Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Double Room by Anne Sénès (t. Alice Banks) BLOG TOUR #AnneSenes #DoubleRoom @OrendaBooks #BookExtract

 


A grief-stricken composer slips into a world where sound and colour blur, and the present collides with a devastating past..

London, late 1990s. Stan, a young and promising French composer, is invited to arrange the music for a theatrical adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The play will never be staged, but Stan meets Liv, the love of his life, and their harmonious duo soon becomes a trio with the birth of their beloved daughter, Lisa. Stan’s world is filled with vibrant colour and melodic music, and under his wife and daughter’s gaze, his piano comes to life.

Paris, today. After Liv’s fatal accident, Stan returns to France surrounded by darkness, no longer able to compose, and living in the Rabbit Hole, a home left to him by an aunt. He shares his life with Babette, a lifeguard and mother of a boy of Lisa’s age, and Laïvely, an AI machine of his own invention endowed with Liv’s voice, which he spent entire nights building after her death.

But Stan remains haunted by his past. As the silence gradually gives way to noises, whistles and sighs – sometimes even a burst of laughter – and Laïvely seems to take on a life of its own, memories and reality fade and blur...

And Stan’s new family implodes...




Double Room by Anne Sénès was published by Orenda Books on 19 June 2025 and is translated from the French by Alice Banks. As part of this Blog Tour, I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today. 



Extract from Double Room by Anne Sénès (translated by Alice Banks) 

••

‘Téo, get a move on, you’re going to be late!’ A grunt, heavy footsteps on the stairs and Téo appears in the kitchen, unkempt, hunched over as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, sporting a T-shirt from the day before, and the day before that.

I open my mouth, then close it again. It’s not worthcommenting on. The kid couldn’t care less.

This T-shirt, made in Bangladesh, 100% cotton,machine wash at 40°C recommended, has been wornfor three consecutive days and nights. According to theWorld Health Organisation, it would be suitable to...

I hold back a smile that is inevitably erased when Téo strikes out at Laïvely, shutting her up. Bab, half in earnest, half in jest, pipes up, ‘Since when did that thing have eyes?’

It’s true. Since when has Laïvely been able to see us? In fact, can she see us? Or is she simply able to smell the odour that is emanating from Téo as he settles down in front of his cereal and mug of fair- trade coffee? Because, yes, he stinks. As soon as he lifts his mug to carry it to his lips, all the while stooping his neck to avoid too big a movement that would be detrimental to his hunched back, a sweet- and-sour aroma wafts towards my nose. But there’s no reason Laïvely should have a sense of smell. That’s not what I was aiming for when I created her.

I scrunch up my nose and avoid responding to Bab, who has already moved on to something else. She’s preparing her lunch box to take to the swimming pool with her. A few months ago, when she and Téo had just moved in, she would come back to have lunch with me. She had the time. Then, little by little, she started to take up this new habit, always with a good excuse: a break cut short due to a colleague being off sick, a private lesson that had been added to her schedule, the need to run an errand. Without me ever really realising, our lunches for two have become an exception. Now, she doesn’t return to the house until her day has come to an end. And for my part, I don’t offer to meet her for a picnic at Buttes-Chaumont, or at a brasserie in the neighbourhood so we can spend a romantic couple of hours together. I have neither the desire nor the courage.

Lisa has already left for school. I finish my coffee pensively. Two little notes have been obsessing me for days, yet I still haven’t been able to extract a melody from them. Maybe I would if I went for a walk? No, I’ll be better off in my studio, with my instruments. What’s more, the weather is unpredictable. There’s a risk of rain. I don’t feel like getting soaked.

Téo finishes and leaves everything spread across the table, his place adorned with varying and diverse stains. Before I can venture even the smallest criticism, his mother has already piled the dirty dishes in the sink, wiped a sponge across the table and put the milk back in the fridge.

I sigh. Is she just on autopilot, or is it a tactic to avoid yet another argument about the kids? Laïvely flickers softly. It’s like she’s winking. Having made sure that Bab’s back is truly turned, I wink back at her. On top of everything else, there’s no need to provoke a fit of jealously that a tube stuffed with electronics doesn’t merit being the object of.




