Again, you cannot go wrong with a Danielle Steel book if you are looking for an entertaining read. She writes epic sweeping novels with romance, occasional heartache, family drama, etc...

A heartwarming, occasionally heartbreaking, second chance romance. Maggie has had more than her share of tragedy since childhood. Just when she's had enough, a friend gives her a new lease on life. She sets out on an adventure where she reconnects with her high school boyfriend, Paul, many years after they said goodbye. She's an ultra cautious worrier. He's a professional daredevil. They have nothing in common, but chemistry has no boundries. Maggie is stronger than she's perceived and fierce when it comes to those she loves. Paul, while kind of selfish, has a good heart and grew on me. I really enjoyed reading this story and didn't want to put it down.
Thank you Danielle Steel, Delacort Press and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Maggie has not had an easy life. At an early age she lost her father and then years later her brother to a plane crash, with her mother following soon after due to a broken heart. After all the traumatic life experience tossed her way, Maggie followed in her mother’s footsteps to seek out a easy and safe life.

Now in her late forties with a teenage son at home, Maggie is content with her life until she’s dealt with one more devastating blow. Upon the urging of a friend, Maggie decides to go on a trip to San Francisco, Rome, Paris and London to help find herself again and discover what she wants with the rest of her life.

During her trip Maggie runs into her first love from High School. Paul is know as one of the most famous race car drivers in the world, a man who loves the thrill, would rather die than have a boring life, and believes he has nine lives to live.

The two spend the rest of Maggie’s trip traveling together and resume their friendship. Despite his protests, friendship is the only thing Maggie is after. She has no intention to welcome the idea of being around someone who is willing to die doing reckless things, she’s been through enough. But first love is a tricky thing and at some point the heart wants what the heart wants, right? Is Maggie willing to throw caution to the wind or will she continue to listen to her mother’s warning to stay away from the thrill seekers as they will only do more harm than good.

I fully enjoyed following Maggie’s journey. She was a bright strong woman who has been through more trauma and heartbreak than most should. She was willing to rediscover herself and be open to new possibilities. It was great to travel to all these destinations with Maggie and get out of this Covid bubble for a couple hours.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me with this ARC.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of Nine Lives by Danielle Steel. For me, Danielle Steel is like coming home. I love the way she tells a story. Nine Lives was no different. I loved it!

Another great book by Danielle Steel. Her books keep getting better and better. Definitely recommend this book. Thank you

I have read all of her books, there is just something about her writing the calls to me. I start reading and then I am halfway through before I realize it. Then one started out so sad and heartbreaking but had high school sweethearts who decided to go their separate ways, Maggie just keeps moving along with marriage and a child then heartbreak strikes again so we see her struggle with that, she decides to take a 4 week trip and her life changes in the best way, true love story with all the ups and downs that Danielle Steel does so well. This one had the most amazing ending!

This is a typical DS novel. Definitely not one of kg favorites but kept me engaged throughout. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed the story overall but it was an interesting read. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Mary Margaret aka Maggie suffered some great losses when she was younger. She lost her father who was a navy pilot when she was nine. She lost her brother who was in the military when he was twenty three. Her mother slways told her to find someone who was safe. She ended up marrying an accountant and having a son. When Maggie and her husband were on vacation. Their plane crashed killing Maggie's husband. Maggie is unsure of what she wants to do. Her friend talks her into going on a European vacation. While in Monaco she meets her old high school boyfriend who is a race car driver. She learns they both have feelings for each other. This book was well written and an enjoyable read.

Despite all the tragedy that Maggie encountered whether it be Brad, Tommy or her mother, she remained confident in her happiness and the desire to live rather than just exist. It is through this strength of character that she asserted herself to Paul as to what she wanted and deserved and that she would not be subservient to his reckless behavior. A true testament to love and growth and how under the correct circumstances, anything is possible.

Another winner by Ms. Steel! I loved this book. A powerful story that took you through numerous emotions of love, tragedy, dispair, hope and back to love again! Very good and powerful storyline.
Could not put this book down once i started it. Once again, Ms. Steel did not disappoint!

Maggie Kelly's life is filled with contradictions. While the men in her family embrace risking their 'Nine Lives' that carefree attitude leaves Maggie retreating. When her carefully-constructed world shatters, Maggie realizes that her glass tower didn't guarantee protection.

