Family Ties - Danielle Steel

Annie Ferguson - a bright, talented young Manhattan architect - had the world in the palm of her hand...until a single phone call altered the course of her life forever. Overnight, she became the mother to her sister's three orphaned children. Suddenly, her own life seemed indefinitely on hold.

Years later, she is as independent as ever, and with a satisfying career and a family that means everything to her. Annie is comfortable being single and staying that way, but with her nephew and nieces now young adults, with careers as diverse as fashion editor, law student and rebellious artist, she is facing the empty nest with some trepidation. Then a chance encounter of her own changes Annie's life yet again.

From Manhattan to Paris and all the way to Tehran, Family Ties is a novel that reminds us how challenging and unpredictable life can be, and that the powerful bonds of family are the strongest of all.