Since inheriting a pile in Killiney, Ross O'Carroll-Kelly - schools rugby legend, lover of the ladeez and award-winning author - can add a new string to his not inconsiderable (you know what I mean) bow - lord of the manor. Downturn Abbey is the story of how he tackles his new responsibilities. Or not.
The century is not yet a teenager, yet everything is shrouded in gloom. People are tightening their belts, rationing and making do. Across Europe, there is uncertainty, with the possibility of, like, serious conflict hanging in the air. Yet, amidst the splendour of Honalee - a mock-something-or-other mansion that Ross and Sorcha recently inherited - life goes on.
The world is changing quickly - especially for Ross. As he stares down the barrel of middle age, he has decided that it's time to possibly do right by Sorcha and put their marriage back together.
But he has even bigger challenges to face. His son has hitched his future to a family of commoners, his old dear is involved in a love affair that threatens disgrace for the family, and his daughter has turned into the worst little madam you can imagine. Oh, yeah, and he is about to become a grandfather at 31.
As Sorcha embraces her new life of afternoon teas on fine bone china plates and Downton Abbey theme porties, he is suddenly wrestling with duty, loyalty and the thousands of women out there who still desire the pleasure of his company.
Over the last few years I have loved reading all three of Alice Peterson's fiction novels so I was interested to hear that she has recently published her non-fiction book Another Alice, which is her own personal story, as an eBook.
Love, lust, boys and shopping – the main worries of a teenage girl? Not for eighteen-year-old Alice Peterson, who, at the height of her youth and promising tennis career, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the midst of shock and denial, and the enduring question, 'Isn't it old people who get arthritis?', Alice had to learn to live with what quickly turned from the odd ache and pain to a very aggressive form of the illness, and rediscover a new path in life.
Alice’s brilliant account of both her tennis-mad childhood and battle to live with RA is an uplifting, humourous and heart-warming story. Here is a story of how, armed with courage, she left behind a world she loved to overcome the pain of a degenerative disease.
Another Alice is also a story of friendship, family, growing up and the desire to be normal. Above all it celebrates the power of the human spirit.
I don't normally read many non-fiction novels but I'll definitely be adding this to my wishlist to read as soon as I clear my reviews backlog as it sounds like an inspirational story. You can read a sneak peek extract of the book on her website here.
