No comments about Breaking the Rules (Unabridged 11-CD Set).

5 comments about Where You Belong.

1. If this is your first Barbara Taylor Bradford book, you may never pick up another one. I, on the other hand, like to give an author the three strikes rule, so won't hesitate to try something else, but it won't be very soon. If you want to read one of her novels, do NOT start with this one like I did. This is very boring--like snails serving as soap stars--not to mention slow and predictable. I listened to the entire thing on cd, but think it was mostly because I liked Ms. O'Karma's narration--she has an appealingly smokey voice like Carolyn Jones from the Adams Family. It still couldn't save this story with its endless self-serving "what-about-ME!" mantras and Valentine's overly moralistic attitude. I'm the same way, and I bore myself!
   
   You knew from page one where this story was going, and the dialog was as insufferable as the descriptions of everything from food and clothing to moths reproducing on peeling wallpaper. "I was a war photographer and my mommy was mean to me" resounds every other page, yet she wants to get away from all of that. Nothing's worse than a character or real person who brags, then turns around and screams "Look at me, look at me...How DARE you look at me?!"



2. I saw on the cover it said something about the New York Times bestseller list, so I kept reading (for a while) since I thought it must have something good in it to get on the list. Well, it never did! It's just a bunch of ridiculous long-winded drivel that couldn't get to the point. The author dragged out the most boring unimportant acts for pages upon pages upon pages, and nothing ever happens. The LONG descriptions are of something like Val whining ad nauseum how she doesn't want to go to this memorial service, or Jake acting crabby on the plane, or how Val sat around for hours looking at Tony's picture in her apartment, etc. Anyway, I don't know how it got on the NY Times list, that's for sure!



3. While on assignment in the Balkans, Valentine, a war photographer and her co-worker and love, Tony from England (considered as good as the famous Robert Capa), they were caught in the crossfire, and he was killed. She stayed on in Paris as a matter of integrity. As she was recuperating from her injuries, she discovered that he had told her lies to coverup the truth of his background and past. With him gone, she struggled to find a place where she felt that she belonged in this life as she'd already decided not to return home to New York.
   
   She was always on the fun to find her purpose in life. Some secrets break your heart if you let them. Others can set you free. It took some time for her to come to terms with herself and her own unhappy childhood. Her mother had kept an important secret from her also. With Jake, their longtime friend and photojournalist, she could verbally grieve Tony's untimely death and, as in 'The Piano.' she realized that she had loved the wrong man. Fate had intervened and she and Jake were like Eddie and Elizabeth in 1958 after the death of the man they both had loved. It was a question of trust.
   
   After being so deceived by one, could she let down her guard to trust another man. She could keep running from her past or love the man she's with. He is offering her the opportunity of starting a new life with someone w ho truly loves her and is able to understand her deep grief of losing the one she had loved with all her heart. Foolishly, he felt that he is man enough to fill the hole left in her heart and soul. Her inspiration to live had hit the dust, so how can she ever feel complete again. I could not stick a Band-Aid on my psychic wounds and hope they would evenetually heal. Who could deal with a woman like that? She was just a younger vresion of hre irrational mother but not willing to make the same mistakes.
   
   She must now make her own decisions and work out a new life for herself in her career by her own rules. Never underestimate the power of a determined woman and her ability to develop a sudden change of heart. You can love many men; the tragedy is when they don't love you back. Ms. Bradford has written several books about strong women. I loved her first 'A Woman of Substance' and its sequel, 'Hold the Dream.'



4. Wow...I can't believe how many negative reviews this book is getting. I actually listened to it, and that always makes for a book to be at least a bit more interesting. I can see how people would get bored with it, it is long-winded, but how many authors aren't like that?
   
   I think people are just too used to the 21st century non-stop action and/or 3 minute sound bites excitement and drama, and they can't just calm down and listen to a good description of a beautiful house in France or England. I won't be able to go there anytime soon, but the descriptions have definitely transported me right in the heart of those fairy tale homes and landscapes. I think it's time for some of you to go back to the 18-19th century classics and remind yourself of the descriptive pages of those books.
   
   I definitely recommend this book to be listened to by a reckless driver while actually driving. This book has definitely calmed me down and I have become a much responsible driver. Try it!



