Phil and Rita step away from their busy, stressful lives, taking the vacation they’ve postponed for years. Rita has begun to question her effectiveness as a therapist when patients are confessing situations, she herself has never experienced. Book smart will only take you so far. Determined to open herself to new possibilities, Rita soon finds herself in circumstances like something one of her patients might describe, and Phil finds himself awash in feelings he’s never known. Life is messy, when you allow yourself to truly live it, as our couple quickly discovers.
I really like Matthew Lee’s novels, but haven’t read one for a while. I try to avoid short stories, but this one caught my attention. I thought Matthew’s insights into chaos, risk, adventure, emotions and living a full life were exceptional.
Wife Rita is a psychiatrist, sometimes treating patients’ sexual issues. On holiday, Rita and husband Phil take a step on the wild side, which opens Rita’s eyes:
“For years I’ve listened to women talk about the wild, unpredictable things they did …”
“I was an expert on living an organized life. I had self-control. I believed I could teach them that same control.”
“It’s a false premise. I was living a lie.”
“Let’s allow ourselves to try something wild and, if we regret it, never do it again. That way we’ll know.”
Rita and Phil enjoy many chaotic experiences which are well worth reading. However, the story takes the easy-out veer into a huge F*fest, which diminishes the central theme of the story. Plus I was disappointed that Phil wasn’t featured in the final scene.
I thought the story had good character development and, although it lacked a story outside of the sex, the journey more than compensated. The couple’s insights and open conversations really made the book.
An insightful 4.5 Stars rounded to 4 because of the all too familiar blowout scene near the end.
I loved starting to read this story. It was sort of the somewhat unusual, usual couple that you know. They were off on a “well deserved” vacation and probably looking for a little sexual adventure, or maybe rebirth.
Things developed slowly, like you’d expect and had the ordinary worries which needed to be overcome. But “happenstance” came at the right time and the wife began to open up, maybe a little more than the husband was expecting and ready for.
But the story was cute, if not totally believable. But what of any of these stories are totally believable. It was a great read and almost seemed like it might even happen the way it was written.
I had a hard time putting the book down, as I was truly interested in what was going to happen to this couple next.
Then comes the turn downhill and was it ever a fast transition to a couple of sex fiends. Every way, shape or form was attempted, successfully. All the nuances of living a”normal” life disappeared and it seemed like the purpose of the story was to present as many sexual acts as possible in as short a time as possible.
One after another and another and another, with total disregard for character development other than another act. A little more effort to discuss what was happening to their lives outside of sex would have truly made this a lovely story.
Read it for the beginning, it starts out as a very nice story.
This was good from the get go. Husband and wife who love each other and see the excitement in extra marital sex.
The only thing that would have made this better would have been some conflict for the over the top actions of the wife during the orgy.
She was up against the guardrail and off the road on that one and there should have been some payback necessary. She knew she was out of bounds by her questions when she can back into the room.
Married couple Phil and Rita are having coffee at their usual store when they recognise the face of a man who is more renowned for another of his features. At home, they search online for his videos.
The coffee shop incident has psychiatrist Rita questioning her limited experiences, which is evident from her clients' stories. She wonders whether this has limited her ability to give the best advice. She also begins to feel that maybe she is missing out.
The couple takes a long-needed vacation from their stressful jobs.
Rita decides the holiday is the perfect excuse to escape her cage and get first-hand experience. Phil fully supports his wife’s desire to explore but is surprised by how big a leap she takes.
When they get home, they are no longer just interested people-watchers. They are experienced and looking for more.
Matthew is a magnificent writer. This is a magnificent story! Rita is a brilliant but innocent therapist. Philip her doting, loving husband. A much needed holiday leads them into a new lifestyle! If you love the Hotwife lifestyle this is a must read. Rita is such an innocent beginning Hotwife! Philip her perfect cuckold husband. Come with Matthew deep into Philip’s mind as the explore their new and beautiful life! Sensational plot! Beautiful husband and wife. A loving story. Terrific descriptive prose - especially in the hot, hot scenes where Philip and Rita open their marriage. Five white hot, pumping, pulsing, shooting stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️