Review
“Ambitious…engrossing…the plot is equal parts evil, rivalry, and romance.” ―Washington Post Book World
“Bradford's characters are so real, readers clamor to know them better.” ―USA Today Weekend Magazine
“Bradford's latest is a truly remarkable conclusion to her beloved Harte family saga. The characters' lives intertwine to create a riveting and intense plot. Not many novels have the ability to completely immerse the reader, but this one draws you into the story from the very first page.” ―RT Book Reviews
“Fans of Bradford will be delighted to reacquaint themselves with tried-and-true favorites from her previous novels.” ―BookReporter.com
“The Harte saga is as much a force of nature as a work of fiction…the issues at stake still compel readers after 25 years. Bradford understood early on readers' hunger for depictions of women who are strong and powerful and whose values embrace family. A quarter-century ago, Emma Harte crossed the no-woman's-land that once divided family and business, and now generations of readers consider her a role model in their own lives.” ―The Washington Post
“Bradford gives her readers more of what she does best--strong, savvy female protagonists who relentlessly pursue great destinies, characters much like the author herself…well-written and full of emotion…completely riveting…the plot, while always complex, has suspenseful moments to keep the pace sharp…good reading…Unexpected Blessings clearly shows why Bradford is still the premier writer of family sagas.” ―Miami New Times
“The exploits and adventures of Bradford's indomitable heroines continue to make for lusty escapist fiction in this robust fifth novel in the series.” ―Publishers Weekly
“The enduring theme of family loyalty ennobles the Harte family saga and raises it to a heartwarming crescendo that longtime fans will appreciate. New readers will relish it as well.” ―Book Page
“Readers who loved A Woman of Substance will enjoy Emma's Secret.” ―Denver Post
“In her 19th novel, the grande dame of mass-market fiction revisits her first heroine--the indomitable Emma Harte.” ―New York Daily News
“So many of us turn to novels like Barbara Taylor Bradford's latest, Emma's Secret for our daily dose of amour.” ―Woman's Day Magazine
“Promises to tantalize, mesmerize, and titillate readers of all ages. It has all the Bradford touches: strong and swift plot, hints of secrets about to be revealed…spellbinding… destined to fly off bookseller's racks and be passed around many book clubs. It is a darn good read.” ―Roanoke Times
“It will be…appreciated by those with an irresistible desire to follow the further adventures of the Harte clan.” ―Publishers Weekly
“[An] original story with new energy. Emma Harte is one of those characters whom we never want to leave behind, and thank goodness Bradford has brought her back to us with a story worthy of this truly remarkable woman.” ―RT BOOKclub Magazine, "Top Pick"
“An extravagant, absorbing novel of love, courage, ambition, war, death, and passion.” ―The New York Times
“A long, satisfying novel of money, power, passion and revenge, set against the sweep of 20th century history.” ―Los Angeles Times
“A wonderfully entertaining novel.” ―Denver Post
“Voice of the Heart is the sort of book I cannot resist, indeed I pray to find.” ―The Washington Times
“It really keeps you turning the pages, wondering just why it is that two beautiful women who were once great friends are now sworn enemies.” ―The Daily Express (UK)
“A rare treat. We guarantee you will laugh and cry with the characters and that you won't be able to put it down.” ―Literary Guild Magazine
“Meant to be read in a peignoir on a chase lounge whist nibbling scented chocolates.” ―Cosmopolitan
“A rich tapestry of love and romance. The surprise ending is both poignant and fitting.” ―San Diego Union
“Barbara Taylor Bradford is back with a new, vibrantly characterized leading lady and a glimpse into the dazzling world of the rich and powerful…[A] richly woven tale.” ―Working Woman
“It is easy to want every item Bradford catalogues, easy to imagine wearing it, eating and drinking it, driving it, smelling like it…The geography of Voice of the Heart takes a reader to all the right places.” ―Los Angeles Times
“A captivating work filled with glamour, intrigue and ironic reversal…Richly textured, highly entertaining.” ―Booklist