5. I read Woman of Substance years ago and loved it... it is still one of my favorite books. I was really disappointed in this book even though it does follow the timeless paperback romance formula... main character has glamourous career and flits through life with no financial worries, barely noticing the Aubusson rugs, silk curtains and priceless antiques that grace every room she enters ... stops eating and shrinks to nothing at the first sign of stress, orders filet of sole for every meal. I liked BTB descriptive style in Woman of Substance, but it gets to be so ridiculous in this book that I felt manipulated as a reader. The main character opens the refrigerated pantry at the luxurious chateau that she is staying at for free, and BTB goes through every item in it, just to have the character fix the classic meal that all of her rich and glamourous characters throw together on the fly, the omelet. (Almost every other author of this ilk has their characters making an omelet or a salad in the unfortunate situation that they find themselves having to scrounge through the fresh, organic contents of a well-stocked refrigerator, or maybe after a brisk walk to the farmer's market since they just happen to be in the South of France) But wait! Just as you were beginning to be a little envious of Val, it comes out that she has a problems, just like you and me. Lying men, mean parents, forced inheritance of a vast fortune that she doesn't want, the agony of making a the decision about how much time to take off after recovering from tragedy... she just doesn't know what to do while sitting in the stately New York apartment that she inherited from her kindly grandparents.
   
   The main problem I had with this book is that I couldn't relate to the character of Val. BTB tries to make the case that Val is a person of integrity by stating it ad nauseum, but the novel starts with Val sleeping with a guy that tells her that his wife is a shrew and they are separated, so when that situation unravels it is difficult to feel the sympathy that BTB tries to generate. I don't have any problem with flawed characters, but if the author is going to state this character has integrity than don't have the character sleeping with someone who is still married, that is pretty basic. I finished the book because I don't like to review books unless I have read them to the end, but this bland tale just didn't do it for me.

5 comments about The Ravenscar Dynasty.

1. I am somewhat new to Barbar Taylor Bradford and enjoyed this book. I would read more that she has written. She instills such passion in her characters that you find yourself cheering them on.



2. I love the way Barbara Taylor Bradford writes. This book is excellent from the beginning to the end. There is mystery, romance, family drama and some historical fiction. My only complaint is that the author rushes through the final chapters - almost as an after-thought. I will continue reading this author's books for a great reading experience.



3. Another one of those books bought at the airport, at least it helped me sleep on the plane. It was incredibly boring, I could neither identify nor sympathize with the lead character or his haughty mother. If there was anyone in the novel I liked it was his little brother and wife, the villains, and found my self wishing that they would destroy this annoying family..... But no this suspenseless, loveless, actionless soap opera continues not only into a sequel but a trilogy.....???



4. Barbara Taylor Bradford's Harte Dynasty series is one of my all-time favorites.
   
   I had launched this Ravenscar Dynasty series by reading one out of order (Being Elizabeth), so I decided to back up and start at the beginning.
   
   The Ravenscar Dynasty is set near the beginning of the twentieth century, in England, and sweeps across Europe at points along the journey. The Deravenel family is poised to reclaim its birthright as head of the company Deravenels.
   
   This latest attempt to reclaim the company is propelled by the sudden deaths of several male members of the family--a father, an uncle, and two younger men--all believed to have been murdered by their bitter rivals, the Grants.
   
   Edward Deravenel is now the logical new head of the family, and a cousin, Neville Watkins, is all set to mentor him and to assist in finding the ammunition to overthrow the company.
   
   However, Edward is only eighteen years old and an inveterate womanizer. What chance does he have of taking control of such a huge dynasty?
   
   Over the pages we learn of how these contenders accomplish this feat, and root for them as obstacles thrown in their path are defeated one by one.
   
   Filled with the pursuit of power and passion, this novel takes us through a long-ago time; the ambition and treachery of this climb to power illuminates this dramatic epic saga.
   
   Now I cannot wait to begin the next tale in this family adventure.
   
   I deducted one star, because I could not really relate to the characters...but I did admire their ambitions and desires.
   
   Laurel-Rain Snow



5. Again, Ms. Bradford writes with historical interest, and meaningful events. This novel was one of the earliest in her stories of the Deravenel family, and unfortunately I read it last. The heritsge line, and lives of family members is important to get the full benefit from each of her novels. She is a great author to be recognized. My favorite was "Woman of Substance".

5 comments about A Sudden Change of Heart.

