A little more about our readers....

My name is Julia and I have previously lived in Japan and worked as an English teacher, travelled across China and Russia by train, worked for a luxury tour operator, trekked to Machu Picchu (and had my first experience of altitude sickness), relocated to Berkshire, got married to my partner in crime, Steve......and THEN our biggest adventure started! We are the proud parents to three wonderful, chatty, bouncy, children who ask questions all day long. I decided when I had children it was time to take a different route in life especially as we have no family nearby to help with childcare, and I stepped away from the world of travel. It is here that Secrets from the Shires was born. I feel truly blessed that since having children I seem to have met so many wonderful small business owners along the way. I do believe in fate and I’m so happy to be able to work with some wonderful suppliers and have fantastic relationships with them.

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I am also delighted to offer the Quiet Moments Book Boxes which is an idea that has developed over time. After receiving a degree in English Literature and gaining a real love of books, this hobby slowly slipped away and suddenly came at the bottom of the pile of ‘to do’s’ in the busy life that I led. Being a mum of three, I never seemed to put myself first and create that ‘quiet moment’ to re-energise. This is where the the ‘Quiet Moments Book Club and Boxes’ were born and I am delighted to say the boxes are packed with high end quality products from local crafts people, and they offer the relaxation and self-care you have been yearning for.

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I love a historical fiction, however I am fast discovering I also love crime and thriller books too. I can't wait to see which books touch my life over the coming months.

Hi, I'm Liz, mum to 4 boys aged 8, 6, 4 and 2 and wife to Phil. Other than looking after my boys I work from home as an Independent Scentsy Consultant. Scentsy is the safer, cleaner, greener way to warm wax and fragrance your home. No soot, no toxins, no naked flame and no 1000 degree burning hot wax. Our wax is warmed using bulbs and heated element plates and therefore only get to 54 degrees and can be touched with no burning https://elizabethharding.scentsy.co.uk/

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I am also an avid reader. I've loved reading from a very young age and just love to immerse myself into other worlds and lives. I'm a hopeless romantic at heart so love a good romance but also love dystopian and crime novels. I love trying to work out who done it!

Hi, I'm Vickie, mum to five beautiful children (3 boys and 2 girls) who are all growing up way too quickly! We have a dog called Pippa and a rabbit called Banana.
Seven years ago I started Knowing Sewing - my own business as a seamstress. The scope (and volume!) of work that Knowing Sewing undertakes has grown over the years - primarily on recommendations from customers, which I think is the best way to grow. My work covers everything – from sewing lots of Beavers badges, up-cycling and repair of clothes, making/altering curtains and doing alterations to special dresses (such as wedding and prom dresses). I love to sew and will sew almost anything.
In my spare time I love to swim, grow vegetables, cross stitch and read. My favourite author is Jenny Colgan. I love to cosy up with a big mug of tea and good romance novel but will read anything - as long as it's not too scary! I love to read books to my children as well, who have all got the ‘love of reading’ gene – current favourites for them include Tom Fletcher, Julia Donaldson and Harry Potter books.