Kew Gardens 1771. Five strong women, trapped by Georgian convention, together rise to the challenges of espionage, smuggling, and slavery, to find happiness and freedom. When botanical artist Daisy Salter meets pre-eminent Georgian scientist Joseph Banks and not only becomes Artist in Residence at Kew Gardens, but ‘Lady-in-Painting’ to Queen Charlotte, she gets a new start. However, whilst expecting a quiet and studious life, Daisy not only learns about plant hunting from botanist friend Rupert Fitzgerald but is unwittingly inveigled into espionage, tea smuggling and the ‘triangular trade’ by mysterious Dutchman Johannes Van der Humm. When a fabulous flower is discovered in South Africa and sent back to Kew for the Queen’s birthday, the women little guess it offers a route to freedom. But only if Daisy can foil a plot to steal it from under the King’s nose. Who is friend and who is foe? Can she work out whom to trust before disaster strikes? And who will she choose to marry? Set in an incredibly exciting period of history, The Daisy Chain is a pacy debut novel. If you like historical fiction mixed with gardening, art, adventure, espionage, skulduggery, smuggling, the slave trade and romance, buy your copy today. Read it on holiday, read it in the garden, or read it in bed – but don’t miss it!