Answered Prayers By Danielle Steel (Book Review)

Svelte, intelligent, affluent and wholesomely good looking, that was what the world perceived Faith Madison to be. At forty-seven, the New Yorker seemed to have it all, a successful husband at the pinnacle of his merchant banking career, a beautiful home and two beautiful daughters who were both advancing their respective careers.

Steel’s heartwarming tale unravels in the first chapter that Faith is a lonely woman with a disturbing past and that she is still mourning her best friend and brother Jack, who has died three years ago. The brother-sister duo had forged an inseparable bond since childhood after Faith revealed her secret to him. And he had taken her secret to his grave. I think that this secret should have been revealed later on in the novel to assist in the creation of a twist and it is this that adds to the overall predictability of Steel’s tale.

Faith’s husband Alex, is emotionally unattached and distant, much like her militant-like stepfather had been. Alex is psychologically abusive, often resorting to emotional blackmail when Faith disagrees with his self centered motives.

The tale picks up its pace when Faith attends her stepfathers’ funeral and reacquaints herself with her and Jack’s dear childhood friend, Brad Patterson. Faith is suffering a bad case of empty nest syndrome as both her daughters are away at college and expresses to Brad her heartfelt desire to return to law school. Brad, a married father of twin boys is practicing criminal law and changing the lives of youth, much to his overbearing lawyer wife’s chagrin.

Tensions run high between Faith and Alex when Faith is adamant about preparing for her LSAT exam and returning to law school. However, Zoe, her youngest daughter and Brad support Faith’s academic decision.

Being the emotionally blackmailer to note, Alex attests his infidelity to Faiths’ need for a career other than her role as his wife. He also tries to poison their oldest daughter, Eloise against her mother.

Faith’s life becomes tumultuous very quickly when Alex demands a divorce and tries to evict her. She holds onto her sanity through her faith in God and rekindled friendship with Jack, who has become her rock in the midst of her tribulations. Brad is unhappy in his marriage and the two characters often turn to the church, prayer and each other to find peace and comfort in their turbulent lives. They realize that they have fallen in love, though neither wants to admit it.

Disaster strikes Brad’s family when one of his twin sons is injured in Africa. This incident painfully reveals to Brad the revelation that his marriage is finally over.

The plot moves along expeditiously from the second half and is engaging from its’ exposition to its’ denouement. Although utterly predictable, it is a warm tale of adversity, faith, strength, love, answered prayers and ultimate triumph.