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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
Blessing in Disguise is an intriguing tale. Isabelle McAvoy has led a unique life with her father and, thanks to his influence, pursues a degree in art history. Her degree and appreciation of art is what leads to her three very different men. I enjoyed the descriptions of the art in this book. Can you imagine being able to work with valuable, gorgeous paintings every day? The three men in Isabelle’s life are as different as Isabelle’s three daughters. Theo helps the underprivileged in India, Xela uses her MBA to come up with various business ventures in order to make it big and get rich, while Oona is happily married and lives in Tuscany with her husband and three children. I thought Blessing in Disguise was well-written and it proceeded at a steady pace. Danielle Steel has a fluid writing style that engages the reader. Blessing in Disguise begins with Isabelle in her 60s reflecting on her three girls and how she met their birth fathers. Isabelle and her family go through life facing their challenges head on and celebrating their successes. I like the strong female characters that are not without their flaws. While there are some expected elements in Blessing in Disguise, it did not detract from my reading pleasure. My favorite quote from the novel is “the good thing would never have happened without the bad thing first” which makes it “a blessing in disguise”. Reading a Blessing in Disguise is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon escaping from the world.
samstillreading's review
4.0
Danielle Steel is an author I know I can rely on for several things. One, a happy ending. Two, a story that won’t demand every brain cell I own. Three, a story that will be entertaining. So when I’m really busy, I like to read her books to escape into someone else’s world.
Blessing in Disguise is a great story, full of emotion and drama. The only thing I would caution against is reading too much of the back cover blurb if you like to be surprised as it tells you about half the plot! Like many of Danielle’s other stories, the central character is a strong woman. Isabelle hasn’t had the easiest of lives but she has three wonderful daughters who are completely different from each other. That’s probably not too surprising as each have different fathers. But before you get your own ideas about Isabelle, the story takes you back in time to her early twenties to where it all began. A wealthy and reclusive businessman, a young woman in Paris and a chemistry that can’t be denied. From that moment on, Isabelle’s life is full of highs and dramatic lows. (Danielle Steel certainly knows how to kill her darlings and later resurrect them from the ashes). It doesn’t end as the girls grow up, with her daughters having their own dramas and Isabelle experiencing a change of events that has the potential to destroy her livelihood. But there is one more secret that she has to reveal…
That description all sounds rather cryptic, but Danielle Steel is a master in taking her characters to the extremes of feelings. When you think that she couldn’t possibly go there, she does. The characters are all redeemable despite their mistakes – as the title says, it could have been a blessing in disguise. It would have been easy to write Isabelle off as a woman who made the same mistake too many times, but each of her experiences with the father of her daughters was unique, heartfelt and full of meaning. Sometimes things don’t turn out as you expect and for poor Isabelle, that happened a number of times. Yet she persevered and built a successful career and happy life. The overall theme of the book is that there is a silver lining in all clouds and never to write off a character! (Who knows when circumstances may give them the chance to redeem themselves).
Dramatic but ultimately happy is how I would describe Blessing in Disguise. It’s a light read, and surprisingly it contains next to none references to Downton Abbey (I get the feeling this is Danielle Steel’s favourite show)! It’s a comforting and familiar which is one of the reasons why she endears herself to so many readers.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Blessing in Disguise is a great story, full of emotion and drama. The only thing I would caution against is reading too much of the back cover blurb if you like to be surprised as it tells you about half the plot! Like many of Danielle’s other stories, the central character is a strong woman. Isabelle hasn’t had the easiest of lives but she has three wonderful daughters who are completely different from each other. That’s probably not too surprising as each have different fathers. But before you get your own ideas about Isabelle, the story takes you back in time to her early twenties to where it all began. A wealthy and reclusive businessman, a young woman in Paris and a chemistry that can’t be denied. From that moment on, Isabelle’s life is full of highs and dramatic lows. (Danielle Steel certainly knows how to kill her darlings and later resurrect them from the ashes). It doesn’t end as the girls grow up, with her daughters having their own dramas and Isabelle experiencing a change of events that has the potential to destroy her livelihood. But there is one more secret that she has to reveal…
That description all sounds rather cryptic, but Danielle Steel is a master in taking her characters to the extremes of feelings. When you think that she couldn’t possibly go there, she does. The characters are all redeemable despite their mistakes – as the title says, it could have been a blessing in disguise. It would have been easy to write Isabelle off as a woman who made the same mistake too many times, but each of her experiences with the father of her daughters was unique, heartfelt and full of meaning. Sometimes things don’t turn out as you expect and for poor Isabelle, that happened a number of times. Yet she persevered and built a successful career and happy life. The overall theme of the book is that there is a silver lining in all clouds and never to write off a character! (Who knows when circumstances may give them the chance to redeem themselves).
