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Emma Harte Saga #3
To Be the Best
This story moves between Britain, America and Hong Hong, as Paula O'Neill, the favourite grandchild to whom Emma Harte entrusted the Harte retail empire, is confronted by a conspiracy that threatens to destroy her inheritance.
454 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
768 people are currently reading
2026 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Taylor Bradford
279 books1,926 followersBarbara Taylor Bradford was a British-American best-selling novelist. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and sold over 30 million copies worldwide. She wrote 40 novels, all bestsellers in the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
May 19, 2012
Memories of "Woman of Substance" led me to pick this one up from my mum's bookshelf, but after 50 pages I gave up. None of the characters had engaged me by then, and the plot didn't either. The lengthy and seemingly pointless detail about clothing and decor was still there though.
I enjoyed the first book about Emma Harte, but this one doesn't live up to her legacy unfortunately. I don't like writing negative reviews but in this case, I'm not worrying that my humble opinion will damage BTB's sales one iota!
I enjoyed the first book about Emma Harte, but this one doesn't live up to her legacy unfortunately. I don't like writing negative reviews but in this case, I'm not worrying that my humble opinion will damage BTB's sales one iota!
May 23, 2020
The characters in this series are some of my all time favorites. I’ve read this series several times and I never get tired of spending time with them. I feel like I am part of the family and go through their challenges and rejoice in their triumphs right along with them.
September 27, 2011
Good book in the series about Emma Harte...but, I think Woman of Substance is the best of the series.
June 17, 2009
I was anxious and excited to pick up this book to continue the saga.
Still the first of the trilogy, A Woman of Substance, rings true as my favorite of them all.
I did enjoy this one though as well.
Still the first of the trilogy, A Woman of Substance, rings true as my favorite of them all.
I did enjoy this one though as well.
February 18, 2020
I just can’t put this series down. Onto the next one!
December 6, 2024
Way too much gliding across floors, way too much sex, way too many perfect people. Barbara Taylor Bradford comes across in her writing as extremely superficial. Skimmed through a LOT of this book. And please stop calling the children retarded...it's so cringey.
May 23, 2023
Not her best I don’t think but still interesting to continue with the family and their ups and downs, but it felt a bit contrived in parts.
February 11, 2019
I LOVE Barbara Taylor Bradford !
Read Woman of Substance and Hold the Dream, the first two books of the Emma Harte series. I think these two books are a MUST read before you read this book.
Starting the first few chapters of the book, was getting familiar with the characters again, and remembering their story, l had to think a little, but slowly it came together, and l was on track again.
The main characters l loved Paula and Shane, Mandy and Phillip, Emily and Winston, Anthony and Sara, Alexander, as well as Paula’s cousin Jonathan and his interesting wife Arabella.
Everything is all blissful in the Harte family in the beginning.
Paula inherited Harte’ s enterprise, and has great employees.
Then we get familiar with the characters, things turn, as any family saga develops, some situations happen you will have tears in your eyes, and also turns in great suspense.
We discover the true story of what happens to Anthony’s first wife, we learn of Alexander’s fatal illness, then the story of Maddy is happily married and pregnant, and takes an unexpected turn. Shane is devastated over one of his hotels.
So many dramas happening in the Harte family but overall Paula is the one who proves she is Emma Harte all over again.
FANTASTIC READING ! Could not put it down.
Read Woman of Substance and Hold the Dream, the first two books of the Emma Harte series. I think these two books are a MUST read before you read this book.
Starting the first few chapters of the book, was getting familiar with the characters again, and remembering their story, l had to think a little, but slowly it came together, and l was on track again.
The main characters l loved Paula and Shane, Mandy and Phillip, Emily and Winston, Anthony and Sara, Alexander, as well as Paula’s cousin Jonathan and his interesting wife Arabella.
Everything is all blissful in the Harte family in the beginning.
Paula inherited Harte’ s enterprise, and has great employees.
Then we get familiar with the characters, things turn, as any family saga develops, some situations happen you will have tears in your eyes, and also turns in great suspense.
We discover the true story of what happens to Anthony’s first wife, we learn of Alexander’s fatal illness, then the story of Maddy is happily married and pregnant, and takes an unexpected turn. Shane is devastated over one of his hotels.
So many dramas happening in the Harte family but overall Paula is the one who proves she is Emma Harte all over again.
