. Scarred by the hand of a god, he has walked through endless lifetimes searching for her-the woman he is doomed to love, doomed to lose. Each time they find each other, passion ignites, and each time it ends in blood. His immortality is both gift and curse, binding them in an endless cycle of reunion and ruin. But now, the god who cursed him has awakened. Whispers crawl through Lyra's dreams, offering freedom at an impossible price: betrayal, blood, and a blade that can sever eternity itself. To break the chain, Lyra must decide whether love is salvation... or the final trap. Dark, gothic, and aching with desire, The Immortal: Until the End of Every Life is a story of obsession, sacrifice, and a love fierce enough to defy gods-even if it burns the world to ash.

Some loves are written in ash. Some curses are older than gods. Lyra has always dreamed of fire. In the flicker of candlelight, in the shadow of strangers, she sees pieces of lives she has never lived-deaths she cannot explain, desires that feel older than her own body. When a stranger appears at a funeral, watching her with eyes that burn like centuries, the dreams sharpen into memory. Eryx is the man who does not die. Scarred by the hand of a god, he has walked through endless lifetimes searching for her-the woman he is doomed to love, doomed to lose. Each time they find each other, passion ignites, and each time it ends in blood. His immortality is both gift and curse, binding them in an endless cycle of reunion and ruin. But now, the god who cursed him has awakened. Whispers crawl through Lyra's dreams, offering freedom at an impossible price: betrayal, blood, and a blade that can sever eternity itself. To break the chain, Lyra must decide whether love is salvation... or the final trap. Dark, gothic, and aching with desire, The Immortal: Until the End of Every Life is a story of obsession, sacrifice, and a love fierce enough to defy gods-even if it burns the world to ash.

What if the child of a tyrant was born to break the chains of kingship? In a world consumed by dark magic and ruled by fire-forged bloodlines, a prophecy foretells the rise of a child who will end the age of cruelty. Born of royal blood but raised in hiding, Kaelen is the flamebearer who never asked to be chosen. Hunted by the empire his grandfather built, trained in secret by a humble farmer, and haunted by dreams of destiny, Kaelen must walk through war, betrayal, and spirit-bound fire to fulfill a fate that could free or destroy a kingdom. Armed with a golden flaming sword and a heart that chooses mercy, Kaelen will face warlords, cursed generals, and the seduction of power itself. But to heal a broken world, he must first survive it-and become the king who refuses the throne. The Healer King: From Ashes Rises the Healer-King is a sweeping epic of prophecy, rebellion, and redemption-a fantasy saga of love, war, and the fierce choice to lead not through fear... but through flame and forgiveness.

What if the child of a tyrant was born to break the chains of kingship? In a world consumed by dark magic and ruled by fire-forged bloodlines, a prophecy foretells the rise of a child who will end the age of cruelty. Born of royal blood but raised in hiding, Kaelen is the flamebearer who never asked to be chosen. Hunted by the empire his grandfather built, trained in secret by a humble farmer, and haunted by dreams of destiny, Kaelen must walk through war, betrayal, and spirit-bound fire to fulfill a fate that could free or destroy a kingdom. Armed with a golden flaming sword and a heart that chooses mercy, Kaelen will face warlords, cursed generals, and the seduction of power itself. But to heal a broken world, he must first survive it-and become the king who refuses the throne. The Healer King: From Ashes Rises the Healer-King is a sweeping epic of prophecy, rebellion, and redemption-a fantasy saga of love, war, and the fierce choice to lead not through fear... but through flame and forgiveness.

She thought she was heading toward a better life. She didn't know she was being sold. Fifteen-year-old Lena dreams of escaping her crumbling village and her family's poverty. When a woman offers her a job in the city-good pay, a safe place, a fresh start-she says yes. But within hours, the truth unravels. Lena isn't being hired. She's been traded. Thrust into a hidden network of traffickers and captors, Lena's life is shattered. Her days become a cycle of fear, coercion, and silence. But deep inside, she refuses to disappear. With the help of another captive and a stranger willing to risk everything, Lena begins plotting her escape-and reclaiming her voice. Based on real-life trafficking cases and survivor testimonies, Traded is a gripping novel of exploitation, survival, and the power of a girl who refuses to be forgotten. For readers of Sold by Patricia McCormick and Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd, this story shines a necessary light on one of the darkest crimes in our world.

She thought she was heading toward a better life. She didn't know she was being sold. Fifteen-year-old Lena dreams of escaping her crumbling village and her family's poverty. When a woman offers her a job in the city-good pay, a safe place, a fresh start-she says yes. But within hours, the truth unravels. Lena isn't being hired. She's been traded. Thrust into a hidden network of traffickers and captors, Lena's life is shattered. Her days become a cycle of fear, coercion, and silence. But deep inside, she refuses to disappear. With the help of another captive and a stranger willing to risk everything, Lena begins plotting her escape-and reclaiming her voice. Based on real-life trafficking cases and survivor testimonies, Traded is a gripping novel of exploitation, survival, and the power of a girl who refuses to be forgotten. For readers of Sold by Patricia McCormick and Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd, this story shines a necessary light on one of the darkest crimes in our world.

