Danielle Steel

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it did have many of Danielle Steel's writing hallmarks such as repetitive writing and predictable outcomes, I closed the book wanting to know more about this family. Steel leaves the reader in a pleasant place but I still have unanswered questions. But perhaps that was Steel's goal all along: the leave the reader wanting more from this group. I found many of the characters relatable and kind. An affluent family who didn't flaunt their wealth. A nice change from the standard trope and some of Steel's other works.

Overall, this book was a nice, relaxing read. For me, it was a great break from the typical books I tend to gravitate towards.… (mais)

3.5 Stars
This is not a romance, not in the truest sense. Danielle Steel is generally known for her romances, but don't expect any in-depth romance with this novel. It is all about surviving the war. That is not to say that there is not a happy ending though.

I am of two differing minds about this book. It was a wonderful historical fiction book. I haven't read anything about WWII as intense and in-depth as this book in a long time. Some parts of this book made my stomach churn and really played on my emotions. It shows what a great writer Danielle Steel can be.

On the other hand, this book was very repetitious, sometimes even on the same page. Parts were overly dragged out, which is surprising for a book of this length.

It is worth the read if you can overlook the few flaws.

*ARC Supplied by the publisher Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House, the author, and NetGalley.… (mais)

This book feels like something I'd find at a beach house while on vacation and I'm reading it only because I somehow forgot to bring any books with me and also have no way to get to a bookstore or library. The gift that this book gave me is that I only wasted 1 day reading it.

This was my first Danielle Steel and it will likely be my last. Her writing style (and probably subject matters) are just definitely not for me. Part of my issue with this book is that it's a romance about two 16-year-olds, which is really not a type of romance I enjoy. Most of my issue, however, is with the writing style, and the rest is with the bizarre plot.

I just don't understand most of the choices made by the characters in this book, especially the adults. I didn't connect with any of the characters because of Steel's straightforward, tell-never-show, style and that made it hard to just go along with what they were doing, or even root for the relationship between the teens.

I know Ms. Steel is an incredibly prolific writer and they can't all be bangers, but I don't imagine myself giving her another shot. She's definitely got a huge fanbase without me.… (mais)