Miracle

by Danielle Steel

It is New Year’s Eve when the storm of the century hits northern California. In a quiet neighborhood in San Francisco, amid the chaos of fallen trees and damaged homes, the lives of three strangers are about to collide. For Quinn Thompson, what happens in the storm’s wake will bring down a barrier he has built around himself since his wife’s death. For neighbor Maggie Dartman, it will spark friendship at a time when she needs it most. And for Jack Adams, a carpenter who will repair Quinn’s and Maggie’s homes, the storm brings an opportunity: to help two people and to be repaid with the greatest gift of all.

As three lives come together and a unique friendship is forged, something extraordinary begins to happen...Maggie, still grieving a loss, slowly comes alive again-–and Jack finally shares a painful secret he has hidden for years. But at the center of the friendship is Quinn. A man who has scaled heights of success in business, Quinn is now adrift, waiting as builders put the finishing touches on his newest passion, a 180-foot yacht he plans to sail around the world. Looking back at all he missed with his family while he built his empire, Quinn is consumed by guilt, focused only on escaping to the sea. But as his plans near completion, and his friendship with Maggie begins to change, Quinn faces a choice–between a safe haven and an adventure of the heart. The choice he makes will affect other lives as powerfully as his own. And it will take him on an extraordinary journey-–and into a second, terrifying storm, one that will bring him danger...or deliverance.

Danielle Steel brings us miracles big and small-–the kind we are blessed with and those we give to others. With a subtle hand and a flawless touch, she has written a novel that soars with hope, and makes us laugh, cry, and care.

From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Ebooks, Contemporary, Novels, Drama

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Danielle 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.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[Mohamed Fawzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

رواية جميلة ..التنقل بين الاحداث سلس ودون تعقيدات

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three people are brought together as a result of a major storm that damages several houses. Quinn is a wealthy businessman, recently bereaved and harbouring a lot of guilt; Maggie, his neighbour, has recently been divorced; and Jack, the carpenter who fixes their houses, hides a shameful secret.

The story is good, the characters are likeable, and there is a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it's not realised. The writing is repetitive and cliché-ridden, the action is overwhelmed with introspective thoughts from all the characters, with viewpoints switching constantly. It could have been heart-wrenching, with a dramatic and exciting conclusion. But there was nothing to excite even the faintest emotion, and the ending seemed unrealistic.

Disappointing.

[Suzzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Quick, good read that is not too over instance. When everything is in chaos, it is awesome to read something that is lighthearted. I liked the stories and the characters. The plot moves very fast but that is a given since the book is so small. Great way to spend an evening at home.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danielle Steel has a predictable recipe for her novel... character faces a crisis and recovers to find happiness. It's nice to be assured that there is life beyond personal crisis, but the formula gets a bit contrite, especially when everyone always lives happily ever after.

The biggest negative in her writing of Miracle was repetition. Every fact was repeated at least three times, as if the reader didn't catch it the first time around. For me it made the story drag on.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that will make you stop and think what is important in life. A story of family, love, forgiveness and second chances.

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was my first DS book, and I was curious to see what the hype was when my neighbour gave this book. I didn't really like it. I felt like there was a lot of repetitiveness. I didn't like it

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

" I don't belong here anymore. I don't belong anywhere. My roots are gone… like our trees that fell last winter.… I've fallen, and I'm drifting out to sea "

" I can't be other than I am… even if I
wanted to… the message would be I love you, but I have to be free…if not, I'll die… like a fish out of the ocean, gasping for air….I need the ocean and the sky "

“Maybe the green flash you're looking for is within you. Maybe you don't need to run as far as you think.”

" It was about acceptance and surrender, and loving someone enough to let them go forever. That had been the green flash for her "

" It was in standing still that one found the truth, not in running "

“I'm a man with no past and no future, all I have is the present to give you. My past is worthless, my future doesn't exist yet, and probably never will, not with you. All I can give you is this moment, right now, before I leave. Is that enough for you, Maggie?”

"Heinous crimes are committed in the name of love, like holy wars. There's nothing worse."

[Rasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

أقرأ لدانيال ستيل للمرة الأولى، وبعد قراءتي لهذه الرواية لا أظن أنها ستكون الأخيرة.
رواية رومانسية رقيقة بلا كلمات حب أو تعبيرات رومانسية كليشيهية مملة رغم أن القصة نفسها مُكررة وليست جديدة إلا أنني أحببت القصة والشخصيات والأحداث كانت ممتعة وسريعة بلا ملل حتى أنني قرأت الرواية على مرتين فقط.
تدور الأحداث حول الثري الأرمل كوين، والسيدة المُطلقة ماجي، والنجار جاك، ثلاثة أشخاص من أعمار مختلفة وبيئات وثقافات مختلفة تجمعهم الظروف بعدما تُحطم عاصفة شديدة عدة منازل منها منزل كوين ومنزل ماجي ليدخل جاك حياتيهما فتتبدل حياة الثلاثة إلى الأبد.
ثلاث شخصيات يحمل كل واحد منهما همًا يخصه وحده، الشعور بالذنب هو هم كوين، والحزن الشديد لفقدان الإبن هو هم ماجي، بينما يُخفي جاك سرًا مُخزيًا هو الهم الذي يحمله.
تتقاطع الحيوات الثلاثة وتجمعهم صداقة جميلة تُغير من حيواتهم جميعًا.
ككما قلت القصة مُكررة والنهاية كليشيهية للغاية ولكن باعتبارها قصة رومانسية فهذا هو المتوقع وطالما لم أشعر بالملل تظل رواية جيدة بالنسبة لي.

[Linda Branich · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a miracle I finished this novella!

I was so disappointed. Steel's works are usually filled with beautiful word pictures that cause the reader to feel as if he/she is right in the middle of the story, witnessing the events unfold. Not so with Miracle, and there was opportunity after opportunity to do so. There seemed to be a lack of research in this book as well.

I do not feel there was much character development, just a lot of repeated facts about events that took place in the character's lives.
A LOT. I kept thinking, ok, I got it the first time, the second time, and the third time. Enough already!

This was just not up to Steel's usual caliber of writing; if I did not know the author's name I never would have guessed it was Danielle Steel.

[Paul White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short novel compared to the usual book length but still as enjoyable. This time fate brought two widowers together despite neither wanting to find love in later life. Ms Steel painted a good picture on how we get set on our ways as we age and tend to make decisions based on mistakes made in previous relationships. So pleased to see that the two found away to find love despite making promises to each other that they would go their separate ways.

[Marina Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was less intriguing than I thought it would be. It just felt like the same thing was said over and over again. I expected more.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Clearing out my TBR pile I found this horrid little book. Repeat, repeat and then repeat some more. Even this short, little book was too much for me...

[Seelsabil Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and sweet.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly it was just a feel good story, I needed it now I think.

[Ghada Almoulani · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main idea of the book, the trauma of losing one's beloved ones, is very deep. Yet the book lacked a plot. It's narrated in a very simple way, perhaps too simple. The author kept repeating herself although the book isn't very long (less than 200 pages).

[Jen Marx · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite trite. The story of a man who loses his wife and son, and finds replacements for both of them, is not exactly the least predictable tale ever told. I also found the descriptions of characters and settings to be quite empty. I pictured Quinn, Maggie, and Jack more as phantoms floating in and out of ambiguous locales than as actual people operating in the real world. Even in one of the final scenes where dozens of people aboard a ship are certain they are going to die, I felt no real sense of emotion at all. The characters were simply shadows.

While I wouldn't say this story tugged my heart strings, it did ever so slightly pluck at them from time to time, which is why I am giving this book 2 stars as opposed to 1 or 0.

[Bev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Logos Books got in a huge number of Danielle Steel books. She is one of my mother's favorite authors and I have avoided the books like the plague, but decided that I would read one this week. I chose the thinnest book (and it was large print to boot).

It was an easy 3 hour read and OK. The story of a widower getting his life back together, with a couple of other people, the widow next door and a handyman who is hiding a secret. A lot of the book revolved around boating, since the wealthy widower is having a sailboat built for him in Amsterdam, with the idea that he will sell his house and retire to the boat for the rest of his life.

The whole thing is pretty predictable (except for the sub plot about the handyman), and an enjoyable, if mindless read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

08/19/05 #144
TITLE/AUTHOR: Miracle by Danielle Steel (Audio)
Rating: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/# OF CD'S: Fiction, 2005, 4 CD'S
TIME/PLACE: Present, San Francisco
CHARACTERS: Quinn/retired, widower; Maggie/Physics teacher
Jack/Carpenter
COMMENTS: A destructive storm is the catalyst for 3 strangers to meet and become friends. Jack is a grieving
widower, who hasn't forgiven himself for spending more time at his job than w/ his family. He has returned to sell the family home before sailing the world. Maggie, his next door neighbor is a reclusive divorcee, grieving over the suicide of her teenaged son. Jack is the carpenter who helps the 2 homeowners w/ home repairs.

[Geokowgurl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to read all of Danielle Steel's books and then I got burned out on them as they are all basically the same story line just different character names and places. However, after several years of avoiding them I decided to read this book when I picked it up at a sale for 50 cents. It turned out to be pretty good. Although it was the same type of story that Steel is known for writing, (a wealthy couple, relationship gone wrong or ended by death, sex without marriage, you know...), I did like the side story about a man who couldn't read and a friend teaching him how. If you love Danielle Steel, then this book is for you!

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

another rather predictable story. but what saved this from complete mediocrity is the developing bromance between quinn and jack, which takes place early on in the book. a bromantic love triangle between quinn, jack and maggie would have sweetened the deal, but hey, it's a hetero romance novel so i guess that's just one of the limitations of the genre. although i really don't think any so-called "straight" man would ever name his boat "vol de nuit" after a novel by antoine de saint-exupery. that cracked me up every time the narrator mentioned it.

[Heather Thibdeaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Danielle Steel a little predictable at times. This book started off slow and picked up speed. I almost returned it to the library unread after 5 pages. I'm glad I gave it another try. The story was good, the characters decent and not embarrassingly full of sex. I'm not a person who sails or is familiar with sail boats but I did enjoy reading about the glorious vessels. The father/son dynamic between Jack and Quinn was heartwarming. And I would have been terribly upset if he left Maggie behind forever.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read about Quinn who lost his wife and son and has an estranged daughter. He decides hes going to sell his house and buys a luxury sailboat. Horrible storm sends trees crashing into his house causing damage. He befriends the handyman, teaches him to read and then they both befriend the neighbor, who has also lost her son and has recently been divorced. The three of them end up having a little "circle" and having dinner every night. Eventually Quinn and Maggie fall in love, she joins him on his sailboat after Quinn survives a horrific storm!

[Sheetal Mittal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think there is nothing special in DS books now. Every book has same tragedy (death or accident) which I'm bored of now. I don't understand how Quinn could have sisterly emotions for Maggie initially and later on developed romantic feelings for her. Just to make the story little different or unpredictable DS matched Maggie with Quinn despite Jack, a more suitable match, been around. Just okay type book.

[Lisa James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, like all of her others, was an easy, fluffy, feel good read. A horrific storm brings together Quinn, a widower who is punishing himself for his wife's death & his daughter's estrangement, Jack, an illiterate but highly talented carpenter/contractor, & Maggie, Quinn's next door neighbor who is a divorcee & mother of a teen son who committed suicide. Through their shared pain they become friends, & they help each other in a myriad of ways.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book because it makes you want to be in the story!!! it will definitly make you want to go on a vacation!!!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Goes very quick.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book about how a man looses his wife, and really looking back he realizes he was never there for his kids. he tries to reconnect with them and ends up falling in love all over again.

[Jirrine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just not my cup of tea. Danielle Steel is repetitive and the story is predictable. It really is just another romance story. Nothing special..

[Alina Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely novel by Steel. Sometimes when the bad things that we think that have happened to us, we have to forgive ourselves first.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one, it was nice witnessing the build up of a friendship. Fans would be happy with this story.