The Affair

Danielle Steel

Pan Macmillan SA

Review: Voox Sonandzi

When I picked up this book I sensed it would contain scenes filled with crimes of passion.

I was wrong. Danielle Steel, being the best-selling author of romance novels alive by far, knows how to arouse the excitement and curiosity of readers.

This book is hard to put down. You feel each character’s emotions.

Rose McCarthy, a legendary editor-in-chief at Mode magazine, one of the leading magazines in New York, is confronted with a scandal closer to home when her staff pitch a cover shoot with Hollywood’s hottest young actress.

The actress is having a sizzling affair with a best-selling French author who unbeknown to the editorial staff, is Rose’s son-in-law, Nicolas Bateau.

This creates a painful dilemma for Rose when she finds out − she has to balance editorial independence with her daughter’s trauma.

Talented interior designer Nadia, her hubby and her two adorable daughters were living a perfect life before his roving eye landed on the hot actress.

She is determined to hold her marriage together.

But her life nearly crumbles when the paparazzi stumble across the story − her straying husband was not only blinded by passion but had impregnated the mistress.

She seeks refuge in the warm camaraderie of her three sisters and of course the doting mother that Rose is.

They close ranks around her, flying to Paris from Los Angeles and New York to lend support and offer their widely divergent advice.

Athena, a jovial celebrity chef with her own TV show in Los Angeles, is leery of marriage. Olivia, a stern conservative New York superior court judge, is haunted by a shocking secret of her own.

Venetia, a zany fashion designer, happily married with three kids, has the gentlest, most realistic point of view.

After a family outing where everyone gives Nadia advice it was heartening to read later that she finally made her decision.

Nicolas also makes amends, showing remorse for deeds done but realises that the scars of his infidelity would take time to heal.

The Affair is about the painful journey of discovery and forgiveness. It is a gripping read.