Anne Sénès was born in Paris and studied at the Sorbonne, where she obtained a PhD in English studies. 

Her passion for Anglo-Saxon literature and culture has taken her all over the world, from London to Miami, passing through the south of France. 

She is currently based on the Mediterranean coast, where she works as a journalist and translator. 

Chambre Double (Double Room) is her first literary novel.






Monday, 23 June 2025

Good For The Soul by Philip Rennett BLOG TOUR #GoodForTheSoul @RandomTTours #Giveaway #Prize #Competition #Win

 


Good For The Soul is an acerbic, heartrending and laugh-out-loud satirical rollercoaster. It rips chunks out of politicians and oligarchs, spits them onto the ground, then grinds them into a mush, before wiping its feet on the doormat and heading inside for a cup of tea.

Six months after assisting the UK’s missing prime minister and avoiding two assassination attempts on the same day, Simon Pope is on holiday with friends, trying to cheer up a man who finds retirement depressing. But Pope also has a secret mission, which requires him to remain unobtrusive. He must assess whether specific individuals in the small Irish town of Clonbrinny are in mortal danger from a criminal overlord.

Failing miserably to maintain the desired low profile, Pope and his group become embroiled in events outside their control and discover all is not as it seems.

Perceptions dissolve, revealing a far more dangerous reality.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Andrew Blackwell’s self-imposed media silence has made him more popular than ever. His Path Finder philosophy generates global intrigue and excitement, despite nobody knowing what it is – including him.

When a secret conference on Ireland’s west coast goes badly wrong, Blackwell must evade a media manhunt and return to London, relying on old friends and new acquaintances for help.

Subsequent events and a meeting of minds raise the tantalising prospect of an unlikely collaboration, creating the foundation of a movement that could transform the world.

Good For The Soul is the second book in the Path Finder series and follows on from the award-winning Paths Not Yet Taken.




Good For The Soul by Philip Rennett was published on 25 April 2025 by Pea Arr Books. As part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour, I am delighted to offer one copy of the book as a prize. Entry is simple; just fill out the competition widget in the blog post. UK entries only please. 

GOOD LUCK! 





One copy of Good For The Soul by Philip Rennett




Philip Rennett’s writing career started in 1970, at the age of eleven. 

“I found my mum crying with worry about how we were going to pay the bills. She thought we were going to lose our home,” he says. “I noticed that some comics published letters and offered prizes for the star ones, so I started writing.”

Phil’s first letter won a star prize in The Victor.  “I thought it would be some money,” he laughs, “I won a table tennis set.”

Undaunted, he did more research in the newsagents, wrote to the football magazine Shoot and won a £2 postal order, which he gave to his mother. She gave him a big hug, then put the money in his savings account.

“I realised I could make money doing what I enjoyed. I spent my entire working life writing, firstly for my employers and then for clients,” he says. 

His career started as a public relations officer for a police force in the Middle East. Experiences included crash-landing in a plane whose pilots forgot to lower the undercarriage; flying in another plane with a dead body knocking against his leg; and gate-crashing a reception at the Sultan's palace where he bumped into the UK prime minister and the Sultan. 

In an unrelated incident, he spent a couple of uncomfortable minutes sitting in his Volkswagen Beetle while three very angry soldiers pointed guns at his head through the open driver’s window.

Opting for a quieter life, he returned to the UK and worked in newspaper advertising before starting his own public relations consultancy, which he ran for thirty years.

After decades of news releases, case studies, articles, advertisements, websites, award entries, major bids, mail shots and newsletters, he started writing for himself when he retired in 2020.


His first novel – Paths Not Yet Taken – was published in April 2024.

A keen if mediocre sportsman, he took up golf after his right knee decided it didn't want to take part in more physical sports any longer. Missing the thrills of his early working life, he also goes storm chasing occasionally in Tornado Alley.







Tuesday, 10 June 2025

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes #WeAllLiveHere @jojomoyes.bsky.social‬‪ @michaeljbooks.bsky.social‬ @MichaelJBooks #BookReview

 


Welcome to the Kennedy household:

Lila wrote a bestseller about keeping your marriage alive, before discovering her ex was playing happy families with another woman. A woman she sees everyday at school pick-up.

