#CoverReveal Dangerous Games by Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel has always helped cure my reading block. Anytime I am feeling unsure what to read and wether it will help my mood swings , I pick a good engaging fiction and Steel has never let me down . So when during the current busy times and no-reading phase of life , when I got the announcement email for her latest book, It was like a god-send sign. Here's what came in the mail today morning.

Synopsis : 

Television correspondent Alix Phillips dodges bullets and breaks rules to bring the most important news to the world. With her daughter in college, and working alongside cameraman Ben Chapman, an ex-Navy Seal, Alix exhilarates in the risks and whirlwind pace of her work. But her latest assignment puts her at the center of an explosive story that will reshape many lives, including her own: investigating damning allegations involving the vice president of the United States, Tony Clark.

Alix starts with a nationally revered woman who may be the key to exposing frightening secrets. Olympia Foster is the fragile, reclusive widow of America's most admired senator, who had been destined for the presidency before an assassin's bullet felled him. Since then, Olympia has found emotional support in Clark, who once wanted her as his wife and now stands as her protector and confidant. When Alix begins to dig deeper, federal agents pick up the trail. Then the threats begin.

As the stakes rise in this dangerous game, Alix needs Ben's help as never before. Soon they realize they are grappling with an adversary far more sinister than they had imagined . . .


Review to be posted next week ! 

Malice - Danielle Steel

Image Source: whitcoulls.co.nz

MALICE: General Fiction. Contemporary Fiction.

AUTHOR: Danielle Steel is an American novelist, currently the bestselling author alive and the fourth bestselling author of all time, with over 800 million copies sold. (From Wikipedia)

Image Source: guardian.co.uk

BEST - SELLER(S): Over 87 written Fiction works including Wanderlust, Matters of Heart and Southern Lights. She also has non-fiction on her name as well as children and picture books. Movie adaptions of her works have also been made. (Click on the links above to read the reviews on ALOP)

SYNOPSIS (From the Back Cover):

One extraordinary woman's struggle to triumph over malice and betrayal.

On the night of her mother's funeral, Grace Adams is attacked. A young woman with secrets too horrible to tell, Grace will not reveal the truth about what happened. After a life time of being a victim, she must now pay the price for other people's sins.

From a small town in Illinois to the depths of women's prison; from a Chicago modelling agency to a challenging career in New York, Grace carries her past with her wherever she goes. When Grace meets Charles Mackenzie, she finds a man who wants nothing from her  - except to heal her and to give her the family she so desperately wants. But with happiness finally within her grasp, Grace is her most vulnerable - in danger of losing everything to an enemy from her past, an enemy bent on malice...

EXCERPT:

Don't get smart with me, you little bitch. I can do anything I want with you. And don't you forget it.

But the way he said it made something snap deep inside her, and she took a step closer to him, and put her face close to his  with a look of fury.

I shot the last man who said that to me, and tried to act on it. And don't you forget that, Mr. Marquez. Are we clear now?

MSM Speaks (#Spoiler Alert): Before anyone says anything, let me tell you, this is my first Danielle Steel novel ever. I  have heard that Ms. Steel is known for her romantic, tragic and thrilling tales involving protagonists who have had hard lives and I wasn't sure if I would appreciate the feelings portrayed by them. Therefore, when a lady I admire handed me this as a tester, I couldn't say no. I have to admit, I finished this in almost a day and a half. There was a resistant pull towards the story of Grace Adams, which I could not ignore. I might read other works by Danielle, but I would rather wait, till I get this out of my system.

The story follows the life of a seventeen year old Grace Adams, who loses her mother due to cancer and has a legend of a father, loved by the entire community of Watseka. A renowned lawyer with immense love for the people, he is the epitome of goodness and integrity. On the night of her mother's funeral, Grace is attacked and raped in the most bestial fashion, leading her to commit a murder which was far from intended. However, Grace is blamed for her own plight, with no one standing up for her. She is incarcerated for manslaughter and is given a two-year term in Dwight. Grace learns that no one is her friend or her confidante and she would eventually die if she doesn't learn to fight and survive.

Having gone through a life of unexpected, Grace starts a new life with a modelling agency and sees the ugly truth about the glamour world as well. She is beautiful and wise beyond her years and her demeanor becomes a bane for her existence. Always maintaining a cool distant relationship with everyone, Grace finds herself falling for Marcus, a fashion photographer, but when it comes to intimacy, he betrays Grace magnanimously. Broken and scarred, Grace runs away to New York and starts a new life at a Law Firm. She is 22 now and much to her surprise, enters a life which she wouldn't have even dreamed of. The story takes a dream like quality which I really appreciated since I was tired and depressed of Grace's tragedies. They were heart wrenching and I just wanted them to end. Grace is married to Charles Mackenzie and has three beautiful kids, which makes her wonder whether what happened with her ever happened.

Eventually, Murphy's Law strikes again and she finds herself standing face to face with the demons of her past. But now, she has changed and Grace isn't scared to pay back the malice, with malice.

I am not into sappy romances, and very much to my relief, this wasn't one at all. Malice shows the ugly truth that women in the society have to face, and we'd rather consider ourselves lucky if we haven't been touched by those truths. To find a man that understanding, Grace's Charles was out of a story book - which did seem exaggerated or may be, it was how age affected thoughts. The characters were well developed and the insecurities of a teenager to that of a woman, were portrayed impeccably. MSM Recommends.

