CINQ A’ SEPT by MJ FIELDS

‘Love is the most beautiful illusion there is.’

We fell in love with M.J. Fields writing in Cinq A Sept, her characters and the story itself was fabulously addictive. It had everything we love in a great book, especially the -older woman younger man theme- which we find so enticing. There’s such a stigma when an older woman falls for a younger man. A stigma that just isn’t there when the tables are turned, it’s a stigma that is both unfair and quite frankly irrelevant. Sure, we all have views and opinions on issues such as age gaps, at what age and the consequences to the couple involved. Morally this should not be an issue between consenting adults and quite frankly it’s none of anyone’s business. If you think it – don’t give a voice to it, because words hurt as much as actions and really; who is anyone to judge? Age is a number only – not a sign of maturity nor life lessons lived.

‘Life isn’t a Facebook post or an Instagram filter; it’s all that we see beyond the screen and all that we feel without the digital cloud of judgement.’

When a woman reaches a certain age, parts of society are ready to throw her on the retired –out of action- pile. A woman who’s been married and had kids even more so. This is wrong and again shouldn’t even be ‘a thing’ in today’s society. So bravo to MJ Fields for celebrating life, strong women and romance with all the insecurities and emotions that come with it.

‘Be present.’

Angela is a single mum of 4o years with an ex-husband who doesn’t play much of a part in his eighteen year old daughter’s life. She’s a career woman who you immediately connect with as she shows such strength, compassion, and selfless vulnerability. She shows confidence in most areas of her life, except when it comes to a certain young man who knocks her out of her comfort zone on a weekend away with work and her world tilts on its axis. We were fanning ourselves at the steamy hotness and sexual chemistry, which was off the charts! On that note….

“I want to know who you are.”

Well, to coin a phrase…It’s all about the Bass! The mysterious and enigmatic, Bass sees a woman walking on the beach and he’s hooked. This tall, dark and handsome man needs to know who she is and he immediately wants her no matter what she throws at him to keep a distance. This luscious stranger may be fifteen years younger than Angela but it soon becomes apparent that he’s lived a life which has made him wise beyond his years with a maturity that matched. What begins as a whirlwind weekend of heat turns into so much more albeit rocky and quite dramatic at times. Oh, our hearts had a steady beat of Bass in it as we read.

“You just fucked up our lives…In the most perfect way.”

Oh, how we loved this sexy, swoony and at times angsty love story. So many surprises and twists we didn’t see coming with messages of the utmost importance all wrapped up in a hot passionate tale. Sometimes you have to let go of the restrictions you place upon yourself and accept those things that make you happy and fulfilled. Listen to the voice of your own heart before letting others twist its beat. Life is full of bumps and obstacles, how you approach them and move over them is what your life is made off and is what makes it interesting. If you’ve not picked up an M.J. Fields book yet do yourself a favour and add this one to your reading list!

‘When you’re feeling down, look up.’