A beloved friend forces Maggie to reexamine her life and that newfound freedom unlocks traveling and trying on new experiences. Just when she's opening herself up to the future, Maggie must decide whether to risk her heart or forgo happiness?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #NineLives in exchange for an honest review. As a Danielle Steel fan, I eagerly awaited her new novel. Cozying up on the couch with my comforter in hand, I toasted the start of a new adventure.

The pandemic halted my international plans and through books, I'm able to armchair travel. As Maggie discovered London, Paris and Rome, I revisited some of my favorite cities. Experiencing places where I lived and loved brought back special memories heighted by experiencing them through Maggie's eyes.

One of my favorite passages from the novel is Maggie experiencing Paris for the first time:

“The sight of the Champs-Élysées stretching toward the grandeur of the Arc de Triomphe with a huge French flag fluttering under the arch, the wide tree-lined street, and the splendor the Place del Concorde with its fountains and sculptures. She had seen countless movies filmed there but nothing brought it home like being there. She could see the beautiful bridges, Napoleon’s tomb in the Invalides with its gold dome on the other side, on the Left Bank. After crossing the gilded Alexander III Bridge back to the Right Bank, they entered the Place Vendome with its Napoleonic battle monument in the center, elegant jewelry shops all around the square…Paris had an entirely different flavor from Rome, which was a venerable ancient city filled with beautiful old monuments and young people…there was a spirit of romance there, which was contagious. Paris was sheer beauty at its most dazzling. Everywhere Maggie looked there was something beautiful to see.”

Maggie has suffered through several losses in her life, beginning with the death of her father who was a test pilot in the Air Force. The losses and her resulting anxiety are crippling. As a reader, her anxiety and fear of future loss is palpable, and she tries to remove all risk from her life, including people who make risky choices.

After even more loss, a friend pulls her out of her grief and encourages her to start exploring the world. The trip opens up a world of possibilities to Maggie, but also introduces a risky person back into her life. The story line is predictable but a nice story to lose yourself in for a day.

This book started off depressing, but then it got really interesting with a bitter sweet ending. Maggie has overcome alot in this book, and she finally finds her happiness through it all. I think this will be one of Danielle Steel's best books in 2021. I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Nine Lives by Danielle Steel is an excellent book by an amazingly readable author, This book showcases the redemptive power of love. Steel had the perfect elements to keep the reader absolutely enthralled —- tragedy, long held beliefs questioned, conflicted relationship dynamics, exquisite 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 features a strong female character, Maggie, who experiences multiple losses of those she loves. She is struggling to find a purpose in her new circumstances. Due to the love of her son, Aden, and the prodding of a good friend, Helen, Maggie is encouraged to plan a whirlwind trip to see the world. After much prodding, Maggie does agree to go. What she finds rocks her back in time thirty years to the boy she once adored.

Maggie is forced to navigate an entire rollercoaster range of emotions as she struggles with following her head over her heart. Following her head will lead to the security she craves. While following her heart will lead her into untold highs, but also the greater possibility of dehabilitating lows. Steel expertly weaves a story that will have you empathizing with Maggie’s internal desires.

As always, Steel has outstanding storytelling with a few twists and a satisfying conclusion to much of the internal struggles, She tells this story with exquisite detail and you feel true empathy. You know you are invested in the characters fully when you can’t help but ponder how you would handle this situation and the fear of losing the one you love.

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

I was lucky to be approved to read an advance copy of Nine Lives by Danielle Steel in exchange for my honest opinion. First off, I am a huge Danielle Steel fan and have yet to read a bad book by her. This book pulls you in from the first page and will keep you reading late into the night. I started and finished this all in one day. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for all of you to read it! You will not be disappointed and it will leave you wanting her next book to be published even sooner! It's that good!

This book was sent to me on Kindle for review by Netgalley. It is about love and loss...character driven. It is a quick read for an afternoon by the fire. The main character losses much bit finds love again as she raises her son. Money is no problem...traveling and shopping ensue...at times, she is floundering...looking for meaning in her life...she seems to depend upon men to find herself. Not a favorite but nothing intrusive...try it...