“Engrossing…Stunning.” ―Pittsburgh Press
“Readers who shared the trials and tribulations, and successes of the indomitable Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance will find this sequel equally engrossing. Attractive, intelligent, and capable, Paula McGill Fairley proves a worthy successor to her grandmother's domain.” ―Booklist
“Another instant bestseller. The men and woman are all gorgeous, rich, well-dressed. There are luxurious descriptions in this perfect page-turner.” ―Philadelphia Inquirer
“A deeply involving story of women of power and wealth and substance.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Fascinating.” ―Houston Chronicle
“A sweeping saga full of passion and intrigue…a gripping read.” ―Hello Magazine
“A vibrantly characterized leading lady and a glimpse at the dazzling world of the rich and powerful. A richly woven tale.” ―Working Woman
“Barbara Taylor Bradford is the storyteller of substance.” ―The Times (London)
“A novel for everyone…A satisfying, lushly detailed saga.” ―Rave Reviews
“A compulsive read.” ―The Daily Mail (London)
“Will keep you up till all hours reading just one more chapter before you can bear to turn out the bedside light.” ―Prima Magazine
“A master storyteller and character builder, Ms. Bradford again crafts another reader-holder novel…Act of Will is another winner.” ―The Pittsburgh Press
“Pure gold–certain to be a runaway bestseller.” ―Cosmopolitan
“This novel continues the Bradford tradition of spirited romances peopled with memorable, self made women…fetching.” ―Booklist
From the Back Cover
From the blockbuster bestselling author comes the dramatic conclusion to the saga that began with Emma Harte and A Woman of Substance. Four women at a crossroads. A family in crisis. And an enemy planning for a long-awaited chance at revenge. Who will have their just rewards?
Linnet O'Neill, great-granddaughter of Emma Harte, finds herself following in the footsteps of the original woman of substance as she battles to modernize the family business. Returning from her honeymoon full of fresh ideas for bringing the Harte empire into the new century, Linnet locks horns with her mother, Paula, in a battle about the future...
Tessa Fairley is ready to start a new life after an acrimonious divorce―which might include rivaling her sister Linnet for the top spot in the Harte business.
India Standish, who is planning her own glamorous summer wedding in Ireland, is thrown off balance when her fiancé's daughter Atlanta comes to live with them―closely followed by his unstable ex-girlfriend, intent on trouble.
Evan Hughes, their American cousin, unwittingly brings an enemy into their midst. But Evan's sister Angharad, who tries to infiltrate the quartet of young women, meets Jonathan Ainsley, the deadly enemy of the Hartes.
Together, they find themselves in a web of vengeance whereby no Harte is safe.
"Ambitious…engrossing…the plot is equal parts evil, rivalry, and romance."
--Washington Post Book World
"Bradford's characters are so real, readers clamor to know them better."
–USA Today Weekend Magazine
About the Author
Barbara Taylor Bradford is the author of 25 bestselling novels, including Playing the Game, Breaking the Rules, and The Ravenscar Dynasty. She was born in Leeds, England, and from an early age, she was a voracious reader: at age 12, she had already read all of Dickens and the Brontë sisters. By the age of twenty, she was an editor and columnist on Fleet Street. She published her first novel, A Woman of Substance, in 1979, and it has become an enduring bestseller.
Barbara Taylor Bradford's books are published in over 90 countries in 40 languages, with sales figures in excess of 82 million. Ten of her novels have been adapted into television mini-series starring actors including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Liam Neeson, Deborah Kerr and Elizabeth Hurley. She has been inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America, and in June of 2007, Barbara was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to Literature.
She lives in New York City with her husband, television producer Robert Bradford, to whom all her novels are dedicated, and their Bichon Frise dogs, who sit under her desk while she writes.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Part OneQUARTET
Envy slays itself by its own arrows.
