My first historical novel without any hint of the supernatural…Except that I am convinced I was meant to write this book to show women of today the power they have and continue to give away.
Original book cover 2017 – 2025
Available in all retail outlets in paperback, hardback e-book and audiobook
After writing it and having it published, I was excited when it won the 2017 Marie Irvine Literary Excellence Award, followed by the Women’s Firebird Award in 2019 and 5 Stars from the Readers Favourite Awards. I gave talks to variety of women’s groups and spread the power of this book to women, to learn from what was and never go back to being less than any man.
Reviews
Reader’s Favourite 5 STAR review putting it into the Finals can be read HERE
This book is written in a different way to the rest of the books by the author, but it is still just as captivating living the life through the pages of the book and the diary entries of the character. I highly recommend this book to anyone and every one.
The story of Margery’s journey, stirred a combination of emotions within me. As I read the pages, witnessing the trials & tribulations, I was amazing at the strength displayed through Margery’s character. The grace that was demonstrated when standing strong against adversity, was one of the main things that stood out for me. That regardless what we are faced with, it does not mean we lose our integrity, identity & self worth. If anything, it can renew that sense of self & inner purpose, and teach us so much more about ourselves. This was most certainly captivated within this book.
How the book was written was beautifully done. It was easy to read, as a diary. And very engaging! I did not want to put it down. It has been a couple of weeks since I finished, and I still cannot stop thinking about it.
Thank you so much for incorporating such valuable lessons into this book. It has definitely given me food for thought.
The first book I have read of P.J.Roscoe’s, it wont be the last
Brilliant, absorbing, incredible storyline.
New Book Cover 2025
I didn’t think I would write anymore, but in 2020 I had a sudden idea that refused to go away – I knew that feeling! So I listened and voila, another ‘diary’ popped into my head and I wrote, Diary of Betsy Shaw within months and now after an extraordinary wait, the new diary is ready for the public.
You can buy your copy here – either e-book or paperback
Audio is on it’s way…
Finalist in the 2025 Reader’s Favourite receiving 5 STARS – Read the review here
The next diary is underway, Diary of Maggie Walsh and I hope to finish that this year.
Each diary is connected by the women authors and within the pages, the women recount their experiences of life as women in the Victorian era, forced marriages, motherhood, prostitution, asylums, kidnapping, afternoon tea and secrets and so much more.
My hope is to write 6 diaries connecting the women through the years.
Why did I write them?
I see women giving their power away to men, to society, to ‘fit in’ when we are equal, we are the mothers of this earth, the warriors, the ones who must be both feminine and masculine, we embrace the goddess and dance our power, we are the wild banshee and cunning gypsy, we are the sisters, connected by blood, we are the power of creation while connected to the moon as our menstrual cycle celebrates our power. We are the daughters of the earth and of fire as our passions ignite with every monstrosity done to us by cowardly men who fear us so much they created ‘religions’ to subdue our power while they gawk at our bodies yet repulsed at the purpose of them. We are not men’s ‘play things’. We are not here to be pestered and mauled for their pleasure, we are women.
We are woman and we will never be still, subdued, beaten or less than, but equal in all.
Celebrations are meant to be joyful occasions, moments of togetherness where we embrace the beauty of life and the people we cherish. But when tragedy strikes—a death, illness, divorce, or any life-altering event that brings pain, sorrow, and heartbreak—those celebrations can become profoundly difficult to navigate.
Grief changes us. As humans capable of great love, we feel loss deeply, down to our very core. The thought of “celebrating” in the face of such pain can feel not only impossible but also profoundly unfair.
As the festive season approaches, the world around us bursts into life. Streets glitter with decorations, people shop for gifts, plan feasts, and extend invitations to parties. There’s an unmistakable energy in the air—a mix of excitement and mounting pressure to create the “perfect holiday.” For someone grieving, this display can feel overwhelming, like a painful reminder that the world continues while your own has stopped.
Often, the grieving are met with well-meaning but misguided comments:
“You’ll feel better if you just join in and go shopping.”
“It’s Christmas—smile!”
“They loved the holidays; surely you can make an effort for one day.”
