Kate is leading a double life. On the one hand, she has cosy domesticity with her husband and their two children and, on the other; she has an occasional raunchy sexy afternoon with her secret lover, James.

This affair has gone on unnoticed by Vic for eight years but things come to a crisis when the hotel she and James are using for their assignation is occupied by terrorists, leaving them holed up in Room 706 for an extended afternoon and evening.

In the book, the events in Room 706 alternate with Kate’s memories, mostly concerning the easy going Vic, how they met and their life together. There is not much on James who seems oddly secretive but perhaps that is because the couple are focused on casual sex when they get to meet. Television coverage of the incident and occasional noises inform them of what is happening.

Kate goes out of her way to say how much she loves Vic while, at the same time, justifying her meetings with James as casual and without connection. Well, every woman needs a big orgasm now and again!

Of course, in Room 706, Kate begins to regret everything but continues to make plans to keep her secret whatever happens. As the afternoon extends into evening, Kate and James hope to be rescued, or maybe not, because someone is breaking down doors on the floor where they are stranded!

There’s plenty of tension in the novel although some of the detail about Kate – and her relationship with Vic – is laid on rather thickly to show it in the best romantic light. However, the limited involvements of James (and his odd predilections in the bedroom) leave a gap in the narrative and, for this reader at least, the ending left me wanting more.