The Dark Side by Danielle Steel

Good Day!  The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden releases September 3 along with The Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly and Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano (her stories are always humorous).  Fiddling with Fate by Kathleen Ernst will be out on September 8.  It is the tenth A Chloe Ellefson Mystery.  

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel starts us out in San Francisco, California.  Zoe Morgan was three when her sister, Rose was born.  Three years later, little Rose is diagnosed with leukemia and the family’s lives are forever changed.  Beth, Zoe’s mother, devotes herself to Rose’s care while her father, Brad holds down the fort at home.  Unfortunately, Rose passes away after four years of battling the disease sending her parents into mourning and eventually, the couple divorces.  Zoe pushes herself academically and finds her way to New York City where she works at a non-profit that helps abused children on the Upper West Side.  When Zoe is twenty-eight years old, she meets and falls in love with child advocacy attorney, Austin Roberts who recently joined the board of the non-profit.  Zoe and Austin have a little girl, Jaime Rose Roberts.  Zoe is determined to be a dedicated, loving mother to Jaime.  The memories of losing Rose are at the forefront of her mind and she does not want anything to happen to her daughter.  Zoe has a unique parenting style and some unusual ideas.  Unfortunately, Jaime seems to be accident prone and easily becomes ill.  Zoe is always there for Jaime and never ventures far from her side.  Pick up The Dark Side to find discover what happens next.

 

The Dark Side is darker than Danielle Steel’s other novels, but it still contains her unique and engaging writing style.  The Dark Side is a fascinating story that quickly pulled me in and had me staying up late to finish it.  The book is well-written with a good flow and steady pacing. I like that the story is written in the third person.  Zoe Morgan is a developed character, though, not likeable.  Her childhood shapes her whole life.  Zoe becomes an overachiever determined to excel at everything she does and that includes motherhood.  I like how the story gradually evolves as you move through the book.  The Dark Side deals with a topic that is rarely addressed and is very hard to prove (I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you).  It is an emotional story that will touch the heart of parents. The Dark Side is a psychological suspense that will linger in your mind long after you finish it. 

The Dark Side is available at Amazon, Amazon UK, and other major booksellers.  Danielle Steel's next novel is Child's Play which will be available on October 8.  Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I am showcasing Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow as part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour.  I hope you have an amiable day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader