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Southern Lights
Danielle Steel sweeps us from a Manhattan courtroom to the Deep South in her powerful new novel—at once a behind-closed-doors look into the heart of a family and a tale of crime and punishment.
SOUTHERN LIGHTS
Eleven years have passed since Alexa Hamilton left the South behind, fleeing the pain of her ex-husband’s betrayal and the cruelty of his prominent Charleston family. Now an assistant D.A. in Manhattan, Alexa has finally put her demons to rest, raising her daughter alone and making a name for herself as a top prosecutor taking on some of the city’s toughest cases.
But as Alexa prepares for her latest case, the high-stakes trial of accused serial killer Luke Quentin, threatening letters addressed to Savannah, her beautiful seventeen-year-old daughter, throw Alexa’s private life into turmoil. Certain that Quentin is behind the letters, Alexa must make the toughest choice of all: to send her daughter back to her ex-husband’s world of southern tradition and memories of betrayal.
While Alexa’s trial builds to a climax in New York, her daughter settles into southern life, discovering a father and family history she barely knows. As secrets are exposed and old wounds are healed, Alexa and Savannah, after a season in different worlds, will come together again – strengthened by the challenges they have faced and changed by the mysteries they have unraveled.
From the gritty chaos of Manhattan’s criminal court system to the seductive gentility of the South, from the rage of a hardened criminal to the tender bond between a mother and a daughter, Southern Lights will catch you off guard at every turn.
SOUTHERN LIGHTS
Eleven years have passed since Alexa Hamilton left the South behind, fleeing the pain of her ex-husband’s betrayal and the cruelty of his prominent Charleston family. Now an assistant D.A. in Manhattan, Alexa has finally put her demons to rest, raising her daughter alone and making a name for herself as a top prosecutor taking on some of the city’s toughest cases.
But as Alexa prepares for her latest case, the high-stakes trial of accused serial killer Luke Quentin, threatening letters addressed to Savannah, her beautiful seventeen-year-old daughter, throw Alexa’s private life into turmoil. Certain that Quentin is behind the letters, Alexa must make the toughest choice of all: to send her daughter back to her ex-husband’s world of southern tradition and memories of betrayal.
While Alexa’s trial builds to a climax in New York, her daughter settles into southern life, discovering a father and family history she barely knows. As secrets are exposed and old wounds are healed, Alexa and Savannah, after a season in different worlds, will come together again – strengthened by the challenges they have faced and changed by the mysteries they have unraveled.
From the gritty chaos of Manhattan’s criminal court system to the seductive gentility of the South, from the rage of a hardened criminal to the tender bond between a mother and a daughter, Southern Lights will catch you off guard at every turn.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
1319 people are currently reading
5412 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Steel
911 books16.8k 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 626 reviews
November 19, 2011
I read this book out of loyalty to Danielle Steel. During my early years as a reader I read so many of her books because they were much easier to come by due to her popularity. And I really enjoyed them. But as I discovered other genres and got access to more authors through ebooks I lost interest in her books. So I ws excited to get to read this one but was terribly disapointed. The main character Alexa is someone I cud identify with coz I carry anger with me for a long time too. She's intelligent and sexy and is best friends with her daughter which I really liked. But the story doesn't do justice to this character. I wanted to put this book away so many times and the only thing that kept me going was the hope that something spectacular or dramatic will eventually happen; like maybe the villain was indeed framed for the murders and the true story unravels with shocking revelations and scandles; or the villain gets to Savanna in Charlestone; or Luisa does something scandalous again leaving Tom miserable and alone. But I waited in vain and nothing happened. The story just rolls out as though on a desert with nothing but sand and not much of a difference between the begining and the end. There are no surprises and the story is not predictable simply because there would be nothing to predict. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone
April 25, 2020
A good solid story with real like able characters. I did find it dragged a bit in the middle but still well worth the read.
November 27, 2019
I fake vomited after finishing this because I didn't want to use anymore strength to actually vomit.
