Daneille Steel has been writing novels for many years. She has been highly successful with her titles regularly becoming bestsellers. Readers know that they will find a story that makes them turn the pages and one that has some emotional resonance.

In this novel, the subject is surviving the Holocaust and trying to make a new life. This is difficult for the couple in the story and also has implications for their son. Jakob and Emmanuelle, make a life together after the war. It is based on hard work after they are able to come to America. Will they be able to put their past in a less fraught place and will they achieve the “American Dream?” What of their son? He faces his own obstacles but no spoilers so I will not say more.

Those who enjoy historical fiction and/or women’s fiction should enjoy this title. It is hard though to be reminded of the very real issues involved with war and survival, especially in light of current events.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Author joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsPosted on March 24, 2022Leave a comment on Will he follow: In His Father’s Footsteps Edit "Will he follow: In His Father’s Footsteps"
Some e book bargains for 3.24.22

This is a book about 3 generations in one family. It was okay but the characters didn't draw me in like I was expecting.

This book was PHENOMENAL and not what I would expect from Danielle Steel. This takes place in Germany at a concentration camp in the beginning. Soon they are liberated and a man and woman who has gotten to know each other at the camp decides to get married so when sponsored to come to America they won’t be separated. This carries onto their life of fears and expectations to never ever be put into the situation again. They save every penny they make. One day she becomes pregnant. When he becomes old enough his perspective is added. You see how his parents fears helped mold his life into something that gets carried away. You see his mistakes and how he came out on the other side. I thoroughly enjoyed this. 5 stars from me! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

I have been reading Danielle Steele’s book for, like, forever. This one, though it has some good points, just does not, in my opinion, stack up beside the rest of her earlier ones. It seems as if she has (heaven forbid!) hired someone to write for her with a few edits from the author herself, or that she is just cranking books out without much editorial review of the finished manuscript. I am not going to decide or say which I think is correct. After her trials years ago with another well-know author, Danielle Steele’s books have just never been the same as they once were. I regret this because I truly loved, and always looked forward to, her earlier books.

In this book, we get the story of Jakob and Emmanuelle, who escape the horrors of WWII Germany, with the help of sponsors, and make it to New York, where they manage to remain close, living in the Lower East Side. They may not have great jobs or much at first, but at least they have each other and are out of the horrors of Germany. Years later, Jakob has achieved success in real estate investment and the diamond business. Their son, Max, has been raised in the life of a wealthy man, having routine contact with the wealthiest and most successful members of his community/society. However, after a disastrous marriage to a woman Max realizes he badly misjudged, he learns that it is not as easy as he thought to follow in his father’s footsteps, successfully making one’s way out of nothing, with some smarts and a strong will. Max finally realizes that nothing comes easily, but must be paid for by “blood, seat and tears”, as the saying goes.

I enjoyed reading about Jakob’s and Emmanuelle’s life of triumph over adversity, but when the story turned to Max, who came across as materialistic and rather self-absorbed, I began to lose the keen interest I had. I also found Max’s wife a turn-off. I enjoyed the two main characters, Jakob and Emmanuelle, but found the rest of the characters in the story difficult to relate to and accept. The ending also left me wanting. The story could have, in my opinion, been written better. The characters, beside Jakob and Emmanuelle, could have been developed better, in a more likable manner. Their story could have better resonated the idea that Max ends up following in his father’s footsteps, rather than coming across as so poorly, in my opinion, done. As I said, I have read Danielle Steele’s books for years, but am now wondering how she lost what she had. I will probably keep reading her books, hoping for the old author I truly loved—and may even find her once again. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

