Where You Belong

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I first bought this book and then read the reviews. I was disappointed when I read them; I thought I had wasted my money. But when I read the book I couldn't understand why so many people didn't like it. Reading a book written in first person instead of third was different but I found that I liked it. It was almost like Val had written a long letter to me telling me about her life. As for the conflict with her mother and brother, I didn't think it was overwritten. After all if you are telling someone about your life you will more than likely tell more details than if someone else was telling your story. They wouldn't know everything to tell. I felt sorry for Val when she found out about Tony's deception, and I don't know if I'd feel the same way had this book been written third person. You must have an open mind when you read this as there aren't a lot of books written in this style. I haven't read but one other book by this author so I can't really compare this book to her others but I really don't think that is too fair to do considering this was written in a different style. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

Rating:
Summary: Was this a first draft?
Review: This is the only BTB novel I have read. I have to agree with the tone of most of the other reviewers that this was a waste of time and it is a wonder that a publisher actually read this and went ahead and published it. Was this a first draft that was written over a weekend and some how got to the publisher????

Rating:
Summary: You're Kidding!!
Review: I read this book only because it was lent to me by an unfortunate person who was lumbered with it for Mothers Day. It was the only BTB book I've read since "Woman of Substance" and I fine it hard to believe that it was written by the same writer! The dialogue was unbelievably twee and some of it was out of a Victorian novel---the heroine calls her brother --Brother mine!!!!!Oh brother! I finished it because it was so bad that it was funny.

Rating:
Summary: Liked the Book
Review: This is the only book I have read written by Bradford.I enjoyed the book and recommend it to everyone.I plan to read more of BBB's books after reading this one.

Rating:
Summary: A Welcome Change of Pace
Review: I found this book to be a welcome change to what I usually read. I read her first book A Woman of Substance and I loved it. I think that Mrs. Bradford keeps trying to rekindle the spark of that first novel and never has made it back there. It was an easy read. I think the most interesting aspect of the novel is that Valentine was a confused woman and she had to face her problems head on and ending up becoming a better woman for it. She faced her mother head on and found out the lies her lover told her. Then comes in Jake. Wonderful and sweet Jake. We wish all men were this considerate and gentle. I also liked how she reconciled with her brother after 8 years of not talking or seeing him.

Rating:
Summary: boring
Review: I am glad to see I am not the only one who thought this book was bad. I listened to it on audio cassette and kept waiting for a plot to come along. I can't even imagine the author finding it at all interesting. I was expecting at least something of entertainment value having read a couple of her other books that were good.

Rating:
Summary: Good Grief!
Review: As I was listening to this book in my car on CD (rented from the library thank goodness!), I was thinking, "do people actually think this is good writing? I could write a book a lot better than this!" I was so relieved to see the rest of these reviews. I won't have to bother going on to Disc 3. Thanks!

Rating:
Summary: so bad it was good!
Review: this book was so bad it was fun to read just to marvel at 1. the unbelievable plot; 2.the number of times the heroine mentions how bad her childhood was; 3. the incredibly bad soap-opera dialog between the mother & daughter; 4. the thousands of times the author tells us that her heroine was A WAR PHOTOGRAPHER! 5. the plot lines that go nowhere & are not resolved; 6. how this book ever got published.
this was the 1st book I've read of this author; I understand she has written better books, but I think plowing thru this one was enough for me.

Rating:
Summary: Shallow, boring, not up to BTB standards
Review: This book was so badly written and put together, that I'm glad it was a quick read. I'm an avid reader and have enjoyed, reading other BTB books. The only reason I kept reading, is to find out about the world famous painter and the relationship with the main character. What a joke!!! It seemed that the words "war photojournalist" were dropped into the text way, way too often -- as if the word processer was programmed to add those words whenever there was a mention of what the main characters did for a living and that the reader might just forget. It certainly didn't add anything especially since the descriptions of being "under fire" were really trite. Also the gratitous bedroom scenes were almost comical along with the continuous descriptions of meals, foods, clothes, etc. I certainly will think twice before picking up any other BTB books.

Rating:
Summary: What a letdown
Review: Sorry, but I have to go with the majority on this one. First of all, it was one of the most unrealistic, cliche, and predictable novels I have ever read. The characters were so stereotypical and underdeveloped that not only could I not relate to them, I was actually sneering at them as I was reading it. As for "unrealistic", the plot with the grevious widow knowing all along that her husband was having an affair with Val and still managing to create a friendship with her just doesn't happen in reality. Many, many inconsistancies. There were no hurt or angry words, nothing we could relate to. And the mother-daughter relationship was just plain ridiculous. There was one chapter where Val's mother tells her the deep dark secret that she was never planned for and wanted(which was why her mother was so cold to her)and sounded like a bad B-movie script. The book is filled with unfinished and small underdeveloped storylines that never lead to anywhere. The part about Val taking over the family company is sooooooooo cliche that I almost expected it. The characters were rich, glamorous, and well-educated but that couldn't save them from the shallowness and dullness that engulfed them. They were either good or evil which was such a bore. Not worth it. No one wants to read a best-selling novel and feel empty in the end.