A Minor Indiscretion

Ali captures the eye of much-younger artist Christian at a cafe and the two have a harmless flirtation. When she forgoes work to spend the day with him, and her son is injured at school, husband Ed is called to the hospital since no one can locate Ali. When she arrives home, and Ed discovers that she spent the day with another man, he's livid and throws her out of the house without so much as a discussion. She attempts to stay with her sister Jemma, who isn't home, and with no money, finds herself on Christian's overpopulated doorstep. Ed sees the err of his ways the next morning, and goes to Jemma's house only to find Ali isn't there. When she finally turns up, she admits that she is staying with Christian and despite the relationship being minor the day before, they have now slept together, forever changing the course of her destiny. Christian is a typical 20-something. He has little ambition, no money, and squats in a Victorian flat with his fellow pals; suddenly playing weekend daddy was not what he signed on for. Ed manages to find a couple women willing to help him forget his errant wife but his heart still belongs to Ali, though both are too stubborn to admit their feelings. While life with Christian is filled with sensuality, he's awkward with her children and is more of a playmate than a parent; his lack of judgment has disastrous consequences. As family members scheme to get them back together, led by their precocious nusery-schooler, it's an unexpected tragedy that forces them to address the events that caused the breakdown of their relationship and determine if it's worth salvaging. Matthews has penned an emotionally jarring story of a woman on the verge of 40 looking for a little excitement, and getting much more than she bargained for. It starts out light and soon takes a dark turn, which is more lifelike than your average romantic plot. Some readers may want to conk Ali and Ed on the head for their stubbornness and lack of communication skills.

Have you ever fantasized that a handsome younger man would find you attractive and sweep you off your feet? Then this is the book for you. With a husband and children, life is complicated and there are no easy answers, not even in a book that is for the most part a humorous romance. Readers might find themselves wondering what they would do, along with the main character, as she tries to decide if she likes her exciting new life, or if she wants her old life back.The angst and confusion add to this fun story.

In London Alicia Kingston sits at the café feeling miserable about anything and everything. Her husband and their three children insist it comes with the territory of closing in on forty, but Ali thinks it is more than just that. When Christian the street artist, who is closer in age to her teenage daughter than to her, hits on her by drawing her, Ali feels the first stir of excitement in eons. Ali walks away only to return at lunch seeking Christian, who is also there searching for her. They leave together as Ali does the unthinkable and plays hooky from work and soon even more unimaginable they make love.She sees her action as A MINOR DISCRETION, but her spouse Ed the promotion video maker thinks this is the Mount Everest of affairs. He tosses her out so Ali goes to Christian while Ed considers affairs with women just over his daughter's age. As family members led by a four year old general try bringing the estranged couple together, fate forces Ed and Ali to make a decision whether to reconcile or not.Though the story sounds quite simple, Carole Matthews has written a complex tale due to the switching narration between the lead triangle and a third person external voice. Once readers adapt to the perspective, fans will fully appreciate a powerful character study of a couple on the verge of middle age in matrimonial crisis. The prime trio and the three children seem genuine though the youngest is too wise at times for a preschooler. Still Ms. Matthews provides an insightful relationship drama.Harriet Klausner

Mid life blues and boredom in her too nice marriage lead Ali Kingston to have a brief fling with a handsome younger man, better suited to dating her teen daughter than her. Upon learning of her weak moment, her husband, Ed, kicks her out onto the London streets, and back to the waiting inaptly named Christian. At first, all seems well. Ali has a happy daze of love making daily, but something is missing. Meanwhile, Ed regrets his decision, particularly when he has to face the reality of being a lone parent. Their relatives are conspiring to reunite them. However, it is not scheming relatives or regrets or Ali's own self doubts that will lead her to make the choice that will make or break her marriage. It will be determined by who is there for her when a crisis of unimaginable horror touches her life.**** Although the British slang will be a bit awkward for American readers, and at first, the novel seems to condone what should not be condoned, in the end, it turns from a light, frothy read to an emotional dram with a good message. Love, real love, is what comes through, even when it has been hurt and tested. ****Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Ali and Ed Kingston lead an ordinary life with their three children. They are always busy rushing around to get to work, get the kids off to school and then pick them up, attend the parent-teacher meetings, and cook a meal that everyone will eat. Ali and Ed are just like every other couple - two passing ships in the night. Suddenly things take a turn when Ali meets a young handsome man, Christian, during her break from work. Christian is a street artist who sketches her picture one afternoon, He declares how beautiful she is, which is something she has not heard in years. Ali is swept into the romance of being noticed by the hunk, and soon they decide to skip work and meet secretly.When Ed finds out about Ali's secret meeting, both of their worlds are turned upside-down. Sadly, their bullheadedness keeps them apart. Ed begins dating a co-worker and a school teacher, which has some hilarious twists and turns. The children provide most of the comedy, and it is amazing to see how much they understand about what is going on. The subplot with Ali's sister, Jemma, and Ed's brother, Neil, is also very entertaining. Carole Matthews does a great job of involving the reader in all of the emotions the characters are feeling. This book will draw you in and keep you there. The story of how this couple's paths split but stay near and close is wonderful. I highly recommend reading this book to see if they come back together. As a married woman I often look back on young love and its emotions, but this book points out the reality and how a minor indescretion can lead to major heartbreak.