Trial by Fire

by Danielle Steel

In this inspiring novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, the life of a Parisian woman changes in a heartbeat when she’s trapped by wildfires in Napa Valley.Born to a French mother and American father, graceful Dahlia de Beaumont has been sole owner and CEO of the venerable family perfume business based in Paris since her early twenties, following the death of her parents. For twenty-five years, after losing her young skier husband in an avalanche, her life has centered on running Lambert Perfumes and being a devoted single mother to her four now-adult indecisive Charles, volatile Alexa, kind-hearted business visionary Delphine, and dreamy artist Emma. Now fifty-six, she has an “arrangement” with a married French man but has been questioning that relationship.Dahlia comes to San Francisco on a routine business trip to check on her stores in the States. But shortly after her arrival, brush fires ignite in Napa Valley. Watching the sweeping devastation on the news, Dahlia is moved to help. But doing so will bring unforeseen consequences that endanger not only her life, but her entire future. Forced to remain in San Francisco in the aftermath, she will make unexpected connections while also fighting to protect all she has worked for. What Dahlia learns will provide a new perspective of her life, forever changing what really matters to her and what comes next for her journey.With this uplifting novel, Danielle Steel beautifully dramatizes how life’s unforeseen challenges can sow the seeds for growth and a fresh chance at love—if one is willing to take the risk.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Chick Lit, Drama

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2024

About the author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[Tammy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danielle Steel books are as predictable as sand at the beach, and almost as annoying. After reading the first chapter, it’s obvious how it will end - just like every other book she’s written. It’s my own fault for picking these up each time she cranks out a new one but I still do it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ They’re quick to get through and require a minimum amount of brain power and sometimes that’s just nice. I would love to know how long her books would be if everything that she repeats endlessly was erased though, maybe 50 pages at best? 🤣

[Suzzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Danielle Steel books!

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be better without some unnecessary pain on heroine.

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Maybe love isn't possible unless you're willing to take a risk."

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is so much repetition of facts in this one. Okay, I got it the first time you spent pages and pages on a point. And, there was that abrupt ending I have come to expect. Sheesh. Despite these comments, I will continue to read Danielle Steel's books. It's a habit I refuse to break. 😎

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever cared less for characters in a book. I have no idea how this is rated so high other than perhaps it’s because it’s so close to pub date and they aren’t honest reviews.

The same sentences and sentiments are repeated as nauseam and I finally DNF’d at 70% because nearly nothing had happened.

Not worth picking up when there’s so, so many good books in the world right now.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Trial by Fire" by Danielle Steel tells the story of Dahlia de Beaumont, a successful Parisian businesswoman whose life is dramatically altered by the devastating California wildfires. It explores themes of resilience, love, and finding strength in the face of adversity.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big thanks to Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
I’m still behind on my Danielle Steel collection as I slowly get to them, my next read is Trial By Fire.
This one is a basic contemporary fiction with mature characters as leads.
As with this and many of her previous works there’s no surprises here, just a nice and sweet love story.
The usual narrative of wealth, family, tragedy, second chances, loss, love, obstacles, resilience and happy ever after and all the Steel trademarks are here.
CEO of an international perfume and cosmetics company in Paris, Dahlia has already lived a dramatic life.
Losing her husband five years into marriage, raising their four children on her own, running a successful business and having an affair with a married man.
While travelling for work in the US, Dahlia gets stuck in California during the wildfires and while she cannot go back home she volunteers for pet rescue.
There she meets lawyer, Mark and sparks fly.
Life puts up barriers and brings the two together in the most unexpected way.
You know what you are getting into when you pick up a Danielle Steel book.
And that’s ok, she still sells well and there’s many new releases during the year.
A predictable and formulaic read that cleanses the reading palate until my next novel by the popular author.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok story, but now I remember why I'm not a Danielle Steel fan. Basic story of a mother's family commitment and her business success, but much too drawn out for me. Skimmed through parts because it was so predictable.

[Deity World · Rating 5 out of 5]

My final book of 2024 and what a blast it was a must read

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

DS the formula needs to change. Trial by Fire (11/24) is the latest novel by bestselling author Danielle Steel, and as with many of her previous works, it is centered around themes of resilience, love, and personal transformation. Dahlia de Beaumont is a poised and resilient woman who unexpectedly found herself at the helm of her family’s renowned perfume empire in Paris. A widow at a young age, she inherited both the legacy and the demanding responsibilities of Lambert Perfumes after the sudden death of her husband. With four children to care for and a business to run, Dahlia has proven herself to be both a fierce leader and a devoted mother. While the weight of her dual roles is ever-present, her passion for the artistry and tradition behind Lambert Perfumes drives her forward, making her a formidable force in the fragrance industry. It goes without saying Steel is world renowned for her ability to blend family drama with moments of profound individual growth. Trial by Fire continues in this vein, though it may feel predictable and formulaic to those familiar with her writing like I am. I read each new release with my book club, and the structure and themes echo familiar patterns found in all of her books. 3/5

[Robin Temmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this a 4.5 if I could. Another great book by Danielle Steel. Loved the characters and the storyline.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost Dnf'd this one until San Fransisco and the Wildfires started happening. I honestly would have loved to here more about that and her volunteer work than her kids and part time lover who popped in and out of the book. This book had promising storylines beyond the poor little Rich Widow with the Part time lover. The storyline just seemed weak and fell apart towards the end and I stopped caring what happened to most of the characters except the 🐕 dog.

