In three attempts at IVF Martina Devlin lost nine embryos. This is the story of her journey, from bewilderment at being diagnosed infertile, through the traumatic process of IVF, to the shattering fall-out when it fails and she realises that, not only will she never have children, but somewhere along the way her marriage has been damaged beyond repair. But Martina also describes how her despair eventually faded, and how she made a new life for herself, taking pleasure in her extended family of nieces and nephews. Most of all, THE HOLLOW HEART is the story of a woman learning to do as her mother always advised - to count her blessings.

From American Book Award-winning author Ana Castillo comes a suspenseful, moving novel about a sensuous, smart, and fiercely independent woman. Eking out a living as a teacher’s aide in a small New Mexican border town, Tía Regina is also raising her teenage nephew, Gabo, a hardworking boy who has entered the country illegally and aspires to the priesthood. When Gabo’s father, Rafa, disappears while crossing over from Mexico, Regina fears the worst. After several days of waiting and with an ominous phone call from a woman who may be connected to a smuggling ring, Regina and Gabo resolve to find Rafa. Help arrives in the form of Miguel, an amorous, recently divorced history teacher; Miguel’s gregarious abuelo Milton; a couple of Gabo’s gangbanger classmates; and a priest of wayward faith. Though their journey is rife with challenges and danger, it will serve as a remarkable testament to family bonds, cultural pride, and the human experience Praise for The Guardians NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE “An always skilled storyteller, [Castillo] grounds her writing in . . . humor, love, suspense and heartache–that draw the reader in.” –Chicago Sunday Sun-Times “A rollicking read, with jokes and suspense and joy rides and hearts breaking . . . This smart, passionate novel deserves a wide audience.” –Los Angeles Times “What drives the novel is its chorus of characters, all, in their own way, witnesses and guardian angels. In the end, Castillo’s unmistakable voice–earthy, impassioned, weaving a ‘hybrid vocabulary for a hybrid people’–is the book’s greatest revelation.” –Time Out New York “A wonderful novel . . . Castillo’s most important accomplishment in The Guardians is to give a unique literary voice to questions about what makes up a ‘family.’ ” –El Paso Times “A moving book that is both intimate and epic in its narrative.” –Oscar Hijuelos, author of The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love

Ch. 3 (pp. 26-98), "The Letters, " contains letters written by the author's mother, Anna Roth, between September 1930-July 1942. After the German invasion of Czechoslovakia Anna and Emil Roth, who lived in Prague, decided to send their six-year-old daughter on a Kindertransport to friends in England, hoping to follow. Anna's letters describe, inter alia, their futile attempts to emigrate. In July 1943 they were sent to Theresienstadt; in September 1943 they were sent to Auschwitz, where they perished. Further information on their fate is dispersed throughout the remainder of the book.

Classic-feeling storytelling with bags of charm. Fans of thrilling animal adventure and enchanting underground worlds will fall in love with Wishyouwas. It's 1952 in smog-shrouded London. Christmas might be fast approaching, but with her mum away and Uncle Frank busy running the post office, Penny Black is lonelier than ever. All that changes when Penny discovers a small, fluffy, funny, springy and – most importantly – talking creature in the post office one night, trying to make off with a letter. But Wishyouwas is no thief. He's a Sorter, and he soon introduces Penny to a fascinating secret world hidden in the tunnels underneath the city's streets. Self-appointed guardians of lost mail, the Sorters have dedicated their lives to rescuing letters that have gone astray and making sure they get delivered to their rightful owners. Penny is determined to protect the Sorters, but how long will she be able to keep them safe with Stanley Scrawl, the sinister Royal Mail Rat Catcher, on the prowl? Can Penny save the Sorters and deliver a joyful Christmas? With beautiful black and white illustrations and embellishments from the talented Penny Neville-Lee, and an extra special surprise beneath the jacket, Wishyouwas is a gorgeous hardback to gift and treasure.