Wed by Fortune - Judy Duarte (HSE #2479 - June 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 6)

You are cordially invited

to witness the courtship

of Graham Fortune Robinson

&

Sasha-Marie Gibault Smith

Graham has always thought of Sasha as his "little sister."

Sasha has always considered the rugged rancher out of her league.

Now that Sasha is all grown up, there is nothing keeping them apart… Except she has a daughter. An ex-husband. And a very noticeable baby bump. And the always proper Graham suddenly finds himself thinking very sexy thoughts about the sweet single mom!

Perhaps Fortune is finally smiling on Graham -- in the form of the true love this rich, unencumbered cowboy has always longed for!

Good conclusion to this year's Fortune series. Graham works on the Galloping G ranch with his best friend's father, as they turn it into a place for at-risk boys. Sasha has returned to her uncle's ranch after the end of her marriage, hoping for a place to raise her daughters and to repair her relationship with her uncle.

I loved Graham. He's one of the Robinson side of the Fortune family, and sort of a black sheep. He wants nothing to do with his father's business, in spite of his MBA. He's much happier ranching and helping turn the ranch into a place for at risk boys. When he was a teenager, he and his friend Peter made some bad decisions during their rebellious phase. Peter died because of one of those decisions, which sobered Graham right up. Since then he has joined with Peter's father to make the ranch a tribute to Peter. He remains at odds with his own father. Graham was surprised to hear that Sasha was coming back to the ranch, and even more surprised when he saw her. He remembers her as the little girl who used to be a pest, but she's a beautiful woman now. She also has a daughter and is pregnant. Graham is also determined to make a difference to the boys who come to the ranch. I loved seeing how good he was with them, just the right mix of discipline and friendliness. 

I liked Sasha too. She had married a man she thought she loved, even though her uncle didn't like him and said that he wasn't what he seemed. This caused a rift between them, not a total break, but certainly plenty of awkwardness. She hopes that she can mend their relationship while she's there. When she arrived she was surprised to see Graham there. She had had quite the crush on him when she was a teenager, and she discovers that he still has the power to stir her. Her seven year old daughter Maddie also falls under his spell. 

I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. They quickly slid back into their old friendship, but this time there was an added zing to it. However, both of them have some relationship insecurities. Graham thinks that there is a good chance that Sasha will end up going back to her husband, so he's reluctant to risk his heart on her. He thinks she still loves him, plus they have the two kids. That doesn't stop him from thinking about the possibilities and wishing they were real. Sasha also has her doubts. She doesn't think that a rich cowboy like Graham could be interested in a single mom like her. A couple of hot kisses have them both thinking toward the future, until a visit from Sasha's soon-to-be-ex occurs. Graham jumps to conclusions about the visit, cutting things off with Sasha in a very confusing (to her) phone call. She jumps to some conclusions of her own, and blows off some steam at him. It takes a determined little girl to get them to actually talk to each other, with the expected happy results.

Through the series there have been two ongoing storylines. The first is the question of whether or not Gerard Robinson is really Jerome Fortune, and whether he'll ever admit it if he is. The previous book had him telling his story to his daughter Zoe, though some of the kids are skeptical. In this book the truth is finally revealed. The second one is the decision by Kate Fortune to look among her relatives for someone to take over as CEO of Fortune Cosmetics. She has been visiting them all, looking for her ideal. She shows up at the ranch to talk to Graham and gets a tour of the ranch. I loved the real interest she showed. At the end of the book she makes her decision and it really is perfectly done.

Fortune's Prince Charming - Nancy Robards Thompson (HSE #2473 - May 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 5)

CINDERELLA 2.0

Zoe Robinson had never known true love -- until Joaquin Mendoza rode into Austin and stole her innocent heart. The new guy at work is brilliant and aloof, but Zoe's nursing a secret of her own: her dad might be connected to the famed Fortune clan! But the determined beauty has never backed down from a challenge -- not when it comes to her family, and not when it comes to love.

Joaquin believes he's all wrong for the wealthiest gal in Texas -- he's got one too many family issues keeping him from surrendering his heart to lovely, innocent Zoe. Until shocking allegations surface about her family drama and Joaquin realizes that he might be the ideal match for his Texas princess after all!

Good book. Zoe and Joaquin first met at the wedding of their siblings, Rachel and Matteo (Mendoza's Secret Fortune). Zoe was interested in Joaquin then, but she didn't get to spend much time with him. A few months later, Joaquin got a temporary job with the Robinsons' software company, working on a special project. Zoe tries to get his attention, but Joaquin isn't biting.

Joaquin is keeping his attention on his job. He's recently been burned by getting involved with his boss's daughter and has no intention of going down that road again. He's also got some family problems that have him questioning who he is. 

