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Texas #1
Texas Rich
The extraordinary novel that introduces the unforgettable Coleman family--and the brilliant heroine who began a powerful American dynasty
Young Billie Ames naively fell for the exciting pilot Moss Coleman at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during World War II. Within a few months she was pregnant, married, and traveling across the country to Austin . . . to the 250,000-acre spread known as Sunbridge and into the tantalizing world of the Texas rich. In a vast land dominated by the industrious Colemans, Billie fights to maintain control of her life and her marriage.
This is the captivating story of four generations. There's Moss, living in the shadow of a father whose obsession with power overshadows the needs of his only son; Jessica, the doomed mother who gave up everything to become the perfect Coleman wife; Moss and Billie's children, desperately trying to live up to insurmountable expectations; and the grandchildren, heirs to a tarnished empire who just might fulfill their dreams. Most of all this is the triumphant story of Billie Ames Coleman, a woman of courage and strength who holds them all together--in a tale as magnificent as the land that inspired it.
Young Billie Ames naively fell for the exciting pilot Moss Coleman at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during World War II. Within a few months she was pregnant, married, and traveling across the country to Austin . . . to the 250,000-acre spread known as Sunbridge and into the tantalizing world of the Texas rich. In a vast land dominated by the industrious Colemans, Billie fights to maintain control of her life and her marriage.
This is the captivating story of four generations. There's Moss, living in the shadow of a father whose obsession with power overshadows the needs of his only son; Jessica, the doomed mother who gave up everything to become the perfect Coleman wife; Moss and Billie's children, desperately trying to live up to insurmountable expectations; and the grandchildren, heirs to a tarnished empire who just might fulfill their dreams. Most of all this is the triumphant story of Billie Ames Coleman, a woman of courage and strength who holds them all together--in a tale as magnificent as the land that inspired it.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
2021 people are currently reading
2088 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
424 books6,513 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
August 5, 2011
Plot summary: self-centered rich people do selfish things.
I was visiting my family, and ran out of reading material. The horror! My Mom gave me her old copy of Texas Rich, and said if I liked it, there was a whole series. Although the action, and historical accuracy, was good enough to keep me turning the pages, the real killer for me was how flat all the characters were--even my favorite, Agnes the Manipulative Mother Determined Not To Die Poor. Agnes' character fizzles out after she marries her daughter to a rich Coleman, and (minor, and possibly ironic, spoiler) she ends up accidentally blowing herself up. Every time I thought Billie (the main character) was about to grow a pair, Fern Michaels would fast forward ten years, and we’d see that Billie hadn’t changed at all.
If the only family saga you’ve enjoyed involves lightsabers and is set in a galaxy far far away, you might want to give Texas Rich a miss. However, if you’ve run out of reading material while stuck in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and your mother hands you Texas Rich, give it a go. It’s really not that bad.
I was visiting my family, and ran out of reading material. The horror! My Mom gave me her old copy of Texas Rich, and said if I liked it, there was a whole series. Although the action, and historical accuracy, was good enough to keep me turning the pages, the real killer for me was how flat all the characters were--even my favorite, Agnes the Manipulative Mother Determined Not To Die Poor. Agnes' character fizzles out after she marries her daughter to a rich Coleman, and (minor, and possibly ironic, spoiler) she ends up accidentally blowing herself up. Every time I thought Billie (the main character) was about to grow a pair, Fern Michaels would fast forward ten years, and we’d see that Billie hadn’t changed at all.
If the only family saga you’ve enjoyed involves lightsabers and is set in a galaxy far far away, you might want to give Texas Rich a miss. However, if you’ve run out of reading material while stuck in a small town in the middle of nowhere, and your mother hands you Texas Rich, give it a go. It’s really not that bad.
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June 25, 2018So when I was like twelve, I thumbed through this on my grandmother's bookcase and she said it wasn't appropriate for me. So I read it while she napped. (I'm sorry, Granny.) The other night I couldn't sleep and I was thinking about it -- I didn't remember the title, but I remembered the main characters' names, so I googled it, and it's called Texas Rich and it's by Fern Michaels. Because of course it is.
