For years I'd seen her books lying on the shelves, and wondered what they were like. So finally I checked out HER OWN RULES by Barbara Taylor Bradford from the library. I was hoping for something steamy and scandalous, like a powerful older woman who sleeps with much younger men, does shots of whiskey, wears jeans, rides motorcycles . . . you know, her own rules. Uh . . . no. Meredith has a bunch of inns she runs around the world. Apparently they are massively successful because she's a real genius at decorating. Like, let's put a bunch of flowers on the hallway table. So she's a millionaire. And she has two grown children who call every day or two just to tell her they adore her and she's the perfect mother. Meredith's children behave just like children in real life. Meredith has a boyfriend names Luc. He's French, incredibly wealthy, has his own chateau, and has a natural eye for flower arrangements and curtain patterns. In otherwords, he's got nothing! But sometimes nothing can be a mighty cool hand.So one day, Meredith begins to cry for no reason. Just sobbing away, moaning the blues. And she has memories, mysterious memories from the past. And she wants answers. And so the quest begins! I would definitely recommend this book to women who love reading about women who love exquisite interior decor and flower arrangements and long, slow, endless novels where not much happens except at the very beginning and the very end.
Her own Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford takes us into the life of Meredith Stratton, a woman who has endured a difficult life with an unknown past. Throughout her life she has felt a loss, but cannot quite figure out what it is. As time progresses things start to happen in her life that help her to find her answers. I thought it was an interesting book, which at times was lengthy in plot. I almost felt as if there was quite a bit of filler in the book. However, at the end I thought it was a good enough book.
What do You think about Her Own Rules (2007)?
This must have been one of the earlier Bradford books. I found the writing to be a little on the elementary side. However, I really liked the story line. Meri Stratton is a woman who has it all but has experienced tremendous loss early in her life. She has two wonderful children and a full life filled with running her very successful chain of hotels. That is why she cannot understand the underlying sadness that threatens to consume her. While looking at property in England she has an encounter t
—Sheila Judson
Meredith Stratton was a dearly loved only daughter in England until 1957 when she was temporarily put into a children's home while her mother was treated for TB. The home sent her to a terrible orphanage in Australia which causes a mental block on her earlier life. At 17 she emigrates to CT and starts over. At 44 she the owner of 6 inns in the U.S., England and France. Visiting England, the mental block starts to dissipate and she rediscovers her mother and heals.great story, very little sex. go
—Debby
