Book info

• Title Be Careful What You Wish For
• Author Jeffrey Archer
• Year 2014
• Genre Historical

When Ross Buchanan is forced to resign as chairman of the Barrington Shipping Company, Emma Clifton wants to replace him. But Don Pedro Martinez intends to install his puppet, the egregious Major Alex Fisher, in order to destroy the Barrington family firm just as the company plans to build its new luxury liner, the MV Buckingham. Back in London, Harry and Emma's adopted daughter wins a scholarship to the Slade Academy of Art where she falls in love with a fellow student who asks her to marry him. Both families are delighted until the future mother-in-law, has a visit from an old friend who drops her particular brand of poison into the wedding chalice. Then, without warning, Cedric Hardcastle, a bluff Yorkshireman who no one has come across before, takes his place on the board of Barringtons. This causes an upheaval that none of them could have anticipated, and will change the lives of every member of the Clifton and Barrington families. Hardcastle's first decision is who to support to become the next chairman of the board, and with that decision, the story takes yet another twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thoughts

The continuing saga of the Clifton and Barrington families this time took on a more vicious vibe, as it was revenge and retribution all the way. Having discovered the outcome of the last cliffhanger, it was clear we were just going to wend our way towards another, and naturally the events in between each were of the page-turner variety.

It wasn’t quite as good, for me, as previous editions, if only because there was so much shareholder talk, buying and selling, machinations of the stock market that aren’t that interesting in an adventure book such as this.

I also lost patience with Lady Virginia, because at some point you just have to get over yourself and move on, don’t you? Nevertheless, there were some truly sad moments in the story, as well as some shocking ones, and I’m just glad I have the next book ready to go, rather than having to wait a year until it was published!

Rating: 3 / 5