The Butler is the sweet story of an employer and her butler/assistant, both of whom have given their lives to their careers, only to find themselves alone in their middle years, searching for a connection to someone. When her magazine folds after ten years, Olivia moves to Paris for a new beginning. She needs an assistant to help her with the transition into her new apartment, so she hires Joachim, who has recently lost his job as the head butler for an old British house after his previous employers passed away. Joachim is originally from Argentina, and his closest relationship is with his mother. He has long been estranged from his identical twin brother, Javier, a drug dealer in South America.

Olivia and Joachim grow very close and dependent on one another. Although they try to keep their personal lives from intruding on their professional relationship, the walls inevitably begin to crumble, and their backgrounds begin to sneak into their working relationship and help them to grow closer. But things take a dark turn when Joachim's dark horse brother makes an appearance.

Since this is a Steel novel, you know everything is probably going to work out in the end. But the story is about the journey, not the ending, and I enjoyed meeting Olivia and Joachim and watching them rise above their issues. As usual, Steel tells her story from a twenty-thousand foot level, and she often repeats certain story elements. But the book is relaxing and enjoyable, especially when you're looking for an escape from the minutiae of everyday life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my opinions.

Thank you Net Galley for generously providing me an ARC of The Butler by Danielle Steel. Danielle Steel never fails to get me out of a reading slump. She is a great story teller. I loved the story of Olivia and her butler.

Danielle Steel never fails to write a novel that keeps me turning the pages. I’ve been a fan since her early writing years.
The Butler kept my interest from start to finish. Loved the characters and the storyline is typical Danielle Steel.

There is something so comforting about a Danielle Steel novel. I have been reading them for years. I must admit that the title of the book intrigued me since butlers are not something that are prevalent in this day and age. Of course, Ms. Steel does not disappoint. This is the story of two brothers, twins, who take two different paths in life and how it affects not only them but those around them. As in most families, there are family secrets that come out, but it does not detract from the mother/son relationship. The characters, at least most of them, are likeable and strong. I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Loved reading the engaging and engrossing novel. When Joachim's butler's position ends, he begins working for a single, beautiful woman, Olivia, as her assistant. When unforeseen circumstances arise, Joachim leaves his position with Olivia. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, full of twists and turns, and another great story by Danielle Steel.
I just reviewed The Butler by Danielle Steel. #TheButler #NetGalley [NetGalley URL]

Reading a Danielle Steel book is always like eating comfort food. At first I thought this was an odd idea for a book, a butler in these modern times, but it was very original. I loved the whole premise of the book and was sad to see it end. Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for this early copy for review

My first Danielle Steel novel was “The Promise” back in 1977; I was a big Danielle Steel fan for many years and could not wait until her next novel was release. I read nearly forty of her novels ‘back in the day’! Although I have moved on, there is a loyalty magnetic hold on me and yes a soft spot for Ms. Steel.

I went into this thinking this Butler might be a ‘Downton Abbey’ Carson type story.
Aww what a nice treat ~ young, handsome, likeable, superman Joachim!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for this early release granted to me for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 5, 2021.

I always love Danielle Steele novels as her descriptions of the settings transport me. This one was no exception and took me from Argentina to London. I felt the story was a bit flat and Unlike her other novels the character s didn’t pull me in.

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒

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 likeable.

Joachim and Javier, twins, are raised by a single mother in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When the twins are teenagers, their mother remarries and moves to Paris. Javier doesn’t go with them and instead stays in Argentina with his friends. Joachim finishes his schooling, and then is lost without his twin brother and does odd jobs until he finds an ad for a butler school in England. Without a passion, or a career, Joachim decides to go to butler school and learn the trade. Joachim is surprised that he loves the job, and spends the next sixteen years working as a butler for a noble family in England. After his employers pass away, and his job is over, he returns to Paris to spend time with his mother, who is now widowed until he can find another job as a butler. As butler jobs are rare, he takes a temporary job in Paris helping a woman set up a home and acts as her personal assistant. Olivia, his employer is taking a break after her high end decorating magazine failed after ten years. She decides to spend a year in Paris, and hires Joachim, a master of four languages, to help her set up her apartment.

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.

I highly recommend this book, especially to all who love Danielle Steel Novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Danielle Steel provides a good base in this novel of two people with different childhood's colliding in the city of Lights. Joachim is a mirror twin who at an early age is forced to leave Javier his twin behind in Buenos Aries. Their mother Liese von Hartmann provided her twin sons love and stability despite difficult circumstances. Joachim was content without having riches, Javier felt resentful and went out on his own. When darkness takes over Javier's life, the brothers are distanced not only by location but in life decisions.. Struggling to make peace with his brother's rejection of the family, Joachim forges a new life for himself. trying to find himself he studies to become a butler, he helps others clean up their lives not realizing that he's running from his own sadness and disconnection from love. Taking a job near his aging mother, Joachim returns to Paris. Olivia White, who is also running from her past, she escapes to Paris for a new beginning. Olivia White has recently gone through the loss of her mother and is wanting to just get away from the daily life and take a break. Her magazine has just folded and she needs a change of scenery. Olivia decides to move to Paris for a couple of months. She finds a lovely apartment but needs help getting the kitchen ordered and decorating the place. Offered the opportunity to remodel a chateau, the difficult project forges a friendship between employee and employer.

