NEVER TOO LATE is best-selling author Danielle Steele's latest title. She is a popular author with over a billion copies of her work sold worldwide. She is also one of the very first authors I read when I caught the reading bug in my teens. Her work, primarily women's fiction, is read by most readers of all ages, at least once in their reading lives. Such is her popularity and I happily grab a copy of her latest titles whenever I can. They are easy to read, always have themes of the time she sets them in and are a breeze to lose oneself in with the comfort of familiarity.
NEVER TOO LATE is one such story, it is about new beginnings, second chapters in the lives of its characters. The story opens with Kezia in her 50s, widowed for some time and moving to New York from San Francisco to be close to her daughters Kate and Felicity. While Kezia is moving to New York there are also some Texan Cowboys landing in New York for a fun vacation. For Kezia, it's moving close to her daughters and finding new purpose and hope as a single woman, innocent and expected. On the other hand, the cowboys' intentions are not at all innocent. There's a parallel story that crosses paths with Kezia moving to the city and there being terrorist attacks at the same time.
It's at the start of the story, the attacks, and Kezia meeting Sam, her next-door neighbour a well-known Hollywood star around her age. The attacks are a stepping stone to their meeting and developing a friendship. The night of the attacks and the next few days Kezia, a certified nurse practitioner, and Sam both volunteer at the attack's sights closer to where they live. Besides this opening act, there's not much relevance of the attacks on their story barring a cursory mention and outrage as a patriotic citizen. The point is it's not relevant to the rest of the story.
Kezia and Sam, are looking forward to living life well again after having a happy married life and now widowed. Her daughters have different personalities; Kate, in her 30s, is a tortured writer with a creative block owing to unanswered questions about her biological father. Felicity, 22, is a successful model with a sunny, bubbly personality and a boyfriend crazy for her. There's always tension between the sisters depending on where they are in life, their careers and romantic relationships. We also meet John, Sam's only child who hits it off with Kate and helps her see her relationship with Jack for what it is and vice versa with John's flailing fling.
The relationship issues, a tragedy in their beloved city and forming new relationships in the midst of it, are the heart of the story. Independently all characters are well off in their lives especially financially. They have more than they want and money is the least of their worries. Their only troubles are the inner demons and some interpersonal issues which work themselves out once they all become friends.
It was purely a comfort read for me from an author who is familiar to me. NEVER TOO LATE is a story of starting again in life after being alone, in a rut and getting those pesky inner voice questions resolved. I'd recommend reading it for those gloomy days when you want everything to just happen easily and not too much angst or drama or overthinking. It is hardly 250 pages so also a quick read.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a stirring novel about a woman striking out on her own after loss as her adult daughters try to find their own independent paths in life.
Kezia Cooper Hobson, recently widowed, arrives in New York from San Francisco. Determined to make a fresh start, she has just completed the sale of her Pacific Heights home, not to mention her husband’s venture capital firm, and in doing so, is also freed from her responsibility as a board member of the company. Bringing with her only a few personal treasures, she is excited to move into the blank slate of a beautiful midtown penthouse, in the city that she has always loved. It is also where her two adult daughters now live.
As Kezia settles into her new apartment, she meets her movie-star next-door neighbor, Sam Stewart, whose terrace borders hers. Just a couple of weeks after she arrives, however, a devastating crisis strikes New York City. Kezia and Sam find themselves connecting over their strong impulse to help those in need. As they share a life-changing experience of volunteering, a bond is sparked and a friendship is formed.
Kezia’s daughters, Kate and Felicity, are taken aback by their mother’s new friendship, both more focused on their own love lives than hers. But Kezia is learning that the changes she’s making are just what she needs to open new horizons.
In this powerful and moving new novel, Danielle Steel illuminates the importance of human connection and embracing brave change, proving it’s never too late for a brand-new start.
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