Are You Sitting Comfortably November’s book pick with Green People
The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly
What a way to begin the winter cosying. I am now a fully fledged wintering aficionado (imperative when living in a dark over-hanging thatched cottage surrounded by dark fields and a world of mud for 85 months of the year). Candles, blankets, hot drinks, a ruddy good book and treats.
Yes, I appreciate that these specific treats are intended as Christmas gifts, but they are soooo beautiful and they smell sooo good, and it really is a very long way until Christmas and I should probably try them first before I gift them…hmmm? They are completely and utterly natural, organic, vegan friendly, created for sensitive skin? Er yes, sure, but just to make sure they work…eh? 50000 5 star reviews all saying “my hair is soft and shiny” “perfect mascara for sensitive eyes” …yes but….argh!!! Ok I just want to try them because they smell amazing! Oh essentials oil heaven!
A huge thank you to the amazing Green People for sponsored our author chat this month. Theirs is an extraordinary heart breaking story worthy of an important book with a mother’s love and passion driving their incredible achievements (Charlotte has been instrumental in designing the world’s first standards for organic health and beauty products with Green People becoming the world’s first certified organic skincare brand). These are truly beautiful products that are kind to us and to our planet, please do read more about Charlotte’s extraordinary journey below.
Over to Rebecca Fletcher to tell us more about this terrifyingly brilliant “chiller thriller”:
A retreat in the Swiss mountains. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? I know it’s November and winter is peering round the corner but don’t get too cosy though, as this month’s Are You Sitting Comfortably will take you to a winter wonderland where nothing is quite what it seems. Bringing all the chills is the new spine-tingling thriller from bestselling author, Ruth Kelly – The Ice Retreat.
Ruth Kelly is a journalist who has ghosted a string of Sunday Times top ten bestsellers – The Prison Doctor sold over 250,000 copies, The Governor, went straight in at number one on the Amazon charts. Her thriller, The Escape was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and The Ice Retreat was picked as one of November’s Crime and Thrillers of the month in The Guardian.
If you love a good thriller, then The Ice Retreat is the perfect haunt.
Set in the world of controversial wellness retreats, we meet Hollie Jenson, presenter of the smash-hit documentary series Bad Medicine, whose mission is to expose the perils of extreme therapies. When internationally famous wellness guru Ariel Rose claims to have discovered the secret to healing pain through her three-day ice rebirth treatment, Hollie is determined to discover the truth.
Acting on a mother’s plea to find her son, Hollie ventures into the Swiss mountains where the retreat occupies a former observatory. Where is Martyn? How can someone just vanish? Hollie is determined to prove to the whole world that Ariel Rose is nothing more than a charlatan.
As the isolation of the valley sets in, Hollie finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. There is certainly much more to the retreat than meets the eye but is Hollie’s judgement clouded? She will have to face her own demons and confront the explosive secrets from the past in order to find the truth. Think wall to wall snow, strange ethereal noises in empty corridors at night and a race to make it out alive. The Ice Retreat is fast paced and packed with suspense and mystery – perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pearse.
Rebecca and I can’t wait to chat to Ruth about the James Bond inspiration behind this latest novel as well as ice water therapy and what makes the perfect chilling crime. We’re also bringing you a very special exclusive chance to get a signed AND personalised copy of The Ice Retreatthrough our lovely friends at Hungerford Bookshop. If you pre-order Ruth’s book with this special link, Hungerford Bookshop will have copies sent out to you with your very own dedication and of course, Ruth’s signature too.
Join us on Wednesday 20th November at 7pm Live on Instagram
We have partnered with Green People this month to bring you a home retreat. No need to travel to scary James Bond destinations, stay at home and create your own retreat, use beautiful but kind skincare products and relax into essential oil bliss.
25 years ago Charlotte Vøhtz founded Green People to help others embrace a truly organic lifestyle. As a pioneering organic skin care brand, they have rewritten the rules on caring for sensitive skin and helped create the first standards for organic beauty.
“From that moment, I realised that we all are children of the chemical age and that man-made chemicals found everywhere, combined with changing dietary habits, profoundly affect us” Charlotte Vøhtz
At the forefront of botanical innovations and planet-friendly packaging, this extraordinary company have channelled a mother’s search for organic skin care products for her young daughter Alexandra, then just a toddler, battling multiple skin allergies and eczema, into years of pioneering research and encouraging the creation of the world’s first standards for organic health and beauty products.
Charlotte discovered that most ‘natural’ skincare products contained less than 1% natural ingredients: “For me, my motivation comes from wanting to help treat the skin problems that Alexandra was suffering with. As any parent of a child with any struggles will know, it can be a long and frustrating battle to find treatments that work”.
Devastatingly Alexandra was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an incurable connective tissue disorder and passed away in 2021 but this hasn’t stopped Charlotte from continuing her incredible work.
I am continually amazed by a mother’s love and courage, Charlotte has dedicated her life to creating skin and planet friendly organic skin care solutions, she has changed the standards for organic beauty and is committed to raising money for The Ehlers Danlos Support UK in Alexandra’s memory.
We are extremely proud to be working with this truly wonderful company and hope that you will read more about Charlotte’s invaluable work here: Green People and treat yourself…your loved ones… to these natural, kind and beautiful skincare and hair care products.
