The Whittiers: The heartwarming new novel about the importance of family from the billion copy bestseller

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They all summered on Shelter Island, in a big family house they had eventually sold, when the children stopped spending summers with them and the house had become more of a burden than a joy. Connie and Preston had begun to streamline their life in recent years, cutting down on unnecessary expenses, and avoiding projects that were too much work for them. In the summers, they rented a house in Maine now, or in the Hamptons, or on Cape Cod, large enough so that the children who wanted to could come and go for a few days or a weekend visit. Renting was easier than owning, and the headache of maintaining a summer home was someone else’s problem, not theirs. The children never came at the same time, so they didn’t need an enormous house. Preston and Connie still clung to the tradition of their Wintermoon, which they called it now, too. It was important to them, and they looked forward to it all year. After forty-­three years of marriage, it still felt like a honeymoon to them. Constance was sixty-­five years old and the time had flown. She couldn’t believe how old her children were, all adults now. Even their “baby” Annabelle, a late surprise, had just turned twenty-­one.

A young woman is caught up in a dangerous double life on behalf of her country during World War II in Danielle Steel’s thrilling new novel. I enjoyed this story and liked the characters very much. All five children are strong characters with their own issues and problems. I loved the way all the children came together and eventually helped each other out. This is a warm, touching novel that reveals the resilience and loving support of a family on the heels of a tragic loss. At a time when the news headlines carry daily reminders of the sad state of human interactions, this story provided a much-needed, heart-warming respite.This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own. Set in present-day New York, The Whittiers is a heartwarming story about the importance of family, home and being true to yourself, from the world’s favourite author Danielle Steel. Preston and Connie Whittier have spent their lives in successful lucrative careers and raising their six children. Story centers on the close knit ‘Whittier family’: parents Preston and Constance and their six adult children: Lyle is the oldest at 42, Gloria 39, twins Charlie and Caroline 33, Benjie 28 and Annabella is 21.

In The Whittiers, Danielle Steel delivers an inspiring story about the everlasting bonds of one unforgettable family. In every family, each member has their own personal struggles. The Whittiers are no exception. Lyle is successful but has an unhappy marriage. Gloria is a genius on Wall Street but lonely. Twins Caroline and Charlie work all hours on their growing fashion brand, but have no time to enjoy life. Benjie has personal challenges and requires additional support. And rebellious Annabelle has fallen in with a bad crowd. There were also some love stories going on, but even that didn't have much meat to it. The partners the characters had fallen in love with had also been flat, and the storyline of how they got together seemed too easy and set up.

But with this year’s trip comes tragedy. Suddenly, their adult children find themselves reuniting in the family home without their parents for the first time ever. The oldest, Lyle, is reaching a breaking point in his marriage and must decide whether a divorce would be best for him and his two children. Gloria’s big job on Wall Street has kept her single at forty, and growing ever more cynical. The twins, Caroline and Charlie, moved out long ago to start a fashion business that may now be faltering. Benjie, with special needs, is hit hard by the loss of his parents and needs his siblings’ help. And Annabelle, the youngest, drops out of college and starts to spin out of control. From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel comes a powerful, sweeping historical novel about a courageous woman in World War II Germany. As the beautiful cover indicates winter is special. Every year after Christmas, Preston and Connie go on a trip ~ the children call it their Parent’s “Wintermoon”! This year they went skiing in France ~ unfortunately there was a deadly avalanche.