FANTASTIC READING ! Could not put it down.
March 4, 2016
Suspense
I have to admit that when I started the book it did not capture my interest. Yet you need to become familiar with the characters in the book. It's mainly about Paula and Shane, Maddy and Phillip, Anthony and Sara, Alexander as well as Paula's cousin Jonathan and his wife Arabella., and more. Everything appears blissful at the beginning. Paula inherited Harte's enterprise, and she has a great team that works for her. Then, when we get familiar with the characters things take a turn, some of the things that will happen will have you in tears and suspense. We discover the true story of what happened to Anthony's first wife, we learn of Alexander's fatal illness, then the story of Maddy who is happily married and pregnant and takes an unexpected turn, Shane loses his hotel due to a fire, Jonathan is out to take Harte"s away from Paula. Very good read, recommend reading the book to the end.
I have to admit that when I started the book it did not capture my interest. Yet you need to become familiar with the characters in the book. It's mainly about Paula and Shane, Maddy and Phillip, Anthony and Sara, Alexander as well as Paula's cousin Jonathan and his wife Arabella., and more. Everything appears blissful at the beginning. Paula inherited Harte's enterprise, and she has a great team that works for her. Then, when we get familiar with the characters things take a turn, some of the things that will happen will have you in tears and suspense. We discover the true story of what happened to Anthony's first wife, we learn of Alexander's fatal illness, then the story of Maddy who is happily married and pregnant and takes an unexpected turn, Shane loses his hotel due to a fire, Jonathan is out to take Harte"s away from Paula. Very good read, recommend reading the book to the end.
Read
February 11, 2017LOVE THE ENTIRE SERIES
March 17, 2016
This is a continuation of the Emma Harte saga. Emma Harte was the matriarch of a large family
and she amassed a huge fortune with many companies including several upscale department
stores. When she passed away she gave her many grandchildren the companies she thought they
could manage. This book covers many of the grandchildren but is predominately about her granddaughter Paula who inherited the Harte Department stores and took the place of her grandmother as overseer of Emma's empire. Its a story of love, greed, tragedy, family loyalty and
success. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it.
and she amassed a huge fortune with many companies including several upscale department
stores. When she passed away she gave her many grandchildren the companies she thought they
could manage. This book covers many of the grandchildren but is predominately about her granddaughter Paula who inherited the Harte Department stores and took the place of her grandmother as overseer of Emma's empire. Its a story of love, greed, tragedy, family loyalty and
success. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it.
August 29, 2017
Could not hold my interest
February 17, 2018
Lots of words
If you like scenery, fashion, and feelings descriptions, you will like this book. Predictable plotting by this third book in the saga.
If you like scenery, fashion, and feelings descriptions, you will like this book. Predictable plotting by this third book in the saga.
October 15, 2021
One of my first ‘grown up’ books when I was possibly anything but!
May 3, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book it has been well written l am slowly reading them all and so far enjoyed this one the best
February 24, 2023
It's a welcome joy to be back with the family of Emma Harte.
This books takes place eleven years after Emma's death. It focuses mainly on the power hitters of the grandchildren.
There is a lot of tragedy in this book which was extremely sad for me as I've come to love almost all of these characters. But throughout all these tragedies they all still stand strong within their family and their businesses. It was easily predictable to see which characters were going to experience these tragedies and I had hoped as I kept reading that I would be wrong.
There's one business venture that I was scared to know how it would turn out because it had the potential for a huge downfall.
Once again Barbara Taylor Bradford got me with this story. There was so much sadness but there was also immense joy for some. One character came back and I'm glad to their life beginning to crumble. I can't wait to start the next book so I can find out what happens. Excellent and enjoyable read.
This books takes place eleven years after Emma's death. It focuses mainly on the power hitters of the grandchildren.
There is a lot of tragedy in this book which was extremely sad for me as I've come to love almost all of these characters. But throughout all these tragedies they all still stand strong within their family and their businesses. It was easily predictable to see which characters were going to experience these tragedies and I had hoped as I kept reading that I would be wrong.
There's one business venture that I was scared to know how it would turn out because it had the potential for a huge downfall.
Once again Barbara Taylor Bradford got me with this story. There was so much sadness but there was also immense joy for some. One character came back and I'm glad to their life beginning to crumble. I can't wait to start the next book so I can find out what happens. Excellent and enjoyable read.
