A Woman's Place: A Novel

by Danielle Steel

An exciting new novel from Danielle Steel, whose countless #1 New York Times bestselling novels have made her one of America’s favorite storytellers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical Romance, Audiobook, Historical

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 21, 2026

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

[Heather Putnam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A little Titanic sprinkled in... very quick read.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest book by Steel is about the early 1900’s. A young woman is very independent and educated for the time period. She isn’t interested in getting married and having children. She just wants to take care of her older father. When crossing from England to the US on the new Titanic, her father drowns when the ship sinks. Victoria ends up marrying the wealthiest mill owner in Manchester who promised her father that he would take care of her. She learns all about the textile industry from her new husband. She becomes very much a part of the business world and even hires women to run the factories after all of the men go off to fight in WWI. It seemed a little too far-fetched for me.

[Janet R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Titanic and a very modern woman

[Sandy Wasinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Danielle Steals book are always good but this love is exceptional. I can't wait for the next one!! She never disappoints.

[Tracy Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a nice sweet read. I didn’t want the story to end. It wasn’t mind blowing. It was just a good comfortable read.

[Shelly Itkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Following The Rules

Lady Victoria Oldbuck is not one to go along with tradition. When she was presented, unlike her friends, she had no intention of finding a man, marrying, and having children.

Her father, Lord Afred, brought up Victoria, as her mother died in childbirth. He never remarried, and Lady Victoria took care of all his needs, running the houses and going on exciting trips and vacations with her father.

When Victoria told her father about the new ship, the Titanic, and her plan to visit her friend in New York, he agreed to book passage on the maiden voyage.

Unfortunately, this would be the last trip they took as he perished along with 1,500 other passengers. During the trip, her father introduced her to Bert Banning, a very successful mill owner from Manchester. He was forty years older than Victoria, who was twenty-three at the time.

When her father gave up his spot on a rescue boat, he asked Bert one favor: please take care of my daughter and marry her.

Victoria was totally unaware of this promise Bert had accepted in Lord Alfred's last moments.

Over time, they became friends, and although he loved her, he was afraid to say anything, knowing that the aristocratic world would ostracize her for who she was.

As time went on, he told her how he felt, but also said he had made a promise to her father and did not expect her to accept it, as her life would never be the same.

Age was never a factor, and she explained to Bert that she never wanted to have children anyway. She was sure her friends would accept her, but unfortunately, Bert had been right: they all abandoned her, leaving her and the two of them.

They do marry, and she is very interested in his mills and how he runs them, so she decides she wants to learn all about them. He is thrilled, and she makes some suggestions which he agrees with and implements.

He dies tragically and unexpectedly, and now, within three years, she has lost the two most important men in her life.

Bert has left her all his mills, all his money, the charities he wants her to contribute to, and both of his homes.

She is in shock and explains she has no idea how a woman is going to be able to handle his business and keep it going when the men resented her from the beginning.

This is a very interesting story about a truly remarkable woman who will run things her way and help break down barriers by employing women in the mills, especially during a war.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel by Danielle Steel has been one of my personal favorites that she has written. I have read her books off and on throughout the years and this book is one of my personal favorites of 2026. It was an emotional, beautiful, sad, heartfelt and overall just touching story. It had all the feels. This storyline had me invested from the beginning and it’s the quickest book I’ve read in a very long time. You could definitely connect with the characters. It was a beautiful story of love and loss and finding yourself. It was of overcoming obstacles and achieving goals beyond what you thought you could accomplish in that timeframe in the storyline. To me, the reader, this story definitely left an imprint on my heart and will definitely be one of my favorite reads of 2026.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Victoria and her father's cruise on the Titantic. She is traveling with her father on vacation when the Titanic sinks. She is put into a raft and makes it to land. Her father's friend Bert has been asked by her father to take car of her if her finds her alive. The book is about the life they lead after the crash. She becomes part of his textile business by following him to work and learning the trade. Victoria and Bert's life is the plot of the story and you have to read it so see how their story changes the world. Victoria leads the way to making suits for the army when the war breaks out. She also takes over the factory whne all the men all called to war. This is a very well written book by Danielle Steel.

