Danielle Steel has written another great story about the importance of family.   Finding Ashley reads much like historical fiction, with events woven in a very believable way.  Old relationships are revisited and improved upon and new ones are built. Steel includes many themes in this novel, from forced adoption to the "me too" movement. It is a quick and easy read, with a little heft to it! Thank you, to NetGalley and the publisher, for this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

There were so many facets to this brilliantly told story. Beginning with Melissa, the central character, and the losses she experienced (newborn forcibly given up for adoption, anger with her mother for her role in the adoption, alcoholic father, estrangement from her sister when she joined a convent and the death of her young son). So many tragedies in a relatively brief span of pages – but no less impactful to the telling of the story. With these events, Melissa, left everything she’d known to become a recluse in the Berkshires. Her life events took a dramatic turn when the home she’d been painstakingly renovating, was put at risk during wildfire. Soon after the wildfire near miss she re-established her relationship with her sister – and this was turning point for Melissa’s awakening. I won’t give away the rest of the story here, but I’ll just say it was a page-turner!

This book had many themes – the “ME-TOO” movement, an adoption scandal involving the catholic church, the sister-bond and more.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this book and all of Danielle Steel’s books. You won’t be disappointed.

Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel was an excellent book that showed the redemptive power of forgiveness. As always, Steel includes the perfect elements to keep the reader absolutely enthralled —- family drama, long held secrets revealed, fabulous geographic locations, and relatable characters. Seriously, this is a book that you will start and finish all in the same day. Carve out some time so you are ready!

The book opens with a strong female character, Melissa, who has suffered an unspeakable tragedy with the death of her beloved son to cancer. She has isolated herself to rebuild a house in the Berkshires and left behind her successful writing career and those she loved. Her sister, Hattie, was an aspiring actress turned to a devout nun. They are largely estranged until a secret is shared and they come together again. As the story progresses this seemingly straight forward plot brings out long held secrets and has everyone questioning their values.

Additional secrets are revealed and respectful handling of the #MeToo movement is addressed along with scandals in the history of the Catholic Church.

Steel as usual provides outstanding storytelling with a few twists and a satisfying conclusion to much of the family drama. She tells this story with grace and true empathy. There is a richness and a joy that leaps off of the pages despite the damage to the human heart and the fallout that secrets can cause to not just those directly involved but the entire family unit.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

I have always loved Danielle Steels books. This one was such a great story! Lots of family drama and secrets, Sisters who find their way back to each and all the secrets come out, but they also gets answers they are needing, also do alot of soul searching,

I’ve gushed about Danielle Steel in every review but she can’t write a bad book. This book was beautifully written with tenderness, empathy, compassion, and humility. I always know when I am picking up one of her books it will be a late night. Rest assured you will feel every emotion when reading this story. Another A++

Another great book by Danielle Steel. This story is heartwarming, touching, emotional and hopeful. Always love Danielle Steel, but this one might be my favorite in recent years.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

In this novel, Steel tackles several very timely and interesting themes. It’s the story of Melissa, living a solitary life in the Berkshires after the death of her beloved child and the dissolution of her marriage. It all changes when her estranged sister, now a nun, comes to visit. Long held secrets are shared and Hattie develops a plan to bring her sister back to life.

To do this, Hattie goes to Ireland to one of the infamous convents that housed young unwed mothers and gave their children up for immediate adoption. It is there that Hattie uncovers the scandal and cruelty of that convent. This is a very timely story since another novel by Esther Freud should be added to your reading list.

The visit is the catalyst for life changes for both sisters. Hattie’s story also connects to the unfurling of the unspeakable crimes committed by powerful men, that heralded the ME TOO movement.

I enjoyed this book and I think there is a great deal for book groups to discuss. Honestly, this is a very readable and thought provoking novel.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

It seems as if I have read this story before., but I received an early copy from Netgalley on Kindle for review. Although there are heartwarming moments in this book by a well loved author, some scenes are so explicit they take away from the story. Let’s have historical fiction again and leave out this type of writing. Please

I'm not sure how to explain how I feel about this book. It was, of course, well written. The back and forth from first person to third person threw me off at first. It took me more time to read this than most books, I think because it wasn't a thriller, wasn't a romance...it was just about normal people and their trials in life.

Not my favorite Danielle Steele, but not bad, either.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

"One person leaves and another one shows up. It's as though we always have what we need, in different forms, at the right time, and not the way we expected." Danielle Steel 'Finding Ashley'

Surviving an abusive childhood, Melissa Henderson channeled her anger into becoming a bestselling author. Starring as the protagonist in her life, she casted out people when they didn't bend to her wishes. Losing her young son to cancer, her house of cards, crumbled.

