Lightning

by Danielle Steel

In Lightning, bestselling novelist Danielle Steel tells the story of a woman whose life is changed by one swift, unexpected stroke of fate.

As a partner in 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. Then lightning strikes - a routine medical check-up turns her world upside down when tests reveal shattering news. Her husband Sam, a Wall Street whiz-kid, is as proud of his long-time marriage to Alex as he is of his successful career - until he is caught off guard by Alex's illness. Terrified of losing his wife and family, Sam fails to provide any kind of emotional support.

Almost overnight, Sam takes his distance from Alex, and they become strangers. As lightning strikes them yet again, Sam's promising career suddenly explodes into disaster, and his very life and identity are challenged. With his 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.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Novels, Drama

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[Julz · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMG! Like a train wreck, I had to see for myself. I read the reviews and, I knew that this guy was the biggest jerk alive, and she still took him back, but I can't believe it happened as bad as it did. He left her to die alone puking next to her toilet while he went out and got him some young tail. She gets lucky enough to meet a decent man, younger man who didn't make her feel broken, who was there for her during the darkest days of her life but she just throws him away when the jerk loses his piece of ass and decides he wants her after all. GRRRRRR!!!!!!! I'm going to be mad about it for a long time.

I actually read a lot of cheating stories and will even root for a reunion or hookup, but this was really too much. I'm going to continue the story in my mind and having it end that she will come to her senses, realize that this loser needs to reap what he's sowed and go find her young stud who saved her life. A-hole will go beserk and do something that causes him to violate his PAROLE and will end up having to serve his ten years and leave them alone to have a decent life.

But I admit, more importantly, the storyline where she endures and survives breast cancer was excellent. I think that what pushed so many people to rate this story so high. I'm going to go back and give it an extra star for that reason alone. I just wished it hadn't been ruined by that jerk who deserved to spend his life alone, remembering all that he threw away. If she hadn't reunited with the jerk and he paid the price for his sins, this would've been an easy 5 star story. Too bad.

[Meryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated the ending of this book. How she could take back that disgusting husband that treated her worse than crap while she had breast cancer is unbelievable. He won't discuss it with her, gives her NO support as she has a mastectomy, even has an affair and leaves her. While at work there is another lawyer that gives her total support, holding her while she pukes her guts out from the chemo. Then her husband, Sam, gets what he deserves and is caught up in a scandal that ruins his reputation and threatens to send him to prison. Who does he go to for help but the wife he's deserted. Sam doesn't deserve help and I wish he would have gone to prison. Instead Alex, the wife, feels sorry for him and realizes she still loves him, which is unbelievable considering the way he treated her and takes him back, instead of having a hit put out on him, which I would have done. She takes him back and dumps the man who has been a rock for her and wanted to marry her, showing how stupid she is.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to enjoy Danielle Steel's books as light, "mindless" reading when I needed a break from heavier fiction or true crime. This book completely turned me off Ms. Steel and I haven't read one of her books since, nor do I plan to.
In a nutshell, the so-called heroine is married, an attorney and has a fabulous life until she's diagnosed with cancer. Her husband decides that "in sickness and in health" is overrated nad promptly dumps her. A co-worker at her firm had a sister who suffered from cancer and becomes the support and genuine friend she needs. Their relationship, predictably, turns romantic. The cancer goes in remission and it looks like our "heroine" will have beaten not only cancer but will end up with a seriously good guy. Uh-uh. Her worthless husband comes crawling back and the "heroine" takes him back. End of story.

Absolute waste of time and waste of paper. Don't bother.

[Tmstprc · Rating 3 out of 5]

This requires a deep breath.

He is a horrible man, plain and simple—unresolved issues with his mother’s death causes him to abandon his wife during horrendous breast cancer treatment. Abandons her for an OW so evil you’re left wondering why he can’t see it.

The wife is helped through her cancer nightmare by a younger man and they fall in love during the process.

Twists and turns and a threat of jail for the husband ultimately brings them back together. The OM deserved better.

[Purple Iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

God, I hated the end of this book. I would love to give it one star, but I did like the beginning. I just couldn't believe what a jackass the husband turned out to be and that the woman would go back to him. It was absolutely ridiculous.