This book is ridiculous. It spans 1942 to roughly 1983; everyone in it is an asshole; one character reassures another that no, people in Texas don't ride horses everywhere -- they fly!; and people literally go decades without saying anything of importance to their loved ones. Honestly it's hard to root for anyone. Maybe Thad? And maybe Riley (both of them).
It turns out there's four more in this series, so yeah, this is probably a thing I'm doing.
This book is ridiculous. It spans 1942 to roughly 1983; everyone in it is an asshole; one character reassures another that no, people in Texas don't ride horses everywhere -- they fly!; and people literally go decades without saying anything of importance to their loved ones. Honestly it's hard to root for anyone. Maybe Thad? And maybe Riley (both of them).
It turns out there's four more in this series, so yeah, this is probably a thing I'm doing.
July 10, 2010
I hated almost everything that happened in this book......but I couldn't put it down or stop reading it. I don't know if I will move on to the other books in this series or not. It was too stressful and everyone was too manipulative and mean. Billie didn't deserve half of what happened to her and Moss was just a jerk.....no other words for it.
The best part of this book was Moss on his deathbed. He tells Billie he loves her (finally) and she replies, "I know you do." Good for her!!!
The best part of this book was Moss on his deathbed. He tells Billie he loves her (finally) and she replies, "I know you do." Good for her!!!
November 29, 2014
Rating: 3.5?
Review to come.
Review to come.
October 16, 2024
This is the first book in a series by Fern Michaels. Great story about a multigenerational Texas family. It draws you in.
October 23, 2019
I remember gobbling up this first of a trilogy.
June 15, 2022
Content and trigger warnings for: sexist language, racism, abortions, spousal SA, statutory rape, child pregnancy, infidelity.
29 hours. This audiobook was 29. hours?!!? And these are 3 more books in the series?! I'm baffled.
This is essentially a book about rich, narcissistic, entitled, white people being terrible to slightly less awful rich, entitled white people. Everyone's misery in this book is of their own doing. I felt sympathy for Billie when she was a naive 17 year old being manipulated by her husband and mother but once she became a mother and grew up I couldn't feel bad for her any longer.
There are maybe 3 characters worth caring about. Everyone else is terrible.
The kicker? I kinda enjoyed it by the end? Some of these characters got what was coming for them and I was HERE FOR IT.
29 hours. This audiobook was 29. hours?!!? And these are 3 more books in the series?! I'm baffled.
This is essentially a book about rich, narcissistic, entitled, white people being terrible to slightly less awful rich, entitled white people. Everyone's misery in this book is of their own doing. I felt sympathy for Billie when she was a naive 17 year old being manipulated by her husband and mother but once she became a mother and grew up I couldn't feel bad for her any longer.
There are maybe 3 characters worth caring about. Everyone else is terrible.
The kicker? I kinda enjoyed it by the end? Some of these characters got what was coming for them and I was HERE FOR IT.
July 29, 2016
This was the first Fern Michaels book I read. The Texas series is one of my favorite series of books. I read them for the first time about ten years ago, and I still enjoy going back and reading them again every couple of years. The characters develop really well. This (as well as the rest of the series) is a book that you can't put down until the end and it leaves you wanting more. It is great to follow such a story, a history of a family, for so long of a timespan. I'm not much of a romance book fan - and had I known Fern Michaels was a romance writer, I probably would never have read it. I'm glad I did as it is a great series.
June 3, 2015
Every book I read with in a day maybe two if it's really long. This book thought I had a really hard time with it took me 4 days to read it. I thought it was something I was really going to be interested in but by half way through I was so fed up with the characters and how they treated each other I just wanted to throw my book across the room. I wasn't going to finish it but I can't just stop reading a book in the middle only because I know it would bother me that I didn't complete something I started. I feel that is the only reason that I finished it. I unfortunately don't see myself continuing on with the books.
August 14, 2010
This book had such potential, but was an epic fail. And I do mean epic - it was 29 hours long. The concept was great: middle class girl becomes the war bride of the heir to a Texas fortune. War, class issues, adjustments. Could have been great.
But I hated each and every character in the book. Heroine and mother-in-law: weak and walked-upon. "Hero" and father-in-law: self-centered narcissists. Mother: clever and interesting, but not written as someone to like.
I thought "shut up" every time any character talked.
