The Jewels of Tessa Kent

Never before has Judith Krantz told a story as rich in heart and emotion as that of her tenth novel, The Jewels of Tessa Kent. Here is everything her millions of fans expect: a multicolored magic carpet that sweeps the reader into a world of luscious entertainment. But here as well is a brilliantly engrossing tale of a mother-daughter relationship gone desperately wrong.

Tessa Kent, a precocious 14-year-old, gives birth to an illegitimate daughter. Her parents, devout Catholics, raise the infant, Maggie, as their own child. As Tessa becomes a great movie star, Maggie lives for her glorious "sister's" infrequent, whirlwind visits. Only when Maggie is 18 does she learn the truth about her mother. Mortally wounded, she breaks all ties with Tessa and starts work at the Manhattan auction house of Scott & Scott.

Five years later, a life-altering crisis makes Tessa determined to end their estrangement. Tessa can find only one way to reach her daughter -- she decides to auction her immensely valuable collection of spectacular jewels with S&S on the condition that Maggie and she work closely together on the sale. For Tessa, her entire future now hangs on the desperate hope of an almost impossible reconciliation.

A behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of an auction house, a tale of two amazing women and the men they love, and the story of family, love, and loss, The Jewels of Tessa Kent is classic Judith Krantz, with entirely new depths of emotion.