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A Perfect Life cover art

A Perfect Life

Written by: Danielle Steel
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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Publisher's Summary

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel comes a heartwarming and inspirational novel about a mother and daughter who face challenges, cope with celebrity, and overcome tragedy while maintaining the outward appearance of…

A Perfect Life

The epitome of intelligence, high-powered energy, and grace, Blaise McCarthy is an icon in the world of television news, asking the tough questions and taking on the emotionally charged issues of world affairs and politics with courage and insight. A single mother, she manages her well-ordered career meticulously, always prepared on the air or interviewing world-renowned figures and heads of state. To her audience, Blaise seems to have it all. But privately, and off the set, there is another untold story she has kept hidden for years.

Blaise’s teenage daughter, Salima, was blinded by Type 1 diabetes in childhood, and her needs have kept her away in a year-round boarding school with full-time medical care and assistance ever since. When Salima’s school closes after a tragedy, Salima returns to her mother’s New York City apartment, and suddenly they face challenges they’ve never had to deal with before, and that Blaise feels ill-equipped to handle. A new caretaker provided by Salima’s school creates as many problems as he solves. Handsome, accomplished, thirty-two-year-old Simon Ward, with strong opinions on every topic, questions how mother and daughter view themselves and each other. Simon opens new doors for both of them and refuses to accept Salima’s physical limitations. He turns their world upside down, and the three become friends.

Then everything starts to unravel and Blaise can’t keep her two worlds separate anymore. A beautiful young anchorwoman is hired at the network; it is no secret that she is being groomed to take Blaise’s place. Her career as she has known it is threatened, and her previously well-ordered life feels totally out of control. For the first time, Blaise’s life is not perfect, but real.

In this unforgettable tale, the incomparable Danielle Steel has written a novel that pulsates with emotion and honesty as three people face the truth about themselves. A Perfect Life is about what we do when facades fall away and we can no longer run from the truth.

©2014 Danielle Steel (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about A Perfect Life

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    3 out of 5 stars

Not bad

This story was okay , I’m used to listening to thrillers and suspense novels but this was a nice change.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

heart felt story

the narrator was awesome, and very well explained and made you feel that I was there

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it.

A heart warming story. I appreciate Steel’s character development. I came to love the characters and enjoyed an uplifting storyline.
Ballerini added a lovely European touch.

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  • Glorianne
  • 2014-09-01

Boring

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The whole story was from the point of view of a narrator with so much repetition of a wonderful life and wonderful this, etc.

What was most disappointing about Danielle Steel’s story?

There really was no action. Narration was a monotone.

Would you be willing to try another one of Edoardo Ballerini’s performances?

NO

What character would you cut from A Perfect Life?

None

Any additional comments?

I wish I could get my credit back. I had to stop after 30 minutes and I deleted it.

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7 people found this helpful

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2020-09-12

An example of true love

What a wonderful story! I just couldn’t stop reading it after starting it. It is definitely a beautiful love story.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • C. Hartman
  • 2020-01-13

New favorite

I have read many books by DS but this is my new favorite.
Can’t wait to start the next

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  • Kimberly
  • 2019-11-08

Beautiful Story!!!

Beautiful story!!! As always, Danielle did not disappoint!!! Danielle writes so beautifully about love; I sure hope that she has a romance of her own to enjoy!!!

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2018-05-03

Great story.

This is my first Danielle Steel novel. I laughed and cried, felt outrage and joy. Just a beautiful storyline! I highly recommend it.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • whoahbaby
  • 2017-05-08

Political?? seriously???

I always read Daniel Steel for relief and escape, No Thank You this time!!! I don't need to be preached to about gun control in America.

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  • AZ reader
  • 2016-06-23

a good story

I've been reading her books for many years. I enjoyed this story more than some of them

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  • Muri
  • 2016-01-13

Perfect Life

the story was really wonderful.. The narrator was very good. enjoyed the. love story. was so nice and pure .. It took all my attention to finish the story..

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • ROBIN
  • 2015-04-04

Nearly deleted several times

Don't think it was the right book for this Narrator. I felt like I was in first grade with one of the grandfather volunteers at story time. Story was good, just kind of drowned in performance.

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  • Sue
  • 2015-04-03

Pointless beginning

What relevance was the whole opening chapter and all the violence? It had nothing to do with the rest of the story. Otherwise I liked the narration.

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1 person found this helpful