Being Elizabeth: A Novel

Written by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

The number-one bestselling author delivers her most provocative, sizzling novel yet—a story of money, power, love, and betrayal that only Barbara Taylor Bradford could write.

At age twenty-five, Elizabeth Deravenel finds herself in a position few women her age could image: the head of Deravenels, a business empire that spans the globe. It's a company whose reach is wide and whose secrets are deep. Deravenels has roots that go far back in her family's history, and she knows the price that many had to pay to see it reach the success it is today. And Elizabeth is the youngest executive in the company she now leads. Surrounded by rumors and disloyalty, she knows that there are many people who would give anything to take down the company—and her with it. With her enemies circling, she finds herself at a crossroad of choices involving her mind, her heart, and her destiny. As scandal surrounds the one man she's ever loved, Elizabeth discovers how the next move she makes could have deadly and final consequences. Being Elizabeth is Barbara Taylor Bradford at her storytelling best.

"Rife with dastardly internecine struggles, smoldering illicit passion, and cowardly insidious betrayals…packs as much intrigue as any Shakespearean royal drama."

---Booklist on The Heir

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Aug 19, 2008
• ISBN: 9781427204981

Barbara Taylor Bradford

Barbara Taylor Bradford was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, and was a reporter for the Yorkshire Evening Post at sixteen. By the age of twenty she had graduated to London's Fleet Street as both an editor and columnist. In 1979, she wrote her first novel, A Woman of Substance, and that enduring bestseller was followed by 12 others: Voice of the Heart, Hold the Dream, Act of Will, To Be the Best, The Women in His Life, Remember, Angel, Everything to Gain, Dangerous to Know, Love in Another Town, Her Own Rules and A Secret Affair. Of these titles, ten have been made into television miniseries or are currently in production. Her novels have sold more than 56 million copies worldwide in more than 88 countries and 38 languages. Barbara Taylor Bradford lives in New York City and Connecticut with her husband, film producer Robert Bradford.

Reviews for Being Elizabeth

[sueincyprus · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The book is based around a modern equivalent of the first Queen Elizabeth, mimicking her life in many ways. Indeed, the novel opens with news of her older sister Mary’s passing on, so that Elizabeth, aged 25, is now head of the family company... I like the idea; unfortunately, this book is a basically a series of events rather than having any plot as such. There are minor stresses here and there - plots to take over the company, or disagreements between Elizabeth and her lover - but all are resolved easily. There is a huge cast of characters, none of them particularly well-drawn; most of them are two-dimensional and it didn't matter at all if I forgot who was whom. My biggest gripe with this novel is the writing style. Clichés abound, dialogue is stilted, thoughts are repeated, and far too many adverbs are used. We’re told what people look like or how they are feeling - skipping around viewpoints within the same page - but rarely shown anything.This book is the third of a trilogy, but it stands alone. Really not recommended.

[lindap69 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I decided to try a bit of British romance in honor of being involved in the Downton Abbey experience and was a bit disappointed in the repetitiveness of much of the action and commentary - often without really changing the words. Did enjoy the references to English culture which seem to have continued into this century.

[mmerose_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Elizabeth I was anything but boring, but this retelling of her story in a modern setting most definitely was. The idea is interesting, although not original, but the story itself was not well done. I was very disappointed.

[sfm13 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

At the age of 25, Elizabeth finds herself the heir to a multibillion dollar family business. She is reunited with a childhood playmate, Robert Donnely, who she hires as her advisor. Soon their friendship turns to romance. Their liaison is considered scandalous because he is married. Although his marriage is on paper only, and soon to be dissolved. Elizabeth isn't concerned with Robert's status, because she has no interest in marriage, although she is deeply in love with Robert. When Amy his wife dies from a mysterious fall "Chinese secrets" bring Robert under suspicion, even though his name is soon cleared. It seems that there are a number of mysterious "deaths in Elizabeth's family history. (no doubt what left her as sole heir) A decade later, after surviving a deadly illness, and threat losing the empire to backstabbers, Elizabeth is named Woman of the year, and agrees marry Robert.

[rperritt_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. The reason it took me so long to resd it was because I was trying to read too many books at one time. It was a nice romance. I hoped that Elizabeth and Robin would get married but it leads you to think that they might. I think that this could be a real life senereo. I plan to read more by this author.