4.5 stars
Love me some Elodie Hart, and A Fair Affair is my first foray into Sara Madderson (She’s re-branding her SM books under her Elodie Hart pen-name for this series.) I love the decadent, kinky, glamorous style of her Alchemy and Seraph books, and didn’t start the SM books, thought they were more tame … but I’m here to say I wish I’d checked out SM books sooner and I’m about to binge the whole Love in London books ASAP. No crazy kink, but the swoon factor is swooning with Dr Noah. Elodie Hart’s writing is so well done, intelligent, I love how she OBVIOUSLY puts effort into research for her books because it gives them a credibility authors should strive for.
Sara Madderson/ Elodie Hart gives us some glam, strong MCs with brains and compassion and chemistry, and apart from the relationship that buds with the MCs, the side story is what brought me. As someone who had the briefest journey of palliative care with my dad, I’m talking hours, and have an aging mother, the emotions of this got me. The romance was lovely, but I can’t stop thinking about how beautifully the hospice scenario was done, and if any of my life situations take a turn (me, husband, family,) it’s a kick in the a$$ to get a move on what could be/ what if. OK enough said about that. I had tears and that’s a rarity for me.
Triggers and mildly spoiler-ish if you didn’t catch it from the blurb:
Infidelity (both spouses, but the MFC is aware and not blindsided, and both spouses have an agreement for lifestyle preservation. It’s not some huge traumatic thing.) I’d say it’s about as tastefully written as infidelity could be, if you’re on the fence.
Illness/ death of a parent in palliative care then hospice.
So listen up all of you that find cheating tropes cringy, since I’d imagine a cheating trope is a trigger for many, and justly so. It’s not my favorite… AND If you already know that and are against what you might find due to a pre-conceived idea, then don’t bother because it’s pretty obvious in the title and blurb. Low reviews because you knew and went in anyway is some bullsh$t. It’s cool to dislike a thing, but to go in with eyes open THEN rip something apart .. nah. Just opt out. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.