Four trauma doctors–the best and brightest in their field–confront exciting new challenges, both personally and professionally, when given an unusual opportunity.

Was very disappointed in some of the characters. Not my favorite Danielle Steele book. ( )

I am a nurse so found the medical setting of the book very interesting. I think that it was good for all of the characters to be doing something different for a limited time. It gave them all a chance to reevaluate their lives. ( )

What do you do when the temperature outside is over 40˚C? Sit inside and read of course to try and forget the heat. Turning Point by Danielle Steel did exactly that for me. I plonked myself under the air conditioner and started reading. And reading. Like all Danielle Steel looks, the plot completely sucks you in. I barely moved until the book was finished (but it was still hot outside).

Steel’s books always capture characters with something very interesting in their lives. Turning Point is about a group of emergency department doctors in San Francisco who specialise in trauma. Their lives revolve around their work, which is unpredictable and demanding. They are at the top of their game None of the four are coping well outside work though. Bill is mourning a failed marriage and the relocation of his daughters to the other side of the world. Stephanie is trying to be a good wife and mother, but it’s at the cost of her husband’s career and he’s not happy. Wendy sits around waiting for her married lover to show up on a whim and Tom takes the title of biggest Ladies’ Man. What do they have in common? They are all selected to work on an exchange program with trauma doctors in Paris. It’s going to be an exchange of skills and information. But it turns out to be much more drama than any of them first thought. Terrorist attacks are only the beginning as their French hosts complicate the doctors’ lives and have them asking questions.

What I really liked about Turning Point is that the characters are all strongly flawed and the story is their arc to redemption. They work through their problems (not always in the most appropriate ways) and learn a lot about themselves and their loved ones. They are all taken well outside their comfort zones and forced to paddle like mad. For Tom, this is pretty easy but for Stephanie, this is particularly difficult. Her problems of love, children and fidelity are not clear cut and the suffering she experiences in trying to make a decision that pleases everyone are done realistically. The reader may not always like what she does, but she tries to do what she thinks will hurt the least.

The story wraps up nicely with all the doctors getting their happy ever after in ways that wouldn’t have been possible before the trip to Paris. It’s also a good summary of the way major emergencies are dealt with in Paris and San Francisco. (It probably wasn’t intended, but I found it fascinating how both dealt with large scale emergencies efficiently, in quite different ways). I enjoyed this foray into the medical world by Danielle Steel – it’s tough, yet tender with a compelling storyline.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com ( )

Turning Point by Danielle Steel has us heading to San Francisco, California. Bill Browning is head of the trauma unit at San Francisco General Hospital. Since his divorce, Bill has thrown himself into his work. His ex-wife, Athena lives in London along with their two daughters. Bill looks forward to his rare visits with his two girls. Stephanie Lawrence is married to freelance writer, Andy who stays at home and takes care of their two boys. Stephanie is a trauma doctor at UCSF where she works long hours in her goal to become head of trauma. Andy resents her long hours and their bickering has been escalating. Tom Wylie is the charming emergency room doctor at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland and is popular with the female staff. Tom spends his free time at the local hot spots and has no interest in a long term relationship or marriage. Wendy Jones works in the trauma/surgical critical care center at Stanford and has had a six year relationship with the married Jeffrey Hunter. Wendy looks forward to their Wednesday evenings, but holidays are a lonely time for her. On Christmas, a fire breaks out in a major hotel flooding all their hospitals with victims. In Paris, which is San Francisco’s sister city, terrorists bomb luxury stores and a movie theater causing a massive number of causalities. In the New Year, these four doctors are given the opportunity to journey to Paris to participate in a four week mass-casualty training program. Four physicians from Paris will then come to San Francisco so the two countries can learn from each other. The four San Franciscan doctors bond immediately and look forward to their time in Paris. When a tragedy strikes a Paris school, it causes the doctors to re-evaluate their lives and the choices they have made.

Turning Point is a realistic story that lets us see tragic events from the point of trauma doctors and emergency services. I thought Turning Point was well-written with a steady flow. I found Turning Point to be a compelling novel. I was drawn into the story wanting to see what choices the doctors would make. Going to Paris is a wonderful opportunity for each doctor, but two of them must make a sacrifice. Stephanie is leaving behind an angry husband and two distraught children. However, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is an honor to be picked to participate. Wendy is giving up her Wednesday nights with her lover. She has made great sacrifices to be with him, but she is beginning to wonder if he feels the same way about her. I will admit that her whining did grate on me after a while. I could have done with less of Wendy waxing on about Jeffrey and their relationship. Tom is looking forward to the Paris nightlife while Bill will be able to see his girls every weekend. Tom is a charmer and his character provided levity to the book. Tragedy has a way of making people evaluate their lives as we see in Turning Point. It was interesting to learn more about the roll of trauma doctors and how emergency services operates in another country. I did find some of the medical information presented to be intricate and I would find myself skimming through that paragraph. Other medical knowledge imparted was straightforward and easy to understand. There is, of course, romance in the story but it is light. I liked the Parisian medical professionals and how their stories mixed with the doctors from San Francisco. It is amazing how chaos can bring about change. I am giving Turning Point 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). Those readers who are addicted to Grey’s Anatomy will enjoy reading Turning Point. I look forward to Ms. Steel’s next book which is Silent Night. ( )