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Breaking the Rules [Hardcover]

Barbara Taylor Bradford (Author)
3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 13, 2009
Following a terrifying encounter in the quiet English countryside, a young woman flees to New York in search of a new life. Adopting the initial M as her name, and reinventing herself, she embarks on a journey that will lead her to the catwalks of Paris, where she becomes the muse and star model to France’s iconic designer Jean-Louis Tremont. When M meets the charming and handsome actor, Larry Vaughan in New York they fall instantly in love and marry. Soon, they become the most desired couple on the international scene, appearing on the cover of every celebrity magazine, adored by millions. With a successful career and a happy marriage, M believes she has truly put the demons of her past behind her. But M’s fortunes are about to take another dramatic twist. A series of bizarre events turn out not to be accidents at all, but assaults on M and her family. The dark figure from M’s past, a psychopath with deadly intent, has made a vow: to shatter M’s world forever. But M also makes a vow: she will do everything to keep them all safe. When those you love are threatened and at risk, there’s nothing you won’t do to protect them… you’ll even resort to breaking the rules! Moving from New York to the chic fashion capitals of London and Paris, to the exotic locations of Istanbul and Hong Kong, this new tale from a renowned storyteller is a genuine pageturner

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For the 30th anniversary of her first novel, A Woman of Substance, Bradford delivers her 25th book. The riches-to-more-riches tale features beloved matriarch Emma Harte's plucky great-granddaughter, M, who, at 23, moves to New York to start a modeling career, banking on her intelligence and business savvy, her Audrey Hepburn looks and her well-connected friends to help her. A violent attack had compelled M to leave behind a life of privilege in London, and from her new home in a shared Chelsea brownstone, M begins her ascent, eventually landing on the catwalks of Paris and falling in love with a famous British actor, though her successes soon attract the attention of family enemies. The plot, while contrived, satisfies on the fashion-and-passion front, and, as always, at the heart of the action stands a determined heroine scrambling up the ladder of success supported by minor characters, each with a complicated backstory. Fans will not mind if the connections holding them together seem tenuous. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for Barbara Taylor Bradford: 'The storyteller of substance' The Times 'Queen of the genre' Sunday Times 'Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world's best at spinning yarns' Guardian 'Memorable and moving!a sure-fire winner' Express --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (October 13, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312578067
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312578060
  • Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #647,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD

Barbara Taylor Bradford, OBE is one of the world's best loved storytellers. Her 1979 debut novel, A Woman of Substance, ranks as one of the top-ten bestselling books of all-time, with more than 30 million copies in print. All 25 of her novels to date have been major worldwide bestsellers. Her 26th book, Playing The Game, will be published on October 12th by St. Martin's Press.

Bradford was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire (UK) as the only child of Freda and Winston Taylor. She grew up in the Leeds suburb of Armley and after Town Street Church of England School worked in the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post before going into journalism. By the age of twenty she was the fashion editor of Woman's Own Magazine and an editor and columnist on Fleet Street for the London Evening News.

Bradford's books have sold more than eighty-two (82) million copies worldwide in more than ninety (90) countries and forty (40) languages. Ten (10) of her books have been made into miniseries and television movies, making her one of the best-selling authors over the last 30 years.

In April of 2003, Mrs. Bradford was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America alongside Mark Twain, Langston Hughes and Dr. Seuss. She was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for her contributions to literature. Her original manuscripts are archived at the Brotherton Library at Leeds University, alongside the works of the Bronte sisters. In 2009, Barbara's publishers began a worldwide 30th anniversary celebration of A Woman of Substance. The first annual Woman of Substance Awards took place on September 10th 2009 at the Dorchester Hotel in London. She lives in New York City with her husband, of 43 years, television producer Robert Bradford.

Her official website is: www.barbarataylorbradford.com

 

Customer Reviews

23 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.3 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars for fans of the saga, October 17, 2009
This review is from: Breaking the Rules (Hardcover)
In London, the wealthy twenty-three years old granddaughter of Emma Harte suffers an assault. She decides to leave England for New York and pursue a career as a model. The young lady feels she has the looks, the know-how and most important the connections. Thus M is invented.

M proves reasonably successful as a model and ultimately works in Paris. She falls in love with actor Laurence Vaughn, but eventually that adversary of her family who attacked her in Chelsea recognizes her and sets in motion a plan to destroy M and her loved ones.

