Bøger af Lisette Skeet

"There is something about a genuinely peaceable, good-natured woman that causes a certain type of person to imagine they may walk all over her. This likelihood increases if she happens to be naturally pretty. Men may feel certain that they can be the stronger force in a relationship. In terms of other women, admiring friends may be genuine but, when envy creeps in, the temptation to be manipulative seems even greater." When people are privileged or in a position of authority, they sometimes believe they have the right to intimidate others. This can be especially true when they perceive a woman is weak or attractive. A pretty, feminine woman may be thought to have little strength of character and she could run the risk of being bullied. Maria made the difficult decision to leave two jobs that she really enjoyed. Both times there was another worker there who made her feel small. But she found there is strength in ridding oneself of controlling people and moving on. Maria finds work that suits her much better taking care of horses and dogs. For several weeks over the Christmas season, she stays in a mansion as an employee, but also as a guest. She meets others with whom she feels compatible, and they enjoy the holiday. The guests in The Manse have tales to tell, and share confidences and insights on long winter evenings, feeling cosy and safe by the fireside. Then events take a surprising turn.

The two tales in A Very Inappropriate Affair are about relationships. They address romantic pairings where there is an age difference, and where outsiders might question the suitability or common sense of the relationships.The behaviour of both stories' central characters - Marisa and Honey - is linked with perceptions they formed during childhood as a result of weak parenting. Will the women make the right decisions in love?Marisa is significantly older than Jack, but believes they are soul mates. Honey is younger than Archie, and she falls for his charm. With this common thread, the characters find themselves drawn into romantic attachments, even though they should probably not engage at all.Marisa has a perfect partner, Piers, just waiting to give her all his time and attention. Instead, she is irresistibly drawn to the younger, more passionate Jack.Honey was happy as an independent woman before she formed a friendship, and then a romantic attachment with Archie. Full of charm, his sense of fun masks a heavy emotional burden.Says author Lisette Skeet, "I examine the ways in which childhood experiences and upbringing affect adult behaviour." In A Very Inappropriate Affair, "Marisa was affected by her loneliness as a child, and her parents' failure to give her moral guidelines and parameters for her life, and Honey was affected by her mother's inability to protect her fully."

The effects of childhood experiences can last a lifetime. Memories may seem buried or even lost, but can recur when the attitudes and behaviour of others are similar to the past. These may trigger the same responses we had as children, making us feel just as uncertain and confused as before.When Sarah was a child, she was often upset by her parents and older twin sisters. As an adult, the same feelings still affect her. When she receives a letter and a document from her sister Mary, she becomes alarmed. Having the support of her twin sister Kathy, Mary may not realise how manipulative she is being.Each of the sisters are mourning the passing of their beloved younger brother, but Sarah is now forced to respond to the twins' demands. She looks for honesty in herself and her sisters. In careful analysis, she tries to respond fairly, but knows in her heart that they are not similarly thoughtful. As a counsellor, Sarah has the training needed to deal with her sisters, but she keeps studying to find more answers to her family issues. Her persistence pays off, especially with the support of friends and a learned professor who advises and praises her. Sarah is now able to move forward, cope with her grief, and honour her lost brother in the proper way.(About the Author)Lisette Skeet lives in Halstead, a small town in Essex, England. Her other books include No Medals for M.E., Turquoise Dolphins, A Very Inappropriate Affair, and No Magic for M.E. She wrote this book because "I am fascinated by the way in which people develop habitual behaviour, without spotting that they have fallen into patterns they could alter."

Turquoise Dolphins: A Story for School Day RebelsScoot stared ahead, watching the sea. At the same time, he reflected on all the things he saw in and around the reef. The dog, sitting with its head under his chin, was a perfect companion. "Brownie", Scoot thought, would be a good name for such a dog. They had shared a lovely day but, to make it perfect, he wanted to watch turquoise dolphins play. He switched the motor off and let the boat slow down.A shining movement caught his attention, and there they were! Three sleek and beautiful dolphins came leaping alongside the little craft. Perfectly matching one another's great, curving jumps, glistening with water, they were vigorous and wonderful.On the brightest of late summer days, a fourteen-year-old boy named Scoot hops out of bed with a very different plan from his school's timetable. Full of energy, he seeks freedom for one brilliant day, and in a little boat of his own, Scoot sets sail.His charming mother and kind stepdad understand Scoot's need for freedom, but when tutors recommend a course of higher education, they wonder if they can encourage Scoot to accept the opportunity.An exciting stranger joins Scoot's circle of friends. He matches Scoot's daring to surf the big waves. Challenges arise to make Scoot resourceful, and as he learns more about himself and the importance of courage, there's a temptation to escape the path that seems mapped out for him.This fresh and colourful tale will give readers pause for reflection on the joys of the natural world, comparing it with the confines and convention of the school room.(About the Author)Lisette Skeet grew up in the village of Great Horkesley, near Colchester in Essex. "I live in a quiet corner of Halstead, Essex now, and I love the scene at the front of my house where there is a green space and a duck pond surrounded by foliage. I can watch mallards, coots, magpies, pigeons, squirrels, and an occasional visiting muntjac deer." She is a counsellor, including grief counselling, and a dog behavioural therapist