“It’s been years now. Isn’t it time to move on?”
These remarks, though spoken with good intentions, can feel like daggers to someone already in pain. Grief has no timeline, no manual to follow. It’s a deeply personal journey, one that doesn’t adhere to social expectations or festive calendars. Celebrating when your heart is broken may not be possible—and that’s okay.
The truth is, grief hurts until it doesn’t. It’s an unpredictable process. The first holiday season after a loss can feel surreal, as if denial cushions the blow. By the second year, the full weight of reality settles in, and subsequent years bring their own struggles. Healing doesn’t follow a schedule, and the only rule is this: be true to yourself. Others may not understand, and that’s not your burden to carry.
If you’re grieving this season, allow yourself space to feel whatever you feel. Communicate openly with loved ones about your needs, boundaries, and emotions. Some will struggle to understand, but grief teaches us that life is unpredictable—and someday, they too may walk in your shoes. When that time comes, they’ll remember your honesty and vulnerability.
For those supporting someone who is grieving, remember this:
Be kind.
Be patient.
Be present.
Your love and understanding can make all the difference. Grief is a shared part of the human experience. Let’s meet it with compassion—toward others and, most importantly, toward ourselves.
Beginning in January I am offering an 8 week programme of healing and support so you can being your 2025 with a positive and loving mental, emotional and spiritual journey so your world can be amazing instead of just ‘fine’.
I am offering this at a huge 50% discount to the first 5 people who book a free call with me and register, pay a small deposit to hold their place and begin when ready. To be one of the lucky five, please book a free call here to be eligible.
You may not feel like it, but you are loved, this heaviness and heartbreak will heal, but only you can begin the journey.
With love and a loving energy this Christmas to all
Can Social Media be Supportive for those grieving, or is it a cheaper alternative that helps nobody?
By Paula J Roscoe Grief Guru, Best Selling Author, Spiritual Coach & Therapist, Spiritual Medium
Grief is a profoundly isolating experience. Traditionally, it was shared with close family and friends, who would rally around to offer support during such a painful time. However, with the advent of social media, the grieving process has transformed. Instead of leaning solely on their immediate circle, many turn to online communities for solace. But is this shift beneficial, or does it inadvertently keep people stuck in their grief?
The Shift to Social Media for Grieving
Before the digital age, mourning was a personal affair. People naturally sought the comfort of the living and, over time, gradually resumed their daily lives. While this process was far from perfect, it did encourage healing and moving forward. Nowadays, social media offers an endless platform for expressing grief. Grief groups have multiplied, becoming spaces where people share stories, post tributes, and receive support in the form of likes, hearts, and care emojis. Yet many of these groups explicitly discourage offering help or advice. Instead, they emphasize sharing stories and photos, reinforcing a cycle of expression without a path toward healing.
Are Grief Groups Helping or Hurting?
The rise of these online spaces has given grieving individuals a place to vent and find community. However, I’ve observed a concerning trend: stories of grief that span years, even decades, with people seemingly stuck in their sorrow. It’s as though these platforms have become a haven for those who have given up on life, seeking validation and attention that may have dwindled in their offline worlds. Is this truly helping them heal, or merely encouraging them to wallow?
For instance, I often see posts like, “My daughter died last night, how can I go on?” or “It’s been ten years since my son’s passing, and I’ll never get over it.” While the outpouring of support from the online community is well-intentioned, I find it unsettling. In their deepest moments of grief, people turn to type messages for a virtual audience instead of seeking immediate comfort from those physically close to them. What drives this compulsion? Is it a genuine cry for help, or has it become a coping mechanism that prolongs their suffering?
The Allure of Online Attention
Grief is intensely personal, yet social media has turned it into a public performance. The validation people receive online can become addictive. The attention and sympathy they find in these groups often outlast the support they get in real life, where friends and family eventually return to their daily routines. This creates a paradox: while the living must move forward, those entrenched in their grief find an unending source of validation online, reinforcing their pain and keeping them from healing.
The danger here is that without guidance, these online communities can foster a culture of perpetual mourning, rather than a path toward recovery. Grief requires time, patience, and compassion, but indulging it indefinitely can turn it into a lifestyle, a crutch that prevents true healing.