But I hated each and every character in the book. Heroine and mother-in-law: weak and walked-upon. "Hero" and father-in-law: self-centered narcissists. Mother: clever and interesting, but not written as someone to like.
I thought "shut up" every time any character talked.
May 14, 2017
Tooo looong!!! Her awful life!!! That horrible husband!!! Don't read this unless you like being depressed.
January 19, 2023
A longer read than my normal choice, but well worth it! The growth and evolution of all the characters was amazing. The story had surprising and interesting plot twists and lots of loving irony. The characters were all amazing- even the antagonists were impossible to hate. Overall, a great novel!
September 15, 2025
I’m a Texan born and bred. So naturally this series called to me. I’m not sure where the author got Mam and Pap from. We don’t refer to our parents by those names here in Texas. Also it rarely snows here either. Nevertheless, it is an excellent novel. Didn’t want to put it down. Can’t wait to read the next three novels in this series. Loved it!!! Read the Texas series first, the Vegas series second and the Kentucky series third, so everything makes since.
September 24, 2013
Had mixed feelings on this book about the Coleman's of Texas. It was a good story line. Moss Coleman and Billie Ames Coleman were the main characters of this novel; the first of a series of four. This book began in the early 1940's and continued into the 1980's. It showed the good and the bad of the family. It also showed the characters that picked up the traits of the old family: the stern Seth and the mellow Jessica. How the men in the family loved the sons and barely tolerated the daughters. It showed how the loved and hate of this family caused strengths and weaknesses in each family member. Did Seth ever learn what he did to is family? Did Moss ever learn? Were the ones that loved them so much and stood by them because it was what they were expected to do actually the strong people? This book takes you through so many turns in this family. It showed how common bonds can bring people together and sometimes tear them apart. The next book "Texas Heat" will begin with a new generation taking over the family home. Knowing who that person is, I will begin reading it with apprehension. This person has some of the same ruthless characteristics of the tyrant Seth. Maybe that is what is takes to bring the home back to it's glory days? Unfortunately, I am not a fan of ruthlessness.
October 6, 2022
I first read this book back in the late 1980s. I loved it, couldn’t put it down and coaxed many of my friends to read the epic novel surrounding main characters Billie and Moss Coleman.
Fast forward about 35 years …. I decided to read it again. I had forgotten about 98% of what actually happened … and I still couldn’t put the book down reading it again into the wee hours of the morning. I simply loved this book and since I read it on the Kindle App this time, I can tell you I had to keep the tissues at hand for the last 15% of the book or so.
So, if you like big stories… that span multiple generations with great character development and characters you love and you love to hate with a story that has a bit of everything… romance, hate, love, tenderness, failure, success… you’ll love this novel.
Texas Rich was only the beginning of the Texas Series (Kentucky Series and Vegas Series with many same characters) of which I read them all back in the day. Will I continue to re-read the rest of the Texas Series (and those that follow) again? I just might…. I remember loving them all. 5 Stars.
Fast forward about 35 years …. I decided to read it again. I had forgotten about 98% of what actually happened … and I still couldn’t put the book down reading it again into the wee hours of the morning. I simply loved this book and since I read it on the Kindle App this time, I can tell you I had to keep the tissues at hand for the last 15% of the book or so.
So, if you like big stories… that span multiple generations with great character development and characters you love and you love to hate with a story that has a bit of everything… romance, hate, love, tenderness, failure, success… you’ll love this novel.
Texas Rich was only the beginning of the Texas Series (Kentucky Series and Vegas Series with many same characters) of which I read them all back in the day. Will I continue to re-read the rest of the Texas Series (and those that follow) again? I just might…. I remember loving them all. 5 Stars.
July 14, 2021
Dreadful cover. Starts off easy and just for fun reading. If you like lightweight family sagas over generations, you might be drawn to this Texas series. Great wealth, love stories, complicated family relationships filled the pages. But since it is an old, old book, it isn't always politically correct. Therefore there is much better reading material available than this one and I cannot recommend it.
August 17, 2015
I truly don't know why I continuted to read this book. It's about a sweet girl who marries young, and nothing turns out to be what she thought or expected. Her husband wants her as a obedient trophy, everyone in her life is manipulative and mean. you root for her and root for her, and you want to yell at her for her decisions. Don't do it to yourself, find another book.
