Kirjahaku

Did you know that the average mother could spend over 700 hours per child breastfeeding? This little book contains one hundred ideas for things to do while breastfeeding - from bonding with your baby to following your dreams. The ideas help you to: -Bond with your baby -Feel good: mind, body and soul -Lose the 'baby brain' -Make time for your older children -Stay in touch with your friends -Stay in love with your partner -Multitask to free up more time in your life -Rethink and revamp your life

China, 1760. The Emperor conquers Altishahr, a Muslim country to the west of his empire and summons a local woman from his new dominion to come to the Forbidden City as his concubine. Meanwhile in the market of Kashgar a girl named Hidligh is kidnapped by Iparhan, a woman scarred by the Emperor's conquest of her homeland and bent on vengeance. Iparhan offers her a deal: Hidligh will become the Emperor's concubine, living a life of luxury. In return she will act as Iparhan's spy. But when Hidligh arrives in the Forbidden City, she enters a frightening new world. Every word she utters may expose her as an imposter. Iparhan is watching from the shadows, waiting to exact her revenge on the Emperor. The Empress is jealous of her new rival. And when Hidligh finally meets the Emperor, she finds herself falling in love..."A passionate story, richly imagined in the spaces of real history. Melissa Addey meticulously evokes a strange, beautiful and harsh society." - Emma Darwin, award-winning author of The Mathematics of Love and A Secret Alchemy."Melissa Addey has given us a new take on the cherished but controversial legend of 'the Fragrant Concubine, ' one that weaves together the many conflicting versions of the story and plausibly embraces how romance might have blossomed between the brilliant Manchu monarch and his fragrant Muslim consort." - Professor James Millward, author of A Uyghur Muslim in Qianlong's Court: The Meanings of the Fragrant Concubine If you enjoyed Lisa See's Peony in Love, Anchee Min's The Last Empress and Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha then The Fragrant Concubine will be a new favourite. Set in China's Forbidden City in the 18th century, where the women of the court vie for the Emperor's attention and every concubine must fight for her position.

Commuting is bad for you. Really bad for you. If you commute for more than 45 minutes a day in each direction, you are more likely to be overweight, suffer from anxiety, stress, depression and social isolation. You are more likely to sleep badly and be exhausted, have high blood sugar (which could lead to diabetes), high blood pressure and cholesterol (which could lead to heart attacks) and experience neck and back pain. You may have lower life satisfaction and happiness than people who do not commute. Oh, and you are 40% more likely to get divorced. There are 500 million commuters in the world. Something has to change. The Happy Commuter contains over a hundred ways to improve your commute. In it you'll find out how to: * Get comfortable * Identify your needs * Stretch your mind * Look after your body * Nurture your soul * Indulge your passions * Advance your career * Free up your free time * Or just change your commute altogether Who'd have thought that commuting could be responsible for broadening your horizons, planning your future, improving your health and even pepping up your sex life? The time you spend commuting can be used to do all these things and so much more.If you want to add interest to your commute or make it a time you can use more productively, this is the book for you. It will certainly change your attitude - it may even change your life. Peta Cottee, Director at Partners in Time

China, 1700s. Lady Qing has spent the past seven years languishing inside the high red walls of the Forbidden City. Classed as an Honoured Lady, a lowly-ranked concubine, Qing is neglected by the Emperor, passed over for more ambitious women. But when a new concubine, Lady Ying, arrives, Qing's world is turned upside down. As the highest position at court becomes available and every woman fights for status, Qing finds love for the first time in her life... if Lady Ula Nara, the most ambitious woman at court, will allow her a taste of happiness.

A woman seeking adventure. A bitter rivalry. The birth of an empire.11th century North Africa. Kella is a Berber girl disguised as a boy, travelling the trade routes and beating all comers in the camel races. When her true identity is revealed, she is sent home to the family desert camp to be taught women's skills. Bored with her restrictive life, Kella yearns for her freedom and the excitement of life on the road. When a mighty army sets out on a holy mission, she risks marriage to its general, Yusuf, hoping to join him on a great adventure. But while Yusuf conquers the whole of North Africa, Kella finds herself an unexpected rival to his infamous queen consort, Zaynab. Can Kella protect herself from a powerful and jealous rival? Can she secure a future for her son in this newborn empire? And will she ever find the freedom she craves? A String of Silver Beads is the exciting second book in the Moroccan Empire historical fiction series. If you enjoy adventures, power struggles and journeys through history seen through a woman's eyes, then you will be enthralled by this stirring novel.  Journey through North Africa as a new empire is born. Buy A String of Silver Beads today.

