Catriona's Review:: 44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel

44 Charles Street by Danielle Steel
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 336
Format: Hardback
 
The plumbing was prone to leaks, the furniture rescued from garage sales. And every square inch was being devotedly restored to its original splendor—even as a relationship fell to pieces. Now Francesca Thayer, newly separated from her lawyer boyfriend Todd, is desperate. The owner of a struggling art gallery, and suddenly the sole mortgage payer on her Greenwich Village townhouse, Francesca does the math and then the unimaginable. She puts out an advertisement for boarders. Soon her house becomes a whole new world.

First comes Eileen, a fresh, pretty L.A. transplant, now a New York City schoolteacher. Then there’s Chris, a young father struggling with a troubled ex-wife and the challenge of parenting a seven-year-old son who visits every other weekend. The final tenant is Marya, a celebrated cookbook author hoping to start a new chapter in her life after the death of her husband. As Francesca’s art gallery begins to find its footing and Todd moves on to another woman, she discovers that her accidental tenants have become the most important people in her life. 

As the roommates bond, and the house fills with the aroma of Marya’s exquisite cuisine, there are shadows as well as light. Naïve Eileen explores the precarious boundaries of online dating with a series of strangers. Chris’s custody fight for his son escalates to devastating levels. Marya faces an unexpected choice that will take her into untested waters. And Francesca herself will contemplate what had seemed impossible: opening her heart once more.

Catriona's Review:
I enjoyed reading this book. The author introduces us to the characters and events straight away which Is a sure fire way to get me into a book. The characters are all realistic and likeable and the setting is a wonderful brownstone in new York.

I enjoyed the storyline even though there isn't too much substance to it. The main character is going through a break up and so takes in three lodgers, each of them bring with them their own personalities and issues and so the story is formed.

There were tears of sadness and tears of joy shed on my part, and some of the issues tackled are fairly thought provoking, however I think that the plot should have gone deeper into some of these issues rather than go further along in time as it did.

I am sure fans of the author will find plenty to enjoy and the books provides alight read for those looking to fill a space in their beech bag or briefcase, but if you're looking for a beefy story line, this won't satisfy your appetite.

Quote:
"There's a lid for every pot... You Just have to find yours. -Avery"