Thursday, July 2, 2009

Leap of Faith by Danielle Steel



As a child Marie-Ange Hawkins has the rich kid's childhood that other kids dream about. She has freedom, love, security in a beautiful old French chateau running freely eating her fill of peaches from the orchards. But when Marie-Ange is only 11, a tragic accident marks the end of her idyllic life. Orphaned now, and alone, she is sent to America, to live with her great-aunt on a farm in Iowa. Her aunt really resents her deeply, and cuts her off from all she has ever loved.

In Marie-Ange's lonely existence with her great aunt, only the friendship of a local boy, Billy Parker, offers comfort and hope to her. But her only wish is to gain comfort and escape. Then just after her twenty-first birthday, an unexpected visitor brings startling news and an extraordinary gift; the freedom to return to France, to Chateau de Marmouton.

When she arrives in France, Marie-Ange learns that the chateau she grew up in has a new owner, Comte Bernard de Beauchamp, a dashing widower who invites her into his home, then into his heart. Their life together, soon includes marriage, children, and lavish homes. It takes an ominous turn though when she receives a call to tell Marie-Ange a very strange, shocking story. One so chilling, she doesn't want to believe it.

Although her friend of many years can sense a problem he is thousands of miles away and cannot offer any help. So Marie-Ange somehow has to find courage and faith to survive.

This was a good quick read. My love of children made my heart ache for this orphaned lonely child. You'll enjoy this one if you like Danielle Steel.

2 comments:

Becki said...

Please tell me you didn't read this last night after you left??

I think I'd read it before (it seemed very familiar) but it was a quick enough read I went through it again :)

siteseer said...

Nope, I read this a while ago but forgot to post a review and put on my shelfari