It's 1968 and aspiring actress Julie Armstrong is at Drama School in London--but she is drawn back to her beloved Northumberland where her glamorous stepmother has another role to play in her destiny. ROOM FOR ME is the intriguing and romantic sequel to Roger Harvey's ROOM FOR LOVE.That rare thing: a gleeful celebration of homely joys, the ideal fireside read. Oozing vintage chic and nostalgia from every page, spiced with passion and drama, this is the story of a young woman finding her true self, told with honesty and humour.

An inspiring and compelling memoir from a young woman who lost her childhood to slavery—and built a new life grounded in determination and justice. When Shyima Hall was eight years old, her impoverished parents sold her to pay a debt. Two years later, the wealthy family she was sold to moved to Orange County, California, and smuggled her with them. Shyima served the family eighteen hours a day, seven days a week until she was twelve. That’s when an anonymous call from a neighbor brought about the end of Shyima’s servitude—but her journey to true freedom was far from over. A volunteer at her local police department since she was a teenager, Shyima is passionate about helping to rescue others who are in bondage. Now a US citizen, she regularly speaks out about human trafficking and intends to one day become an immigration officer. In Hidden Girl, Shyima “commands unfailing interest, sympathy, and respect” (Publishers Weekly), candidly reveals how she overcame her harrowing circumstances, and brings vital awareness to a timely and relevant topic.

Suddenly, in 1994, the author stopped taking life for granted. When her existence filled with sunshine, parties and good times came to an end. A near fatal car crash left her comatose for six weeks; Gillian doesn't know what happened on that night and 'never will'. 'Gillian Mk2' chronicles her feisty determination to regain independence in a society where she was invisible. We follow her trek for the first four years. From hospitals, doctors, falls, nurses onto more hospitals, specialists, falls, attitudes, patients... Gillian Firth is lucky, clearly her family adore her, she lives to tell the tale and does so with blunt honesty. She knew nothing and only remembered she smoked because Pathetic bought her cigarettes, into the hospital ironically, her mum went mad. A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is serious, life-changing, but you laugh out loud, then cry and laugh again, as we listen to Gillian speaking. Watch how she improves, cringe or agree with her observations, feel the anger and frustration, be embarrassed by comments and reactions. This author will be remembered for her flippant, but serious, heart rending yet hilarious, kick in the teeth, that's what it is. Funny, factual and inspirational... my eyes are open.

This book depicts a true life story. All of the characters are real, but for anonymity purposes, I have changed the names of all the characters. Although this may be the case, I am grateful for the roles that they played in my life, and I acknowledge every contribution that they've made, in whatever capacity. They know who they are.

Includes music.