In His Father’s Footsteps by Danielle Steel takes us back to April 1945. Emmanuelle Berger and Jakob Stein are in Buchenwald when U.S. troops liberate the camp. Jakob had been in the concentration camp for five years and his entire family was exterminated. Emmanuelle was near death when the soldiers arrived. To avoid separation, the pair marry and relocate to America with the help from a sponsor. They work hard at labor intensive jobs and live in a small, dingy apartment on the Lower East Side. One day, Jakob meets Israel “Izzy” Horowitz, a diamond dealer, who offers him a job. Jakob learns the business quickly and is soon Izzy’s right hand man. As Jakob makes more money, he invests it into real estate. Jakob and Emmanuelle have a son, Max who they dote upon. Max attends the best schools with the determination that he will never struggle for money. Instead of following in his father’s footsteps after graduating from Harvard, Max wants to make his own way in the business world. He marries Julie Morgan at a lavish society wedding and installs her in a luxurious home with a large staff. Max is a successful business with a beautiful wife, extravagant home and children. However, he feels that he cannot have enough money and is constantly at work rarely seeing his wife and children. A tragedy makes Max see that he has a failing marriage and is setting a poor example for his children. While Max achieved the American dream, he neglected the basic lessons his father taught him. Can Max turn his life around?

In His Father’s Footsteps is a well-written and engaging story. It is an emotional novel that takes us from horrific Buchenwald to the lavish Upper East Side. We follow our characters as they set out to achieve the American dream of becoming successful and having a family. Can you imagine living through the horrors of a concentration camp? It will indelibly leave its mark on a person as we see in this book. I could feel the characters emotions and struggles. The choices the characters made was based on their experiences. I thought the author captured the time period and the various settings. I admit that I enjoyed Emmanuelle and Jakob’s story better than Max’s. Max, though, was raised differently which caused him to make decisions that we may not like (or agree with) but were understandable. I appreciated the epilogue which nicely wraps up the book (we would expect no less from Danielle Steel). While there is some predictability to the story, it did not hinder my reading pleasure. I have been reading Danielle Steel’s books since I was twelve years old and I never get tired of reading her novels. I am giving In His Father’s Footsteps 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).

Loved this book! Whenever I read a Danielle Steel book I know I will laugh, cry and become a part of the story. Here characters become dear friends and some enemies. It becomes hard to know what is real life and what is fiction because she draws you in. I have been reading Ms. Steel for over 35 years and I look forward to every story she has to tell.

In His Father's Footsteps is an epic story of the life of Max Stein. Jakob and Emmanuelle Stein were survivors of a concentration camp during WWII. Having both lost their entire families, they were married then traveled to New York to start their lives over again. Jakob starts as a runner for a jeweler then starts to build his own fortune. Their son, Max, became the focus of their entire life. Because they focused so much on building something stable and secure, Max became obsessed with building his own empire to secure his family for generations. Max marries a beautiful American heiress and proceeds to build what he thinks is the American dream. This dream takes a turn he didn't expect and he finds himself in a failed marriage and having to be both father and mother to his kids. Through these experiences, he comes to discover more about himself and his parents than he ever knew.

This is a quintessential Steel novel. I haven't read any of her books in years, and she was one of my favorite authors. I really don't know why I stopped picking them up. The characters in this story were so well done. I loved the courage of Jakob and Emmanuelle. They truly embodied the term "Greatest Generation" that we throw around today. They lived through hell and managed to come out in one piece and without hatred towards the world... fear, yes, but that is understandable. Max truly never appreciated his parents until he felt it was too late. He was very selfish, greedy, and obsessed with business. I don't think he was a bad person, he just had his priorities in the wrong place. Julie, on the other hand, was a character I just didn't like. But, even though I disliked her, I could still empathize with what she was going through.

I just loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I love these epic family stories and will be picking up all the Steel books I've missed over the past few years. This was phenomenal. Five out of five stars for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan since I read her first book when I was nineteen years old in 1979. I like this newest book "In His Fathers Footsteps. I liked the history and the characters were likeable. But, as is with a few of her latest books I did not "love" it. I so wanted it to be her best work but it fell a little flat for me. BUT, I am a forever fan. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. The opinions are my own.

