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In the blockbuster storytelling tradition that is Barbara Taylor Bradford's hallmark, here is an extraordinary novel about a remarkable young woman and the people whose lives she touches. At thirty-one Laura Valiant is a successful art historian who runs her own art advisory and acquisitions company. She and her husband Douglas Casson, a Wall Street lawyer, have a happy marriage marred only by the fact that they are still childless. But Laura's life changes radically in 1997, when her best friend from childhood, Claire Benson, tells her she is dying. Claire, who is divorced, begs Laura to become her daughter Natasha's guardian upon her death. Laura agrees and brings the fifteen-year-old girl to live with them in New York City after Claire dies. It is then that Laura's troubles begin - with Natasha, with the girl's father and grandmother, who suddenly reappear in her life, and with Douglas. Laura's love and trust in her husband are shaken when she discovers he has a secret life apart from her. But it is her problems which force her to examine her own life, and this sets her on a path that inevitably leads her to a series of shattering truths. These revelations give Laura the chance to start a whole new life which promises to give her the happiness and fulfilment she craves. From the streets of Paris and London to the art galleries and art auctions of New York, A Sudden Change of Heart takes the reader on an unforgettable journey where secrets, survival, love and redemption mesmerize the reader from the first page to the last. This is Barbara Taylor Bradford's fifteenth novel and it is told with the emotion and feeling readers have come to expect from one of the world's most beloved authors.
When a successful art historian assumes guardianship of her dying friend's daughter, she finds her own stable life unraveling under the weight of hidden betrayals. Laura Valiant, a thirty-one-year-old professional, attempts to balance her career in the high-stakes art world with the sudden responsibility of raising a teenager. Her commitment to her late friend's daughter, Natasha, acts as a catalyst for domestic instability, forcing Laura to confront the reality of her husband's secret life. The narrative follows her transition from a controlled, successful existence to a period of profound personal evaluation as she navigates the complexities of family, trust, and identity.
This novel reflects the established stylistic hallmarks of Barbara Taylor Bradford, focusing on the intersection of professional success and private domestic turmoil. The narrative structure relies on the slow revelation of secrets to propel the protagonist toward a necessary personal transformation. Readers familiar with the author's body of work will recognize the emphasis on resilience and the pursuit of fulfillment amidst challenging circumstances. The story functions as a character study that prioritizes the internal life of the protagonist as she navigates the collapse of her previous assumptions about her marriage and future.
Page Count:
342
Publication Date:
1998-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN-10:
0002256940
ISBN-13:
9780002256940