Invisible

Antonia had a horrible childhood.  She grew up with a narcissistic mother who aspired to be an actress and a father who worked night and day.  She was raised by babysitters and shown no love whatsoever.  Her father resented her mother, who had aspirations to be an actress, who abandoned the family when Antonia was a child.  As she was growing up, Antonia had no contact with her mother.

She wants to be a writer of screenplays.  This displeases her father as he thinks she really wants to be an actress as her mother.  After Antonia finishes high school, she goes to college at NYU and has interesting summer internships in the film industry. She has a wonderful friend in college and begins to see what loving family looks like.  

Can Antonia find love in her life?  Will she achieve a career as a screenwriter?  Who will mentor her?  It's all vey intriguing.  It is amazing that Antonia is strong enough to not let the lack of love she experienced in life deter her in any way.  

Who doesn't love a Danielle Steel book?  I love the main character of a strong woman, like Antonia, who overcomes such diversity.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

The Nantucket Beachfront Inn

 

Ava is an attorney in NYC.  She and her 2 best friends are at their peak career-wise, but their life is unfulfilled.  Ava has triplets who have grown up and are living on their own.  She loves her NYC condo, but her job leaves her overworked, washed out and longing for something different.  But, finances keep her where she is.  Her previous husband cleaned out her savings on his way out.  

She befriends an older man, a client of hers who leaves her a huge home in Nantucket in his will, much to her surprise..  It comes at a perfect time in her life.  What better use for it than a beachfront inn in Nantucket?  The story includes her friends, her children, her mother and others on Nantucket.  

I am a sucker for any story set in Nantucket.  There's something so enviable about that beachfront, carefree life.  This story includes not only strong women, but relationships and struggles in life.  The author did a great job in creating a positive environment for the characters.  They were not whiners who blamed everyone else for their problems.  They were self-driven and showed they were responsible for changing their own lives.  And it's the first in a series of 8 books!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to review this book.

Wish You Were Here

 

Diana is an art specialist for Sotheby’s.  Her boyfriend, Finn, is a surgical resident. Their life is planned- marriage, 2 kids, house in the suburbs. She anticipates that he’ll propose on an upcoming trip to the Galápagos Islands. The COVID-19 virus has hit and it’s horrible in NYC. Finn works night and day and Diana loses a big client jeopardizing her promotion. The country goes on lockdown.  What happens with the trip to Galápagos Islands?  Does Diana go alone? Without giving details, it is life-changing. 

When I first received this book to review, I wasn’t excited about a book about COVID. Being a nurse, it’s too real. We all have COVID fatigue and would just rather forget it and be done. But, this book is about so much more than COVID. The characters are like so many that spend their life working for “things” only to find out that that’s not what’s important in life. How often do we settle?  How often are we in relationships that don’t bring us joy?  This book really gets down to what’s important in life. As usual, Jodi Picoult does not disappoint.  

Flying Angels

 

Audrey and Lizzie lived lives of privilege.  Audrey wanted for nothing materially, loved her family, but was lonely after her father and brother died. She enters nursing school knowing she will care for her mother as her dementia progresses. She meets her best friend Lizzie in nursing school.  Lizzie is from a wealthy East Coast family.  She doesn't quite fit the mold and doesn't feel like she fits in with her family.  She's not interested in all the trappings of wealth.  They are appalled when she chooses a career in nursing.  After graduation, Lizzie works as a nurse and Audrey cares for her mother.  The war breaks out, Audrey's brother enlists and perishes in Pearl Harbor.  Audrey's mother dies and both Audrey and Lizzie enlist in the flying nurse corps.  They are stationed in England and join a troop of other nurses and health care professionals that retrieve those injured at the front line.  They are called the Flying Angels.

This is yet another Danielle Steel novel that does not disappoint.  The story of Audrey, Lizzie and the friends they make during the war is the real story.  It's a story of friendship, war, resilience and love.  

The Butler

 

The Butler- hmmm.  When I read the title, I was intrigued.  How could a book about a butler be interesting?  Of course, the lives of servants in Downton Abbey come to mind.  We think of them being totally at the beck and call of the estate owners and not having a life of their own.  But, the story of Joachim Canal is intriguing and very interesting.  He grew up in Argentina, from a family once thought of with great regard at one time.  With disgrace of his family, his mother raised her twin sons in poverty.  When the twins were 17, the mother married a Frenchman and moved to Paris with Joachim in tow.  Javier, the rebellious son, stayed with friends in Argentina.  Always in trouble, Javier chooses a life of crime.  This breaks Joachim's heart.  Always a great student, he drifts and eventually enters service as a butler to aristocratic families in England.

Olivia grew up with a single mother and barely knew her father.  When her mother dies, and her decorator magazine folds, she decides to spend a year in Paris.  She finds a beautiful apartment she has to decorate and hires an assistant.  

