Echoes

By: Danielle Steel

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Against a vivid backdrop of history, Danielle Steel tells a compelling story of love and war, acts of faith and acts of betrayal…and of three generations of women as they journey though years of loss and survival, linked by an indomitable devotion that echoes across time.

For the Wittgenstein family, the summer of 1915 was a time of both prosperity and unease, as the guns of war sound in the distance. But for eldest daughter Beata, it was also a summer of awakening. By the glimmering waters of Lake Geneva, the quiet Jewish beauty met a young French officer and fell in love. Knowing that her parents would never accept her marriage to a Catholic, Beata followed her heart anyway. And as the two built a new life together, Beata’s past would stay with her in ways she could never have predicted. For as the years pass, and Europe is once again engulfed in war, Beata must watch in horror as Hitler’s terror threatens her life and family—even her eighteen-year-old daughter Amadea, who has taken on the vows of a Carmelite nun.

For Amadea, the convent is no refuge. As family and friends are swept away without a trace, Amadea is forced into hiding. Thus begins a harrowing journey of survival, as she escapes into the heart of the French Resistance. Here Amadea will find a renewed sense of purpose, taking on the most daring missions behind enemy lines. And it is here, in the darkest moments of fear, that Amadea will feel her mother’s loving strength—and that of her mother’s mother before her–as the voices of lost loved ones echo powerfully in her heart. And here, amid the fires of war, Amadea will meet an extraordinary man, British secret agent Rupert Montgomery. In Colonel Montgomery, Amadea finds a man who will help her discover her place in an unbreakable chain between generations…and between her lost family and her dreams for the future—a future she is only just beginning to imagine: a future of hope rooted in the rich soil of the past.

With the grace of a master storyteller, Danielle Steel breathes life into history, creating a bold, sweeping tale filled with unforgettable characters and breathtaking images—from the elegant rituals of Europe’s prewar aristocracy to the brutal desperation of Germany’s death camps. Drawing us into a vanished world, Echoes weaves an intricate tapestry of a mother’s love, a daughter’s courage…and the unwavering faith that sustained them—even in history’s darkest hour.

©2004 Danielle Steel (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

My Best Audible Book So Far

I absolutely loved this one. I have not read Danielle Steel in years because I found her novels too predictable. This one was absolutely marvelous. There was not one slow minute in the book, I could not wait to drive somewhere, go to the gym, or clean my house so that I could listen to it.

magnificent

couldn't believe it was a novel. The story, characters and events felt completely real, unbelievable.

Worth Your Listening Time

Poignant storyline that intertwines the lives that existed during the horrors of Hiltler's regime. Story of history, love and faith.

My Favorite Danielle Steel book

i thought this book was the perfect read! I love the historical context and the wonderful unfolding of this story. I did wish we has closure on the lives of her mom and sister - but then war leaves many unknowns…

The ending was not so great

This book was actually very sad. However, i agree with one of the other reviews in which listener has stated that it is annoying when main characters disappear all of a sudden!

Blah boring by far

Blah….. boring and uneventful. Not up to par. It was a waste of my time and money

An Attention Holder!

I loved how the story progressed through the many years with the rich store of every emotion.
A beautiful story!

This has Everything

A book with a beginning a middle and an end full of human interest wonderfully narrated and a very good story transports you back in time and entertains as well.

echoes

A wonderful Danielle Steele book that even my husband will enjoy. Not her typical book by any means.

An unexpected heartfelt listen.....

I had to stop listening to this book at one point as my heart became so heavy with sadness I didn't feel I wanted to hear anymore. But of course I turned it back on...and rather quickly as it's among the best stories I've heard to date.

I came to care so much for the charactors in this book that I felt the Nazi's inhumane treatment personally, as if it were happening to my family or people I truly care about. I can still feel the fear, pain and hopelessness of the people. This is unusual for me, as I don't usually get so "involved" with a story.

It is truly a wonderful listen and makes one such as I, who has never until listening to this book taken such a 'heartfelt look' into what it must have been like to be Jewish during that horrible time. I will be thinking about this book for a long long time. Please do yourself a favor....and listen!!