Actually my rating is 3.75
I found this story interesting but everytime I would get sucked into the plot the pairing of words would distract me. What I mean by this is that in almost every chapter I was told which relationships were going to suffer and which were going to turn out just fine. This was unnecessary since the author had set up characters and situations that already foreshadowed what was to come. It seemed like she was doing this in case people didn't understand what was going on. This is what was distracting.

This is a wonderful book. I read the second book in this set first and even though I did I enjoyed every minute of this book. It tells a story about a family and the turmoils that they have gone through. It really didn't matter if you read this book first or second.

I actually didn't finish this book. I think the number of books that have been so bad I didn't finish them is still in single digits, if that is any indication. The subject had potential to be interesting, but the book was written in a very choppy manner. I found it hard to focus on the story because I was caught up in the writing style. Not worth buying from the bargain shelf.

This book was so-so, but I don't think I'd recommend it to any of my friends. A little to many "romantical encounters", if you know what I mean.

Not as gripping as her Woman of Substance series but ok. Clever to link it loosely to the Wars of the Roses.

Glosses a bit swiftly over massive world events that occur within the story, but quite entertaining. Some characters a bit one-dimensional. A major part of the plot maybe a bit of a stretch to believe it as a coincidence, but hey ho.

I have never formerly read Bradford's books, so I'm going to be impartial in saying that this book was a disappointing read.

I got the book browsing around and the cover caught my eye, along with the title and blurb. Excited to make a leap to the War of Roses, I bought it.

This book has a habit of jumping back and forth between corporate and romantic escapedes, and while I don't mind it badly, everything has to be done in moderation.

The characters were flat in development, in my general opinion, even within the first few chapters or so.

I don't think I would go back to this author if the rest of her books are like this.

The Ravenscar Dynasty by Barbara Taylor Bradford is the first book of the Ravenscar series set in Edwardian England, a family saga spanning decades of the Deravenel business empire. In 1904, Edward Deravenel learns his father, brother, uncle and cousin were all killed in a fire. Edward and his cousin Neville suspect the fire was set by a ruthless rival. They must regain control of the family business.

I loved the Emma Harte family saga (A Woman of Substance), so I expected to really enjoy another family saga by the same author. What a disappointment! The writing style seems quite different in Ravenscar. Descriptions are overly dramatic and repetitive, as if the author does not expect the reader to grasp concepts unless they are hammered in over and over. The characters in the opening chapters do not seem like real people, especially Edward, portrayed as a caricature of perfection. The style is so off-putting, I don't care to read the book or the series. Other reviews indicate the series is meant to mirror the War of the Roses, but as a soap opera. No thanks, I'll pass.

I read this to honor Frances Tulloch who had recommended this author to me. A huge family saga set in England at the turn of the 20th century.

This book was truly terrible. I kept reading because it began to amuse me how truly terrible it was. Repetitive and a storyline that went almost nowhere. I can't believe that it was popular enough to warrant an entire series. I won't be reading any more. This book had all the depth of a puddle.

Bradford updates the complex family dynamics involved in the War of the Roses. Using the appearances, personalities, and life events of King Edward V and his Richard Neville (Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker), Bradford creates a struggle for the Deravenel financial empire between Edward Deravenel, with the support of his cousin Neville Watkins, and Henry Grant set between 1904 and 1916.

This volume begins slightly before the death of Edward's father, younger brother, Uncle, and cousin during a trip to oversee mining operations in Italy. Edward and Neville triumph, only to be estranged by events surrounding Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Wyland. Edward's brother George discusses a rebellion with Neville, but the plans end quickly. Then, Neville dies, shortly before World War I breaks out. Edward, and Deravenels, survive World War I and are poised to grow even further in the post-war economy.

I wanted to love, adore this book, but only liked it. Barbara Taylor Bradford is a giant in the industry, which is probably why she could get away with so many storytelling no-nos. The one that distracted me the most was the 'as you know' and I know' phrases between the characters. It's as if the characters are turning, facing the camera, and cluing the reader in on what has happened in the past.
This story was indeed a well thought out saga, but I didn't care enough about the characters to continue with their stories.

Really 4.5. I love the idea of a historical fiction using modern language. It's awesome! I got sucked into this novel (losely based on the War of the Roses). I immediately went back to the library and got the sequel. So happy for once to read a series starting with the first book! (And I didn't even know it was a series!)