Finding Ashley
Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel
has Melissa Henderson pouring all her energies into renovating a Victorian home
in Massachusetts after the death of her son.
Melissa gave up her writing career, her friends, her sister, her home,
and her husband after her young son died from cancer. After Melissa comes close to losing her home
from a wildfire, she receives a call from her sister, Hattie. Hattie became a nun when she was young which
upset Melissa. It is the main reason for
their estrangement. It provides the
opening needed for the two sisters to reconnect. During a visit, Hattie learns what it did to
Melissa to give up her baby when she was sixteen. Their stern mother sent Melissa away to
Ireland to a convent to have the child and give it up for adoption. That experience left its mark on Melissa. Hattie wants to help her sister and decides
to find the daughter she gave up over thirty years ago. It will be a difficult task tracking down the
information, but Hattie is determined to get the answers she seeks to help heal
her sister. This journey will change the
lives of both sisters.
Finding Ashley is the newest
novel by Danielle Steel. It is a story
about family secrets and tragedies that forever changed two sisters’
lives. The books has Danielle Steel’s
trademark writing that draws the reader right into the story. The story has steady pacing and developed characters. I was not a fan of the repetition of key
details. Some details are repeated at
least six times in the first half of the book.
Finding Ashley is an emotional story.
Melissa Henderson has a good life until her son died within two years of
being diagnosed with cancer. The loss of
her son destroyed Melissa. She retreated
into grief and withdrew from life. It
has been six years and the only person she allows into her life is her
contractor. After auditioning for a role
in Hollywood, Hattie, Melissa’s sister, joined a convent. In a way, she also withdrew from life to a
place where she felt safe and could find peace.
When Hattie became a nun, it divided the two sisters. While Hattie is aware of Melissa’s secret,
Melissa is unaware of Hattie’s. Hattie
wants to help her sister and sets out to find the child she was forced to give
up when she was sixteen. It takes Hattie
on a journey that will change the two sisters’ lives. Finding Ashley is an emotional story about
two women finding their places in the world.
Arson, illness, teen pregnancy, convent baby mill, sexual abuse, and divorce
are some of the topics covered in Finding Ashley. There are some sweet, tender moments as
well. I loved the descriptions of
Melissa’s restored Victorian. I would
love to own a Queen Anne Victorian (I love the ornateness associated with this
style). Finding Ashley is a special story that
addresses some difficult topics. Danielle
Steel has provided another compelling novel (I have been reading this authors
books since I was twelve). I look
forward to reading her next release.
Kris
The Avid Reader
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