I thought this book was the weirdest think I had ever set my eyes on. I was confused in the beginning and then I became bored with the whole story.

It was a great book. I loved every page of it. It portrays the family dynamics to which many of us can relate.

It may have seemed like the story went too fast; going from one phase to another in the relationships that were portrayed. I think the author meant for this to be a type of short story. It was not a long story that had time to go into details about people and events. The reader had to use her/his imagination in some parts of the book. We were not told about the many nights Robert cried for his wife even when he was falling in love with Gwen. When a person looses a love one, he/she learns real early how to laugh on the outside while crying on the inside in order to go on with life. One does not stop loving a deceased person with whom they have shared their life even after another person comes into the picture. Life does have to go on if one wants to be happy. The reader has to fill in a lot of holes left by the author.

I did have a problem with the maid and the way she dressed. I could not fit her into the schema of things. Her character was almost too much to believe; a little too far out. I would like to have seen some other character in the maid's role.

I loved the book very much. I have been reading Steel's books that she has written lately(1999-2002). I had been told that her earlier books were so much better so I decided to read one of the them. The story was hard to read sometimes because I became exasperated with Gillian letting a man treat her so badly. I kept waiting for her to turn on him and give him what he deserved. But, she hung in there in spite of his treatment towards her and she was happy. The ending was sad but moving.

I am rating this book on my likes and dislikes; not on the way the book was written. I feel odd rating this book no more than a 2 with all the 4s and 5s it has received. But, I did not enjoy reading the book. The story seemed to drag on and on going nowhere. I could predict every move that was made in the story. There were no surprises. I guess it just wasn't my type of reading. Others seemed to have loved it.

Very good Book:
John St.George shows us what can happen to a person who is on this earth only to fill his own ego, exercise his pride in himself and strive to please his father by measuring up to his father's expectations. He hurts everyone who gets in his path to get what he wants. In the end, Pam, Hillary, Cutter and Patricia show him where his evil, self-centered ways have gotten him.

Each character was developed very well. By the middle of the book, I felt I knew each of them in a personal way. Each had their strong points and their weak points; except for John. I never did find anything good about him unless one wants to count drive and ambition as an asset. Ambition is all right John just directed it the wrong way.

Temperance O'Neil is in her late 20s living in New York and has become somewhat of a celebrity with her work with battered and homeless women. She is from a wealthy family and Temperance's father has died. He left an inheritance to Temperance but she is not able to lay hands on it. Her mother, Melanie O'Neal, has remarried and the new stepfather, Angus McCairn, has control over Temperance's money, as was customary in that era. Temperance has to leave New York and go to Scotland with her mother and Angus because that is where he is from. She very much wants to return to NY, so Angus makes a deal with Temperance. He has a nephew, James McCairn, who Angus wants to see married. He sends Temperance to James to play the part of his housekeeper but she is really trying to find him a bride.

I enjoyed the book very much. Although, it did border on the way a fairy tale would be told. It was difficult to grasp the dishonesty and stubbornness in both Temperance and James. I agree, too much time went by from the time Temperance leaves McCairn and the ending of the book. I like the way Temperance was forced to see herself the way she was when she arrived in McCairn. She was able to see how much she changed while she was living there. It showed great insight on the part of many of the characters.

Overall, I gave the book a 4 because I still felt it was a wonderful story. It was an easy read with a simple plot.

I loved this book about family and other relationships. They can be difficult at times. Barbara Delinsky is one of my favorite writers.

Two families are very close. The adults in the story have been friends since before they married. A very serious mistake is made which effects everyone in the book. The individuals work through their hurt and disappointment in their own way. Some stay together, some stay but all are changed.

It was a wonderful book and I'm so glad I read it.This is about the 5th Barbara Delinsky books I have read. I love all of them.

Daphne Fields has just had a terrible accident and is in intensive care. Her loyal friend and secretary is at her side while she is telling the story of Daphne's life. Daphne has had several things happen to her that have been very sad but has always been able to overcome the hurt and go on with her life. She deserves the best life has to offer but somehow she looses the person she loves each time she finds that "once in a lifetime" relationship.

The ending to the story is wonderful. I won't spoil it for those who may not have read the 1982 publication by D. Steel.I love her older books more than I do the newer ones. Great love story!