Lightning

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Howard McGillin

As a partner at one of New York's most prestigious law firms, Alexandra Parker barely manages to juggle husband, career, and the three-year-old child she gave birth to at forty. But Alex feels blessed with her life and happy marriage--until lightning strikes her. Suddenly a routine medical check-up turns her world upside down when tests reveal shattering news.

Sam Parker is a star venture capitalist, a Wall Street whiz kid, and is as proud of his longtime marriage to Alex as he is of his successful career. As a major player in New York's financial world, Sam is used to being in control--until he is caught off guard by Alex's illness. Terrified of losing his wife and family, and haunted by ghosts from his past, Sam is unable to provide any kind of emotional support to Alex.

Unable to cope with her needs, Sam takes his distance from her, and almost overnight she and Sam become strangers. As lightning strikes them yet again, Sam's promising career suddenly explodes in disaster, and his very life and identity are challenged. With their entire future hanging in the balance, Alex must decide what she feels for Sam, if life will ever be the same for them again, or if she must move on without him.

What happens to people when every aspect of their lives and well-being is threatened? In Lightning, Danielle Steel tells the story of a family thrust into uncertainty and explores whether the bonds of love and marriage can withstand life's most unexpected bolts of lightning.

Critic reviews

Praise for Danielle Steel

“Steel is one of the best!”—Los Angeles Times

“Few modern writers convey the pathos of family and material life with such heartfelt empathy.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Steel pulls out all the emotional stops. . . . She delivers!”—Publishers Weekly

“What counts for the reader is the ring of authenticity.”—San Francisco Chronicle

WEAK and BAD ending

Very disappointed in the ending, I thought Alex was stronger than than this and overall deserved better.

Wonderful story

This was a beautiful story and well read by the narrator. Delightfully pleasing as are all of her books.

Great story

I can’t leave a comment. but I enjoyed the story. At first I was so angry at the husband.

painful read

This is a hard book to read..and this isn't the first time I have read it. Sam is a disgusting excuse of a human being...anyone who is capable of that kind of cruelty can never be trusted fully...if this was a real life story he would break her heart fully in the end and that is sad. This paints a picture of a very weak woman in my opinion. I will say that the book kept me hooked despite all that...just wish she would have made a different choice...which in all honesty should have been her learning to love herself by herself.

Sense of loyalty, sense of pain sense of no exceptions sense of forgiveness

Send injection acceptance, denial love forgiveness she writes beautifully. She’s just does such a magnificent job and her characters are also realistic. Wish they’d make a movie out of everyone of her books just love reading them