The Award

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Adam Verner

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Capturing historical events, terrifying moments of danger, tragedy, the price of war, and the invincible spirit of a woman of honor, The Award is a monumental tale from one of our most gifted storytellers - Danielle Steel's finest, most emotionally resonant novel yet.

Gaëlle de Barbet is sixteen years old in 1940 when the German army occupies France and frightening changes begin. She is shocked and powerless when French gendarmes take away her closest friend, Rebekah Feldmann, and her family, and send them to a detention camp for deportation to an unknown, ominous fate.

The local German military commandant makes Gaëlle's family estate outside Lyon into his headquarters. Her father and brother are killed by the Germans; her mother fades away into madness and ill health. Trusted friends and employees become traitors. And by accident, Gaëlle begins a perilous journey with the French Resistance, hoping to save lives to make up for the beloved friend she could do nothing to help.

Taking terrifying risks, Gaëlle becomes a valuable member of the Resistance, fearlessly delivering Jewish children to safety underneath the eyes of the Gestapo and their French collaborators. Then she is suddenly approached by the German commandant with an astonishing and dangerous plan to save part of France's artistic heritage as the Germans withdraw. And once again, her life is on the line. Conducted in secret, flawlessly carried out, her missions for the Resistance change her life and mark her for years. She is falsely accused of collaboration at the end of the war, and flees Lyon in disgrace, orphaned and alone. She goes to Paris to put the war behind her and begin a new life, with the ghosts of the past always close at hand.

Gaëlle's life will take her from Paris to New York, from a career as a Dior model to marriage and motherhood, unbearable loss, and mature, lasting love. She returns to Paris to run a small museum, honoring victims of the Holocaust. She has never sought recognition for her courage during the war years she can never forget. Her label as a collaborator remains, until her granddaughter, a respected political journalist, is determined that past wrongs finally be made right, and her grandmother's brave acts be recognized. Now a grateful nation will finally acknowledge this remarkable woman. At last, she is absolved and honored as the war hero she was.

©2016 Danielle Steel (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Very good book! The narrator was awesome.

This was the first audio book I ever heard and I loved it! Great narration

great story

I felt the narration of the story would have been better if it were female

Disappointed

Usually I stay away from books from D.S. Only because of the love stories, I like more suspense and history, but when I read the details I thought it would be really good because of the time period. The story was ok, it started out really well, but then it became so unrealistic. Everything that could happen to this lady, did. The main thing I didn't like was it was read by a guy. Why they didn't choose a female narrator was strange. The book was about a woman, told from her point, so it should have been read by a woman. #lovestories #unrealisticlife #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Wonderful

Probably one of Danielle Steel's best yet. I love, love, loved every minute of it.

Excellent as always every time!

When I read or listen to one of her books I know it'll be a good she never lets me down.

Drawn out...Why?

The story line was good and had so much potential but I believe that the author didn’t have much to go on with and drug it out...horribly. All I wanted to do was hear the ending, but of course that took me a few days...now it’s done and I’m ok with it. But it could have been better....way better. So many points in the story line were directing the story towards a suspenseful route and of course the author kept pulling back as if scared to explore. SMH. WHY???!!!!

classic, predictable Steele

Why have a male narrator when it's a woman's life story,told in her own words?
Steele books always seem to focus on babies and details about pregnancy and childbirth.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book, which focused on hey life during the war, then that second half after she was married.

The Award

Very good book! Very interesting story of what was done to the Jews and how badly they were treated by the Germans.

The Award

This story is so great from the beginning to the end. She was a very strong woman and how she manage her life to have and enjoy such a wonderful life with the exception of her oldest selfish daughter that resented her for the death of her father. What was nice that her daughter finally embrace her with forgiveness.

Not great. Had to make myself keep with it.

Had to make myself keep with it. Don’t enjoy an audiobook when that’s the situation. Occasionally enjoy a Danielle Steel/ not this one.