July 28, 2022
Ok,, this book is like 1400 pages long. WTH. (I have further discovered that in other places, this book is divided into a series) I read one half and was already getting a little annoyed with all the power playing, manipulations, and the mindless care about the ones affected. The author could have stopped at half way. It would have been a 4 star book. At a glance the next 2 parts seem to cover 2 further generations.
This starts out with a sweet 17 yo girl, Billie, getting ready to graduate HS. Her friends take her to the Navy Yard and she meets Moss, a Navy Lt. And pilot. Billies mother seems to see an opportunity to improve her life, and her daughters when she realizes the pilot is from a rich Texas family. Next stop marriage due to her daughters pregnancy. Off to Texas where we meet Moss's rich controlling father who hates women. He uses money to get what he wants. But you can't buy an heir. The book goes on to see the crap way of life in women in this rich family and power plays of money and manipulations.
What a mess!
Still i loved Billie. So eager to please and to love her husband. But even her husband screws her over.
This starts out with a sweet 17 yo girl, Billie, getting ready to graduate HS. Her friends take her to the Navy Yard and she meets Moss, a Navy Lt. And pilot. Billies mother seems to see an opportunity to improve her life, and her daughters when she realizes the pilot is from a rich Texas family. Next stop marriage due to her daughters pregnancy. Off to Texas where we meet Moss's rich controlling father who hates women. He uses money to get what he wants. But you can't buy an heir. The book goes on to see the crap way of life in women in this rich family and power plays of money and manipulations.
What a mess!
Still i loved Billie. So eager to please and to love her husband. But even her husband screws her over.
August 8, 2023
I have never been a particular fan of Fern Michael’s, as her books tend to be in the same line of Danielle Steele and Hallmark Channel movies- mostly sappy and dramatic.
I read this as I had my fill of memoirs, biographies and non-fiction. I just wanted a read that expected nothing of me except to read it.
I had to laugh when I glimpsed part of someone else’s review that said something to the effect of “rich people doing selfish things.” While that is true in a basic sense - it was true that the money didn’t make them happy. It allowed them to make choices most others of us could not make.
The story was really about the humanity of the characters or lack thereof. It was about how they treated others, especially those they professed to love. It is this theme that make the story rich and interesting and one you don’t want to put down.
The editing in the Kindle version is somewhat sloppy. I know the print books are much better.
Better than your usual fare, Ms. Michaels, thank you.
I read this as I had my fill of memoirs, biographies and non-fiction. I just wanted a read that expected nothing of me except to read it.
I had to laugh when I glimpsed part of someone else’s review that said something to the effect of “rich people doing selfish things.” While that is true in a basic sense - it was true that the money didn’t make them happy. It allowed them to make choices most others of us could not make.
The story was really about the humanity of the characters or lack thereof. It was about how they treated others, especially those they professed to love. It is this theme that make the story rich and interesting and one you don’t want to put down.
The editing in the Kindle version is somewhat sloppy. I know the print books are much better.
Better than your usual fare, Ms. Michaels, thank you.
October 10, 2018
God Awful book! Do not read, even if you're stranded in the middle of the ocean with one book to occupy your time.
Billie is meek, gorgeous and a virgin, which means her evil mother pimps her out to the first millionaire that catches her eye, Moss. Never mind he's too old and a snake of a human who is known for taking girls v cards and sailing into the next port.
Billie never grows much of a backbone, and don't bother waiting for her wise up and leave Moss although he's killing her one pregnancy at a time.
The book thinks little of woman, abortion, and rape. They gloss over them like well that's what happens. This book should stay in the 20th century where it belongs.
Spoiler: Billie never divorces Moss. Their parents never are redeemed. Moss never apologizes for cuckolding Billie throughout their entire marriage, but he does tell her on his deathbed that he loves her. (Gross)
Billie is meek, gorgeous and a virgin, which means her evil mother pimps her out to the first millionaire that catches her eye, Moss. Never mind he's too old and a snake of a human who is known for taking girls v cards and sailing into the next port.
Billie never grows much of a backbone, and don't bother waiting for her wise up and leave Moss although he's killing her one pregnancy at a time.
