Kate Harrison – författare

Imagine shopping for a living, going undercover in the lingerie department, homing in on size-zero haute couture . . . and shopping the shop girls who think service is a dirty word. Welcome to the world of the Secret Shopper.New mum Emily wants revenge on the stick-thin assistants who laugh at her post-baby tummy and post-baby budget. But frumpiness has its advantages when you''re wielding a secret camera - and sending the damning footage straight to head office.Store manager Sandie has a lifelong love of the world of retail - the glitz, the glamour, the stockroom. Then she''s fitted up by an ambitious assistant and secret shopping is the only way to keep her one passion alive.Glamorous widow Grazia can''t leave behind the high life, despite her chronically low bank balance. The more she''s buying - and spying - the less time she has to mourn her husband or her fair-weather friends who''ve dumped her.They''re Charlie''s Shopping Angels, controlled by a mysterious figure who sends them assignments. But when they''re sent to stitch up a doomed shop owned by Will, the angels begin to feel divided loyalties . . .

Because shopping is for life, not just for Christmas...Christmas is coming, and while the bells are ringing, the tills aren''t. But Sandie - the rising star of the retail spying world - is busier than ever, rooting out the best and worst in festive customer care through her company. The former Charlie''s Shopping Angels are helping out, too. Glamorous widow Grazia is going undercover under the duvet at boutique hotels, in between dating a succession of toyboys and trying to remember which lie she''s told about her age. Meanwhile, not-quite-yummy mummy Emily investigates the child-friendliness of the high street with the help of three-year-old Freddie, when she''s not working flat out with her partner to save their fledging village shop from the un-festive credit crunch. The shoppers are back, but is the happiness they''ve worked so hard for, about to disappear faster than a Louis Vuitton handbag in the Harrod''s sale?

Who said that sex was better than shopping?Best mates Sandie, Emily and Grazia thought they''d be friends forever, but they reckoned without the dividing effects of men and money...Shopping guru Sandie is on a roll, with a baby on the way and Toby, her posh totty partner, proposing every five minutes. But when she realises the legendary Garnett''s Department Store is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, she knows she''s the only one to save it, even though Toby''s mother seems determined to scupper the rescue bid. For Emily, Sandie''s apparently perfect life is a bitter pill to swallow, especially as Emily''s been banned from having a second child by her boyfriend, Will, who is more interested in saving the planet than her. As the rifts grow, will she learn to stand on her own two feet, or give in to a new temptation?Glamorous Grazia tries to play peace-maker but she''s facing her own big decision: whether to develop her new career as an erotic embroidery artist... or give up on her talent for the sake of her new, needy lover?Can the magic of retail bring the secret shoppers back together, or is it time to shut up shop for good?

Three women, each with a reason to change their lives. But will they survive the next seven days? From the bestselling author of the Secret Shopper series.How far would YOU go to feel good about yourself?It''s New Year and three desperate women begin the toughest week of their lives . . .No booze, no carbs, no men, no excuses.Steph invents puddings for a living - now the only part of her body she doesn''t hate is her wrists. Will she prove to herself - and her ex - that she can change? TV presenter Darcy is living the dream - yet haunted by nightmares of a single night where she made the wrong choice. Can she let go of the past?Mum of three Vicki is under doctor''s orders to lose weight - but it''s not the only burden she''s carrying. Three women, seven days . . . and one last chance to change their lives for good.

Have you ever set out on a train journey not knowing where on earth you''ll end up?Hope is overworked - and so over relationships - when she embarks on a mystery tour arranged by her sister Faith, who has promised her a mini break guaranteed free of romantic four-posters, red roses or dinners for two.Hope''s trying to travel light - yet as she leaves London Euston, her emotional baggage begins to catch up with her. Will the journey finish her off . . . or will it be the start of something new?This exclusive short story was written by bestselling novelist Kate Harrison as she travelled as Virgin Trains Writer in Residence from London Euston to Penrith for the Romantic Novelists'' Association Conference in July 2012. Included are Kate''s top tips for writing on a train (or a boat, or a plane)... who knows, your next bus ride could be the beginning of your first novel.Also includes an extract from Kate''s brand new novel, THE BOOT CAMP.

