One of the best sequels I have had the pleasure of reading; it is a perfect continuation of "A Woman of Substance." ( )

Continua la saga familiar que nos llevará desde Yorkshire, Australia, Hong Kong y America. Descubriendo sentimientos encontrados, lealtades y amores.

Several decades ago Barbara Bradford was a leading author of women’s fiction. Her reoccurring theme involves the struggles women endured throughout the 20th century in their everyday lives. She is quoted (from Wikipedia) as saying "I write about mostly ordinary women who go on to achieve the extraordinary.”

Barbara Bradford wrote a series of novels about the Harte family. Emma, the matriarch, was featured in "A Woman of Substance"and "Hold That Dream". In this third of 6 novels of the continued saga Emma's grandchildren are now running the Harte multimillion dollar portfolio of businesses.

"To Be The Best" is not just about the trials and tribulations of running Harte Enterprises, but also delves into the Harte’s personal lives - their ongoing internal squabbles with disagreeable family members, the intimate relationships and love life, raising children, and juggling their many obligations to make time for a social life.

All Barbara Bradfords novels have overly dramatic plots which are quite predictable, and an abundance of romance. This one is no exception.

Regarding intimate relationships there are two amusing quotes;

Early in the novel we read this from one of the characters: “I think a man and woman know immediately if they’ve clicked in a special way, know how they truly feel about each other. It’s an instinctive thing. And time, as such, doesn’t make a helluva lot of difference. You can know a person for years, yet never really know them, feeling nothing for them. Or you can suddenly meet someone, and bang, That’s it” Love at first sight!

And then much later in the novel: “I just broke up with someone. It was for the best. I made an error in judgement… I mistook personality for character.”

And so it goes with Barbara Bradford's family saga. Entertaining, to be sure, but the series is getting a bit redundant.

Rated 3.5 Stars August 2021 ( )

To Be The Best, the third book in the Emma Harte saga continues with the trials and triumphs of Paula Fairley, now married to her cousin, Shane O'Neill. Barbara Taylor Bradford paints a colorful tapestry of the very rich, as Paula and her cousins jet around the world looking after their conglomerates and enjoying the rewards of the very wealthy. The characters in this saga are so vibrant and personable; I feel like they are old friends, and I'm experiencing their joys and heartaches with them; I always have a Kleenex box handy. ( )

Very good read ( )