These Yellow Sands by Emma Bamford 

Newlyweds Virginie and Jake hear of idyllic but forgotten Indian Ocean island Amarante, which can only be reached by private boat. Caught up in the romance of adventure and promise of fresh beginnings, they decide to sail there. But they soon find that the gin-clear waters can’t completely wash away the past. Inspired by The Beach and Indecent Proposal, These Yellow Sands is a story about how the search for paradise can push us to our limits – and beyond – and asks: How far would you go to save your marriage?

About the Author: Emma Bamford is a writer and journalist who has worked at newspapers and magazines including The Independent, the Daily Express and Sailing Today.

These Yellow Sands is inspired by her experiences living on yachts after she quit her job in London, answered an ad on the internet for ‘crew wanted’ and bought a one-way ticket to Borneo to live on a boat with a man she’d never met. Once there, she found herself hunting for pygmy elephants in the jungle, swimming with turtles off deserted islands and running away from pirates.

Now moored up in the UK, she is studying for an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. These Yellow Sands is her first novel.

You can follow Emma on twitter @emmavbamford