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Precious Gifts

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Handsome, widowed, sophisticated, utterly charming, Paul Parker won the heart of a wealthy young Frenchwoman—the daughter of an American financier, the granddaughter of a major French art dealer—as his second wife. In two marriages, he fathered a challenging son and three very different daughters. But as irresponsible as he was irresistible, he ultimately shrugged off the demands of marriage and parenting to pursue life as an international bon vivant.

Raised by their mother with all the care and resolve their father lacked, the three Parker sisters have become vibrant, self-reliant young women: Timmie, the oldest, a fiercely dedicated social worker in New York; sweet, nurturing Juliette, proprietor of a fledgling bakery in Brooklyn; and their younger sister, Joy, who is struggling to build an acting career in Los Angeles. While they love their mostly absent, glamorous father, he has left them with a legacy of impermanence and uncertainty in their own relationships with men. And with no strong role model to guide him, Paul’s son has gone from one failure to another, even while his stepmother makes excuses for him, as he seethes with jealousy of his younger sisters.

Now, after a long illness, Paul has slipped away peacefully in his sleep, and his family has gathered together to read his will. As his final wishes are revealed, his son is forced to face reality as an adult. And his daughters see a new side to their father—one that shows a caring man trying to redeem himself with a different, lasting legacy. He has made a very personal bequest to each of his children, carefully designed to help them achieve their own unique dreams and find true happiness. But Paul has saved the biggest surprise for his ex-wife Véronique: a secret from the past that shakes her world and sets her free. He leaves her a gift that remained a mystery for their entire marriage, and she begins a search to discover its history and rightful owner.

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

1311 people are currently reading
3004 people want to read

About the author

Danielle Steel

911 books16.8k followers
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

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5 stars
3,080 (41%)
4 stars
2,146 (28%)
3 stars
1,570 (21%)
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453 (6%)
1 star
192 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
Profile Image for Suzzie.
954 reviews171 followers
January 20, 2020
Well Timmie was just an awful character with little redeeming qualities. Good story though, and I liked the other characters a lot. The story had a beautiful French feel even though only some of it takes place in France. Danielle Steel writes surroundings so lovely and rich. This was a really enjoyable story of the mother and daughter relationship and second chances at romance. Enjoyed this one a great deal.
Profile Image for Anna.
231 reviews129 followers
January 30, 2016
Well i dont know ,maybe im not that used too Steel anymore, the story and the writing style are not as sugary sweet as i found her othere reads before, which is a major improvement, but i didnt get atached to any of the charecters,though if choosing between sisters, Timi is probebly my favorit
625 reviews11 followers
December 24, 2015

I absolutely hate it when the book description doesn’t match the actual plot. I thought this was going to be a story about 3 sisters dealing with their father’s death with his gifts left to them through his will to make their lives better. Instead, it’s a whiny diatribe of how busy each daughter is with their lives and how their divorced mother finds love with a jerk in Europe.
What I loved: That I made a decision to stop reading the novel around page 285. I couldn’t find anything redeeming about any character in this novel. Since Ms. Steel has about 5 new books arriving in 2016, I’m hoping one of them will be decent.

What I didn’t love: Where to begin….. EVERYTHING! This could have been a terrific novel about these three women changing their lives (and the lives of others) with their inheritances or even how their half brother is contesting the will (and the battle to reunite the family), but instead its all about their mother, her douchebag younger lover, and how selfish each daughter is now that they are in their 20s. Over 75% of the novel focuses on Veronique and Aidan and their romance. She was divorced from the girls’ dad for 20 years – she couldn’t find a suitable man then?

What I learned: To look both ways before crossing the street. Maybe you should try it once or twice Veronique..

Overall Grade: D

www.fsam15.wix.com/fluffsmutandmurder
Profile Image for Susan Becraft.
189 reviews17 followers
December 5, 2015
Predictable

All Danielle Steele's books are predictable, but this one is dull. The cast of characters include Paul, a raconteur, who married Veronique, an uber wealthy woman, and the daughters they had prior to divorcing. In Steele style, the story begins with a tragedy. Usually her tragedies are more dramatic, a plane crash, for example, but Steele begins her saga with Paul's death and the reading of his will.