Although much of the tale occurs in 2006, there is a throw back feel to the interesting story line; mostly because of the long running Harte series and somewhat M's courage under fire affirms she has Emma's DNA; she knows when to flight and when to fight. This story is a convoluted with a seemingly zillion support players with respective but related histories of their own that do not tie well together even with the marvelous Ms. M at the vortex. Still fans of the saga will relish the thirtieth anniversary of A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE updated for the new millennium.

Harriet Klausner
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bradford Writes with a Regal Grandeur, November 16, 2009
By 
Bookreporter (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Breaking the Rules (Hardcover)
Barbara Taylor Bradford is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her record-breaking debut novel, A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE, with her 25th bestseller, BREAKING THE RULES. It's hard to believe that it's been 25 years since I first read about Emma Harte, the beloved matriarch who ignited Bradford's career.

"Substance" is a befitting word to describe Bradford's style of writing. She opens BREAKING THE RULES with this description of M: "tall, slender, lithe, she moved with grace and had an inbred elegance...She carried a battered old black Hermès Kelly bag..." A simple introduction with notable substance keeps readers turning the pages to learn more about this mysterious 23-year-old, whose breeding, desire and determination give her the courage to flee a rape in London and embark on the journey to make it on her own as a model in Manhattan. M's background remains a mystery throughout part one of this epic novel; we coast along as she navigates the sea of hopeful actors, artists and models in New York, visiting the modeling agencies where she is registered and waiting for her big break. When that comes via an introduction to a photographer, M breaks the rules and rises to the top of the industry, immediately becoming the international face of French designer Jean-Louis Tremont's couture collections.

Adding to the glamour of her allure, M is the recipient of one of life's little surprises --- she meets the man of her dreams at a Park Avenue party: "He walked toward her...Their eyes were locked on each other...And I know who you are...You're the elusive woman I've been searching for all of my life." This opening line from legendary British actor Laurence Vaughan begins their grand romance.

Thankfully, Bradford's style of writing does not include steamy bedroom scenes or salacious interludes. She writes with a regal grandeur that alludes to the former and leaves the particulars to the reader's imagination. Few authors use this style with much commercial success, yet Bradford pulls it off with the proper etiquette befitting a recipient of the Order of the British Empire bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth in 2007 for literary achievements.

Readers are swept away by their instant attraction and seeming destiny. Destiny is certainly made more real when the man of your dreams --- who happens to be theatrical royalty --- makes a beeline for you across a crowded room and says very softly, "You're the woman...the woman I want to run away with...Let's do that, shall we?" Thus begins the romantic prelude to a "Burmese sapphire, flawless, cushion-cut and mounted in platinum, with two diamond baguettes on each side." Fantasy is such sweet destiny.

However, even grand romances include their share of baggage, and Larry's former addiction to prescription drugs and M's family skeletons and enemies interfere with the couple's bliss. M must reveal her true identity to Larry --- she is the great-granddaughter of Emma Harte, the founder of the most famous department store in the world. Parts two and three of BREAKING THE RULES take place in Paris, London, Hong Kong and Istanbul. M and Larry, newly married and "head over heels in love," find themselves dodging the Hartes' enemies, multiple threats and mysterious accidents.

The Vaughan and Harte family dynasties are vast and full of theatrical and classy characters the reader will embrace. The Harte ladies --- M, Paula, Linnet and Tessa --- are truly women of substance, possessing endless breeding, wisdom, family loyalty, and an eternal love and respect for the traditions begun by Emma Harte at the family home, Pennistone Royal: tea at four in the upstairs parlor. The modern-day Hartes have added a tradition that permeates the novel most pleasantly: pink champagne to celebrate life's surprises, accomplishments and grand romances.

--- Reviewed by Hillary Wagy
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars REINVENTING THE PAST, October 31, 2009
This review is from: Breaking the Rules (Hardcover)
When a young woman flees to New York after a terrifying encounter in the English countryside, she reinvents herself and embarks on a journey that will lead her to fame, love, and good fortune.

But just when everything is finally coming together for her, the mysterious "M" is about to encounter a dark figure from her past--a psychopath with deadly intent who has vowed to shatter her world forever.

As we finally learn M's true identity and understand the complex dynamics of her famous family, we are intrigued by her history and captivated by the unfolding drama.

Will M find the strength to overcome her past once and for all? And will her unusual family dynamics give her the courage to fight?

What seemingly began as a fluffy, fashion story turned into a mystery, full of conspiracies and dramatic intrigue. We find in Breaking the Rules another masterpiece from the beloved Barbara Taylor Bradford.


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