The story of Joachim and Olivia is a great one.  Two souls have vowed to live their lives in solitude because of the awful relationships they experienced between their parents comes to light.  Can they make this work?  This is a delightful story about overcoming obstacles in life, charting your own path and choices. 

I know that once I start a Danielle Steel book, I won't want to put it down until the story is complete.  This book is no exception.  And, yes, butlers do have a life beyond service.

*I received an advance copy of the book  from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Country

 

The word for America is Mei Guo, which translates as Beautiful Country.  This story chronicles 5 years of the author's life as an immigrant child.  Many Chinese people in her hometown saw America as the land of the free, home of the brave, land of opportunity.  Qian immigrated to New York City with her parents as a young child.  She remembers little about her roots except the warmth and love of family left behind.  Her parents, professors in China, had to take menial jobs in America.  Sweatshops, warehouses, meat packing plants, cab driving- you name it.  Their education and expertise were not recognized and left them with few opportunities.  They live in less than ideal living quarters in less desirable areas.  School was a challenge for Qian as she did not speak English.  

Can her parents improve their circumstances?  Can Qian rise above the challenges she faces in America?

This is a beautifully written book.  The descriptions make the author feel as though they are present in the story.  It is a story of hope perseverance and determination.  It kept me reading because I just knew things had to get better for this family.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Complications

 

Complications?!?!  Every character in this book has complications in their life.  They are far from perfect, have not always made the right decision and are very "real".  Who doesn't have a complicated life?  

Gabrielle is a successful business woman who is divorced from her older cheating husband.  Patrick Martin is a politician who aspires to become the next president of France.  But, he has created a deceptive life that rocks his career goals and destroys his family.  Richard and Judythe met and had an instant attraction at her wedding.  

What do these characters have in common?  They all love the Hotel Henry XVI in Paris and check in for the reopening after a 2 year renovation.  The previous manager, adored by all, has died and his replacement is a nervous mess.  Within the first week of opening there is a murder, a near death experience and new beginnings.

I have to say after reading this book I am grateful for my "simple" life.  No complications anywhere near what these characters experience!  This book takes you on a journey of survival and reinforces that you can create the life you want.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Mary Margaret Kelly tried to life a "safe" life, not taking chances.  She lost her father, an Air Force pilot, early in her life.  Her mother always reminded her to choose a "good" boy, not a "bad boy".  As much as she was warned to avoid the adventurous type, that is what she is drawn to.  Her teenage boyfriend wanted a life of adventure.  This scared Maggie.  She chose a more conventional husband, had a son.  After tragedy strikes, she seeks adventure and reconnects with her first love.  

The author makes you feel as if you are right there experiencing this story.  I understood Maggie and felt what she felt.  This was a quick read because I wanted to see what would happen next!  When I need to read something that will keep my attention, incorporates beautifully described settings and leave me with a feel-good feeling, I seek a book by this author.  

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Family Reunion

 

Nancy Thayer to me is the essence of summer.  Who doesn't love summer?  Warm days, porch swings, beaches, swims, and long evenings.  Everyone is relaxed, happy and enjoying life.  The setting of Nantucket in her books is perfect.  Her writing lets the reader embody the characters.  We know what they are thinking, what they are feeling, what they contemplate and what guides their actions.  The reader feels like they are part of the story, or at least, want to be!  

Eleanor Sunderland is 70 years old, lives cliffside in Nantucket in her ancestral home.  Her 2 children, Alicia and Cliff, are central characters as is her granddaughter, Ari.  Eleanor looks at her 2 children and wonders how they were products of the upbringing she provided.  They look at her old, huge Nantucket home as a money pit they would love to sell and reap the rewards.  Ari is more like Eleanor.  She is kind, loving and realizes that material possessions are not what is most important in life.  Ari has her struggles and seeks solace and support from her grandmother.

I love the style of writing Nancy Thayer uses.  I will tell you that I have read every one of her books and have enjoyed each one.  However, this one is exceptional!  I have a book hangover today because I just could not put this one down until I finished it.  This morning, I'm so sorry the book is finished.  I miss the characters!  If you read only one book this summer, let this be it!

The Affair

 

Rose McCarthy is the editor in chief of a fashion magazine. Her three daughters are as different as night and day. While two of her daughters live in the US, Nadia lives in France. She did a year abroad studying in Paris and stayed. She is married to a writer of novels and screenplays. Her husband is very French, including the French way of multiple affairs. But he’s really done it this time!  Had an affair with a young starlit who is now pregnant. Worse yet, they are flaunting their affair in public!  Yes, he loves Nadia and doesn’t want a divorce. Can she forgive him?  Ever trust him again?  Or does she go the way of many Americans and divorce him?

I have read almost every one of Danielle Steel’s novels and this one did not disappoint. The contrast of values between Nadia, her sisters, her mother and the 2 countries reinforces that one should live life based on their personal values, not the judgement of others. 

*I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.