A Call for Meaningful Support
Instead of perpetuating this cycle, why not provide grieving individuals with real, actionable support? Encouragement to step back into the world of the living, coupled with meaningful therapy and tools for coping, can make a significant difference. It’s about giving people the strength and resources they need to rebuild their lives, not just a space to share their sorrow.
I understand the need for support in grief—I’ve been there myself. After the loss of my son and mother, I faced the choice between sinking into the comfort of online validation or finding a way back to life. I chose the latter, and that’s what I offer now in my private group for women. Here, we focus on practical, therapeutic sessions designed to help members regain control of their lives and slowly climb out of the pit of despair. It’s not about platitudes or temporary comfort; it’s about real healing and a return to living.
The Choice is Yours
So, which would you prefer? To stay locked in the darkness of sorrow or to find a path back to life? I know which one I chose. Life is full of choices, and while grief may be an inevitable part of our journey, staying trapped in it is not. Let’s choose life together, even as we navigate the depths of our sorrow.
I began to consider writing this book last November when I was approached by ‘She Rises Studios‘ to be a part of a project, 100 Voices of Women. I was honoured to be part of such a valuable and much needed project and began to make my notes December 2023.
What to write and what would readers find interesting?
How long should it be?
I knew I didn’t want to put too much grief information into this book as there are many books on grief already, but I felt it needed the basics so readers had some information to begin to understand what they were experiencing without being overwhelmed by too much information. I believe too much is just as unhelpful as too little, especially when dealing with grief.
I knew I wanted to share some self help exercises that I use with my clients if I am guided to do so, as every client I work with is unique and so their healing programme is bespoke to what they need. However, I have offered some writing exercises that will help readers get some answers to what is happening within themselves, so they can begin their healing journey.
And my memoir, oh what to write about? A lovely lady I got to know who is also part of this project said, “write like nobody will ever read it and then decide what to keep in!” And so, that is what I have done.
I am open to feedback and looking forward to reading the reviews.
The ‘Firsts’ are never easy, but what About the Seconds and Thirds?
By
Paula J Roscoe
You may hear people talking about their ‘firsts’ and you may not give it a second thought, until it happens to you. The first anniversary, the first birthday, the first Easter, the first Christmas, the first New Year, the first holiday, the first visit to a place that has fond memories, The first time you drive alone in the car, the first time you step into an empty house, the first time you visit friends, alone. You see, the ‘first’ can be anything that you have to experience after the death of a loved one, and none of them are going to be easy.
People will tell you the first year is the most difficult, but having listened to hundreds of grieving clients, I don’t totally agree with that. The firsts are reminders that they are no longer there to share that experience, but when it then moves into the second or third year, the reality of your situation and their death, really begins to sink in because you move from self preservation into Reality.
That being said, EVERY milestone can be difficult depending on each individual and anything big or small can bring a fresh wave of grief, sorrow and anguish that you have a life to live without them. The ‘firsts’ remind you that these are merely the firsts to deal with, and many more will come.
Navigating these moments is crucial to begin the healing process; however that might look for you, and begin to settle into what will become your new ‘normal’. Along the road of grief you will have good and bad days, happy and sad days. You will experience moments of deep darkness and feel a need to go inward, and you will have moments of wanting to be with the world and enjoy being alive.
Everything you feel is acceptable and it’s important NOT to judge yourself harshly in any way. Never compare yourself to how someone else grieved; because that is a road that leads to madness, guilt and shame. YOU cannot know their thoughts, feelings and actions, and you cannot know what is happening in their life; as they cannot know the full extent of what is happening in your life.
Needing support is okay while grieving; it isn’t weak or pathetic; in fact, it’s one of the strongest things you can ask for when grieving. Noticing and acknowledging that you need help to resolve this grief wound is an enormous step and one that should be accepted. Every single person on this planet will grieve at some point, and every death will cause a different reaction, a different thought, a different feeling and emotion.