Picking up the pieces of her shattered existence, she dissolved her marriage and set her sights on restoring a rambling Victorian home. While keeping everyone at arm's distance, forceful friends and loved ones make Melissa come to terms with the past to rebuild her future.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review. As a long-time Danielle Steel fan, my favorite books include her historical romances. That being said, #FindingAshley provided charismatic characters and timely issues such as the Me Too Movement. Mel's heartbreaking isolation, rocky relationship with her sister and an unexpected reunion, will have readers crying and smiling through their tears.

"It's like a kaleidoscope, all the bright pieces get shaken up and form a new design periodically...It all happens the way it's meant to , even if we don't like it at times. But there is always a new chapter."

Danielle Steel 'Finding Ashley'

Danielle Steel has done it again. 5 star read. This book is one we all need to read to evaluate what is important in life. Relationships are what this book is about. I absolutely loved this book. It is a page turner, you wont want to put it down.

Finding Ashley is the first Danielle Steel book I have read in decades and I really enjoyed it. It tells the story of Melissa, who is a best-selling author who is still getting over the loss of her young son to cancer. The "Ashley" in the title is the baby that Melissa was forced to give up for adoption when she was 16 years old. No spoilers, but we meet a supportive group of friends and family who ultimately help Melissa heal and look forward to the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel finds Melissa continuing to mourn the loss of her young son Robbie four years after his death and two years after her divorce. She has left her career as best selling author behind her, as well as her life. All of her energy is focuse on continuing to restore the home she bought to escape from the world. The threat of a wildfire opens the door to reestablishing and mending her relationship with her sister, Hattie and opens Melissa's mind and heart to Norm, a local man.

Reunited with her sister, Melissa shares the secret of the baby she gave up years before. Emotions are untangled and old hurts are brought to the surface. Hattie sets off on a journey to find Melissa's daughter, a journey that makes Hattie question her vocation.

I enjoyed this book. It brought up many emotions, imagining the pain of losing a child and questioning choices and reasons why they were made.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

This book memorialized what happens when due to a traumatic event, whether it be Hattie and the producer or Melissa and the loss of Robbie and Ashley, people chose to hide under cover and as a result live a half life. However, when opening themselves back up to love and life, the happiness was tenfold. I am so glad that Melissa opened her heart to Michaela and created a new family as a result. It therefore led her to a real relationship with Norm. As to Hattie, she recognized what she needed to do going forward and in being honest with herself, found her true vocation. A great read regarding pursuing the right path.

Bestseller author Melissa Henderson has become a recluse after losing her son to cancer and her marriage dissolving. She left New York for rural New England and has spent the last four years renovating an old Victorian house. The only contact she has had with people is with her contractor and his workers. After a wildfire threatens her home, she receives a call from her sister Hattie. She is a nun and they lost contact after Melissa disagreed with Hattie’s decision to enter the convent. Melissa agrees to her sister visiting. Melissa tells her a secret from her youth that is tormenting her and Hattie is determined to help her sister if she can. Both sisters are struggling with the past and their journey to find peace and happiness makes this a great read.


Thanks Danielle Steel and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for this book

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Melissa Henderson stopped writing after her young son died of a brain tumor. She shut herself off from everything and everyone including her sister Hattie who is a nun. Whe Melissa was 16 she was forced to give up her daughter for adoption. Hattie hopes to find her niece. This book was well written.

Love this book. Danielle Steel books keep getting better. Definitely recommended this book. Made me cry a few times. Danielle Steel is becoming one of my favorite authors. Thank you for another great book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review.

I’ve always love Danielle Steel writing her book’s have family tragedy and hope and in the end things seem to work out for the best. Finding Ashley is a stories about a mother who thought she lost it all it’s beautifully written 5 star read.

Happy Reading
Lisa

There are a few different story lines that take the lead in this book. Melissa has moved to an old house in New England, after the loss of her young son, and end of her marriage. She has lost the inspiration she once had as a writer, and now leads a quiet life and focuses on the restoration of her house. A phone call from her sister Hattie, helps to open doors to that relationship which has been fragile ever since Hattie became a nun many years before. The sisters relationship begins to warm, and Melissa shares more about her experience of becoming pregnant at 16, and being sent to a convent in Ireland to give birth and give her baby up for adoption.

Hattie is drawn to Melissa's story and experience and wants to learn more about this particular convent and potentially find Melissa's daughter for her. This journey leads to new and strengthening relationships, new discoveries, and key life decisions.

I enjoyed this book. It has many different emotions. Happy sadness love family. All that you would expect from a Danielle Steel book. I seem to be reading a lot of her books lately which is a really good thing. I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review.