My Rating: 4/5

Malice @Corgi Books Transworld Publishers (A Random House Group Company) (c) 1996
ISBN No. 9780552141314

flipkart price: 399/-INR
No. of pages: 448

Matters of the heart - Danielle Steel

Author:Danielle Steel
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Romance/Thriller
ISBN: 978-0-385-34027-4

Synopsis(As given at the back of the book) :
 In this spellbinding blend of suspense and human drama, Danielle Steel tells a powerful and unusual story of one woman’s journey from darkness into light, as she fights to escape a mesmerizing sociopath who holds her in his thrall. . . .
Top photographer Hope Dunne has known joy and heartbreak, and finds serenity through the lens of her camera. Content in her So Ho loft, she isn't looking for a man or excitement. But these things find her when she flies to London to photograph one of the world’s most celebrated writers.
 
Finn O'Neill exudes warmth and a boyish charm. Enormously successful, he is a perfect counterpoint to Hope’s quiet, steady grace—and he’s taken instantly by her. He courts her as no one ever has before, whisking her away to his palatial, isolated Irish estate.
Danielle Steel delivers an unforgettable tale of danger and obsessive love, as she explores the dark secrets that sometimes lurk just below the surface of ordinary lives, writing about men and women and their courage to prevail even in the face of evil.

AaishanniA:

     When I first picked up this book,I merely looked at the cover.Seeing the title as well as the author being Danielle Steel(Known for her books dealing in romance and sappy endings) I assumed it was another love story perfect for a romantic like me.But BOY was I wrong.Though this book is a love story it isn't too romantic :P Nor is it your conventional type of Danielle steel.

      The book starts by the introduction of Hope Dunne,A well known photographer who has unfortunately gone through various mishaps and devastation's in her lifetime.She does not wish to hurt herself more and thus refrains from dating and isn't looking for a man. As an assignment,She flies to London to photograph one of the worlds most celebrated writers.He fills the gap in her life and gives her the attention she craves.Slowly she begins to fall in love with him.That is the end of the "conventional" love story part of the book.The book takes an unpredictable twist that will keep you biting your nails till the very end.

         The only problems I had with the book is that if you read Danielle Steel frequently,you may find the manner of writing slightly monotonous. Also there are parts in the book where you may feel like skipping a few pages.

        All in all this book is worth a read,and will leave you contented by the end. It is a page turner that has certain parts where you wont even want to blink! Its chilly, psychologically based but still has that warmth and happiness.The end(which I shan't spoil for you) is inspiring as it really depicts the power of spiritualism in the context of healing and gives an opinion to the danger of getting taken in by the thought and look of a "prince charming".

Rating: 4 out of 5

Price: INR 350/-

Southern Lights - Danielle Steel

Southern Lights

Author : Danielle Steel

Synopsis:
Alexa, a successful assistant D.A has been handed the kind of case that makes careers: the trial of an accused serial killer. But threatening letters throw her private life into a sudden turmoil.
   Savannah her beautiful seventeen-year old daughter is the recipient of these letters- and they are too dangerous to ignore.
A tough choice faces Alexa- does she risk her beloved daughter's life by keeping her at home, or send her back to Charleston the place she left eleven years ago when she fled the pain of her ex-husband's betrayal and cruelty of his wealthy Southern family?
Alexa had sworn she would never return, but as  the family's wounds are exposed and healing begins Alexa and Savannah are strengthened by the challenges they have faced.

Excerpts:
"I had nothing to hate you for" he said sadly, "I just had regrets, about what happened."
"It didn't happen. You did it. With Luisa's help and your mother's. They made the decision for you, to get rid of me and go back to her, and you did what they wanted. I guess you wanted it too." She looked wistful as she said it all and so did he.
He shook his head then. "It wasn't that simple. I did not know what I wanted.  I wanted to get my pride back because Luisa had left me, but I was in love with you."
"Then you did a really stupid thing Tom." It helped to say it and she felt better after she did.

Maithili Speak:
Luke Quentin, charged for rape and murder (killing the victim while having sex) is the big case Alexa is working on. When I picked up this book and read in astonishment the way this sociopath charmed the defense attorney and made her believe that he is innocent, I felt certain that Luke is going to woo Savannah right under her mother's nose. But no, it was nowhere close to Quentin. There were only mails to Savannah which made her mother paranoid.
  Alexa is bitter about her marriage and her world revolves around Savannah. Years ago, Tom had swept her off her feet by his Southern charm and she had had a happy marriage for 7 years until Tom's first wife Luisa returned. Luisa had ditched Tom and their two boys for a richer partner of Tom. She came back with an intent to win Tom back. Although Alexa was every bit the ideal wife and a loving mother to Tom's two boys, he had fallen for Luisa all over again and betrayed Alexa. Tom's mother had helped Luisa who was from South while Alexa was a Yankee (which meant she was an outsider.. No matter what a Southerner always helps a Southerner). Luisa conveniently got pregnant with Tom's child and Tom divorced Alexa to marry her ( I never thought a man could be so dumb or egoistic!) Alexa hasn't gotten over her marriage for last 11 years.
   She hasn't seen her husband it last 11 years but now she has to trust him to keep their daughter safe while she battles the case in New York.
   Savannah goes to Charleston and connects with her roots and gets comfortable (which makes Alexa worry if she will lose her daughter to South) while Luisa is a bitter women who makes life hell for Tom (yay!! Well deserved !)
   I liked the strong potrayal of Alexa who doesn't go back to her ex-husband no matter how she loved him, he was a weak man. The bond Alexa and Savannah share is also something extra ordinary.. I envied the ease with which they lived together.. Also in the book is the adorable Daisy (Luisa's daughter and the reason Alexa was divorced) who loves Savannah to bits! Aww too cute it was!
    We see a whole family rebounding (no not the adults! ) and ofcourse love.. IT was however more of a transition for Alexa through the "empty nest" phase and getting over the bitterness that poisoned her for more than 10 years..

Rating: 3.8 on 5