Where Rivers Part Book Review

Texas Gold Collection

SUMMARY:  Success too often comes with a price.  Juliet never imagined that cost could be so high.

     Dr. Juliet Ryan has devoted her considerable scientific acumen to corporate America, providing safe drinking water for millions - and affording her plenty of perks along the way.  Her career choice is not the path her estranged father would have her take, but then Juliet finds it difficult to maintain respect for a man she cannot trust.  She's on her way up in the world, and she's not going to let anything drag her down.

     But when a fast-moving disaster sweeps Juliet into a whirlpool of corporate scandal, lives are at risk - including those of some of the people closest to her.  As she scrambles to find answers, Juliet must face her deepest wounds and join forces with the one who has hurt her most in order to expose a far-reaching conspiracy.

     Life a mighty river with twists and turns and hidden rocks, this engrossing story will sweep you relentlessly along as it explores the seduction of success, the fear of giving up control, and the redemptive power of learning to forgive.

REVIEW:  This story was interesting and different that most others I've read.  The details the author goes into regarding this disaster, an E-coli outbreak, is fascinating but not overwhelming.  The main character is not a Christian, hates her father with a passion, is smart as a whip, and tries to keep her personal life private.  The twist to the romantic part of this story doesn't come until the end of the book.  Juliet goes through Job-like situations over and over, finally bringing her to her knees.  Another item that was different than most other stories of this type was the timeline.  Most have the characters go through everything in a few days, a week or even two weeks.  This storyline is occurs over almost a year.  It was refreshing and so much more like real life and make the book enjoyable.

     The author does not got into detail, though, about Juliet's change of faith.  Her mother Carol's faith and hidden strength is featured quite a bit.  Stories about the changes Carol went through after her conversion are often referred to, but nothing is mentioned about Juliet doing the same.  There is a point where she realizes she can't handle everything coming down on her alone and does reach out to her dad for help but that's all.  There was so much potential here regarding Juliet's faith change that was not taken advantage of.  

     That said, this was a good book that I enjoyed reading.

This book was provided by Revell for review without compensation.

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal and the author of A Woman of Fortune.  Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband.