Texas Heat

Texas #2

by Fern Michaels

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Texas Rich continues the Coleman family saga that’s “fine fare for Fern Michaels’s fans!” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). Built before World War II by domineering patriarch Seth Coleman, Sunbridge, the magnificent Austin, Texas, empire, now belongs to Moss and Billie’s daughter, Maggie. She’s invited the whole family—and several hundred guests—to a Fourth of July barbecue in celebration of the renewed sense of family pride she’s determined to forge. But as loved ones come together, they bring old resentments and new temptations destined to generate more than a little heat. And as Maggie hopes to be accepted as mistress of Sunbridge, she also struggles to be a good mother to her resentful son Cole and her broken-hearted daughter, Sawyer. Then there is her sister, Susan, a renowned musician who arrives home for the most terrifying performance of her life. And in the midst of it all is Maggie’s decision to divorce Cranston Tanner and her love for another man—a love that could cost her everything . . .Praise for Texas Rich “Fascinating, interesting, and exciting. One of those rare books, the kind the reader doesn’t want to end. A real winner!” —Green Bay Press Gazette “A big, rich book in every way . . . I think Fern Michaels has struck oil with this one.” —Patricia Matthews “A steaming, sprawling saga . . . As always, Fern Michaels writes a full story with bigger-than-life characters we would look forward to meeting.” —Romantic Times

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook, Historical Romance

514 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Fern 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/

Reviews

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4-star rating is purely for the campy dated soap opera drama that I enjoyed reading as much as I ended up loathing Maggie by the end of the book.

The last 100 or so pages were supposed to "redeem" Maggie and imo it didn't work. It irked me that everyone was pretty much like "awe poor Maggie, it's okay..." during the last 100 pages, even her divorce ending smoothly because of a random contrived piece of information. You can tell the author wanted Maggie to be redeemed and wrote herself into a corner and was like "how do I fix this?"



A lot of us have dysfunctional childhoods, but we are still responsible for our actions. Rand is also responsible he aggressively pursued you and I understand that. He is a shallow man with no depth that you choose over a relationship with your own daughter. You claim you love him but even admit that the first time you went to bed with him was out of hate and spite over Sawyer. A moment of honesty, and then more excuses. Maggie goes back and forth between "I fucked up" and "I did nothing wrong, I hate Sawyer, she takes everything from me?!" TBH of all the community dick to say yes to, it had to be your step-nephew, who is your daughter's ex-bf, so it's messy lmaooooo tl;dr: you made your bed, now lie on it.

[Kristin Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best romance, family saga series I have ever read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the series, Texas. A multi generational Texas family. Great story.

[Shelby Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my version of a soap opera

[Donna Halloran · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to love this series, I really do, but I just don't. The characters are interesting, but it is all so very very predictable and too long. I know this genre is often predictable, maybe I am just getting too old for it :)

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to get into the next one - - -

[Heather Roberson]

Not bad. A friend of mine gave it to me and I didn't realize it was a series. Oops!!

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 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. . .Sawyer has a lot going on with herself and will she find love . . . Maggie finally finds love but will she be able to keep it.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter Maggie’s Coleman Tanner, now the matriarch of Sunbridge. She has decided to enter and be accepted by the Texan Social Circle she must throw a Texan barbecue to beat all. She has invited all the prominent Texans even the governor as well as the entire Coleman family.

The Coleman family is an interesting breed, they may squabble with one another but when they need to gather and be united they all appear.

This is an enjoyable yet troubling read especially the final third of the book! I look forward to a book 3 knowing where everyone has needed in book 2.

[Denver Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I would hear myself say this. The sequel was better than the first. Far better in fact. Although it was a fairytale ending, it was great. Could not have asked for a better read. Probably repeating myself. I did not agree with, some of the characters actions but that is what makes us all unique as human beings. I think the author did an incredible job of capturing real life human emotions in all of her characters.

[Caryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED. THIS. SERIES. This is book four in Fern Michael's Texas series. I've read them all because the stories just flowed and I couldn't stop myself from going on to the next book immediately. The Coleman story, along with all of the other families not on center stage, was a writing triumph. Great job Ms. Michaels!!

[Becky Rosas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another episode of the Coleman family where Seth’s grandsons Riley and Cole figure prominently in the narrative based in Texas. Loves alternate throughout the book with hearts broken and restored. New alliances and villains make their way into the Coleman narrative. There are times where money cannot fix everything. A great read!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is book one of Fern Michaels series, Texas. I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book more. And that’s saying a lot because I’m a real book worm. There are four books to this series, and I’m not looking forward to finishing the last book.

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of problems -- too many for rich people. Maggie and Rand, Amelia and Cory, Sawyer and her brain tumor, new and temp low life Ben Simms and his daughter Luana and her loose ways that came and went quickly... At least the story moved along...

[Norma Gorrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Texas Heat

Another great book by Fern Michaels in this series on Texas. The Coleman’s were the family to party with, live with and work for. Great writing for a very interesting book and one I thoroughly enjoyed. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill

[Beverly Kee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series!

Just as good as the first book! Maybe even better! So many lives and twists that keep you breathless as you wait for what's coming next! Can't wait for the next one!

[Goose369 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This family saga has so many traumatic events. I don't
know how the family survived some of them. I knew the characters so well that they seemed like actual people...very well written. I couldn't put the books down until I finished all ff the books in the series.

[Susan Puk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the 1st book in the series, but still a good one to read.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, this family is still messed up. A few lives are straighting out but not all.

[Maribel · Rating 5 out of 5]

U

[Donna Magruder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, couldn't wait to see what the ending was going to be!

[LINDA MORALES]

Good book.

[Maureen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series! I can't wait until the next one!

[Kate Byerley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Full of anger

Just angry spoiled people on every page. Epitomy of me, what about me and oh yeah me some more. Boring

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought it was tough in the beginning to get into it
Restarted a couple of times
But fabulous family story at end

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Texas series is a great story line.

[Debbie Hoppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read but this series needs to be read in the order written. One lesson is that money can’t buy happiness or health.
Interesting plot and story line.

[Brenda Straznicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great novel! This series reminds me of the TV series Dallas in the 80’s.

[Tammy Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series could not wait for the next one