Playing the Game by Barbara Taylor Bradford

The books I had requested from the library hadn't come in yet so I wandered among the shelves looking for something to read. I happened upon an older Barbara Taylor Bradford novel called Playing the Game. It moved right along and had a lot of interesting tidbits about the art world but it wasn't the best BTB book I've read. Annette is an art expert married to a manipulative older man named Marius. She has recently landed a new client who inherited a treasure trove of artwork and wants her to arrange an auction. Annette wants to hold the auction in New York but Marius insists on London. She caves. Annette wants to keep her past hidden but Marius insists that she be interviewed by reporter Jack. She caves. Then Jack and Annette are immediately smitten with each other, which is surely not what Marius had envisioned. At this point, BTB lost me. Jack knows that Marius has a reputation as controlling and yet he pretty much insists that Annette have a torrid affair with him. Wouldn't you think it might have at least crossed his mind that he could be putting her life in danger? I know we're supposed to think he's the big romantic hero but some of his actions came off as a tad self-centered. Then at the end, all of Annette's problems just vanish. I have nothing against chick lit. Sometimes that's just what you're in the mood for. The problem was that this wasn't great chick lit. If you've never read Barbara Taylor Bradford, read Woman of Substance and the rest of the Emma Harte series. They are well thought out stories featuring well-developed characters.