I liked both Zoe and Joaquin. Zoe may be the boss's daughter, but she works hard at her job and doesn't try to use her relationship for her own gain. She is also a firm believer in love and fairy tales. She really wants a chance to get to know Joaquin. Zoe is also the youngest of the Robinson siblings and the one who is closest to their father. She is angry with those of her family who are pursuing their belief that their father is Jerome Fortune. She believes him when he says he isn't and wants them to stop tearing their family apart. Joaquin is a nice guy who is being eaten up by his doubts about his paternity. He doesn't want to cause his father distress, but he really feels that he needs to know the truth. He's interested in Zoe, but feels he's too old for her, plus there's the whole work thing.

I liked the development of their relationship. Joaquin tried really hard keep Zoe at a distance. It was fun to see her determination to get to know him. The company teambuilding day at Cowboy Country was really fun to see. I loved the way that Zoe quickly figured out that the woman from HR was rigging the team choices to keep Joaquin for herself and Zoe's clever way of foiling her. It came back to bite her when Zoe was left stranded, but Joaquin came to her rescue. That was the true beginning of their relationship as they got a chance to get to know each other away from work. I loved seeing how much they had in common. Though Joaquin doesn't think of himself as a romantic guy, I really enjoyed seeing the sweet way he treated her. When the attraction started to burn really hot, there was an interesting twist and I loved how he dealt with it. I liked how quickly they connected and built up to feeling able to talk about anything. 

When Zoe discovers something disturbing about her father, she confides in Joaquin, needing to be able to vent to someone. She's stunned by his reaction to the news. She can't believe the way that he seems to be judging her decisions on what she wants to do. When Joaquin confesses his own family dilemma, she understands a bit better about why, but is still hurt. She has advice of her own for him before she leaves, worried that this problem spells the end of their relationship. I liked seeing Joaquin think about what she said once he calms down, and then take action on it. I loved hard look at what he wants and how he realized that Zoe was it. His big moment at the end was great and super romantic. 

I loved the relationship that Joaquin has with his dad. They are really close, which is why Joaquin's questions are so hard on him. He doesn't want to cause his father pain. I loved the revelations and how they all worked out.

The questions on the Robinson side continue to cause stress within the family. Zoe is completely on her father's side, until she makes a discovery that has her questioning everything she believed. Her confrontation with her father reveals some things that leave her reeling. I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

Fortune's Special Delivery - Michelle Major (HSE #2467 - Apr 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 4)

CONGRATULATIONS, IT'S A BOY!

Everyone knows Charles Fortune Chesterfield. The flirty son of Sir Simon and Lady Josephine Fortune Chesterfield is famous for his wit, his charm…and his libido. He's left a trail of lovely ladies in his wake, but Alice Meyers stood out from the rest. The beautiful blonde Texan was shy, sweet and a virgin. Now, apparently, she is a mother. And guess who's a dad?

When Charles announces he is extending his stay in Austin to get to know his son, Flynn, better, Alice doesn't know whether to be happy or terrified. Will she once again fall prey to "the royal treatment"? Or could she and Flynn actually find a home in the handsome Brit's heart?

Very good book. I've been waiting for Charles's story and it did not disappoint. Charles is the charmer of the family, known for his flirty ways and ability to have a good time. He is the current face of British Tourism, nicknamed "Bonnie Lord Charles". He is in the US visiting family when he receives a phone call from Alice, a young woman he had met the year before. He is stunned to discover that he is a father.

Alice is an intelligent, but quiet and somewhat shy woman. When she met Charles at a tourism conference the year before, she couldn't believe that he wanted to spend time with her. The connection they felt spilled over into a night together, one that produced her son Flynn. Alice wasn't sure Charles would be interested in knowing that he has a child, but knew she had to tell him. 

I really liked both Alice and Charles. Alice is a woman that everyone underestimates, even her family and friends. I loved the way that she took control of her life when she got pregnant, developing an independence and confidence she didn't know she had. She's a wonderful mother, putting her son first in everything she does. What I loved about Charles was that he was a normal guy under that facade that he shows the world. He has some real self-confidence issues, feeling that what he does has no real worth. He sees the way he has charmed his way through life and feels that he has no real substance, and longs to be someone that his father would have been proud of.

From the moment they met again, the sparks between them are obvious. It's funny to see Alice experience (but deny) what she calls "the Charles Effect" as her attraction to him continues to grow. Seeing the way he steps up to be a real dad to Flynn just makes her fall harder for him. I loved seeing him with Flynn. There are some really sweet scenes of the two of them together. Charles is just as drawn to her, even though she's nothing like the women he usually dates. When he is with her, he feels like a different man, one who wants to be better than he has been in the past.

