Customer Reviews

Day By Day (Zebra Contemporary Romance)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book's interesting premise and strong central character, Maggie, are hurt by much weaker supporting characters, notably Spence and Jackie, and an ending that is distasteful. Spence comes off as a weak-willed, essentially selfish man who never apologized to his wife for his infidelity, never truly tried to take responsibility and make amends, and spent much of the book aloof and irritable (supposedly because of his great guilt). Jackie was never sympathetic and the close relationship was one of her taking and Maggie giving--and Jackie then took some more by sleeping with her brother-in-law and bearing a son. The ending consisted of Jackie having her son, denying that son his father and the father the choice of claiming his son, Jackie acquiring a great new husband, and Maggie having to suck it up and forgive everyone. In the end, the adult characters agree to lie to all three children by concealing the baby boy's father. So, the two girls never get their brother, the father doesn't get his son, Maggie will continue having to suffer, and Jackie is the big winner--she's forgiven, gets the baby she's wanted for years, and a physician as a husband! Very unsatisfying.

Every now and again I read a book whose characters make my skin crawl. Such is the case with the characters of Spence and Jackie in this particular book by Sandra Steffan. I loved Maggie and her two daughters and I enjoyed the developing story about her recovery following the devastating auto accident and the resulting coma. However, while Ms. Steffan tried her best to make Spence and Jackie sympathetic characters and while she stressed how much the two of them loved Maggie and how they betrayed her just because they were so unhappy (awwww), I could just imagine that if these were real characters the two of them would be on the Jerry Springer Show whining about how they didn't mean to hurt Maggie and how their sexual encounter "just happened." The reason for their encounter was that they both thought Maggie was near death and would probably die the next day when she was removed from life support. I had always thought the expression that a man or woman was with someone else before the spouse's "body was cold" was just an expression. How confusing it must have been for them when Maggie didn't die.

The excuse that Spence was asleep and was dreaming so he thought Jackie was Maggie was not very credible because he and Jackie were talking about Maggie just before their encounter. Also, when Jackie told Maggie that Spence was dreaming, she never did answer when Maggie asked her, "And what about you? Were you dreaming too?" I believe that if I returned from a hospital after being told that my husband would be removed from life support the next day, I would not be doing any strange things in my sleep that night because I don't believe I would be doing much sleeping.

To add insult to injury, Ms. Steffan decided Jackie would get pregnant as a result of her brief encounter with her sister's husband and when she gives birth, the child is the son he has always wanted. Family events in that household must be a riot as Maggie constantly has her nose rubbed in her husband's infidelity every time she sees the "nephew" who is also her husband's son. I couldn't quite grasp why everyone's future unhappiness should be Maggie's fault if she couldn't forgive her husband and her sister. Surely, that responsibility rested with the two who cheated. When Maggie couldn't bring herself to sleep with Ivan in retaliation, I was hoping she would at least make Spence think she had done so.

While Ms. Steffan was apparently trying to show how much Jackie loved her sister, when Jackie thought of Maggie as "Saint Maggie" it seemed to me that showed the contempt and derision she actually felt toward Maggie. I keep almost every book I purchase but I did not enjoy reading about a man who would cheat on his wife with his wife's sister and I did not enjoy reading about a woman who would sleep with her sister's husband. This is one book I will not be keeping.

Five Stars
Edgy, thought-provoking. A gem of a book that made me ask, "What would I do if I found myself in a situation for which no one can prepare?" A must read for all book enthusiasts!

Very thought provoking book. Spence and Jackie did do the deed but it truly wasn't an affair. Maybe a one night stand but possibly not even that. It was two people reaching out in their shared grief. Something that only people who have experienced can truly understand. It's almost a reaffirmation of sharing the joy of bring alive!

No he didn't apologize. He did try to though. But sometimes apologizing really isn't enough. I felt that both Spence and Jackie had to live with their hidden sin and guilt for so long until it was brought to light in all of it's ugly glory.

