Worthy Opponents by Danielle Steel – a Review

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Description:
Spencer Brooke always knew she was destined to be CEO of her grandfather’s business—the most respected and luxurious department store in New York City. Brooke’s has been at the center of every happy memory she has, but it hasn’t been an easy journey. Seven years after her father’s death, her life is very different from the days when she walked through the store with her grandfather as a young girl. She may be the owner of Brooke’s, but she’s also now a divorced single mother of twin boys. And with the ever-evolving landscape of the fashion industry comes new challenges for Spencer and the legacy she’s inherited.

Mike Weston is known for making enormous profits by transforming small businesses into bigger, more successful ones. With his marriage at a breaking point and his children grown up, investing is where he thrives—where he can build something greater. And Brooke’s feels like the perfect opportunity. Yet the firm’s beautiful and savvy CEO turns down the offer before they even meet.

Spencer has no interest in outside investors meddling in her family business; her grandfather never saw the need for them, and neither does she. She refuses to be tempted by Mike’s offer, despite her big dreams of expanding the store. But when bad luck strikes, suddenly she is backed into a corner.

Review:

Worthy Opponents by Danielle Steel is another one of her wonderful novels.  Spencer Brooke, our heroine, as a child, she was always enamored with her grandfather’s business, Brooke and Son; a popular respected and well known department story in New York City.  Growing up, Spencer loved fashion design, majoring in fashion administration; especially as she knew she was destined to become the CEO of Brooke’s. After her father’s death, she inherited the business in her thirties; and was determined to salvage the damage done by her father’s poor management skills, preserving her grandfather’s legacy.

A short time after Spencer inherited the store, she got married, and had twin boys.  Her husband wanted her to give up the store, and stay home with the boys; she did not agree, determined to prove that she could manage her career that she loved, as well be there for her children. After a number of years, she gets divorced, with the husband not really caring for the children. Spencer has a few wonderful loyal management staff, and realizes that things have gotten harder financially, as she may need an investor to help, as well as possibly expand.   Spencer is stubborn, and doesn’t want investors to take the majority of her business.

We meet Mike Weston, one of the most successful investors, who is contacted by Brooke’s CFO, requesting to meet.  Mike finds his marriage slowly falling apart, as they rarely talk anymore, and with his two grown up children away, things are extremely at the breaking point. When the owner of Brooke’s refuses to meet with him to discuss possibilities, he anonymously sends her an invitation to a gala, so that he can learn more about her.  After meeting her at the dinner, they find themselves liking each other, and a friendship evolves, even though Spencer is not interested in his investment proposals.  Brooke’s ends up with a few setbacks, a flood, and later a dangerous disaster close to the store. 

Spencer knows she will have to give up a majority of her company, as the damage was costly; despite her despair, she will make a deal with Mike.  Will there be another way for Brooke’s to survive, without Spencer losing everything? 

What follows is a wonderful story that is emotional and heartwarming, with a wonderful heroine, and fantastic characters. Slowly Spencer and Mike begin to have feelings for each other, and develop a personal relationship. I loved them together; they made such a great couple.  I enjoyed watching Spencer’s twins and Mike grown up children become close.  I loved Worthy Opponents, which was so very well written by Danielle Steel.  I wholly suggest you read this wonderful story.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher