Danielle Steel's ex-assistant has received a nearly three-year prison sentence for embezzling more than $760,000 US from the famed U.S. romance novelist.

A U.S. district court judge in San Francisco sentenced Kristy Watts to 33 months in prison on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old Watts, who also goes by the name Kristy Siegrist, worked for the author from 1993 and until she was fired in December 2008.

Paid an annual salary of $200,000 US, Siegrist handled Steel's finances, including paying bills, overseeing bank accounts and credit cards, co-ordinating travel expenses and handling payroll.

Watts pleaded guilty in September to fraud and tax evasion, admitting that she stole from the bestselling novelist between 2003 and 2008, including by depositing cheques made out to "cash" into her own bank account, paying herself unearned bonuses and by using Steel's credit card reward points on trips and gifts for herself and her family.

Watts sold the lavish home, furnishings and cars she owned to repay Steel close to $1 million US in conjunction with the case.

Chief District Judge Vaughn R. Walker ordered her to pay an additional $60,000 US for evading taxes and to serve 400 hours of community service after the completion of her prison sentence.

The reclusive Steel, who lives in San Francisco and Paris, has published more than 70 bestselling romance novels, which have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide.

With files from The Associated Press