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    Past Perfect
    Past Perfect
    Past Perfect
    Audiobook8 hours

    Past Perfect

    Written by Danielle Steel

    Narrated by Jim Frangione

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, Past Perfect is a spellbinding story of two families living a hundred years apart, who come together in time in a startling moment, opening the doors to rare friendship and major events in early twentieth century history. Sybil and Blake Gregory have established a predictable, well-ordered Manhattan life-she as a cutting-edge design authority and museum consultant, he in high tech investments-raising their teenagers Andrew and Caroline and six-year-old Charlie. But everything changes when Blake is offered a dream job he can't resist as CEO of a start-up in San Francisco. He accepts it without consulting his wife, and buys a magnificent, irresistibly underpriced historic Pacific Heights mansion as their new home. Shocked by an earthquake the night they arrive, the past and present suddenly collide for them in the elegant mansion filled with tender memories and haunting portraits. The original inhabitants suddenly appear for a few brief minutes. In the ensuing days, they meet the large and lively family who lived there a century ago: distinguished Bertrand Butterfield and his gracious wife Gwyneth, their sons Josiah and little Magnus, daughters Bettina and Lucy, formidable Scottish matriarch Augusta and her eccentric brother Angus. All long since dead. All very much alive in spirit-and visible to the Gregorys and no one else. The two families are delighted to share elegant dinners and warm friendship. They have much to teach each other, as the Gregorys watch the past unfold, while living their own modern-day lives. Within these enchanted rooms, it is at once 1917 and a century later, where the Gregorys realize they have been given a perfect gift-beloved friends and the wisdom to shape their own future with gratitude and grace from a fascinating past. Past Perfect is Danielle Steel at her bewitching best, a novel for the ages. DANIELLE STEEL has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 650 million copies of her novels in print. Her many international bestsellers include Magic, Blue, Undercover, Country, Prodigal Son, Pegasus, A Perfect Life, Power Play, Winners, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's book, Pretty Minnie in Paris.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateNov 28, 2017
    ISBN9781501961984
    Past Perfect
    Author

    Danielle Steel

    Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with over 650 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include Property of a Noblewoman, Blue, Precious Gifts, Undercover, Country, Prodigal Son, Pegasus, A Perfect Life, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

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    Reviews for Past Perfect

    4.5/5

    109 ratings9 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Obviously the 100 yrs difference. There are so many things to think about that I haven’t been able to figure out, if I liked it or loved it.
    • 5/5
      Past perfect was so much fun to read Daniel still is amazing. I laughed and cried this is my favorite Danielle steel novel perfect blend of two centuries and two families who become lifelong friends and Beyond
    • 5/5
      I loved this audio book. Its an attractive and interesting story.
    • 5/5
      Wonderfully written and engaging. Loved the story about the family. A lot about love and old family values intertwined in a mystic drama.
    • 3/5
      Very different……………. Thanks for the read….like the romance better ok
    • 5/5
      This book was another TBR on my shelf forever and again Danielle Steel has really put out an interesting and different great book! She comments at the beginning of it that she never wanted to do write the past and present ghost thing, but went ahead and did it anyway. Its's absolutely out there for a plot but no matter it makes you happy to read it and reality has nothing to do with what I read. We get enough reality in our daily lives so read this and enjoy!
    • 4/5
      Past perfect by Steel_ DanielleCybil and Blake married almost 20 years and they have 3 kids-2 in high school and one in first grade, born and raised in NYC and love it there.Blake gets an offer in San Fran and goes out to check it out-there is nothing that will keep him from going there and making tons of money-he has to persuade his wife and kids to go also...Not only did he take the job but bought a huge house, very old for them to move into.20,000 square feet 1902 house with storage that included all art and furniture. Cybil loves the place and the move will give her time to finish writing her book and still do design work if the offers come.They all arrive with their high tech devices and it's quite the contrast to what the house is all about...Eathquake occurs and things are moved to new locations prior to that.... Youngest keeps thinking there are hidden passages and ghosts...Cybil had seen the prior residents as ghosts and tries to explain what she saw when she sees the pictures on the walls.She reads the family historical book and finds out who they all are and calls in someone who specializes in ghosts and he tells her they feel comfortable there and she wants them gone!Like how the families meld but i still think it's very weird. What Cybil finds in the book and acts on it is really weird! Servants think the whole family is crazy talking to themselves as they can't see the old family.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
    • 2/5
      Such a great idea but written in a very simplistic style like a children's book. And holy cow, the traditional gender roles were really weird. And I'm talking about the modern folks here. Son likes sports and is adventurous enough to go to college in Europe, daughter likes pink and wants to be close to home, Mom is always the one cooking, Dad's career is more high powered, etc, etc. I was actually shocked that Sybil worked and her job was prestigious. But she never had to worry about her jobs earning money because Blake's job took care of them financially. Excuse me while I gag on that.

      The "ghosts" were charming and I love that even in Bettina's lifetime, her brothers, etc. were already dead and living in the house. Added an interesting twist. I thought the author was going to do an actual twist with the Gregorys turning out to be the ghosts or some such but that didn't happen. There actually wasn't much of a plot. So I didn't hate it but I felt the idea was so good that it hurt to see it wasted.

      Tiny gripe: When the daughter goes to college, the author has her take along her music machine or system (can't remember the exact word here). What awkward phrasing. Is this an MP3 player? A record player? A whole sound system? An 80's style boom box? Inquiring minds want to know.

      Slightly larger gripe: Tell your ghost friends about 1929! What kind of crap friends let their friends lose their fortune when it's easily preventable? Bert *dies* from it and his wife (I've already forgotten her name - Gwendolyn?) also has an early death. Tell them and let them decide what to do with the information.
    • 2/5
      This book is well written which is typical of Danielle Steel. However, I did not care for this subject. I personally like something more realistic.