Property of a Noblewoman: A Novel
by Danielle Steel
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A young woman discovers a delicious cache of heirlooms in an abandoned safe deposit box: bundles of handwritten letters, photographs, expired passports, both American and Italian, and twenty-two leather boxes, each holding a priceless piece of jewelry. Drawn to the mysterious woman in the photographs, Jane digs deeper into the woman's luxurious, golden life and the older, dashing man who occupies her pictures and letters. The details are both glamorous and tragic, with a transcendent romance show more at the heart of it all that forever changes Jane and those around her. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Talk about being improbable. This story bordered on "Impossible" rather than improbable. Yet, seeing as it was a Danielle Steel book I guessed something like this was going to happen! Like all of her books the main character here, Valerie, too is a strong principled woman and the surrounding cast is well drawn out. So, even if it is rather crazy it's an enjoyable light read.
Rather innocuous story of the search for an heir to the contents of an abandoned safety deposit box. A very light, positive mystery that could serve as a “palette cleanser” between heavy or dark reading.
On the plus side:
• Learned what happens legally when a safety deposit box is abandoned
• A few of the characters were interesting and well-drawn, such as the “bohemian artist” and the “curmudgeonly sister”
On the minus side:
• Irritatingly repetitive, almost as if the author thinks her audience suffers from short term memory loss
• Several bland and shallowly-written characters
• Lots of coincidences that rarely occur in life
• Appears to overlook some of the technology available in present day
On the plus side:
• Learned what happens legally when a safety deposit box is abandoned
• A few of the characters were interesting and well-drawn, such as the “bohemian artist” and the “curmudgeonly sister”
On the minus side:
• Irritatingly repetitive, almost as if the author thinks her audience suffers from short term memory loss
• Several bland and shallowly-written characters
• Lots of coincidences that rarely occur in life
• Appears to overlook some of the technology available in present day
This is only the 3rd Steel book I have read/listened to. I did like the reader of the audio.
The book itself, IMHO, got bogged down into too many (wordy) details, esp. at the auction scene.
Plot: Jane, a law student, interns at a surrogate's court and Phillip, who works at Christie's Auction are drawn together because of jewels in an expired bank's safety deposit box. Heirs need to be found.
Both Jane and Phillip pursue the course of the woman's life who owned the jewels. Surprises happen along the way.
This is a story of romance, love letters to a daughter and found love.
The book itself, IMHO, got bogged down into too many (wordy) details, esp. at the auction scene.
Plot: Jane, a law student, interns at a surrogate's court and Phillip, who works at Christie's Auction are drawn together because of jewels in an expired bank's safety deposit box. Heirs need to be found.
Both Jane and Phillip pursue the course of the woman's life who owned the jewels. Surprises happen along the way.
This is a story of romance, love letters to a daughter and found love.
I think this is one her best books out of the last ten she has written. It was sad that mother and child were never reunited but the daughter found the answer to why she was so different from the rest of her family.
Property of a noblewoman by Steel_ Danielle
Story of a man who is works at an auction house box. Jane is also involved and when she hands over the death notice to her boss, she is handed the assignment to see it til it's done.
There are a lot of details they must follow the rules. The contents of the box sound amazing, I can just see the sparkling gems. Other pieces of information lead them to different places to try to find a relative.
22 pieces of jewelry that might have to go up to auction if relatives don't show up. They need them appraised.
Like the back story of their relationships and how they are turning in different directions.
Phillips mother's name is also Pearson but they were not familiar with relatives of the past.
Love that show more this story is more than just one story. Love how it's tangled all up together and where all the clues lead.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less
Story of a man who is works at an auction house box. Jane is also involved and when she hands over the death notice to her boss, she is handed the assignment to see it til it's done.
There are a lot of details they must follow the rules. The contents of the box sound amazing, I can just see the sparkling gems. Other pieces of information lead them to different places to try to find a relative.
22 pieces of jewelry that might have to go up to auction if relatives don't show up. They need them appraised.
Like the back story of their relationships and how they are turning in different directions.
Phillips mother's name is also Pearson but they were not familiar with relatives of the past.
Love that show more this story is more than just one story. Love how it's tangled all up together and where all the clues lead.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less
Could have told the story in half the time. Very predictable and some of the plot felt useless. It was eh.
AUTHOR Steel, Danielle
TITLE: Property of a Noblewoman
DATE READ 05/23/2016
RATING 4/B
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF PAGES Fiction/ 2016/ Random House / 322 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: SA
CHARACTERS Jane Willoughby/ law clerk; Phillip Lawton/ fine arts expert @ Christie's
TIME/PLACE: Present, NY & Italy
FIRST LINES It was one of those January days in NY that feels like winter will never end.
COMMENTS: Jane Willoughby is a law clerk @ the surrogate's court. This was not her 1st choice … she wants to work eventually w/ children and family court. Phillip Lawton wants to be a museum curator but is working at Christie's Auction House in the Jewelry area, not his 1st pick but he is learning about jewelry altho' he prefers the fine art of paintings. show more When a safe deposit box has been abandoned it comes under the jurisdiction of the surrogate court. Jane works on it and has to ask for assistance since there are many fine jewels that appear to be not only magnificent to her lay eye but very valuable. Thus Jane and Phillip are brought to work together. Jane is living w/ someone and is not looking for romance. Jane and Phillip's story is one aspect but discovering the owner of the jewels and the romance and history and connections is the real meat of the book. show less
TITLE: Property of a Noblewoman
DATE READ 05/23/2016
RATING 4/B
GENRE/ PUB DATE/PUBLISHER / # OF PAGES Fiction/ 2016/ Random House / 322 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: SA
CHARACTERS Jane Willoughby/ law clerk; Phillip Lawton/ fine arts expert @ Christie's
TIME/PLACE: Present, NY & Italy
FIRST LINES It was one of those January days in NY that feels like winter will never end.
COMMENTS: Jane Willoughby is a law clerk @ the surrogate's court. This was not her 1st choice … she wants to work eventually w/ children and family court. Phillip Lawton wants to be a museum curator but is working at Christie's Auction House in the Jewelry area, not his 1st pick but he is learning about jewelry altho' he prefers the fine art of paintings. show more When a safe deposit box has been abandoned it comes under the jurisdiction of the surrogate court. Jane works on it and has to ask for assistance since there are many fine jewels that appear to be not only magnificent to her lay eye but very valuable. Thus Jane and Phillip are brought to work together. Jane is living w/ someone and is not looking for romance. Jane and Phillip's story is one aspect but discovering the owner of the jewels and the romance and history and connections is the real meat of the book. show less
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300+ Works 105,136 Members
Danielle Steel was born in New York City on August 14, 1947. She studied literature, design, and fashion design - first at Parsons School of Design and later at New York University. Her first novel, Going Home, was published in 1972. Her other books include The House on Hope Street, The Wedding, Irresistible Forces, Granny Dan, Bittersweet, Mirror show more Image, The Klone and I, The Long Road Home, The Ghost, Special Delivery, The Ranch, His Bright Light, Southern Lights, Blue, Country, The Apartment, Property of a Noble Woman, The Mistress, Dangerous Games, Against All Odds, The Duchess, Fairytale, Fall From Grace, The Cast, The Good Fight, and Turning Point. A number of her novels have made major bestseller lists and have also been adapted into TV movies or miniseries. She also writes children's books including the Max and Martha series. In 2002, she was decorated by the French government as an Officer of the Order des Arts et des Letters for her contributions to world culture. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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