From the bestselling author of THE STARTER MARRIAGE and BROWN OWL''S GUIDE TO LIFE - a brilliantly entertaining novel about one woman''s mission to go from cowardly to courageous...Staying alive in the 21st century is a full-time job - one which self-confessed scaredycat Jo Morgan takes very seriously indeed. As a little girl growing up near Greenham Common Air Base, she stockpiled baked beans in case of nuclear holocaust; now she works in accident prevention, trying to protect the rest of us from conker injuries, killer tea-cosies and death by chocolate. But she''s happy - well, as happy as anyone can be in these dangerous times. Fortunately her boyfriend shares her outlook on life, so everything they do together involves the minimum possible risk. From their social lives to their sex lives, spontaneity is not in their vocabulary. Yet when Jo survives a hit and run accident, she realises she''s beaten the odds. Maybe a bit of living dangerously is just what Jo needs. But un-learning a lifetime of fears and phobias won''t be easy. Jo has a choice: she can carry on living half a life, or leave behind the people she loves. It''s the scariest decision she''ll ever have to make...

A terrific novel about marriage, mistakes and moving on from the bestselling author of THE SECRET SHOPPER series.Tess thought matrimony was for life, but her husband has decided that their marriage is the relationship equivalent of a starter home: cramped, claustrophobic and something he''s definitely outgrown.Now, at thirty-five, Tess is in the biggest mess of her life. Known to all her friends as ''Tip Top Tess'' because of her dogged pursuit of the perfect home, the perfect marriage and the perfect career, she''s now a candidate for How Clean Is Your House? And it''s all because Barney has walked out. But there''s a life raft on the horizon: The Divorce Survival Class. It may be uncomfortable, overcrowded and nearly sinking under the weight of excess baggage, but it''s a boot-camp for the broken-hearted. Over eight weeks, Tess and her battle-weary classmates will lay bare the darkest secrets of their failed marriages - from the thrills of a threesome to the monotony of monogamy. And course leader William, an alchemist for the unloved and rejected, will turn their lives around in truly spectacular style...

A bittersweet novel about re-inventing yourself from the author of THE STARTER MARRIAGE.Shy, sweet-natured Lucy Collins is used to being pushed around. For the first eighteen years of her life, her widowed mother Judith ruled the roost. Now Lucy''s husband, her seven-year-old daughter and even Buster the cat boss her about. But her mother''s premature death leaves Lucy an orphan at the age of thirty-five. She''s devastated...but she''s also free. After a lifetime of being a disappointment to everyone, is it finally time Lucy grew up?As she clears out her mother''s rambling house, Lucy discovers a trunk full of memories...her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were all Brown Owls: capable, no-nonsense matriarchs who were the leading lights of the Girl Guide movement. They spent their spare time preparing the next generation for their roles as wives and mothers with a mixture of campfire songs, sew-on badges and reef knots. But could the old values and frontier spirit now hold the key to help Lucy make the changes she needs in her life?

Friends and enemies reunited! A brilliantly entertaining novel from the author of THE SECRET SHOPPER''S REVENGE.Your school days are supposed to be the best days of your life - and Tracey Mortimer has no argument with that. Sixteen years ago she was the most popular girl in school, ruled her own gang, and dated the cutest boy in her year. Now it''s all rather different: she''s 33, stuck in a dull marriage that''s only tolerable because her husband is rarely at home. And although she dearly loves her two children, a life of kids TV and alphabetti spaghetti is hardly exciting...Then Tracey spots an advert from a TV company wanting to make a reality-style show on a perfect school reunion - giving Tracey the chance to re-live the good old days. But not all her old school classmates remember their school days quite as Tracey does. Tracey made Suzanne Sharp''s life hell - so what better way to get her own back than revenge, live on national television...

A heart-broken head-hunter turns ruthless Cupid, using her skills to find wives for her demanding city clients. Until she''s asked to find the perfect husband...Becca Orchard is the Bride Hunter... the woman filthy rich executives turn to when they decide it''s time to supplement the perfect house, the perfect car and the perfect job with the perfect wife.Sacked by her ex-lover (and boss) from her corporate head-hunting job, Becca has turned her hand to playing the world''s most ruthless cupid. She knows marriages aren''t made in heaven - and her success rate speaks for itself. Though she never advertises, and most clients choose to keep her involvement secret, her reputation is growing. So much so that a phone call brings her first ever female client, Sam, who is uncompromising in her husband wish-list.Sam''s ever-growing demands threaten to take Becca away from her other match-making assignments, involving a groom-to-be who doesn''t even know his employers are setting him up. With three love lives in her control, it''s a good job Becca''s single. But when a man who meets all of Sam''s demands appears on the scene, it''s time for Becca to examine her own feelings. And work out whether finding true love really is as simple as matching up CVs...

