MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS

Author: Carole Matthews ISBN: 0373895690 3/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: RED DRESS INK

Sure, I have it all. Except...wait, what's that word again? Oh, right: Fun! I'm exactly where every woman dreams of being at thirty-five: I have a lovely house, a handsome, loving husband and two perfect children. All right, so Jeffrey's "loving" can only be counted on to happen once a week, with the lights off and pajamas on. And the children—well, is it normal for children to remind their mother to eat her vegetables? It might be time to make a few changes—which is why I signed up for this Tai Chi retreat, to concentrate on finding myself. Yes, this is the week for thinking about me. Not my bumptious best friend Sonia's attempts to shag our instructor. Not the perils of leaving Jeffrey alone for the week with a stunning Australian au pair. And definitely, definitely not my handsome classmate Ben Mahler.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

The next book from U.K. author Carole Matthews is MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS. It's the story of Kate, a 35-year-old wife and mother who decides to go to a Tai Chi retreat to "find herself. Meanwhile she leaves her husband and two children to the care of a young, attractive and perky Australian au pair (not really a good decision on Kate's behalf). While at the retreat she becomes attracted to Ben who is also on a break to the retreat. Do I need to go on about what's going to happen between Kate's husband and the au pair and between Kate and Ben? I didn't think so. It's exactly what happens that made me not particularly care for the book.

Don't get me wrong, Carole Matthews writes with a charm and wit and that definitely makes the story entertaining. MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS isn't an overly complicated story and it reads rather quickly. I can honestly say that I haven't read any of her other books, but I would give them a go considering that I did enjoy her writing—just not the story.

Perhaps it's just my personal opinion that if you're having problems in your marriage, having sex with someone else isn't the way to solve your problems. However, for Kate and her husband, it appears that it was the answer to their problems (shakes head again and again). Do they stay together at the end and live happily ever after? Well, I could give the ending away or just make you read the book to find out (insert evil smile here).

Carole Matthews' MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS isn't one of those books that I would recommend everyone rush out and read. If you're sensitive to infidelity—apparently I am—than this book may not be a good read for you. However, if it doesn't bother you, I would suggest checking it out and enjoying Miss Matthews's writing style.

Julie Kornhausl