The contents of the will surprise the beneficiaries, but they do not surprise me because the will launches the story. Veronique inherits a painting, and his daughters inherit varying sums of money with instructions about its use. A hands-off father for years, Paul takes a paternal interest from the grave.

Veronique immediately flies to Rome. Another calamity ensues when she is nearly hit by a Ferrari, only to be saved by a young Englishman. In the standard Steele storyline, she meets the Ferrari driver, a Russian richer than Croesus, and Adrian, her savior, who is proud to be poorer than a church mouse. She lets the Russian wine and dine her, but her heart belongs to Adrian, who not only eschews money, but is jealous and controlling.

Veronique and Adrian gallivant around Europe, and she almost loses him when she takes him to her Paris home, which Steele describes as one of the grandest homes in Paris. Poor Adrian (literally and figuratively). He is sickened by the opulence, especially because he realizes that Veronique, not her husband, brought wealth into the marriage. Almost in tears, he cannot reconcile her bundles of cash with his determination to remain a starving photographer, who specializes in taking pictures only of the most downtrodden. Veronique successfully convinces him that rich people can be nice, and thus their journey to the South of France continues.

The daughters are making their dreams come true almost immediately. They are horrified at the thought of their beautiful mother having a life outside of catering to them.

Veronique returns to her fancy digs in Manhattan, where she is run over by a bike messenger. By now I have concluded that she stay away from moving vehicles. The prodigal daughters become even more unlikable, Adrian is the White Knight, and the silly story ultimately comes to a merciful end.

I always wonder if Steele is paid by the word. If she had written War and Peace, it would be 3000 pages long. Her writing is atrocious, as usual, with its run on sentences, constant repetition and split infinitives. And yet I and her ardent fans overlook her foibles to read an adult fairytale. Precious Gifts is not her best, but I bet it is on the bestseller list.
Profile Image for Els.
334 reviews4 followers
February 9, 2019
It reads very naturally, just like the previous book I have read from this author. Personally I didn't like the characters much. The daughters where rather heartless creatures
Profile Image for Maya Drias.
74 reviews3 followers
July 20, 2025
Un roman léger et simple à lire, une lecture «de vacances » fluide et divertissante qui ne requiert pas une réflexion approfondie.
si vous êtes amateurs de Danielle Steel vous serez ravis de ce roman, je suis convaincue que vous apprécierez le message principal du livre, qui met en avant la capacité de changer sa vie, de lutter pour ce que l'on mérite et de conserver de l'espoir même après un malheur comme la perte d'un être cher
L'histoire sentimentale du roman est riche en rebondissements, en voyages, en aventure et en personnages qui évoluent vers un avenir plus promoteur .
cependant certains vont estimer que le roman est long et peu passionnant, en déplorant un manque de développement pour certains personnages tels que Timmy ou Juliette, ainsi qu'une superficialité et un manque de profondeur et d'originalité.
Si vous êtes à la recherche d'une intrigue plus complexe ou de personnages plus développés, vous pourriez être un peu déçus.
Profile Image for Deborah Imhof.
14 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2016
Enjoyable, a spiritual quality.

It was a romantically driven story with bits of a spirituality quality. Loved the main character, her children were not easy but the situation was completely relatable
Profile Image for Ler aos poucos.
260 reviews47 followers
March 23, 2023
Danielle steel, autora de vários best-sellers, escreveu à volta de 190 livros e já vendeu mais de 800 milhões de cópias. Filha de mãe portuguesa, escreve essencialmente romances com bastante drama familiar.

Com este currículo, é quase obrigatório ler, pelo menos, um livro da autora. E esta foi a minha primeira experiência com a sua escrita.

Paul Parker, morre e deixa um testamento fora do comum, que vai mudar o destino das suas filhas e da ex-mulher. As filhas ganham uma nova motivação para realizar os seus sonhos, deixando a mãe livre para reencontrar os seus.

É um livro sobre novas oportunidades, relacionamentos e sobre o amor. Pela sinopse prometia um pouco de mistério, o que não se concretizou.