April 17, 2017
I love Danielle Steel, but this book really left me feeling ripped off and bummed out. And I can't explain that without doing a spoiler that covers the entire book. Stand by. Spoiler. Stand by.
At first it looks like it's going to be something totally new for this author, like a very deadly suspense novel. Alexa is a tough lady prosecutor and they have a murderer named Luke who's a real bad ass -- a cross between Hannibal Lecter in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and the original "Luke" in COOL HAND LUKE. There's an almost palpable sexual tension when this murderer and rapist makes eyes at Alexa and you just know at some point he's going to escape and begin stalking her!
So you can guess the spoiler. Nothing happens! Luke goes on trial, he gets found guilty, and he goes to jail for the rest of his life. I read the whole book waiting for Luke to bust loose, and in the end I felt just like Dragline, sobbing, when he sees Luke's fatally wounded body being driven away in an ambulance. . "You take care, Luke! You take care and we'll see you again! They's . . . going to be . . . some . . . WORLD . . . . SHAKING . . . Luke!"
The book that Danielle Steel actually wrote is unbelievably dull in comparison. Because of Luke, Alexa sends her daughter Savannah to stay with her father in Charleston. Alexa and Tom were once in love but now they hate each other. And Alexa hates the South. And that's the whole conflict! You could have had dozens, and dozens of situations Savannah got into in a southern high school, I mean like, mean girls, vicious cliques, racism, Bible thumping prudes . . . but all Danielle Steel has to say is that Savannah's step mother is a bitch. And it's really cute when little old ladies brag about being the daughters of Confederate generals. I mean, it's offensive, but at the same time you feel more sorry for Danielle Steel than anything else. Because this book is such a snoozer!
Did I just imagine the sexual tension between Alexa and Luke? Because that sure looked like where the book was going!
At first it looks like it's going to be something totally new for this author, like a very deadly suspense novel. Alexa is a tough lady prosecutor and they have a murderer named Luke who's a real bad ass -- a cross between Hannibal Lecter in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and the original "Luke" in COOL HAND LUKE. There's an almost palpable sexual tension when this murderer and rapist makes eyes at Alexa and you just know at some point he's going to escape and begin stalking her!
So you can guess the spoiler. Nothing happens! Luke goes on trial, he gets found guilty, and he goes to jail for the rest of his life. I read the whole book waiting for Luke to bust loose, and in the end I felt just like Dragline, sobbing, when he sees Luke's fatally wounded body being driven away in an ambulance. . "You take care, Luke! You take care and we'll see you again! They's . . . going to be . . . some . . . WORLD . . . . SHAKING . . . Luke!"
The book that Danielle Steel actually wrote is unbelievably dull in comparison. Because of Luke, Alexa sends her daughter Savannah to stay with her father in Charleston. Alexa and Tom were once in love but now they hate each other. And Alexa hates the South. And that's the whole conflict! You could have had dozens, and dozens of situations Savannah got into in a southern high school, I mean like, mean girls, vicious cliques, racism, Bible thumping prudes . . . but all Danielle Steel has to say is that Savannah's step mother is a bitch. And it's really cute when little old ladies brag about being the daughters of Confederate generals. I mean, it's offensive, but at the same time you feel more sorry for Danielle Steel than anything else. Because this book is such a snoozer!
Did I just imagine the sexual tension between Alexa and Luke? Because that sure looked like where the book was going!
February 26, 2024
I always love Danielle Steele, this book was a bit of a change in her normal writing. It was a book that was one I didn't put down until I finished it. She has her main character as a
woman who fleed the South eleven years ago when she felt her ex husband had betrayed her and his family and friends were mean to her once she was no longer associated with a southern family. She runs to Manhattan and becomes an assistant D. A. where she lives with her daughter and is assigned to a criminal case where her daughter receives threatening letters. In order to continue with the case and get this criminal behind bars where he belongs she must ship her daughter to her ex husband to Charleston to live with him and his ex wife who hates her and her daughter. Life is not easy for any of them, but things do change their lives and I am not going to say any more as I don't want to spoil it. I liked where she went with the story and how she wrapped it up. Not like you might think she would which was a great change. I really liked the book, the plot, the characters were realistic and I liked the ending.
