The Forbidden

Malpas (The Man) spins a sizzling but not entirely satisfying contemporary tale of adulterous romance. After architect Annie meets contractor Jack in a crowded London bar, they wind up in a hotel bedroom that very night, enjoying their explosive chemistry. But Jack is married, as Annie discovers when he turns up at her housewarming party with his wife, Stephanie, in tow. And to make matters even more complicated, Jack’s company is doing the build for Annie’s current client. Jack is trying to figure out the best way to extricate himself from a bad marriage; embarking on a months-long affair with Annie doesn’t help matters. The two live for torrid, stolen moments away from Annie’s disapproving friends and Jack’s abusive wife. When Annie learns something that could eliminate her rival forever, all bets are off. In her preface, Malpas notes that she expects the tale to be controversial, as most romance readers strongly disapprove of cheating. But Stephanie is such an unsympathetic, ultimately unreformable character that the taboo aspects of Annie and Jack’s relationship may be mitigated a bit. A few elements don’t ring true, including Jack’s reason for marrying Stephanie, but red-hot sex scenes and believable angst will carry readers through to the end. Agent: Andrea Barzvi, Empire Literary. (Aug.)