Category: Womens Lit

TITLE: High Stakes
CHARACTERS: Jane, Hailey, Allie, Merriwether & Francine
AUTHOR: Danielle Steel
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/08/22
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this captivating novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, five successful women play for high stakes in their careers at a boutique literary and talent agency.

Jane Addison is an ambitious young woman with big dreams of owning her own company someday. At twenty-eight, she arrives in New York to start a job at Fletcher and Benson, a prestigious talent agency. Eager to impress her new colleagues, Jane jumps right in as an assistant to Hailey West, one of the agents in the literary department.

Hailey is dedicated to the authors she represents, but her home life is chaotic and challenging. After her husband’s tragic and untimely death, she was left widowed with three children to raise on her own.

Then there’s Francine Rivers, the stern and accomplished head of the literary department. Also a single mom after her husband’s affair with the nanny, she has overcome the resulting financial hardships, but only with unbearable sacrifice.

Compared to Hailey and Francine, drama agent Allie Moore’s life seems much more carefree and uncomplicated. She relishes her success and loves working with the talented actors they represent—until a passionate relationship with one of her rising star clients threatens to derail her career.

Merriwether Jones is the CFO for the agency. She appears to have it all–beauty, success, and a perfect marriage until her husband’s jealousy over her career threatens to blow everything up.

Even though she’s a newcomer, Jane quickly realizes that there are damaging secrets hidden behind the doors of Fletcher and Benson. As one of the youngest employees, she has the least power, but is also the least willing to accept things as they have been for years. When she puts everything on the line to right these wrongs, the consequences will leave no one unscathed.

In this riveting novel, Danielle Steel tells the story of a group of remarkable women navigating the challenges of balancing their families, their personal lives and the high stakes of ambition at the top of their game.

REVIEW:
Another great book from Danielle Steel but this one might be best to have a warning label. This book is very much wrapped up in the Me Too movement and deals with sexual assault in depth. For some this may be too much but I think Steel wrote the story really well.

The characters are so well defined that even though there are a lot we learn quickly who is who and why they are integral to their storylines.

There is a lot to each woman’s story and this is not a feel good beach read. It is intense but a story that needs to be told.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Calder Grit
SERIES #: Calder Brand #2
CHARACTERS: Blake & Hanna
AUTHOR: Janet Dailey
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/22/22
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A Romeo and Juliet romance with shades of Legends of the Fall powers the intense drama of this beautifully written and researched saga from a legendary New York Times bestselling author. Return to early twentieth century Montana with this compelling book that pits farmer against cattleman and brother against brother, in a story of America’s westward expansion.

As the countryside explodes in violence, the Calder patriarch has the power to stop the destruction, though some believe Benteen Calder is only stoking the flames for his own gain. One man courageously straddles the divide…

That man is Blake Dollarhide, the ambitious young owner of Blue Moon’s lumber mill. When Blake’s spoiled half-brother takes advantage of the innocent daughter of a homesteading family, Blake steps in as Hanna Anderson’s bridegroom to restore her honor and give her unborn child his name. But Blake doesn’t count on the storm of feelings he develops for sweet Hanna. When the war between the factions rages anew, everyone wonders if Blake will stand by the close-knit community he serves, or the wife he took in name only…

A marriage of love is more than Hanna ever dreamed of. For her family, surviving the rugged trip west, claiming a parcel of land and planting their first crops on the vast prairie are the only things that matter. Which is why the unexpected passion she feels for her husband is all the more poignant. But even as she longs to trust the strong bond growing between her and Blake, Hanna knows it will take courage and grit to overcome the differences between them. And even greater strength of will to put down roots in this wild new country.

REVIEW:
Of course this is another wonderful book by Janet Dailey. I have been a fan for as long as I can remember so I am always happy when a new book comes out. This is the 2nd in the Calder Brand series. In this one we enjoy Blake and Hanna.

Set in the 1900’s we visit a time when a lady is compromised, the family steps up and in this one Blake steps up for Hanna when she ends up pregnant by Blake’s half brother. Blake and Hanna are polar opposites but sometimes opposites attract.

I am not sure if this is actually a story from before Dailey passed away or if this is ghost writer(s). But either way the writing is as wonderful as it has always been under Dailey’s name.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Nine Lives
CHARACTERS: Mary Margaret Kelly
AUTHOR: Danielle Steel
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/06/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A woman who longs to avoid risk at all cost learns that men who love danger are the most exciting in this moving novel from New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

After a carefree childhood, Mary Margaret Kelly came of age in the shadow of grief. Her father, a dashing daredevil Air Force pilot, died when she was nine. Maggie saw her mother struggle to put their lives back together. As the family moved from one city to the next, her mother warned her to beware of daredevil men and avoid risk at all cost.

Following her mother’s advice, and forgoing the magic of first love with a high school boyfriend who was too wild to feel safe, Maggie instead sought out all the things her mother had lost–a predictable partner, a stable home, and a regular paycheck. She chose to marry a dependable, kind man who was a reliable husband and successful accountant. Together they had a son and found happiness in a conventional suburban life. Until tragedy struck again.

Now on her own, feeling a sense of adventure for the first time, Maggie decides to face her fears, setting off on a whirlwind trip from San Francisco to Rome, Paris, and Monaco. But when her travels reconnect her with the very same irresistible, thrill-seeking man she’s spent thirty years trying to forget, Maggie becomes terrified that rushing into love and sharing his life may very well end in disaster. But ultimately, while Maggie tries to outrun her fears and painful memories of her past, fate will surprise her in the most astounding of ways, as she walks the tightrope between danger and courage, and between wisdom and love.

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Danielle Steel’s since I was a teenager and have rarely not enjoyed a book from her. And thankfully I enjoyed this story as I usually do.

In this one we meet Maggie who left her first love when they were teenagers because her mom convinced her he was too much of a daredevil to give her any support and a good life. She settled for a man who could give her exactly what her mother said she needed.
But 30 years later she meets her first love and the question of “is fate telling her something” is what she needs to decide.

So on a personal note this happened to me. I met up with my high school love 30 years later and we are now happily married. No it wasn’t for the same reasons as in the story but I felt I had a connection with Maggie as I read this story. Maybe more than any of Steel’s other stories.

Another great story from one of the queens of women’s lit/romance.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Invisible
CHARACTERS: Antonia Adams
AUTHOR: Danielle Steel
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/04/22
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In this riveting novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a gifted young woman must grapple with the legacy of a troubled childhood in order to pursue her dreams.

Antonia Adams is the product of a loveless marriage between a beautiful young model and an aristocrat. As a child, she is abandoned in the abyss that yawns between them, blamed by her mother, ignored by her father, and neglected by both. Unprotected and unloved, she learns that the only way to feel safe is to hide from the dangers around her, drawing as little attention as possible to herself, to be “invisible.”

In her isolation, books are her refuge and movies her escape. A day spent being carried away by an unforgettable film in a dark theater is her greatest thrill. Her love of the movies turns into a dream to become a screenwriter, and a summer job at a Hollywood studio. There, a famous British filmmaker notices her, and suddenly she can remain invisible no longer. He wants to put her in a movie and make her a star. It is a dazzling opportunity but a terrifying one, as it strips her of the camouflage that made her feel safe. She is suddenly thrust into the public eye–and even more so when they fall in love.

She will never let go of her true dream of becoming a filmmaker, though, and if she wants to make that leap, she will have to expose herself in ways she never has before. When tragedy strikes, she must decide whether she will remain center stage or become invisible again, where she feels safest. Will she face her demons, or run and hide?

In this extraordinary novel, Danielle Steel tells the story of a woman who must decide how high a price she is willing to pay to pursue her passion–and whether it is possible to stay true to herself while she does.

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Danielle Steel’s since I was a teenager. This story is typical of her writing and a wonderful read.

In this story we meet Antonia who has always been a wallflower. She has learned to be silent and invisible to protect herself. But when she meets Hamish Quist her life changes in so many ways. But then as the story continues life goes on and Antonia faces decisions.

Steel is one of the best in the romance/women’s lit genre. She drags you in from the meeting of her main character and keeps you interested the whole time. This is no different. The characters are intriguing and the emotion as always is palpable.

Another good story from Danielle Steel.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: Complications
CHARACTERS: Olivier & Yvonne
AUTHOR: Danielle Steel
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/17/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Scandal and tragedy erupt against the backdrop of an exclusive Paris hotel in Danielle Steel’s riveting novel.

Known for its luxurious accommodations and bespoke service, the Hotel Louis XVI has been the most lauded boutique hotel in all of Paris for decades, attracting an international clientele of the rich and famous. Now, after four years of renovations and the death of its legendary and beloved manager, it is set to reopen its doors at last. An esteemed group of loyal returning guests is set to descend upon the hotel, joined by a number of new faces who have managed to secure coveted bookings in the wake of last-minute cancellations.

Awaiting them all is the Louis XVI’s new manager, Olivier Bateau, an anxious man whose lack of experience leaves him unprepared. He and his level-headed assistant manager, Yvonne Philippe, both strive to continue the hotel’s tradition of excellence. But they quickly realize that anything can happen at any moment, and on one cool September evening, everything does.

A successful art consultant arrives at the hotel for the first time since her brutal divorce, and is surprised to find new love—if she is willing to risk her heart again. A new guest contemplates ending his life, and saves a life instead. A couple finds their once-in-a-lifetime trip interrupted by a tragic medical emergency, leaving the idyllic future they’ve long waited for hanging in the balance. And one of the hotel’s most high-profile guests, a French politician and assumed presidential candidate, holds a mysterious meeting in his suite that will threaten his life and legacy. Rocked by the events of this one fateful night, guests and staff alike brace themselves for the aftershock, as it quickly becomes apparent that more dramas and misfortunes are still in store.

Danielle Steel tells an unforgettable story about a famed hotel, where a few complications quickly escalate into a matter of life and death, changing the lives of everyone who passes through its doors.

REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This story is perfectly titled. Why? Because well this story was a bit complicated to read for me. I have been a fan of Danielle Steel’s since I first read Jewels and then I moved back and read most if not all that I found of hers in garage sales and used book stores.

This story was her normal writing and yet not as familiar as her stories usually are. There were so many other stories going on that it was hard to keep up with the main characters. But that being said, the writing kept me interested and wanting to turn the page. But there were a number of times I actually had to go back and figure out who someone was.

The thing is I did give this a lower rating than I usually do for Danielle Steel but I am comparing this to her many many books (over 40) and we all know from any favorite author we have favorite reads and ones that do not fall into that category.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.