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In the picturesque mountains of Squaw Valley, Colorado, a girl’s dreams are about to be shattered.
At just seventeen, Lily Thomas is already a ski champion training for the Olympics, her heart set on winning the gold. But in one moment, Lily’s future is changed forever – her hopes for Olympic triumph swept away in a tragic accident.
Her father, Bill, refuses to accept Lily’s fate, while her neurosurgeon, Dr Jessie Matthews, is adamant that all hope is not lost. But when Jessie endures a tragedy of her own, her spirit is truly tested.
Then Bill decides to build a rehab facility for his daughter and transforms countless other lives too. But will courage and kindness be enough to make winners of them all?
An inspirational story of courage and triumph from one of the world's greatest storytellers. A perfect read for fans of Susan Lewis, Jodi Picoult and Penny Vincenzi.
At just seventeen, Lily Thomas is already a ski champion training for the Olympics, her heart set on winning the gold. But in one moment, Lily’s future is changed forever – her hopes for Olympic triumph swept away in a tragic accident.
Her father, Bill, refuses to accept Lily’s fate, while her neurosurgeon, Dr Jessie Matthews, is adamant that all hope is not lost. But when Jessie endures a tragedy of her own, her spirit is truly tested.
Then Bill decides to build a rehab facility for his daughter and transforms countless other lives too. But will courage and kindness be enough to make winners of them all?
An inspirational story of courage and triumph from one of the world's greatest storytellers. A perfect read for fans of Susan Lewis, Jodi Picoult and Penny Vincenzi.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
1286 people are currently reading
4589 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Steel
930 books17k followersDanielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, 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; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 741 reviews
December 7, 2017
I am on a happily ever after stand alone novel phase right now. LOL
This is a feel good book about learning to grieve, accept, and prevail in the face of adversity. I thought the characters were well formed and the plot was intense with stories of redemption and triumph.
Overall, another quick, feel good read by Danielle Steel. I am really glad my grandmother gave me these books. I needed a change for a bit from my normal reading material.
This is a feel good book about learning to grieve, accept, and prevail in the face of adversity. I thought the characters were well formed and the plot was intense with stories of redemption and triumph.
Overall, another quick, feel good read by Danielle Steel. I am really glad my grandmother gave me these books. I needed a change for a bit from my normal reading material.
September 16, 2020
Solidan prevod, uništen ne/lekturom... Dakle, lekturu knjige radio je prevodilac knjige! (novokomponovano kiosk izdavaštvo u Srba) Prevodilac sve što zna prikaže u prevodu, i ne može biti lektor na svojim prevodima (čak i da poseduje znanja i veštine za lektorisanje, a ovaj prevodilac toga nema)... Pa je urednik knjiga potpisan kao redaktor... Kakvu je redakturu radio, živa nisam... U Srbiji se stalno štedi na lektorima, čitaoci su maltretirani... Koliko god malo da je koštalo ovo kiosk izdanje BDR Medije, čitalac je morao biti ispoštovan i knjiga lektorisana po svim osnovnim pravilima izdavaštva u svetu... Neko se pravio pametan pa počeo da začinjava domaća izdanja, potpuno suprotno važećem pravopisu, Vašim, Vama, Vam u dijalozima... Nisu svi čitaoci nepismeni! Viđala sam to i u Laguninim izdanjima veoma pismenih autora, kojima su loši lektori upropastili knjige s tim velikim slovima koje je naš pravopis davno odbacio u književnim tekstovima... Kao dugogodišnji Danijelin prevodilac i urednik, veoma sam merodavna da govorim u ovom slučaju... jer poznajem stil pisanja autora... Posle 40 strana sam odustala i rešila da knjigu ipak pročitam originalu...
January 26, 2014
I enjoy Danielle Steele and I LOVE "chick lit" books so I picked up another of her novels and was hoping for the best. Not the case.
The story idea was great and I admired it and would've really enjoyed it if it hadn't been so fluffy and perfect. A young athlete training for the Olympics has a terrible accident and then has to adjust to a life in a wheelchair and still finds a way to fulfill her dreams by picking up Paralympic skiing. Great story.