Dramatic but ultimately happy is how I would describe Blessing in Disguise. It’s a light read, and surprisingly it contains next to none references to Downton Abbey (I get the feeling this is Danielle Steel’s favourite show)! It’s a comforting and familiar which is one of the reasons why she endears herself to so many readers.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
bhunsberger's review against another edition
4.0
A friendly read about Isabelle and her three daughters - all with different personalities, goals, and histories. This story has its happy moments and sad moments, and moments of love and warmth.
adenise47's review against another edition
4.0
I usually enjoy Danielle Steel books. This book seemed like it way fast and skipped some important steps in life, is the only way I can explain it. It went way to fast for my liking.
crumbzia7's review against another edition
3.0
I mean... how good can a Danielle Steel book be???
That’s the real question. So... this was my first one, and it’s as cliche as anything ever.
But hey, I’m reading 2 others right now so...
No offense to her writing(which I would probably really enjoy myself because it seems like it would be really fun to do
That’s the real question. So... this was my first one, and it’s as cliche as anything ever.
But hey, I’m reading 2 others right now so...
No offense to her writing(which I would probably really enjoy myself because it seems like it would be really fun to do
kookie9200's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
Lately, I've found Ms. Steel to be extremely hit or miss. This one, unfortunately is a miss for me. I found that the novel had very little depth. Blessing in Disguise is the story of Isabelle and her 3 daughters, Theo, Xela and Oona. From there, it details the 3 daughters' differences ad nauseum. We know that each daughter is very much like her father, and very little like the mother that raised them. Basically, that was the biggest take away from this book, as it was repeated over and over and over, almost as if the text was just copied and pasted nearly verbatim from one section to the next.
I think that Isabelle is supposed to be a sympathetic character, but I didn't really agree. I found her to be weak and ineffectual, her life molded by the men in it. She martyrs herself after each daughter, and as a result, none of her girls have a good male role model.
Honestly, as quick a read as this was, it was only because of the repetition. I was able to skim whole pages and still stay abreast of what was happening. It felt more like the template of a book than a real novel with meat on it.
Lately, I've found Ms. Steel to be extremely hit or miss. This one, unfortunately is a miss for me. I found that the novel had very little depth. Blessing in Disguise is the story of Isabelle and her 3 daughters, Theo, Xela and Oona. From there, it details the 3 daughters' differences ad nauseum. We know that each daughter is very much like her father, and very little like the mother that raised them. Basically, that was the biggest take away from this book, as it was repeated over and over and over, almost as if the text was just copied and pasted nearly verbatim from one section to the next.
I think that Isabelle is supposed to be a sympathetic character, but I didn't really agree. I found her to be weak and ineffectual, her life molded by the men in it. She martyrs herself after each daughter, and as a result, none of her girls have a good male role model.
