Playing Away

Connie Green, married to a wonderful man Luke for one year, meets a walking stag John Harding in Paris on a business trip. She makes it clear to him that she is a married woman but he doesn't care. He just has one thing on his mind--sex. Connie knows that the one person good for her is Luke. But she gives in to John's sexual wiles with hopes that he will come in time to romance her which is less likely to happen. Her close friend Lucy, who has had her share of married lovers, gives her the 411 on being involved with a married man. But Connie buys too much into the fantasy which destroys her peace of mind and she has to come face to face with herself, her husband and friends. In addition to what is happeneing to Connie, her friend Daisy is engaged to be married while another friend Rose(sister to Daisy) has her own set of marital problems. This book is a good read. The author does a superb job covering marriage and infidelity in her fictional debut. This book was too hard to put down. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen next in the book.

This book no doubt followed the path that Bridget Jones carved. It is at times superficial. The female characters can seem like they were chosen from a girlfriend round-up (the gorgeous one, the earth mother, the workaholic, the insecure one, the gay man). The things Connie thinks, says, and does frequently make you cringe.BUT, this book is also incredibly insightful as it looks at the statement "good girls have affairs, too." Adele Parks reflects the self-indulgence, the lack of introspection, the unnamable dissatisfaction/wanting that can plague any successful young woman after she has everything anyone could ever want. I was this woman (luckily, before marriage) and nearly sabotaged the best relationship I ever had. Anyone who has ever been afraid of being content will identify with Connie.Ms. Parks smartly makes the motivations in this story a bit more complex than I described. I won't spoil it for you, but suffice it to say that you will giggle as she dresses for her affair, squirm as she makes dreadfully obvious (to everyone else) mistakes, and cry by the end of the book.

Is there such a thing as Happily Ever After? That's what Connie Green -- the spunky heroine in Playing Away -- wonders. More importantly, why would a confident and successful career woman with a seemingly perfect husband want to have a sleazy affair with a I-can-get-any-woman-I-want-whenever-I-want man? These are the things that the precocious heroine is battling with. Connie cannot resist John Harding's enigmatic and tenacious nature. Before she knows it, she has begun a steamy and dangerous affair that could make or destroy her life. Connie is confused. She doesn't know what she wants. So she seeks advise from her friends, all of which are too preoccupied with their own love lives -- or lack thereof. Will Connie come to her senses, or will she throw caution to the wind and jeopardize her marriage? This novel made laugh and cry. There were some scenes in which Connie and John engaged into some pretty racy sex. But there were funny and touching moments as well. I loved Connie's friends -- their get-togethers and witty conversations felt as though I was watching an episode of Sex and the City. However, I frowned at the fact that Connie seemed a little too desperate about John and degraded herself most of the time. It was painful. But the sharp writing and witty characters are the force in this magnificent novel. Playful, sexy, perverse and with a particular brand of sly naivete all its own, Playing Away is a reading investment. I highly recommend it.

This book was fabulous! Couldn't put it down. It's funny, sad, obnoxious, sexy and witty- all in one story. Can't wait to read more from this author!

Connie has it all and what many wish for meaning perfect husband, successful career and great friends. However, she risks it all for sultry sex with a player at work who seems to want nothing but her body. Bad Connie but a thrilling read! Buy this book if you are happily yet somewhat restlessly married and are asking the question now what. Experience Connie's affair instead of having one. Save yourself from the agony of cheating as you see how tormented Connie becomes when her so called happy life turns into a self created mess. Can she pull it back together.. I'm not telling..