When death comes calling, will you answer... or fight back? On a fractured planet in the far reaches of space, a mysterious alien signal is activated, awakening a buried entity with a singular mission: consume or convert all life. Captain Sarah Vega and her team of scientists and soldiers are pulled into a high-stakes battle-not just for survival, but for the soul of humanity. Haunted by betrayal, loss, and impossible choices, Sarah faces the ultimate test of leadership and love as her closest allies fall to the influence of the entity. When her partner Alan becomes its last human conduit, she must choose: trust what he's become-or end him. Death Calling is a genre-bending sci-fi thriller packed with action, emotion, and cosmic horror. Perfect for fans of The Expanse, Annihilation, and Arrival, it explores how love endures even in the void... and what happens when the void whispers back. A slow-burning sci-fi horror with a jaw-dropping twist Features a complex female protagonist, alien intelligence, and a mysterious signal from deep space Standalone novel with cinematic pacing and deeply human themes

When death comes calling, will you answer... or fight back? On a fractured planet in the far reaches of space, a mysterious alien signal is activated, awakening a buried entity with a singular mission: consume or convert all life. Captain Sarah Vega and her team of scientists and soldiers are pulled into a high-stakes battle-not just for survival, but for the soul of humanity. Haunted by betrayal, loss, and impossible choices, Sarah faces the ultimate test of leadership and love as her closest allies fall to the influence of the entity. When her partner Alan becomes its last human conduit, she must choose: trust what he's become-or end him. Death Calling is a genre-bending sci-fi thriller packed with action, emotion, and cosmic horror. Perfect for fans of The Expanse, Annihilation, and Arrival, it explores how love endures even in the void... and what happens when the void whispers back. A slow-burning sci-fi horror with a jaw-dropping twist Features a complex female protagonist, alien intelligence, and a mysterious signal from deep space Standalone novel with cinematic pacing and deeply human themes

When renowned surgeon Dr. Samuel Price is found murdered in his own home-his body left with surgically precise stab wounds and a scalpel placed beside him-Detective Alex Mercer knows this isn't just another homicide. It's a message. As Mercer digs deeper, he uncovers chilling similarities to an unsolved murder from a decade ago-a case that has haunted him for years. With a growing list of suspects, including Price's estranged son, a vengeful former patient, and a mysterious figure from his past, Mercer must navigate a web of deception, long-buried secrets, and deadly betrayals. But when he receives an anonymous letter repeating the killer's haunting words-"Some wounds never heal"-Mercer realizes the truth is far more disturbing than he imagined. This isn't just a murder investigation. It's a game. And the killer is just getting started. For fans of Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, and Gillian Flynn, Knifed is a gripping crime thriller packed with suspense, shocking twists, and psychological depth that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

A Wife. A Mother. A Liar. Claire Kensington has the perfect life-until a single note shatters everything. "I know what you did." For ten years, Claire has buried a deadly secret. But when her children disappear, a body is found in the lake, and a ghost from her past resurfaces, she realizes the past never stays buried. As her husband, Daniel, starts uncovering the cracks in her carefully constructed world, Claire is forced into a dangerous game of deception and survival. Someone is watching. Someone knows the truth. And they won't stop until Claire loses everything. But Daniel has secrets of his own. And when the final lie is exposed, one thing is certain-not everyone will make it out alive. A gripping psychological thriller packed with shocking twists, dark secrets, and an ending you won't see coming, The Perfect Wife's Lie will leave you breathless until the very last page. Can you trust the ones you love? Or are they the ones who will destroy you?

A Wife. A Mother. A Liar. Claire Kensington has the perfect life-until a single note shatters everything. "I know what you did." For ten years, Claire has buried a deadly secret. But when her children disappear, a body is found in the lake, and a ghost from her past resurfaces, she realizes the past never stays buried. As her husband, Daniel, starts uncovering the cracks in her carefully constructed world, Claire is forced into a dangerous game of deception and survival. Someone is watching. Someone knows the truth. And they won't stop until Claire loses everything. But Daniel has secrets of his own. And when the final lie is exposed, one thing is certain-not everyone will make it out alive. A gripping psychological thriller packed with shocking twists, dark secrets, and an ending you won't see coming, The Perfect Wife's Lie will leave you breathless until the very last page. Can you trust the ones you love? Or are they the ones who will destroy you?

In one volume here is everything you need to conduct fieldwork in archaeology. The Archaeologist's Field Handbook is designed for every kind of archaeological practice, from simple site recordings to professional consultancies and anyone who wants to record heritage sites responsibly. This hands-on manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to undertake and successfully complete fieldwork in all fields of archaeology, from Indigenous to historical to landscape work. Charts, checklists, graphs, maps and diagrams clearly illustrate how to design, fund, research, map, record, interpret, photograph and write up your fieldwork. This second edition is updated throughout and incorporates strategies for digital data capture, improved methods, recent legislation and more affordable technologies for surveying and photography. The Archaeologist's Field Handbook remains the ultimate resource for consultants, teachers, students, community groups and anyone involved in heritage fieldwork.'An essential aid for beginners and professionals.' - Emeritus Professor John Mulvaney'This volume has become the standard for archaeological field training ... A must for students, professionals and community groups.' - Martin Gibbs, Professor of Archaeology, University of New England'It is absolutely the 'go to' field manual for archaeologists whatever their level within the profession.' - Jane Balme, Associate Professor of Archaeology, University of Western Australia