The Emma Harte Saga - By Barbara Taylor-Bradford

Barbara Taylor-Bradford is my favourite author, when I first read 'A Woman of Substance', many years ago, the first few pages, I found it quite boring. A friend of mine read the book, she said give it a chance, read a few more, so I did, after that i could not put the book down. The story how Emma Harte built an empire was absolutely brilliant. After reading her first book, I have read every one of her books since then

Biography

Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE was born 10th May 1933. She comes from Leeds, West Yorkshire. She was an only child. Before she went into 'Journalism, she worked in the typing pool for the 'Yorkshire Evening Post'. By the age of 20, she was fashion editor of 'Womans Own Magazine', and an editor and columnist on 'Fleet Street', for 'London Evening Post'. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance was published in 1979 and she has so far written 24 bestselling novels.

Barbara Taylor-Bradford lives in New York City with her husband since 1963. In 1999, Bradford became the first living female author to be featured on a postage stamp, when she was honored on legal tender by the nations of St. Vincent and Grenada. In 2002, she was again recognized with a postage stamp by the British Isle of Man. In April 2003, Mrs. Bradford was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America.

Writing Career

Her first novel 'A Woman of Substance' became an enduring bestseller and was followed by 23 others - all bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic. Bradford's books have sold more than 81 million copies worldwide in more than 90 countries and 40 languages. Ten of her books have been made into television mini-series and television movies.

A Woman of Substance

This novel is the first of a saga about the fortunes of a retail empire and the machinations of the business elite across three generations. It is the first of six novels about Emma Harte and her family. Subsequent novels are are Hold The Dream, To Be The Best, Emma's Secret, Unexpected Blessings and Just Rewards.

Hold the Dream

Paula Fairley, now head of the Harte chain of department stores, has taken on the burden of preserving Emma's legacy. However, she suffers dissent within her extended family, in particular her devious cousin Jonathan Ainsley.

Her marriage to Jim Fairley is unhappy, leading her into the arms of her childhood sweetheart, Shane O'Neill, grandson of Blackie O'Neill, Struggling to prove herself in a male dominated world, just like her grandmother before her, Paula would suffer heartache and loss that mirrors the life of her grandmother. Emma's request that Paula hold her dream is what drives Paula to fight and overcome personal tragedy and come out on top, so as to save the Harte name for the next generation.

To Be The Best

Enthralling sequel to Barbara Taylor Bradford's universally loved novels, A Woman of Substance and Hold The Dream. Set in Yorkshire, Hong Kong and America, this remarkable contemporary novel continues the story of an unorthodox and endlessly fascinating family. As the spirit of Emma Harte lives on in her granddaughter, Paula O'Neill, an engrossing drama is played out in the glamorous arena of the wealthy and privileged, underscored by a cut-throat world of jealousy and treachery. Paula must act with daring and courage to preserve her formidable grandmother's glittering empire from unscrupulous enemies -- so that Emma's precious dream lives on for the next generation!

Emma's Secret

Emma Harte, the heroine of A Woman of Substance, returns in this sweeping saga of power, corruption, love and secrets! Paula O'Neill, beloved granddaughter of Emma Harte and the guardian of her vast business empire, believes all that Emma left to the family is secure. However, beneath the surface tension is mounting and sibling rivalry brewing. Into this volatile mix walks Evan Hughes, a young American fashion designer. Her grandmother's dying wish was that Evan find Emma Harte. But Emma has been dead for thirty years! Troubled by Evan's presence, and her uncanny resemblance to the family, Paula turns to Emma's war-time diaries. Emma Harte comes vividly back to life. It is London during the Blitz. As bombs drop, sirens wail and her sons go off to war, Emma's trademark resilience, will power and strength all come to the fore. And as the pages unfurl, Paula discovers the secret Emma took to the grave.

Unexpected Blessings

The new blockbuster from one of the world's greatest storytellers continues where Emma's Secret left off, charting Emma Harte's -- the original Woman of Substance -- wartime experiences and the repercussions the past has for the present members of the Harte clan. The great-grandaughters of Emma Harte, the heroine of A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE and EMMA'S SECRET, follow in her legendary footsteps Evan Hughes, Emma's American great-grandaughter, is trying to integrate into the powerful Harte family. She is caught between her estranged parents, her new family, and new love. Meanwhile a dangerous enemy hovers in the background. Tessa Longden, Evan's cousin, is battling her husband for custody of their daughter, Adele. When Adele suddenly goes missing, Tessa seeks her sister Linnet's help. Linnet O'Neill, the most brilliant businesswoman of the four great-granddaughters, shows that she is the natural heir to her mother, Paula. But her glittering future at the helm of the vast Harte empire means many sacrifices. India Standish, the traditionalist in the family, falls in love with a famous British artist from a working-class background. Madly in love, India is determined to marry him. When Evan discovers letters from Emma Harte to her grandmother, the story is swept back to the 1950s. In the post-war boom years Emma builds her business empire, using a combination of determination and sheer nerve, and she embarks on a relationship with a handsome acquaintance from the war years. But it is the revelations in Emma's letters to her grandmother that give Evan a new perspective and help to set her free from her own past. This latest dramatic story in the on-going saga of an extraordinary family dynasty is full of love, passion and jealousy and is Barbara Taylor Bradford at her inimitable best.

Just Rewards

The new blockbuster from one of the world's greatest storytellers continues where Unexpected Blessings left off in the latest act of the amazing Harte family story! Love, passion, duty and honour collide as the members of this extraordinary dynasty try to protect their family name at all costs. Linnet O'Neill, heir apparent to Emma Harte and all she created, is determined to bring the Harte empire into the twenty-first century. But she and her mother Paula, head of the dynasty, lock horns. When Paula falls dangerously ill, Linnet is suddenly alone at the helm, just as her great-grandmother Emma once was. Linnet finds herself following in the footsteps of the original woman of substance as she battles to save what Emma created -- upsetting her sister Tessa, who believes herself to be the rightful heir, in the process. Meanwhile, Emma's American great-granddaughter Evan faces her own headache. Her adopted sister Angharad is making trouble in the family, latching on to Jonathan Ainsley -- deadly enemy of the Hartes -- and so putting them all in danger. And when grief and heartbreak strike the family, all of Emma's great-granddaughters are tested to the limit as the extraordinary story of the Harte family takes another astonishing turn !

Breaking The Rules

Thirty years ago the world was introduced to Emma Harte. Now meet M, a new woman of substance guaranteed to win our hearts all over again. A new era has begun. When those you love are threatened, there's nothing you won't do to protect them! you'll even resort to breaking the rules. Following a terrifying encounter in the quiet English countryside, a dark beauty flees to New York in search of a new life. Adopting the initial M as her name, she embarks on a journey that will lead her to the glamourous catwalks of Paris. When M meets charming and handsome actor Larry Vaughan they fall instantly in love and soon this couple become an international sensation, appearing on the front cover of every celebrity magazine. M delights in her successful career and perfect marriage and believes she has truly put the demons of her past to bed. But M's fortunes are about to take another dramatic turn when a dark figure from her past, someone who she thought she'd never see again, is back and determined to shatter M's world forever.

I hope you enjoy reading the 'Emma Harte Saga'