Customer Reviews

Answered Prayers (Random House Large Print)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Answered Prayers is the story of Faith Madison, the stylish, perfect housewife and mother to her husband Alex and daughters Eloise and Zoe. She runs into an old childhood friend, Brad, at her stepfathers funeral. Soon the two are emailing each other multiple times a day and calling each other whenever they aren't emailing. Faith decides to go back to school and maybe become a lawyer. This causes major tension between her and Alex and their two daughters. When Faith returns to school the tension builds and thus the story builds too.

This book was extremely bland. This was almost like reading The Kiss. Except in this book there is no car crash that land Faith and Brad in the hospital. It seems like Ms. Steel uses the same story line in all of her books lately. Faith had absolutely no backbone and Alex was just a complete jerk (like the husband in The Journey). Eloise was nothing short of a witch. Zoe was a spot of sunshine in this book. The character of Brad was a bit too perfect. Always at the phone or computer whenever Faith needed him. This aspect I found extremely odd. Brad is a busy lawyer yet has time to email Faith more than once a day and he's always at his computer or phone whenever she writes or calls.

Ms. Steels latest books have lacked the spark of her earlier works. She tends to repeat herself constantly. The book would be half the size if she wouldn't repeat herself so much. In this book she concentrates on Jack, Faith's deceased brother, way too much. He is brought up in the book as if he's still alive. The whole church aspect of the storyline was off too. Faith, the dedicated churchgoer, only went to church it seemed to light candles. Again, this whole part of the storyline just didn't seem to fit into the story right.

To sum it up....boring book, same as all other books written by Ms. Steel in the past few years. I would recommend revisiting one of her earlier books or if you must read this one, borrow it from the library. Don't spend your hard earned money on this.

Veteran voice performer Ron McLarty is well known to audio book aficionados who relish his stellar and empathetic performances. He delivers again with mega hit writer Danielle Steel's latest, one more foray into dreams come true.

Faith Madison is an attractive Manhattan housewife, wed to an affluent banker, and thus the recipient of all the accouterments of his success. She has two grown daughters who now lead their own lives. While her marriage may not be the intimate, sharing relationship that she might wish Faith has much for which to be grateful.

The death of her stepfather brings her face to face with a long held desire and an old friend, Brad Patterson. He had been her late brother's best pal, and a source of comfort when her brother died. The two have been out of touch for years. Yet, they find they have one more common bond as Brad, too, is in a less than satisfactory marriage.

A death and seeing Brad again form a turning point in Faith's life as despite her husband's objections she applies for admission to law school. Her bulwark of strength in this endeavor is once again Brad.

Each of them will eventually make some painful and life altering decisions. With this story as with others, Danielle Steel reminds us that life is a path marked by twists and turns. Which way to go? The choice is ours.

- Gail Cooke

I used to read Danielle Steel years ago..her books were and are formula, of course. (Boy meets girl, Romance happens, trouble intervenes, trouble is resolved, happy ending). My former mother-in-law adores all of them and I send to her the audio tapes since at age 93 she can no longer read print. She gets much pleasure from the stories as I know thousands of women do.
The Palomino and Changes were two of my favorites. The plots and characters were so far removed from "normal" life that they were a great escape for me. I had to have my "fix" now and then. I stopped reading around the 45th book, I think.
Then I picked up this book mainly because of the title. It did resonate with me.
Faith Madison, a 47 year old woman trapped in a marriage with a man who no longer loves her, breaks away (her husband does her a favor and leaves her), goes back to law school, connects with her childhood friend, Brad Patterson, a Lawyer, and after many trials and tribulations, Faith and Brad finally begin their life together.
Part of the main character's story is my story. I believe one reads Ms. Steel knowing what she writes and not expecting great literature. I enjoyed the story...it gave to me what I was expecting to get from it... A happy ending and pleasure.
And if we receive from a book what we expect, then isn't it worth the time and the money spent?

Danielle Steele has essentially been writing the same book over and over again since "The Promise" came out. Obviously, her true fans love her formula and trust it.And after 56 books she knows the right way to go to get a bestseller. However, if you are a casual romance fan or if you haven't touched a Steele book since high school, I'd say pass this by or go the library. The only thing that stands out about it is that the tragedy is a little more dreary than usual.

After being disappointed with a few of the newer Steel books, I thought this one was quite good. Beware though- you'll hate the husband! It's actually amazing to think there could ever be a man out there like this. I couldn't wait for him to get what was coming to him!

