When I read it for the first time I was a teenager and this book under my teenager eyes was amazing. It was the first time that I read something more risqué and that had certain adult content let’s say.
I didn’t have the rest of the books to finish the trilogy so, long story short, years went by and I finally bought all of the rest of the books to read.
I decided I needed to read the first book of the saga again because I didn’t remember anything specific. And the disappointment I felt was grave. In my memory this book was amazing but under my adult eyes it was just an average book. It was pretty cliche and the characters were very ordinary, nothing unexpected.
The book was very fast and easy to read and the storyline was easy to follow. I must say it was interesting to unravel the scam within the company. But it was at the same time really boring all of the love affairs and such. Brilliant as I remember it was when I was a teenager.
It kinda felt like the characters were the same old, they were all beautiful and perfect and at the end Edward, the perfect and most handsome hero was going to solve it all.
So it felt pretty cliche to me. I’m going to read the rest of the saga because I want to know now how it ends but I’m not expecting any more than what an average novel has to offer.

Listened to the audio book which was borrowed from the library. This is a series and I had already listened to the book immediately following this one. Made it a little awkward at times, knowing what was going to happen next. Still a very good book.

Found this really hard to get into but despite that, it was an okay read. Probably wouldn't recommend it except to other BTB fans.

Don't you hate it when the summary on the flap of a book is almost NOTHING like it turns out to be??? I went into reading this book thinking it was going to be completely different, but after accepting that fact, it is actually turning out to be pretty good. Only 200 pages in, but enjoying it....

A real turd of a book. Essentially the plot of the Wars of the Roses is transposed to Edwardian Britain, resulting in a disjointed, over-long, poorly written piece of crap.

I have literally nothing positive to say about it. The characters were all completely one-dimensional, either ridiculously perfect or comically evil. The plot was predictable and moronic. The writing was flowery and unnecessarily descriptive, adding absolutely nothing. I don't even want to talk about it any more.

Do not read this. There is quite literally no conceivable reason I can come up with to convince someone to start this book. Avoid.

1.5/5

What a disappointment. The plot and story timeline are a mess. Reading one chapter it's the present time. Then all of a sudden the next chapter is already two months later. No indication or a date written whatsoever.

A lot of potential plots are not explored well. Reading the synopsis I expected that the enemy is somewhat ruthless and are willing to do anything to get the company. But reading this story, all the schemes to get the company and also the betrayal that happened are so lame and somewhat ridiculous. There's no thrill or excitement at all.

All in all, this book doesn't live up to my expectation when I read the synopsis at the back cover. Because the synopsis really sounds promising.

Too bad because I really enjoyed reading The Heir.

Very slow pacing, moments of interest felt like small isolated moments. None of the characters piqued my personal interest, it just felt very dry.

After decades, and in my retirement, I returned to Bradford because, as a teenager, I so adored A Woman of Substance. It was such a statement piece for women in a time that women were once again finding a voice. What a disappointment Ravenscar was. The main character was so incredibly unlikable. And ok, the protagonist doesn't have to be likable, I get that. But clearly this was written in the presumption that the reader would admire and follow the main character. Oh ..... he was a shocker. The greatest chauvinist beast one could imagine. Then Bradford paints the women he truly "loves" as doting fawning twits.
Look really. all that aside, there was just too much trashy unbelievable nonsense in this novel. Where only incredibly "beautiful" women are financially successful and blatant murders (this is early 1900's mind you) are ignored by police and the legal system generally.
I won't give up though. I'll drop the Ravenscar series and try another of Bradfords books. At least just one more time.

I never liked books written about to perfect looking people and in this book it is All about their looks and charmes. I feel like evert page was to describe how perfect they looked. The storyline itself could had potentiale but just ended up in a mess in my eyes. I Will however continoue on with the next book - just because i feel like i have to - hopefully it is better than the first one - waist of time

Crazy enough it's totally one of my favorite books of all time, right up there with Brave New World. It's a classic if you ask me, I'll be reading it again and again until I can no longer see the words on the pages.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But I have to say I felt the ending was very rushed. Seemed to be way too much "internal" thought, just to finish it off and take us to the next book in the trilogy. I love following a family sage over a period of years and like A Woman of Substance, the author did accomplish this. I have The Heir, book 2 in the trilogy, but I'll wait awhile before getting into that one.

Love the book. Had trouble putting it down.