November 22, 2024
OMG what a dreadful book ...I have reached the halfway mark and am giving up!
There is zero of anything interesting in this book ...boring characters boring endless inane narrative descriptions of emotions clothing food scenery. Nothing actually happens ...there is no plot!
This is number three of Bradford's A Woman of Substance series. I read the original Woman of Substance about a year ago and loved it. Such a great story. Can't believe this is written by the same author. I read more of this drivel that I should have as I just expected something interesting would happen . Halfway through not one interesting thing has happened!
Avoid this novel at all costs! I have a few more novels by this author in my bookcase I think I will chuck them away!
There is zero of anything interesting in this book ...boring characters boring endless inane narrative descriptions of emotions clothing food scenery. Nothing actually happens ...there is no plot!
This is number three of Bradford's A Woman of Substance series. I read the original Woman of Substance about a year ago and loved it. Such a great story. Can't believe this is written by the same author. I read more of this drivel that I should have as I just expected something interesting would happen . Halfway through not one interesting thing has happened!
Avoid this novel at all costs! I have a few more novels by this author in my bookcase I think I will chuck them away!
February 20, 2019
That was a weird read.
It has been at least five years since I read the book before this one on the series, and in the beginning I thought that was the reason why I was finding everything so strange. But it's not that.
I feel like this book is in a very different writing style, with a lot of time jumps and tangled plot lines.
It was hard to understand sometimes and I must say, the amount of ambiance descriptions drove me absolutely nuts. I was getting more and more irritated and had the put the book down sometimes, take some deep breaths, and try to focus before move on.The first two on the series are among my favorites books and I really hope that the next one follow more on that line!
It has been at least five years since I read the book before this one on the series, and in the beginning I thought that was the reason why I was finding everything so strange. But it's not that.
I feel like this book is in a very different writing style, with a lot of time jumps and tangled plot lines.
It was hard to understand sometimes and I must say, the amount of ambiance descriptions drove me absolutely nuts. I was getting more and more irritated and had the put the book down sometimes, take some deep breaths, and try to focus before move on.The first two on the series are among my favorites books and I really hope that the next one follow more on that line!
Read
December 4, 2023Sometime in the 80s I read A Woman of Substance, and I recall enjoying it a great deal. I think I hadn't read many sweeping sagas like that at the time.
Since then I've read a few more with uneven results. This one seemed to rack up the bad luck with tragedies right, left and center. Paula's ostrich policy for dealing with her cousins leads to what one might expect - surprising for such a savvy business woman who can do no wrong. This being said there's a lot of loud foreshadowing, so much is announced well in advance.
It seems I still have a book in the series on my TBR (which these days means in one of the many packing boxes stored since our move back to France).
Since then I've read a few more with uneven results. This one seemed to rack up the bad luck with tragedies right, left and center. Paula's ostrich policy for dealing with her cousins leads to what one might expect - surprising for such a savvy business woman who can do no wrong. This being said there's a lot of loud foreshadowing, so much is announced well in advance.
It seems I still have a book in the series on my TBR (which these days means in one of the many packing boxes stored since our move back to France).
July 22, 2021
To Be The Best, the third book in the Emma Harte saga continues with the trials and triumphs of Paula Fairley, now married to her cousin, Shane O'Neill. Barbara Taylor Bradford paints a colorful tapestry of the very rich, as Paula and her cousins jet around the world looking after their conglomerates and enjoying the rewards of the very wealthy. The characters in this saga are so vibrant and personable; I feel like they are old friends, and I'm experiencing their joys and heartaches with them; I always have a Kleenex box handy.
September 2, 2022
This book is extremely descriptive of the places you visit and of the people you read about. It helps you fall into their world of extreme wealth and happiness. This book is about Shane and Paula and their children.
It's also about Jonathon Harte and his traps for Paula. He tries to take the Harte empire from her but she must outwit him to keep her place as the head of the Harte empire. You have to read to find out what all is happening with the Harte's, the O'Neil's and David's family.
It's also about Jonathon Harte and his traps for Paula. He tries to take the Harte empire from her but she must outwit him to keep her place as the head of the Harte empire. You have to read to find out what all is happening with the Harte's, the O'Neil's and David's family.
November 2, 2025
A family saga....
