The right time by Danielle Steele

"The right time" by Danielle Steele -  A different story. 

This book is published by Pan Macmillan in 2017 and has 336 pages. 

Alex (Alexandra Winslow) has a talent at writing crime fiction. Her mother walks away when she was 9, passes away soon after and her father passes away when she is 14, making her orphan with no relatives to take care of her.  Fate lands her in a convent, the only 14 year old to stay with nuns. Her writing flourishes here. As advised by her father, that readers won't read crime fiction by a female, she writes with a male pen name Alexander Green. Her books are a hit. 

Is she mentally twisted to write bloody and violent crime fiction from tender age of 10? Or is she simply brilliant? Does her writing make her socially challenged? How long can she keep the identity of famous author Alexander Green a secret? Will there be men in her life?

This book is the story of Alexandra (Alex), a young prolific writer, who writes Intricate,  brilliant and violent mysteries under a male pseudonym. Her attempt of leading a normal life, balancing her writing with her relationships and keeping her identity secret is the story. She meets jealous men, men who belittle her, or who want to take advantage of her. It's a tight rope to walk and she has to sacrifice a lot for it. Will there be a right man? Will there be a right time?

Alex has grown up with adults rather than children. Does it have a subconscious influence on her being attracted to older men? She fights a battle within, to be honest to the man she loves and protecting her identity. Well, if there was a lady author who writes with male pseudonym, it's a tough call. Coming out in open may impact readership, not telling the man she loves is a torture and lying to him constantly is bound to end in a slip somewhere. 

Apart from Alex other main character is Burt, a cantankerous old editor who likes and guides Alex. Nuns, Miles and Rose are other characters that carry the story forward. Although Alex is a brilliant writer and is paid huge sums for her books, author suddenly informs us that she has bad financial management. There is no clue or reference to that effect in the book anywhere earlier. So it appears like an afterthought rather than integral part of the story. 

The story goes on at an easy pace for a long time but suddenly accelerates after her acceptance of love. From here on it appears as if author is in a hurry to complete the story. 

Author deserves credit for creating a story away from run of the mill subjects. One of the reasons I like Danielle Steele is because her stories are decent, interesting, likable, about things that happen everyday and nice; all at the same time.

Why did I read this book? Author.  

What did I like?  Subject of the story.

What I didn't like?  Sudden acceleration and financial mismanagement. 

Recommend reading.