O que mais gostei foram as descrições das viagens e de “ver” cidades europeias como Veneza e Florença pelos olhos da protagonista. Foi muito interessante e deu-me uma imensa vontade de viajar. Se fosse com o mesmo luxo e desprendimento da personagem, melhor ainda.

É um romance com uma escrita delicada e suave, com bastante glamour e cenários sumptuosos, que nos faz pensar que vamos sempre a tempo de ser felizes e que por vezes nos temos de libertar do passado e dos outros.
Profile Image for Mackenzie.
121 reviews
September 8, 2018
Song for summary: I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy

I quite enjoyed this book! The characters are elegant, generous, and sentimental; while the plot is a bittersweet blend of loss, grief, and moving on. This was a deep and poignant read, and will certainly satisfy fans of Danielle Steel.
Profile Image for Lisa Barclay.
1 review1 follower
August 14, 2016
Not a very good DS novel, wouldn't surprise me if there were ghost writers. Three things really annoy me about it - DS needs to get into this century!
1) The fat shaming. The middle daughter is pudgy, bigger than her sisters, likes to sample her own baking - but is pretty anyway. Got news for you - you don't have to be model slim to be beautiful!
2) No one calls the airline to book a flight anymore - you do it online. No one faxes anymore - you email. Get with the times. At least there was some texting.
3) The main character was married to a guy 28 years older than her and the age difference was no big deal (she wanted a father figure). But when she dates a guy 11 years younger, it's a huge issue! Oh, and the younger guy is around the same age as the older daughter's boyfriend who's 10 years older than the daughter. Once again, the focus is on the woman dating a younger man rather than the age gaps in general. Let's move past the sexist notion that men can date younger women but women can't date younger men - the world has moved past that. Oh, and stop writing a 52 year old like a she's 80 and her life is over.
Much about the book annoyed me, making it hard to enjoy.
Profile Image for Isabel Freitas  Sensacoes_no_papel .
137 reviews21 followers
June 20, 2023
Véronique vive é uma mãe dedicada às suas três filhas, e após o divorcio faz a sua vida em função destas. Embora viva a sua vida procura estar sempre disponível quando as filhas necessitam. Mas quando o ex-marido morre deixando um testamento peculiar e a revelação de um segredo, são apanhadas de surpresa e as suas vidas vão mudar.

Esta foi a minha primeira experiência com a autora. Gostei muito da personagem da Véronique, íntegra e com um coração do tamanho do mundo.

Um drama familiar, cheio de peripécias, algumas que me “encanitaram os nervos” mas muito agradável de ler e com um final muito emocionante.

Adorei todas as descrições dos lugares, leva-nos a viajar durante toda a leitura.

Uma leitura leve, que nos faz pensar nas relações familiares e no valor da família. Faz-nos também pensar nos nossos sonhos e na realização dos mesmos, pois por vezes chegamos a uma idade em que já achamos tarde para os realizar. Por vezes só o que precisamos é de “um empurrãozinho”.
Profile Image for Minty McBunny.
1,266 reviews30 followers
April 9, 2021
It was readable and predictable, as her books usually are. Really, not much happens and there's not too much conflict. The main character is kind of a rich, beautiful doormat with a jerk for an ex, a bigger jerk for a stepson and 3 jerky-to-her but beautiful and hard working daughters. Then she meets a hot younger than her jerk & lives happily ever after.
24 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this novel by Danielle Steel. I family type stories. I love reading this type especially after a novel of suspense or drama. I find Danielle Steel novels easy to read and comprehend without having to think to much...lol.
Profile Image for Charmaine Saliba .
279 reviews34 followers
November 8, 2017
I really enjoyed it. Danielle Steel is one of my favourite authors, I really love her style and she never disappointed me. Precious Gift is a lovely story and I laughed and cried especially in the end. It is a fast read in fact, I read it in one sitting. It is a touching story of betray, lost, love and opportunities dealt with a sense of humour.
Veronique is a devoted mother, she is always there for her all grown up daughters. When they have a problem, they know that she will drop everything and help them. On a summer day Veronique was in the South of France when her eldest daughter called her and told her that her father died. Even though they were divorced for twenty years, Veronique still cared for him and was shocked even it wasn’t a surprise consider how sick he was lately. Her daughters took it hard, the three of them in different way. He wasn’t a good father neither a good husband and he had betrayed them even after his death.
Veronique and her daughters had to deal with this situation and have to decide what to do with the inheritance he left to them with the hope to make their dreams come true.
Profile Image for Lynn.
491 reviews9 followers
January 31, 2016
I would have enjoyed this book more if it didn't make me so angry! Nobody describes the wonders of Europe and new romance better than Danielle Steel, however this heroine let everyone walk all over her, from her children to her new boyfriend. Her favorite strategy was lying by omission to stay on everyone's good side. It was a miracle that she still had any of her inheritance left. I actually found myself hoping for some cataclysmic event that would wake her totally self-absorbed children up, but nothing of that magnitude happened, nor did they ever actually change (except to grudgingly accept her boyfriend). Thus, my anger.

