4⭐
This book is what I'd call a beautiful definition of a Mother's Love.

This story follows Halley, a best-selling author, who has devoted her life to giving her twin daughters everything they'd ever want/need (which she never had). After her girls have grown up and moved out, she decides to go on her first vacation alone since her late husband passed 3 years ago. However, the trip wasn't as peaceful as she'd hoped.

My first Danielle Steele book and absolutely enjoyed it!

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I didn’t like the way the way this story was told. It almost felt like I was reading bullet points instead of a story. Safe to say I didn’t find myself getting immersed in it like I had hoped. The storyline itself wasn’t bad, it just felt like an outline where the important parts were missing.

I have read a few of Danielle’s novels and enjoyed them, that being said…I was very disappointed with this audiobook. It took me almost two weeks to get maybe a quarter of the way through before I made the decision to call it quits.

It follows a single mom with twin daughters, she says almost constantly that she loves them more than anything in the world. Halle, the MFC, is an author who grew up with a terrible childhood. She vowed when she became pregnant to love them as she never was loved by her parents. Beautiful sentiment. It was repeated almost every chapter. There was really no story to this “story”. Perhaps I DNF too early, which is why this is getting two stars instead of one. I’m hoping it got better, but I cannot be sure.

Maybe it was the narrator that set the tone. Very monotonous. His voice was clear and he didn’t have a nasally or bad voice, but it just didn’t do it for me, personally.

I may give it another chance if I find it at my local library in print, but it’s a no for me.

I always know this author will not disappoint, this book was no different. In true Danielle Steel fashion, the main character had to fight demons to take charge of her life. Watching a string of scary mishaps and the way Hallie handled them left me feeling inspired. It’s books like these that make a person better. A lot of people can relate. The characters felt real. A must read.

A Mother's love for her children never ends. Halley, an author and single mother of adult twin girls is now successful after a very childhood has decided to spend the holidays over in Paris. While in Paris she meets a wonderful man but tragedy strikes Halley, old ghosts haunt Halley from her past. All Halley wants in her life is to give the best to her daughters that she didn't have growing up.

I listened through audio, a good solid voice.

Danielle Steel’s 198th novel, A Mother’s Love, is an exploration of reinvention, love, and the haunting shadows of the past. The story centers on Halle Holbrook, a bestselling author who has overcome a tumultuous childhood to carve out a successful career. About to turn fifty, Halle finds herself at a crossroads, navigating the complexities of motherhood and her evolving sense of self. With her 27-year-old twin daughters, Valerie and Olivia, starting new chapters of their lives across the country in Los Angeles, Halle must confront both her role as an empty nester in New York and her feelings about turning fifty alone. Valerie, an accomplished attorney, has just married Seth, an older and successful producer, in a fairytale wedding in Connecticut. Artist Olivia has also decided to relocate to Los Angeles. The contrasting paths of her daughters set the stage for Halle’s introspective journey. When Seth surprises their families with a lavish holiday yacht trip, Halle declines due to severe seasickness. Anxious about spending the holidays alone, she’s encouraged by her daughters to embark on a solo trip to Paris instead. On the flight to Paris, Halle meets Bart Warner, a wealthy and charming man also seated in first class. Their instant camaraderie offers her the first glimpse of romance in years, and their connection quickly deepens. But within days of arriving in the City of Lights, her dream trip takes a dark turn when her one-of-a-kind, extravagant Birkin bag is stolen during a meal. The bag contains her passport, rental home key, credit cards, and money. What begins as a theft spirals into disturbing encounters that reawakens buried childhood trauma and threatens to undo the emotional progress she has made. The novel unfolds at a steady, predictable pace, weaving together themes of love, trauma, emotional growth, and a hint of suspense. While comforting and engaging on multiple fronts, some readers may find the story repetitive and the ending somewhat unresolved, with key emotional arcs left hanging. Narrator Dan John Miller delivers his usual competent performance, though listeners may wonder why Steel’s audiobooks rarely feature female narrators. That choice feels especially important in A Mother’s Love, where much of the story is told through Halle’s internal monologue and emotional reflections. In this case, a female voice may have brought greater authenticity and resonance. A Mother’s Love should resonate with longtime Danielle Steel fans and readers who enjoy a blend of romance, family drama, and a hint of international suspense. Thank you to Danielle Steel, NetGalley, and RB Media for providing an advanced reader copy of this audiobook.
Release date: June 24, 2025. ★★★★☆ (3.75/5)

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. This was an interesting story that yet again highlights the rich and famous in her novels. It highlighted that abuse sticks with its victims. I do feel like the ending was rather abrupt and there could have been some more closure with the characters.

Another decent, typical read of Danielle's about a strong female protagonist who endures a lot of adversary growing up and through her adult life but doesn't let it get her down or destroy her life. All in all, a good read. Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media and the Author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So this was my first Danielle Steel book and it was alright. I don’t think I would read it again though. The book started out at a slow pace, so it wasn’t pulling me in. Finally, when the robbery happened it had me interested a bit. I think it could’ve been better if there was a twist ending perhaps. Overall decent book with a happy ending.

A feel good kind of read, Danielle Steels’ books always makes you all the feelings of love, family and relationships.
It is an easy quick read that always revolves around family and I always enjoy reading them.

The narrator did an amazing job telling the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher RBMedia for the audio ARC.

