Answered Prayers

Rating:
Summary: As good as the "old" Danielle Steel books!
Review: I used to read Danielle Steel years ago..her books were and are formula, of course. (Boy meets girl, Romance happens, trouble intervenes, trouble is resolved, happy ending). My former mother-in-law adores all of them and I send to her the audio tapes since at age 93 she can no longer read print. She gets much pleasure from the stories as I know thousands of women do.
The Palomino and Changes were two of my favorites. The plots and characters were so far removed from "normal" life that they were a great escape for me. I had to have my "fix" now and then. I stopped reading around the 45th book, I think.
Then I picked up this book mainly because of the title. It did resonate with me.
Faith Madison, a 47 year old woman trapped in a marriage with a man who no longer loves her, breaks away (her husband does her a favor and leaves her), goes back to law school, connects with her childhood friend, Brad Patterson, a Lawyer, and after many trials and tribulations, Faith and Brad finally begin their life together.
Part of the main character's story is my story. I believe one reads Ms. Steel knowing what she writes and not expecting great literature. I enjoyed the story...it gave to me what I was expecting to get from it... A happy ending and pleasure.
And if we receive from a book what we expect, then isn't it worth the time and the money spent?

Rating:
Summary: Become friends before you become lovers
Review: Reading "Answered Prayers" reminded of Ms. Steel's last book "The Dating Game".. It basically had to the same plot. An attractive middle-aged woman trying to hold on to her marriage and her family only to find out that her husband wants a new life without her because she boring, dull and willing to do things outside of the home. The character "Faith" goes through a lot of mental abuse throughout the story. She wants more to do since her children have grown up and applies to law school. But her husband feels that she is wasting her time. Thank goodness Faith has a strong, support behind her. Because is she didn't; she wouldn't have the strength to attend law school, stop her husband's abusing, brainwashing tatics on one of their daughters and to find love again with someone she has known all of her life.

Rating:
Summary: Wholesome story but come into the 21st Century Ms. Steel
Review: This was a generally entertaining light read. I really liked the wholesome story line and as a 20-something woman who still manages to find admirable a woman with principles and good character, the heroine, Faith, was easy to like.

I also appreciate that the author is willing to take on a heavy subject which actually makes the story more realistic and gives it more depth. The male character was also easy to like as well.

That said, it was slightly disappointing to have a seemingly well-traveled, talented story-teller (Mme. Steel), lazily employ such 18th century-esque descriptions of Africa. I had to check the front of the book for the copyright; it read 2002 not 1722. I mean come on Ms. Steel, "the natives" this, the "natives" that, at one point I felt some trepidation she might describe the Zambians as having tales, grunting and shouting "Ooga Booga".

Ms. Steel writes, I am assuming, for an international audience so it was disappointeing to read this portion of her book. I am not sure if such stereotyping is the result of unrecognized subconscious beliefs or what.

If she can describe the lovely rooms of Claridges in London with a fair degree of accuracy, it shouldn't be that much of an intellectual leap to do her research on the other geographic locales of her book.

All and all however, being the relatively open-minded person that I try to be, I will say that this was a good read. In light of all of the "morals in the trash" entertainment we have these days like the Bachelor, The Bachelorette, For Love or Money, etc., etc., grabbing a cup of herbal tea and turning the pages of this book certain makes for more pleasing entertainment.