11th century, North Africa. Zaynab is the famous queen consort of Yusuf bin Tashfin, leader of the Moorish Almoravid army, which defeated El Cid, conquering all of North Africa and most of Spain. But her life is full of unanswered questions. She claimed she would marry the man who would rule all of North Africa, but it took four marriages before this prophecy came true. She was Yusuf's right hand, an undisputed beauty and gave him many children, yet Yusuf chose as his heir the son of a Christian slave girl. Some said she spoke with djinns and spirits of the air. Having met her as a child in The Cup and as a formidable rival in A String of Silver Beads, in None Such as She Zaynab has her own story to tell.If you loved The Physician by Noah Gordon and enjoy books by Jane Johnson, Anita Diamant and Libbie Hawker, then the Moorish Empire series is for you. Based on the rise of the Almoravid dynasty, which conquered the whole of North Africa and most of Spain (defeating El Cid), the series explores why a Muslim warlord would give his empire to the son of a Christian slave girl. This is historical fiction at its most dramatic, emotional and intriguing. The sights, sounds, smells and colour of eleventh-century Marrakesh are skilfully evoked...The story arc completes perfectly. Discovering Diamonds In her time there was none such as she - none more beautiful or intelligent or witty ... she was married to Yusuf, who built Marrakech for her. 12th-century text Kitab al-IstibsarFive star reviews from Amazon readersThis time period in Northern Africa in the 11th century comes alive with descriptions of clothing, people, homes, cities & other cultural context showing a way of life.This story is so beautifully written that it takes you along a deeply emotional journey, packed with lies, deceit, ambition, adventure, cruelty, and angst. I cried...The building from scratch of Marrakesh is awesome to see in this very well researched historical novel.Keeps you captivated until the last page.A series which has grown very dear to my heart.Want to watch a book trailer for this title? Just scroll down on the US site, visit my Amazon author page on the UK site or come to my own website which has all my book trailers. Happy viewing About author Melissa AddeyYou can read about me and my books (and get a free novella) on my website, MelissaAddey.com. I mainly write historical fiction, focusing on the Forbidden City in China's 18th century (now complete) and Morocco in the 11th century (completing soon). Next up, Ancient Rome I'm in the final year of my Creative Writing PhD and was the 2016 Leverhulme Trust Writer in Residence at the British Library. In 2019 I won the Page to Podcast competition as well as the Novel London award.

A Spanish nun. A Muslim warlord. The destiny of an empire held between them. 11th century Northern Spain. Isabella has been a nun in the Christian kingdom of Galicia since she was a child, a gifted herbalist leading a quiet and spiritual life, devoted to God. But on a rare journey outside of the convent, she is taken by Viking raiders and sold to Morocco as a slave. Cruelly treated by her first owner, salvation comes from an unlikely source: Yusuf bin Tashfin, leader of a vast Muslim army intent on conquering North Africa and Spain. Isabella must struggle not only to survive her new life but to hold true to her faith, which is tested by great dangers... and by love.Can Isabella keep to her holy vows? Will her actions alter the destiny of a rising empire? And when North Africa goes to war with Spain, where will her loyalties lie?Do Not Awaken Love is the moving finale to the Moroccan Empire historical fiction series. If you enjoy exploring complex emotions and conflicting cultures, then you'll find yourself immersed in the tenderness and difficulties of Melissa Addey's captivating novel. Set out on a stirring journey of love and faith. Buy Do Not Awaken Love today.

Creating your own author 'swag', or merchandise can bring in income and engage your readers as well as giving you the creative edge at literary events and festivals. Bands and film-makers always create merchandise for their creative works, now it's time for authors to use merchandise to market their works too.In this book you'll find: 5 things merchandise should do for you 6 steps of new product development (NPD) How to think beyond bookmarks and coffee mugs Case studies and interviews with real authors to inspire you Details of good suppliers to get you started Merchandise for Authors is a really valuable resource. Melissa has clearly used the time she spent with the British Library to good effect, giving excellent advice to the many writers with whom she worked - and has now generously shared her thoughts in a format that means a much wider audience can benefit. I advise you to take her advice. Dr Alison Baverstock, Associate Professor of Publishing at Kingston University, author of How to Market Books

11th century North Africa. Hela has powers too strong for a child - both to feel the pain of those around her and to heal them. But when she is given a mysterious cup by a slave woman, its powers overtake her life, forcing her into a vow she cannot hope to keep. Trapped by her vow, Hela loses one chance after another to love and be loved. Meanwhile in her household a child is growing into a woman who will become famous throughout the Muslim world. First in the four-book Moroccan Empire series. Novella.

He's a carefree rake who wants a marriage of convenience.She's an awkward spinster who doesn't want to marry at all. Fate has other plans in store for them both. Laurence enjoys his dalliances with the married ladies of society, and thinks marriage is only a matter of convenience. He's on the lookout for a practical woman accustomed to society. Frances is an odd and awkward young woman, more at home gathering shells on the beach than in the ballrooms of London, hoping to stay a spinster forever.When the two meet in Margate, will their initial dislike of one another turn into something important?While Laurence finds his life growing shallow, Frances wonders if love might be worth making a bold move for. Can she find her way into Laurence's heart, and will he undertake to love her, just the way she is?A warm-hearted Regency romance, full of historical detail and emotional discovery, as two opposites find they might just attract. The Season has begun, the ton is gathered... who knows what the tides will bring for Laurence and Frances.

A little girl sets out on a fairytale journey across Japan to bring home a valuable jewel with which to heal her mother. But will its owner let her have it?

When her mother falls ill, brave Kameko sets off on a journey to bring back the jewel from the Monkey-King's crown, known for its healing properties. Along the way she is helped by both people and kindly divinities, but will the Monkey-King give up his jewel so easily? Exquisitely illustrated by Claire Loescher with lino prints that bring a fairytale Japan to life, Kameko and the Monkey-King is a magical story, showing that courage and kindness bring unexpected gifts.

Why did a Muslim emperor pick the son of a Christian slave as his heir? 11th century Morocco and Spain. A vast Muslim empire is rising as the lives of four women weave together to tell a story of war and love, magic and faith.Hela was born with the gift of healing, but is now bound by an impossible vow. Berber woman Kella is searching for adventure, but growing fearful for the safety for her baby son. Zaynab has risen to power as the queen of Morocco but is warped by a dark jealousy. Spanish nun Isabella is struggling to learn the lesson of love while holding onto her faith and vows.Based on the rise of Morocco's Almoravid dynasty, which created a North African and Spanish empire and defeated El Cid, this is historical fiction at its most enthralling, both intriguing and emotional. Set out on an epic journey of complex choices and opposing faiths told by the voices of forgotten women. Buy the complete Moroccan Empire series today. Please note that the paperback copy comes as one single large volume.

The gladiatorial Games didn't just happen. They had to be made.Rome, 80 AD. They called it the Flavian Amphitheatre. We call it the Colosseum. It showcased brutal gladiatorial combats, exotic wild animal hunts, naval battles and the re-enactment of extraordinary mythological adventures. But someone had to make the Games happen, from sourcing celebrity gladiators and dangerous animals, to ordering sand for the arena floor and working out how to flood the Colosseum.Marcus, manager of the Games, grief-stricken from the loss of his wife and child in Pompeii's fiery destruction. Althea, his scribe, trying to find her way in the world as a freedwoman. An ex prostitute. A retired Vestal Virgin. A runaway slave boy. Life, love and loyal friendships in a crumbling apartment block in a shabby part of Rome.Get your backstage pass to the Colosseum's Games: join the team as they serve two unpredictable emperors, put on spectacular shows to please the masses and live out their lives in the shadow of the greatest amphitheatre ever built.

Rome, 80AD. A gigantic new amphitheatre is being built. The Emperor has plans for gladiatorial Games on a scale no-one has ever seen before. But the Games don't just happen. They must be made. And Marcus, the man in charge of creating them, has just lost everything he held dear when Pompeii disappeared under the searing wrath of Vesuvius. Now it will fall to Althea, the slave woman who serves as his scribe, to ensure the Colosseum is inaugurated on time - and that Marcus makes his way out of the darkness that calls to him. First in the Colosseum series.Praise for Melissa Addey's previous novels: Reading this novel was a moving and wonderful excursion into a different time. Editor's Choice. Historical Novel SocietyMs Addey excels at making ancient worlds come alive: her world-building is superb. Discovering DiamondsThe Colosseum seriesThey called it the Flavian Amphitheatre. We call it the Colosseum. It opened with one hundred days of Games: brutal gladiatorial combats, exotic wild animal hunts, naval battles and the re-enactment of extraordinary and dangerous mythological adventures. But no history book, anywhere, mentions the people who made it happen: the backstage team.The Colosseum series follows the lives of the backstage team as they serve an unpredictable Emperor, put on shows to please the masses and live out their lives in the shadowy underworld of the greatest amphitheatre ever built.