The book thinks little of woman, abortion, and rape. They gloss over them like well that's what happens. This book should stay in the 20th century where it belongs.
Spoiler: Billie never divorces Moss. Their parents never are redeemed. Moss never apologizes for cuckolding Billie throughout their entire marriage, but he does tell her on his deathbed that he loves her. (Gross)
February 10, 2018
This is book 1 of 4, in Fern Michaels series, Texas. The other books in this series are Texas Heat, Texas Fury and Texas Sunrise. If you’re going to get the full story, and understand the series, it’s important to read every book in the right order. If you don’t you’ll miss parts of the story. This is a fantastic series. I was not happy when I finished the last book because I really enjoyed the story. Then I discovered there were three other series, after the Texas series, so I was happy I could continue reading about the family members in this, and get to meet other family members in the other three series. The other series is the Vegas series and the Kentucky series. You’re getting a real thrill with each of these 3 series. Fern Michaels has done a wonder job writing these series. I can’t say enough good things about these books. Enjoy!
June 30, 2023
Fact checking needed
I find it hard to believe this book was written by a New York Times bestseller. I doubt the author has ever visited Texas. Austin does not “deep snow.” Certainly there would be no reason to keep a sleigh. Legal abortions available in the 1940s? I think not. Diaphragm’s available for birth control? Again I think not. Flaws in the story aside, the punctuation was ghastly. Run on sentences, spurious periods and line returns. It was awful. I waded through the entire book hoping there would be some redeeming revelation. Spoiler alert: there wasn’t. This was a story of a “noble” woman who was manipulated at every turn by her selfish mother, father-in-law, and especially her husband. Enduring abuse for decades does not make you noble. In short don’t waste your time on this book. Go watch paint dry.
I find it hard to believe this book was written by a New York Times bestseller. I doubt the author has ever visited Texas. Austin does not “deep snow.” Certainly there would be no reason to keep a sleigh. Legal abortions available in the 1940s? I think not. Diaphragm’s available for birth control? Again I think not. Flaws in the story aside, the punctuation was ghastly. Run on sentences, spurious periods and line returns. It was awful. I waded through the entire book hoping there would be some redeeming revelation. Spoiler alert: there wasn’t. This was a story of a “noble” woman who was manipulated at every turn by her selfish mother, father-in-law, and especially her husband. Enduring abuse for decades does not make you noble. In short don’t waste your time on this book. Go watch paint dry.
April 20, 2024
I don't know why there's a shirtless cowboy on the cover of this book. This is a multi-generational family saga not a romance novel. Think Dallas TV show but instead of oil it's beef and airplanes making the Coleman family rich.
There are several unlikable characters including Seth, Agnes, Maggie and Moss. The story is told mostly through Billie's eyes the matriarch of the Coleman family.
What it all boils down to is that the women just wants to be loved by their selfish self-absorbed fathers and Billie just wants to be loved by her selfish self-absorbed husband. But other things are always more important to the men than the women of the family and the women are just supposed to do what they're told. I'm not quite sure why the girls blame Billie for their father not loving them and why the men are always let off the hook but it was a different time then.
There are several unlikable characters including Seth, Agnes, Maggie and Moss. The story is told mostly through Billie's eyes the matriarch of the Coleman family.
What it all boils down to is that the women just wants to be loved by their selfish self-absorbed fathers and Billie just wants to be loved by her selfish self-absorbed husband. But other things are always more important to the men than the women of the family and the women are just supposed to do what they're told. I'm not quite sure why the girls blame Billie for their father not loving them and why the men are always let off the hook but it was a different time then.
June 26, 2023
I love Western Romances, which is what I thought this was. Spoiler: there’s nothing romantic about this book. It’s brutal. Reading Fern Michaels’ bio on the main page here on Goodreads gives some insight into why she writes like this: she had 5 (5!) children with an awful man who treated her like crap. But even she eventually divorced her awful husband. Not so with any of the women in this book. I understand divorce wasn’t so easy in the 1940’s, so with divorce off the table I would be pouring someone like Seth 8 bourbons a day with his Cuban cigars and red meat.
