Private Affairs

by Judith Michael

Elizabeth and Matt Lovell risk everything to buy a newspaper and find themselves swept into a world of power, glamour, wealth, and temptation previously alien to their small, private lives

Genres: Romance, Fiction

640 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Judith Michael is the pen name of husband/wife team Judith Barnard (b. 1934) and Michael Fain (b. 1937).

Reviews

[Meryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth and Matt Lovell got married right after college.He was going to be a Publisher of a newspaper,and she was going to write a column.Before they have time to start on thier dreams Matt's father has a stroke and Matt has to take over his fathers printing company,till he gets back on his feet.Sixteen years later they are still in Sante Fee.They have 2 children,Holly and Peter,and have put off thier own dreams.After Matt is in an accident they decide to take a chance and buy a local paper,the Chieftain.There they work tgether and make a sucess of it and are very happy.When they go o a much deserved vacation they run into Keegan Rourke,whom Elizabeth has known since she was a child.She and Keegan Rourkes son,Tony were friends and lovers.Keegan offers Matt a job runing his newspaper empire in Houston.Matt can buy more papers and run them.He can't resist the offer and moves to Houston,Elizabeth is wary of Keegan and stays in Sante Fe at least till her kids,who are almost college age leave.Matt spends his time between both places.Before that happens they have a bad falling out and Matt takes a lover in Houston,and Elizabeth,who has been writing a very popular column,is lured to L.A to do her column on Tonys T.V show.They have to decide if they want to be together and work thingss out or if they are better off separate and still doing the things they want,or can they have it all.

[Nerissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I felt the ending was not finished. Too much was left unresolved. Conversations needed to be had. Did Rourke get away with it? where his retributions (ruminations in the plane) halted? What happened to Tony? Nicole? The reconciliation was completely unsatisfactory.

Although well written, there was so much waffle and side stories that were completely uninteresting.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a book, even though it may have been a "Pollyanna-ish" ending.
The plot was superb, and I learned a lot about publishing newspapers, power and money brokers, and politicians.
My, my, my, how some "projects" get through the halls of govt!!! Sadly, I'm not surprised.

[Noelle Franzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars, really.

Ok, if you are into super 80s melodrama, this book is for you!

That being said, I actually couldn't put it down. The dialogue bugged me a bit--lots of !!!!!!, and slamming of fists on tables, etc., but the story was legit. No plot holes, so that's good.

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the 80’s drama, but I wouldn’t had taken back the husband that quickly!

[Céline O'Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon livre à lire en vacance.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

PRIVATE AFFAIRS – by Judith Michael
I have had this book on my “to be read” list for quite some time. I delayed reading it because I wasn’t sure I would like it…. mainly because of the reviews I have read. I was wrong… I enjoyed every page. My having been a business manager for a small town newspaper for a few years, this story brought back memories of those days. Some parts of the story could be a little boring to some, but not to me.
The only thing that kept me from giving it a 5 star, was how it ended. A sudden HEA for Matt and Elizabeth. I thought Elizabeth went to Matt’s arms too quickly. He should have had to beg, walk on hot coals and suffer before she took him back. Much more groveling needed from Matt!

This is a story about the life of a married couple, two newspaper journalists, who are caught up in the corrupt world of the power of the press. The story takes place within the span of 2 years.

Hero-Matt Lovell (43)—Co-owner of The Chieftan, Journalist, Publisher, VP of Rourke Enterprises – wants to live the dream of power and wealth, has 8 month affair with Nicole because she was available and supported his views and decisions

Heroine-Elizabeth Lovell (43)—Co-owner of The Chieftan, Journalist, writer of the syndicated column “Private Affairs” – thinks Matt is making a mistake by accepting a job with Rourke Enterprises, has a brief affair with Tony because she is feeling alone and rejected by Matt (after finding out that Matt is having an affair with Nicole)

OW-Nicole Renard (27 or 28)—Wealthy socialite, arm candy for influential business men, interior decorator, friend & lover of Keegan Rourke, 8 month lover of Matt

OM-Tony Rourke (48) – a little shot trying to be a big shot, son of Keegan Rourke, a spineless jerk, a charmer to the ladies, talk show host, married & divorced 5 times, loves Elizabeth and had brief affair with her, seduces Holly (Matt & Elizabeth’s 17 year old daughter) when Elizabeth dumps him

Keegan Rourke (70) – Owner of Rourke Enterprises, wealthy news media mogul, master manipulator, conniving and devious

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

First and probably my last book by JM. Husband and wife temporary apart due to divergent career paths. Husband cheats and then wife. Meanwhile lots of drama with greedy, manipulative developers and corrupt public officials centred around the building of a dam and holiday resort in a small, scenic town. All end we'll with town and marriage saved. There is also an eeww factor with the om sleeping with both the h and her daughter, though not at the same time. The HEA between the main characters is just so unbelievable, and happens so fast that I got whiplash from reading about it. Not recommended unless you like feeling very unsatisfied after reading a book.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes Interesting to re-read a book many years later!
New perspective and the technology (missing) lends itself to imagining how the plot could/would have changed these 25 years later! Really held my interest until almost the end, when I really wanted a bit more editing for the long, drawn out discussions, especially when it became repetitive.
Still would give 4 stars—good male/female perspective of 2 main characters!

[Valynda]

sold 2009

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 1 out of 5]

When this team is good, they are very good, but oh my, they did write some clunkers too. And this was one of them.

[Cheryl Luba · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that I typically would not have read but did because someone gave it to me. It was a bit dated having been written so long ago but I was still able to relate to that time period.