The Kiss

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Joseph Siravo

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Isabelle Forrester is the exquisite wife of a prominent Parisian banker who has long since shut her out of his heart. For lonely years, Isabelle has lived a life of isolation, pouring her passions into caring for her desperately ill son, Teddy, and into making their Paris home as happy as possible for her teenage daughter, Sophie. Isabelle allows herself one secret pleasure: a long-distance friendship by telephone with an American man, a Washington power broker who travels in the highest circles of politics and who, like Isabelle, is trapped in an empty marriage.

To Bill Robinson, Isabelle is a godsend, a woman of extraordinary beauty and intellectual curiosity - a kindred spirit who touches him across the miles with her warmth and gentle empathy. Their relationship is a gift - a lifeline that sustains them both through the heartache of marriages they cannot leave and will not betray. Agreeing to meet for a few precious, innocent days in London, Isabelle and Bill find their friendship changing. Then, amid the sudden crash of steel against steel, they are thrust onto a new path, a path fraught with pain but also with possibility.

Now, inside the cool, sterile wards of a London hospital, Isabelle and Bill cling to life, their bodies shattered almost beyond repair. In the days and weeks that follow, they slowly, painfully traverse a road to recovery littered with challenges of the body, spirit, and heart. Together, they must find the strength not only to embrace life again but to face what they have left behind. For Isabelle, a loveless marriage turns into a brutal power struggle. For Bill, a time of healing exposes wounds that cut deeper than steel and realities that will test him to his core. For both, a tangle of changing relationships and the tragedy of another loss conspire to separate them once again. And this time they could lose each other forever.

©2001 Danielle Steel (P)2001 Random House Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"Steel pulls through with skillful plotting, steeping a gentle brew that will once again gratify her legions of fans." (Publishers Weekly)

started really slow

I got this for a trip and the author is well known . the book was ok but not overly compelling. the characters seemed unrealistic.

narrator fail

The narrator should have been female. From the readers perspective. too bad otherwise somewhat ok.

Great Story

I’ve been a Danielle Steel fan for over 30 years. She is an amazing writer! My eldest daughter’s middle name is Danielle after her! This story had me from it’s onset. It’s a wonderful story about how love can overcome the deepest obstacles. Well written with her usual attention to details. Although the narrator did an excellent job, id like to have had it read by a woman.

missing something

i was disappointed that Isabel husband got away so easily.
ending too trite for me

Interesting but a little predictable

Interesting a good easy listen. Ending a little predictable but characters easy to relate to and understand.

Performance lacking

The reader of this book was not very good. His inflection was off throughout the story. Also the sound quality was not working.

didn't like the narrator

I enjoyed the story however the narration was unpleasant! his inflection is in the wrong places, way too frequent and he dawls out words unnecessarily.

Great story

Loved this sad n happy story. It’s life for many n love is really all that matters. Glad it had a happy ending.
Thank you.

Loved it

I was enchanted by this story lived every moment with Isobel. Loved the flow absolutely great book.

Average book

Not the best Danielle Steel's book. The story was kind of boring at some point. I wouldn't recommend it !