Breaking the Rules

A Novel of the Harte Family

By: Barbara Taylor Bradford

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

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

Critic reviews

“The plot ... satisfies on the fashion-and-passion front, and ... 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.” —Publishers Weekly

“Marvelous ... with all the drama, glamour and romance readers expect. With a 21st-century woman of substance and characters from the Harte series, this nonstop read has it all.” —RT Book Reviews

“Fans of the saga will relish the thirtieth anniversary of A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE updated for the new millennium.” —Genre Go Round

Just OK

I usually love Barbara Taylor Bradford's books, and have especially loved the Emma Harte series, but this one took way too long to get very interesting and then went on way too long, without much in the way of character development or new plot lines. When Jonathan Ainsley finally emerged as the villain, again(!), the book was more than half over!! Maybe I would have like this better as a read than as an audio since I could have skipped over many sections. Basically I was disappointed.

Family is family

Family sticking together after all that and more. The revenge is really good again and again

Hartes' didn't kill anyone

The narrative wasn't as good as the last book. The males voices seemed pretty much the same, at times.
The story dragged in the first half. Seemed tedious.
I'm done with this saga.

Not a Emma Harte book

Thoroughly disgusted. I purchased this book believing it would be a continuation of the Harte family saga. It is not and after the masterful narration from Bea Holland this narrator was sadly lacking. This book is so poorly written it is hard to believe Barbara wrote it. Characters not rounded, not believable. Disappointing ☹️☹️🙏

Breaking the Rules

Another very enjoyable Bradford read!