Book description
She was a slave. He was her master. Both of them long to be free…
1833 - The British Navy are conducting a survey of the Arabian
Peninsula where slavery is as rife as ever despite being abolition.
Zena, a headstrong and determined young Abyssinian beauty has been torn
from her remote village, subjected to a tortuous journey and is now
being offered for sale in the market of Muscat.
Lieutenant James Wellstead is determined that his time aboard HMS
Palinurus will be the conduit to fame and fortune. However, all his
plans are thrown into disarray when two of his fellow officers go
missing while gathering intelligence in the desert.
By an unexpected twist of fate - Zena finds herself the property of
Wellstead, now on a daring rescue mission into forbidding territory.
Master and slave are drawn ever closer, but as danger faces them at
every turn, they must endure heartache and uncertainty - neither of them
knowing what fortune awaits them as they make their hazardous way
through the shifting sands.
A rich and epic novel that will appeal to fans of The Pirate's Daughter
and East of the Sun. Praise for Secrets of the Sands:
“Sheridan uses historical figures interacting with fictional ones to
create an exciting and often thought-provoking read” Historical Novels Review
'Sheridan's last novel, The Secret Mandarin, was our top historical
romance of 2009. Meticulously researched, and rich in period detail,
Secret of the Sands is on course to be the favourite of 2011.' Daily Record
'…distinguished from similar genre offerings by the care paid to
historical detail. It's extraordinary to discover, in the author's note,
how much of this improbable tale is drawn from the archives of John
Murray and the Royal Geographical Society.' Financial Times
'This well-paced story brings the perfumes and landscape of Arabia
shimmeringly to life.' The Daily Mail
'A thoroughly enjoyable read. Recommended.'
bookbag. co. uk
Praise for The Secret Mandarin:
'A truly sumptuous, action-packed Oriental adventure that might just be
our favourite historical romance of the year.'
Daily Record
'An enchanting story that draws you in… perfect for whiling away the
hours on a rainy day.'
Closer
'If you like mystery, history, love and adventure then this book is for you!'
Scottish Home & Country
'A very enjoyable voyage to the Far East.'
Weekly News Sara Sheridan is an historical novelist who writes two
different kinds of books. One is a series of cosy crime noir mysteries
set in Brighton in the 1950s - Brighton Belle - and the other is a set
of novels based on the real-life stories of late Georgian and early
Victorian explorers and adventurers (1820 - 1845) - The Secret Mandarin
and Secret of the Sands. Tipped in Company and GQ magazines, she has
been nominated for a Young Achiever Award. She received a Scottish
Library Award for Truth or Dare, her first novel, and was shortlisted
for the Saltire Book Prize. An occasional journalist and blogger, Sara
appears on BBC Radio 4's From Our Own Correspondent and blogs for the
Guardian and the London Review of Books. She is a twitter evangelist and
a self-confessed swot. Sara sits on the Committee of the Society of
Authors in Scotland where she lives and also on the board of the UK-wide
writers' collective '26' and took part in the acclaimed 26 Treasures
project in 2010 at the V&A, in 2011 at National
Museum of Scotland and in 2012 at the Children's Museum, Bethnal Green.
She is a member of the Historical Writers Association and the Crime Writers
Association. Sara also mentors for the Scottish Book Trust.
