What do you do when you become a statistic - jobless, hopeless and mired in debt? Well, one Irish woman answered that question by becoming an escort. And in doing so, she discovered a side of Ireland - and a side of herself - she could never have imagined.
'I am an ordinary mum getting on with life. I'm someone who you would comfortably chat to at the school gates - perhaps you have - or in the doctor's surgery or while queuing at the post office. I am basically anyone who looks like an attractive, educated woman hitting forty. How I pay my mortgage, fund the children's hobbies and put food on the table may make me unusual, but I hope it doesn't change who I am.'
Between the Sheets is an explicit account of a year spent working in a field that is unimaginable to the average woman, and it is a gripping description of the high price of living a double life.
However, it is also an insightful view of the sexual lives of Irish couples. In getting to know her clients' deepest fears anddesires, the author saw a side of men she never expected to, a side she believes remains hidden from most women. And, much to her surprise, she came to the conclusion that by letting go of their hang-ups and embracing their sexuality, ordinary women just like her could increase their confidence and build stronger relationships.
Not only is Between the Sheets a startling and challenging read, it is also an intriguing portrait of Irish life at its most intimate.
'I am an ordinary mum getting on with life. I'm someone who you would comfortably chat to at the school gates - perhaps you have - or in the doctor's surgery or while queuing at the post office. I am basically anyone who looks like an attractive, educated woman hitting forty. How I pay my mortgage, fund the children's hobbies and put food on the table may make me unusual, but I hope it doesn't change who I am.'
Between the Sheets is an explicit account of a year spent working in a field that is unimaginable to the average woman, and it is a gripping description of the high price of living a double life.
However, it is also an insightful view of the sexual lives of Irish couples. In getting to know her clients' deepest fears anddesires, the author saw a side of men she never expected to, a side she believes remains hidden from most women. And, much to her surprise, she came to the conclusion that by letting go of their hang-ups and embracing their sexuality, ordinary women just like her could increase their confidence and build stronger relationships.
Not only is Between the Sheets a startling and challenging read, it is also an intriguing portrait of Irish life at its most intimate.