[Marianne Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

My guilty pleasure—-a Steel novel. Completely predictable but a fun read.

[Diane Zimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Dahlia and her chilldren and the perfume business that has been in her family. She inherited it after her Mom and Dad passed away. She is the CEO of the business and travels to the United States to oversee the stores once in awhile. This time when she travels she gets more than she bargains for. The plot is about her trip to San Fransico. The trip changes her life in many ways. Her children learn to become independent and she meets new friends. She has been having an affair with a married man and finally realizes that he is not what she needs. The plot of the story is the changes that are brought on by an accient in San Francisco. The story is quite moving and she makes some changes along the way. She also makes new friends and enriches her lifr. You will have to read the book to see how it ends.

[Jennifer Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely write reviews but thought I would on this one. I sat for hours yesterday and finished this because I could not set it down. Is it predictable, yes. Does she seem to use some of the same things over and over yes, but this is still a fun read. I read books for enjoyment. Not to pick apart and analyze everything. If you are looking for a quick fun read just for the purpose of enjoying it and not to analyze it piece by piece and compare it to Louisa May Alcott, then this is a good book. :)

[Ann Peachman Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dalia has a beautiful life. She adores her husband and her four children, and she’s building an empire in perfume, based on the family business, which she inherited. Then everything changes when her husband dies in a freak accident. She continues many years as a widow, when a wildfire where she is staying for business causes her to be in a car accident, which leads to unexpected joy.

[Lauren Collins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Same ole tired story just different character names. I do it to myself. Talk about rich entitled characters who are out of touch with the real world. Stale boring predictable and she repeats and repeats.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much!

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the romance. I sure wish it could happen so easily in real life. But always a guilty pleasure to escape into Steel’s luxurious world for a few hours!

[Patti Jacobs · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t know why I continue to read Danielle Steele books. Maybe because I’ve been reading them for the majority of my life. But at this point, her books are the same freaking formula and are incredibly boring. The MFC is rich, genteel, thin, very intelligent, running her own inherited company, blah blah blah. In the beginning, she has a married French lover. Which I feel like that was also the case in the last book of hers I read.

Anyway, in this book, the MFC is in California and she helps out at a pet rescue facility to help with pets who were lost or abandoned from California fires. And that’s where she needs her new love interest. (In a recent DS book the MFC met the MMC while she was helping out at an emergency medical place after a terrorist act in California)

I won’t even go into the fact that this MMC is her lawyer in this book even though he’s a corporate attorney, and this was a personal injury case.

Anyway, I would say do not waste your time with this book. Or really any somewhat recent Danielle Steele book. I think at this point you just need to go back decades and decades. And get some old DS books to enjoy.

[RJ Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book I fully read in years. Some of the details were repeated throughout the book, however I didn’t mind it as I read it over the span of about two weeks. Some of the conversations and details were drawn out, and other conversations and details such as Alex’s wedding, Dahlia’s final week with Mark, and the mediation hearing. Overall, I was hooked the entire time. I truly had no idea how many twists and turns this book would take me on. I enjoyed it the whole time.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read a Danielle Steel book in a while. Many of her books follow a similar theme, sad event happens to young mother, who happens to be fabulously wealthy and has several young kids and has to reinvent her life, she eventually finds love again… may not be rocket science but an enjoyable light read.

[Debbie Deissler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifty -six year old Dahlia de Beaumont is the owner of a family perfume business in Paris. Her husband died years ago and she has 4 grown children. She has an arrangement with a married French man that seems to suit both of them. She comes to the United States to check on her stores and gets stuck in San Francisco when wildfires hit and close down transportation. As she watches the news she wants to help and ends up volunteering at a makeshift animal shelter. As she travels back and forth from the hotel to the shelter she is in a bad auto accident and ends up in the hospital... a lawsuit ensues and she calls a lawyer (Mark) that she met at the shelter. Marks helps her with the lawsuit as a relationship begins.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024.100

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a fun and quick read. The story was sweet, but I found it a bit repetitive at times. I enjoyed the characters.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fabulously predictable Danielle Steel novel. Quick, easy read!

[Tay:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s like a 3.5! i just wasn’t attached to any of the characters 😪 so sweet tho!

[Stefanie Sayao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Danielle Steel book. It’s different than the other new release romance books. This one in particular I felt was more sophisticated, the characters are older, it’s love not lust. I appreciate that she’s local and took me around the Bay Area. I loved how she mentioned the animal shelter.