Bill, her stepdad, moved in after Lila’s mum died. He’s kind, old-fashioned and driving her absolutely nuts.

Celie, Lila’s eldest, hates school. Hates it so much she’s stopped going. Her mother’s fine with that – because she doesn’t know yet.

Violet is nine and sings age-inappropriate rap songs, laughs at fart jokes and Lila dearly hopes she’ll never, ever change.

And Truant the dog, who has just bitten the American actor who’s suddenly landed on the Kennedys' doorstep.

This is Gene – Lila’s estranged father, and no one’s idea of a role model. He walked out on Lila and her mum years ago – and wherever he goes domestic discord follows.

Because Gene’s presence changes things in unexpected ways. Soon the girls discover a kindred spirit in a man always chasing life’s joy. Bill even loosens up. And Lila finds herself, astonishingly, dating.

Something is happening to the Kennedy household – but what is it?

And will it break, or save, their family?




We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes was published on 11 February 2025 by Michael Joseph. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review. 

I have been reading Jojo Moyes for well over twenty years, way before I began this blog, before I even wrote book reviews. She's been a go-to author for so many years. I've always had a soft spot for The Last Letter from Your Lover (2010), and The Girl You Left Behind (2012). Surprisingly for me, both historical novels but both beautiful. 

Of course, Joyo really became hugely successful when Me Before You was published and then made into a film. That trilogy really showed just what a talent she is. 

We All Live Here is a modern, contemporary novel, based on the Kennedy family.  Lila once wrote a bestselling book about how to keep your marriage alive. Ironically, Lila is now single. Her husband Dan left her for another woman - not just any woman, but one of the school gate Mums and Lila has to see her every day ..... oh, and the other woman is now pregnant. 

Lila is doing the best job that she can in bringing up her two daughters. Dan gets involved when it suits, but it's Lila who bears the brunt of most of it. Eldest daughter Celie is having school issues, youngest daughter Violet is a joyful child and Lila just hopes that Celie's behaviour will not influence her. 

Recently Bill moved in with Lila and the girls. Bill is Lila's step-dad. Her Mum died some time ago and Bill is lonely. He just wants to be wanted, to look after people, to ensure that they are eating enough vegetables. He wants to be part of the family.  And then Gene arrives. After a thirty year absence, Lila's Dad Gene just appears on the doorstep. A fading American actor, he needs somewhere to stay. 

Jojo Moyes has created a family that her readers can really invest in. It's fair to say that there's no big plot twists, reveals or secrets, it's just a well written, at times very funny, domestic drama that kept me entertained throughout. It is wise and compassionate and shows us just what is important in life. Recommended by me



Jojo Moyes is a novelist and screenwriter. 

Her books include the bestsellers 
Me Before You, After You and Still Me, The One Plus One, The Giver of Stars, Someone Else's Shoes and her short story collection Paris for One and Other Stories. 
Jojo's novels have been translated into forty-six languages, have hit the number one spot in twelve countries and have sold over fifty-seven million copies worldwide. 
Me Before You has now sold over fourteen million copies worldwide and was adapted into a major film starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. 
In 2023, Jojo joined BBC Maestro’s online platform of world-class experts with her course, Writing Love Stories, which is available now. 
Jojo lives in the UK.








Monday, 9 June 2025

Into The Fire by G D Wright BLOG TOUR #IntoTheFire @GDWrightWrites @AvonBooksUK @RandomTTours @gdwrightwrites.bsky.‪social @avonbooks.bsky.social‬ #BookReview

 

HE RUNS INTO THE FLAMES A HERO.

Steve thought he had left his troubled past behind. Living a quiet life with his wife and children, everything changes the night he rescues a baby from a burning house, becoming an unexpected national hero.

HE EMERGES FROM THE ASHES A SUSPECT.

But as the spotlight shines brighter, so does the scrutiny, and a shocking accusation is made – that Steve is the man responsible for an unsolved murder in Beachbrook years prior.

BUT WHICH ONE IS HE REALLY?

As his world unravels, public opinion is firmly divided. Steve pleads his innocence, but DS Sue Willmott is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened all those years ago.

After all, even heroes hide secrets of their own.




Into The Fire by G D Wright was published on 5 June 2025 by Avon Books. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour



I have to confess that I've not read this author's previous novel; After The Storm which also features DS Sue Willmott. However, I don't feel confused by any of the characters in Into The Fire. This author is able to provide any back story needed by incorporating it well into his narrative. 

The prologue to this novel is stunning. I was instantly hooked, gripped by the descriptive prose, the element of fear, the wondering what is happening, and who to. This author certainly knows exactly how to engage his audience from the beginning. 

Steve and his wife Sarah have been out for drinks with friends. When they see a house up in flames, Steve doesn't hesitate to run into the building and rescue a baby that was inside. Steve is now a hero but Steve really doesn't want to be one. He's always avoided exposure, he doesn't do social media. Steve has a lot to hide. 

From hero to villain .... or, from villain to hero .... both can be applied to Steve. When things from his past are uncovered, his reputation changes instantly. It's an interesting theme to think about and to discuss. 

I'm not going to go over the plot, that's the job of your local book group!  However, I will say that Wright's ability to create characters who appear real is incredibly good. He sets up the reader with situations that are so challenging, this is not just a fast paced story, it is one that raises so many questions too. 

Into The Fire is very emotional, it's gripping and tense, with a finale that will blow your brains!  Highly recommended. 



Gary Wright joined Kent Police at the age of 18 and worked in a variety of uniformed roles. 
At the age of 29, and completely out of the blue, he suffered two cardiac arrests that led to the diagnosis of a life limiting and incurable disease of the heart. 
Following the implantation of an internal defibrillator into his heart, he was unable to continue policing and retired at the age of 30. 
He bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour, and spent years looking out over the sea
and dreaming up stories. 
He now writes full time, committing those very stories to paper.









The Ancient Secret by Simon Wright BLOG TOUR #TheAncientSecret #SimonWright @ScarfBooks @RandomTTours #BookExtract

 


A BURIED LEGEND. A CURE FOR THE AGES. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

1980 Petra: A dangerous man steals a pair of precious relics. Determined to exploit their legendary power, his theft sets in motion devastating events.

2015 London: Professor Daniel Fairlight is fighting for his life. Now he must confront his own demons before he can defeat his deadliest adversary yet.

1630 Alexandria: Emir still bears the burden and blessing of his ring, one that he knows his enemies still hunt him for. His final battle may come at a price he cannot bear to pay.

Both Daniel and Emir face impossible sacrifices. Will they prove themselves worthy of the legend’s legacy, or will they die defending the rings and their secrets . . .?

Join Daniel and Emir on their final journey in the thrilling conclusion to the Red Scarf Trilogy. 



The Ancient Secret by Simon Wright is published on 5 June 2025 and is book three in the Red Scarf series. As part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour, I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today. 






Extract from The Ancient Secret by Simon Wright 

May 25, 1980
Petra, Jordan

Life was precious to the man—precious enough to kill for. And he had. Many times. This would just be one more. Make that, two, to be precise.

Wellness had always been important to him, central to his life in many ways, but it wasn’t until his fortieth year, as a landmark birthday loomed, that it became a defining pursuit. A fervent interest in all things health and fitness had evolved into something altogether more obsessive. With a startling clarity that he would subsequently refer to as an epiphany, the Turk recognised that, in the end, only one commodity counted. Time.

Once, three score years and ten had been an aspiration. Then it had become an expectation. Now, seventy was considered a young death. For this man, that wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.
He had spent the first half of his life accumulating everything: wealth, power, possessions, and experiences. But now those things had lost their lustre. What use were they if he was going to depart so soon? He wanted more years. And not decrepit years, but full, purposeful, rewarding years. This craving had become a lifetime’s preoccupation. It haunted him, plagued him.There must be a way to buy more time. And not just a handful of frail twilight years, but decades in the
sun. Maybe not cheat death but certainly stay the execution.

