Rushing Waters

by Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel fearlessly tackles a catastrophe and its aftermath with characters who are joined together by accident, then share their vulnerabilities, regrets, losses, and hopes.

Hurricane Ophelia is bearing down on New York City. And in a matter of hours, six people, along with their families, friends, and millions of other New Yorkers living around them, will be caught up in the horrific flooding it unleashes.

Ellen Wharton has flown into New York from London, regardless of the weather and her husband’s worry. The successful interior designer is intent on seeing her lively architect mother and has an important personal appointment to keep. But despite Ellen’s urging, when the storm hits, seventy-four-year-old Grace Madison refuses to leave her Tribeca apartment in the midst of the evacuation zone, and they must eventually wade through chest-high water to the police boats outside.

British investment banker Charles Williams is traveling on business but is also eager to see his young daughters, who live with his beautiful, estranged ex-wife in SoHo. Desperate to find them, he checks the shelters where thousands have taken refuge and runs into Ellen and her mother.

Juliette Dubois, a dedicated ER doctor, fights to save lives when the generators at her hospital fail.

NYU students Peter Holbrook and Ben Weiss, living in a shabby downtown walkup, are excited by the adventure of the approaching hurricane, refuse to evacuate, and settle in with junk food and beer until their building threatens to collapse. Should they swim for it or not?

A day of chaos takes its toll. Lives, belongings, and loved ones are swept away. Heroes are revealed as the city and New Yorkers struggle to face a natural disaster of epic proportions. And then the real challenge begins, as the survivors face their futures, with damage to repair and scars to heal.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Adult

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 30, 2016

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

[NZLisaM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Stars, but even then I think I’m being generous...

I used to read a lot of Danielle Steel books in my late teens, early twenties, and enjoyed them at the time, but either my tastes have changed, or this one just wasn’t up to par. Admittedly, I went in, thinking it was going to focus more on the character’s escaping from, and coping and surviving a natural disaster, and I did find that part of the book to be action-packed and fast-paced, but it was such a small section of the novel as the majority of it was set after the storm. I thought it would be more like ‘Amazing Grace’ (set during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake) which I thought was an excellent read.

There was a lot of ‘telling’ rather than ‘showing’ which resulted in characters coming across as underdeveloped, in particular the storyline involving Dr. Juliette Dubois and Sean Kelly. Also, Ellen’s husband, George, appeared to undergo a complete personality transplant during the course of the novel, and the explanation given for his change of behaviour, didn’t really fit with how worried and kind he acted towards his wife in the opening chapters.

It was very predictable, and everything ended ‘oh-so-happy’ but I can forgive that given that it is a Danielle Steele novel. I give it three stars, as some parts did strike an emotional chord with me, and the first half wasn’t too bad, and also because this is a genre I rarely read, so I have to be fair.

[Suzzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I liked it but didn't really warm up to the characters. Some were just not likeable and the others just didn't grasp me. The story had inspiring elements but I just could have done without a few of the characters POVs or even them being in the story.

Overall, a quick read to entertain you for an evening.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

She just needs to quit writing. It all sounds the same anymore.

[Alyssa Lane · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful. This is my first and LAST time ever reading this author. I guess it's what I should expect from a grocery store novelist but still- this was extra bad.
The concept for the story sounded cool (I'm all about those Day After Tomorrow scenarios and I love stories about storms and natural disasters). Well that is not what this is. This is a (very bad) romance following a million different boring and unremarkable characters as they make idiotic decisions through a hurricane in New York (like hurricane Sandy but "worse"). And I could maybe get past the boring plot and blah characters if this woman could write. But alas, she cannot. It's like someone telling you in monotone every boring stupid irrelevant detail as it's happening with ZERO suspense (in a book about a storm where people die I mean come on..) ZERO emotion and ZERO interest. Person A did this. Then person B looked at her. Then person B says this. Person A is surprised because person B normally wouldn't say this. Person B looks over there and thinks about this. IN THIS EXACT GODDAMN FORMAT. For 300+ pages. No. Noooo.

[Tiffany Faw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not her best. Saw where most of the storyline was going to go.
Should have made a whole book around the college kids.

[Wissal H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encore une fois je suis très heureuse de lire un autre roman de Danielle Steel ♥️ Une aventure mortelle de six personnes pendant un ouragan qui s’approche d’une façon terrible mais personne de ces cinq héros décide de quitter Son quartier ou sa maison 🏠 et la sixième personne était médecin de garde au service des urgences à l’hôpital le plus proche de l’ouragan...

Une succession des événements évanouissante et puissante à la fois, la peur, le malheur, la mort, le deuil et un mélange mélancolique des sentiments décrit avec tendresse et tristesse ... vraiment les catastrophes naturelles à chaque fois sont responsables d’un nombre indéterminé des décès et dégâts ... beaucoup de personnes perdent leurs maisons leurs proches leurs souvenirs ou même leurs vies ♥️

Que Dieu Nous Protège Tous et Protège Notre Planète 🌍

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 Danielle Steel has her writing down to a science. She has a new background topic each time..but similar outline...plug it the characters and have an enjoyable read. Background topic is hurricane hitting NYC, ..with main characters, Ellen, Charles, and Peter. " You can never predict what's going to happen in life." But with a DS book your chances are pretty good.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely spectacular beginning … about halfway through it levels out to be a very predictable read.