What was not so great? The perfect marriages of Bill and Jessie, the descriptions of cars (limousines, Bentleys, Cadillac Escalades) as well as the private jets, international quick trips, fancy hotels, Ivy League college educations and acceptances of the younger children, highest paying elite positions, best specialists, best doctors, best nurses, best friendships... way, way, way too much.
The people that read the books are normal people, not the neurosurgeons of the world with the Harvard educations and the perfect marriages and perfect kids and perfect jobs with private jets, Bentleys, limousines and escalades. It would be nice to have this story done at a more realistic level that "normal" people could relate to instead of going so above and beyond that it becomes annoying and readers such as myself start skipping descriptive paragraphs because it gets so disgusting I just want to know what happens in the end.
I would give this book a 1*, but the story was a great idea. I just did not enjoy the descriptions of how it got from the beginning to the end. Very disappointing.
The story idea was great and I admired it and would've really enjoyed it if it hadn't been so fluffy and perfect. A young athlete training for the Olympics has a terrible accident and then has to adjust to a life in a wheelchair and still finds a way to fulfill her dreams by picking up Paralympic skiing. Great story.
What was not so great? The perfect marriages of Bill and Jessie, the descriptions of cars (limousines, Bentleys, Cadillac Escalades) as well as the private jets, international quick trips, fancy hotels, Ivy League college educations and acceptances of the younger children, highest paying elite positions, best specialists, best doctors, best nurses, best friendships... way, way, way too much.
The people that read the books are normal people, not the neurosurgeons of the world with the Harvard educations and the perfect marriages and perfect kids and perfect jobs with private jets, Bentleys, limousines and escalades. It would be nice to have this story done at a more realistic level that "normal" people could relate to instead of going so above and beyond that it becomes annoying and readers such as myself start skipping descriptive paragraphs because it gets so disgusting I just want to know what happens in the end.
I would give this book a 1*, but the story was a great idea. I just did not enjoy the descriptions of how it got from the beginning to the end. Very disappointing.
April 18, 2019
My second Danielle Steel book, it wasn't as gripping as Accidental Heroes for me but still an enjoyable read in general.
The setting of the book is brilliant I love many books describing ski-ing areas and this was one of them for setting.
Lily has an accident putting an end to her dream, until later on in the book when a different not unrelated dream is achieved. The injury she gains is quite interesting to read about and the demands to Jessie's job (who is suffering her own tragedy). Lily's dad Bill takes a while to accept the fate of Lily and it does start to get a little annoying reading him constantly thinking he change things, even though you'd want to for your child.
I'd have liked the story more if all the characters didn't seem to have a constant never ending supply of money. I didn't find it very relate-able even though none of them where horrible characters. It almost seemed to perfect in some ways even with the accident. The ending I also found quite predictable.
The setting of the book is brilliant I love many books describing ski-ing areas and this was one of them for setting.
Lily has an accident putting an end to her dream, until later on in the book when a different not unrelated dream is achieved. The injury she gains is quite interesting to read about and the demands to Jessie's job (who is suffering her own tragedy). Lily's dad Bill takes a while to accept the fate of Lily and it does start to get a little annoying reading him constantly thinking he change things, even though you'd want to for your child.
I'd have liked the story more if all the characters didn't seem to have a constant never ending supply of money. I didn't find it very relate-able even though none of them where horrible characters. It almost seemed to perfect in some ways even with the accident. The ending I also found quite predictable.
June 14, 2016
Inca o data, Danielle Steel a reusit sa ma impresioneze!
De data aceasta cu o poveste de viata plina de durere, traume; soarta crudă care iti arunca in cale obstacole aproape de netrecut. Dar, optimismul isi spune cuvântul: pentru a fi un învingător, nu trebuie decat sa lupti!
Recenzia mea completa o găsiți aici: http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/invi...
De data aceasta cu o poveste de viata plina de durere, traume; soarta crudă care iti arunca in cale obstacole aproape de netrecut. Dar, optimismul isi spune cuvântul: pentru a fi un învingător, nu trebuie decat sa lupti!
