This excellent book of Barabara's tayolor is so thrilling ans so whelmed with suspense... It never ceases surprising you, even after deceiving you with some predictable events.. This book, is a real thought and emotions provoking, greatly written by a great woman.. She's born to write.. luckily this year... one of the best books Ive read.. well I haven't had the chance to read the first Emmas Harte saga.. I started with hold on the dream and to be the best... so excited to read the other books of this legendary series

This book follows the life of Paula McGill Hart. She is given the reins of the Hart empire by her grandmother. Since Paula is the most like her grandmother in thought and deed. She is also married to a man who is not worthy of her. He doesn't really love her for herself anymore. Paula has found that she is attracted to her childhood sweetheart.

After Paula puts her affairs in order she is in a fight with her cousin. Her cousin was ousted out of the businesses and the family by her older cousin, her younger cousin, and herself but it's Paula that he goes after.

As always the book is deeply described and you fall into the world of the extremely rich.

The first book I read in this family saga and I loved it. I don't feel you need to read them in order to enjoy the wonderful depictions of powerful, determined women.

This book was just as interesting as Woman of Substance, the first book in this series. Barbara Taylor Bradford knows how to keep a story going. In Hold the Dream the saga continues with Emma going strong in developing her business and guiding her children. There comes a time when the family begins to break apart and turn on Emma. All except Daisy her daughter and also Paula her granddaughter. Emma pursues her life regardless of the heartbreak she endures with this family breakdown. She grooms Paula to take over for her when the time is right. Many of Emma's grandchildren remain true to her and Emma has a very fulfilling life. She remains friends with Blackie her lifelong friend and they enjoy their late years together. There is betrayal, tragedy and happiness in this story . The author tends to go in to a lot of detail about everything. I actually liked that as it gave me a more vivid look at the surroundings. I can't wait to get started on the next book in this series!

The only thing I don't like about these books is the tendency of the author to use big words when a simpler word would have done just as well. I find myself using the "look up" feature on my Nook much more when reading this series.

I am enjoying finally reading the whole series in order and one right after the other after not having been able to do so before. The story of Emma Harte and the legacy she left behind is touching and enthralling and soon you wish that you were a part of her family.

Hmmmmm...all I can say is that the first one in this series was pretty good. Read it about 3 years ago. It followed the life of Emma Harte from her teenage years until she is 60 years old. This one picks up where the other left off when Emma is 60 years old and is so confusing since all of her kids and grandkids either hates each other or is sleeping with each other but they are all related. Not worth the 600 + page read. Made it until about page 200 and decided to call it quits.

Read Woman of Substance again after many many years and now ready to tackle the series. Lots of repetition in Hold the Dream in case one forgot since Substance. Like the characters as adults. Sad loss of older characters but realistic as they can't all live forever. Enough mystery and conflict to keep me guessing. Agree with reviews that this book had too much detail of places, clothes, furnishings, but I'll keep reading as I'm Interested in the characters and how the author moves them into the future.

After reading mostly thrillers and fast-pace fiction these days. This slow but steady novel was really relishing. Just like after enormous rides of bumpy and thrilly roller-coasters, one settle in a ferris wheel. No matter how thrill lover one is, he always enjoy those therapeutic rides. That was exactly the case here. As for the story, it was really slow at the start, then it started get interesting every minute. I really liked the character of Shane O'Niell, it was really interesting and well conveyed. Nearing the end, the story had some strange and in my opinion unnecessary twists. But all's well that end's well.
Overall it was a good story.

Стана ми любопитно какво ще се случва по нататък и на шега, на майтап , прочетох и тази част.Бях позабравила голяма част от героите в първата книга, но не беше фатално. Дано няма още много части от тази сага.

I read A Woman of Substance, the first book in the Emma Harte series, a few months ago, and I loved it. I wasn't sure the second book would measure up, but it certainly did. Emma was still around in this one, but it mostly focused on Paula, her granddaughter, who took over the company when Emma went into semi-retirement. There isn't much to say about this one. It was much of the same corporate intrigue and family drama that populated the first book in the series. I don't know why, but these books give me a nice, cozy feeling when I read them. They remind me of the 80's, although they are set a little earlier than that. I guess it's the materialistic 80's mentality - "Greed is good" and all that. But I find it enjoyable to read about the joys and sorrows of the Harte clan. Four out of five Whatevers. Recommended for those who like corporate intrigue, family drama, or 80's-style writings (see above).

Followed through the excellent story line of Emma Harte's next generation.

This is the second in the Emma Harte series. Emma has done quite well for herself and her family. She has lost some very important people in her life, Paul the man she adored and by whom she had her favorite child Daisy, Winston and Frank her beloved brothers. This book brings the next two generation of the Harte family. I enjoyed this book very much, hope you do also. Can't wait to start the next one.