sunset in st. tropez by danielle steel

Title: Sunset in St. Tropez
Author: Danielle Steel
Pages: 213
Rating: 3.5/5

Summary (Goodreads):

As Diana Morrison laid the table for six at her elegant Central Park apartment, there was no warning of what was to come. Spending New Year’s Eve together was a sacred tradition for Diana, her husband of thirty-two years, Eric, and their best friends, Pascale and John Donnally and Anne and Robert Smith. The future looked rosy as the long-time friends sipped champagne and talked of renting a villa together in the South of France the following summer. But life had other plans.

Just two weeks after New Year’s, tragedy strikes the heart of their close circle, as Robert Smith suffers a sudden, unexpected loss. Without hesitation, Diana and Eric, Pascale and John rally to his side, united in their support, love, and shared grief. Convinced that a change of scenery is just what Robert needs, they urge him to join them on the Riviera in August. But as they soon discover, the ramshackle old mansion they rented in St. Tropez--sight unseen--is far different from the exquisite villa and sun-drenched gardens touted in the brochure. Cobwebs hang from the ceiling. Beds collapse beneath them. All while a would-be housekeeper in a leopard-skin bikini and six-inch heels sashays through the house with a trio of yapping poodles at her heels.

But the biggest surprise of all is the woman Robert invites to the villa as his guest--a lovely, much-younger film actress with mile-long legs and a million-dollar smile. Diana and Pascale hate her on sight. But the men are dazzled. And amid the crumbling furniture and the glorious sunsets, the strained relationships and the acts of forgiveness, more surprises are in store for the villa’s occupants. With the last days of summer fast approaching, each couple finds themselves changing in unexpected ways, as old wounds are healed, new love discovered, and miracles unfold.

My Review:

Well, after quite sometime, I'm off to read a contemporary fiction. And I choose to re-read Danielle Steel. I always love her works, well, most of them. Honestly, I don't know why I picked this one instead of other book.

I must say that this was quick and easy read. However, there was not one character that I found myself really invested in. Generally when I read Danielle Steel I become emotionally wrapped up in the story's central character and again, most of the time. The thing is, there were too many main characters which I did not get the feeling of connection that I usually do. Sometime I'm forgetting who is actually who.

But of course, Steel simple elaboration on her storyline made me easy to understand and enjoyed. Although 3 couples (6 main character?) are a lot to cover. What really made me interested to read the book is actually the story itself (obviously?). It's a story of 3 married couples/ best friends like 30+ years and I've never read about senior citizens love story. I mean, have you ever read a book that has 50-60 years old main characters? Well, this is my first time or maybe I forgot if I actually had. They are condensed with exciting friendship relation to each of them. And what I like most, they are so believable and so true. I wish I would have best friends like them (like till I grow very old and they still there when I need them). Of course, there were ups and downs in their marriages. That's the story all about anyway in St. Tropez.

All in all, this is not her best books but still, I feel a loyalty and obliged to reading her books. I keep them to the side until a sudden urge comes over me to read one. I know it really sound corny but it's true. This was one of her books that I enjoyed. This book probably a good, quick and easy read to kill some time =)

p/s: Is it true that EVERYBODY reads Danielle Steel? It's like it's written on each of her books.