Honestly, as quick a read as this was, it was only because of the repetition. I was able to skim whole pages and still stay abreast of what was happening. It felt more like the template of a book than a real novel with meat on it.
cservat129's review against another edition
3.0
I became immersed in the Isabelle McAvoy from the first chapter of this book. Isabelle , at a young age goes to a Paris gallery as an intern, catches the eye of semi-recluse/millionaire Putnam Armstrong and falls in love. That is where Isabelle's fate is sealed, Putnam unable to deal with people for more than a month at a time refuses to become a full time father when Isabelle becomes pregnant. Now here is where I might say ughhh what a jerk! No Putnam is a gentle loving soul and quickly became my favorite character. Life goes on and Isabelle and Theo ( the daughter of Putnam) visit once a year for a month because Putnam cannot deal with the outside world or people for more than a month!
Beautiful Isabelle meets a jerk/con artist and has another baby but quickly banishes him from their lives. Isabelle becomes independent and successful in her own right and I loved that she does not need a man in her life to manage her daughters a business and every day life.
When Isabelle meets the love of her life Declan and has another baby, Oona, I breathe a sigh of relief for her but once again life happens and Isabelle is alone again. There are a few more developments in Isabelle's life and a shocking secret that she has hidden form her daughters.
This book was a nice escape for me and I did enjoy the sweeping saga of Isabelle, her romantic life and her daughters. Was it 100% realistic, no but it was a very enjoyable book to read.
.This review was originally posted on Fictional Reviewer
Beautiful Isabelle meets a jerk/con artist and has another baby but quickly banishes him from their lives. Isabelle becomes independent and successful in her own right and I loved that she does not need a man in her life to manage her daughters a business and every day life.
When Isabelle meets the love of her life Declan and has another baby, Oona, I breathe a sigh of relief for her but once again life happens and Isabelle is alone again. There are a few more developments in Isabelle's life and a shocking secret that she has hidden form her daughters.
This book was a nice escape for me and I did enjoy the sweeping saga of Isabelle, her romantic life and her daughters. Was it 100% realistic, no but it was a very enjoyable book to read.
.This review was originally posted on Fictional Reviewer
busyreading's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
Isabelle McIvoy is a young intern at an art gallery in Paris. It is here where she meets Putnam Armstrong. Putnam is a wealthy gentleman who is a gentle and kind individual and it’s not long before the pair begins to have strong feelings for one another.
When Isabelle discovers she is pregnant, she knows she must return to New York since she cannot marry Putnam. Once Isabelle is back in New York her life doesn’t get any easier, but can she turn it around to have the life she once dreamed of.
Danielle Steel is a popular writer and well known for writing great romance novels, which have been enjoyed by many readers including me. She use to be one of my favorite authors years ago, but not so much now and I’m not quite certain why. Maybe my reading tastes have altered a little over time. In saying that this book is nevertheless well worth reading. Recommended.
Isabelle McIvoy is a young intern at an art gallery in Paris. It is here where she meets Putnam Armstrong. Putnam is a wealthy gentleman who is a gentle and kind individual and it’s not long before the pair begins to have strong feelings for one another.
When Isabelle discovers she is pregnant, she knows she must return to New York since she cannot marry Putnam. Once Isabelle is back in New York her life doesn’t get any easier, but can she turn it around to have the life she once dreamed of.
Danielle Steel is a popular writer and well known for writing great romance novels, which have been enjoyed by many readers including me. She use to be one of my favorite authors years ago, but not so much now and I’m not quite certain why. Maybe my reading tastes have altered a little over time. In saying that this book is nevertheless well worth reading. Recommended.
neoo5's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
zia_corum's review against another edition
3.0
I mean... how good can a Danielle Steel book be???
That’s the real question. So... this was my first one, and it’s as cliche as anything ever.
But hey, I’m reading 2 others right now so...
No offense to her writing(which I would probably really enjoy myself because it seems like it would be really fun to do
That’s the real question. So... this was my first one, and it’s as cliche as anything ever.
But hey, I’m reading 2 others right now so...
No offense to her writing(which I would probably really enjoy myself because it seems like it would be really fun to do