[Χρύσα Βασιλείου · Rating 3 out of 5]

Έχω διαβάσει στο (μακρινό μου) παρελθόν βιβλία της Danielle Steel, οπότε όταν βρέθηκε στον δρόμο μου ο "Κεραυνός" της είπα να το επιλέξω. Τελικά, μάλλον δεν ήταν η ιδανικότερη επιλογή για τη συγκεκριμένη φάση της ζωής μου -όπου κι εγώ δεν βρίσκομαι στα καλύτερά μου γενικώς- αλλά μιας και το είχα αρχίσει, πήρα βαθιά ανάσα κι αποφάσισα να το τελειώσω τώρα.

Η Άλεξ Πάρκερ φαίνεται να τα έχει όλα. Μια ζηλευτή ζωή, μια ευτυχισμένη οικογένεια, έναν σύζυγο που αγαπά και την αγαπά και μια χαριτωμένη κόρη, μια επιτυχημένη καριέρα σε δικηγορικό γραφείο, ένα μέλλον γεμάτο προοπτικές. Ώσπου έρχεται να χτυπήσει τη ζωή της ένας Κεραυνός, με τη μορφή καρκίνου στο στήθος. Και τότε η 'ονειρεμένη' ζωή της Άλεξ καταρρέει σαν κάστρο στην άμμο που παρασέρνεται από το κύμα.
Ο σύζυγός της αδυνατεί να δεχτεί τη νέα πραγματικότητα, μαλώνει μαζί της συνεχώς, την... κατηγορεί (!) για την αρρώστια της, δεν αντέχει να τη βλέπει να μετατρέπεται σε σκιά του εαυτού της και την εγκαταλείπει. Μέσα σε δύο μήνες, η Άλεξ βλέπει τα δεκαοχτώ χρόνια του γάμου της να διαλύονται. Και καλείται μόνη να αντιμετωπίσει την αρρώστια, τις χημειοθεραπείες, την ψυχολογική καταπόνηση, τους φόβους της ίδιας και της κόρης της μπροστά στη νέα πραγματικότητα... Ακόμα και την επιθετικότητα του συζύγου της. Όμως σύντομα ανακαλύπτει πως τελικά δεν είναι μόνη, γιατί υπάρχουν γύρω της άνθρωποι που ενδιαφέρονται για εκείνη, νοιάζονται για εκείνη, θέλουν να τη δουν να το ξεπερνά όλο αυτό και να ξαναστέκεται στα πόδια της. Μέσα από μια τόσο δύσκολη κατάσταση, η Άλεξ θα μάθει τις πραγματικές αξίες στη ζωή, τη δύναμη που κρύβει μέσα της και θα βγει από την κατάσταση αυτή πιο ώριμη, δυνατή και αποφασισμένη να εκμεταλλευτεί πλήρως τη δεύτερη ευκαιρία που της έδωσε η ζωή.

Το βιβλίο κυλάει γρήγορα, η γλώσσα είναι απλή και κατανοητή, χωρίς λογοτεχνικά τερτίπια και περιττά γλωσσικά στολίδια για να εντυπωσιάσει. Όλη η δύναμή της κρύβεται στην πλοκή - και συγκεκριμένα στην αρρώστια της Άλεξ, στο πώς την επηρεάζει και το πώς αυτή τη διαχειρίζεται. Ομολογώ ότι για πρώτη φορά διάβασα μια ιστορία όπου η ηρωίδα έχει καρκίνο και η κατάστασή της αναλύεται τόσο περιγραφικά. Έχω την τύχη και την ευλογία να μην έχω αντιμετωπίσει η ίδια (ή κάποια γυναίκα από το κοντινό μου περιβάλλον) μια τέτοια περίπτωση και, ενώ γενικά γνωρίζω κάποια πράγματα, κάποια άλλα με ταρακούνησαν. Στην περιγραφή της εγχείρισης, της μαστεκτομής, της χημειοθεραπείας, των επιπτώσεων όλων αυτών στον οργανισμό της ηρωίδας και στην καθημερινότητά της, η Steel είναι αμείλικτη. Περιγράφει τα πράγματα ως έχουν. Σε ορισμένα σημεία η καρδιά μου σφίχτηκε, σε άλλα συγκινήθηκα. Θαύμασα πραγματικά όλες αυτές τις άγνωστες γυναίκες εκεί έξω που το περνάνε όλο αυτό. Κάποιες επιβιώνουν, κάποιες όχι. Αλλά από την πρώτη κιόλας στιγμή που ακούνε από τον γιατρό τους την καταραμένη λέξη "Καρκίνος", μέχρι όποιο σημείο αντέξουν εκείνες και το σώμα τους να φτάσουν, είναι πράγματι άξιες θαυμασμού. Τα πολλά λόγια είναι φτώχεια και περιττά. Οι περιγραφές του βιβλίου τα λένε όλα.
Η αντίδραση του άντρα της, του Σαμ, είναι η αντίδραση όλων των δειλών αντρών αυτών των γενναίων γυναικών. Η τυπική αντίδραση εκείνων που δεν αντέχουν τη δοκιμασία, τον πόνο, την ατέλεια, το να χαλάσει η ζαχαρένια τους, το να μη βρίσκονται πια στο επίκεντρο του ενδιαφέροντος της γυναίκας τους. Καμία δικαιολογία για ανάλογες τραυματικές εμπειρίες στο παρελθόν (όπως του συγκεκριμένου) δεν είναι αρκετή για να δικαιολογήσει τη συμπεριφορά του. Προσωπικά δεν τον μίσησα, αλλά τον περιφρόνησα. Ούτε η Άλεξ τον μίσησε, άλλωστε. Δεν είναι άξιος για ένα τόσο δυνατό συναίσθημα. Σίγουρα όμως είναι άξιος της μοίρας του.

3 αστεράκια λοιπόν για την υπόθεση και το πόσο αυτή κατάφερε να με ταρακουνήσει. Επαναλαμβάνω, δεν βρίσκομαι και η ίδια σε πολύ καλό mood αυτή την περίοδο και αν ήξερα την πλοκή πριν το ξεκινήσω, μάλλον θα το άφηνα για αργότερα. Όμως με έκανε να νιώσω πολλά πράγματα. Ακόμα κι αν αυτά ήταν δυσάρεστα, ήταν δυνατά και έντονα. Όχι 4 αστεράκια, γιατί αυτό που δεν μου άρεσε ήταν το τέλος. Προφανώς η συγγραφέας ήθελε να δημιουργήσει μια ιστορία με αρχή, μέση, τέλος κι έναν κύκλο που κλείνει, όμως προσωπικά δεν μπορώ να πω πως με βρήκε σύμφωνη. Ένας άντρας που συμπεριφέρεται σαν τον Σαμ, τόσο εγωιστικά και άνανδρα, δεν αξίζει συγχώρεση. Κι αν έστω αξίζει αυτή, σίγουρα δεν αξίζει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία τόσο ελαφρά τη καρδία. Στη θέση της Άλεξ, δεν ξέρω αν δεν θα με παρατούσε ξανά στην επόμενη στραβή. Όπως και να 'χει, οι ευκαιρίες είναι για τους ανθρώπους και, μιας κι αυτή αποφάσισε να ξαναδοκιμάσει μαζί του, αφού ποτέ δεν έπαψε να τον αγαπά, εγώ θα τους ευχηθώ ένα υγιές, ανέφελο και ευτυχισμένο μέλλον.

[Kajal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book as a prize for topping my class in English and after having read it, it almost made me regret having come out first.

At the end of the book, I couldn't decide who disgusted me most - Alex or Sam? No one deserves the kind of treatment Alex got from Sam at any point in life much less when they learn they've got cancer. He treated her like dirt when she was trying to come to terms with the news of her illness, he deserted her when she was going through chemo and cheated on her with the first pretty woman who came his way, although yeah he tried to resist until the very end. (Steel made a point telling us about how much he also had a hard time. To sleep or not to sleep?)

No one would have blamed Alex for divorcing the jerk after all he put her through and if she'd married Brock, everyone would have been happy. But what did she do? Use Brock while he was there trying to help her out and in the end, run back to her petty little husband to start life anew. In my opinion, those two really deserve each other.

