The Wonder of It All by Barbara Taylor Bradford – a Review

The Wonder of It All by Barbara Taylor Bradford – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

 

Description:
James Falconer–a tycoon and a self-made man, seems to have the world in the palm of his hand. But The Great War looms, and James decides to fight for king and country. The fighting is bloody and brutal, and James returns a changed man, with wounds both physical and mental. His beloved wife is dead, but a new woman returns to help nurse him back to health.

Georgiana Ward once held James in her thrall, but years have passed and bitterness has set in. Still, the old attraction is there and James is determined to make amends to both Georgiana and his child Leonie–now a grown woman and someone he hasn’t seen in decades. Leonie is having none of it, and is embarking on a dangerous journey with a man who might very well destroy her. As James fights to return to the man he once was, he needs to find a way to heal his body, soul, and family.

Told with Barbara Taylor Bradford’s inimitable style and flair for period detail , The Wonder of It All concludes House of Falconer trilogy that has followed the story of this remarkable family from Victorian times to the 20th-century.

 

 

Review:

The Wonder of it All by Barbara Taylor Bradford is the 3rd and final book in her House of Falconer series. The story continues with James Falconer, a self-made business tycoon, who runs Malvern; with the help of his brother and sister. James still grieves the loss of his wife, Alexis, and pushes himself to participate in the WW1 war, Major James Falconer goes to fight for his country, until he is hurt badly with multiple injuries and sent home to a hospital in England; once he is released, he still needs care, and Georgiana Ward returns after many years, to help nurse him back to health.

James has a daughter, Leonie, by Georgiana in the early years, and made sure they lived well. He would see her occasionally, but slowly when his daughter became a teen ager, he was buried with his business and she hardly saw him, eventually cutting her father out of her life. In the present, James wants to get to know his daughter, but Georgiana tells him that Leoni wants nothing to do with him. Once he is well, both Georgianna and James also terminate their relationship.  James did keep an eye on Leonie’s marriage, as he did not like the man she married.

With the war taking its toll on his business, James concentrates on rebuilding his empire, and eliminating some of the smaller stories, with help from Eddie, Rossi, and other partners.   James will be introduced to Annabel, an art connoisseur, and slowly they both become very attracted to each other.  James has feelings for Annabel, but the age gap difference (he is 13 years older than her), pushes him to break it off, and leaves London to work hard in rebuilding his business ventures.  

What follows is both and exciting and sweet final ¼ of the book, with James finally being able to meet his daughter, after her husband abused her, and Leonie realizing that her father was a wonderful man, and would always be there for her. James also realizes that Annabel, even with the age gap, was the woman he loved.  I loved Rossi and Eddie, who were always there for James, and together they brought the business back to the top.

The Wonder of it All was very well written by Barbara Taylor Bradford.  This is the 3rd and final book in this series, and if you have not read this series, you need to start with the first book in the House of Falconer series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Share

In the Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford – a Review

In the Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository


Description:

James Lionel Falconer has risen quickly from a mere shop worker to being the right-hand man of Henry Malvern, head of the most prestigious shipping company in London. With Malvern’s daughter Alexis running away to the country after a terrible tragedy and refusing to return, James’ ascent to head of the company seems inevitable. But even a charmed life like James’ is not without its setbacks.

A terrible fire threatens to end his merchant career before it’s had a chance to truly begin. Mrs. Ward, James’ former paramour, has a secret that could change his life forever. And his distaste for Alexis Malvern is slowly growing into feelings of quite a different sort. Can James continue to be the master of his own fate, or will all of his charm, intelligence, and wit finally fail him when he has to enter the lion’s den?

 

 

 

Review:

In the Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford is the 2nd book in her House of Falconer series, and even if you have not read the first book, this reads very well as a standalone. In the Lion’s Den is set in Victorian times in England 1889-1892. James Falconer, our hero, has worked hard working for Henry Malvern’s shipping company, and has successfully risen up to be his right-hand man.  James enjoys his job, has a great relationship with Malvern and other staff members, but he continues to dream about opening his own business in time. 

Alexis Malvern, is Henry’s daughter and heir apparent to the company, who after the death of her significant other, runs away to the country side, avoiding anything to do with the company.  Alexis has friends where she is staying, as she slowly grieves, and she ignores her father’s constant attempt for her to return home.  

When some things go wrong, such as a fire, and embezzlement, James is promoted by Henry Malvern to become managing director of the compnay.  He travels to Kent to meet with Alexis, to show her the changes being made, and she is very rude to James.  In a short time, Alexis will realize that she cannot continue to stay away, and it was time for her to go home to her father and the company.   James agrees to stay another year and train Alexis on taking control of the company and becoming the managing director, as well as the charity she runs.

What follows is watching Alexis work with James, and a slow built romance starts, as both have strong attractions to each other.  Alexis realizes how mean she has been to James, and knows this was due to her feeling an attraction to him early on, making her run away.  I really loved James and Alexis together, and was happy to see that Alexis was able to rise above her tragic loss and open her heart up again. I also loved many of the secondary characters who played a major role in this story. 

In the Lion’s Den was well written by Barbara Taylor Bradford, with a wonderful Victorian background, a bit of history, wonderful characters and romance.  This is a difficult review to write, as you really need to become immersed into the story line, enjoying Bradford’s ability to narratively tie all the pieces together.  In the Lion’s Den is another winner for Barbara Taylor Bradford, and I suggest to read this story. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Share