—ANONYMOUS MEDIEVAL SAYING1
Flurries of silvery snowflakes were blowing in the wind, sticking to the plate-glass windows of Harte’s and on the faces of the two pretty young women gazing so intently into those windows.Evan Hughes brought a gloved hand to her cheek and wiped the dampness away Then she drew closer to Linnet O’Neill, shivering and hunching into her dark green loden cape, feeling the bite of the intense cold.Instantly, Linnet glanced at Evan and exclaimed, “I’m so thoughtless, dragging you outside to look at our windows on a day like this! You’re freezing. Come on, let’s go inside. We’ve seen enough, actually.” Linnet took hold of Evan’s arm and hurried her toward one of the double doors leading into Harte’s.“I’m all right, honestly,” Evan protested as she was propelled across the floor of the cosmetics department, adding irately, “I’m not a cream puff, you know. I’m not going to melt away.”“You’ve got guts of steel, I’m very well aware of that!” Linnet shot back. “It just became frightfully cold all of a sudden. And if you catch a cold, or get sick, Gideon will have my guts for garters.”Evan burst out laughing, as usual amused by Linnet’s penchant for quaint sayings; she was frequently startled by the other girl’s bluntness, as well as her pithiness. Evan considered her recently discovered cousin a unique person. She had never met anyone like her, and in this past year of working together, they had become the very best of friends.Moving through the glamorous, eye-catching displays of cosmetics and perfumes, Evan felt her icy limbs beginning to thaw, and she loosened her scarf, opened her cape. Smoothing her hand over her bulging stomach, she confided, “I feel like a beached whale, Linny. I can’t wait to give birth.”Linnet’s expression was sympathetic. “I know. But just imagine, Evan, you’re about to have twins. Twins! You’ve certainly given Tessa, India, and me pause for thought. We have a tendency to forget that twins run in this family. Grandy had twins, and so did Mummy the first time around, when she was married to Jim Fairley. It’s only just struck us that we also might be candidates, have the same fate as you.” Linnet smiled engagingly. “What do you think?”“We share a lot of the same genes, I guess, so you’re probably right.”“Julian’s hoping so, and actually so am I. It makes life easier. Two children born together saves so much bother in the long run … an instant family and less time off work.”“Very well put,” Evan responded softly, laughter filling her eyes. She couldn’t help thinking that Linnet’s inborn pragmatism inevitably came to the fore, but she admired her for being so down to earth.By now the two women had arrived at a bank of elevators, and they stepped into one as soon as its doors slid open. Falling silent, they rode up to the management offices and hurried down the long corridor.When they reached the alcove in the center, where the famous portrait of Emma Harte hung, the two of them automatically came to a standstill, looked at each other, smiled, and then briskly saluted their great-grandmother and moved on. It had become something of a ritual with them of late, whether they were together or alone. It signified their pride in being her progeny and working in the renowned store she had founded.
A few minutes later, settled comfortably in Evan’s office, Linnet said, “So, give me your opinion about the windows.”“I have to agree with you, they are a bit outdated. Oh, they’re beautiful, Linnet, of course. So well dressed. And they do evoke the kind of image we want for Harte’s, but they could be a bit … fresher.”“Not enough pizzazz, perhaps?” Linnet suggested.“Not pizzazz, that’s not quite right for Harte’s, is it?”“I suppose not,” Linnet agreed, sitting back in the chair, her eyes focused on Evan, whose opinion she valued.Evan bit her lip, then shook her head. “I think the word I’m looking for is … glamorous. I’m talking about the fashion windows per se, Linnet, and they ought to be just a tad more eye-catching. Listen, they should say something to the customer … they should say, Come in, try me on, buy me.”Linnet nodded, her face lighting up. “That’s true. You’ve just put your finger on it.”Evan said, “You’ve only recently come back from New York. You’ve seen the store windows there, and I believe you’re now finding our windows somewhat flat.” She raised a brow, and her pellucid gray-blue eyes rested on Linnet thoughtfully. When her cousin made no response, she asked, “Am I not correct?”“I think you are … . But I’m not sure Mummy would agree.”“Have you discussed the windows with Paula?” Evan probed, sounding anxious.