This book was my introduction to Danielle Steel at a time all my friends were positively drooling over her books. Needless to say, I never picked up one of her other books because if in her world, women are idiots who absolutely need men to live however badly the latter treated them, I'll happily pass my turn.

[Burak Korkmaz🇩🇰📚 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jeg havde en god fornemmelse af bogen og jeg ville så gerne give den 3 stjerner, men jeg kan simpelthen ikke acceptere slutningen.

Den var bare latterlig og åndsvag. Derfor nøjes bogen med at få en enkelt stjerne.

[Ally Harradine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Urgh. Husband is as asshole. She's an idiot for going back to him. Very predictable and irritating. Overall I'm glad to see this book in my past

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy moly cannoli! This was a brutal read. I’m actually stunned how D Steele ended the book. The cheating husband was a monster in my opinion-I honestly don’t know how else to describe him. 4 stars because the author was able to convey how gross and narcissistic the character was.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

All. The. Feels.

[◄○♦☻♦○►[faith.in.God]◘♪♪ · Rating 1 out of 5]

i used to like her books but after having half read of this book.. i just can't continue to read it out. its a disappointment to have read such a book. i don't know how they published it.
the guy doesn't even care for his wife, he doesn't even understand her, i mean, he should be by her side, while she's suffering all this alone. it was harder for her than him. I'd call him a jerk. after reading others' review i came to know the whole story. sorry, but i don't like it, at all.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt every emotion reading this book! I loved Alex, the bravery and spirit she showed made me cry but I just couldn’t stand Sam! Complete contrast of emotions reading the book but brilliant none the less ❤️

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

The husband in this takes the prize for being the biggest A-hole (not in a good way) that I’ve ever read. Despite him I could not look away from this angsty train wreck. The ending even sucked, not happy with the wife, but still I was entertained. I must have been in the right mood. 3 stars.

[Mariz Ponce · Rating 2 out of 5]

when i finished reading the book, i really had this urge to put up a sign on the door of my bedroom saying JUST GOT BETRAYED. i was really, really expecting that Alex would be with Brock and never, ever look back again. i mean, really, Sam is a total a*****e most especially during the times when Alex is really, really sick, emotionally and physically drained and also when he decided to run away from her towards Daphne. i know that i shouldn't feel like this because this is a book, a novel..a FICTION. but i just can't ignore the feeling that life is really unfair and sometimes, LOVE COULD BE THAT FOOLISH. poor Brock. :'( i suddenly hate this book, the story ended without a shred of JUSTICE. :((

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disappointed that she took back her cheating weak husband.

[Sav · Rating 1 out of 5]

This books made me hate men more than I already do

[Kacie ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book, but all of the characters have PISSED ME OFF!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was extremely disappointing.

[Michaela Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story. Not typically the type of book I read. The ending really irritated me.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A keeper .. primarily for the treatment of breast cancer.
Setting: NYC
As usual I think it’s “overwritten” .. wish editors had whittled it down more.
Main character is a lawyer.

[Lisa Whiteley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over 20 years ago when it was recommended to me by someone who worked at a bookstore. I’ll admit, I was not a reader and just bought it to use a gift card. It pulled me into the story and got me to buy another, then another. And now I love to read.

I did not like the ending the first time. But, if a book can get you emotionally engaged (even if you hate the ending) then it does it’s job.

I read this again because I was telling my daughter how it got me to enjoy reading. I still didn’t like the ending and it made me angry all over again, but I would like my daughter to read it. So we’ll see what she thinks …

[ANTC · Rating 1 out of 5]

0 stars. This is the WORST book I've ever read. The hero is an absolutely unforgivable Machiavellian villain, and the heroine is a complete doormat. While the writing flows well and is grammatically correct, the characters themselves are completely 2-dimensional and behave more like caricatures than real people.

The level of EVIL that the hero displayed as he disparaged his wife for being sick with cancer -- disgusted by her ailments and the consequences to her physical appearance -- was beyond imagining. And combine that with the passionate affair he pursued THE DAY AFTER she was diagnosed - having the "best sex of his life", falling in love, and letting the OW speak poorly of his sick wife...monstrous.