1. As a Barbara Taylor Bradford fan, I have long awaited the arrival of her newest book, and when it did come, I realized it was worth the wait! Despite what the some of the other reviews have said, I would encourage anyone to buy it. It is truly a work of art. She show her all-roundeness and creative skills in this book, as the main characters go through almost everything possible! And it is seen that she has gone through a lot of work as seen with her writing on the Holocaust and the Nazi victims. Well done Barabra!



2. My sister warned me not to read it, but i did anyway. It was like reading a badly written soap opera. It was not at all what i expected from the book.



3. I keep borrowing BTB books from the library (won't pay for this) hoping she'll get better - and she only gets worse! This story has holes you could drive a truck through. The characters are flat, the action non-existent. It's bad! BAD! BAD!
   Spoiler warning - two quick examples. The entire story is based on two children ages 5 and 10, being best friends. Ain't goona happen. And, in one crucial scene, two dying women are found shot on the floor, and their rescuer(?) calls an ambulance, then makes a pot of tea and sits there for 30 minutes. Does anyone in her world know first aid?!
   Do not buy this book. Do not read it.



4. I've read most of BTB's books. When I'm done with them, I donate them or sell them. But to me "A Sudden Change of Heart" was one of her best and I'm keeping it.

   Even though I agree with some of the other readers, that the "language" the characters spoke was a bit antiquated and formal, I really enjoyed the book.

   I was at a doctor's appointment today, and I started to tear while I was reading what happened to Claire. I had to stop for awhile.

   The friendship between Laura and Claire is very much alike to my best friend and me. We've known each other since we're 5 & 6 - and we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary next year - so this kind of friendship does exist.

   Don't be afraid to buy this book. Try it, you may like it!




5. "Power of a Woman" was an awful novel, but since Bradford is so popular, I figured that one must have been an exception. It wasn't. "A Sudden Change of Heart" isn't much better. There's hardly any plot to be found (the story that's described on the back of the book takes place only in the last half of the novel). Instead it's filled with endless superficial dialog and descriptions of paintings and furniture. Like with "Power of a Woman", with this book Bradford shows neither talent or inspiration. It's a boring novel full of clichés. My advice is, find something else to read and don't give your money to Barbara Taylor Bradford.

5 comments about Being Elizabeth.

1. Worst book I've read this year, by far.
   
   This book was ridiculously dull and had zero plot. The characters were totally unlikeable and one-dimensional. How many times do we have to hear about how perfect Elizabeth and Robert/Robin were for each other?
   
   Complete waste of time.



2. This book on CD was performed with tedious lethargy and was extremely poorly written. Riddled with repetition and dependent upon mundane dialogue, the characters wandered aimlessly through the pointless morass at a snail's pace. I kept waiting in vain for a plot to emerge... Don't waste your money on this one unless you need sleep.



3. I was in the mood for a good British family saga and tried the latest BTB trilogy. I am astounded that this book was ever published, and I would bet that if BTB had not been a best-selling author, this book wouldn't have seen the light of day.
   
   I always want to care about or dislike characters; in this book, I simply didn't care about any of them. The plot is non-existent and the ending is simply ridiculous, by any standards. I felt as though this story were put in the hands of an amateur writer and BTB signed her name to it.
   
   How many times can the words and phrases "murmurred," "instantly," "immediately," "arched brow," "arched an auburn brow," "paler than ever," "whiter than ever," "the most handsome," "light grey eyes," "startling blue eyes," "stared at her," "gaped at her" be used in one book? A bazillion, that's how many.
   
   The first book of the trilogy, the Ravenscar Dynasty, was pretty good and held promise. But the trilogy began to fall apart with The Heir, and just tanked with Being Elizabeth. I kept hoping the darn thing would pick up, but it never did. Now I need a good book to read to take away the awful disappointmentn in this trilogy and this book, in particular.



4. If it were possible to give no stars, that's what I would give this book. I found Being Elizabeth to be full of frivolity and fluff. There was absolutely no substance to this book and nothing ever happened. The plot line was flat and could have been so much more compelling. I finished it only because I was sure SOMETHING must happen, but I was wrong. The conflict of the company being sabotaged or potentially being taken over was simply glossed over with a 'don't worry, nothing will happen' attitude. The only bit of emotional connection that occurred was at the very end and it seemed out of place and was still unrealistic.
   