Recenzia mea completa o găsiți aici: http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/invi...
December 17, 2017
Специална ми е тази книга, имало е много разговори в къщи по темите, които са основни в тази книга и затова сякаш цяла нощ бях с майка ми. Обичам такива истински книги, за хора със силни характери, които се борят с това което им поднесе живота, защото след едни определени години всеки е преминал през някаква драма в живота си и много говори за човека как преминава през трудности и какво остава от него след това. Загуба на любим човек, рак, финансов крах, гаден развод има живот и след тези неща, стига да го искаш живота. За много хора може да е тежка тази книга, но когато има такава силна светлина в края на тунела мога да понеса свиването на сърцето докато чета.
December 2, 2013
Typical Danielle Steel novel. Love conquers all, and being rich doesn't hurt. The endings are always tidy, and everyone lives happily ever after. And yet I keep reading her books - they represent escapist fiction at its best.
Lily is hurt in a horrific accident, but thanks to the apparently endless wealth of her father, she gets the best medical and rehabilitative care available without regard to the realities of health insurance and endless obstacles that would overwhelm the rest of us. She is a paraplegic as a result of the accident, a fate which she seems to accept rather easily (sorry, but I would expect considerable emotional distress from a teenage athlete with this unfortunate fate). There just seemed to be way too many holes in this novel (for example, how on earth could the Lily Pad be built and operated without state and Federal inspection or licenses?) to be believed, and the inevitable coupling of the various characters was predictable.
Lily is hurt in a horrific accident, but thanks to the apparently endless wealth of her father, she gets the best medical and rehabilitative care available without regard to the realities of health insurance and endless obstacles that would overwhelm the rest of us. She is a paraplegic as a result of the accident, a fate which she seems to accept rather easily (sorry, but I would expect considerable emotional distress from a teenage athlete with this unfortunate fate). There just seemed to be way too many holes in this novel (for example, how on earth could the Lily Pad be built and operated without state and Federal inspection or licenses?) to be believed, and the inevitable coupling of the various characters was predictable.
June 22, 2014
Lily is 17 and is on the U.S. Olympic Ski Team when a chairlift she is riding on breaks. She falls and is paralyzed from the waist down. Now Lily and her father need to figure out how to move on.
Danielle Steel is one of my guilty pleasures but Holy Cow did she phone it in on this one. First of all Lily is 17 and on the Olympic team and several of her friends at school are on the Olympic team? It makes the U.S. Olympic team sound like an after school club. They only train in the winter. They never go to any other competitions than the Olympics. When she gets interested in the Paralympics she wishes that there were more competitions than just the Paralympics every 4 years. I'm not expecting exacting research but I spent 2 minutes on Google and found out that the average age of people on the U.S. National Ski Team is 26 and found the schedule of the many international Paralympic skiing events for the year.
This book also discusses the surgeon who operates on Lily - whose husband dies the same night. Lily's father is absolutely abusive to her and she takes it even though other doctors want to (correctly) have him removed by security. She says that they can't understand because they aren't parents. I understand that the correct thing to do when someone shoves nurses out of the way to get into the trauma center and then threatens to kill you if their critically injured child dies is to call the police. If it wasn't a critical case, you tell them to get out and not to come back. Been there, done that.
So of course you see where that relationship is going, but to Danielle Steel's credit, it is not the focus of the book.
The book talks a lot about rehab but glosses over any medical problems and just discusses how hard is it is get anyone to serve you at high end department stores when you are in a wheelchair. First world problems, I suppose.
I like some of her other books but I'd skip this one.
Danielle Steel is one of my guilty pleasures but Holy Cow did she phone it in on this one. First of all Lily is 17 and on the Olympic team and several of her friends at school are on the Olympic team? It makes the U.S. Olympic team sound like an after school club. They only train in the winter. They never go to any other competitions than the Olympics. When she gets interested in the Paralympics she wishes that there were more competitions than just the Paralympics every 4 years. I'm not expecting exacting research but I spent 2 minutes on Google and found out that the average age of people on the U.S. National Ski Team is 26 and found the schedule of the many international Paralympic skiing events for the year.
