PATRICIA HARPER'S BOOKS: GUILT TRIP By Patricia Harper

GUILT TRIP By Patricia Harper

A reproachful look from a famine victim sends divorcee Susan Clayfield on a "Guilt Trip" which will lead her towards the loss of her job, her health and her home as she struggles to help her various charities, mainly for African victime of famine. Her work has suffered and she has been given three months to improve her appearance and general performance at "Epitome," the Insurance Company she works for. She has been moved from Customer Services to Accounts where she will work under the eccentric Mark Farriday. A bizarre trip to Italy with her new boss brings about a tour of Rome, Sorrento, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. After an accident they are forced to spend a night on the volcano, and Susan realises her feelings have grown towards him. But he is besotted with Sally, a tart with muscular thighs. Back home, Susan's debts have spiralled out of control and her home is now at risk. Can she pull back from the brink to save it? www.lulu.com/patriciaharper

A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE By Patricia Harper

Sarah Morgan arrives on her estranged husband Kevin's doorstep pregnant and homeless, asking him to give her temporary shelter while she finds a roof over her head. Her lover has deserted her and she is desperate. At first he refuses, but says if she would be prepared to work for nothing he would let her and the baby live rent-free over a shop he is opening. The shop is in a seedy, run down part of the city with a high level of immigration, and they are beset by serious problems due to the decay and poor state of the premises. Sarah is terrified of living alone over the shop with Emily, her daughter, but has nowhere to go. She is very much demeaned by Kevin's new love, Julie, but initially helped by Robert, the son of a local electrician. After a seance over the shop one night, a supernatural presence brings terror to Sarah. Stress and squalor eventually take their toll on her health and she is driven to the edge of a breakdown. Will no one come to save her, and will Emily be taken into care? www.lulu.com/patriciaharper

SILLY LILY By Patricia Harper

Growing up after a war, Lillian or "Silly Lily," as the other kids call her, is not allowed to mix with the other kids as her mother thinks they are "common," until one day her father falls seriously ill and in a situation where there is no one else to take care of her she is allowed to enter the homes of two other girls, and starts to learn about life.. Although the book starts in childhood, it continues on into her life, first job, first boyfriend, and her difficulty inequating the romantic stuff of books with the basic, more normal facts of life. She loves then loses a man as awkward as herself, but gets a second chance at happiness... www.lulu.com/patriciaharper

Tuesday, 9 January 2007

GUILT TRIP By Patricia Harper

"Now what do you suppose she's come in for?...She hardly knows the woman," Elaine said, flicking the cigarette ash off her enormous boobs. "You don't suppose she'd have the nerve to..."
"She's conned a drink off Kate," Mandy said, finishing what Elaine was about to say.
"Cheeky sod! She never put a penny to her collection. I'd never have the nerve, would you? I hope she goes soon. She's spoilt the atmosphere in here. Just look at the state of her!"
Susan Clayfield's legs looked as if they were trying to escape through enormous holes in her black fishnet tights. She was leaning over the bar talking to Kate, who being a nice sort of person, listened through a booze fuelled haze, trying to make sense of what she was saying. The party was breaking up now, as some had to be back at their desks, and when Kate made a move to join her friends to open her presents, Susan Clayfield tagged along and sat down beside her. There was a definite sense of anger at this intrusion because she was management, and you were rude to management at your peril. Sure you could do it, if you didn't mind the many ways in which a boss could make your life hell, and were willing to forget further improvement within the company.

GUILT TRIP Copyright 2006 Patricia Harper
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