I enjoyed this next installment of the Emma Harte series. Unfortunately, there was so much sadness in this storyline. Much to Paula McGill O'Neill's belief, I agree with her, the family must be cursed. Is it the curse from the Fairley clan, the first wife of Paul McGill, or Paula's cousin Jonathan? I, for one will keep reading this mesmerizing storyline to hopefully find the answer. I highly recommend this novel. It's a classic in my opinion. Such wonderful storytelling.
I enjoyed this next installment of the Emma Harte series. Unfortunately, there was so much sadness in this storyline. Much to Paula McGill O'Neill's belief, I agree with her, the family must be cursed. Is it the curse from the Fairley clan, the first wife of Paul McGill, or Paula's cousin Jonathan? I, for one will keep reading this mesmerizing storyline to hopefully find the answer. I highly recommend this novel. It's a classic in my opinion. Such wonderful storytelling.
January 17, 2024
Confession: I gave up halfway through. The epic story of Emma Harte and her endless determination in A Woman of Substance (book 1) became boring and jet setting by the time we get to the feuding grandkids in To Be the Best (book 3). Paula, Emma’s grandchild and heir to Emma’s self made fortune is the most likable of the bunch, but even she’s a pale shadow of the real thing. I’ll give the other several books a go, but this one wasn’t for me.
June 14, 2025
I wanted to finish this book but I gave up. I won’t be reading any more in the series. She’s a fine writer and I liked the story line but she finds it impossible to write more than a few pages without slipping in a sex scene. Usually a graphic one. Between that and the repeated references to drinking I gave this one a pass. A little sex and a little drinking is fine from time to time but when it gets really repetitive after a while it just detracts from the narrative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2022
I am hooked on the Emma Harte series of books. Not sure why. Good plots, interesting characters mostly well developed, love the descriptions of clothes and jewels. But basically these rich, good looking people have to grapple with the same sorts of issues us plebs grapple with - honesty, integrity, loyalty, friendship and love - or the lack of same.
August 10, 2023
Great ending, slow start
As a continuation of the Harte family story thus one was somewhat slow to start. Sometimes the author gets too lost in details as she did in the first book. It dies ramp up and get much more interesting in the second half leaving me still interested in the saga.
As a continuation of the Harte family story thus one was somewhat slow to start. Sometimes the author gets too lost in details as she did in the first book. It dies ramp up and get much more interesting in the second half leaving me still interested in the saga.
January 21, 2025
Reread coz it’s one of those series which is so full of details and drama that it’s a “phone read”.
A sprawling generational tale about business empires, passionate love, equally passionate enemity, of family fights and beautiful clothes and enormous wealth. Not the most well written and sketched out book, very formulaic in many instances but I just read it for juicy detail kicks!
A sprawling generational tale about business empires, passionate love, equally passionate enemity, of family fights and beautiful clothes and enormous wealth. Not the most well written and sketched out book, very formulaic in many instances but I just read it for juicy detail kicks!
March 17, 2025
No decido aun si me gusta o no este libro, y me he tomado mi tiempo para reseñar y aun no consigo sentido a lo leído.
No porque sea un libro conclusivo de final abierto de una saga, pero la historia nunca tuvo un trayecto o enfoque detallado de hacia donde se quería dirigir aunque estaba bien escrito.
Si te gustan las sagas familiares quizás te pueda gustar.
No porque sea un libro conclusivo de final abierto de una saga, pero la historia nunca tuvo un trayecto o enfoque detallado de hacia donde se quería dirigir aunque estaba bien escrito.
Si te gustan las sagas familiares quizás te pueda gustar.
December 24, 2025
Hey there! I really liked your storytelling style it feels vivid and emotionally grounded. While reading, I couldn’t help imagining some scenes as visuals.
I’m a commission-based comic & webtoon artist, and if you’re ever interested in a commissioned visual version, I’d love to talk.
📩 Discord & Instagram: lizziedoesitall
I’m a commission-based comic & webtoon artist, and if you’re ever interested in a commissioned visual version, I’d love to talk.
📩 Discord & Instagram: lizziedoesitall
August 26, 2018
Amazing series...will continue to read them!
Was loaned the first one and then there was no looking back. Once I started the book I knew I was going to read them all. Brilliant characters and intriguing story line spanning a century.
Was loaned the first one and then there was no looking back. Once I started the book I knew I was going to read them all. Brilliant characters and intriguing story line spanning a century.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews