This novel was different than most of her other books. It was hard to read in places compared to her other novels. The characters were very good and their stories interesting.

Another pallet cleansing book for me by Danielle. Nice dynamic between the characters, a mother and her 2 totally different daughters and their respective partners and how they all mesh and come together.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press and the Author Danielle Steel for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kezia Cooper Hobson, a widow who resided in San Francisco for over twenty years, decided to sell her home and her business and move to New York City. She arrived in NYC in June to start a fresh new life in her midtown penthouse. Now that she lives in NYC, Kezia is now closers to her two daughters Kate and Felicity. Kate is searching for her biological father who gave up his rights to fatherhood after Kate was born. Felicity is a successful model.

While watching fireworks from her penthouse balcony on July 4th, she becomes alarmed when explosions are heard throughout NYC. She meets and becomes friends with her neighbor Sam, a widowed movie star as they help out with the tragic aftermath. Also, we see a relationship develop between kezia and Sam. Sam was very impressed by Kezia nursing skills, he encouraged her to go back to nursing.,a profession she adored, but sacrificed when she married her husband Andrew.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this action packed and romantic story. Unfortunately, it had to take a tragedy as bad as 9/11 to bring these two people together.. It proved to Kezia that it was "never too late" to start over with her beloved profession and a second chance at love.

I would love to see a sequel with regards to Kezia two daughters, Kate and Felicity and see where their lives has taken them once they returned to NYC.

What is not to love about a book that takes place in NYC. The family dynamics between the mom and her daughters was great. There was a traumatic event that takes place in the book. I didn't care for the tragedy but I will not let that make my deciding factor on what I thought of the book. There were new relationships made and friends.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for an honest opinion.
#nevertoolate, #daniellesteel, #netgalley, #familydynamics, #friends, #NYC

Five years ago, Kezia Cooper Hobson lost her 75-year-old husband to Covid. She was 55 at the time. Now, she has decided to move from San Francisco to Manhattan in New York. There she can be closer to her two daughters, Kate and Felicity, who is a model in Paris.

Kate was fathered by a young medical student who signed his rights to the baby without seeing her as his dream was to work with Doctors Without Borders in Africa. He is there now with his wife, another doctor. Kate has never gotten over his dismissal of her and is determined to travel to Africa and meet him. She lives with Jack, a man who fiddles with writing a book and not making any money. He lives off Kate.

Felicity is happy as a famous model in Paris. She lives with her wealthy boyfriend, Blake, and they are currently in Paris where some shows are ongoing.

On July 4th as fireworks in New York are going off, some huge explosions begin destroying landmarks, killing and injuring thousands of people. Kezia and her neighbor, Sam, a well-known actor, decide to go and help. As Kezia was once a nurse practitioner, they put her to work helping the injured and Sam helps move body bags. The whole country is on lockdown and no flights can go in and out. In addition, communications are almost zero. Kate and Felicity, both being out of the country, are scared for their mother and want to get back as soon as they can fly again. The CIA, FBI, and other organizations have figured out who the perpetrators are and are ready to catch them before they can carry out more of these attacks.

As Sam and Kezia become closer, a romance sparks and they, along with her daughters, and his son, John, meet and get along with one another. Perhaps they can become a happy family group one day.

I found this to be a story that showed the pain of Kate feeling abandoned which I think the author wrote well. In addition, the terror of the July 4th attack on New York was written so vividly that it sent chills down my spine. I have long been a fan of Danielle Steel and always look forward to reading yet another of her books. This one was truly great. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have been reading Danielle Steel’s books since middle school. I have always found them to be quick, light reads, so I went into reading Never Too Late with a certain expectation based on previous reads. While I got it, I wasn’t a big fan of what was going on in the background (the terrorist attack). It left a sour taste in my mouth that didn’t go away once the author quickly wrapped it up. I also didn’t care for Kezia or her daughters. So, this book became a “meh” book for me.

The main storyline of Never Too Late centers on Kezia, Sam, and the terrorist attack that changed their lives. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, I wasn’t a big fan of this storyline. It brought back a lot of unneeded memories of 9-11. But, thankfully, the author did put that part of the storyline in the background. The storyline then focused on Kezia, Sam, Kate, and their issues. This was the storyline that I enjoyed reading (even if I didn’t like Kezia or her daughters). I enjoyed seeing Kezia and Sam’s relationship bloom from friendship to love.

I mentioned that I was not too fond of Kezia or her daughters. Kezia alone was fine. I enjoyed her interactions with Sam and seeing their relationship flourish. But when Kezia interacted with Kate or Felicity, two different sides came out. She was either a caring mother who equally loved both daughters, or she put Felicity up on a pedestal and flaunted it to Kate.

I didn’t have a really big opinion of Felicity. I thought it was a little icky that she was dating a man in his 30s and had been dating him for years (since she was in her late teens). Compared to Kate and Kezia, she was not as flushed out and came across as a little flat.

I couldn’t stand Kate. She rubbed me the wrong way. While I did feel bad for her (her birth father wanted nothing to do with her), she did have a great adoptive father who did everything for her. I can understand why she felt the odd one out, but it doesn’t excuse how she treated Kezia and Felicity throughout the book. Even after she returned from Africa, she was a douchecanoe. But, there was a slow shift in her attitude once she realized her boyfriend was only with her for the free ride (she had a trust fund and didn’t have to work). By the end of the book, she had a change of heart and attitude, but for me, it was too little too late.

The love angle of Never Too Late was pure Danielle Steel, which is why I didn’t give this book a 2-star rating. She knows how to write a love story, and she wrote this one in a way that I really enjoyed reading. You knew who was going to end up with how and possibly when. It was the in-between, the build-up that I enjoyed.

The end of Never Too Late was your typical HEA. I liked that everyone got an HEA. There was a character (coughKatecough) who I was firmly convinced would be bitter forever. So, I was surprised about that. I was also surprised at who she ended up with.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and Danielle Steel for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Never Too Late. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

On July 4th, a horrible attack happens in NYC - worse than 911. Kezia Cooper and her husband Andrew had a great marriage but he died five years ago and at Kezia decides it is time to move from San Francisco to NYC - a place she always loved; additionally is where her two adult daughters live.. Her sixth birthday is coming up and she thinks – it is never too late to try something new and perhaps find happiness again. As she is settling into her new apartment, she finds that her terrace is next to Sam Stewart a movie star! Things click for them. As with many of Danielle Steel's novels, "Never Too Late" is a compelling and engaging read, drawing readers in with its relatable characters and captivating storytelling. The author's ability to weave together multiple storylines seamlessly adds richness and complexity to the overall plot. Never Too Late is a beautiful look at family members in transition and the bravery it takes to achieve self-actualization.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine ~ Delacorte Press

Danielle Steel gave us characters to fall in love with again. Kezia after a wonderful marriage loses her husband and decides after 5 years in San Francisco she needs that clean break. Fast forward she joins her two girls in NYC. Her two adult daughters could not be more different. Kate a writer needing to figure out who and how to love again, and Felicity who is a fashion model, in an amazing relationship that is blossoming in front of everyone’s eyes. In the meantime Kezia has found herself in a beautiful penthouse apartment next door to a handsome movie star. So the love is in the air.
In the meantime a tragic event in NYC pulls the characters together. Kezia’s girls are stuck out of the country and the boarders are closed.
When everyone tries to come back together after this tragic event everyone is putting life back into perspective and making decisions that will affect how they will move forward happily.
This book made me smile often, enjoy reading it. Thank you Net Gallery for sending me an advance copy.

I picked up this book because my mom is a big fan of Danielle Steel and I wanted to read it.

This is my first book by her and I really enjoyed this one. I went into the story blind and I really liked that. The characters felt believable and interesting. And I couldn’t put the book down! I will definitely be reading more by Danielle.

Danielle Steel never fails to deliver a wonderful storyline with intriguing characters and a great plot. The characters were well developed and so relatable, that I was well invested, and kept reading well into the night. I loved the family dynamics, and appreciated that the romantic relationships each illustrated that age is just a number, and indeed, it is never too late to find love!

Never Too Late by Danielle Steel grabbed my attention right from the start and held it until the very end. It is the story of a woman, Kezia, from San Francisco who was widowed five years earlier and makes the move to New York to be closer to her two daughters. Shortly after she arrives, a catastrophic event happens that shocks not only NYC but the rest of the United States. In the early hours after the event, Kezia, a former nurse, jumps in to assist. This event also brings her to meet her next-door neighbor, whom she forms a deep friendship with as they both have losing their spouses in common. The story of their friendship is sweet and not rushed, their grown children also play large parts in the storyline.

This was pretty much the biographies of six different people (mainly a widowed mother with two adult daughters). I kept waiting for a plot but soon realized that Danielle Steel doesn't need a plot. She could take some names from a phone book and make their stories interesting! Whenever I see one of her novels show up on NetGalley, I "grab" for it! Five stars, as usual!