This book also discusses the surgeon who operates on Lily - whose husband dies the same night. Lily's father is absolutely abusive to her and she takes it even though other doctors want to (correctly) have him removed by security. She says that they can't understand because they aren't parents. I understand that the correct thing to do when someone shoves nurses out of the way to get into the trauma center and then threatens to kill you if their critically injured child dies is to call the police. If it wasn't a critical case, you tell them to get out and not to come back. Been there, done that.
So of course you see where that relationship is going, but to Danielle Steel's credit, it is not the focus of the book.
The book talks a lot about rehab but glosses over any medical problems and just discusses how hard is it is get anyone to serve you at high end department stores when you are in a wheelchair. First world problems, I suppose.
I like some of her other books but I'd skip this one.
December 28, 2014
I will admit I haven't read much Danielle Steel, but all that I have read I have thoroughly enjoyed including this book.
Lily is training for the Winter Olympics, when tragedy strikes and a chair lift breaks and she falls.
She suffers a spinal cord injury, and the surgeon that operates on her, Jessie, her husband dies in a road traffic accident while operating on Lily.
Obviously it takes a while for Lily and her father to accept the long term ramifications of the injury. However once it starts to sink in, Bill, her ridiculously rich father, decides to make it his life's work to set up a young people's rehab centre, that sounds amazing.
I can't explain what it was about this book that gripped me, but I struggled to put this novel down from the start. I found it a very interesting story, and keep thinking about it now I'm done.
Very impressed with this book.
Lily is training for the Winter Olympics, when tragedy strikes and a chair lift breaks and she falls.
She suffers a spinal cord injury, and the surgeon that operates on her, Jessie, her husband dies in a road traffic accident while operating on Lily.
Obviously it takes a while for Lily and her father to accept the long term ramifications of the injury. However once it starts to sink in, Bill, her ridiculously rich father, decides to make it his life's work to set up a young people's rehab centre, that sounds amazing.
I can't explain what it was about this book that gripped me, but I struggled to put this novel down from the start. I found it a very interesting story, and keep thinking about it now I'm done.
Very impressed with this book.
November 27, 2021
Recensie volgt op mn website
November 12, 2015
I started reading this book when I was sick and unable to work, I was looking for an inspiring story, maybe a therapy. So it's about a 17 year old athlete who had an awful accident, she has to face her new life in a wheelchair. Her father tries to do everything he can to make it easier for her, and her doctor Jessie sees her whole life fall apart... In this book I liked that it wasn't only about Lily, many characters had their own physical ,psychological, personnal struggle. It shows how life can change in a second, and you have to find the strength to face it, and change it. It's a good story, it inspired me and made me think a lot, and it was an easy read. But I think it could have been better, the fact that Lily's father was so rich made things less interesting, but the character needed to be rich to do the project... Lily was really strong, and I was expecting that it would be more difficult and scary for her . And I didn't like last scene (not telling you) , it didn't feel real. However, I liked the book, It was a good experience.
October 28, 2023
A young girl going to the Olympics for skiing has an accident when the chair lift cable breaks leaving her with a serious injury now has to learn how to live her life again.
May 19, 2014
Really disappointed with this novel. I believed at the beginning that I would genuinely enjoy it. The plot concept was good but Danielle Steel was horrifically terrible at resolving it at the end. Everything fell into place too perfectly. Of course all of the characters overcame their obstacles and ended up in terrific situations. The characters themselves were too fake and exaggerated. Loose ends tied themselves up perfectly. I think that I would have enjoyed a more Lily central plot, but the book did not provide enough of that. Nor was there enough focus on the characters resolving their problems; it was more of a "here's the problem, in a few paragraphs it's going to be all better but nobody knows how" thing. The author has no idea how to "show, not tell". I don't think I'll ever be reading another one of her books again. It's dumbfounding how she's such a popular writer.
July 18, 2014
Every once in a while I come across a Danielle Steel book at the library and I think, "I should really give her books a try again. Maybe this one will be a winner (no pun intended)."
This one is not a winner.
And truth be told, Danielle Steel hasn't had a winner in...just about forever.
I'm not sure how Danielle Steel manages to create characters that excel at being vapid and boring, or how her editors let her get away with writing ridiculous things like "The Lily Pad worked!"
But she does and they do. I guess they figure it's a volume based business...just keep churning out the books, no matter how terrible, and Steel's empire will continue to grow.
While inspiring in tiny sections, this book is so terribly written that I can only suggest you avoid it like the plague. It's too late for me but please save yourself.
This one is not a winner.
And truth be told, Danielle Steel hasn't had a winner in...just about forever.
I'm not sure how Danielle Steel manages to create characters that excel at being vapid and boring, or how her editors let her get away with writing ridiculous things like "The Lily Pad worked!"
But she does and they do. I guess they figure it's a volume based business...just keep churning out the books, no matter how terrible, and Steel's empire will continue to grow.
While inspiring in tiny sections, this book is so terribly written that I can only suggest you avoid it like the plague. It's too late for me but please save yourself.
October 2, 2013
Disaster strikes all round in this moving story of love and loss. The story was particularity well thought out with a clear message of hope woven through it. DS is my reading "bread and butter" and many of her stories have a "sappy" aspect but I just found this one offered a little bit more and I loved it.
May 25, 2014
I loved this! It was very close to my heart... My daughter being Lily and having SC damage. I just loved how a tragedy can turn I to such a positive act. Danielle is just brilliant
June 9, 2015
Find some other book to read if you can. Again I finished a book I never should have started. This book was given to me in a box of books. Some might find this heartwarming. I found it predictable.
July 3, 2015
Read It in a day, so what does that tell you !
July 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this booked. Some parts even brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't seem to put the book down.
November 4, 2017
Great book. A feel good book
Easy read and makes you feel good about happily ever after.
One of her better books that I have read
Easy read and makes you feel good about happily ever after.
One of her better books that I have read
May 16, 2025
4-4,5⭐️
June 7, 2014
I can't stand this author. Yet once again I get tricked by an interesting description of the plot and then have to force myself not to gag on all of the ridiculous sugary fluff through out the book. This is a fairy tale that has no basis in Reality. completely out of touch with how us mere mortals live, behave or feel. Everything is just too perfect. You just want to start smacking the characters.
March 25, 2014
I guess I've grown out of Danielle Steel books. This is the first one I've picked up in many years. This story was similar to lots of others. Readable, but forgettable. Even with all the hardship the characters encounter, the story always end nice and tidy. This one was no exception. This is not how it is in the real world. No more Danielle Steel for me!
May 9, 2014
This is my first Danielle Steel novel and likely my last. The only reason I was able to get through it was because it was on audio. Fluff has its place, I guess - just not in my literary world. Yuck.
March 15, 2022
Opinião no blogue: https://alilianaraquel.pt/2022/03/ven...
November 7, 2018
Um livro interessante que nos fala, acima de tudo, da força de vontade de uma jovem de 17 anos que de repente se vê impossibilitada de voltar a andar, na consequência de um acidente.
A dificuldade do pai em aceitar e adaptar-se a esta nova etapa da vida da filha e a coragem e persistência da jovem em acatar e ultrapassar o problema são de facto marcantes.
As outras personagens que compõem a história estão bem posicionadas e encaixam na perfeição neste romance arrebatador.
A dificuldade do pai em aceitar e adaptar-se a esta nova etapa da vida da filha e a coragem e persistência da jovem em acatar e ultrapassar o problema são de facto marcantes.
As outras personagens que compõem a história estão bem posicionadas e encaixam na perfeição neste romance arrebatador.
December 11, 2024
This started out very strong with some plot twists and high emotions. However, the rest of the book was underwhelming. The message of the book was strong, as it exemplifies the stages of grief and overcoming life’s most challenging obstacles. However, I found that the majority of the book was very predictable.
May 29, 2017
o my goodness!!!! :) 😍 Im in awed! This book was amazing!!!!. It has left me feeling confident and striving and just like I could do anything if I just put my mind to it!!!! :) I loved it! :)
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November 7, 2020Typical DS novel with tragedy and romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 741 reviews