The story of two Holocaust survivors and the family they created. The subject matter could have been depressing but it wasn't. Just a good, old-fashioned family saga the way only Danielle Steel can write.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

While I often enjoy reading new authors that I find on NetGalley, there's also a certain level of comfort when I'm able to select a book from an author such as Danielle Steel.  Heck, my mom and I have been reading and enjoying her books for probably about 30 years and we know we can count on reading a book that we can consistently read cover to cover and be confident that the plot will be good and the characters will have the same drama and love as our own families. Today's book is In His Father's Footsteps by Danielle Steel, and once again, we were provided with a classic Danielle Steel book.

I'll admit that sometimes I find that Danielle Steel's books can be repetitive and that gets on my nerves a little bit, but In His Father's Footsteps didn't read that way at all.  I will also admit I usually don't like to read anything "historical", so I was a bit surprised when I dug right into this book. I thought it might be a difficult read for me given my genre preferences, but Ms. Steel had just the right mix of storyline to keep me engaged.

The book opens with Jakob Stein and Emmanuelle Berger, former prisoners of war during the Holocaust, being freed.  They are ready to start a new life together in America. They have been through tough times together in the concentration camp, so they decide to trust that friendship with grow into love so they wed before being sponsored to freedom in the United States.

The story follows them through their life as they adjust to a new country, new jobs, and new family.  As the years go by, Jakob and Emmanuelle depend on each other and grow into love as they devote their lives to their beloved son. They try very hard to teach him how important family is, as well as teaching him the importance of proper work ethic.  Throughout the decades, Jakob achieves success in the diamond business through his talent, faith, and hard work, and shows his son that America is truly the land of opportunity. 

As their son, Max grows older, he has the determination that he was not going to struggle for money like his parents. When he graduates from Harvard, he throws himself into work.  Max wants to follow his father’s example by working hard, making money and finding the a life partner.  He falls for Julie and marries her, but after the birth of children, he realizes that his wife is not the woman he thought she was. As a result, Max finds himself struggling and moving forward with perseverance learning what it means to walk in his father’s footsteps while at the same time trying to set an example for his children.

In His Father's Footsteps is a typical Danielle Steel story full of love, hardship, and loss. I really loved the characters in the story too. I'll admit the history of the story also drew me in and I couldn't even imagine having to endure the life Jakob and Emmanuelle did during their imprisonment in the camp, but how they endured and prevailed was so awesome.

1945

When the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany was being liberated, a prisoner named Jakob Stein, age 25 from Vienna, helped the soldiers liberating them. Jakob speaks 4 languages. His friend, Emmanuelle Berger, age 23 from Paris, had given him bits of food during their time in the camp. Now, Jakob has lost all of his family and wealth. Emmanuelle’s mother had been a seamstress in Paris and she had learned sewing from her. They decide to marry so that they can both go to New York as refugees. Their sponsors are Rachel and Gary Rosen and they have jobs in Mr. Rosen’s factory which makes women’s dresses.

They learn that their studio, jobs, and pay are very minimal and they must agree to work for the Rosens for a year. They agree, but when Emmanuelle becomes pregnant and so as soon as their year is up, Jakob gets a new job with a diamond merchant named Izzie. He is very kind and generous to Jakob and becomes Grandpa to their son, Max. When Izzie dies, he leaves everything to Jakob. Yet all the time they have been in New York, Emmanuelle is still afraid that it could all come crashing down like when the Germans invaded.

As Max grows and becomes a successful businessman himself, Jakob and Emmanuelle are very proud of their son. But when he meets Julie, from a very wealthy family that is not Jewish, Emmanuelle is convinced she is not the woman for him.

The story continues as the reader follows Max and Julie’s marriage and the trials they face. Can they make a go of their marriage or, as Emmanuelle predicted, is Julie not the woman for him?

This is a good story told in the smooth, conversational style of author Danielle Steel. As often found, there is some repetition in her writing, but it’s easy to overlook because the basic story is well-written. I’m sure readers will enjoy this book.

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

his was a great through the decades story. I love books that are multi generational and historical. Nobody rights a better historical novel than D. Steel. I have been a huge fan for over 35 years. I love the stories she writes filled with family, love, drama, resolution. You know when you pick up one of her books you will get lost in the story

Danielle Steel always delivers. I love her books after all these years! This was a very emotional book. I enjoyed it. I can't wait to see what is next!

