Master of His Fate (House of Falconer #1) by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Published by St. Martin’s Press on November 20, 2018
Genres: Family, Historical, Literature & Fiction
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
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From New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford comes the first book in a stunning new historical saga.
Victorian England is a country of sharp divides between rich and poor, but James Lionel Falconer is everything a self-made man should be: handsome, ambitious, charming, and brimming with self-confidence. Even as a boy working in his father’s market stall in Camden, he was determined to become a merchant prince. Through hard work and a single-minded determination, James rises quickly through the ranks, with a loving wife, devoted children, and a lofty position in the Malvern & Malvern Company. But when back-to-back tragedies strike the Falconer home, shattering this idyllic life, it seems as though James might never recover his former glory…until a royal summons gives him the chance to prove that he truly is a master of the game.
The first book in an expansive and intricately detailed new historical fiction series from master storyteller Barbara Taylor Bradford, Master of the Game is filled with drama, intrigue, and Bradford’s trademark cast of compelling characters.
Who hasn’t heard of Barbara Taylor Bradford? I mean, come on, the lady has written so many incredible books over the years that I’m betting generations of family members have come to love her! She is one of the queens of producing riveting historical romance novels!!!
I loved that there were two protagonists with their two story lines. First there’s James Falconer, who is a poor but ambitious and bright young man. Second is Alexis Malvern, who is a rich young woman living the life of privilege.
We first meet James Falconer as a boy with big dreams. He loves his job helping his father sell wares at the market and dreams of owning big stores to sell his own wares when he’s older. His loving family, including his grandparents, put James on the right path to achieve his goals.
Henry Malvern is one of the richest men in London and he is the owner of a very prestigious trading business. The plan has always been for Alexis to take over his business despite her being a woman. Alexis is smart and quick-witted and especially independent. She has already decided that she is not going to get married so as not to have to worry about any husband’s potential problems.
James works hard and moves up until he is working for Henry Malvern, acquiring money and power as he climbs up the proverbial ladder. He begins to work on a project with Alexis and something seems to grow between them. I will be honest, between these two characters, I was pulled toward Alexis at the start, but over the course of the story, James and his family seemed to grow on me.
This is a great story showing Victorian England’s divide of class between the rich and the poor. Master of His Fate is a book for all lovers of historical fiction, so be ready to be pulled right in to James and Alexis’s lives along with their families.
Barbara Taylor Bradford is the author of 30 bestselling novels, including The Cavendon Women, Cavendon Hall, 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 88 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.
I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy from St. Martin’s Press through Net Galley in exchange for my post. I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!
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