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Safe Harbour [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Danielle Steel (Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)


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Book Description

Danielle Steel November 4, 2003
In her fifty-ninth bestselling novel, Danielle Steel tells an unforgettable story of survival...of how two people who lost everything find hope...and of the extraordinary acts of faith and courage that bring —and keep— families together...

On a windswept summer day, as the fog rolls across the San Francisco coastline, a solitary figure walks down the beach, a dog at her side. At eleven, Pip Mackenzie's young life has already been touched by tragedy; nine months before, a terrible accident plunged her mother into inconsolable grief. But on this chilly July afternoon, Pip meets someone who fills her sad gray world with color and light. And in her innocence and in his kindness, a spark will be kindled, lives will be changed, and a journey of hope will begin.

From the moment the curly-haired girl walks up to his easel on the sand, Matt Bowles senses something magical about her. Pip reminds him of his own daughter at that age, before a bitter divorce tore his family apart and swept his children halfway across the world. With her own mother, Ophélie, retreating deeper into her grief, Pip spends her summer at the shore the way lonely children do: watching the glittering waters and rushing clouds, daydreaming and remembering how things used to be. That is, until she meets artist Matt Bowles, who offers to teach the girl to draw—and can't help but notice her beautiful, lonely mother. At first, Ophélie is thrown off balance by her daughter's new companion—until she realizes how much joy he is bringing into their lives, despite the sadness she sees in his eyes. As their newfound friend works his subtle magic, mother and daughter slowly begin to heal, to laugh again, to rediscover what they have lost.

When summer ends, and Ophélie and Pip must leave the beach for the city, the season of healing continues. Gathering her newfound strength, Ophélie begins a volunteer job at a city outreach program, where she works with the homeless, and can no longer ignore the blessings in her own life. But as soul-sharing phone calls and autumn beach getaways deepen Ophélie and Matt's friendship, fate strikes another blow. Out of the blue, Matt must confront unfinished business from his past. Days later, Ophélie is struck by a stunning betrayal by someone she trusts. And as these events reverberate in two already wounded hearts, something extraordinary happens. Out of the darkness that has shadowed them both comes an unexpected gift of hope.

With grace and compassion, Danielle Steel explores the fragile bonds between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, family members and lifelong friends. Her haunting, impassioned novel takes us across the complex landscape of loss—to the blessings that arise from even the darkest tragedies. At once a story of triumph and a moving elegy to those who suffer and survive, Safe Harbour is perhaps her most powerful and life-affirming novel to date.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An 11-year-old girl strikes up a friendship with an artist and introduces him to her mother, a grieving widow, in Steel's 59th bestseller-to-be, a sweet but slow-moving romance. The girl, Phillippa (Pip) Mackenzie, is walking her dog along a deserted Northern California beach when she encounters a painter at his easel and stops to watch. She likes to draw; Matt Bowles, the artist, offers to help her; and a friendship is born. Pip's world was shattered nine months before when her father and her tormented, bipolar brother died in a plane crash. A distinctive magical quality in young Pip reminds Matt of his own daughter, whom he's not seen for six years. Pip's mother, Ophelie, initially uneasy about her daughter's friend, comes to see that the sad-eyed artist is the opposite of dangerous-a sensitive, kindly, decent man. The rather idealized Pip (her "haunting cognac-colored eyes" get frequent mention) is wise beyond her years; Ophelie, suffering a severe case of post-traumatic stress, is initially passive and limp but her devotion to a volunteer job helping the homeless elicits sympathy. Matt, a successful ad executive in his former life, is rescued from his own sorrows by fostering Pip's budding talent and by his growing romantic interest in her mother. Ophelie's discovery of a love letter her husband received a week before his death and Matt's confrontation with his treacherous ex-wife provide a modicum of suspense, but some readers may find themselves nodding off before they reach the novel's unexpectedly dramatic climax.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Steel, who lost her own son to suicide a few years ago, here tells the story of a lonely woman reeling from the untimely deaths of her son and husband who have both recently perished in a small-plane accident. The months pass, but Ophelie just can't get past the loss, and she spends most of her time sleeping, crying, or attending support-group meetings for the bereaved. In addition, she has ceased eating almost completely and barely takes notice of her 11-year-old daughter, Pip. The young girl is also reeling from her loss and finds herself alone much of the time and wandering on the beach near their home. It is during these unchaperoned jaunts that the child befriends a grown man who shows up every morning to paint seascapes. Mattie begins showing Pip how to draw, and by his companionship brings some light into her dark life. Pip keeps her friend secret from her mother for a while, but Ophelie soon finds out and, suspicious of the man's motives, forbids further contact. Ultimately though, Mattie is revealed to be a gentle and kindhearted man who also is mourning a personal loss and--more importantly--is single and eligible. Needless to say, things end happily. Kathleen Hughes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 544 pages
  • Publisher: Random House Large Print (November 4, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 192079820X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0375432255
  • ASIN: 0375432256
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,652,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 590 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include 44 Charles Street, Legacy, Family Ties, Big Girl, Southern Lights, Matters of the Heart, One Day at a Time, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death.

