Very easy read. Really enjoyed the storyline. Seemed like it repeated the words a lot to make the story longer but over all enjoyed the story. Ms. Steels book flow easily. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing to read and review and St. Martins Press.

Although it's quite a bit shorter and less wordy than the old Danielle Steel books I grew up reading, The Butler also seemed more modern and an easier read. I enjoyed the story and rooted for both of the main characters. No surprise in the ending or the formulaic plot (both were typical DS), but don't expect any love or sex scenes. For reference my favorite of her books is Zoya.

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.

Now I remember why I like Danielle Steel books so much. There is nothing too dramatic going on, nothing too stressful, just a good story to sit down and read. It sounds boring, I guess, but sometimes I just want to read and enjoy a book without a lot of drama. I think it's a comfort thing.

The Butler tells the story of a gentleman who has been disappointed in life by his father and his twin brother. We also meet a woman who has been disappointed in life. This is the story of their meeting and how they work together. Of course, it all ties up neatly at the end.

It was just what I wanted!

Joachim and Olivia are both coping with change in middle age- he's lost his long time position as a butler in the UK and she's lost her mother and her magazine. They meet when she is looking for assistance with her new apartment in Paris and, well, this is a Danielle Steel novel so.... It's also a bit different from her usual work because Joachim is at the forefront. His back story- his life in Argentina, his twin Javier, etc- could make a novel on its own. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a quick and entertaining read that Steel fans will welcome.

I've been a bit down, or at least "meh" about the last view Danielle Steel books I've read. In that sense, this one was a refreshing change in that I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, and didn't have a lot of negatives. It was still somewhat predictable, although less so in many ways. It was refreshing that this didn't follow the typical timeline you find in most of her books. I really liked the two main characters, Joaquim and Olivia - their characters were relatable and likable. I enjoyed the twist of having the familial issues on the male character's side rather than just another "damsel in distress" story. I also really enjoyed the secondary character of Joachim's mother. I've been a long time reader of Danielle Steel, and this one is definitely one of her better ones, in my opinion.

Love love loved this. Ms Steele is one of my favorites. Her characters are so wonderfully created. Sometimes I feel like I know them personally. Wonderdul read.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley . My review opinions are my own.
This is by far one of her best books. Its a wonderful story of rich charcters , friendship and family. I loved the way she wove the charcters backgrounds into who they grew up to be. The Butler is the primary charcter and a masterful work of creating a charcter with strong sense of family loyalty, morals and class. The author incorporated historical references and tied the history of each charcter to he present day story. This is a book you will read through to the end . I loved it from beginning to end. 5 star read I highly recommend. Its a lovely book to read in these terrible times that truly sweeps the reader away. Very well done to Ms. Steel.

Another winner by Danielle Steel with her newest work, The Butler!

The lives of Joachim and Olivia become intertwined as she hires him to be her new butler. The two work side by side and their lives begin to intertwine.

Joachim, born and raised in Buenos Aries, gives the background of his life, and the impact of his identical twin brother. Choosing risk over family, the boys become separated in their late teens and head in opposite directions. Joachim heads to butler school while his brother takes a darker path.

Olivia poured her heart and soul into what's now a failed magazine and is trying to make the best of things. She heads to Paris, meets, Joachim, and the story takes off from there.

Both characters grow and evolve through the work. Finding themselves in each other, Steel once again makes me believe love is real and anything can happen if you take the chance...

I rediscovered Danielle Steel a few years ago. Some of her newer books have reminded me of why I loved her book so many years ago. Unfortunately, The Butler is not her best. The writing is often repetitive and doesn't flow smoothly. The premise is fascinating. The books takes place in the present and the main protaganist is a male character, the butler named Joachim. He has had a difficult life and his family origins are compelling. Joachim has trouble finding a career and goes to "Butler school". He finds satisfaction in being a butler, but his life is lonely. Eventually, he meets Olivia, who is career driven and her personal life is lacking. Will they fall love or just be friends? I'm not giving up on Ms. Steel just yet. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Taking a different path than most of Ms. Steel's books, this one has a male lead character, and the majority of the storyline is through his eyes. Joachim and his twin, Javier, were raised by their mother for most of their lives, until she met a wonderful man who lived in Paris and convinced them to move there, away from Argentina. Javier chose to stay behind in Argentina, and Joachim went to Paris, finished his schooling there, even attended the Sorbonne. His mother took a job tracing the provenance of paintings that were separated from their owners by the Nazis. It was fulfilling work but emotional as well.

Joachim moves on with his life, learning the skills of a butler and after working several jobs for very important people, starts to work for Olivia. Olivia is struggling a bit, and she and Joachim start to bond. Along the way, Joachim discovers some very distasteful information about his brother and his family, causing him to struggle with his identity.

Rather than a coming of age story, this was more of a tale of mature individuals finding comfort in themselves first as individuals, then in each other. It was a good, solid read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Review of Complications by Danielle Steel
An easy to read quick story ( like all Danielle Steel books), Complications is light to read, yet strewn with with lots of twists and turns. Not a deep novel, but a fun summer book to read for pure entertainment.

Danielle Steel has done it again! The Butler is a bestseller just waiting to be released. This is a lovely story of change, love, loss, and family secrets. Joachim and Olivia are from two very different backgrounds and when they meet in Paris they must learn to let go of the past in order to live in the future. Beautifully told Danielle Steel keeps the reader captivated until the very end. Thank you to #NetGalley , Danielle Steel, and her publisher for my requested ARC and this is my honest review.

One of the best Danielle Steel books. Joachim and Olivia come from different worlds - They find together the importance satisfying work , friendship and the start of a new life together. Great Read!!

Another of Danielle Steel's well-done novels, The Butler was a solid read. The story is perhaps a bit slower and quieter than her usual stories, but they always bring me in and keep me turning pages through the end. This was a heartbreaking story of a family divided through death and lost souls.

This is the story of a man and a woman trying to make it in Paris. The man was a butler in England until the masters passed on, and he returned to stay with his mother while he tries to find something else to do. The woman is a former magazine owner that went belly up and she is trying to find something to do. She starts to set up her apartment in Paris, and hires the man to help her. Then, a friend suggests that the woman help renovate a mansion, and again, she hires the man to help her.

This is a story of a man, Joachim, who decides to go to a school to learn to become an English butler. When in France, he meets Oliva who is at a crossroads in her life. Working together on a project makes them reevaluate whether they want to be single for the rest of their lives. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Delacorte Press for my honest review.

This is a typical Danielle Steel book. A predictable, but enjoyable story that will allow you to escape the real world. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars.

Meh story line. Lots of repetitive text. Lost a full star with: “the Texan child bride would probably have raped me, which might not have been an unpleasant experience, but then her husband would have killed me.” Huh really? No thanks.

Typical Danielle Steel Novel + Twins Twist = THIS BOOK! I am a Steel fan, but this book is really topping the list of favorites from her. A set of twins are led to grow up apart from one another, and this book follows the aftermath of that and how it impacts their upbringing and future lives. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.