With her gift for “surprising emotional honesty…[and] an impressive ability to get inside the heads of [her characters],”* Tess Stimson grips readers with this internationally bestselling novel of six lovers, two marriages, one affair—and what happens when a lifetime of secrets begins to unravel.
Ella Stuart is a pediatrician with a fulfilling career and a marriage any woman would envy. William Ashfield is a devoted husband, a good father, and a successful businessman. Beth Ashfield married the love of her life and loves him still, but the light inside her is going out and she has one last chance to rekindle it. And Cate, Beth and William’s brilliant but troubled teenage daughter, is trying to negotiate the rough waters between adolescence and womanhood. But when tragedy strikes, the repercussions spiral through all of their lives—and in an instant, nothing will ever be the same. Now Ella, William, Beth, and Cate will discover that trying to have it all might be keeping them from the very thing they each want most….
With sharp wit and moving honesty, Tess Stimson has written a brazenly unsentimental yet deeply felt novel of hearts gone astray that somehow keep the faith—even when everyone seems to be cheating.
Tess Stimson was born and brought up in Sussex, England. As a child, she lived for several years in Greece and Africa, before winning a scholarship to Notre Dame School, Lingfield. She subsequently read English at St. Hilda's College, Oxford, where she received the Eleanor Rooke Award (for English Literature), the Dorothy Whitelock Award (for Anglo-Saxon), and was made an Exhibitioner.
After graduating, Tess joined ITN (Independent Television News), where she reported and produced regional and world stories, travelling to hotspots and war-zones all over the globe.
In 1991, she left ITN to write her first book, YOURS TILL THE END, the biography of Beirut hostage Jackie Mann, and moved to Cyprus with her then-husband, CNN correspondent Brent Sadler, with whom she has two sons, Henry and Matthew.
Her first novel, HARD NEWS, set in the world of television news, was published in 1993 to immediate acclaim and became an instant bestseller. Later that year, she moved to Rome, Italy, where she wrote SOFT FOCUS(1995), and POLE POSITION(1996). Both were commercial and critical successes. All three novels were translated into several languages.
In 1997, Tess moved to Beirut, Lebanon, from whence she juggled reporting on the Middle-East for CNN, BBC and NTV (Lebanese television) with raising a family. She also freelanced for UK-based TV stations Sky, Channel Five and other cable channels, and wrote for the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, You and Glamour Magazine and The Times.
In 2000, following her divorce, Tess moved back to London with her children. Two years later, she was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of South Florida, and moved permanently to the US in 2002.
She left USF in 2004 to return to full-time writing and journalism, becoming a regular feature columnist for the Daily Mail newspaper. Her novel, THE ADULTERY CLUB, went straight into the Top Ten Bestseller List on publication in the UK, and was translated into 15 languages. ONE GOOD AFFAIR (previously published as THE INFIDELITY CHAIN in the UK) was released in the US in 2009. It has also been sold to a number of other countries.
Tess' most recent novel, WHO LOVES YOU MOST (previously published as THE CRADLE SNATCHER in the UK), will be released in the US in Summer 2010. Her non-fiction book, BEAT THE BITCH! HOW TO STOP THE OTHER WOMAN STEALING YOUR MAN, is also available now.
Tess is married to Erik Oliver, with whom she has a daughter, Lily. She lives in Vermont with her husband and three children and is working on her next book, WHAT'S YOURS IS MINE.
Pediatrician Ella Stuart knows her thoughtful husband Jackson loves her, but also believes her lover William Ashfield loves her too. William turns to Ella when either his disturbed wife Beth or his rebel without a cause teenage daughter, Cate send him over the edge with nonsense. Ella and William are happy with their arrangement.
Everything changes abruptly when Ella's husband drops dead making her single and available. William knows his spouse needs him, but thinks when is it time for him to consider his needs. He also believes his daughter Cate would be in trouble by his leaving them for his beloved Ella. Soon he must choose knowing someone he cares about will be hurt.
This is an entertaining relationship drama starring a fully developed relatively small ensemble cast. The story line rotates perspective between the four prime players as Jackson's death forces his widow and her married lover to make decisions that impact on his wife and daughter. Although the story line seems overly stretched and doubtful especially the late Cate factor as the reader after a while will hum Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? and You Didn't Have to be So Nice (Lovin' Spoonful). ONE GOOD AFFAIR is overall an enjoyable read.
Harriet Klausner
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As I read the details of the synopsis of the book I realised that I had read it under a different name. Having said that the book is good, very good. I churned through the pages enjoying the pace and entertainment value. The author is also a very good one and I have to say that I am looking forward to her next book. Do yourself a favour and give this a chance you will not regret it.
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