The 5:2 Diet is transforming lives worldwide. Thousands are losing weight, improving their health and saving money.Now, The Ultimate 5:2 Diet Recipe Book makes this lifestyle easier than ever, with recipes that make food on your Fast Days a pleasure. It''s packed with easy, delicious dishes, from Great Start Breakfasts to International Favourites, Comfort Food, Super Soups, and even Sweet Treats.This down-to-earth guide by The 5:2 Diet Book author Kate Harrison mixes great recipes with all the humour, money-saving tips and practical advice that made the first book a bestseller. It also explains the science and incredible health benefits of this simple, inspiring approach. This cookbook focuses on fresh, delicious and fast home cooking, with meals that taste nothing like ''diet'' food. It includes:• More than 85 recipes, all calorie counted, with dozens more ideas for adapting them to suit your life and budget;• 5:2 Lives: inspirational stories and honest food diaries from real dieters, who share the secrets of their success;• 5:2 Know-How: tips on everything from store cupboard suppers, time-saving gadgets and fitting 5:2 around family life and holidays;• How to 5:2: an updated, easy-to-follow guide to how, and why, you can begin this life-changing plan right now.The Ultimate 5:2 Diet Recipe Book is the only cookbook you''ll ever need to help you lose weight, boost your brain and change your attitude to food forever.

More delicious calorie counted recipes for your fast and non-fast days from bestselling author Kate Harrison.Bestselling 5:2 author Kate Harrison shares more of her favourite easy, healthy recipes with inspiring tips, life-changing stories from 5:2 dieters, and down-to-earth advice on achieving a healthy, balanced lifestyle.THE 5:2 GOOD FOOD KITCHEN includes 75 new recipes with a wide selection of vegetarian, vegan and demi-veg friendly meals, plus dishes free from dairy, gluten and sugar. Like Kate''s previous books, every ingredient is calorie counted and the focus is on fresh, full-flavoured meals that can be easily adapted to suit anyone - with variations for fast and no-fast days. It also includes:* A complete, easy-to-follow guide to the 5:2 lifestyle, for new starters and maintainers, plus seasonal meal plans;* 5:2 Food Heroes: forget over-priced supplements, Kate profiles the natural, inexpensive star ingredients that make you invincible on fast days;* Inspiring case studies from people who are transforming their lives through intermittent fasting, with amazing changes to their weight, health and confidence;* Practical advice on making sense of food scares and myths, from the truth about breakfast to the fat vs. carb debate.THE 5:2 GOOD FOOD KITCHEN offers fresh, balanced meals that put healthy food at the heart of your life.

The 5:2 Diet will transform your body, your mind and your health. It''s the revolutionary part-time weight loss diet with lifelong health and anti-ageing results. This is the simplest, most flexible and most health enhancing weight loss programme you''ll ever follow - and with this book to guide you, you can start today. You''ll still get to eat all the foods you love but enjoy incredible health benefits, with positive effects on cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer''s and more.Intermittent fasting is revolutionising the weight loss world. Simply by eating significantly less for one or two days a week you can trigger incredible physical and mental changes that protect your body and brain from damage and help it repair itself.And THE 5:2 DIET BOOK - packed with tips, science, recipes, inspiration and case studies from over thirty dieters - will help you join the revolution to lose weight, boost your brain and transform your body.And it''ll even save you money, with no specialist diet foods or supplements required. No wonder it''s as popular with men as it is with women - and with first-time dieters as with weight loss veterans.Journalist and former yo-yo dieter Kate Harrison has finally won the battle with her weight - now she shares the secrets that are helping thousands of men and women transform their bodies. THE 5:2 DIET BOOK is your comprehensive guide to the wonderful world of intermittent fasting. It includes: All you need to trigger the ''healing'' mode that happens when you restrict your diet for as little as one day a week The incredible effects on your brain cells The transformation in the way you view hunger and food The cost savings you can make - saving pounds from your food bill as you lose them from your body! 5:2 your way - how to personalise the diet to your exact requirements and preferences Detailed meal plans, and simple but healthy recipes... Or ready-made suggestions for when you don''t feel like cooking Hundreds of real-life tips and success stories from men and women like youThis is more than another diet craze - it''s anything but crazy and it''s a lifestyle you''ll want to adopt for the rest of your life.