Some practical tips and advice that can help you during this time are:
Seek professional help from someone who has experience in helping grief and trauma. If you feel counselling is enough for you, there are plenty of charities that offer this. If you want more than mere counselling that heals your mind, body and spirit and brings you back to life, then contact me for a FREE call to see if we’re a good fit for my programme.
Create a memory box – now I say ‘box’ but in my time as a grief therapist I have seen memory bags/boxes/bins/gardens, even a memory shed! Fill it with good memories and look at them often.
Create a new tradition in honour of the person who died. Light a candle on their birthday or anniversary, do something for a charity in their name. Organise a family get together once a month and create a fun day. Cook meals, learn a new craft, it can be anything. Open up your world.
Taking care of you is vital. Make sure you prioritise yourself and all that you do lifts your mood, nurtures your mind, body and spirit, and your wellbeing is paramount. Things like, gentle exercises, eating healthy, restful sleep or relaxing, meditation and doing small activities that raise your vibration.
Acknowledge your emotions and give yourself permission to feel them and grieve. It is important to acknowledge that you will feel a variety of emotions and it could last many years if you do not have help and support to heal those wounds.
Be honest with yourself and realise that this time is going to be difficult, but you can and will work through it and although it may not feel like it now, there is light at the end of this dark tunnel.
Identify the triggers that you know, or expect will be hard for you such as birthdays and special days. Make preparations to support you on those days, whether you feel you just want to stay in bed, alone with a heaped pile of old films, a box of tissues and your weight in chocolate, or you know you want to get out into nature and be among the trees, or visit a busy city to be among people? Whatever you feel, go with it. You don’t have to explain it to anyone.
The most important thing is you. YOU are just as important as the person who died and it’s important that you acknowledge that you are loved, and you are loving, that is why you are hurting.
With love
Paula, Grief Guru & International award-winning Author, Spiritual Coach & Angel Voice Healer
In April it was ‘Stress Awareness Week’ whatever the hell that means!?
Stress! Who needs it or wants it? We want relaxed, happy days filled with stress-free, fun moments that flow and elevate our soul.
I’m not one to allocate days or weeks to specific issues, I prefer to deal with those issues EVERY day if necessary. I don’t do ‘Mothers Day’ or stuff like that either for the same reasons – Love is EVERY day! I am a Mother, EVERY day. I don’t need a specific day for it. I don’t need a man-made day to ‘celebrate’ it. I have my self worth every day, so I don’t need someone else to verify me with bought goods that just make big supermarkets richer and consumers stressed!
This ‘Stress week’ came about in 1992 because someone decided we needed a week to shout about ‘stress’, but the thing is, once it’s done, who remembers…Except those with stress? And frankly, I’d never heard of it until this week – in May!!! Unless you’re looking for it, you have stress, you’re told about it, or like me, you came across an old magazine shouting about it; would you know it even existed? Would you know it was a thing?
I know personally that I wouldn’t keep it in my memory because it means nothing to me. Same as ‘various illness awareness days’ or ‘memorial service days’ or any military days actually because I don’t believe in young people fighting and dying a rich man’s war for oil and control and their own power and ego.
This ‘stress week’ came about because apparently, in the 90’s we had a ‘stress epidemic’…Did we? Was the 90’s ANY different than the years since or before? Stress is constant if you allow it, but who is measuring our ‘stress’ levels to want to create a ‘week’ for it?
I was in my early 20’s and I endured abuse, survived an attack on my life, got married to the man of my dreams, our son, Jac died in 1997 – that was particularly stressful, and my daughter with special needs was born in 1998 and that created a different kind of stress I never thought possible; but would having a ‘week about it’ be useful?
NO! Not really! I was busy…living life, dealing with my grief and getting used to a different kind of life. What would have been useful, is if I’d have learned ways to deal with stress and tension, earlier in my life.
So how about you learn to combat stress EVERY day and not wait for April to come back around?
Sound like a plan?
Okay, did you stress while you read the above? Hands up!
If you did, ask yourself why?
What is stressing you out right now?
Can you control it?
What needs to happen to make your life easier, happier and stress free?
