Between the Sheets

What do you do when you become a statistic - jobless, hopeless and mired in debt? Well, one 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 as an escort in middle Ireland and 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 and desires, 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.