A Woman of Substance

This is the only novel on my list of five that features the life and adventures of a fabulous fictional female protagonist, Emma Harte.

This is a page-turning read that is up there with one of my favorite books of all time. I became so engrossed in the ups and downs of her life that she became totally real to me, and I couldn’t put it down—and that is my benchmark of a great book.

This is a spellbinding story that follows the extraordinary journey of a poverty-stricken, young, ambitious woman who worked tirelessly, sacrificed endlessly, endured being used by the unscrupulous, and numerous other sufferings, eventually becoming one of the richest, most powerful women in the world.

It made me feel empowered and gave me the courage to confront and be victorious over many of my own adversities. I think every woman who reads this book will be inspired and strive to be a woman of substance.

This book took me into the heart and mind of a woman in a transparent way that made me feel as if I was there with her, as a young girl working as a maid to the high-powered woman she became, when women weren’t supposed to have power! It was a true saga the way I believe they were always meant to be written, where every dramatic scene and experience of the heroine’s life are rich and multidimensional. This story had truly unusual and unforgettable characters who never did or said exactly what you expected!