“No, I haven’t had a chance, and she and Dad are staying in Yorkshire this week, recovering from Christmas, the New Year, and all their entertaining. They’re taking a week off, and they just want to potter around at Pennistone Royal. They enjoy being at home with each other, doing what they’ve always done since they were kids growing up together.” Linnet shook her head. “Anyway, I’m not going to say a word until she’s back here at work. Actually Evan, there are some other things I want to discuss with her, certain changes I believe we should make.”Evan sat up straighter but said nothing, merely raised a brow quizzically, her eyes full of questions.“You look surprised,” Linnet exclaimed, eyeing her carefully.“I am. What kinds of changes do you have in mind?”“I’ll get to those in a minute, just let me say this first. As you well know, the fashion retrospective was a big success last summer. We gained lots of new customers, and we did terrifically well, but eventually sales dipped. What we need to do is keep our customers coming in, and we need to garner those new ones as well. I believe we’re in a new age of retailing. We have to make shopping a unique experience, and offer other services.”“Obviously you’ve studied this carefully and come up with some fresh ideas,” Evan ventured cautiously, wondering if Paula would permit any changes at the Knightsbridge store.“I have,” Linnet asserted. “For example, Harte’s ought to have a day spa, a really beautiful spa offering every kind of treatment.”“That would be great!” Evan agreed swiftly and then thought to ask, “But where would you put it?”Linnet grinned and explained, “I think one of those boring departments such as Mattresses would have to go. But seriously, we could carve out space. I know this store inside out, and I know we could do it.”“I guess it doesn’t have to be a huge spa, just a unique one.”“That’s it exactly. Evan, listen, don’t you think we ought to have more places to eat? Snack bars, for instance. Especially on the ground floor, near the Food Halls. We could feature shellfish, pizza, hot dogs, deli sandwiches, and pastas. The kind of fast food that’s actually tasty. I’m sure they would appeal to people who work in Knightsbridge and the areas nearby, as well as our customers.”“That’s a great suggestion,” Evan agreed. “I can feel my mouth watering just at the thought. What I wouldn’t give for a plate of oysters right now.”“And ice cream on top, I’ve no doubt,” Linnet said, grinning at her. “Isn’t that your favorite lunch these days?”Evan shook her head. “Not quite, although I have had a few longings for some very strange food combinations.”Linnet leaned forward, her expression intense. “I’d appreciate any ideas you might have, Evan. You’re always so creative, and I do think we really have to revamp the store. A little bit anyway.”Evan nodded. “I agree.” She paused, hesitating, and then confided, “I did have an idea a while back. A floor devoted to brides. Called … Brides. Naturally we would feature bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses, page boy suits, and all those things. But we could also sell bridal shoes, jewelry, gifts for the bridesmaids, and even bridal lingerie. And there’s another thing. In the States, wedding planners are very popular; we could offer that kind of service as well.”“Evan, I love it! And what about the Evan Hughes Bridal Collection? You know you love to design bridal gowns. How about it?”Evan considered Linnet’s words. “I think I’d enjoy that. I guess I’ve been itching to design again.” Her enthusiasm was apparent. “Actually, the store has had inquiries about your wedding gown. There were lots of photographs in the newspapers, and women seemed taken with it.”“I don’t blame them. You created something out of this world. So, let’s sell it to them,” L...
Linnet O'Neill, great-granddaughter of Emma Harte, continues the family saga when she returns from her honeymoon filled with tantalizing ideas to renovate the family business. The large cast of characters that make up the fourth generation of Harte women is difficult to follow, but name cues, such as "great aunt" and "great-great-great-grandfather," help. Narrator Kate Burton is a solid fit for these English and North American characters, who have a variety of accents. She captures the tension within the family and excels at portraying wicked Angharad, an adopted sister with a threatening manner and condescending voice. For those who follow the Harte stories, this won't disappoint. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
