Nine Lives by Danielle Steel – a Review

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Description:
After a carefree childhood, Mary Margaret Kelly came of age in the shadow of grief. Her father, a dashing daredevil Air Force pilot, died when she was nine. Maggie saw her mother struggle to put their lives back together. As the family moved from one city to the next, her mother warned her to beware of daredevil men and avoid risk at all cost.

Following her mother’s advice, and forgoing the magic of first love with a high school boyfriend who was too wild to feel safe, Maggie instead sought out all the things her mother had lost–a predictable partner, a stable home, and a regular paycheck. She chose to marry a dependable, kind man who was a reliable husband and successful accountant. Together they had a son and found happiness in a conventional suburban life. Until tragedy struck again.

Now on her own, feeling a sense of adventure for the first time, Maggie decides to face her fears, setting off on a whirlwind trip from San Francisco to Rome, Paris, and Monaco. But when her travels reconnect her with the very same irresistible, thrill-seeking man she’s spent thirty years trying to forget, Maggie becomes terrified that rushing into love and sharing his life may very well end in disaster. But ultimately, while Maggie tries to outrun her fears and painful memories of her past, fate will surprise her in the most astounding of ways, as she walks the tightrope between danger and courage, and between wisdom and love.

Review:

Nine Lives by Danielle Steel is a stand-alone Women’s Fiction novel. Mary Margaret Kelly (Maggie) is our heroine, and the story totally focuses on her life. When she was 9 years old, she lost her Air force pilot father to a plane crash, and a few years later lost her brother to another plane crash.  Maggie’s mother constantly tells her to never become involved with wild daredevil men, who are risk takers and will cause terrible heartache.  Her mother remarried to a simple kind man, who had a safe job catering; but after the loss of her son, she mother slowly died of a broken heart. 

When Maggie gets a job working at an accountant office, she will eventually marry Brad, a kind and wonderful husband, who takes over the business from his father.  She is happy in her safe life with Brad, and adores her young son, Aden.   Years later, when on a vacation, there is plane crash, with Maggie surviving, but Brad drowning; Maggie is now a widow, with her teenage son.  Maggie is shocked to learn that Brad had a large insurance policy, and the airline paid her a huge sum of money, making her very rich, which she will keep private.  While in morning for Brad, her neighbor friend visits her to help her get out of her grief and begin to move on with her life; convincing her to take a trip somewhere where she has never gone to, and enjoy the change of scenery.  With Aden going away to college, Maggie decides to plan her trip, which will take her on a wonderful journey to San Francisco, Rome, Paris, Monaco & London.  It was really nice to see all the places in Europe that Maggie visited, with Steel giving us wonderful glimpses on many landmark sites. Nicely done.

One night Maggie visits a casino, and to her surprise, someone calls out to her.  She is shocked to see Paul, her high school sweetheart from 30 years ago, whom she broke off with, since he was a ‘risk taker’. Paul Gilmore is now a famous race car driver, as well as an expert risky skier; who loves his thrill-seeking life.   The two rekindle their friendship, as he takes her to his yacht, where she enjoys the sun, food, ocean and company, as well as seeing his homes.  When she returns to America, she tells her friend and her son about Paul, saying they are only friends, even if Paul still has strong feelings for Maggie. 

What follows is a sweet romance between Maggie and Paul, with Aden finding himself liking Paul a lot (since he loves the same things that Paul does).  Maggie spends her free time meeting Paul in Europe, but she knows he still takes awful risks in racing cars and skiing, with him teasing her that he has “nine lives”.  After an accident, where Paul is hurt, she realizes this is exactly what she was afraid of; but once he is well again, he does resume his events, which brings fears to Maggie again.  When a major avalanche threatens Paul’s life, she brings him home to Chicago to take care of him.  Will Maggie stay with Paul, if he returns to his thrill-seeking days?  Will Paul give up his life style?   

Nine Lives was a wonderful story that was very well written by Danielle Steel.  This is story of a women who played it safe all her life, and finds herself between fears, courage or a love and safe. I wholly suggest you read Nine Lives.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher