If you have ever thought about writing a novel, as a route to self-employment, then here is some inspiration, from two career women who have done just that.

About the books

Never Mind the Botox is a book series about four professional women all working on the sale of high profile cosmetic surgery business the Beau Street Group. Each book reveals how the women cope with one of the most glamorous but challenging deals of their careers and the dramatic impact it has on their personal lives. With a briefcase in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, can they navigate their way through a surreal world of boob jobs by day and intrigue by night - and still keep their own love lives on track?

Alex Fisher is a high-flying lawyer close to making partner and busy planning her perfect wedding to Elliott. But life suddenly becomes complicated when she's faced with a hot junior lawyer on her team and an actress threatening to jeopardise the deal by exposing her dodgy surgery. Soon Alex is forced into a series of impossible choices that are all inextricably linked and life will never be the same again.

I was sent a copy of "Alex" to review.  I read it very quickly and couldn’t put it down.  I spent a couple of years buying and selling companies myself in the late 90s, on the accounting side, so the setting was very familiar to me and I thought, very well observed.   I always enjoy reading a book where a strong woman character is a hero just for doing her job with professionalism.  I know next to nothing about cosmetic surgery but the book painted a humourous and (I hope) slightly exaggerated version of what that world might be like.  It had me giggling certainly, and I now want to get the rest of the books in order to visit the world again.

About the authors

Penny Avis trained as an accountant and worked as a high flying corporate finance partner at Deloitte, having previously survived the collapse of Arthur Andersen during the Enron crisis. After years of juggling a diary from hell with bringing up two young children - regularly running the mums' race in a trouser suit and her nanny's trainers - she took a career break and started writing. She is married and lives in London.

Joanna Berry graduated in Law with First Class Honours from Oxford University and after qualifying as a solicitor became a partner at Eversheds, specialising in media and intellectual property law. After having her third child she donned a hard hat, renovated a house and then took a job with Children in Need (highlights included sharing a stage with Pudsey bear). She is married and lives in Cheshire.

Reviews

"A fierce and fabulous injection of high-flying London life"  - Now Magazine

"A modern tale of passion, intrigue and business skulduggery, intelligently observed and hugely entertaining." - Eve Pollard

"The must-have read of the summer. A brilliantly biting novel that does for cosmetic surgery what Absolutely Fabulous did for fashion." - Waterstones

Never Mind the Botox: Alex is out on June 10th 2011. You can pre-order a copy of Alex and Rachel (released in November) at the Motivating Mum bookstore

Competitions

To celebrate the launch of Never Mind the Botox: Alex on 10th June 2011, the authors are running a competition to win a spa weekend for two with www.spabreaks.com. For details on how to enter, see the stickers on the front of the books or go to www.avisberry.com. No purchase necessary. Terms and conditions apply, see website for details.

I have also got one copy of Never Mind the Botox: Alex to give away to one reader of my Daily Dose of Motivation series. To enter, just click the link and sign up for the newsletters, or if you are already signed up, reply to one of your daily emails and tell me you want to be entered inthe competition.  The winner will be chosen on 30th June.