Fine Things

Fine Things is the story of Bernard (Bernie) Fine, who finds his calling managing a popular department store called Wolff’s in New York, then in San Francisco. When one day, he rescues Jane, a young girl lost in the store, and meets Jane’s mother, Liz; it’s love at first sight. Bernie and Liz get married and embark on a life together, which includes another baby, Alexander. But tragedy soon strikes. First, Liz is diagnosed with cancer, and then Jane’s biological father, a crook named Chandler Scott, comes after Jane. As Bernie struggles with losing his wife and battles with Chandler, he is tasked with caring for his young son. Even though the story is full of family drama, the plot twists are unrealistic, and the characters feel show more stereotyped and flat. It didn’t hold my attention. I’ve read much better books by this author. show less

This was part of the Danielle Steel "Golden Age" where her books really were page turners.

This book is about Bernie, a rich snob of sorts who realizes his money can't buy him the "fine things" (cue credits). Then he meets a woman, Liz, and falls madly in love with her and the prospect of coparenting her daughter Jane, whom she had in a previous relationship. He desperately wants the love of family and the bonds that come with it, but true to Danielle Steel's style, somebody dies and throws Bernie's world to hell after overcoming the impossible obstacles of finding his true love. The book is about love enduring and conquering all, with a nice decent happy ending, with all the drama, sex, addiction, and chaos that comes in the middle.

The show more television movie they made for this was just okay - this was around the time NBC stopped investing in a lot of their sunday night mini series and it shows in how they rushed it. show less

Smart, likable, Bernie Fine was the wonder boy of Wolff's, New York's most glamorous department store. A senior VP moving up, he arrives in San Fransisco to open a West Coast store. His career is skyrocketing, but his life is lacking a center. When he looks into the wide, innocent eyes of five-year-old Jane O'Reilly, and then into the equally enchanting eyes of her mother, Liz, Bernie knows he has found what he has been looking for. Bernie thought he had found love to last a lifetime, but when Liz is stricken with cancer shortly after the birth of their first child, time becomes painfully short. Alone with two children, Bernie must face the loss and learn how to move on. New people, new experiences, a new life alone with two kids. He show more meets it with courage and humor, and learns some of life's hard but precious lessons as he does. show less

The first book I ever read by Danielle Steel, and to this day it is still my absolute favorite. The story from a man's point of view was excellent, heart-warming, emotional, just all around a successful story.

Bernie Fine meets the woman of his dreams, single mother Liz O'Reilly. They get married and have a son but then Liz dies of cancer so Bernie is alone with Jane (Liz's daughter) and the new baby. So the first part is happy and then it's really sad and then it's about how he finds love with someone else. It follows the hero throughout which is a bit unusual for Steel. I think I've grown out of Danielle Steel books - I read a lot of them as a teen but they don't work so well for me now. (Although I do have a soft spot for Season of Passion...)

Fine Things by Danielle Steel
Bernie starts out as a jock in high school, goes to college, avoids the draft and ends up in a clothing store-the owner loves his ideas.
Years later and relationships later we find him living on the west coast running another store. He first sees the little girl and falls in love with her, then meets the mother and they start a relationship, get married months later
and move to NY where she finds out she is pregnant. As the story goes on we find out Liz back story and her ex husband.
He still travels to Milan and other countries for the fashion designs for the store. The ex reurfaces and Liz ends up with cancer...
Life spirals out of control when the twists and turns stop. So much heart break. They move on and show more things take a turn, like how book got its name.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less

I am not fond of Danielle Steele - probably because I'm not into romantic fiction. I got this book free and only read it because it was about San Francisco.