X Factor books - Make great christmas gift ideas

"The X Factor" is the most popular TV talent show in the UK, with over 12 million people watching Leona's victory in 2006. This is the book for all those fans, who will be eagerly awaiting the fourth series in autumn 2007.This official companion is packed with pictures and memories from every series, as well as introducing the new series finalists for the first time. The book takes readers behind the scenes at every stage of the competition from the auditions through boot camp to the live finals, with profiles of all the previous finalists - as well as everyone's favourite failures.This complete companion also includes exclusive interviews with all four judges and is packed with hints and tips from the vocal coaches, the judges and the finalists making it the ultimate book for anyone tempted to join that famous audition queue.

X-Factor judge, Louis Walsh, has managed acts such as Westlife, Girls Aloud, Shayne Ward and G4. He formerly steered Boyzone to chart topping success and also propelled Ronan Keating to solo stardom. Now he plans to guide other budding pop stars to superstar success with his "Fast Track to Fame".Louis has succeeded in notching up a staggering 28 number one singles through his stable of artists and has starred alongside Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on X-Factor for three years. Now he is sharing his expertise with a new generation of pop wannabees. "Fast Track to Fame" takes us through the A-Z of the music business (or from A is for Agents to X is for X-Factor) with the honest truth of how the pop industry really works.The book is peppered throughout with contributions and anecdotes from many of Louis' stars, stories of their own successes and setbacks, and lavishly illustrated with exclusive colour photographs. It is essential reading for anyone, of any age, dreaming of becoming a star.

In her award-winning bestseller EXTREME, Sharon Osbourne revealed the truth about her life in her famously frank and gutsy way. In her new autobiography SURVIVOR she goes even deeper - revealing the secrets and heartbreak behind the headlines, along with the love and humour that have pulled her through. From the recent sad loss of her father, to her experiences as a judge on number 1 hit shows THE X FACTOR and AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, to the further jaw-dropping adventures and dramas in the Osbourne family, Sharon tells it like it really is - with wit, honesty and style.Set to be a huge bestseller this autumn, SURVIVOR is as astonishing, big-hearted and fascinating as Mrs O herself ...

THESE THREE FIVE STAR BOOKS4THEBEACH RECOMMENDATIONS ARE A MUST HAVE GIFT FOR ALL THOSE WANABEE STARS AND

X FACTOR FANS.

Blog of the day - The X Factor Blog

Child Flight Charity

Today, Books4TheBeach have chosen a charity. A charity close to our hearts which includes donating to children which are disabled, terminally ill and have medical needs.

ChildFlight is a children's charity established in 1987. Based at Manchester Airport with representatives and strong fund raising links in the areas of Manchester, Blackpool, Wirral and the North West of England. ChildFlight is a charity which specialises in providing flights and holidays for sick and deserving children of all ages, (essentially from the North West of England), for example children who require medical treatment abroad or have missed out on childhood experiences due to illness or who are socially deserving.

While the voluntary team of ChildFlight provide the expertise, enthusiasm and administration, it is the generosity of many companies, organisations and individuals in raising and donating money, that makes it possible to bring not only sunshine and fun into childrens lives, but a sense of wonder, adventure, laughter and much needed medical help.

As ChildFlight is operated entirely by volunteers 99p in £1 donated is used to provide flights and holidays for children.

An average flight for medical treatment / therapy costs £500.
Florida 2005 cost around £135,000.

It is estimated Florida 2007 will cost almost £200,000

Florida 2007

The holiday includes flights, accommodation, meals, transportation in Florida, medical insurance and medical equipment requirements and entrance to: Walt Disney World (Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios, Epcot), Seaworld Adventure Park, Universal Studios and Gatorland. Entrace tickets are usually donated by the theme parks.
Organisation and assistance during the holiday are provided by the support team of Childflight members, Doctors, Nurses and First Choice Cabin Crew who have all volunteered their time.

Children must be aged between 5 and 16 at the time of the holiday, and must not have visited Florida in recent years and have not received a previous "wish" via the Compassion Partners Program. Children must be fit to travel and maintained stable for the period of the holiday. The immediate "family" travelling includes mother, father (or partners), brothers and sisters under the age of 16. Children / Babies under the age of two can be included on the holiday. However, as with any normal flight, seats will not be allocated to children under the age of two and they will need to be carried in the arms of a parent / guardian.

Subject to the final conditions:
Provision of a certification of illness and fitness to travel by the Child's Consultant / Doctor.
Acceptance by the Florida Theme Parks Compassion Program who will be checking their database for any previous visits.
Fitness to travel and illness maintained stable for the 4 week period prior to the holiday and expected by the medical team to remain stable for the period of the holiday without continued close medical support.
Medical Insurance acceptability.

Nominations should include Childs Name, Age, Illness, Address, Hospital Name, Consultants name, immediate family details including parents/guardians, siblings names and ages. Please send nominations ASAP to steve@childflight.co.uk or Childflight, c/o 15 Arbury Ave, Cheadle Heath, Stockport, SK3 0QA.

Santa Flight 2007

Dependant on fund raising during 2007, the 21st Annual Santa Flight will be taking place in mid-December.
The criteria for Santa Flights are:
Children aged between 5 and 12, who are disadvantaged, medically or socially and have not experienced a flight in an aircraft.
Or Children who have contributed to the local communities.
Or Children who have received special achievement awards.
Schools, societies, clubs and families who would like to be considered for Santa Flight should contact Childflight before 1st September either by emailling santa@childflight.co.uk or telephone 0161 4896393.