His work in medicine became more focused, and more urgent. His company had given him wealth that only a stratospheric few could dream of, and now he ploughed millions of dollars into research and development in the field of anti-aging treatments and medicines. And yes, he had seen some breakthroughs. Advances that many would have characterised as miraculous. But as the sand continued to pour through his hourglass, so did his patience also diminish. Marginal gains
were of no use to him. Where was the game-changer?

As he methodically ran the blade of his ballistic knife across the sharpening block, he reflected on the circumstances that had delivered that game-changer and brought him to this ancient city. To Jordan, and to the catacombs of Petra.

Of course he had heard the rumours like everyone else, and dismissed them as fanciful conjecture, like everyone else. The legend of the Twin Rings would surface from time to time, prompted by a spurious sighting of the fabled bands, or an overzealous report of an abnormally aged resident in some lost corner of the world. A few years earlier, the fiftieth anniversary of Tutankhamun’s tomb being unearthed had reignited interest in some of the more salacious aspects of that discovery. The chambers of gold, the infant sarcophagi, the ensuing curse, and yes, the
rumoured provenance of the mythical Twin Rings.

The legend, preposterous as it was, had always held some intrigue for the Turk. Two rings, supposedly commissioned by King Tutankhamun to celebrate the much-anticipated arrival of his twin daughters but cursed when his babies were stillborn. The Vizier Penthu was blamed and outcast, but not before he hid the charmed amulets in Tut’s tomb. Reputed to bestow bearers with myriad powers, and carry the secret to a great treasure, the rings were sought across the centuries
… and the legend began.



Simon was born, raised and continues to live in and around the Home Counties of
London, England. 
He has forged a career as a leadership and brand consultant, advising and coaching business leaders internationally. 
When challenged on his credentials as a writer he cites a school commendation for creative writing and winning the Jane Austen Award for Achievements in English at his sixth form college. 
He acknowledges that other writers have more prestigious credentials. 
Simon’s first book, The Colossus, garnered some surprisingly favourable reviews, which encouraged Simon to continue pursuing his dream with the sequel, The Twin Rings, and now The Ancient Secret, completing the trilogy. 
Simon admits that response to the Red Scarf series has led to some alarming delusions of literary grandeur, although the Oxford comma and the dangling modifier continue to keep him awake at night.  






Friday, 6 June 2025

A Beautiful Way To Die by Eleni Kyriacou #ABeautifulWayToDie @elenikwriter @AriaFiction ‪@elenikwriter.bsky.social‬‪ @headofzeus.bsky.social‬ #BookReview

 


PLAY THEIR GAME
Hollywood, 1953. Young actress Ginny Watkins is turning heads. Even the legendary - and married - actor Max Whitman can't resist the allure of the hottest new starlet. He promises Ginny the world, in return for the right favour.

DO WHAT THEY SAY
London, 1954. Stella Hope, once the most famous actress in Hollywood, has been ousted to Ealing Studios after her divorce from the powerful Max. Just as she accepts her fate, she receives a letter, blackmailing her for a mistake she made many years ago.

OR THEY'LL BURY YOU
Two women on either side of stardom find themselves in the orbit of the same beguiling man. And one night, in the shadows of a glamorous Oscars afterparty, their lives are changed forever.

A Beautiful Way to Die delves into the decadence and depravity of the early film industry from Hollywood to London. Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Babylon.




A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacou was published on 8 May 2025 by Head of Zeus / Aria Fiction. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.

This review was originally published in the June 2025 edition of The Mature Times. 


Eleni Kyriacou is an extremely skilful author, she has produced a plot that is compelling, addictive and thrilling. Her ability to create female characters is outstanding. In this classy, glamorous thriller we are served up two of the strongest characters in Ginny and Stella. 

The novel is set over two years; Ginny narrates events in Hollywood in 1953 whilst Stella relates her experiences in Ealing Studios, London in the following year. 

Ginny is new to Hollywood, with dreams of becoming the next big thing. She won a competition that enabled her to have an audition, but there’s no guarantee of a contract. Ginny has no money, if she doesn’t make it out there, there’s no way home. 

Stella has been at the top of the game. One half of a power couple with her husband Max Whitman, she was the most famous actress in Hollywood. However, her divorce from Max also means she has been ousted and is now acting in lower budget films for an English production company. 

Whilst the two timelines are separate, there are times when they over lap and the reader becomes aware of things that the characters know nothing about.  It’s a cleverly structured novel, the ideal way to tell all sides of the story whilst keeping that hint of tension and drama. 

It is Max Whitman who is the pivotal point in the plot. He is the man who connects Ginny and Stella and he is the man who is the most dangerous character in the book.  The author has created that old-school Hollywood glamour that everyone is aware of, but has also described the dark and dangerous underbelly of lies and deceit, and worse, that lie beneath the glitter. 

Powerful, compelling, glamorous and riveting. 









Eleni Kyriacou is an award-winning editor and journalist. 

Her writing has appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, Grazia, and Red, among others. 

She's the daughter of Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, and her novel, The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, was selected as a BBC Between the Covers Book Club pick. 









Thursday, 5 June 2025

Named by Camilla Balshaw BLOG TOUR #Named @CamillaBalshaw @bedsqpublishers @RandomTTours #BookExtract

 


Our names are a shadow we carry around with us. They are part of who we are. Our names are a marker of our self-identity and our sense of self. Our names have the power to shock. They have the power to heal, and they have the power to trigger conversations around race, class, social mobility and belonging. But what is a name? What do our names tell us about ourselves? And why do they matter?

Named is a fascinating exploration of names, global naming conventions and identity politics woven into a moving, personal narrative about the finding of family and self. At the intersection of memoir and social and cultural history it is a truly fascinating book about the seemingly ordinary and every day.

The author's own narrative about her estrangement from her Nigerian father, the grapples with her Jamaican mother and her journey towards identity is woven through the chapters making it an engaging and intimate investigation of what makes us who we are.





Named by Camilla Balshaw is published today; 5 June 2025 by Bedford Square Publishers. As part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour I am delighted to share an extract from the book with you today. 



Extract from Named by Camilla Balshaw 

What are we without a name?

Our names are entwined with our identity. They are repeated
in countless transactions, conversations and written correspond-
ence. Our names are stamped on our passports, utility bills and
employment IDs. They carry a lot of information. When we
hear a name, we attach an age, gender, class, nationality or
ethnic origin to the name’s bearer, and although we might
not like to admit it, when we hear a name, it influences our
first impressions of someone. Yet most of us don’t question
our names. They are just there, aren’t they? They are a neces-
sary identifier to differentiate us as individuals. And, let’s not
beat about the bush; they are a legal requirement. Without
them, how would we function as a society?

So allow me to introduce myself. My name is Camilla. Of
course it is. It’s the name written on the front cover of this
book. But growing up, I was called an entirely different name.
This was explored in an essay I wrote for the Guardian, which,
over time, grew into this book. As broadcast media has shown,
more of us are questioning what makes us who we are and
where we belong, so writing this story has felt increasingly
relevant and timely. I knew I wanted to write a personal and 
factual exploration of the use of names through the lens of
other people’s experiences as well as my own. So it is a memoir
of sorts. My story is the beating heart of this book. But it is
so much more than that. By telling my story, I consider wider
universal themes of how we fit into this world. The dynamics
of identity, belonging and not belonging, families and the
intricate relationships between mothers, fathers and daughters.
My parents’ shadows loom over the pages of this book. They
are the key to unlocking the door to my name. Without them,
this story can’t be told.

This is by no means a complete account of all the naming
practices worldwide. This book can’t discuss everything, and I
do not wish to overstep beyond my experiences and knowledge.
I wrote this book to invite you, the reader, to consider
your name. I hope it might spark conversations about what
our names mean to us, because this seemingly simple part of
our collective identities is anything but simple. There is a story
behind every name; although this is my story, part of it may
be your story, too.

And finally, remember, whatever the circumstances of your
name, take comfort in it. This name you carry around with
you is your trusted escort and friend. Cherish it, change it or
reclaim it.



Camilla Balshaw grew up in Luton. 

Her work has been published in the Observer and the Guardian. 
She has an MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths and is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. 
Her writing has been shortlisted and longlisted for a number of competitions. 
She lives in rural Norfolk. 
This is her first book.