[Sheila Penwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is A GREAT READ especially for readers who enjoy some history.This book starts in 1889 with the birth of Victoria and that of her mother 's death during childbirth. She raised by her father Lord Alfred. She enjoyed a lot of things and traveled a lot with her father. She wanted to go to Oxford to study but women couldn't do so at this time. She was intelligent , asking lots of questions and always wanting to do something. She came out as she was suppose to but she had no desire to marry or have children. She didn't want to be under the rule of man . Later she feels different. After the death of her father her life becomes very different. To write more would be spoiling the book.

[Nancy Cormier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Woman's Place: a novel by Danielle Steel takes place in 1912. Lady Victoria Oldbrooke is with her father on the Titanic. He owns the largest mills in England. Bert Banning is her father's right hand man who promises to take care of her as the ship goes down.
Lots of historical information about women in the workplace and work ownership. Labor union issue in the mills. The industrialist vs the aristocracy. Who can marry whom?

[Alex (Alex's Version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me feel really uncomfortable, and here's why: a 23-year-old woman falls in love with a 63-year-old man after her father wanted the older man to marry his daughter. To me, that's just creepy and disturbing.

Honestly this book read like a 1980's Romance Novel, it was just plain weird.

[Mary Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting how the Titanic was woven into the book and yet very modern feminine ideas we’re willing together not sure that it’s realistic that a woman would’ve been able to run a large mill after World War I
An interesting book to enjoy when you need to escape from the real world. It’s a nice rest from the constant political tirades and threats of war every day.

[Sherralynne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story with some tragedies

This story is quite different from Danielle's more recent stories. Set in the early 20th century the story takes the reader through several tragedies which have the potential to devastate Victoria, the main character.

I highly recommend this story.

Thanks Danielle, from a New Zealand fan.

[Jennifer Cooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Danielle Steel. How sad that a woman could lose two men she loved with only a year between them? And how could “friends” turn on a friend? This book has a lot of heartbreak and even had nightmares the night I read to her dad dying. But the woman is strong and proves many men wrong in a man’s world. Such a great book!

[Melodie A. Weddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I enjoyed reading this book. It had well developed characters and I liked reading about a strong, intelligent woman setting the stage for women in the future to be able to take their place alongside and not behind men. We've come a long way and hopefully in today's climate won't slip back.

[Gloria L. Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Woman’s Place” by Danielle Steel is a very good read. Though it is a bit repetitive at the beginning, it soon engages the reader into 23 year old Victoria’s life, traveling with her father in 1912 on the Titanic, and then continues following her through many more life tragedies, successes, and sweet romances. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Haunani Ching · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Woman’s Tenasity

Great story. Intetesting characters. How one handles life’s challenges and how they survive. Great reading of strong, smart women who worked hard and were the pioneers of women’s liberation.

[Barb Lie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story by Danielle Steel. I loved the book, as it was a fantastic read.

So very well done.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don’t know why I continue to read DS books. It’s the same story lines recycled every few books.
The writing is quite stale.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Danielle Steele books. This one was really good.,

[Jennifer Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*..A Great Historical Fiction by Danielle Steel

[Linda Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Didn't want it to end.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a light, quick read, and this turned out to be a good choice. It was enjoyable, easy to get into, and just what I was looking for.

[Shelleyt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book… Danielle steel never disappoints

[Beth Hunsberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Alexis Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the historical elements in this. Plus women empowerment!

[Debbie Washburn Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good . One of my fave ones of Danielle steel

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought it was just going to be another tragic Titanic survivor story but it had so many twists and turns I just didn't see coming. Another great one, thank you Danielle!

[Joan Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps I liked this book because I wasn't able to break the glass ceiling when I graduated from college in the 1960's. I was just a few years early!

[Teresa John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Danielle Steele. Easy read, but like many of her books lately, it ends too early. She could have continued and wrapped the store up in a more satisfying ,amber.