Here’s a few things to consider:
Are you looking after yourself or putting yourself second? Third? At all? You see, by taking care of yourself and doing things that you enjoy, and making sure you’re eating healthily, sleeping well, exercising (You know, all the boring things!!) then you can function better and able to make those decisions easier. Make time for you. What do you enjoy? What makes you laugh? Laughter is a fabulous way to = de-stress.
Take a break from the news (Media lies anyway), reading newspapers (owned by the billionaires who want to keep you stressed) and social media that is negative. These only bring your energy down, you don’t need that. The trauma these bring is pointless.
I personally have not watched or read so called ‘news’ for almost 15 years and I am still going strong and am extremely happy! I learned to switch off from their BS and did my own research into certain topics that they continue to use against the population to scaremonger and control, create stress and negative emotions. My life didn’t change four years ago when they implemented a certain experiment and I remained free and perfectly healthy because my body didn’t need to release toxins caused by the fear and stress = no stress.
Excessive alcohol and tobacco is a no brainer. We all know these drugs are lethal to our mind and body, though they give us a buzz initially, long term, they take their toll. Now, I know for some the very thought of not smoking or having a weekly drink is stressful (I hear you!) I don’t drink during the week, but enjoy a few pints on a Saturday. I used to smoke but gave up as soon as I knew I was pregnant. Drinking small amounts, cutting out a few cigarettes a day, rolling your own or vaping, giving yourself some dry days or drinking non-alcoholic in-between the alcohol will all help = reduce stress on your body.
Talk to Other people – remember, a problem shared, is a problem halved…apparently? Well, I disagree to a point. The problem isn’t halved, but it is out in the open so you can begin to work on it with a friend, parent or therapist. Once you begin to face it, work on it, heal it = reduces stress
Hoping this helped. You don’t have to take any of it, or just pick one and see how your stress levels go down.
If you need me, I’m here for you. If you want a free 30 min chat on what I could help you with then go to my Calendly link found HERE and book on.
Stay free, stay loving and be YOU, because nobody else can be.
Sadly, society is not always kind when it comes to grief and bereavement. Death makes us uncomfortable. We shy away from talking about it, that evil inevitable thing that lurks in the shadows. As newly bereaved we force smiles, we force those grins and even laugh as that uncomfortable knowledge becomes part of your life.
Truth is we all die. We don’t always get to choose when and some deaths are so unfair, it cripples us in shock and despair for a long time, such as child deaths, accidents, foul play etc. Some deaths are more ‘acceptable’ like old age, but does that mean your grief should diminish or have an acceptable ‘timeframe’ just because the death is accepted by society?
There I’ve said the dreaded ‘D word. And it’s okay to say it.
Dead. Dying. Death. Deceased.
Someone you love has died. They have gone, and they are not coming back, in this life, if you believe in re-incarnation, as a ghost if you’re a spiritualist, they have gone back to the earth if Atheist.
Whatever you believe, (or not) in the end, it doesn’t matter. They are dead and you are dealing with it every day. You may be lucky and have an amazing family and friends around you who will continue to support, nurture and care for you for as long as you need, but sadly, so many clients I work with have told me the same stories. Do any of these resonate?
‘They were great…In the beginning, but after the funeral, they disappeared…’
‘My friend just pretended not to see me…I feel invisible…’
‘They actually crossed the road so they didn’t have to talk to me…’
They told me I have to ‘get over it’ or people will think I’m mad…’
‘My boss said I had to ‘pull myself together’; it was only a divorce, not a death’…
‘I am being judged by my family. They keep comparing me to that other widow down the road…’
‘I don’t feel I can mention my grief anymore…It’s been a few months now, so nobody ever asks me about it…’
‘I cry in secret, when the kids have gone to bed, so everybody believes I’m ‘over it’…But I’m not’.
‘I loved that house, I’ve lost everything, but nobody cares, it wasn’t a death, only a fire…’
‘When my pet died, nobody understood. ‘It was just a pet’, but to me, it was my fur baby and I can’t stop crying. I miss them so much, but I daren’t tell anyone…’
‘It’s like the funeral was their ‘end game’. Right that’s that, now back to normal…’
‘I have to put on a brave face, for the kids, for work, for my family etc…’
If any of these scenarios’s sound familiar, I hear you. Society has made grieving people a pariah in many circumstances, and though friends, family and colleagues have kind intentions, the pull of ‘life’ inevitably grabs their attention.
‘They don’t want to be sucked into the low energy of grief. They want to continue enjoying life, because if nothing else, death reminds them that time is ticking…’
The truth is it takes courage to keep grieving. It takes lots of energy. It takes a lot of time. It takes your attention from life, for a while, but if you’re not on other people’s ‘expectations of grief, time-wise’ then there is a miscommunication, your energies won’t mesh and they will either run or withdraw, as it is incredibly uncomfortable.
This is NOT your fault. It is THEIR perception, but it is YOU who is suffering because of it.
So, what can you do?
· Be Honest. If you’re still grieving after the funeral, after three months, after a year — Speak up — they are not mind readers. They will see what they want to see, and if they see a smile, they will assume all is ok.
· THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU MUST NEVER SMILE AGAIN — It can be difficult to smile, laugh, enjoy something following a death, and guilt and shame are normal feelings to have (If you do) however, it is important to be honest — (please see above)
· Work through your grief with a professional — If your grief is pulling you down consistently, then talking it through with a professional that you click with can be very helpful. A safe place to release those feelings and explore what is happening for you deep down.
· You do not have to ‘put on a brave face for anyone.’ Especially children. Your children need to learn that grieving is ok. They learn by watching adults. If they see adults swallowing down their grief, pretending everything is ok; this becomes learned behaviour and continues in life. Show them how to be human and feel their emotions.
· Forgive them. Forgive yourself. They can’t help behaving the way they are, no more than you can. Be honest, when someone you know was grieving, how long did you stick around? Did you know they continued grieving? Of course not. Life continues, and people inevitably either hide their grief to ‘fit in’ or they wallow in it, hiding away from society. This is NOT a blame or shame thing to say, it just is and can be a shock upon realisation.
· Many people just don’t know what to say. They are afraid of causing upset, making you cry etc. The truth is you are already upset. You are already crying. See point number one — Be honest…And open. Tell those around you where you’re at on your journey. ‘I might start crying, but I prefer to just get on with it alone’ ‘I’m really struggling right now, can I call you if I need to offload?’ ‘I’m okay most of the time, but I have good and bad days. Can you ask me when you see me if I’m black or blue — black for bad day, blue for okay day?’ Etc
· Remember, these are your friends, family, companions, and colleagues. They have been in your life for a reason, usually because they care about you, like you, love you, and work with you. Remember these are human beings. We all make ‘mistakes’ when we don’t understand something. Be kind to yourself, and each other.
· If they don’t get it, or don’t want to be involved, thank them for their time with you and let them go. Find those who are willing to walk WITH you on this grief journey. The others will either come around again, or they were not meant to remain in your life. You have enough to deal with without worrying about others.
I hope this gave you some insight and you found something within the page that gave you an ‘aha’ moment.
Why is Grief worse at Night? Can you dare to dream?
Sleep.
That demon need that we crave, we desire, we want to lose our self within its darkness and oblivion…
But when we’re grieving, it can be illusive, like a kite on a string with a wind so strong we battle to control it or a locked door without the necessary key that will let us inside.
Sleep is happening for everyone else, but you can’t shut off your mind long enough to relax into that nothingness and it’s driving you crazy.
The unimaginable thoughts you always hoped would never invade your head, the ‘what if’s’ and the constant questionings that go round and round but can never be answered, the nightmare scenarios that just won’t stop as your imagination runs wild and free every time your head hits that pillow.
OR
You can’t get out of bed for long. You drag your exhausted body around like a dead, limp rag clinging to your shoe and you cannot shake it off; you don’t have the energy to divest yourself of this shattered new you.
This you that is left behind after a death is consistently drawn into that unconsciousness, into that darkness, into that blissful oblivion where you can hide away from the hell that is your grief. The awake world doesn’t exist for you now. It has nothing you want.
But, do you dream?
Do you have nightmares?
Is it restless or restful when you lay your head and drift away?
Grief really affects your sleep.
