This 2003 New York Times bestselling novel describes how two lovers who have lost the things they hold near and dear find hope—and each other. The story begins with a young girl befriending an older artist at the beach; the young girl, Pip, and her new friend, Matt, enjoy drawing lessons together, and Matt begins to notice Ophélie, Pip’s beautiful mother. Their time together is cut short when Pip and Ophélie must return to the city. When darkness takes over Javier's life, the brothers are distanced not only by location but in life decisions.. Struggling to make piece with his brother's defection, Joachim forges a new life for himself. Becoming a butler, he helps others clean up their lives not realizing that he's glossing over his own sadness. American author Danielle Steel is loved around the world for her romance novels. The Butler is Steel’s most recent contemporary romance release. A story of family, wealth, secrets, betrayal, loss, trauma, estrangement, employment, friendship and love, The Butler is an engaging read, ideal for fans of the bestselling author. Danielle Steel is a master at developing deep and realistic characters and this book does not disappoint. Joachim and his mother are such loving characters, and so is Olivia. I’ll admit there is a bit of an info dump in the beginning of this book, but it’s worth it to plow through it, as the story is so very good. I just loved Joachim, his relationship with his mother and then his relationship with Olivia, it all seemed so real, and true. Joachim von Hartmann was born and raised in Buenos Aires by his loving German mother, inseparable from his identical twin. When Joachim moves to Paris with his mother in his late teens, his twin stays behind and enters a dark world. Meanwhile, Joachim begins training to be a butler, fascinated by the precision and intense demands, and goes on to work in some of the grandest homes in England. His brother never reappears.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the early edition of #TheButler in exchange for an honest review. From the first chapter, I knew this would differ from Steel's historical fiction or romance titles. I didn't have a clear direction of where the story was headed until Joachim commenced working with Olivia, Readers will delight in their friendship and fortitude by overcoming obstacles.Stripped of their old roles, they strive to discover the truth about each other and themselves, first as employer and employee, then as friends. Their paths no longer sure, they are a man and woman who reach a place where the past doesn’t matter and only what they are living now is true. Wartime Paris is fraught with stress and fear, and a family is ripped apart by tragedy in this 1987 bestselling novel. Megan, Alexandra, and Hilary are three suddenly orphaned sisters who are cruelly separated after their parents pass away. Each sister beginsa new life. Steel's storytelling prowess shines through in "The Butler," as she weaves together a compelling narrative filled with emotional depth and gripping suspense. The novel explores the power of friendship, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. Olivia White has given ten years of her life to her magazine, which failed, taking all her dreams with it. A bequest from her mother allows her a year in Paris to reinvent herself. She needs help setting up a home in a charming Parisian apartment. It is then that her path and Joachim's cross. Born Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel, the romance writer,is one of the bestselling authors alive today, selling more than 800 million copies of her books. The prolificauthor has written nearly 200 books and is known for working on many projects—from romance novels to children’s books to non-fiction works—at the same time.

The Butler is an extraordinary tale of family, difficult decisions and destiny, from the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel.

Customer reviews

The initial premise of The Butler was intriguing and I was interested to see where this novel would go direction wise. Those who are fans of Danielle Steel will know that the author loves the cult television series Downton Abbey and France. Steel combines both these elements in her novel and she includes a focus on the wealthy, which is another of the author’s common narrative threads. The Butler looks at a family who take a tumble from the upper class due to an unexpected revelation. I enjoyed the way in which the war crime element involving the lead’s grandfather played out in this book. I actually would have loved more air time on this component of the novel as I found it fascinating. Likewise, I found Liese to be a very absorbing character with a compelling profession. I devoured the sections involving Liese’s art work and her dedication to recovering stolen paintings from the war. Steel presents a very intriguing subject area in minimal form only. I would have liked a stronger exploration of this highly engaging subject line. Eventually Liese meets and falls in love with a French art expert, and she and Joachim move to Paris without Javier, who refuses to leave his beloved Argentina. Rumours soon start to circulate that he's involved in the drugs trade. Danielle Steel is a master at developing deep and realistic characters and this book does not disappoint. Joachim and his mother are such loving characters, and so is Olivia. I’ll admit there is a bit of an info dump at the beginning of this book, but it’s worth it to plow through it, as the story is so very good. I just loved Joachim, his relationship with his mother, and then his relationship with Olivia, it all seemed so real, and true. The Butler by Danielle Steel is about love, family, and brothers. It’s a family saga that starts out in Argentina and goes to Paris, New York, and London. It’s an inside look into a dying profession, the butler, but so much more. The characters are strong, memorable, and very likable.