I also wondered as I read it how much of the story was autobiographical, as I am sure that with the fortune that Danielle must have amassed as a best-selling authoress of 30-something years, she must have encountered her share of fortune hunters as well as fortune shunners.

While I was able to finish the story, it seemed a bit long and didn't have any really original elements that haven't been explored in previous Danielle Steel books.
Profile Image for Laurie.
Author 6 books75 followers
January 1, 2016
There is nothing quite like a Danielle Steel novel. This book was a fun escape, with a story about a very selfish father who leaves some very specific items in his will; items that will change each of their lives in a positive way. As usual with Danielle Steel books, the characters are highly glossed and somewhat stereotypical, but the story was fun and engaging. The main character, Veronique is a selfless mother and ex-wife who has always put others ahead of herself, and despite a vast family fortune, Veronique is a loving and caring person, not spoiled by her wealth. As Veronique attempts to learn the authenticity of a sentimental painting, she meets a handsome young photographer named Aiden, and they quickly develop a relationship. I really enjoyed this fun story.
Profile Image for Denise.
762 reviews108 followers
December 20, 2016
Precious Gifts by Danielle Steel is a typical read. The cover of the book was beautiful and it prompted me to read it. The places visited in the story ( Venice, Rome, Paris) brought back pleasant memories of my trips. ( not the expensive hotels, ships or restaurants). The ending was surprising and emotionally pleasing. 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Denise Jo.
371 reviews6 followers
December 8, 2015
This was a typical Danielle Steel book. Like so many of her books it is about family and love. It fell short with some of the characters. One in particular Nicoli. I would have liked more interaction with the sisters and more put into the ending. It had so much more potential.
Profile Image for Bonnie Eldridge-labaff.
210 reviews13 followers
June 7, 2016
Good book. No matter if you are rich or poor makes no difference it is what is in your heart. I love the dynamics between mother and daughters and how it shapes us as people. Love knows no age
Profile Image for Sanne.
154 reviews6 followers
October 4, 2020
Timmie, Juliette en Joy Parker zijn 3 zussen. Ze zijn grotendeels door hun moeder Veronique opgevoed. Hun vader, Paul, was nauwelijks aanwezig en vooral altijd met zichzelf bezig. Nadat hij komt te overlijden krijgen ze allen een deel van de erfenis. Maar deze heeft hij bijzonder verdeeld. Een ieder krijgt wat haar toekomt. Met deze erfenis kunnen alle 4 de vrouwen op hun eigen manier, verder met hun leven.

Het verhaal liep totaal anders als wat ik had verwacht. Ik dacht dat het vooral om de 3 zussen zou draaien maar het bleek vooral om Veronique te gaan. Juist de verhaallijn van Veronique was er 1 die mij niet direct aansprak. Ook de keuzes die ze maakte vond ik af en toe een beetje dubieus. De 3 zussen vond ik een leuke combinatie aan persoonlijkheden. Allen hadden echt hun eigen ding wat mij erg aansprak. Ik vond het dan ook jammer dat ze soms wat naar de achtergrond werden gedreven.