Maggie wouldn't have been able to accept a hastily worded apology. She needed to work through a lot of things to get to forgiveness. That is a daily chore, forgiveness. It's not easy and I'm sorry is NEVER enough.

I found some of the lines early on in the story very telling. How Maggie tells Spence that only someone she truly loves can hurt her or not wanting to waste so much energy to hurt someone that she loved. That was why it hurt so much and that is why she was divided in her feelings. If it had been anyone else I believe it would have been different. But since it was two of the people she loved best it hurt so much more and was harder to deal with.

Spence and Maggie McKenzie have the kind of charmed life most people only dream about. They live in a wonderful beech town on Lake Michigan, have two bright and happy little girls. Maggie has her sister, Jackie, who is her best friend and confidant, friends, neighbors. Most importantly, Maggie and Spence have each other. And then, one morning their idyllic life is shattered when a car accident leaves Maggie in a deep coma. Spence and Jackie rush to her side, and the vigil begins.

Sandra Steffen writes with an incredible emotional depth, bringing these characters to life. Readers will root for them as, day after day, Spence and Jackie do everything they can to hold Maggie's world together. Days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months. As their hope turns into desperation, Spence and Jackie hold onto each other. Just as everything seems lost, Maggie begins to awaken.

Maggie fights to regain the life she nearly lost. Readers will chear when she takes her first steps, and re-establishes herself as a competant, compassionate mother to her daughers. And yet nothing feels the same. Certainly, nothing can prepare her for the shocking truth. For while she'd slept, the world carried on without her.

Maggie remains certain of one thing: she's been granted a second chance, and she intends to make the most of it. She isn't certain it's possible to repair the rift in her relationship with Jackie, or with Spence. As she pieces things together as best she can, a stronger woman emerges.

Maggie, Spence and Jackie were a delight; the situation they found themselves in was one that no one can prepare for. This is a book about love, tears and laughter. It's about living life minute by minute, hour by hour, Day By Day.

If you're the type of reader who loves to see every side of a situation, you're going to love Day By Day! This story begins with a man and woman who are deeply in love. A horrible car accident throws them into a situation no one can possibly prepare for. Maggie's car accident changes the entire family, but what is life if not change? Maggie and Spence are endearing characters I rooted for throughout this entire story. I loved their little girls, the setting, and the side story of Maggie's sister, Jackie. I was on the edge of my seat during most of this novel. When I finished it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. (That doesn't happen very often.) Very well told. I highly recommend this one, as well as anything Sandra Steffen writes.

Anyone who lives in Grand Haven off of Lake Michigan knows that Maggie and Spencer MacKenzie clearly love each other with a relationship so strong few if any can rival it. Though their bonds are robust, the two adults nurture and love their two preadolescent children. While Spence works on a project, Maggie drives to the elementary school to deliver a bicycle helmet for her daughter to use in show and tell. An SUV runs a red light crashing into her vehicle leaving her in a coma.

The children are devastated with the loss of their mother, but perhaps not as much as Spence and Maggie's sister Jackie, already suffering emotional devastation from a recent divorce. After several weeks of raw feelings, Jackie and Spence fall in each other's arms and make love, but both regrets their actions the morning after. When Maggie regains consciousness, she has to learn how to live all over again and even try to love Spence, who is loaded with guilt. Will the once idyllic couple regain what they lost in a nanosecond of fate's intervention or is it over?

DAY BY DAY is an apt title for a strong relationship drama as Maggie recovers one step at a time. Audiences will feel the angst of those characters that cherish Maggie. The sidebar of the one night mistake and its aftermath add unnecessary emotion to an already terse drama filled with passion and feelings. Though that detour turns the novel into more of a soap opera, Sandra Steffen invokes sympathy from her readers who want the best for these basically good people.

Harriet Klausner

Another great tear jerker by Sandra Steffen ... Great characters and sub plots..but don't read unless you are ready to cry. I cried all through it and loved every minute of it. A definite keeper!!!