A SECRET romance in Frinton, the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol, and the hand of God, come together in a new book by a former counsellor.

Jenny Rose, who is now retired, has just completed her autobiography – a moving debut book she hopes will show God can help everyone.

Jenny now lives in Queens Road, Frinton, but her life took her from a middle-class Christian upbringing to a world she could never have imagined.

She worked in a Christian rehabilitation centre, helping drug addicts and alcoholics and ended up marrying an addict.

When her first husband died from drugs and drink, Jenny moved to Frinton in 2001, where she had gone on holiday as a child.

She worked as a preacher on the local Methodist circuit and as a counsellor for Open Road. Jenny lived just four doors away from the former Frinton rector, Andrew Rose.

Eighteen months after the death of his wife Pat, the couple began courting. I thought I would be single, then I met Andrew and we courted in secret, which was very romantic,” Jenny says.

“No one knew until Andrew stood up in the church one Sunday morning.

“He told the congregation there was a lady in church wearing his engagement ring.”

She had already started writing her book, the Strongest Tree, and the couple’s new-found happiness spurred Jenny on to finish the final chapter.

“It is a book to hopefully encourage people,” Jenny adds.

The book is published by FastPrint. Jenny will be signing copies, costing £7.99, at Caxton Books, Connaught Avenue, Frinton, on Saturday, February 5.