Either scenario is difficult to navigate as grief affects your mind, body & spirit in so many ways and no one way is right or wrong, it just is and both are exhausting, terrifying, heart-breaking, numbing and a pain in your arse and it makes you want to shout and cry and hit something because death isn’t fucking fair!
They’re gone and never coming back and although somewhere in your consciousness, you know death is always lurking in life, you didn’t want to admit it could happen to you and your loved one. Surely this awful pain happens to someone else? Not you, never you.
They were going to live forever…Or you were supposed to go first…
‘Oh to sleep, perchance to dream...’
And yet, sleep can bring with it all those little nightmare demons that play with your head when you’re awake, and now, if you do manage to get some shut eye, they will continue to play with your head as your subconscious takes over and offers a variety of terrorizing scenario’s that bring even more deep suffering as you try to process your loss.
To sleep, is also to wake and in those seconds before fully consciousness kicks in, there, within that sacred moment it could all have been a terrible dream, a nightmare, oh thank god…It wasn’t real… But then reality hits and the pain, the agony of truth is all too honest and your heart breaks just that little bit more.
Sleep. We know we need it to survive. We know we need it to function. We know we need it to heal. It’s like a friend who can also be our enemy, a love-hate relationship, a bitter-sweet companion we must try to allow.
So can you make sleep work for you?
You can when you step away from what society expects.
When you realise that a bed doesn’t matter that much in the scheme of things or that doing the usual ‘bed-time’ routines are not absolutely necessary right now, then you can release the tension and stress that comes with society ‘rules’ and just allow rest to come.
If why is grief worse at night a question you ask yourself, I can help you.
I offered a free session on ways to help with this in my private group for women on FB, found here:
“I fell into this story in an instant and found myself thinking about the characters as I went about my day.”
“Thoroughly engaging!”
” I found this an expertly told tale. The transition from times past to times present and back again were smoothly-handled. I found the characters believable and their actions thoroughly understandable — what wouldn’t a parent do to save their child?.Recommended.”
“P.J. Roscoe has a real knowledge of history and of her local area and ties this in very well to create a beautiful story.”
“A book worth reading and I recommend it. The author has obviously given much time to research and has a profound knowledge of her subject.”
“I really must look out PJ’s other books. A great read!”
Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers’ Favorite
Between Worlds by P.J. Roscoe is a spine-tingling mystery novel about a woman who time slips into sixth century England. After missing for months, Emily is discovered at a grisly murder scene. She is wearing garments from another era and holding a sword that dates back to the sixth century. When she is found, Emily is lying in a pool of blood next to a headless man’s body, sobbing uncontrollably and screaming incoherently. Due to the trauma and the paranormal circumstances, Emily has selectively lost the use of her voice and her memory. Because she is the only suspect in the murder investigation, she is placed in a psychiatric hospital. The doctor’s objective is to get Emily to speak and admit to killing the victim. However, what Emily knows and has experienced isn’t believable. Emily is already in a psych ward, so how will she ever get out if she tells the truth?
Traveling back to the era of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is an enthralling venture into the thrilling historical novel, Between Worlds, by P.J. Roscoe. It is a gripping story that alternates between two different centuries. The contrast between the two different worlds is fascinating and skilfully done. The author takes the reader between the past and the present with ease, melding together a story of drama and passion. The captivating imagery of the settings enhances the plot and storyline, leading to an unexpected and twisted conclusion. This book is a brilliantly written, fast-paced, action packed novel. Its engaging characters bring the brutal and violent living environment of old London to life while touching on some of the horrific and unfair forms of modern day justice. I would recommend this book for more mature readers as it contains sexual situations and violence.
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers’ Favorite
If you’re a modern woman reading Diary of Margery Blake by PJ Roscoe, don’t be surprised if you cringe at what you read in Margery’s diary. Even though this is fiction, it’s based on historical facts, especially on society’s attitudes towards females in the 19th century. No matter what is happening with equality and sexual harassment issues today, you might just find yourself feeling lucky to be living now instead of then. For starters, if you were of marrying age, there was little comfort in being born into the upper class if you didn’t get to choose your future husband. In Margery’s case, her parents had decided that a marriage between her and their friend’s son, the handsome Captain John Harrison, was an ideal arrangement, and both sets of parents worked to bring this union about. There was little regard for either the bride’s or the groom’s preferences in a mate: the important thing was producing offspring, preferably males, to carry on the family names.
