Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: Against All Odds
- Author: Danielle Steel
- Narrator: Dan John Miller
- Length: 09:16:04
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 02/05/2017
- Publisher: Recorded Books
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, General
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
It reminds me of a time when I was winding my way through the narrow streets of Oaxaca, the air thick with the scent of mole simmering on open fires, and an old abuela sat us down to spin tales of love and defiance. That’s the kind of pull Danielle Steel’s “Against All Odds” has – this sprawling, heartfelt audiobook narrated by Dan John Miller feels like a journey through the messy, beautiful chaos of human choices. You can almost hear the hum of life in the background as Steel unfurls a story of a mother, Kate Madison, and her four grown children, each betting their futures against the odds in ways that leave you rooting for them, even as you cringe at the risks they take.
The story unfolds like a dusty road trip across landscapes you didn’t expect to love. Kate’s resale shop in Soho – a little empire built from grit after her husband’s death – sets the stage for a family saga that’s as much about letting go as it is about holding on. Her kids, though? They’re the real travelers here. Isabelle, the Wall Street attorney, dives headfirst into a romance with a client that’s as reckless as it is intoxicating. Julie, the young designer, gets swept up by a man who seems perfect – until the cracks show up like potholes on a backroad. Justin, the writer, pushes for kids before he’s ready, straining his relationship like an overstuffed suitcase. And Willie, the tech whiz, shocks everyone with a love affair that’s fifteen years his senior. Steel doesn’t shy away from the stakes – each choice feels like a roll of the dice, and Kate, the fierce, loving matriarch, can only watch as her children stumble into lessons she can’t teach them.
I’ve always been drawn to stories about risk. Years ago, driving solo through the Atacama Desert, I popped in “One Hundred Years of Solitude” on audiobook. The surreal dunes outside my window blurred into García Márquez’s magical realism, and the narrator’s voice felt like a companion whispering secrets. Listening to “Against All Odds”, I got that same shiver of connection – not from otherworldly strangeness, but from the raw, relatable humanity of it all. Steel’s knack for emotional storytelling shines here. You can almost taste the tension in Isabelle’s courtroom flirtations, hear the clink of Julie’s dreams shattering in LA, feel the weight of Justin’s premature leap into parenthood. It’s vivid, sensory, like the best meals I’ve shared with strangers in far-off places – imperfect, but unforgettable.
Dan John Miller’s narration elevates the whole experience. His voice has this warm, weathered texture – like a storyteller who’s seen a few things and lived to tell about them. He shifts effortlessly between Kate’s steady resolve and the kids’ wilder impulses, giving each character a distinct heartbeat. The pacing’s spot-on too; he lingers just long enough on the quiet moments – Kate’s reflections, say – to let the emotion sink in, then picks up the tempo when the plot twists hit. The audio quality’s crisp, no distractions, just pure immersion. It’s the kind of listening experience that makes you forget you’re stuck in traffic or washing dishes – you’re right there with the Madisons, holding your breath as the odds stack up.
That said, it’s not flawless. Steel’s world can feel a little polished at times, like a postcard from a place you know has rougher edges. The characters’ choices – bold as they are – sometimes lean into melodrama that skirts cliché. Isabelle’s bad-boy client? Julie’s too-good-to-be-true husband? They’re archetypes I’ve met before, and while Steel fleshes them out with care, I occasionally wanted a detour into grittier, less predictable territory. Miller’s narration smooths over some of that familiarity, though – his delivery keeps it fresh, even when the plot feels like a road well-traveled.
Compared to Steel’s other works, like “The Apartment” or “Sisters”, this one’s got a broader canvas – more lives, more gambles. It’s less about a single, shiny moment and more about the messy sprawl of family. If you’ve listened to something like Jodi Picoult’s “My Sister’s Keeper” on audio, you’ll find a similar emotional heft here, though Steel trades Picoult’s ethical tangles for a warmer, more sentimental lens. It’s Fiction & Literature at its most accessible – general enough to pull you in, specific enough to stick with you.
Who’s this audiobook for? Anyone who’s ever taken a chance and lived to laugh about it – or cry. It’s perfect for long drives, quiet evenings, or those times you just need a story to remind you why people keep betting on love, even when the odds suck. And here’s the kicker: you can snag this audiobook free if you know where to look – check out audiobooks.com for a sample and a shot at a free download. Worth it for Miller’s voice alone.
Reflecting on it, “Against All Odds” hit me in a way I didn’t expect. It’s not just about the characters’ risks – it’s about the ones we all take, the ones I’ve taken. Like that time I quit a steady gig to chase stories across continents, or sat with that Oaxacan abuela, soaking in her wisdom. Steel and Miller together craft a reminder: life’s a high-stakes game, and sometimes the best you can do is love the players through it. For me, that’s a road worth traveling.
Until the next tale calls us down the road, Marcus Rivera
