Product Description

On a warm May night in San Francisco, a glittering, celebrity-studded crowd gathers for a charity event. Just minutes before midnight, the room begins to sway. Glass shatters, the lights go out, and people start to scream...In the earthquake's aftermath, the lives of four strangers will converge: Sarah Sloane, the beautiful wife of a financial star, watches her perfect world fall to pieces; Melanie Free, award-winning singer, comes to a turning point in her career; Everett Carson, a former war correspondent whose personal demons have demoted him to covering society parties, finds new purpose amid the carnage; and, Sister Maggie Kent, a nun who does her best work in jeans and trainers, searches through the rubble - and knows instantly that there is much work to be done. The city staggers back to life, and a chain reaction will touch each of the survivors as they find the amazing grace of new beginnings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #56218 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 544 pages

From the Inside Flap
The lives of four unforgettable characters collide in Danielle Steel's compelling new novel, as a shocking natural disaster transforms each of them forever, leading them on journeys of change and revelation, courage and grace . . .

On a warm May night in San Francisco, the Ritz-Carlton ballroom shimmers with crystal and silver as a glittering, celebrity-studded crowd gathers for a charity dinner dance. The evening is perfect - until, just minutes before midnight, the room begins to sway. Glass shatters. And as the lights go out, people begin to scream . . .

In the earthquake's aftermath, the lives of four strangers will converge . . Sarah Sloane, the beautiful wife of a financial whiz, watches her perfect world fall to pieces . . . Grammy-winning singer Melanie Free, the event's headliner, comes to a turning point in her life and career . . Photographer Everett Carson, a former war correspondent whose personal demons have demoted him to covering society parties, finds new purpose amid the carnage . . . and Sister Maggie Kent, a nun who normally works in jeans and high-tops with the homeless, searches through the rubble - and knows instantly that there is much work to be done . . .

As the city staggers back to life, a chain reaction of extraordinary events will touch each of the survivors . . . For Sarah, it begins with the discovery of a crime and a betrayal, then a strength she never knew she had. For Melanie, volunteering at a refugee camp will open new worlds of possibility. And Everett will be shaken by the unlikely relationship he forges with Maggie, who helps him rebuild his shattered life - and upends her own in the process. But as a year passes, and the anniversary of the earthquake approaches, more surprises are in store - as each discovers the unexpected gifts in a tragedy's wake . . and the amazing grace of new beginnings.

Throughout these enthralling pages, Danielle Steel creates a stunning array of contrasts - from the dazzle of a society benefit to the chaos of a makeshift hospital, from the pampered lives of rock stars to the quiet heroism of emergency volunteers. It is her most powerful and life-affirming novel to date.

From the Back Cover
On a warm May night in San Francisco, a glittering, celebrity-studded crowd gathers for a charity event. Just minutes before midnight, the room begins to sway. Glass shatters, the lights go out, and people start to scream....

In the earthquake's aftermath, the lives of four strangers will converge:

Sarah Sloane, the beautiful wife of a financial star, watches her perfect world fall to pieces.
Melanie Free, award-winning singer, comes to a turning point in her career.
Everett Carson, a former war correspondent whose personal demons have demoted him to covering society parties, finds new purpose amid the carnage.
Sister Maggie Kent, a nun who does her best work in jeans and trainers, searches through the rubble — and knows instantly that there is much work to be done.

The city staggers back to life, and a chain reaction will touch each of the survivors as they find the amazing grace of new beginnings.

About the Author
DANIELLE STEEL is one of the world's most popular authors, with over 560 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Bungalow 2, Sisters, H.R.H., Coming Out, The House, Toxic Bachelors, 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.

Customer Reviews

Promising synopsis, but disappointing
After a promising synopsis, "Amazing Grace" was a great disappointment.

The main characters are interesting enough: Beautiful socialite wife and mother Sarah happily married to finance wizard Seth. Megastar singer Melanie and her overpowering ambitious mother. Bright young redtop Sister Maggie, nurse and nun. And restless, rootless alcoholized (saved by the AA) former war correspondent Everett. During a major earthquake in San Francisco, the lives of these people are intertwined and their destinies changed forever.

There is surely enough material for a very interesting story when so many lives change direction. However, through Danielle Steel's pen only the surface is skimmed, the easiest and most likely solutions chosen. Most of what happens is given early in the book, and the lack of intrigue and digging deeper into the characters' minds and feelings make the book boring and predictable.

Even the earthquake itself, a disaster of huge dimensions, seems more like a well organized event than a tragedy craving the lives and homes of thousands. We are told what happens but somehow not convinced. Popstar Melanie's search for a meaningful life is a beautiful thought but somehow the convert does not ring through. Maggie's destiny is apparent the moment she meets Everett. The only hint of uncertainty regards Sarah and Seth's relationship. The book puts up the slightest questionmark, which allows for a tiny bit of page-turning in order to find out.

Having been a fan of Danielle Steel's for years, I know she can do better than this. She will certainly be back.

Entertaining start but sloppy finish....

I have been a fan of Steele's for years, and consider her books a guilty pleasure. So don't pick up one of her novels in hopes of reading the great literature. With that said I have to agree with the other reviewers that this is not her best effort. I give it three stars as if you're a fan you'll still want to read the book but it is going to leave you a little hungry. This time out the story revolves around a San Francisco bay are earth quake and how it effects the lives of three successful and of course beautiful woman. The story starts off strong and quickly pilled me in, but I thought it lost focus towards the end. The typical Steele Romance is there but I did not feel connected to the characters. This is one you may want to wait for paperback. Oh, for a quirky romance I have to recommend "Across the High Lonesome" don't judge this book by the cover!

filled with excitement, heartbreak and hope.
I picked up Amazing Grace by Danielle Steel, I had not expected it to be much more than a semi-interesting read. However, with every page turn, I became more and more attached to the novel's heroine, and actually found it very difficult to put the book down. Since reading this book, I have highly recommended it to all my girlfriends. It's a interesting look of a major disaster, about life, love and friendship filled with excitement, heartbreak and hope. I'd also recommend reading Tino Georgiou's bestselling novel--The Fates--if you haven't yet!!