Medical Flights

In order for a child to qualify for medical flights, an application must be supported by a letter from the child's Doctor or Consultant (for invasive treatment). This letter should confirm that the child will benefit from the treatment/therapy/analysis to be undertaken.
Flights are provided for the child and one adult and although additional persons can travel with the child, Childflight cannot fund these as well. Medical flights are provided on the basis that funds are available and priority will be given to children from the north west of England.
Please send nominations ASAP to steve@childflight.co.uk or Childflight, c/o 15 Arbury Ave, Cheadle Heath, Stockport, SK3 0QA.

Books4TheBeach.com will be donating 1% of turnover to childflight along with helping with promotion for the charity and will be supplying books for the forthcoming santa flight. http://www.childflight.co.uk/"target="_blank"

Linda La Plante - Clean Cut

FOLLOWING ON FROM ABOVE SUSPICION AND THE RED DAHLIA, LINDA LA PLANTE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED DI ANNA TRAVIS AS THE MOST COMPELLING FEMALE INVESTIGATOR SINCE JANE TENNISON OF PRIME SUSPECT.

IN CLEAN CUT D.I. ANNA TRAVIS AND HER BOSS DCI JAMES LANGTON ARE BACK, TRYING TO NAIL NOT ONE BUT TWO MURDERERS WHO SEND THEM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES...

CLEAN CUT IS THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED NEW NOVEL WITH ALL THE TRADE MARK LA PLANTE ATTENTION TO CRIME - BUSTING DETAIL.

HER MOST GRIPPING AND
TWISTING NOVEL TO DATE

LYNDA LA PLANTE IS A BAFTA, EMMY AND EDGAR ALLAN POE AWARD-WINNING WRITTER WITH A MAJOR TV CRIME FANBASE FROM PRIME SUSPECT TO TRIAL AND RETRIBUTION.

THE RED DAHLIA AND ABOVE SUSPICION BOTH SOLD OVER 80,000 COPIES IN HARDBACK AND IN TRADE PAPERBACK.

ABOVE SUSPICION HAS NOW SOLD OVER 300,000 COPIES IN PAPERBACK AND WAS A TOP 5 BEST SELLER ON PUBLICA

TION.

Steve Irwin - The Story of a Remarkable Man

Steve Irwin's death

shocked the world.

Steve was a much loved celebrity and his TV shows were broadcast worldwide, his image recognisable to millions. Respected for his charismatic persona, Steve also held a deep, passionate commitment to help animals threatened with extinction.

Steve and Terr'is story is not just one of sharing and following a noble cause but also a fairy tale love-affair. When Terri first laid eyes on Steve she saw a real-life action hero. They married in 1992 and together they changed the perception of conversation, sparked global interest in animals of the Australian bush and founded the Australian zoo, one of the worlds leading wildlife preservation centres.

In STEVE & ME, Terri tells their story for the first time, revealing the private side to the ebullient TV star, and how she heard the heartbreaking news of his death.

'"Make them love an animal," Steve always said, "and they'll never want to destroy it." That was Steve's legacy as a wild warrior, a message of love, enthusiasm and wonder and we are determined to carry that legacy on. '

-Terri Irwin

Sites of interest:

Steve Irwin memorial site

Australia Zoo

Book Review - The Afghan

Hi all,

Just returned to the cold of England, after a lovely week on the Costa del Sol. During my hol's I read THE AFGHAN. Great book if you have any interest in the behind the scenes of American & British Secret Services. The Afghan is Izmat Khan, who made his reputation fighting the Soviets. Then, during the Afghan civil war following the USSR's withdrawal, Khan became a Taliban commander battling against the Anglo-American supported Northern Alliance. After being captured and participating in the Qala-i-Jangi prison rebellion, Izmat was spirited off to the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay to be imprisoned there for four years.

Meanwhile, the CIA and MI6 catch whiff of a new Al Qaeda plot code named "al-Isra", which, in Islamic tradition, was the Prophet Muhammad's journey to heaven to be personally instructed on prayer rituals by Almighty God Himself. Obviously, to the experts, the new terrorist attack is to be no small bang. But what, exactly? It's decided to send in a deep cover operative to find out. Ex-Colonel Mike Martin of the Parachute Regiment and the SAS. Mike, raised in Iraq and with skin coloring and fluency in Arabic, is, with additional coaching on the Koranic verses, the perfect choice.

After a sham trial at Gitmo in which a recalcitrant Khan is judged innocent enough to be released back to Afghani government custody, the Afghan is whisked off to solitary confinement in an isolated CIA safehouse in the Washington State Cascade Range. Mike is substituted in his place and transported to Afghanistan, where his escape is staged and he bluffs his way into the Al Qaeda network. The covert mission is up and running.

One of this novel's best features is its summary history of the relationship of the Afghani Taliban and the Saudi-founded Al Qaeda, as well as portrayal of radical Islam's activities in the island nations north of Australia. It's a sobering picture. And the broad outline of the storyline is gripping enough as the terrorist plan plays out.

This is a very gripping book, and a real page-turner. With plots to release liquid petroleum gas, which could wipe out whole ports or by sinking oil filled tankers that would render ports inoperable for years to come. This book made me realise the reason why we need a navy and it just makes you wonder if these plots have already been thought and planned. (Written by Anthony Franks)