   In my opinion, the only reason this sad attempt at literature was published is because it's the author's 24th novel. Apparently, no one at the publishing house actually read the manuscript. I'm glad I found this in a bargain bin at my local drug store and only paid $5 for it. I still feel robbed,of time and money.



5. It was a complete waste of time to me. I tried to read it during my daily commuting and it took me 2 months to read it from cover to cover. It was the first novel by BTB I read (and last).

5 comments about Unexpected Blessings.

1. Nice storyline, I enjoy keeping up with the family goings on. Pleasant read.



2. Book in condition stated, great packaging, shipping times as stated. Will purchase from seller again.



3. This family tree continues the story of Emma Hart. In this novel, we learn what happens to four of her descendants.



4. UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS by Barbara Taylor Bradford continues the sage of Emma Harte's family, but leaves the reader in a quandary as a murder is left unsolved at the end. Does this mean there is to be a sixth book in the series or is murder unimportant to the story line.
   Linnet has struggle all her life to win the reins of the Harte empire from her mother Paula (Emma Harte's granddaughter) and have a peaceful relationship with her sister Tessa. Are the two goals compatible within the confines of this ambitious family?
   A good visit with old friends, but it doesn't have the punch of prior installments.
   Nash Black, author of Indie finalists WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and HAINTS.



5. Again I couldn't do it. A reader's slump! It's English and I just can't do it!!

5 comments about The Heir.

1. I think that Barbara Taylor Bradford forgot to plan out this story before sat down to write. I normally love her books but this was a big dissapointment. Characters keep dying, some murdered, but there is no resolution and it seems like the remaining characters don't really care to find out what happened. I kept expecting the bad guy to appear and get his just rewards, but it never happened. The story skips huge chunks of time. The characters could be interesting but are never really utilized in any manner. Reread one of the Emma Harte books and save yourself the misery of this one!



2. I just love all Barbara Taylor Bradford books, I have most of hers in my collection. This one is just wonderful.



3. I want to thank all of the previous reviewers for saving me a lot of time! I gave up on BTB long ago, but picked this up on a whim in my used book store. I am now on page 51 and already disgruntled with this book. For one thing, I did not realize this was the 2nd book in a trilogy or I never would have bought it. I figured it out when they were talking about events and people that came before, and it was assumed that the reader knew what they were talking about. I really hate that. I really don't think BTB has written a decent book since a Woman of Substance, which was one of my favorites. Certainly the sequels were not good. So, this book goes on the shelf designated for trading back in. Thanks again to everyone!



4. This was a fun follow up to the Ravenscar Dynasty. I like triologies and look forward to reading the next book in the series, Elizabeth. It was a great escape, full of illicit passion, cowardly betrayals and family struggles.



5. I have read all three books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed them, tho the first was a little hard to follow for awhile. A surprising new writing for Barbara Taylor Bradford but well worth the read. Once you start you're hooked!

No comments about Just Rewards [Unabridged Cds].

5 comments about Just Rewards.

1. I loved A Woman of Substance, but reading this book, I felt like the author was phoning it in. No real plot development -- the bad guy is mean and sinister, does nothing that affects anybody, and then apparently dies. Big deal. And the characters lacked dimension -- the good guys were lovely and honorable and admirable, and the bad guys were laughably sinister and evil, like cartoon characters. Read BTB's earlier stuff and don't waste your time with this one.



2. This was by far my least favorite of Barbara Taylor Bradford's books. Maybe it would have been less torturous as a paperback, so I could have skipped pages of meaningless repetition, but as an Audio Cd it was excruciatingly lacking in excitement or plot. The positive side of that is that usually I have difficulty leaving the car and audio Cd when I get to work when I'm at a great spot in the story, but since there were no good spots, it was very easy to walk away from. I give it two stars only because it continued the saga and therefore is of some interest to people hooked on the series, otherwise, it wouldn't be worth one.



3. Would someone PLEASE make another trilogy about this wonderfully diverse family. Ms. Bradford makes one feel as if they are part of the entire clan; happiness, concerns and all. Finally, a book to capture my full attention.



