Ottumwa Public Library

Library Journal Review

Young architect Annie Ferguson's life is turned upside down when her sister and brother-in-law die in a plane crash. Aunt Annie suddenly becomes the guardian of her sister's three young children and, at the expense of her love life, spends the next several years raising them and establishing herself as an architect. Once the kids (a fashion magazine editor, a law student, and an art student) are of adult age, Annie struggles to let them make their own decisions and mistakes. She also tries to let romance back into her life by way of a handsome TV news anchor. Verdict After Steel sums up 16 years in less than 20 pages, she slows down and allows the reader to become somewhat invested in the characters' lives. Although it's predictable at times (OK, most of the time), this modern-day novel is not an unpleasant way to spend a few hours, thanks to the various characters and story lines. When it comes to Danielle Steel books, public libraries know what to do (i.e., buy multiple copies. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/10.]-Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.