The House on Hope Street

Rating:
Summary: Another great read from Danielle Steel
Review: Like many of the other reviewers, I have and love all of Danielle Steel's earlier books. In the last few years, starting with The Klone and I, I became turned off by Ms.Steel's writing. In fact, I waited to read House on Hope Street and The Wedding until my name came up on the list at the library. Now, these two books will definitely be added to my collection. The House on Hope Street is a fast, easy, exciting read. I was in tears by page 61 and had to stop and put myself together. You actually feel the pain Liz has to deal with. You get wrapped up in her life, and by the end of the book, you can feel every emotion, good and bad. This book is a must for all of the early Danielle Steel book lovers.

Rating:
Summary: Another predictable story!
Review: I've always enjoyed Danielle Steel books, but the stories have become so predictable that I keep asking myself "why do I continue to read her books?" While I enjoyed reading many of her earlier books, I'm becoming more dis-illusioned with her writing. Her books have such a predictable cadence to them. They all "read" the same except that the storyline varies slightly! I read "House on Hope Street" on recommendation of friends and because of the online reviews. I thought maybe this book would be different. One thing that disappointed me was the length of the book ~ it is not a long book, barely over 200 pages, with large print! I'd really love to sink my teeth into a great book by Danielle Steel once again. Books like "The Ring", Jewels" and "Silent Honor" I'm still waiting!

Rating:
Summary: Love Story
Review: This book is a predictable love story, what we've all come to love about Danielle Steel's books. Perhaps we'd like a bit more UNpredictability, but most of the time I enjoy the story anyway. Reading a book like this makes you feel so thankful for what you have, that's always a good thing. It also makes you think that if anything bad were to befall you, you could probably survive. This wasn't her best book, but I thought it was decent. If you want to read a really great love story by Steel, check out: The Ring, To Love Again, Summers End, Answered Prayers & Passions Promise.

Rating:
Summary: A New Chapter...
Review: Ever wonder what would happen if you lost the person you love? Of course you do. We all do. The moment any of us are in a relationship and we realize that our lives are intertwined with another's, you start to notice that they have a responsibility to you... to your life. If they risk their lives, they risk yours as well... for if something happens to them, it happens to you.

Well, in "The House On Hope Street", Danielle Steel touches upon these feelings, worries, and thoughts that anyone who has ever loved another has had.

This is a simple story about a woman [Liz] who has the "Norman Rockwell" life. She has a loving husband, a blissful marriage of 18 years, five wonderful children, and a happy (almost a little too perfect) family. Her and her husband ran a successful family law practice and Liz had everything she ever wanted from life and felt her life would end just the way she envisioned. Then, one fateful Christmas day her perfectly painted life would be shredded when her husband [Jack] meets an early death as he left for, what was supposed to be, a ten minute trip back to the office.

Now, Liz finds herself barely keeping her head above water while simultaneously being both parents, raising five children (one with special needs), maintaining a two-person law practice, and trying to make it from one day to the next picking up the pieces of her shredded "Norman Rockwell" picture-perfect life.

Liz battles from one holiday to the next, trying to make it through life without Jack. Then, a new figure is painted into Liz's life when an accident with her oldest son, Peter, brings Dr. Bill Webster. As Bill mends her broken son, he also begins to inadvertently mend her broken heart... and ironically... Liz begins to unconsciously mend his as well.

Can Liz write a new chapter in her life... turning the pages with Jack and moving on from the past to begin a new chapter with unwritten pages involving Bill?

Can Bill find a way to overcome his past and find the courage to fight his fears and hesitations in order to find a new sense of peace and happiness with Liz and her children?

I gave the book 4 stars (3 for being a average book [and 3 is in-between 5] and an additional star for great characters).

"The House On Hope Street" is somewhat predicable. Ok, let's face it! If you read the synopsis on the book, you pretty much know how the book is going to turn out... at least... you think you do until you hit a couple of twists that may cause you to question (just for a moment) your precognition skills. If you own movies, then think about this: why buy a movie since you know how it's going to end because you most likely have seen it before? Even though we may know or have an idea of how something is going to end... sometimes experiencing the journey is still worth it. "The House On Hope Street" may be predictable... but it has GREAT characters (especially the children) and as predictable as the book may have been... it was still worth the journey.

Rating:
Summary: It was a good one, but definitely not her best
Review: Compared to Steel's other books, this one doesn't really measure up. It grabbed me at the beginning, but about halfway through it just seemed so repetitive that it was almost boring, and I usually love any of her books. I enjoyed reading it for the most part, but she has written much better. I think the problem was it was just too predictable and a typical plot that caused it to lack in the suspense that usually makes me enjoy reading Danielle Steel's novels.

Rating:
Summary: It really should be 3 stars but...
Review: The beginning of the book was excellent and then it tapered off towards the end. The House on Hope St, has tones of her earlier and much superior book "Accident", which I highly recommend. Pick it up for a good read, but realize as soon as she enters the relationship with the doctor, everything is textbook romance.

Rating:
Summary: good at first, but dissapointing at the end
Review: I bought this book to read on a flight home, so when i started reading it, I loved it and then i couldnt put it down. But then eventually the book just got really boring, when she met the doctor, and how everything was just repeaded, and the same problems over and over, and i really didnt like the ending, it didnt give me much to look forward to if she was to make a sequel to this book..this book was so so its good to read when your bored. But save your dollars for star and mixed blessings.

Rating:
Summary: Great at first but very disapointing at last
Review: This isn't really what people say it is.It's like I was reading "accident" all over again but with a diferent family.Life hurts and death more.Recovery from death is hard.Widows don't recover so fast and life isn't so easy when the one you love isn't returning.She tries to give Hope but theres something missing in this novel.Not good at all.

Rating:
Summary: A Favorite In my Book!
Review: I loved this book,I think I enjoyed it so much because you really got to know Liz & her children and you really feel for her and her family,Ive looked at many Danielle Steel books but never read them,well I picked this one up and now Im a big fan.Heres to more reading of her books for me!

Rating:
Summary: easy read
Review: Like many reviewers, when I read this book most of it seemed familiar, like I'd read the same story with other characters. The reason I'm giving this book three stars is because there were some things about the book I liked, and some I didn't.
First of all, no woman, not even a supermom, could manage five kids, and a heavy-load law practice by herself, with just a part time housekeeper. I also didn't think that the younger boy seemed handicapped, he seemed to actually be quite intelligent. I liked the character of the doctor at first, but then he runs out on her and ends the relationship just because her daughters are nasty to him because they're not over their father's death? And then he just suddenly shows up at the end of the book, like nothing happened! Also, I didn't feel like the author really finished the story, it seemed like it ended too soon.
On the plus side, however, I felt the author did an accurate portrayal of how the kids reacted to their mother dating again, I would expect in that situation that some would be for it, some against. I also liked the characters in the story, especially Peter. Liz's grief was also played out very realistically.
Overall, it's a good book to read if you need to pass some time but I wouldn't spend money on it.