Upside Down - by Danielle Steel

Haven't read it all yet but so far good! Love her work!

My grandmother in law was so happy to receive this book.

Upside Down by Danielle Steel is about two couples where there is a large age difference. While I found the story to be easy to read, the storyline is predictable. The same details are repeated throughout the book (how many times do we need to be told about the age difference between the two couples, that Morgan resents her Mother, the unfaithful first husband, Josh’s loud motorcycle). The characters are cliched and lack development. I was not a fan of Ardith’s daughter, Morgan, or her older boyfriend, Ben. The pacing is mixed. I have read all of Danielle Steel’s books (I have been reading them since I was twelve), but this one is my least favorite. Upside Down is a story that does not require exerting many brain cells to get through it.

Ardith Law is a famous Hollywood legend and is respected by those in the industry. She has been living with fellow actor, Bill West for more than ten years. They were like a couple and had a very good relationship. Suddenly Bill is asked to work on a film, he is not as selective as Ardith and decides to take the part. He asks in his contract if they would hire a temporary assistant while he is filming in London. They agree but the assistant is not a woman but a man, Josh Gray who arrives on a motorcycle. Ardith is shocked at the way he is dressed and that he arrived on a motorcycle. Ardith sits down and has a talk with Josh and tells her what is expected to do and to dress for the occasion. What started like a rocky start suddenly changed in a matter of days. When an unexpected tragedy occurs Josh is like a rock and at her side and helping her through the things that need to be done. They each seem to have a special feeling for each other but keep it to themselves. In Manhattan Morgan, her daughter, a successful plastic surgeon cannot forgive her mother, Ardith for putting her career first. Her father had died in a plane crash when she was seven and her mother missed many of her special occasions like birthdays, prom, holidays and school plays. Morgan just cannot have a real mother-daughter relationship as she has so much hatred in her for what she did and never really sees her. Ben Ryan a famous TV anchorman meets Morgan on a routine follow-up of some plastic surgery he needed because of an accident he had while on location. Suddenly Morgan is feeling emotions she has never felt before. He asks her out and she is not sure it is a good idea to date a patient. After careful thought, she decides to take a chance and goes out to dinner with him. He is a perfect gentleman and takes her to a restaurant that is famous and one she has never been to before. The problem is he is close to her mother's age. They both say they have never felt this way before and seem to be falling in love. A scandal erupts and Morgan has to decide if he is telling the truth and even stay together. With the help of talking to her mother, they seem to be reunited and Morgan is spilling her heart out to her mother and she is there for her. Josh has suddenly turned into more than an assistant and a new world is opened to Ardith's eyes is this what she has been missing her entire life? A great read.