Miracle 
asked by 90210 on November 19, 2006 9:07 AM
It is New Year’s Eve when the storm of the century hits northern California. In a quiet neighborhood in San Francisco, amid the chaos of fallen trees and damaged homes, the lives of three strangers are about to collide. For Quinn Thompson, what happens in the storm’s wake will bring down a barrier he has built around himself since his wife’s death. For neighbor Maggie Dartman, it will spark friendship at a time when she needs it most. And for Jack Adams, a carpenter who will repair Quinn’s and Maggie’s homes, the storm brings an opportunity: to help two people and to be repaid with the greatest gift of all.
As three lives come together and a unique friendship is forged, something extraordinary begins to happen…Maggie, still grieving a loss, slowly comes alive again–and Jack finally shares a painful secret he has hidden for years. But at the center of the friendship is Quinn. A man who has scaled heights of success in business, Quinn is now adrift, waiting as builders put the finishing touches on his newest passion, a 180-foot yacht he plans to sail around the world. Looking back at all he missed with his family while he built his empire, Quinn is consumed by guilt, focused only on escaping to the sea. But as his plans near completion, and his friendship with Maggie begins to change, Quinn faces a choice–between a safe haven and an adventure of the heart. The choice he makes will affect other lives as powerfully as his own. And it will take him on an extraordinary journey–and into a second, terrifying storm, one that will bring him danger…or deliverance.
Danielle Steel brings us miracles big and small–the kind we are blessed with and those we give to others. With a subtle hand and a flawless touch, she has written a novel that soars with hope, and makes us laugh, cry, and care.
As three lives come together and a unique friendship is forged, something extraordinary begins to happen…Maggie, still grieving a loss, slowly comes alive again–and Jack finally shares a painful secret he has hidden for years. But at the center of the friendship is Quinn. A man who has scaled heights of success in business, Quinn is now adrift, waiting as builders put the finishing touches on his newest passion, a 180-foot yacht he plans to sail around the world. Looking back at all he missed with his family while he built his empire, Quinn is consumed by guilt, focused only on escaping to the sea. But as his plans near completion, and his friendship with Maggie begins to change, Quinn faces a choice–between a safe haven and an adventure of the heart. The choice he makes will affect other lives as powerfully as his own. And it will take him on an extraordinary journey–and into a second, terrifying storm, one that will bring him danger…or deliverance.
Danielle Steel brings us miracles big and small–the kind we are blessed with and those we give to others. With a subtle hand and a flawless touch, she has written a novel that soars with hope, and makes us laugh, cry, and care.
Reviews
0%
0%
This story is a valuable reminder of what is important in this life; without love in our hearts, we are nothing but empty shells. However, the writing was not as good as Danielle's books have been in the past and I have read over fifty of them.
Marty Wurtz
Author of Deceptions and Betrayals
Marty Wurtz
Author of Deceptions and Betrayals
reviewed by theriver on November 25, 2006 3:35 AM
0%
0%
It's so refreshing to read a mature romance between middle-aged protagonists who find themselves at a crossroads in their lives.
Mourning the death of his wife and estrangement from his daughter, reclusive Quinn Thompson is packing up and selling the family home in San Francisco. He plans to live out his remaining years sailing around the world aboard a custom-built yacht, in a self-imposed exile as repentence for valuing his career at the expense of his family over the years. His similiarly reclusive new neighbor, Maggie Dartman, is trying to pull her life together after the suicide of her son and subsequent desertion by her husband. They are brought together by Jack Adams, the carpenter who is repairing both of their homes after a freak New Year's Eve storm inflicts severe damage on them. Jack is fighting his own personal demons, and becomes bonded to Quinn and Maggie in a part-friend, part-son sort of way. All three find a comfortable companionship and healing love together. However, Quinn is so consumed with guilt over neglecting his family, and so focused on his isolated sailing goals to consider entering into a stable new relationship. Maggie must cope with the frustration of accepting that becoming seriously involved with Quinn has no future. Can they find a way to make their relationship last, or will they go their separate ways after being made whole again during the limited time they spend together? And will Jack accept Quinn's offer to join his ship's crew and become an apprentice sailer, or will he remain in San Francisco and build a better life for himself there?
As one who loves the sea, I was fascinated by the fantastic job the author did in describing the various luxury ships, and the intricacies of the craft of sailing these vessels. The romance and relationships, while heartwarming, were secondary to me, because they weren't fleshed out very well, and seemed to move along very quickly without a lot of supporting details.
I don't think this book deserves all the poor reviews it received here because it was very enjoyable, feel-good, light reading. However, I agree that the writing was a bit amateurish for someone of Danielle Steel's experience and reputation. Although only 181 pages, it was very repetitive, and there were empty pockets of filler material where the relationship storyline and plot should have been developed more fully by a writer of Danielle Steel's calibre.
Mourning the death of his wife and estrangement from his daughter, reclusive Quinn Thompson is packing up and selling the family home in San Francisco. He plans to live out his remaining years sailing around the world aboard a custom-built yacht, in a self-imposed exile as repentence for valuing his career at the expense of his family over the years. His similiarly reclusive new neighbor, Maggie Dartman, is trying to pull her life together after the suicide of her son and subsequent desertion by her husband. They are brought together by Jack Adams, the carpenter who is repairing both of their homes after a freak New Year's Eve storm inflicts severe damage on them. Jack is fighting his own personal demons, and becomes bonded to Quinn and Maggie in a part-friend, part-son sort of way. All three find a comfortable companionship and healing love together. However, Quinn is so consumed with guilt over neglecting his family, and so focused on his isolated sailing goals to consider entering into a stable new relationship. Maggie must cope with the frustration of accepting that becoming seriously involved with Quinn has no future. Can they find a way to make their relationship last, or will they go their separate ways after being made whole again during the limited time they spend together? And will Jack accept Quinn's offer to join his ship's crew and become an apprentice sailer, or will he remain in San Francisco and build a better life for himself there?
As one who loves the sea, I was fascinated by the fantastic job the author did in describing the various luxury ships, and the intricacies of the craft of sailing these vessels. The romance and relationships, while heartwarming, were secondary to me, because they weren't fleshed out very well, and seemed to move along very quickly without a lot of supporting details.
I don't think this book deserves all the poor reviews it received here because it was very enjoyable, feel-good, light reading. However, I agree that the writing was a bit amateurish for someone of Danielle Steel's experience and reputation. Although only 181 pages, it was very repetitive, and there were empty pockets of filler material where the relationship storyline and plot should have been developed more fully by a writer of Danielle Steel's calibre.
reviewed by noreason on November 28, 2006 10:10 AM
0%
0%
I loved Steel's early works. I read them all and they were great but have stopped reading her because her books are repetitive now. I decided to try once again just to see and this book was maddening!! It was 178 pages long and could have been all been said in 100 pages. It was obvious that she was stretching it to make it a hardback "novel" length to sale. Skip it.
reviewed by goonball on November 28, 2006 1:40 PM