Danielle Steel is a prolific author of romance/ women's fiction that revolve around strong women characters. These women must face some of the hardest problems in a swiftly changing era that is not usually friendly to their needs. I've read many of her back titles and she does not repeat story lines. Each woman and the challenges she must face are unique, yet recognizable as a newspaper headline. The fact that she has such a HUGE fan club shows her abilities to connect with her readers is still strong after many years.

This story follows the transformative journey of Kezia Cooper Hobson, a widow seeking a new beginning in New York City. Her move brings her closer to her daughters and leads to an unexpected bond with her neighbor, Sam Stewart, amid a citywide crisis. This story beautifully explores themes of resilience, human connection, and the courage to embrace life's changes. Steel masterfully intertwines Kezia's personal growth with her daughters' evolving lives, creating a rich tapestry of relationships and personal discovery. The novel is a testament to the power of support and the endless possibilities of new beginnings, making it an inspiring and deeply moving read.

I always struggle a bit with how to rate Danielle Steel's books - the fact that they're so formulaic and feel so shallow causes me to hesitate with anything higher than a 3-star rating (again, a plug for Goodreads to PLEASE implement the ability to do half stars!). But I really enjoyed this one - the storyline was good, the characters were fresh and enjoyable. Overall, this one hit me in just the right way and I was a little sorry to see it end.

My one soapbox about this book, and SO many others - I will be eternally grateful for the time when I can read a book that doesn't mention the words covid, or pandemic. In such a short time, its has already run its course and then some.

Who doesn’t love a meet cute? Well, this is more like a meet tragic. But, it only tragic because 2 neighbors meet on the night of a national disaster and decide to do what they can to help. If not for that they might not have connected. He’s a widower who happens to be famous and she’s a widow who has moved across the country for a change.Both have grown children with issues of their own. Back to the tragedy, was it terrorism? (you’ll have to read it to find out) The shared experience brings them together. Will the kids approve? I loved this story! One of my favorite Danielle Steel books. I’d love to say more, but no spoilers!

Review posted on GoodReads 3/7/24.

I don't know how Danielle Steele does it but every book she gives us readers is a delight!!!!!!!!! Lifelong fan here and she'll always be the queen of contemporary romance in this readers opinion.

A quick, feel good, romance. Kezia is a recent widow in San Francisco. She sells her home and her husband's business and relocates to NYC to be close to her adult daughters and start a new life. She meets Sam, also a widower with an adult son. Tragedy hits the city and both Kezia and Sam try to do their best to help others. Loved the relationships between Sam and his son and Kezia and her daughters, very human and flawed, but loving. Reading about the romance that develops between Kezia and Sam is heartwarming.

Never Too Late by Danielle Steel is the story of Sam and Kezia, both in their sixties, both widowed, who met during a catastrophic event in New York City one Fourth of July when instead of fireworks they watched bombs explode, bringing down buildings and killing more people than 9/11. Kezia had just moved from San Francisco into her new penthouse; Sam had lived in the other penthouse for over a year. When the call for volunteers went out, they both answered. Kezia had once been a nurse practitioner and had kept her license up so she was able to help with patients. Sam helped by moving body bags. Both of Kezia’s daughters were out of the country so they were unable to contact her. The city, the country, was locked down tight. No planes, no people walking the streets as they normally would in New York City. It was a fearsome time but it built a bond of friendship quickly between the two. Of course, family soon took over and with it some interesting changes.

As always with Danielle Steel, the backstory is as important as the current one. She does it so beautifully. Sam and Kezia were both just regular people, despite Sam being a well-known film star. Kezia was living with the bare minimum as both her belongings from San Francisco and her new furniture were both to be delivered at the end of August. As Sam and Kezia got closer, so did their families. Sam had a son, his age between that of Kezia’s daughters. In this day and age, it is wonderful to read a simple book, with regular people, that the ending is foretold by the nature of the book. It always makes me happy to read a work by Steel. She does it so well.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Never Too Late by Random House publishing Group-Ballantine, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #DanielleSteel #NeverTooLate

Thoughts
We follow the journey of Kezia Cooper Hobson, a recently widowed woman who arrives in NY from SF where she’s determine to start fresh.
Kezia has just sold her home in Pacific Heights home and left everything behind.
And as Kezia is settling in she meets her neighbor, Sam Stewart who is a movie star. But almost right away a devastating crisis hits NYC.
Soon Kezia and Sam find themselves connecting over their strong impulse to help those in need and they form a friendship but Kezias daughters are not sure about.
This is a story about starting over, personal growth and friendship and allowing change. If you’re a Danielle Steele fan this is out now go out and get it or If you enjoy contemporary fiction with heartwarming feel to it. Thank you netgalley