Product Description

India Taylor lived in a world of manicured lawns and neatly-maintained calendars. With four wonderful children, India believed in commitment and sacrifice, just as she believed in Doug, the man she had married seventeen years before. She had chosen this life, not the award-winning career as a photojournalist she once had, and it was a choice she had never regretted - until she began to regret it with all her heart. India couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when the price of the sacrifices she she'd made began to seem high. But when she met Paul Ward, a Wall Street tycoon married to a bestselling author, India could share her dreams with him, and offer comfort when he suffered a heartbreak of his own. India hadn't planned to become Paul's friend, and anything more was unthinkable.When Paul urged India to reclaim her career, Doug was adamantly against it, determined to keep her tied to the home. But with Paul's encouragement India slowly, painfully, began to break free and find herself again. "Bittersweet" is India's story, a story of freedom, of having dreams and making choices. With unerring insight, Danielle Steel has created a moving portrait of a woman who dares to embark on a new adventure. Her painful, exhilarating journey inspires us all.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139987 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Like the rest of her novels, Steele's 46th testifies to the insatiable appetite for unrequited love and the success of TVs Life Styles of the Rich and Famous. Meet India Taylor, the coulda-woulda-shoulda been a Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist if it wasn't for her meddling husband. Although they met in the Peace Corps 20 years prior, Doug insisted she put down the camera, pick up a broom and raise four kids in the comfy Connecticut 'burbs. However, after 17 years of carpooling, Little League and Doug's revelation that he's happy with a platonic marriage, India moves on to greener pastures. She finds her cash cow in the form of Paul Ward, aka "Lion of Wall Street" who has a yacht called the "Sea Star," and likes to coo such things as "I think I'm a little crazy, but I love you." Although he may be senile and she is still married, the duo seems destined for each other as Paul slowly helps India reclaim her past and follow her passion. Even though Steele has an inordinate fondness for beginning sentences with "And," Bittersweet is packed with more name-dropping and glamour icons that Robin Leach could meet in a year.

From the Back Cover
A story of freedom - of having dreams and making choices.

India Taylor lived in a neatly maintained world of manicured lawns, piano lessons and Cape Cod summer vacations. With four wonderful children, India believed in commitment and sacrifice, just as she believed in Doug, the man she had married seventeen years before. She had chosen this life instead of the award-winning career as a photojournalist she once had, and it was a choice she had never regretted - until now.

India couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when the price of the sacrifices she'd made began to seem high. But when she met Paul Ward, a Wall Street tycoon married to a bestselling author, India could share her dreams with him, and offer comfort when he suffered a heartbreak of his own. India hadn't planned to become Paul's friend, and anything more was unthinkable. When Paul urged India to reclaim her career, Doug was adamantly against it, determined to keep her tied to the home. But with Paul's encouragement India slowly, painfully, began to break free and find herself again.

Bittersweet is India's story. With unerring insight, Danielle Steel has created a moving portrait of a woman who dares to embark on a new adventure. Her painful, exhilarating journey inspires us all.

About the Author
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 530 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Second Chance, Ransom, Safe Harbour, Johnny Angel, Dating Game, Answered Prayers, Sunset in St. Tropez, 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. For more information about Danielle Steel and her books, visit her website at www.daniellesteel.com

Customer Reviews

The true escapism of every romantic reader
Another magical and irresistible book by my favourite author Danielle Steel. This captures the imagination yet again in a truly realistic situation that many wives have encountered I am sure. India was strong enough to turn the tables on Doug and escape to a new and wonderful adventure with Paul. I wanted the story to continue into the future but with Danielle's books the endings are always left to our own feelings and imaginations, leaving us somewhat drained of emotions.

Was it for the money?
Generally speaking I like Danielle Steel books. They're easy to read and a pleasant way to while away a couple of hours even if they're, for the most part, not particularly thought provoking nor taxing to the brain. This book however is repetetive, overly and unncessarily long and just seems to meander towards a predictable finale.
Try Kaleidoscope or Wings for a far more satisfying read.

Bitter disappointment
Easily one of Danielle's weakest books to date. Whilst a book must be an escape from reality, this books is so unbelievable that it beggars belief! It seems like she wrote this in a rush and didn't bother to do proper research. I mean, tigers in Africa - come off it Danielle!!! (Where the heroine is in Africa and has to watch out for tigers). And how on earth can a woman in her mid 40's look like her little boys older sister! Of course, just at her lowest point, a man is waiting in the wings for her, his wife conveniently dying a few chapters back. This book was boring and predicatable. If you want to read a good Danielle Steele book, try Wings, Silent Honour or Message from Nam instead. Don't bother with this one.