[Maria João (A Biblioteca da João) · Rating 3 out of 5]

7,5 de 10*

Danielle Steel dispensa apresentações. De acordo com informação da Wikipédia, vendeu já mais de 600 milhões de cópias e os seus romances perduram por várias gerações. Lembro-me de ler os seus livros há muitos anos, das suas histórias fazerem parte das minhas férias de Verão. No ano passado, voltei a ler dois dos seus livros e senti uma pontada de desilusão, porque não achei os enredos tão interessantes como me recordava. Mas percebo agora, ao ler “Águas de Tempestade”, que não foi uma questão de ter ficado mais velha, mas sim da escolha do livro.

Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...

[Fluff Smut & Murder · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is so not a disaster book. What could have been a great departure for Danielel Steel is just another thinly veiled beautiful woman story who loses almost everything but also manages to find an amazing apartment in NYC after a hurricane that only lasts for about three chapters. Seriously? Just don’t even pick it up.

What I loved: The dogs don’t die in the book. Thank goodness. Nothing else.

What I didn’t love: Let’s see…why have additional characters (Juliette, Charles, and Peter) if their story is only mentioned for one chapter out of every 15. And why no mention of Ellen’s mother Grace in the cover preview – she’s more of a main character than the other two and just as annoying.

What I learned: Only beautiful people get affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Oh – and I need more insurance.

Overall Grade: F

www.FluffSmutandMurder.com

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well. Danielle Steel.

I read almost all of her books throughout the decades. Although I haven't entered most of them here on Goodreads, I will get around to it sometime. The thing about her books is that she writes about how people can be resilient and kind, even in the trying, though usually very contrived times she writes about. I am willing to be taken away by her stories - some better than others - when I need a little break from some of the other books I read. I like how her characters are usually hopeful and innately good, except for the overt baddies, of course. Thank you for the company throughout the years, Ms. Steel. Your books were little pockets of light, enjoyable reading that expected nothing more of me than that experience.

If we try hard, we don't make the same mistakes again. We make new ones. 187/213

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my 48 years on this planet, I'd never read a Danielle Steel novel. I wish I hadn't read this one.

I'm giving it two stars because it's not the most awful thing I've read, but I would certainly prefer to have those hours I spent on it back. The plot should be exciting and full of action, but it felt slow, the characters are not sympathetic or relatable, the writing is high school-ish at best.

Ugh.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The depressing stands out more than the positive in this story of lost and found love in the midst of tragedy. 4 of 10 stars

[M João (Livros?gosto) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opinião em:



https://youtu.be/OWlf9toF3OU

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical Danielle Steel, but a good, quick read. Would have liked more on the blossoming romance between the ER doc and OES worker. Just OK for me as really nothing new from the author. 4 out of 10.

[Jaylee Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book Danielle, I loved it it took me a bit to finish this. I want to see Danielle do something out of New York, maybe Nashville, Los Angeles something!

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again DS created a story that was timely, weaving tragedy with adversity & family. Her books are like comfort food.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember the last time I finished a book in one day.

I love Danielle Steel and this was one of her better ones. I can't believe I read a book about a hurricane during when hurricanes are happening. A good Summer read nonetheless.

This was not her typical fall in love book and everyone lives happily ever after but the characters did have a lot to learn and also about each other and how things happen in such a short time and how strangers come together in such a horrible time and bond.

There were friendships forming and maybe love in bloom by the end of the book though.

[Delissca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what's going on with Danielle Steel. I'm not sure if she has other people writing her stories for her these days or what. But, she is whipping out about 1 book every other month. So, the books that she has been doing the last few years are just so-so.

Her ability to tell a story used to be incredible. She drew you in immediately and kept the plot moving along. Her characters were all very vivid and you felt whatever they were going through.

But the last 4 or 5 books I've read by her are just not up to her earlier standards. It seems like she is putting them out like Harlequin novels.

This could have been a really good book if she had taken more time to concentrate on just one or two story-lines. But she had so many things going on in different parts of the story. It was a quick read, as usual, for her, but the book just sat there with me. It didn't move me one way or another. So disappointing. This book just came out this summer and I see she has a new book coming out in 5 days. What?

She needs to slow down, get back to thinking about what she is writing instead of just putting these books out like they are on an assembly line.

[lacy white · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid piece of work from Danielle Steel. In this book, we follow the lives of Ellen Wharton, Charles Williams, Juliette Dubois and Peter Holbrook and how they survive Hurricane Ophelia. Most of the characters interacted with each other in some way, which is a staple with Steel. Charles and Ellen meet on a plane to New York. Juliette and Peter meet at a hospital.

I guess I don't really have much to say about this book. It was very character driven, which is another staple of Steel's novels. I just wasn't super thrilled about this book. I had read something similar to this from her but I can't remember what it is called. I preferred Ellen's and Charles' stories more than Juliette's and Peter's. The novel primarily focused on Ellen. The other characters just seemed to be background noise. Maybe I would have liked the story more if it was just focused on Ellen and Charles.

I realize that this is a short review but I really don't have much to say about this book. It was solid and fluffy, which is what I needed after a book hangover. I'm looking at you, Paper Princess. Sometimes all you need is a fluffy book with lots of insta love.

[Marwan Hamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 3.75 I would say.
This is a very beautifull, well written Novel about how a Hurricane/a Natural disaster can affect multiple lives in a bad and a good way. This is a Novel about the bad things that’ll always be ok at the end. This is a Novel about humanity and how we cluster together as one when things are emergent, and how we can tear at each other when things are not
This novel is very well written and u get attached and you live almost every scene with every character out there but yes, it is typical & predictable. That does not make its glamour fade away no not at all, but thats why Im givin it a 4 instead of a 5 out of 5.

I think Danielle Steel just wanted to tell us to never lose ourselves trying to satisfy others, to believe that there is someone out there who will help us find the balance between our career and our personal life, that those we lose will always be within our heart & mind, and it will always be okay in the end, if its not okay then its not the end.

[Sandra Heinzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel about a hurricane that hits New York City. A story about various groups of characters and how their lives are impacted because of the catastrophe. I was intrigued by all of them. I fond this book to be a quick read and I liked it a lot. I've read most of this author's books and I'm liking her latest books, including this one, more than last year's books. I recommend this one highly!

[Cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been a great book, or a couple of books. Stories are intertwined, but the characters seem flat. I feel she should have fleshed out the major characters, and eliminated some the others.

[Splendid · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm giving one star because I did read it to the end. But trust me, don't waste your time. Unless you are a die-hard Danielle Steel lover, you'd be better off spending the hours wasted reading this trash by filing your nails or counting screws in a jar.

[Angie Sachs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love natural disaster stories, really got involved in the character development that it was hard to put down. I haven’t read this particular author in a while as sometimes her books are to much fluff but this was not.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When it ended, I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room. Never again. DS was great when I was young and foolish. I am no longer those things.

[Patricialogan8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, I was rooting for Charles and Gone to get back together, Nigel was a jerk

[Rick Silva · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danielle Steel goes for the disaster movie plot.

So, first of all, this is a story about New York City in which every character is white. And rich. The entire premise of lives thrown into turmoil when a major hurricane strikes New York City, causing massive flooding in Lower Manhattan, is hurt quite a bit by the fact that, aside from one subplot involving genuine tragedy, the entire disaster is a gigantic collection of first-world-problems. Valuable furniture is ruined. No, wait, insurance will sent that stuff to professional restorers. Bosses and business clients are remarkably understanding when characters have to miss weeks of work, and everyone who wants to fly to London or Chicago to get away from the storm cleanup always has plenty of money for travel. Hotel rooms and temporary apartments are secured with only the most minor of inconvenience.

This entire book is a disaster video game played at the lowest possible difficulty setting.

All of that being said, the one plotline involving a death in the storm is handled realistically and tenderly.

And as is the case with other Danielle Steel books I've read, the characters are generally cool, likeable creative people that you would genuinely want to hang out with. Well, aside from a couple of villain-types, who disappear from the story after receiving a very bare minimum of comeuppance for being assholes.

This is the third book I've read by Danielle Steel, who was my Mom's favorite author, and it's the first one I've read that included something that could be described as an action sequence, which was handled competently. The author's strengths are in character development and interaction, and those are done well here.

Even a token attempt at diversity in the cast would have been welcome, though.

[Speedyfat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ce que j'appelle un livre-telefilm, où l'on débranche son cerveau. Je lisais ça quand j'avais 14 ans sérieux....Aucune profondeur dans les personnages, une intrigue mal ficelée servie à la sauce Steel. On est visiblement dans le monde des Bisounours où les deux femmes sont riches, successful dans tout ce qu'elles font, belles, élégantes. La protagoniste se fait quitter du jour au lendemain par téléphone par son mari de quinze ans mais oklm!! Quelques mois plus tard elle emménage à New York et retrouve un homme avec qui partager sa vie, qui est d'ailleurs le voisin de sa mère. Un heureux hasard!
Tout est TROP simple, TROP idiot, il n'y aucune rugosité dans le récit.
Un avantage : c'est distrayant.
1/5

[Emma Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a Danielle Steel book in ages, maybe years but loved her writings as much as when I read her books before. This book was just like I remember Danielle Steel to be: terribly romantic, heartbreaking, bitter sweet, and very very depressing at times but so well written that your heart breaks for the people in the book that you want to know that their lives improve and become happier which they mostly always do smiles. This book was so worth the read. I am used to a woman reading her books and although I agree a woman reader is preferable, this book was excellently read by a gentleman.