When we meet Margery through her diary, she is most unhappy, knowing that her future means being the wife of a man not of her own choosing. Once married, Margery’s unhappiness accelerates rapidly as her body is ravaged sexually and brutally by her husband on the wedding night and for months afterward. As much as it is about lust for him, it’s more about making her pregnant, and when Margery miscarries, both families see the loss as all her fault. When she tries to tell her mother what she is enduring at the hands of her husband, her mother turns a deaf ear. After all, it’s a woman’s lot in life to fulfill her sexual duty to her husband: she is his property; he can do with her whatever he wants. Sadly, even today, some men still look at women that way.
PJ Roscoe’s method of using a diary to enlighten readers about such attitudes and how it would have affected a nice young woman stuck in a loveless marriage, not of her own choosing, is very clever. We feel Margery’s pain and loathing for her husband even more acutely than if this were told using a conventional novel style. Surprisingly, as the story moves along, it becomes a true page turner, with twists we don’t see coming, even right up to the very end. Despite occasional verb/tense issues, it’s little wonder that Diary of Margery Blake is the 2017 Winner of the Marie M Irvine Literary Excellence Award for Historical Fiction. That recognition is well-deserved. Bravo!
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite
Where Rivers Meet by P.J. Roscoe is a tale filled with magical realism and characters that are exceptional and memorable. Abigail Lloyd is returning to the Welsh village where she spent many happy childhood years with her beloved Nan, and she does so with the hope of reconnecting with the joy and happiness she once experienced as a child. But what she finds are secrets about her childhood that make her question everything she ever knew. She is about to set out on a path she never thought of and find a destiny far different from anything she ever dreamed about. Cain’s world isn’t one for weak people and he knows that the woman he’s grown up secretly loving might not fit into it. But he has these weird glimpses into another life that connects him to her. Will he take the bold step and dare to go after her?
A gorgeous treat for fans of paranormal romance, Where Rivers Meet is evocative of Welsh culture, filled with words picked from the dialect and images that allow readers to visualize the geography, the locales, and the exotic places in which the story takes place. The beauty of the descriptive prose caught my attention right off the bat, with images like these: “The sun had left its warmth on the day. A slither of golden light streamed along the line of slate roofs while the rest of the small cottages lay in semidarkness within the shadow of the mountain. The pubs were busy with people laughing and smoking both inside and out.” Abigail is a gifted artist and the portrait of her soul is so beautifully done that it feels like a reflection of the world she inhabits. P.J. Roscoe is a writer who seems to write from the heart, exploring strong emotions in the characters and helping readers connect with exciting worlds. Themes of family, romance, and the quest for meaning in a world filled with mystery are beautifully developed in this spellbinding narrative.
Reviewed by Nicky Owle for Readers’ Favorite
Bronwen Mortimer, a shy young woman from Liverpool, set out to start her new life in the small village of Derwen. Running from her past and looking for a fresh start, she rents a small cottage from the Kenward family without knowing the village has secrets of its own. The village along with the Kenward family have been cursed for over 500 years leaving heartbreak and questions throughout its dark history. Only time will tell if Derwen’s newest resident Bronwen holds the key to breaking the curse. Will life in the small village ever be normal again? It would take Bronwen to step out of her comfort zones and put the puzzle pieces together to make life normal for her as well as for the small village and its residents.
P.J. Roscoe has created an intricate tale of past and present in the page turner “Echoes”. This unique book has the perfect balance of murder, mystery, sex and revenge. The author’s twisting tale kept me guessing all the way to the end. Although “Echoes” has some adult content I found it very hard to put the book down. I loved stepping into the past of the Tudor period with King Henry the VII. I liked to follow how P.J. Roscoe combined the modern day with the past, adding a little history into it. Roscoe has made a fascinating and enjoyable read. I am already looking forward to her next book.
