Winners

A Novel

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Even the most perfect lives can be shattered in an instant. In this moving, emotionally charged novel, Danielle Steel introduces listeners to an unforgettable cast of characters striving to overcome tragedy and discover the inner resources and resilience to win at life - once again.

Lily Thomas is an aspiring ski champion training for the Olympics, a young woman with her heart set on winning the gold. But in one moment, Lily's future is changed forever, her hopes for the Olympics swept away in a tragic accident.

Dr. Jessie Matthews, the neurosurgeon who operates on her that night, endures a tragedy of her own, and instantly becomes the sole support of her four young children, while her own future hangs in the balance.

Bill, Lily's father, has pinned all his hopes on his only daughter, his dreams now shattered.

Other lives will entwine themselves with theirs: Joe, a financial manager, faces a ruined career at the hand of a dishonest partner. Carole, a psychologist at Mass General, is a breast cancer survivor, her body and heart scarred by what she's been through. Teddy, with a spinal cord injury worse than Lily's, dreams of college and becoming an artist.

From the ashes of their lives, six people fight to alter the course of destiny and refuse to be defeated. When Bill builds a remarkable rehab facility for his daughter, countless lives are forever altered, and each becomes a winner.

Winners is about refusing to be beaten, no matter how insurmountable the challenge. And when Lily gets on skis again and enters the Paralympics, the battle to brave life again is won. Winners is about more than surviving; it is about courage, victory, and triumph. When all appears to be lost, the battle has just begun.

©2013 Danielle Steel (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

I am not a Danielle Steel fan.. But...

I haven't considered buying and reading a Danielle Steel book since I was in the seventh grade. All avid readers know that Steel uses the same formula, the same story- just different names and locations. I must have bought 'Winners' on some kind of Audible sale. I downloaded it to my iphone on a business trip and I found, surprisingly, that I really got into the story!

I was surprised that the story not only held my attention, but I really wanted to continue listening to it. The narration is told by different characters, and although it's non plausible and 'too good to be true,' I still essentially enjoyed the story.

We have a young promising Olympic skier who is injured and is told she would never walk again. Then we have her hard nosed father who refuses to accept his daughter's injury. The night the teen skier is brought to the hospital, there is a terrible storm and the doctor on call's husband dies in a horrific car accident. The lives of the skier, the father, and the doctor continue to collide, and they develop a heart warming relationship between the three of them.

Yes, this is typical Danielle Steel, however I do think that her writing has improved. The characters in 'Winners' were thought provoking and gritty, and I enjoyed this book so much I am considering looking for another Steel book to listen to. Any suggestions?

4 stars

winners

Ok, so now I get the mixed reviews. I liked the book, but it was kinda cheesy and predictable. Sometimes it is good to have just an overall uplifting feel good story. But if that is not what you are in the mood for, listen to something else. I finished it in 2 days and generally enjoyed the story. Some interesting topics I am unfamiliar with, so that kept my attention.

The narrator was good with narrating the plot in his normal voice, but was not great with the women. Most annoying was Lily because he made her sound like a whiny, dumb 6 year old instead of a teenager. Really annoying.

Overall, I generally enjoyed listening to the story and would probably recommend it to someone who is not cynical and who is in the mood for simple and uplifting and turn lemons into lemonade. Have to say I'm glad it was on sale and I had a coupon.

winners

Very good, worth reading. Really enjoyed listening to it and could get into it quickly.

this is a really good story but bad recording

great story but the recording of the book kept cutting and skipping.. it made it very hard to listen to. i even deleted and reloaded it but still really poor recording

Fantastic!

This was a fantastic book. Kept my interest the entire time! Would definitely recommend t to anyine

Awesome read

This was a wonderful book. You will fall in love with the characters. They are all strong and entertaining.

So saccharine my teeth hurt!

Bought this on sale, thinking I'd give D. Steele a try. Felt like I was watching a 70's movie of the week. A little too predictable and overly sweet. It was okay, but I won't listen to another of hers.

Waiting for the story to end...

This book was just filling between the book covers. My mind kept wandering during playback.

taking a negative and making a positive

Great book love the story . Acceptance of what is and turning it into a positive..

Nice story

If you could sum up Winners in three words, what would they be?

Well balanced, traditional

Any additional comments?

I liked this story. It has well developed characters and a nice, upbeat storyline.