20181122_154543.jpgHappy Monday and welcome to my stop on the Master of his Fate blog tour!  Today I have a review of the first in a shiny, new series by Barbara Taylor Bradford and now available from St. Martin’s Press.

My Thoughts:

Master of His Fate, the first in a new series by Barbara Taylor Bradford, is actually my first book by this beloved author of historical fiction! 

Set in Victorian England, there is a deep and wide distinction between the haves and the have-nots, and two main characters are brought together from either side of the divide. James Lionel Falconer is the grandson of hired help; well-loved and highly-respected help, but help nonetheless. James is self-made in every respect and has the charm and intelligence of someone able to climb socially. 

James starts as a young boy working in his father’s rented wares stall and dreams of being a wealthy merchant…Slowly moving respectfully through the ranks, he earns a high position in a company, but not long after, tragedy strikes his family- not once, but twice, leaving James to worry about his position. He need not, though, because he receives a royal summons that may be just the rise in stature he needs to achieve his goals. 

In contrast to James’ working class beginnings, Alexis Malvern is a wealthy young woman, born into a privileged family; the family for which James works. The stories of James and Alexis build and connect to each other, but not how you would expect. 

The heart of this story is in its rich details. Barbara Taylor Bradford transports the reader to Victorian England, and these characters come to life within the pages. 

Steeped in descriptions of the decor, clothing, and atmosphere, with well-drawn, complex characters, I was mesmerized by this story and cannot wait to read what happens next in book two. 

Thank you to Suzy Approved Book Tours, GetRed PR, St. Martin’s Press, and the author, for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

Synopsis:

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.

Have you read Master of His Fate, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR