Nine Lives by Danielle Stee

"Nine Lives" by Danielle Steel - Simple and sweet!

This book is published by Delacorte Press in 2021 and has 272 pages. 

Maggie's dad was a test pilot and was killed leaving her mother a broken woman. Death of Maggie's brother in war eventually killed her mother. Maggie loves Paul Gilmore, a boy who's an adventure seeker, a risk taker, is dangerous. Maggie parts ways with him. She marries Brad, an accountant, has a son and lives a happy life until an aircraft accident leaves her a widow. A chance encounter with a formula one driver gives a turn to her life. 

Why does Maggie breakup? Who does she encounter? What is the twist? Who has 9 lives?

It's about the dread of losing someone you love. A fear anticipating the death of near and dear one. Maggie's mother has suffered it and Maggie is terrified of same. But her husband, who never ventured into anything dangerous, died and Paul who lives dangerously is alive. Does he have 9 lives?

It's about what you have and don't have. Sometimes you don't cherish what you have and are attracted to what you don't have. Sometimes you have everything but are still empty. Sometimes you love someone but hate what the person does. On one hand Maggie is  terrified of Paul's lifestyle but on the other she loves him. It's a tug of war of emotions. 

Paul's character is adorable. He likes to live on the edge. Be it racing, helicopter skiing, mountain climbing or brush with tax authorities. He is rich, famous but is still down to earth. He is supremely confident but not over confident. He can get anyone but loves Maggie. He and Aiden like each other.

It's not a big book. The story is simple. Easy going but interesting. Nice characters. Not extremely complicated plot. A standalone novel. Danielle Steele's USPs.

Maggie is in two minds and readers want to know how it ends. Does she accept Paul or does she leave him. Read it to know it. It's simple and sweet. 

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? Simplicity.

What I didn't like? Predictability. 

Recommend reading.

Fast Ice by Clive Cussler & a Graham Brown

"Fast Ice" by Clive Cussler & a Graham Brown - Return of ice age?

This book is published by Michael Joseph in 2021 and has 416 pages. This is Book 18 of NUMA files. 

A Nazi German expedition has found something in Antarctica. An oligarch wants to extract oil from below the snow of arctic circle. His sister is staunch supporter of environment. An ex Numa scientist sends SOS to Rudy Gunn. Her ship is attacked and everyone is killed. 

What did the Nazi expedition find? Why are the Oligarch brother and Environmentalist sister at loggerheads? Who killed the crew of ex-Numa scientist's ship? What is fast ice?

This time it's about the snowball theory. How the ice age comes and how the earth regenerates. It's about a bacteria found beneath the permafrost. There is a customary mad wealthy man and a scientist. 

There are Kurt and Joe. There's their enjoyable banter. There's action, this time on ice and snow. There's even an avalanche. There's a beautiful lady. There is world to save. 

The story is interesting. Action is good. This time we have a Ship made of ice, not steel. A tunnel in ice serving as pipeline. Alge that converts water to ice. Fast ice.

Why did I read this book? Author. Series. 

What I didn't like? Not very exciting climax. 

What did I like? Kurt-Joe banter

Recommend reading, if you are reading the series.

Beyond the ice limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

"Beyond the ice limit" by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child- Alien species!

This book is published by Head of Zeus in 2017 and has 324 pages. This is Book 4 of Gideon Crew series. 

Gideon Crew, former art thief, explosive expert and current nuclear scientist is enlisted for a mission by Eli Glinn, head of mission. A mission to Ice Limit. Ice Limit is where the southern ocean meets packed Antarctic ice. Worlds largest meteorite was stolen from an island in south America 5-6 years ago. It weighed 25,000 Tons. The ship carrying it broke into two, dropping the meteorite to sea floor. It was not really a meteorite but an alien seed and is now growing at the bottom of the ocean. 

What is the alien thing? Is it a plant or an animal? Or is it something else? What's Gideon's role? What is the mission?

A science fiction doesn't always have to happen in the space. Here it happens at the bottom of the sea. This life form appears dormant but it grows, a lot. It's also intelligent and can communicate. But it needs help, without which it can't grow. 

The story is on the slower side. It appears like there will be a lasting romance between Gideon and Alex Lispenard (Scientist and DSV in charge), but that doesn't happen. Eli is a character to reckon with. He is stubborn, determined, driven and wants to correct his mistake. Gideon has a tumour and is going to die in about one year. He takes this as his last assignment. He decides to sacrifice his life for the greater good of humanity. 

Gideon Crew series did not start as science fiction but has graduated into one. It would now be difficult for the authors to decouple from the genre. 

The meteorite and the breaking of boat happened in another novel of these authors few years ago. Upon readers demand they wrote this sequel in Gideon Crew series. 

Why did I read this book? Authors

What I didn't like? After effects, or the lack of them,  of nuclear explosion.

What did I like? Concept of this alien life form. 

Read it if you are reading the series, otherwise give it a miss.