Voor mij was het wel een lange tijd onduidelijk waar het verhaal naar toe zou gaan. Pas later wordt dit wat duidelijker. In het verhaal wordt er veel gereisd en hierdoor waren er veel verschillende settingen, dit vond ik een erg leuk deel van het verhaal.

Hoewel het verhaal absoluut niet was wat ik ervan had verwacht was het wel leuk om te lezen. Op sommige momenten was het ook echt wel een eve-opener.
Profile Image for Nicinha || Nicinha_book’s.
666 reviews14 followers
Read
January 7, 2024
Escrito na boa maneira de Danielle Steel, com muito drama e desgraça como lhe é caracteristico, mas que por vezes nos fazem pensar: caramba podia ter acontecido a mim!

Para quem conhece as cidades onde a história se desenrola - Paris, Roma e Nova iorque - sente-se novamente lá, de tão veridicas que são as descrições deste livro.

Aqui conhecemos Véronique Parker que é muito dedicada às filhas, e após a morte do seu ex-marido são surpreendidas com a herança. Se deixou às filhas o dinheiro, à mulher deixa um quadro. Mas com rigídas indicações do que tem de fazer com essa herança.

Não vos posso contar muito mais, apenas vos digo que podemos sempre emendar os erros do passado e agarrar segundas, terceiras ou quartas oportunidades.
Nunca é tarde para nada, quer sejam sonhos, objectivos ou perdões.
Profile Image for Ola.
305 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2024
To było nudne i o niczym.
Po opisie zapowiadało się jako fajny romans z tajemnicami w tle. Pozostawiony spadek po ojcu dupku który milion razy zdradzał ich matkę, bogaczke z Francji. Trzy córki które po patrzeniu na ojca boją się związków i twierdzą że to rodzinna klątwa - brak miłości i dobrego związku.

A co dodałam ?
Ciekawy początek, a później nudną historię ich matki która nic nie robi, użala się nad sobą , wydaje pieniądze i robi wycieczki po świecie. Z dupy poznaje hamowatego i zaborczego faceta z którym z dnia na dzień zaczyna podróżować i z nim być. Na koniec nagle wszystkie córki w wyniku rozwiązania sprawy spadku znajdują fantastycznych facetów o których nie wiemy nic poza tym jak się nazywają i gdzie pracują.
Zmarnowany potencjał i tyle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Loretta.
Author 16 books98 followers
Read
June 11, 2017
Tbh, I only started reading this because my mum gave me a copy. I haven't enjoyed any of Ms Steele's books before but I thought I'd give her one more try since it was going free. I'm afraid her style just isn't my cup of tea - I will most likely never finish reading this.
Profile Image for Lendoxia.
176 reviews34 followers
October 5, 2019
Nothing spectacular, but a nice quick mindless read.
Profile Image for Pam.
46 reviews
September 24, 2021
Haven't read Danielle Steel for a long time but found a couple of her books in the newsagent's sale. This one was a cracker, kept me turning the pages
Profile Image for Tehila.
5 reviews1 follower
October 25, 2023
Only English book at the hostel…. Can’t recommend
119 reviews
January 7, 2021
My kind of reading pleasure. Some good life lessons and Ms Steele makes me feel like I’m traveling as I read. And, I always appreciate a good romance.
Profile Image for Bookread2day.
2,574 reviews63 followers
May 22, 2018

Danielle Steel is one my favourite authors. If you love family drama like I do then this is a must buy must read.
Veronique Parker's husband Paul had a blatant affair with a famous model that ended their marriage. But somehow after their divorce Veronique had forgiven him enough to become friends. Veronique had said she did it for the children.

Timmie Parker worked to find housing for eligible members of the homeless population. The youngest sister Joy lived in L.A where she was pursuing an acting career. Juliette ran a tiny sandwich shop and bakery in Brooklyn. The there was Bertie who was Paul's son by his first marriage .

When their father dies each one reacts in a different way and when they are told what has been left in their fathers will to each of the girls, Bertie has been left out of his fathers will. And an even bigger shock is in store for all them. Veronique has been left a painting that they bought on their honeymoon, but she wants to find out if it is a fake or if it worth any value.

Each character has a life that unfolds keeping readers hooked in to every page. I totally loved it!
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