Danielle Steel rarely disappoints and this I found to be one of her best works yet.
A good storyline with characters who were described so realistically they jumped off the pages.
A very satisfying read that will you hold you captivated till the end in typical Steel style.

Building your life after the Holocaust makes quite a compelling storey especially if it’s written by Danielle Steel. Wonderful story how you have nothing but work hard and you can make a wonderful life. Great characters and a wonderful story.

I love when Danielle Steel writes historical fiction! I loved this book! It began in a concentration camp during WWII when a young couple, Jacob & Emmanuelle, fell in love under the most dire of circumstances. The story follows them to America, their struggle to begin a new life, the addition of their son and from there it is a sweet multi generational family saga-Danielle Steel, at her finest. I couldn't put the book down. The story and the characters drew me in. I cried because of their hardships and cried with their happiness. I wanted the story to continue long after I read the last page!

A classic Danielle Steel novel- a multigenerational love story starting with two survivors of Buchenwald and finishing with their son, who comes to realize that there's more to life than money. Max is the pride and joy of his parents, Jakob and Emanuelle, who sacrifice for him at every turn. His life, after Harvard, is much cushier but his marriage fails and he finds himself at sea. How he rescues himself and his kids is at the root of this. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd not read Steel for a long time. Although I was reminded, when reading this, that her books would benefit from a strong editorial hand but I also realized that I had forgotten what a good storyteller she is.

4 1/2 STARS!

A powerfully compelling story of strength, love and gumption! We're magically thrust into a story of two people who face the worst and yet prosper with little more than the love they share and the clothes on their back simply because of their unique mindset of being grateful for every single thing they have in life. The two of them and the foundation they laid for their family simply made this story! The characters and early plot were complex and rich. The later story had a little less follow through but still gave a fulfilling conclusion. Overall I really enjoyed it!

Through tortuous situations, heartache and loss, Jakob Stein and Emmanuelle Berger manage to hold on long enough to be rescued from their imprisonment in a German conservation camp. Knowing little about each other, but knowing a kindred spirit when they see one, they decide to trust in their friendship enough to wed before being sponsored to freedom in the United States and let their love brew and grow naturally. They find themselves living miserly in low paying jobs and hard conditions, but are thankful for how far they have come since losing their family, history and possessions to such horror. As the years pass, they lean on each other through it all and devote their lives to the son they were blessed with as they bask in their love. They try to teach him how important family is, and the proper work ethic to go through life with in order to never be placed in a position of having to pull yourself up from rock bottom.

Their son Max grows into a well educated Harvard graduate who takes the knowledge and help his father shared with him to go on and prosper through real estate ventures to become an early success. He finds who he thinks is the love of his life and through an elaborate ceremony and opulent lifestyle sets out to grasp the world at his fingertips and go for a ride of riches and prosper. Years later he finds himself delighted with the birth of children, yet overworked and stressing more every day about becoming all that he can become while his marriage seems to get worse by the day with a woman that isn't at all what he was expecting. Finally finding himself faced with a dire situation, he must reevaluate his life and struggle like his parents before him to make sure his family is at the top of his mindset as he forges a new life from the ruins he's climbing out of.

Danielle Steel in In His Father’s Footsteps relates an all too familiar tale of the Holocaust, the resilience of some and enduring love. She further tells the story of the son of survivors and how the way he was raised influences the way he lives his life. It is not a unique or freshly told story. However, it highlights that we must never forget the Holocaust, and the story does flow easily and let’s you into the characters’ lives.

It's hard to believe I've never read any of Danielle Steel's books before, but this is my first and I have to say I'm impressed!

This multi-generation story begins with the liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp and crosses the ocean to a new life in America. Through trials and tribulations and with lots of hard work Jakob and Emmanuelle survive and thrive in their new country. Theirs is a true love story you're sure to enjoy!