Get Happy, Get Healthy, Get Slim.5:2 Your Life demonstrates how the 5:2 diet can be more than just a weight loss programme, it is a way of life. The small weekly change can make a huge difference. And that''s what 5:2 is all about - taking simple steps, on just two days per week, which will have a powerful ripple effect on your whole life.Now Kate Harrison, best-selling author of The 5:2 Diet Book and The Ultimate 5:2 Recipe Book, has taken her knowledge and experience to turn the diet into 5:2 Your Life: Get Happy, Get Healthy, Get Slim. An inspiring six-week plan will help you to take control of the things that matter most to you, from your relationships and your work, to your health, your leisure time and the dreams you''ve been neglecting. There''s even a brand new eating plan to help you lose weight too - with exciting recipes and guidelines on eating the 5:2 way for the rest of your life.What are you waiting for? It''s time to 5:2 Your Life.

Could the Pudding Lake Bakery reveal the recipe for true love? From the author of the 5:2 Diet, a delicious romance previous published as The Bride Hunter.Is there a recipe for true love? Becca Orchard believes the ingredients are science, psychology and faultless date planning. It''s a formula that''s made her one of the most successful match-makers in London. Craft baker Adam Hill is more interested in recipes for bread than love: at his Pudding Lane Bakery in the heart of the City, he mixes old and new to create irresistible food, from Elizabethan Maids of Honour to flowerpot rolls.But then Becca the Bride Hunter sets Adam up with one of her most awkward clients - and in the chaos that follows, she begins to wonder if she knows anything about finding the perfect match. From the author of the 5:2 Diet Book, A Batch Made in Heaven is a delicious romance celebrating love, loaves and London - previously published as The Bride Hunter.

Kate Harrison''s bestselling 5:2 diet books, including THE 5:2 DIET BOOK, THE ULTIMATE 5:2 DIET RECIPE BOOK, 5:2 YOUR LIFE and THE 5:2 GOOD FOOD KITCHEN, have helped thousands of readers lose weight and build their confidence.Now, for summer, Kate has hand-picked 15 of her favourite summer recipes, hints and tips from all four of those books, to help you get beach-ready (or swimsuit or swimming trunk ready!) without having to live on shakes or cabbage soup. There is also brand new material, including Top 10 Beach Boost Ideas, new ways to stay on track, a free-to-download podcast to go with the e-book, and lots more.Join Kate and the 5:2 diet revolution to get bikini-ready this summer - and stay healthy all year around!

The 5:2 diet changes lives, by making weight loss simple and sustainable. Now vegetarians, vegans - and anyone wanting to increase their intake of fresh, healthy produce - can see fantastic results with 5:2 Veggie and Vegan, the new plan from bestselling author Kate Harrison.Eating more veggie food is great news for our bodies, our wellbeing and the planet, and this book includes more than 80 simple and delicious fasting day recipes that make cutting down on meat and animal products a pleasure. Kate - a veggie for nearly three decades - offers advice on a healthy, balanced diet, along with inspiring stories from 5:2 dieters, and great meal plans, with dishes from all around the world. This complete guide includes:· How to start and maintain the 5:2 plan and achieve your weight loss and health goals.· Delicious and quick calorie-counted vegetarian and vegan recipes: from satisfying brunches, flavour-filled soups, and fresh salads, to lunchbox specials and dinners you''ll want to share.· Easy to follow meal plans to make fast days stress-free. sustainable and exciting. Fuss-free, enjoyable, and packed full of the good stuff, these recipes make it easy to lose weight - for good.

***Lose up to 14lbs in just 28 days WHILST eating cheese and drinking wine!***From Kate Harrison, the bestselling author behind the 5:2 Diet Book series, comes the brand new 4-week plan that will have you losing weight for good - without cutting out the foods you love. The Dirty Diet combines the revolutionary successes of fasting with the latest scientific findings about gut health. What does this mean? Results!Eat 600-700 calories two or three days a week and 1800 calories for the rest - using Kate''s delicious recipes and meal plans - and you''ll not only be losing weight but be feeling rejuvenated and healthier too. With recipes including ''Fuss-free Eggs Royale'', ''Fast Flatbread Pizza'' and ''Chicken Pasta Bake'', you''ll also discover:- how certain foods help you absorb nutrients without the calories;- how to look after your gut health so your digestion is improved;- how to harness the secrets of cultures where people live to ripe old ages; - and how you can drink wine and eat cheese without ruining your weight-loss plan. In short, discover a plan that is not only sustainable and achievable but celebrates food in all its glory. So whether you''re sick of the limiting ''clean-eating'' diets, or you just love food, if you''re after a sustainable plan that will deliver the results you need - the Dirty Diet is for you.