A Mother’s Love is my first introduction to Danielle Steel’s work. Given how prolific and popular she is, I was curious to see what her writing style was like—and overall, I found the experience a bit mixed.
The novel tells the story of Halley, a devoted mother of twin daughters who are now grown and beginning to live lives of their own. As her daughters move away—one even getting married—we follow Halley’s emotional journey as she adjusts to an empty nest and begins to explore life and independence outside of motherhood. The book also weaves in the twins’ experiences as they take a holiday away from their mother, offering a broader look at how all three women are navigating this new chapter of life.
I enjoyed the story line of A Mothers Love. However, there were a few elements that made the reading experience fall short for me.
One of the more jarring aspects was the narrative perspective. The story shifts between third-person and first-person, which made it difficult to fully connect with the characters. I would have preferred a consistent point of view to create a stronger emotional connection.
Another issue was the lack of depth in the relationship between Halley and her daughters. Given their supposed closeness, it felt odd that they seemed so detached during such significant moments in Halley’s life. I expected more emotional engagement or interaction between them, especially with what she was going through. They didn’t even know there was a man she had met on the plane.
Lastly, the ending felt abrupt. I found myself wishing for an epilogue or at least a more complete wrap-up. It left the story feeling unfinished, with too many emotional threads left hanging.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

This was my first Danielle Steel book and I enjoyed it. I listened to the audio book and the narration was great! My one complaint about the is that it feels like two different stories. The first part of the book is about the mother and her twin daughters. I enjoyed their relantionships. Then the second part of the book is about the mother traveling to Paris on her own. Her expensive bag is stolen...and it becomes a whole new story which I didn't find as relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the Advanced Listener's Copy of this book!

I have always been a huge fan of Danielle Steel’s writing so, needless to say, I was beyond excited to have been approved to listen to A Mother’s Love. While this wasn’t my favorite book of Danielle Steel’s, the narrator did a phenomenal job delivering the writing. He executed every accent and voice perfectly. I never had to question which character he was performing. I gave the book a total of three stars because it didn’t seem realistic to me and I was bored. I would like to give the narrator five stars for a wonderful performance.

I would like to extend a special thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this wonderful opportunity! It is truly an honor.

Thank you for this ARC!! Danielle Steel is not an author I read often...as a matter of fact it's been years since I read one of her books. I'm not familiar with her writing style but this book is not necessarily the type of book I enjoy...it doesn't amount to much, it's simply Halley's story. Yes, she had an awful childhood and I felt bad for her. Then, the story revolved around the stolen purse...Also, I was unsure about the title...is it in reference to the lack of her mother's love towards her?? or her love towards her daughters?? if so, I would have expected the storyline to be about them...but they were in different continent doing their separate lives for most of the book...

Just my two cents. I guess that's maybe why I don't gravitate towards her books??

Danielle Steele does not disappoint in this story. It’s a romance, but it also addresses the relationship between children and parents. The narration is on point.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance audio copy.

A very nice story of being able to overcome childhood trauma and being able to break the generational curses of abuse. I had a hard time listening to this man's voice in the audio but I got through it. I have been a fan of Danielle Steel since the 70's and I have read at least 50 of her books yet this is my first audiobook by her. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Danielle Steel and I loved it. I liked Hallie's character the most. I loved the way how she broke the cycle of generational trauma and protected her daughters from any harm whatsoever despite being wounded and scarred for life. I felt elated to come across gentlemen like Robert and Bart who accepted her with her past and stood by her through thick and thin although Bart had recently met her.
This book also elliquently depicted that no matter how many years might have passed by, some circumstances can trigger one's trauma and make the individual feel as if that event is taking place yet again with seemingly no respite in sight.
Even the descriptions of the surroundings was so intricate and detailed that while listening, I felt as if I was there with the characters myself whether it was the cruise or the romantic environment of Paris.
Indeed a great book. Looking forward to reading her other books in the future.

A mother's love or lack of can follow you through all your life. Affecting all your feelings and decisions both good and bad. Danielle Steel takes you to Paris where a bag thief starts a chain reaction that leads to fear, sadness and ultimately love.

This review is based on the audiobook version of Danielle Steel’s newest novel, A Mother’s Love. Unfortunately, the choice of narrator—a male voice—was a mismatch for this story and contributed to a flat, disengaging listening experience. His delivery lacked emotion and energy, which made it difficult to stay interested. Honestly, if I weren’t obligated to review this title through NetGalley, I would have waited for the print version. That said, even reading it might not have improved the experience.
The plot centers on Halley, a successful writer nearing 50 and the single mother of adult twin daughters. After one daughter’s wedding, Halley heads to Paris, where her luxury handbag—along with her passport and essentials—is stolen. She’s soon rescued by Bart, a man she happened to meet on the flight over. Naturally, Halley is in fantastic shape and looks much younger than her age, because since she’s in a Danielle Steel book, she must be. The storyline veers off course more than once. Subplots involving Halley’s daughters are introduced and then abandoned without resolution, and there’s little payoff to any of the emotional threads. By the end, I was more relieved to be done than satisfied by the conclusion. Compared to Danielle Steel’s previous work, this one fell short. I do appreciate NetGalley and RBMedia for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. In the future, I’d strongly recommend selecting a narrator who can bring more nuance and depth to the performance.

Halley Holbrook is a successful author approaching her 50th birthday. She was a single parent to her twins, Valerie and Olivera, and after Valerie's wedding and with both girls living far away from her, decides to visit Paris for christmas as she will be on her own.

She never married the twins father as he was already married and her only love, Robert has died a few years earlier, so when she meets Bart Warner on the plane to Paris, she feels an attraction.

When her bag and contents are stolen, she turns to Bart for help.

A wonderful heartfelt story, where the characters come alive and I felt every emotion from tears to happiness.

Another great read from my favourite author!