4. Writers who produce numerous books seem to have the same story line in all their books. Need new twists.



5. I am truly a dyed in the wool Barbara Taylor Bradford fan. I have enjoyed tremendously Emma Harte and the years that evolved with the Hartes, the O'Neils, and the Kalinsky clan. I felt a sadness at the end of Just Rewards as it was the end to a few of Emma's children and knowing the age of them all, that this saga couldn't go much further. However, it could.....Barbara, give us more! You are truly a magical storyteller. I have never been to England physically but over the years, Barbara has done a fantastic job taking me there through the family of Emma Harte.

5 comments about Breaking the Rules.

1. You need to have read WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE before you start BREAKING THE RULES. The main protagonist reinvents herself and embarks on an exciting journey that leads to fortune, fame and eternal love. What more can a woman or reader ask for? Then there's always that evil force to try to upset the apple cart to keep us riveted...Bravo Barbara! EXPLOSION IN PARIS



2. This was my first book by Barbara Taylor Bradford, and I was not impressed. In my opinion, the way M fell in love was too unbelieveable. I wanted more depth to the storyline and characters. I ended up skimming through the book because I was too bored with it.



3. I love the quality of living style that Bradford writes with and about people of substance. I think she writes beautifully and elegantly and does not include lurid, low-class sex tumbles that lend themselves to sleezy porn desires. I love the exotic locations that she chooses as backgrounds to her books and BREAKING THE RULES is no exception. If you are going to fantasize, why not quality? I could not wait for this to come out. I was not disappointed.
   
   Another book that reminded me of Bradford's style is EXPLOSION IN PARIS, another book i was crazy about and will be following this author. Also loved THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEAL SOCIETY, THE SHACK



4. This is my second time reading a Barbara Taylor Bradford novel and it will be my last. I should've known better after reading "Three Weeks in Paris." This book was no better.
   
   It started out with potential. M seemed like an interesting character, but it started to fizzle around the point when she met Larry. Larry's one of those characters that's all surface and no substance. He barely made a blip on my radar (he was described as dark-haired in the novel, but he made such a little impression on me that I kept visualizing him as a blond) and I think he and his family worthy of a bad soap opera should've been left out of the story altogether. I hate how stories about women finding themselves and making a name for themselves always end up with that woman not being whole unless she has a man.
   
   Other than Larry and his family, I feel that way too many other characters were introduced and it was hard to keep up with who was who. For instance, what was the point of the designer's treacherous cousin being mentioned? Characters like him added nothing to this story whatsoever.
   
   I also think BTB has a way of underestimating the intelligence of her readers. I hate how a word is mentioned by one of the characters and how the next character will define what that character's said. The dialogue in this novel was akin to "Superfriends" --- where everything was over-explained and more expositional than conversational. Speaking of the designer's treacherous cousin, is it really necessary for the designer and his brother to have a conversation about how the treacherous cousin is related to them? "His father is our father's brother - our uncle" or something like that. Hello, BTB --- those characters will know how the cousin is related to them, they don't need to tell each other that. Find a better way to carry a story along to your readers.
   
   Other instances of bad dialogue occurs with the use of French. One character will say a word in French ("fraises des bois," which means wood strawberries) and the next character will define it. Is that really necessary? If there's no better, less obvious way of defining or explaining something in the novel, let the reader find out by herself by going to Google or looking in a dictionary. Something similar occurred when a character called M to report the death of her fiancé, and M corrected her pronunciation of the location the fiancé was killed at. Superfluous.
   
   I earlier mentioned M being an interesting character, but, as I mentioned in my review for "Three Weeks In Paris," BTB doesn't know how to write younger women. M started off cool, but came off very quickly as a middle-aged woman trapped in a young woman's body. Her style of dress (trouser suits?! sigh) and her interests seemed incongruous with that of a 23-year-old girl. Yes, I realize those raised upper-class are slightly different than the average 23-year-old, but there's still something about those upper crust girls that reads "youth." A 23-year-old who wears trouser suits and who's into antiques doesn't read as a wannabe New York fashion model to me. For a group of young folks living in a hip part of NYC, those characters just read "old" to me. A girl can still be sophisticated (think Ivanka Trump) without coming across as matronly.
   
   All that said, I think BTB should've trimmed about 200 pages from this novel. A lot of it drags, is boring, is repetitive and unnecessary. She also needs to research younger folks and see what they're about. What could've been a good interesting book that involves fashion and intrigue ended up being a long-winded snoozefest.



5. Not the best in the emma harte series. Could not warm up to the title character.