Pick this one up if you like Danielle Steele you won't be disappointed in this one!
woman who fleed the South eleven years ago when she felt her ex husband had betrayed her and his family and friends were mean to her once she was no longer associated with a southern family. She runs to Manhattan and becomes an assistant D. A. where she lives with her daughter and is assigned to a criminal case where her daughter receives threatening letters. In order to continue with the case and get this criminal behind bars where he belongs she must ship her daughter to her ex husband to Charleston to live with him and his ex wife who hates her and her daughter. Life is not easy for any of them, but things do change their lives and I am not going to say any more as I don't want to spoil it. I liked where she went with the story and how she wrapped it up. Not like you might think she would which was a great change. I really liked the book, the plot, the characters were realistic and I liked the ending.
Pick this one up if you like Danielle Steele you won't be disappointed in this one!
December 4, 2009
I read and loved Danielle Steele 20 years ago and really enjoyed her books. I haven't for many years now. I keep going back thinking maybe this book will be better. Southern Lights was easy to read but there was little substance to it and, I don't know if it's just me, but the author repeats herself much too much. She can say the same thing in one paragraph 4 times! This storyline had so much more potential. I was disappointed.
March 1, 2017
I always love Danielle Steele:) this book was a bit of a change in her normal writing. It was a book that was one I didn't put down until I finished it. She has her main character as a woman who fled the South eleven years ago when she felt her ex husband had betrayed her and his family and friends were mean to her once she was no longer associated with a southern family. She runs to Manhattan and becomes an assistant D. A. where she lives with her daughter and is assigned to a criminal case where her daughter receives threatening letters. In order to continue with the case and get this criminal behind bars where he belongs she must ship her daughter to her ex husband to Charleston to live with him and his ex wife who hates her and her daughter. Life is not easy for any of them, but things do change their lives and I am not going to say any more as I don't want to spoil it;)Zzzziippp I liked where she went with the story and how she wrapped it up.I enjoyed it thoroughly:)) hope you all enjoy as much as I did ;)
June 3, 2015
In 32 years of my life I've never read a single book by Danielle Steel. Yes, there. I made the confession.
So I thought that this one, given the decent rating, would be a suitable place to start.
Maybe I waited too long and grew out of the target audience that Danielle Steel is writing for. Maybe my life is too busy to spare a few hours for a book that I'll never remember after finishing.
Writing was very poor and unimaginative. Why does the writer need to say that "Alex spoke eloquently for a few minutes" instead of giving her opening paragraph and letting the readers decide for themselves?
The mystery part of the storyline (a serial rapist and murderer being convicted) is not explored at all. There is no character development. We are told that Louise is mean and evil and nothing in story allows us to study her character more. Saravannah is sweet and smart and she is that way throughout the book.
What's the point?
So I thought that this one, given the decent rating, would be a suitable place to start.
Maybe I waited too long and grew out of the target audience that Danielle Steel is writing for. Maybe my life is too busy to spare a few hours for a book that I'll never remember after finishing.
Writing was very poor and unimaginative. Why does the writer need to say that "Alex spoke eloquently for a few minutes" instead of giving her opening paragraph and letting the readers decide for themselves?
The mystery part of the storyline (a serial rapist and murderer being convicted) is not explored at all. There is no character development. We are told that Louise is mean and evil and nothing in story allows us to study her character more. Saravannah is sweet and smart and she is that way throughout the book.
What's the point?
July 9, 2016
قد لا يبدو لك أي وجود اي شيء مثالي في الحياة لكنك تستطيع ان تجعل حياتك مثالية..
برغم مرر 10 سنوات،لم تنسي الام كيف هجرها الزوج هي وابنتها وكأنه حدث بالأمس.
تجبرها ظروف العمل علي ارسال ابنتها الي ابيها بعض الوقت للحفاظ علي سلامتها،توقعت الابنة ان تتحقق اسوأ كوابيسها بأن تعيش مع زوجة ابيها في منزل واحد لفترة ليست بالقصيرة.
استطاعت الابنة التعامل مع التحديات بطريقة جيدة وسارت الامور بأفضل مما توقعت،وعلي جانب الام مساعدة النائب العام استطاعت انهاء القضية كأفضل ما يكون،لتنتهي الفترة العصيبة في حياة هذه الاسرة بسلام،والاهم التغلب علي الذكري المؤلمة منذ 10سنوات واستئناف حياتها..
برغم تشابه بعض الشخصيات مع شخصيات من رواياتها الاخري وكأنها قالب واحد،إلا ان لكل رواياتها طابعها المميز..تكرار بعض المعلومات بشكل مكثف اعتبره مملا لكنها الطبيعة الانسانية التفكير في الامر مرارا وتكرارا..انهاء الرواية دائما بالنهاية المثالية قد يقتل عامل الغموض الا انها تحمل في ثناياها قيم انسانية رائعة..
محبي الاعمال الدرامية والنهايات السعيدة ستكون الكاتبة هي الاختيار الامثل لهم..
برغم مرر 10 سنوات،لم تنسي الام كيف هجرها الزوج هي وابنتها وكأنه حدث بالأمس.
تجبرها ظروف العمل علي ارسال ابنتها الي ابيها بعض الوقت للحفاظ علي سلامتها،توقعت الابنة ان تتحقق اسوأ كوابيسها بأن تعيش مع زوجة ابيها في منزل واحد لفترة ليست بالقصيرة.
استطاعت الابنة التعامل مع التحديات بطريقة جيدة وسارت الامور بأفضل مما توقعت،وعلي جانب الام مساعدة النائب العام استطاعت انهاء القضية كأفضل ما يكون،لتنتهي الفترة العصيبة في حياة هذه الاسرة بسلام،والاهم التغلب علي الذكري المؤلمة منذ 10سنوات واستئناف حياتها..
برغم تشابه بعض الشخصيات مع شخصيات من رواياتها الاخري وكأنها قالب واحد،إلا ان لكل رواياتها طابعها المميز..تكرار بعض المعلومات بشكل مكثف اعتبره مملا لكنها الطبيعة الانسانية التفكير في الامر مرارا وتكرارا..انهاء الرواية دائما بالنهاية المثالية قد يقتل عامل الغموض الا انها تحمل في ثناياها قيم انسانية رائعة..
محبي الاعمال الدرامية والنهايات السعيدة ستكون الكاتبة هي الاختيار الامثل لهم..
September 10, 2016
Gosto muito dos livros de Danielle Steel, e este não foi exceção. Penso que na verdade foi uma das autoras que me cativou quando comecei a ler romances, há muitos anos atrás.
December 31, 2022
Malo pero malo malo, fome, repetitivo que podria tener la mitad de hojas, sin sentido ni giros en la historia, y machista
April 27, 2017
Alexa Hamilton married the man she thought was her dream man until he showed her how weak he was. He allowed his mother and his ex-wife to break up his marriage to Alexa. His ex-wife had had left him and their two young sons for seven years to marry a man of wealth. After the man died, the ex-wife decided she wanted her ex-husband and sons back, and her mother-in-law agreed with her because Alexa wasn’t a southern belle. Alexa’s ex-husband divorced her making the daughter they created together fatherless.
The decision to give Southern Lights four stars was a challenge because I felt some of the characters were under developed; however, after thinking about it, I realized the book was about the life of the main character and not the others.
What I liked about the story was the main character was never a victim but always stood her ground and made her way without any excuses. She stood on her integrity and strength to succeed. She made good decisions concerning the safety of her daughter putting aside the differences she had with her ex-husband. Nick Podehl didn't disappoint in his storytelling.
The decision to give Southern Lights four stars was a challenge because I felt some of the characters were under developed; however, after thinking about it, I realized the book was about the life of the main character and not the others.
What I liked about the story was the main character was never a victim but always stood her ground and made her way without any excuses. She stood on her integrity and strength to succeed. She made good decisions concerning the safety of her daughter putting aside the differences she had with her ex-husband. Nick Podehl didn't disappoint in his storytelling.
January 10, 2011
The initial plot was good and I thought the story was interesting as it started out. As it progressed, it seemed like the author (was it really DS writing it?) became anxious to just finish it up. Rather than describing the action, it was more like a listing of events without embellishment. It was filled with angst and became repetitive which soon grew tiresome. I kept on reading but felt the last pages were just a quick way to end the book.
February 7, 2017
I think this was the first Danielle Steel book I have ever read. And probably the last. I wasn't impressed at all. I was expecting suspense and maybe even a twist or turn, but there was none of that. Except for maybe in the first chapter or so when the serial killer gets caught. The writing was good and kept me engaged during a long drive so I'm giving the book two stars.
September 14, 2018
Well, I only made it to chapter six before I had to return it. I just couldn't put myself through that torture voluntarily. I really loved my grandmother, but I cannot connect with her love for The Steel.
June 6, 2016
Masterfully told? That sounds quite strong. It's a funny exercise looking back on this author's books that I have read but not reviewed or rated.
February 25, 2014
3.5 Stars!
I have been traveling a lot, so I listened to the audio of this book. I really enjoyed it.
I have been traveling a lot, so I listened to the audio of this book. I really enjoyed it.
May 11, 2017
I kept waiting for something to happen. It never did.
October 14, 2018
Omg this book was amazing and not like an book I have read before!!! :D Amazing!
May 28, 2019
This book started off really good, but then it slowed way down and was very predictable.
February 9, 2023
Scary parts, but good story.
June 5, 2017
My first Danielle Steel book was The Gift and it was a 5 star. Steel writes books about family bonds that deal with themes that touch many pressing issues of life which make her book universal. I personally love such books. It fascinates me to read how people handle big life decisions and conquer their fears and come out stronger and brighter than before!
About the book:
39 year old Alexa Hamilton is a tough lady prosecutor and a single mom of a 17 year old , Savannah. Tom Beaumont from Charleston, South Carolina has been once married to Alexa. But when his first wife returns to him he leaves Alexa and Savannah. Heartbroken Alexa moves to New York along her daughter with a resolution to never look back at South again. The story opens when Alexa gets a case of a serial killer who is charged of raping and first degree murder of young women. Savannah receives some threatening letters which are hard to ignore. Alexa links these letters to the case she's working on and gets alert. When these letters don't stop, to protect her daughter, she has no choice left but to send Savannah to South to her father, Tom and his wife who hates Savannah. Savannah reluctantly goes to Charleston with her dad. But her visit to Charleston for four months marks a turning point in Alexa’s and Savannah’s life.
My views:
The story started out strongly and the initial plot was interesting. Alexa is intelligent and turns out to be a strong character. However, I feel the writing is repetitive at some parts. I kept waiting for the sociopath serial killer to do something but nothing spectacular happens. Everything is easy breezy. Everyone loves everyone except for Tom's wife whose heart is made of rock. Still there are a few happy family moments in this book which you'll want to steal for your own life. But this book lacks the one element which the reader expects after reading the initial plot: SUSPENSE.
I was expecting a lot more from Steel after reading ‘The Gift’(it is one of my favorite) but this book did not meet my expectation. And I’m disappointed!
About the book:
39 year old Alexa Hamilton is a tough lady prosecutor and a single mom of a 17 year old , Savannah. Tom Beaumont from Charleston, South Carolina has been once married to Alexa. But when his first wife returns to him he leaves Alexa and Savannah. Heartbroken Alexa moves to New York along her daughter with a resolution to never look back at South again. The story opens when Alexa gets a case of a serial killer who is charged of raping and first degree murder of young women. Savannah receives some threatening letters which are hard to ignore. Alexa links these letters to the case she's working on and gets alert. When these letters don't stop, to protect her daughter, she has no choice left but to send Savannah to South to her father, Tom and his wife who hates Savannah. Savannah reluctantly goes to Charleston with her dad. But her visit to Charleston for four months marks a turning point in Alexa’s and Savannah’s life.
