A truly heart-warming story (The Infidelity Chain - Tess Stimson)

Member Name: rose1986

Product:	The Infidelity Chain - Tess Stimson
Date:	15/01/08 (383 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: People can relate to the story, Great characters

Disadvantages: Difficult putting the book down

I've not long finished reading The Infidelity Chain by Tess Stimson and loved every minute of it.

** Information on Tess Stimson **

Tess Stimson is originally from Sussex, England. However, when Tess was a child, she lived in Greece and Africa too. Tess moved back to England after winning a scholarship in England.

When Tess graduated, she began working for ITN where she reported and produced regional and world news stories and travelled the world to broadcast these, including war zones.

In 1991, Tess left ITN and began working on her first book "Yours Till The End", which is a biography about Beirut hostage, Jackie Mann. Tess then moved to Cyprus with her then-husband CNN correspondent Brent Sadler.

In the next few years to come, Tess illustrated several more novel's, including Hard News, Soft Focus and Pole Position.

In 1997, Tess moved to Beirut where she began reporting in the Middle East for CNN, BBC and NTV, freelancing for UK based TV stations such as Sky, Channel Five, wrote for UK newspapers The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, You and Glamour Magazine and finally The Times. As well as this, Tess juggled with raising her family - son's Henry and Matthew.

In 2002, Tess moved back to London with Henry and Matthew after her divorce. In 2004, Tess was appointed Professor of Creative Writing and the University of South Florida.

Tess left the university in 2004 to return writing and journalism and had a regular features in the Daily Mail. Adultery Club was listed in the Top Ten Best Seller List and The Infidelity Chain was released in January 2008 in a number of Countries.

Tess has now married Erik Oliver and has a daughter with him called Lily. She is now living in Florida with her three children and working on her latest novel, The Cradle Snatcher.

** The Infidelity Chain **

The Infidelity Chain was released in early January 2008 and has been popular with many reader's. The novel was released not only in the United Kingdom, but also America and other countries throughout the world.

The novel first caught my attention because of the front cover detail. It looked girly and the kind of book that would interest me. So of course I read the synopsis which made me curious as to what happens in the story. The story is laid out in a different way to many stories as it jumps back and fore between Ella, Cate, William and Beth giving their side on the story unfolding. At first I thought this might be quite confusing, but it turned out to be charming and more interesting. It was great to read each of the character's perspective on things.

** Synopsis (Taken from http://www.lovereading.co.uk) **

Six lovers. Two affairs. One betrayal. Who's the weak link?

Ella Stuart has worked hard to achieve the perfect work-life balance: a high-flying career as a paediatric doctor, a charming husband, charity fundraiser Jackson Garrett - and in urbane PR consultant William Ashfield, a passionate, worldly lover.

William is equally devoted to Ella, his mistress of eight years, and to his faded, troubled wife, Beth. He knows he could never choose between them; and is eternally grateful he's never been asked.

When tragedy strikes out of the blue, Ella's carefully ordered life is abruptly derailed. Struggling to cope as the chaos spirals out of her control, unable to play the accommodating mistress any longer, Ella examines her long relationship with William, and finds it wanting.

But her personal nightmare has repercussions for everyone linked to her. For William, who has to face his own demons and make the toughest decision of his life. For Beth, who is just beginning to emerge from the depression that has stolen the most precious years of motherhood.

And above all for Cate, William and Beth's seventeen-year-old daughter, whose transition from girlhood to womanhood is suddenly set to be a baptism of fire.

** Characters **

There are 4 main characters in this novel. These include Cate, William, Beth and Ella.

Cate - Cate is the daughter of William and Beth who is 17 years old. Cate is growing up quickly and has her first proper relationship with Dan. Cate struggles to get on with her mother, Beth, and you will find out why during the story.

William - William is the husband of Beth and the father of Cate. William has his own company which has problems of his own, he is juggling trying to look after his daughter Cate and care for his ill with Beth, whilst having an affair with Ella, who has problems she has to deal with of her own.

Beth - Beth has a condition which has affected many years of her life, since the birth of her first child. However, Beth's condition eases and you begin to see another side of her develop. Also, does Beth find a new lover in her life?

Ella - Ella is a married doctor who is having an affair with William, Beths husband and Cate's father. Sadly, Ella's husband dies. What happens between William and Ella? Do they get together? Does their relationship flitter out? What else is going on in Ella's life?

There are other Characters in the story such as Eithne (Beth's best friend), Dan (Cate's boyfriend) and Beth and William's two son's.

** My Opinion **

I loved this story and think other's will love it too. I haven't read anything else by Tess Stimson as of yet, but definitely will. The story was heart-warming and grippng and left me wanting to find out what happens next. The story truly is unstoppable.

I think female's will love this story, especially those aged 16 plus, as those younger can probably relate to some of the things Cate is going through i.e. problems at home, school and her first relationship with boyfriend Dan.

** Where to buy **

This paperback book is available online and also in high street shops such as WH Smith and Waterstones. The novel costs between £5.99 and £7.99. I bought the novel for £6.99 in WH Smith.

Summary: A lovely story by Tess Stimson