This was the second Danielle Steel book I read, hoping it'd be better than "The Promise"....and I can only say that it wasn't any worse.

The marriage of Jessica and Ian Clarke was hardly one made in Heaven; even for Earth, it was still a bad bargain. Jessica was a needy, clingy control freak who was also insecure and frightened, due to losing her parents in an accident. She became paranoid that she'd lose Ian too and so she kept a stranglehold on him, in the guise of love. She encouraged him to quit his advertising job to be a full time writer, claiming she wanted him to live his dream, but really so he'd be at home all the time and she wouldn't have to worry about him getting hit by a car on the way to work, or some such thing. She owned a boutique and made good money, so there was no financial problem, but she acted more like a 19thc man, who felt Ian's place was at home, like a good little househusband. She refused to have a baby, because she didn't want to share Ian's love and was forever whining about how she's so scared, she loves him so much, she doesn't want to lose him, on and on ad nauseum. She sucked all the oxygen out of the air, so it's not surprising he needed to escape so he could breathe.

Not that he was without fault, far from it. He claims to not be happy about Jessica supporting him while he tries to write (and what nitwit writes a book of fables and expects it to be a best seller?) yet he doesn't do anything to change the situation, except talk about what he wants, like a baby. But when she gets all whiny and clingy again he gives up and goes back to his not-so-creative writing.
His way of breaking free from his prison of a marriage is to have casual sex now and then, strictly for fun, then makes the mistake of having fun with the wrong woman, who accuses him of rape. He's found guilty and goes to prison.

(I didn't appreciate this way of separating them, Ms. Steel could have done better. False accusations are not entertaining reading, as when they happen in real life, they do irreparable damage to the man accused, as well as make it all the more difficult for women who really are assaulted to be believed. Anyone who makes false accusations deserves to be in jail for a very long time.)

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now. The story goes on to have Jessica change (thank you God) into a better person, less neurotic and selfish, more secure and confident. She moves on with her life, and meets a man who really cares for her, which would have been a great way to end the story. Ian should have gotten out of jail, met with Jessica, talked about how their lives are going (like the book he wrote, the guy had to be locked up before he showed any literary talent), happy that they're both better people, and then gone their separate ways. If this was a regular novel, that could have happened, but because this is a romance, there must be a HEA, however improbable.

Therefore, Jessica, about to make love to her new man, suddenly can't go through with it, because she realizes she still loves Ian! (Oh, come on! She had to get naked with the guy before she figured that out? Maybe she just didn't like the size of him.) Talk about ridiculous, she was doing fine without Ian all this time, so let's not insult the reader's intelligence. Next thing you know, she visits Ian in jail, where she finds him with making out with his cellmate (just kidding, though that would have made things more interesting) where they pour out their hearts (and I poured out my stomach contents) and the next thing you know, he's home!

After reading this, I vowed, to "Now and Forever", stay away from Danielle Steel books. ( )

Most of the book was pretty disappointing. Talk about a couple of spoiled, clueless, immature adults. Fortunately they figured it out by the end. ( )

Now and Forever by Danielle Steel
Ian Clark a writer and he's 10 hours from home and he's ready to go home, especially for sex. A woman who meets his fancy is attracted to him and he gives her a ride to work. She's a waitress at a bar.
Maggie invited him up for a drink, to her hotel room where she lives.
Jessie runs the boutique and she's been on a buying trip and after 3 1/2 weeks she's ready for her husband. They have so much.
The perfect life and everything.
Inspector Holton is in her shop and he's got questions about her Morgan, her car. He's there to tell her of an accident that occurred with her vehicle.
He would question Ian as he was the one driving the car...
He was being charged with rape and assault? She knew he had had flings but they were rare and quiet that they didn't even talk about them. She wasn't sure but she suspected.
What a mess she had to deal with just trying to get him out of jail, set bail and what Ian would have to say about the charges. Would she put up her house, car, your business?
What a tragedy she goes through as the trial starts...
The woman down the street, Astra who loves the style at the shop comes to her rescue and takes her away from the area to her mothers ranch til she gets a handle on things.
Love how she deals with everything and moves on with her life... ( )

no rating given