A Woman's Way To Wisdom, by Pamela J Ball (Foulsham/Quantum, £12.99)

THIS takes you on a voyage of self-discovery and, like any good thriller, is full of twists and turns.

Your reward at the end of the journey is to discover the woman you know you can be.

Offering emotional guidance and practical self-help at all the important life stages, including puberty, pregnancy and menopause, you will learn how to maximise and use the unique gifts and talents that are yours as a woman.

Guided psychological activities, such as visualisation, enhanced self-awareness and improved self-confidence are yours for the taking, while inter-personal relationships are strengthened.

n Another new release from Foulsham is Marie Bruce's Everyday Spells for a Teenage Witch (£6.99) a page-by-page guide for every conceivable set of circumstances facing... well, your average teenage witch.

There are spells to help with homework, make a boy notice you, soften-up parents, deal with bullies, patch up an argument or make sure that party is really hot. It's all very tongue-in-cheek and sounds great fun, not to be taken seriously.

However, on the other hand...

Patience Mansell-Read