I was hoping someone redeemed themselves but I read a lot of reviews that say they don’t. Dunno if I will finish. I wouldn’t tolerate being treated like any of these women for the price of a few silk dresses…yuk.
I was hoping someone redeemed themselves but I read a lot of reviews that say they don’t. Dunno if I will finish. I wouldn’t tolerate being treated like any of these women for the price of a few silk dresses…yuk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2020
Seth Coleman is the first of this four generation saga. A self-made millionaire whose first love is money and whose second love is his son Moss who one day will run the Coleman estate. Moss, whose first love is flying, wants to run his own life and enlists in the navy as a pilot. During his enlistment he meets and falls in love with a young Philadelphian, 17 year Billie. Billie sees Moss as a way out of Philadelphia and a way to leave her mother. Their relationship will change life for both of them and all the Coleman family.
The best part is there are 3 more books in the series. Much to learn about the Coleman family.
The best part is there are 3 more books in the series. Much to learn about the Coleman family.
October 31, 2018
** Note: To get the full story of characters & there are many.
1st Read - Texas series. 2nd Read - Vegas series. 3rd Read - Kentucky series. **
-- Saw this in some reviews after I already read the Vegas Series.
Excellent books, kept me right there wanting more. Full of family excitement, drama, death, long time friends, tragic things happen and Billie is holding everything together. . .I'm so happy that Billie & Thad finally come together after so many years of ups & downs with Moss. This series is for sure an emotional roller coaster of events.
1st Read - Texas series. 2nd Read - Vegas series. 3rd Read - Kentucky series. **
-- Saw this in some reviews after I already read the Vegas Series.
Excellent books, kept me right there wanting more. Full of family excitement, drama, death, long time friends, tragic things happen and Billie is holding everything together. . .I'm so happy that Billie & Thad finally come together after so many years of ups & downs with Moss. This series is for sure an emotional roller coaster of events.
February 22, 2018
Wow, what a messed up and crazy story. (Billie and Moss) To me this is how a lot of men looked at the women in their lives, in this time, they were second rate and sons were what they wanted.
I'm glad that Billie finally found her back bone and in the end it was Billie who took care of Moss. His high school sweetheart wasn't there for him. I want to read the next one just to see what trouble the crazy daughter stirs up.
I'm glad that Billie finally found her back bone and in the end it was Billie who took care of Moss. His high school sweetheart wasn't there for him. I want to read the next one just to see what trouble the crazy daughter stirs up.
August 11, 2021
Texas Rich
This isa story of a young girl who meets her navy man at a CSO party. Billie falls in love with Moss Coleman not knowing much about him or his life. Her mother recognizes the name and sets about getting Moss interested in her daughter with the hopes that will will not have to live the life of a pauper. The story takes us from the beginning of their life to the end of Billie and. Moss. Another great book by Fern Michaels . Norma Gorrill
This isa story of a young girl who meets her navy man at a CSO party. Billie falls in love with Moss Coleman not knowing much about him or his life. Her mother recognizes the name and sets about getting Moss interested in her daughter with the hopes that will will not have to live the life of a pauper. The story takes us from the beginning of their life to the end of Billie and. Moss. Another great book by Fern Michaels . Norma Gorrill
April 21, 2023
Horrible storyline
This book was way too long. It was filled with totally unlikable people. Mostly nasty hateful people and the main character they all used as a doormat. If she wasn't worshipping at the feet of her piece of crap husband, she was whining and crying because she wanted to worship even more. I kept reading the book hoping any of them would die a terrible death that I could be happy about. But alas it is only the good who die young.
This book was way too long. It was filled with totally unlikable people. Mostly nasty hateful people and the main character they all used as a doormat. If she wasn't worshipping at the feet of her piece of crap husband, she was whining and crying because she wanted to worship even more. I kept reading the book hoping any of them would die a terrible death that I could be happy about. But alas it is only the good who die young.
October 3, 2023
This is a hard one to rate... it took me forever to get into this book and then even when I did get into it, the only thing that really kept me reading was the hope that the main character Billy would finally grow a pair and live for herself. Almost everyone in this book is an asshole. The historical accuracies were nice, but the family issues were awful.. and I mean AWFUL.
Don't think I'll be reading any more of this series.
Don't think I'll be reading any more of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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