I’ve been reading Danielle Steel novels since Danielle Steel started writing novels. But for some reason, it has been years since I have read one even though she has always fascinated me.
Thanks to Netgalley and in being able to read and review the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy), I’ve remembered my love for this amazing author.
Neighbors will be released January 5, 2021.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until then to read this International Bestseller’s many books! Danielle Steel is touted to be the fourth bestselling author of all time, and there’s definitely a reason for that. (Now let my wipe the envy off my sleep and get to my review!)
An engaging book by a brilliant writer with a style that is almost lyrical in its cadence.
Something clicks with reclusive Meredith, once a celebrity superstar, when an earthquake destroys her neighborhood. She makes quick friends and seems to find her way again as she gets outside of the box and the grief that has kept her down for fifteen years. Yet her caretakers, Jack and Debbie, the two people she trusts most in the world, are not what they seem.
The writing is elegant, just like Danielle Steel. Although I found that it started a tiny bit slow, the story moved me and kept me reading because I just had to know what was going to happen next. The characters, all so very real and true, had depths that can shake life up a lot, and it certainly did Meredith’s. A fascinating must read.
This book was amazing. I felt like I took my own trip to Italy to experience all the activities, tastes, and textures with each character, and I’m ready to go back! Heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Francesca, frustrating at times because she didn’t see how putting her work before her family was hurting her daughter and, at times, saw it but just didn’t do anything about it. Her character arc was so interesting and so realistic as she realized the things she was doing and the things she needed to change. Eighteen-old Allegra, a bit of a rebel but so very mature and likable. I loved watching her grow into the woman she wanted to be. And then Sophia, the matriarch who longed for her daughter and granddaughter to find their way back to each other. She believes a trip to Italy will do it, and she had her own story to learn and grow from. I could see and feel the emotion, the characters, the setting, and did not want this book to end.
This book is available for pre-order for release date of January 12, 2021.
My husband looked at my quizzically when I started laughing uncontrollably with my head buried in this book. I haven’t read a romance novel this laugh-out-loud funny in a long time. Peppered with steam between two characters with tense chemistry and all the havoc two sets of families can cause. Teen boys who blame Mallory, their stepmother, for everything—including their father’s death. Gabe’s mother-in-law who would like nothing more than to control his and his son’s lives, and matchmaking friends help to make things go terribly wrong. A small town that knows and judges everything, gossip, and poignant scenes. A shining example of how fun and chaotic Christmas can be, especially when blending families. Heartfelt romance at its best. But this isn’t just a Christmas story. It can be enjoyed any time of the year. So, so good.
I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness lately, and this book was wonderful! Such a difference between being nice, and being kind, and she gives great tips, insights, ideas, and reasons, along with sharing personal stories she has experienced in her life. Kindness truly is a superpower, and this is a powerful book that goes so much more into depth of not just kindness, but living a great life and being true to yourself. I grew up being taught to “be nice” but being nice is sometimes viewed as a weakness. But being kind, this is a superpower unlike any other and the author is adept at going into detail. She also shares stories of celebrities she has interviewed as a host on Good Morning America and teaches that being famously kind is what we should strive to be. Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to review this audio book. It was so nice to listen to and experience, and I believe anyone who works with others could benefit greatly from this book.
I think it has been about 9 years since I got that early morning phone call from my aunt that she had successfully had her double lung transplant.
And she is still celebrating each day.
That is why Breath from Salt was so poignant to me.
Although the book is about Cystic Fibrosis, which is not the disease that could have killed my aunt, the book does mention Bronchiectasis and explains in pretty good detail about the disease I’ve never heard of until my aunt.
But I had heard of Cystic Fibrosis. My good friend in school had it, and is thriving today. Unfortunately, years ago when so many families suffered, it wasn’t known at all. This book walks you through the discovery and shares many stories of families. Gets a bit scientific at times and goes very deep into CF.
This book solves the mystery of medical research, where a genetic disease that affected thousands of children before it was discovered what it was, the love of the families who suffered, and the love of the doctors and researchers and fought and continue to fight today to cure this disease or at least make it possible to live with.
Here’s my official review:
A poignant account of Cystic Fibrosis and stories of what people encountered and research made to discover this disease and get us where we are today. I especially loved the stories of real people. It hit home with me because my aunt had a double lung transplant because of bronchiectasis, which is mentioned in the book and I had never heard of until my aunt’s issues. One of my friends in school had Cystic Fibrosis and is now very successful in her life, but I unfortunately didn’t know much about it and things like that weren’t really talked about back then. Deeply touching and moving story about this disease for anyone who is interested in learning new things even if you don’t personally know someone affected. I learned a lot about research, science, and even medical organizations as well as stories about real people and real families. Highly recommended. Great writing. I couldn’t put it down.
This is my first book by Charis Michaels, but it will not be my last.
Her writing is one that will make other writers weep because it is so good. Each sentence constructed in a way that pulls you so deep into the story and into these character’s hearts and minds. Every writing that I know wants to be able to write this good. Whether it’s your type of story or not, something you would enjoy or not, the writing is superb.
And talk about a mystery of love! These two characters are full of chemistry from the beginning of the page until the end.
Declan and Helena’s chemistry was off the charts! But they each had way too much to lose, especially each other. Declan reluctantly agrees to help her find the perfect wife for her husband-to-be, a duke she desperately does not want to marry. Not just because she’s a woman who longs to marry for love, but because she wants to save her home, her apple farm, and everyone who lives there. And Declan has so many reasons to avoid her and do the job he was hired to do, including the threat of going back to prison, but it’s a good thing he didn’t! It was fun to read about their quest.
The description and emotion of these characters had me holding my breath. Along with many other things they did that could get them into trouble.
![A Duchess a Day: A Novel (Awakened by a Kiss Book 1) by [Charis Michaels]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Hzay01D4L.jpg)