The True Meaning of Love

by Danielle Steel, Unknown Author

This powerful novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel is a stirring story of the lives of ordinary people during wartime.



February 24 is the eighteenth birthday of a Ukrainian ballet school student named Vlad. It also happens to be the day that the first bombs of the 2022 Russian attack land on his homeland. As life for every person in the country is turned upside down in a moment, Vlad is immediately called up to serve in the military. But as much as he wants to defend his country, he is desperate to get his girlfriend, Tatyanna, an orphan whose only home has been the ballet school, out of the country.



With their home under siege, Tatyanna tries to make her way to safety in Poland. Also joining the refugees is Yulya, who is torn between getting her young children across the border and staying at the side of her husband, Symon, and her elderly parents, Petro and Oxana, who refuse to abandon their home. As millions flee, Vlad and Symon join a volunteer civilians' unit to fight. Even elderly citizens like Petro and Oxana are given AK-47s, though soon starvation becomes as much of a threat as the encroaching troops.



Sasha, an obstetrician, and Anton, a surgeon, who are secretly lovers, stay behind to treat the never-ending waves of wounded. When the Russians bomb hospitals, the heroic couple finds themselves delivering babies in bomb shelters.



Through the stories of Vlad, Tatyanna, Yulya, Symon, Sasha, and Anton—each struggling to protect their loved ones and preserve their own humanity—Danielle Steel tells a gripping and deeply moving story of regular people surviving as a war rages around them.

Hardcover

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

[Sherralynne Smith]

Beautiful but heartbreaking story

I loved this beautiful story, although I was moved to tears several times. Heartbreaking losses and cruel brutality of the Russian Army are a feature of this story. It's now the end of August 2026 and the war rages on.

Thank you Danielle from one of your New Zealand fans.

[Rosie Gane]

Easy read

[Shari]

This book is probably based on the Ukraine War that has been going on. The hardships the people face, the heartache and loss was hard to understand.

[Maree Smith]

Much better read, very sad based Ukraine war