Thank you to the publisher (Delacorte Press), the author (Danielle Steel) via NetGalley, for the ARC. This book is schedule to be release on October 5,2021.

This is the fourth book by this author that I have read in seven months. As I have said in previous reviews there is really nothing new or earth shattering in this books.
We have an American woman who had a less than happy childhood who decided to go to Europe for an extended amount of time. She meets a man who learns that what he thought he knew about his childhood isn’t necessarily accurate. Throw in a drug lord and you’ve got the latest book by Danielle Steel.
Yes, it is full of idyllic European settings and romance and you will find this quick read light, sweet, decadent respite in between the other book in your TBR pile.

Enjoyed this book,. A change from the typical Danielle Steel plots. The book gives an insight into the world of being a butler. I was able to connect with the characters.

Thank you NetGalley, Danielle Steel and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of The Butler. This is my personal review.
Joachim and Olivia would normally never have met in life, but their paths do cross in Paris. Joachim is a successful Butler and had been with an English family in London for many years. Due to life changes he moves back to Paris to be closer to his mother.
Olivia had worked for a magazine for many years, but it folded, and her mother passed away, so Olivia looks to change her life and moves to Paris.
Not being familiar with life in Paris she looks to find someone to help her set up an apartment. This is when she meets Joachim. He is the perfect fit for what she needs while he looks for another job as a Butler.
Olivia gets the opportunity to fix up a huge home and asks if Joachim would be willing to stay with her longer and help with this project.
This book has so much happening and so much emotion in it I was drawn in and I enjoyed this book as much as I do all of Danielle Steel books.

The Butler by Danielle Steel
Story follows a man who has left behind in South America his twin brother when they reach adult age.
Joachim moves with his mother and she marries a man and live in Paris.
He is given jobs but he's not found his real love....he decides when his step father passes away to use the money he was given to go to butler school.
Never thought about it much and there are not many around anymore as our traditions and life style changes over the years.
Interesting to learn about the career. He relocates back to Paris to tend to his ailing mother and his butler long term job has ended.
Story also follows Olivia and she's moved to Paris and runs her design magazine til it ends due to internet offering cheaper ways to doing things.
She has no one else in the whole world and is taken advantage of by a maid. The butler guesses what's going on and lines up all the workers.
WOW he knows his job very well and things are resolved. He helps Emily get her house in order and teaches her of fun places to shop around town.
Joachim often thinks of his brother and fears he's in the mafia or something similar and fears they will never meet again.
When both are at a standstill they make a big decision about an estate a Russian had bought near Paris and want to help him redecorate it
He is interrogated about his travels when they try to make arrangements to ship her furniture back to NY. They find out about the brothers birthmarks. She orders a background check on Joachim.
Love hearing about his mothers career by finding those who had paintings stolen from them during the way, she was able to reunite them.
When both of their endeavors end abruptly due to money loss and things being returned to their rightful owners they are at a loss..
Surprised at how this ends.
Received this review copy from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Delacorte Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#TheButler #NetGalley

Another classic Danielle Steel book in the making. Joachim von Hartmann meets Olivia White when he returns to Paris after years of working as a butler in England. Olivia needs help with the chateau that she is renovating. Joachim is able to assist her. Neither one realizes that feelings are developing, as they are both scared to express what they feel as a result of their childhoods - hers in New York with only a mother because her father has another family and his in poverty in Buenos Aires and Paris with his mother and twin brother because his father divorced his mother after learning that her father had ties to Nazi Germany. Both Joachim and Olivia need to figure out that their childhood does not determine who they are as adults, but only serves as one chapter in their lives.

A great summer read. It was exciting to read about the locations and lives of people in other countries.

I enjoyed this book so much! I felt so much for the people in the book, felt the pain and their happiness. I would recommend this book.

I really enjoyed The Butler by Danielle Steel. I loved that the main character was a man, which is rare for this author. Joachim was such a great person. I loved his whole story. I also really liked Olivia. I could not put this book down as I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next! Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dramatic and heart wrenching, a stunning portrayal of life, relationships, and reconciling past to present. The book is evenly paced and well written with well developed characters. A believable and relatable story.

Danielle Steel has been one of my go-to authors for over 20 years. I have to read everything she publishes and The Butler did not disappoint. I loved the story which was somewhat like a modern day Cain and Abel about twin brothers and how different their lives have become based on the two paths that they followed...one as a drug dealer and the other as a Butler in wealthy English homes. It was interesting to read a DS story from the perspective of a male and I think she did a great job with it. If you enjoy books reading about family and romantic relationships this is the book for you. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this digital ARC in exchange for my review.

This is not your typical Danielle Steele novel as it explores the effects and repercussions of World War II to various social classes and the lives of Olivia and Joachim. I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.