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A Minor Indiscretion

A Minor Indiscretion

List Price: $13.95
Your Price: $10.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Temptation and Marriage - I could not put this book down
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Temptation and Marriage - I could not put this book down
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: Although at times disappointed by the characters' actions, I had a great time reading this book! The plot was fun and made you groan.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Just OK
Review: I gave this 2 stars b/c I liked the author, but the story itself did not appeal to me. I found I couldn't identify with Ali at all. I thought her decisions and her actions were horrible. This is just my opinion obviously, and again I liked the writing style of Carol Matthews but I was glad to be done with the story when I got to the last page.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What in the heck?!?
Review: I had previously read Matthew's BARE NECESSITY, which I found to be a little long, but at the same time something different from all the other chic-lit out there as far as style and humor. This book I found nearly impossible to get through however. It could have been shortened by about 200 pages. All the excessive story-telling and plot takes away from Matthew's wit and brilliance as a writer. Read BARE NECESSITY instead - or pick up a Jane Greene book.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A Minor Indiscretion is right...
Review: I had previously read Matthew's BARE NECESSITY, which I found to be a little long, but at the same time something different from all the other chic-lit out there as far as style and humor. This book I found nearly impossible to get through however. It could have been shortened by about 200 pages. All the excessive story-telling and plot takes away from Matthew's wit and brilliance as a writer. Read BARE NECESSITY instead - or pick up a Jane Greene book.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What in the heck?!?
Review: I've enjoyed this author's other books. I really don't know what was going on with this one, though. There are so many discrepencies... One of the character's hair color changed by the end of the book, with no appointment at the salon. The author has no clue about Harry Potter, or Barney. There are too many to go into here. All of the little things coupled with a slow, ridiculous story equaled a poor read. Don't waste your time!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An insightful relationship drama.
Review: 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

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An insightful relationship drama.
Review: 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

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: British slang makes it awkward for USA readers.
Review: 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.


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