I know a lot of people might read this story and think the characters are too simple-minded or that the story is predictable. Well, maybe they are; but the story kept me reading and I started to really love certain characters and love to hate others. Every now and then, you just need a good love story, no matter how predicatable or sappy.

Granted, she writes to a formula - but its a very successful one and guaranteed to keep us entertained.

After raising her family, Faith wants to do something else with her life. Her husband is very successful but hardly ever home. When he is, he takes her for granted. When she mentions going to law school, he is violently opposed to it. One daughter (Eliose) agrees with him and the other (Zoe) sides with her mom.

At the funeral of her stepfather, she runs into a friend from childhood, Brad. Brad, Faith and her brother Jack (who is now deceased) were inseparable as children. Brad lives on the other coast with a very successful wife. He is a lawyer, but tends to want to defend the underdog which drives his wife, Pam, crazy.

What I liked about the book (formula or not) is the slow pace and the idea that childhood (friends and feelings) can be regained. As one who is moving back to my hometown again, I guess it was the right book at the right time. I hope it is for you too.

The only reason that I finished this book was so that I could write this review. For some reason, I don't feel entitled to write a review here unless I have actually finished the book! And so, I struggled through page after page of repetitive drivel wishing that I hadn't picked up this book in the first place.

This is the absolute worst Danielle Steel I have ever read - maybe even the worst book I have ever read period. Her editor should be ashamed. Steel repeats the same sentences over and over, beating the reader in the head with Faith's purity and Brad's ridiculous notion that he must stay with his miserable wife. The author is so out of step with reality here, it is pathetic.

Unbelievable. Alex, Faith's husband totally overreacts when she tells him she wants to go to law school. One of these "no wife of mine will go to work" kinda guys! But the thing is, turns out old Alex has been having an affair all along so why would have put up such a fuss over this? He was going to leave her anyway. Made no sense to me. And the way Faith and her daughters interact is weird too. The oldest is like 23 or something, living and working in London. She calls to tell her mother that she would like to go skiing over Christmas rather than come home to New York to visit her family (the way they act, who could blame her). Faith goes bonkers but ultimately gives her permission to go skiing. Tell me, how many 23 year olds living away from home need permission to go skiing over a holiday?

The emails were incredibly dull and the platonic nature of Brad and Faith's relationship was stupid. Oh how she fought against her feelings - even went to confession to confess having "feelings" for Brad. Nice but rather unrealistic. Personally, I would have to wonder about a man who would stay in such a hideous marriage simply for the sake of not getting divorced.

All in all - this was torture. If there were a way to give it "0" stars, I would have. I see she's got two more coming out this year, Three books in a year! No wonder they are so bad. The thing is, I really liked her early stuff. The Ring was pretty good. What happened?

This was a generally entertaining, light read. I really liked the wholesome story line and as a 20-something woman who still manages to find admirable a woman with principles and good character, the heroine, Faith, was easy to like.

I also appreciate that the author is willing to take on a heavy subject which actually makes the story more realistic and gives it more depth. The male character was also easy to like as well.

That said, it was slightly disappointing to have a seemingly well-traveled, talented story-teller (Mme. Steel), lazily employ such 18th century-esque descriptions of Africa. I had to check the front of the book for the copyright; it read 2002 not 1722. I mean come on Ms. Steel, "the natives" this, the "natives" that, at one point I felt some trepidation she might describe the Zambians as having tails, grunting and shouting "Ooga Booga".

Ms. Steel writes, I am assuming, for an international audience so it was disappointeing to read this portion of her book. I am not sure if such stereotyping is the result of unrecognized subconscious beliefs or what.

If she can describe the lovely rooms of Claridge's in London with a fair degree of accuracy, it shouldn't be that much of an intellectual leap to do her research on the other geographic locales of her book.

All and all however, being the relatively open-minded person that I try to be, I will say that this was a good read. In light of all of the "morals in the trash" entertainment we have these days like the Bachelor, The Bachelorette, For Love or Money, etc., etc., grabbing a cup of herbal tea and turning the pages of this book certain makes for more pleasing entertainment.

This book is very good..gives an excellent description of a woman who is in a bad relationship and feels trapped. Interesting how she manages to wiggle free and start her life over again.

This has to be one of the worst written books I ever read. I can't believe there are so many ways to say the same thing. So far, Danielle Steel has found a way in the first third of this book. I just can't read the rest of it. Generally, if a book isn't very good I can suffer through. This one has gotten on my last nerve. I had stopped reading her books because they had become so predictable. But, I don't think I will be reading anymore of her books. It's an insult to Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown for her to be ranked with them.