 

Customer Reviews

31 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (8)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (31 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Safe Harbour, November 18, 2003
By 
K. Morgan (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Safe Harbour (Hardcover)
Ted Mackenzie and his bi-polar son Chad were killed in a plane crash nine months ago. Left behind to pick up the pieces are Ted's wife Ophelie and daughter Pip. Ophelie is in a severe depression and can hardly take care of Pip except for the basics. Ophelie leases a house at Safe Harbour for the summer and while there Pip befriends artist and recluse Matt Bowles. They become fast friends despite a difference in age. Matt is suffering from the loss of his children through a divorce. Ophelie and Matt meet and although they don't hit it off at the beginning they become good friends. Matt becomes a pillar of support for Ophelie and Pip as they go through the one year anniversary of the death of their husband/father and son/brother. Through their friendship the wounds begin to heal and they begin to move on with their lives.

Safe Harbour was an OK read. It wasn't the best Danielle Steel book I've read. This book seemed more thought about than some of her previous works. The storyline was good and the characters were likeable. The story-telling in itself seemed to be choppy. The story would move along at a pretty good pace and then seem to get stuck with remembering what had already been stated. This is the same repetitiveness as in Steel's more current work. I must say that this book shocked me when a little over halfway through there is a surprising and shocking twist to the story. This twist had me rereading the pages to make sure I was reading it right. This was a very important part of the story and I was just amazed at how well written this plot twist was. I must say I was speechless when I got to this part of the story.

Safe Harbour seemed to have some of the quality of the older Danielle Steel books. Again, the only part I didn't like was the repeated facts that were written every few pages or at least once a chapter. I would have given the book five stars if it wasn't for the repitition. All in all a good read with a good ending.

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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally!!!, November 12, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Safe Harbour (Hardcover)
Finally Danielle Steel has written a book that doesn't sound just like all of her others. Sure....same bit of storyline..but much better developed characters and a refreshing twist. Pip is a very sweet 11 yr-old girl who wins the heart of painter Matt. Pip's mother Ophelie was a disturbed mother who had suffered a loss but finds herself again after spending time with Matt. Add Mousse, the dog, and a few other additions and you have the perfect story. The ending was a bit far-fetched but overall, this book is a winner!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Time to Fire the Editor!, January 29, 2004
By 
Donna Reynolds (Syracuse, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Safe Harbour (Hardcover)
Okay, I give up! Who edited this book? Is Danielle Steel so sacrosanct that her editors are not allowed to edit?

I agree with those who have written that this book was an improvement over the last few. Sure, the main character is the same, weak, indecisive, codependent woman but at least this one has a little gumption and actually stands up for herself. I am beginning to think that these characters have to be a reflection of Ms. Steel's own personality. Why else would she continue to create these weak women?

Danielle Steel knows the pain of losing a child and offers some good suggestions for dealing with that pain. But as many steps forward as Opehlie takes, she seems to take an equal number of steps back. It is so frustrating. At least she reacted correctly when faced with the "ultimate betrayal."

With some heavy editing, this book might have been a three for me. As it is, with all the run-on and incomplete sentences and constant repeating of phrases, I can only rate it a two.

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