High Stakes by Danielle Steel

High Stakes

 Book Summary

In this captivating novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, five successful women play for high stakes in their careers at a boutique literary and talent agency.

Jane Addison is an ambitious young woman with big dreams of owning her own company someday. At twenty-eight, she arrives in New York to start a job at Fletcher and Benson, a prestigious talent agency. Eager to impress her new colleagues, Jane jumps right in as an assistant to Hailey West, one of the agents in the literary department.

Hailey is dedicated to the authors she represents, but her home life is chaotic and challenging. After her husband’s tragic and untimely death, she was left widowed with three children to raise on her own.

Then there’s Francine Rivers, the stern and accomplished head of the literary department. Also a single mom after her husband’s affair with the nanny, she has overcome the resulting financial hardships, but only with unbearable sacrifice.

Compared to Hailey and Francine, drama agent Allie Moore’s life seems much more carefree and uncomplicated. She relishes her success and loves working with the talented actors they represent—until a passionate relationship with one of her rising star clients threatens to derail her career.

Merriwether Jones is the CFO for the agency. She appears to have it all—beauty, success, and a perfect marriage until her husband's jealousy over her career threatens to blow everything up.

Even though she’s a newcomer, Jane quickly realizes that there are damaging secrets hidden behind the doors of Fletcher and Benson.  As one of the youngest employees, she has the least power, but is also the least willing to accept things as they have been for years. When she puts everything on the line to right these wrongs, the consequences will leave no one unscathed.

In this riveting novel, Danielle Steel tells the story of a group of remarkable women navigating the challenges of balancing their families, their personal lives and the high stakes of ambition at the top of their game.

My Thoughts

High Stakes by Danielle Steel follows five women who work at a boutique literary and talent agency.  The story takes place during the Me Too Movement.  I started reading and was quickly engrossed in the story.  It contains Danielle Stee’s trademark writing style.  It is a little hard to keep the five women straight throughout the book.  It switches between the women without notice.  I wish the story had followed one or two women instead of five.  I thought Danielle Steel did a wonderful job at handling the Me Too Movement.  One man fails to realize that you cannot grope women or demand certain favors.  He goes too far with a new hire at the agency and gets a reality check.  There is too much foul language for my liking in this story and there are intimate situations (forced and consensual).  There is also a great deal of repetition.  The same details repeated in different scenes as we go from character to character. I like how Jane handled gropey McGee and that she stood up for herself.  She was not going to take his disgusting behavior any longer.  It just takes one person to stand up and say no.  The ending is predictable, and the relationships are questionable.  It sends a mixed message (client with agent, boss with underling, etc.).  Of course, when you work all the time, the only place to meet potential dates is at work. I like that we get to see the woman evolve as the story progresses.    High Stakes has an ending that will have readers smiling.  

High Stakes is available from Amazon*.  Danielle Steel's next release is Beautiful which releases April 19.  You can find Danielle Steel's other novels here.  Follow Danielle Steel on Amazon to receive an email when she has a new book coming out.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  I will be sharing my thoughts on The Bletchley Women by Patricia Adrian tomorrow.  I hope that you have a positive day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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