I utterly cannot understand how people could enjoy this book. The ending message is absolutely despicable: a wife's loyalty to her husband above all else, even when she's not even sure he won't cruelly treat and abandon her again when times get tough. There was an OM in the story for the heroine that was beyond amazing -- going to her appointments with her when her husband had abandoned her, helping her when she was puking her guts out, literally SAVING HERE LIFE when she had no willingness to live anymore. OM was ALL IN and completely devoted to the heroine...and yet, she still took her husband back with zero grovel and zero confidence that he wouldn't abandon her again when times get rough.

At some point I'll post many of the highlights I made to better convey how ridiculous this book is. It deserves a JUST KIDDING at the end, with a follow-up ending where the heroine cuts the balls of her husband, gets away with the murder, and runs off with OM.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dear friend of mine faced a similar situation from a non-supportive spouse. It wasn't as extreme as the one presented in this book, but nevertheless, a painful situation. Her marriage did not survive. The way this book ended left me feeling angry and disappointed in Alex. I suppose my views on love don't stretch as far as hers did. I can understand fear and being afraid of losing someone, I can't understand hateful words and blaming someone for having cancer and accusing them of ruining lives because of it. Her husband did not support her through any of it, not even one day, but in the end when he's finally gotten what's coming to him, she abandons someone who loves her and stood by her to proclaim her love for her louse of a husband. His kind of love is shallow and works as long as everything in life fits in a neat and painless category. I can understand Alex not hating the guy, but in my opinion she would have been better of with Brock or being on her own until she was ready to be with someone on her own terms.

[Mom2jngncna~ Stephannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been told when this book first came out that it was about a womans battle with breast cancer. I had bought it in PB at a garage sale at some point. I didn't read it until sometime in 2000. It is a point in my life, where I am VERY lucky to be married to the man that I am. To some degree, I read what my Aunt had gone through in 1987 and again in 1993. The reason that I am very lucky with my DH is that the morning I started reading this book, I was unable to put it down. He had vague knowledge of the subject matter, and let me read. I finished it within a day, and then spent hours just crying. Very touching, and emotional for anyone who has been on that "front."

[Mbc · Rating 1 out of 5]

A really silly book, despite the big subjects it developed.
The book was repetitive, extremely predictable, quite boring and ALL characters were really hard to believe. Steel could not build their personalities to be not only believable but also consistent throughout the story.
Even the characters contradicted themselves in what they were said to be feeling... in the same page!
The author's style seemed like an amateur's. Sometimes it even seemed like Steel had also got tired of the book and wanted to end it so she would stop writing.
I just didn't buy the story and got fed up of reading "breast" "chemo" and "for chrissake".

[Helen Laibach · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Danielle Steel's novels, I have to say, when I read this story I was so dissappointed by the ending she chose that I didn't read her work a very long time... I only give it 3 stars because up until the end, it is a very well written, emotionally moving story that pulls you into Alex's struggle with cancer.

Helen Laibach, Author
A Soul Less Broken
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...

[Myrtle Yvonne]

Lightning is a story about life - lifetime couples who has gone through intoxicating struggles and journey in life with a sick partner (cancer). I'm a little disappointed with people's reviews on it but I liked the story. How love can bring two people back together no matter how bad they've done or hurt each other. Love takes strength and so much of ourselves and learning. And of course, Danielle Steel also includes temptations and forgiveness. It's a catch. It's a good read in spring.

[Michelle Fletcher Carder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while but was worth the time

I’m giving this one only 3 stars because I just finished the book and am extremely disappointed in the ending. If I think about it I would probably move to 4 stars. When I started this book, I didn’t know what it was about. As I discovered more, I didn’t want to continue but pushed on and am glad I did. I learned a lot from Alex about strength, perseverance and compassion, though I don’t know if I could or would do what she did.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

How I missed reading this 23 year DS book (and it was in my house the whole time!) I do not know but as part of our (friend and I) "Danielle Steel Pact", we are finishing all of our unread DS books this year (approx. 2 a month to finish). Although the writing was as good as ever and I enjoyed the story overall; I did not like the ending at all :( IMO, Sam was a real S**T and Alex was an idiot in the end.