I have not read a book by Barbara Taylor Bradford in decades but she still has the magic touch! I have received Master of His Fate, as an arc and am astounded again by her writing, pulling the readers into this period in England. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

Another great start to a series. I love reading this author because I know what I am going to get - it is akin to getting in your favorite comfy outfit with a hot cuppa and just disappearing into another world. This was a relatively easy read. There are many characters introduced and the story progresses nicely. I enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more in this series. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Barbara Taylor Bradford is well known for her historical novels. This one follows a young man on his journey from a small town market as he works hard to advance himself. He joins with a large shipping company while joining their two families to increase and improve the fortunes of both. It was a good read with a predictable story line.

This was a good book. If you like romance and victorian England then you will enjoy this book. I will be recommending this book to others.

This was a great book. Lots of complex characters and plots going on anchored by two featured characters.

I was a huge fan of the Women of Substance series and early Emma Harte family, as well as some of the earlier works by Barbara Taylor Bradford, but had not read anything by her in many years. When I was offered the chance to read the ARC of the first in a new series, I was excited to get back to her books. Unfortunately, over the past years either her writing has become too flowery, ornate and formulaic, or my tastes have changed a lot. For whatever reason, the story was flat had zero appeal, the characters were shallow and the descriptions were simply over the top. And the writing was simply boring and awkward.

Thanks to NetGallery, St. Martin’s Press and Barbara Taylor Bradford for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The life of James Falconer I think could have been much more interesting and geared to a more adult reading level. Felt like reaading a YA book.

Another great novel from Barbara Taylor Bradford, can’t wait to read more in this series. Fans of her novels will be pleased with the characters both fictional and historical. I could not put this one done.

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martins Press for allowing me the chance to read and review Master of His Fate by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I was a huge fan of the Woman of Substance series but unfortunately, didn't feel the same about Master of His Fate. I didn't feel any connection to the characters as there was no depth to them (they wore lovely clothes, had lovely hair, lived in lovely homes, and ran successful businesses - ughhhh). I thought the writing was stilted and just not up to par with Bradford's past writings. I really wanted to like this book and hoped to be immersed in the story and left anxiously waiting for the next of the series. But alas, that just wasn't meant to be.

I absolutely love Barbara Taylor Bradford but this title didn't do a thing to get my interest. I believe it was me. I finished it but it wasn't one that I was in love with reading.

Master of His Fate by Barbara Taylor Bradford is a wonderous read. Another jewel in the crown of Barbara Taylor Bradford.
The timeline for this story is set in Victorian England. There there is a huge divide between the very wealthy and the very poor. As typical of a Barbara Taylor Bradford novel the cast of characters is complex, colorful and complicated. Ms. Bradford artfully switches the story from one character to the other without ever losing the reader’s attention.
There is romance, intrigue and drama. European Victorian history is masterfully interwoven into the story, including the emergence of the infamous Jack the Ripper and the rising career of the then little-known Dr. Sigmund Freud. The ending leaves the reader with a sense of hope and appropriately sets the stage for the next book in the series. Barbara Taylor Bradford has done it again!

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Barbara Taylor Bradford and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.



This is the first in a series, and I look forward to the next book.

I received Master of His Fate by Barbara Taylor Bradford as an ARC from NetGalley. I've been a fan of Barbara Taylor Bradford for years and loved her series about the Harte family. This is the first book in a new series about the Falconer family. This is a historical novel set in Victorian England. The primary character is James Falconer who comes from a lower class family but has dreams of becoming a successful merchant. I enjoyed the book and the characters but I didn't love the characters or the story as much as the Harte series.

Ok, I'm not even sure what I just read here.

Master of his Fate follows two characters, Alexis Malvern and James Falconer over a period of time until their lives inevitably intertwine. I really can't give you more detail on the plot because not much else happens. Its just these two characters going about their daily lives.

I really wanted to like this book because I know I've read other books by Barbara Taylor Bradford before and enjoyed them, so I specifically requested a copy of this book to review. But man, it was a struggle to get through. I think I read more about what the two characters were wearing than actual events that happened to them. Overall, I cannot recommend this book unless you are just a diehard fan of the author.

However, I do want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC digital copy to review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I used to look forward to all this authors books especially a Woman of Substance but have to say she is back with an absolutely fantastic grand saga, I loved it

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.

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!

A very pleasant book introducing a new cast of characters. My favorites were Sebastian and Alexis. I felt the book was a little too "vanilla" and could have used more excitement . I would read the next chapter to see where the story line goes.

No one can weave a epic saga like Ms. Bradford and like those books before Master of His Fate, she has crafted characters that you will immediately be charmed by and fall in love with. Whether it is James Falconer or Alexis Malvern you will be enraptured with their stories.

This is typical Barbara Taylor Bradford: brilliant writing, fast moving plot and you don't want to put it down! I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series!

I read Secrets of Cavendon a while back and absolutely loved it. I had one major regret about it though: I hadn't read the first three in the Cavendon saga! So you can imagine my thrill at seeing Bradford was starting a new series, the House of Falconer, and I managed to snag myself an ARC.

Victorian England and the business world are such a perfect place to begin this new story. Bradford's research continues to be the best with even the smallest of details recounted to really immerse the reader in the world of the characters. The families involved all have their own unique worldview and dynamics. I, of course, have a soft spot for Alexis (strong women are my favorite!) but each character is enjoyable. The story really doesn't lag anywhere either, which is impressive for such a novel. I read it in about a week because I really couldn't put it down after the first few chapters.

As someone who loves these long multi-generational sagas, I loved reading those tidbits that you know are going to be important later, or at least you suspect they are, and speculating on where I think the story will go next. From a writing perspective, Bradford continues to be one of the last greats in omnipresent third point-of-view, seamlessly taking the reader in and out of the heads of multiple characters in a scene without letting things become convoluted.

I can't wait to see where everyone is in book 2!

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the author Barbara Taylor Bradford for the opportunity to do so.

Barbara Taylor Bradford is amazing. She takes a time that is so far into history and brings it to life. As a fan of hers, I know that when I pick up one of her amazing books I will be taken back in time to a land that I am not familiar with, customs that are not known to me, and a way of life that I’ve only heard about in a history lesson. Her books are the best history lessons I have ever read. I can picture the horse drawn carriages, the esteemed houses lit up by gas lights, the beautiful corset style dresses, and the rest of the wonders of the era.

I loved how involved James’ grandparents were in his life. They let him live while giving him the knowledge, the support, and once in a while a shove in the right direction to make his dreams come true. James’ knows what he wants to do and while he is not from a wealthy family he is taught manners and is educated to make it possible for him to reach his goal of being “Prince Merchant” for Malvern’s.

I would put Master of His Fates in the categories of historical fiction, women’s fiction with the twist of romance and suspense. All of the above categories are ones that I look to when I am in need of a book to read. Barbara Taylor Bradford does an amazing job of weaving together the storylines, making them come together seamlessly, and pulling the reader in.