Thursday, September 8, 2011

Happy Birthday by Danielle Steel



Danielle Steel’s newest novel, Happy Birthday, follows three individuals marking milestone birthdays. Valerie Wyatt is top notch in the business of home décor and weddings. She has written numerous books and hosts her own television show and this year she is turning sixty.  Jack Adams is a former NFL superstar and now anchors a sports show at the same network as Valerie. He is turning 50 this year and realizing his fast lane lifestyle is no longer working for him. Last, April Wyatt who owns and operates a successful restaurant in New York. She is turning the big 3-0 and is taking stock of her life.

Over the course of 6 months, the three characters face a number of life changing events. Valerie is held hostage by terrorists who take over her network and realizes life is about living on purpose. Jack realizes it’s time to slow things down and find a meaningful relationship. April finds she is pregnant after a one night stand and has to decide how to proceed. For all three characters they start their milestone birthdays leading them down a new path in life and finding age is just a number.

I love a story where the characters embrace life and learn to walk through doors, which offer them new opportunities. And Happy Birthday was all about that. There were a number of twists and turns for the characters and even though things with Valerie and Jack come across as a little obvious I still really enjoyed reading about it. I was definitely more interested in April’s story and how it would end. One thing I have found from reading Steel is the happily ever after her characters end with has more to do with the development of the characters. I guess what I mean by that is they learn to find happiness.

This was the first Danielle Steel book I’ve read in over a decade. My mom and I were avid Steel readers and would take turns buying her newest books. Ten years ago my mom lost her battle to breast cancer. Over the years I’ve seen a number of Steel’s books come out and stop and think how I believe my mom would have really liked this one or that one. My mom and I both loved to read and Danielle Steel was her favorite author. Happy Birthday is now one of my favorite books by Ms. Steel. I’m really glad I decided to read Happy Birthday.  My two favorites by Danielle Steel are Mixed Blessings and Heartbeat (and loved the movies too).

I would recommend this book!



I am so excited to kick off A Novel Review's birthday celebration with Danielle Steel's Happy Birthday!!! I am giving away 2 copies of Happy Birthday! That's right 2!!! This is also an International giveaway, so all A Novel Review followers can enter! Make sure you are a follower and post a comment leaving me your email address. The giveaway closes September 21 at midnight est. The winners will be picked by random.com and the winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email with their address. Good luck!!!





21 comments:

  1. Love your site and would love to win a copy of Happy Birthday!! Thanks for the chance!
    gborkowski@roadrunner.com

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  2. This book from her sounds good! I've read a few Danielle Steele a Few years back but I'd love to read one again so maybe this will be it if I'm lucky. Thanks! I'm a follower.

    Margaret
    singitm@hotmail.com

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  3. I'm a huge DS fan and would looove to win this book!

    kewalker1972@gmail.com

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  4. Winning books is the best :)
    LdyLopes2002@aol.com

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  5. I haven't read a DS book in quite a few years. This sounds like a good one to get me started again. Thanks for the chance!

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

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  6. Awesome giveaway! I love Danielle Steel's books and would love to win a copy of this one!!
    GFC follower
    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  7. I have never read a book by this author yet and I would love to start with this one.
    I follow by google reader as cenya2.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

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  8. A long time since I have read a Danielle Steel.

    Thank you for the giveaway

    cb2ck at hotmail dot co dot uk


    carol

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  9. Would love the opportunity to read this book.

    tamara6400@gmail.com

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  10. Seeing that this year is a year for my milestone Birthday --this is right up my ally and it has been awhile since I have read a Danielle Steel so looking forward to reading this one either free or not it will be great:)

    slbercu@msn.com

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  11. Thanks for an international giveaway! I am so in.
    danakburgess(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

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  13. Cool! Happy Birthday by Danielle Steele!
    Thanks for the giveaway and a chance to win.

    plb1050 at gmail dot com

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  14. I follow on gfc and would love to read this, I haven't read a Danielle Steele book in ages!

    misusedinnocence@aol.com

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  15. You have some great giveaways. I follow on GCF

    kayswederski@yahoo.com

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  16. This sounds like a great book! I am a HUGE of Danielle Steel!

    I am a follower

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  17. Always a Danielle Steel fan! Would love to win! Thanks for this AWESOME giveaway!:)

    mediajerks@yahoo.com

    follow you already!:)

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  18. thanks for the chance to read this novel....i'm a follower, too :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  19. Thank-you everyone who posted! I have sent emails to our two winners. Lots more giveaways coming!

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  20. Just to say thank you very much, my copy of Happy Birthday arrived safely today.

    carol

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  21. Glad to hear it! Hope you love it!

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