Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal who investigated the largest cattle fraud case in U.S. history, giving her an insider's view into how people react under pressure.  The author of Mother of Pearl , Kellie currently lives in Dallas, TX with her husband.

You can learn more about Kellie and her writing at www.kelliecoatesgilbert.com.  You will also want to connect with Kellie on Facebook.

A Woman of Fortune

Texas socialite Claire Massey is living the dream. Her world is filled with designer clothes, luxury cars, and stunning homes. But her Neiman-Marcus lifestyle comes crashing down when her charming cattle broker husband is arrested for fraud. Suddenly, she finds herself facing attorneys, a media frenzy, and a trail of broken hearts. Betrayed and humiliated, Claire must start over against incredible odds to save her family–and discover a life worth living. 

Poignant and emotionally gripping, A Woman of Fortune reveals the many ways we deceive ourselves and how resilience of the heart is essential to authentic living.  Readers will love Claire’s unbending determination as she strives to keep her family from falling apart and learns to embrace the kind of fortune that lasts.

My Thoughts:

A while back I read Gilbert's Mother of Pearl and knew then I had found a favorite author.  I jumped at the opportunity to review her latest book A Woman of Fortune, the first in a new series Texas Gold, for Gilbert and her publisher Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group). This opportunity came at an ironic time as my family and I are preparing to move from SW Florida to the Houston, TX area.

Gilbert has written an emotionally charged novel with subject matter ripped straight from the headlines.  With current themes of family conflict, deceit, greed and the struggle to forgive, Gilbert's story of the Massey family provides the reader with a spring board to evaluate what really matters in life.  Her characters are genuine portrayals and are highly relatable.  

I found myself heavily involved in this novel and didn't come up for air until I closed the back cover.  I'm not sure I have "talked to" characters in a book like I did the Masseys!  The ending was weighty and perfect!  I really can't wait to read more in the Texas Gold series!  The next book is set in the San Antonio area.

*I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Happy Reading,

Jennifer