Ruby & Pearl
Pearl finds herself back in her childhood home with the neighbourhood, and neighbours she's known all her life. However, the quiet cul-de-sac has become anything but, and Pearl finds herself acting as amateur sleuth in order to protect her nearest and dearest. Added to her turmoil is mother Ruby, now suffering the on set of dementia, dogs are disappearing left right and centre, her selfish sister Rose is no help at all, and a Harley rides through it.
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What are Max and Sniper up to?
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Will she ever be able to come to terms with Ruby's nonsense?
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What's Harvey trying to burn?
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So much responsibility, and Pearl only really wants to get the elusive ironing done.
Action for Children
Ruby and Pearl is a comedy mystery set in a cul de sac, and involving all the people who live there. Pearl turns amateur detective while having to cope with Ruby and her dementia and her own sanity.
I wrote the book with the intention of helping people to feel better about themselves. If you look after someone, anyone, then you are sacrificing some part of your time, be it a little or a lot. This can include caring for someone elderly or infirm, a relative with dementia, parents, your children, babies, families, brothers, sisters or friends or someone with debilitating illness. It can be hard and we can be impatient or find ourselves being controlling or resentful at times.
It's normal to go through these emotions it can be stressful having the responsibility for another person and you can feel bad about yourself if you're not always shining and happiness. You are probably lovely 90% of the time, let the remaining 10% go. I hope the story is fun, I hope you enjoy it.
I think young carers are amazing, they lose so much of themselves looking after others, they're dedicated and often isolated. That's why 20% of book sales will be going to Action For Children who do a wonderful job arranging treats and giving support.
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Once I'd written the book it had the strange effect of making me want to be a carer. I have now been working in care for 4 years, it's been a joy.
Love Freida
About the Author
Having returned to the UK after 29 years, Freida now lives, with her husband in Buckinghamshire. She appreciates the beauty of English countryside, more so, from having lived so long without it. Freida enjoys anything esoteric and mystical and worked for many years as an alternative therapist. Ruby and Pearl is her first book.
Liz
I think the book is very entertaining, but also very moving. There is a good story which slowly develops, and you want to know what is going to happen. The characters are well described and come to life, you really feel as if you're in the book.
My favourite character was the daughter, Pearl, who dealt with her mother in a very funny but caring way. She sees things in a quirky way, which made me laugh out loud, always the sign of a good book.
The conversations between mother and daughter were very amusing, both characters played off well against each other.
The book has many funny parts. The eccentric characters and the excellent dialogue. I wanted to continue reading until I finished.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a good story and highly entertaining, just like watching a good sitcom, but with many parts that will move you to tears.
I loved it.
Mary
Ruby and Pearl is a warm and witty study of family relationships with an intriguing disappearance at its centre. Our heroine duly turns amateur sleuth in order to solve this mystery, and the ensuing comic moments and the various sympathetically drawn characters it introduces make this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I finished the book in one sitting, which is testament to just how good it is.
Sue
After spending a lazy afternoon with Ruby & Pearl I find myself wondering which shelf to put this book on..
1) Travel.... it took me down Memory Lane
2) Horror... is this my future?
3) Humour.... laughed out loud more than once!
4) Mystery.... who is Sniper?
A good read which keeps all the attention needed to turn the next page!
Sandra
Ruby & Pearl was a very enjoyable book - a real page turner about a mother & daughter & the decline of the mother's dementia & their relationship. It was a very interesting read & the characters were likeable with plenty of humour but sad in some parts.
A very well written book especially as it was the authors first book . I will be looking out for the next one!
Get in Touch
Special Thanks...
I'd like to thank the following people:
Emma Mitchell, my brilliant editor with her great attention to detail and excellent advice.
Georgia Bellis Jones, for all the help with the social media side of things.
Ann Pattison Bingham for creating the video, and the tremendous effort she put into it.
Michael and Cheri Mayo aka Atomic Flamingo for the music they wrote especially for the video.
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Emma Styles for the author photo.
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Jane Russell for reading the video introduction.
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Sue Wightwick for reading the part of Ruby.
All my lovely readers who gave invaluable feedback: Ann Pattison Bingham, Richard Stringer, Julia Fletcher Evans, Elizabeth Allan, Dawn Roberts, Sandra Goodehall-Hernandez, Annie Johnson, Jane Russell, Gill Blades, Saf Hussain, The Honorable Caroline Morris, Mary Bradfield, Sue Wightwick, Andrea Styles, Megan Styles, Emma Styles, Val Jean Charles, Sonny Martin, Janice Toovey, Janet Johnson.