My views:
The story started out strongly and the initial plot was interesting. Alexa is intelligent and turns out to be a strong character. However, I feel the writing is repetitive at some parts. I kept waiting for the sociopath serial killer to do something but nothing spectacular happens. Everything is easy breezy. Everyone loves everyone except for Tom's wife whose heart is made of rock. Still there are a few happy family moments in this book which you'll want to steal for your own life. But this book lacks the one element which the reader expects after reading the initial plot: SUSPENSE.
I was expecting a lot more from Steel after reading ‘The Gift’(it is one of my favorite) but this book did not meet my expectation. And I’m disappointed!
April 21, 2021
I did not like it. I liked the gist of the story. It started of w a murder's pov. And then Alexa's pov. And the whole story, literally 80% of it was about her daughter's life and the ending about Alexa. Which is cool, but I didn't know where this was going. I first got full on excited thinking, oh dang it's a mystery. And then I'm like okay cool now it's very warm and country side vibes and I love that but where was the story actually going. That was crazy. Luisa was crazy "bless her heart" Tom was pathetic. I loved both grandmothers and daisy. And what happened to Jack. Sigh. I was expecting more from a Danielle Steel book, and I'm sad that it was disappointing. I hope to read more of her books and probably fall in love. Hopefully.
January 22, 2024
Wow. This is the most pointless book I’ve ever read. 400 pages of nothing. Literally there is no plot at all. Nothing at all happens. Nothing. I’m not even kidding. And all works out so good. Everyone is so nice and straight forward and has a 1 dimension personality. Omg.
There is nothing wrong with it it’s just…how is this lady so famous? Did I just have bad luck and read the lamest of her books or what?
I feel like laughing and I’m so confused. It’s like a feel good sequence of events.
All good. All lovely. All fit together perfectly and people just loves each other and all is flowers and rainbows.
There is nothing wrong with it it’s just…how is this lady so famous? Did I just have bad luck and read the lamest of her books or what?
I feel like laughing and I’m so confused. It’s like a feel good sequence of events.
All good. All lovely. All fit together perfectly and people just loves each other and all is flowers and rainbows.
December 27, 2011
It's been a long time since I read a book by Danielle Steel. Maybe my tastes have changed, but I found it a disappointing read.
As a writer, I've been hounded to "show, don't tell." Well, Southern Lights is mostly telling. There's also a big deal about some anonymous letters that gets glossed over. In fact, there's many plot points that hook the reader and then disappoint.
I finished it because I liked the characters and could skip over huge sections of the book without missing a thing.
But it will be a long time before I pick up a Danielle Steel book again.
As a writer, I've been hounded to "show, don't tell." Well, Southern Lights is mostly telling. There's also a big deal about some anonymous letters that gets glossed over. In fact, there's many plot points that hook the reader and then disappoint.
I finished it because I liked the characters and could skip over huge sections of the book without missing a thing.
But it will be a long time before I pick up a Danielle Steel book again.
March 21, 2017
I enjoyed this book. The pace is different from Danielle Steel's other novels, but her east-to-read writing style remains the same. I really like the mother-daughter dynamic that Steel portrays in the two main characters. Some parts of the descriptions are repetitive, but overall, it was a good read.
April 25, 2020
It's been YEARS since I've read Danielle Steele. This one wasn't about the case much, it was more about moving on from past woes and reuniting with family and the south. Interesting stuff and well written. Happy endings abound. The mystery part felt kind of cheap, though, and NOTHING is ever resolved with a certain occurance other than a plot device to send Savannah away.
October 23, 2017
Loved it! Wanted the story to just keep going!
November 30, 2017
Predictable easy read from this author
August 15, 2020
First (and last) Danielle Steel book I've read. I could write this stuff. Set ups are left dangling then end unfulfilled.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 626 reviews