The Kiss

This emotionally charged novel is classic Steel. The central character, Isabelle Forrester, is a beautiful, sensitive woman trapped in an unhappy marriage to Gordon, an apparently charming, but actually cruel and calculating, Parisian banker. All Isabelle's emotions become focused on her son, the sickly Teddy. She willingly dedicates her life to ensuring that Teddy is cocooned against his father's contempt. Her daughter Sophie, although loved, feels neglected because of her mother's devotion to her brother's needs and sympathizes with her distant father. When Isabelle establishes a long-distance friendship with the charming and sensitive Bill Robinson, she finds an outlet for her hopes and dreams. Bill is everything her husband is not and they develop a close bond that provides them with the mutual support that both their marriages lack. Each discovers in the other a soul mate, an intellectual partner and the possibility of real love at last. When they meet in London, Isabelle and Bill are forced to recognise the depth of feeling between them and acknowledge their passion with a kiss. But soon after, both are severely injured in a near-fatal car crash and their lives will never be the same. The effects of the accident rebound on all the characters, changing the nature and structure of all their lives. The author is a master of emotional observation and skilfully draws the reader into a world of hidden feelings and simmering resentments. This is not just a tender romance, it's a story of love's many dimensions and a tale of hope, courage and sacrifice. Danielle Steel fans will not be disappointed - but keep the tissues handy! (Kirkus UK)