The Passion Thief
Anne McCarthy Strauss, 2014
Booktrope
331 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781620155943
Summary
The tumble between the sheets can get a little stale and infrequent in some marriages. At least that’s what Betty Boomer tells herself at night, while Stan, her husband of two decades, snores upright on the couch.
Emboldened by too much Chardonnay, she searches the Internet for her college boyfriend Michael, the proverbial one who got away. Memories of their youthful passion reignite a lust Betty thought had dried up long ago.
Michael responds to Betty’s cyber message, and temptation calls this globe-trotting freelance journalist. While Stan’s idea of excitement is staying up past ten o’clock on a Saturday night, Michael has evolved into a flashy Las Vegas casino manager with three ex-wives. Which man offers stimulation and which one brings monotony coupled with reliability is vividly clear.
Written with the yearning and struggle many women feel, Betty Boomer is not alone when she asks, “Is this all I need or should I take another shot at passion?” Author Anne McCarthy Strauss brings us her latest women’s fiction coupled with a large dose of romantic comedy and a dozen long-stemmed roses. (From the publisher.)
Author Bio
Anne McCarthy Strauss is a writer of women's fiction. In 2013, Booktrope published her first novel, A Medical Affair, the story of a doctor who violates a sacred trust by having an affair with one of his patients. The Passion Thief, released in 2014, is a story about the one who got away. Strauss injects humor into the tragic situation of a woman torn between a boring marriage and her still-exciting first love. She keeps you guessing until the book's extraordinary ending.
Anne lives in upstate New York with her husband and their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She has written for both consumer and trade magazines including Old House Journal, Waterfront Home & Design, Design Trade Magazine, Design New England, Distinction, Log Home Design Ideas and Florida Design Review. She has been a regular contributor to both Martha's Vineyard Magazine and Vineyard Style.
She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). Anne is hard at work on her next novel. When not writing, she's likely to be crafting, swimming, or walking her dogs. (From the author.)
Visit the author's website.
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Book Reviews
Anne McCarthy Strauss has written a truly unique story about an unhappy marriage. She finds humor in an otherwise heartbreaking situation. I actually found myself laughing out loud at many points, despite the serious subject matter. The Passion Thief’s many unexpected twists and turns keep the reader guessing how protagonist Betty Boomer’s situation will be resolved until the book’s extraordinary ending.
Patricia Mann, Author of “Is This All There?
Discussion Questions
1. Unfortunately, many marriages grow less exciting as the years pass by. If a woman is driven to the point of seeking attention from someone other than her husband, do you think she would be more likely to reignite an old flame or light a new one? What is the reasoning behind your thought?
2. Betty Boomer has many choices in dealing with her stale marriage. She can:
- Stay with her boring but reliable husband.
- Run off with her college boyfriend.
- Find a new man.
- Leave her husband Stan and start a new life on her own.
—What do you think she should do? What would you do?
3. As the book progresses, Betty develops an increasing dependency on alcohol. How do you think she should address the problem? Or should she simply ignore it?
4. Betty and her husband Stan have very mismatched sex drives. This causes problems in their marriage which they essentially choose to ignore. What do you think they should do to attempt to resolve this problem?
5. We know Betty is unhappy in her marriage. Both she and Stan have diversion in their careers, but it’s not enough for Betty. Do you think Stan is actively unhappy in the marriage as well?
6. Do you think Betty’s friendship with Gin has a positive or negative effect on her lifestyle? Why or why not?
7. Who or what do you think the title "The Passion Thief" refers to?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)