After a breakup, a Manhattan gallery owner takes in tenants at her West Village brownstone.Francesca, 35, has to admit that her future with live-in boyfriend Todd is nil. But after Todd moves out, how to pay the mortgage on the old house they were rehabbing on Charles Street, and prop up the failing finances of the gallery they once co-owned? Francesca's father, a famous artist, invests in the gallery, and Francesca advertises for roommates. Her mother, Thalia, a 60-something jetsetter, is too busy hunting husband No. 6 to help with anything beyond undermining her daughter's self-esteem. Soon the house is occupied by a group that fast becomes Francesca's surrogate family: Eileen, a 20-something transplant from San Diego, is obsessed with meeting men on the Internet. Marya, a newly widowed famous food writer, needs a New Yorkpied--terreand, often aided by flirtatious French chef Charles-Edouard, cooks fabulous meals in Francesca's tiny kitchen. Chris, a graphic designer, is shell-shocked by struggles with his ex-wife, Kim, who managed to get joint custody of son Ian despite the fact that she's a heroin addict. Ian, a third grader, twice saved his mother from overdosing. Ian relishes his brief visits at Charles Street, especially when Marya makes him Mickey Mouse pancakes. Eileen's latest online conquest, Brad, a tattooed biker type, is obviously trouble, but her roommates' respect for her privacy has disastrous consequences. After Kim lands in jail for manslaughter after a fellow addict ODs in Ian's presence, Francesca learns Chris and his ex represented a failed merger of two of the nation's most powerful political families. Chris, attracted by Francesca's comparative normalcy, impulsively kisses her. Wouldn't Thalia be thrilled to see her daughter reel in the scion of a dynasty more illustrious than the Kennedys? But Francesca insists they are just friends.Classic Steel, phoned in. Much repetitious ruminating and a stultifying, unmusical prose style too often obstruct the intended edgy escapism.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

After her boyfriend announces he's leaving, Francesca Thayer focuses on keeping their dowager New York townhouse at 44 Charles Street on her single income. The household is enlivened when to cover monthly mortgage payments she takes in boarders-a wanton young woman, a reserved divorced father with whom Francesca will fall in love, and a famous woman chef. Typical of Steel, protagonist Francesca is a strong woman who overcomes setbacks and finds mature love. Reader Arthur Morey jumps between age groups and sexes with minimal distraction to the listener. Formula, stereotypes, and plot contrivances will make this comfortable listening for romance and Steel fans. ["The lives of the supporting cast members are far more compelling than her protagonist's, and reading about their challenges and successes is a sufficiently entertaining way to spend some time," read the review of the New York Times best-selling Delacorte hc, LJ 2/15/11; the mass market Dell pb will publish in January 2012.-Ed.]-Judith Robinson, Dept. of Lib. & Information Studies, Univ. at Buffalo (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When Francesca Thayer and her husband, Todd, divorce, he wants to sell their art gallery as well as their charming house at 44 Charles St., and split the proceeds. Francesca can't bear to part with either. She talks her artist father into becoming a partner in the gallery, but that still leaves the problem of how to keep her home. Against the advice of her mother, Francesca decides to share her house with three other people. She chooses carefully: Eileen Flanders, a young, fresh-faced teacher; Chris Harley, a divorced father with shared custody of his little boy, Ian; and Marya Davis, a newly widowed, famous chef who doesn't want to live alone. It looks as though Francesca's problems are solved. However, Eileen isn't as innocent as she seems, and the men she meets on the Internet and brings home range from incredibly rude to physically abusive, shattering the peace of the new family. This book is classic Steel lots of emotion, friendship, romance, heartbreak, tragedy, and danger. Her countless fans are guaranteed to find it impossible to put down. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With 590 million books in print and best-seller-list placements lasting nearly 400 consecutive weeks, Steel, somehow both predictable and surprising, is unfailingly popular.--Mosley, Shelley Copyright 2010 Booklist

In Steele's romance, having broken up with her long-term boyfriend, Francesca Thayer is forced to take in tenants in order to pay her mortgage. Over time, Francesca bonds with her three tenants, and they become a family. But when tragedy strikes, the group must pull together. Sadly this audio edition falls flat. Narrator Arthur Morey-an odd and unfortunate choice for a novel populated predominately by women-fails to create unique voices for the book's female characters, instead lending them each a uniform, high-pitched tone. Additionally, Morey narrates and reads most of the dialogue in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone, regardless of the emotional context of the scene. A Dell paperback. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.