I loved watching their relationship develop. Though it's Charles getting to know his son that is supposedly the reason they spend time together, there is just as much time spent getting to know each other. It was great to see how Charles tried so hard to be the man he thought he should be. He really wanted Alice to be part of his life too, but couldn't see how she'd be interested in someone like him. At the same time, Alice was beginning to see the real man and wanting to be with him, but didn't think he'd want her. Even giving in to the heat between them didn't give either one the self-confidence that it could be permanent.

In the end, I really enjoyed seeing Charles and his siblings as he tried to explain his relationship with Alice to them. They could all see the truth that he was still blind to. When their relationship was exposed to the paparazzi things got a little rough. I loved Charles's big moment at the end, especially with his siblings as witnesses. It was sweet to see his vulnerability and how he pushed past his fears. 

Fortune's Secret Husband - Karen Rose Smith (HSE #2462 - Mar 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 3)

GUESS WHAT…WE'RE (STILL) MARRIED!

She was only seventeen when Chase Parker swept Lady Lucie Fortune Chesterfield off her royal feet. His oil magnate father cut their love affair short and forced them to annul their union…or so he thought. Ten years later, the wealthy Texas rancher uncovers a secret -- he's still wed to the one woman he's never been able to forget!

Lucie was always "the quiet one." While her mom and sister have been tailed mercilessly by the tabloids, she's maintained a low profile and a gracious image. No one has ever uncovered her deep, dark secret -- an impulsive teenage marriage. When Chase tracks her down, she still finds him hard to resist. And as they prepare to untie the wedding knot, Lucie wonders: What if their biggest mistake was saying goodbye?

Good second chance story. Lucie and Chase hadn't seen each other in ten years, ever since their impulsive and short-lived marriage. Pressure from Chase's father forced them to annul their marriage, but they never really forgot each other. Ten years later, Chase discovers that the annulment never went through, so he and Lucie are still married. 

Lucie is in Austin, working with the Fortune Foundation, when Chase shows up to break the news. For the past ten years she has worked hard to stay out of the limelight, preserving her image as the quiet one in the family. The last thing she wants is for this news to come out and start a firestorm of scandal for the family. 

Getting together to talk about fixing the problem brings another issue to the surface. Neither Chase or Lucie has forgotten the way they felt, and those feelings are still there. But their lives have moved in opposite directions, so what chance do they have to make it work now?

I really enjoyed seeing the development of this relationship. At first, both are determined that the annulment go through as quickly as possible. But having seen each other again, they suddenly find themselves taking any chance they have to spend time together. I was a bit bothered by Lucie's obsessive fear of being seen together, but it was fun to see some of the lengths she went to in order to hide who she was. I liked Chase's protectiveness, as he went along with whatever she felt she had to do, just so long as he could be with her. As they got to know each other again, their hearts grew closer, but their heads could only see what was keeping them apart. 

There were several really terrific scenes that showed how right they were together. I loved seeing them work together at the church youth program, trying to pretend they didn't know each other, but constantly aware of where the other was. My favorite was when Lucie was babysitting her niece and Chase came over to be with her. I loved seeing him with the baby and how both of them felt like a family.

I liked the way that both Chase and Lucie came to see that neither had truly been ready for marriage all those years ago. Since that time, both have grown and matured into people who want to make the world a better place. The question becomes one of can they find a way to bring their worlds together. I loved the ending and how Lucie takes charge of her past and her future. Chase's big moment was sweet and romantic and I loved the timing.

There were a couple of mentions of the series theme dealing with the question of whether Gerald Robinson is actually a Fortune who walked away from his family and heritage. I'm looking forward to finding out more about it.

Fortune's Perfect Valentine - Stella Bagwell (HSE #2455 - Feb 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 2)

BE MY (OFFICE) VALENTINE

Wes Robinson may be part of the lost Fortune family, but he's more concerned with the fortunes of Robinson Tech. On Valentine's Day, his company will be rolling out a new computer app that will -- allegedly -- fix users up with their ideal mate. Wes has nothing against amour; he just has no faith in the perfect, lasting kind. He'll take a passionate fling any day.

Tell that to Vivian Blair, however. Wes's longtime employee with the earnest heart has complete faith that her app will work. So when she and Wes are challenged to use My Perfect Match themselves, it's game on. What follows is a series of dating debacles -- and Viv's horrifying suspicion that her Mr. Right might be her curmudgeonly boss in the cubicle next door…

Fun book about two people with opposite views of love. Wes is one of the owners of Robinson Tech and in charge of the division that develops computer and phone applications. One of his employees, Vivian, has written one that she claims will help people find their Perfect Match. He's skeptical, but it will make money for the company so he'll promote it. A less than pleasant interview with a TV talk show host has Wes claiming that he'll use the app himself to show his faith in it. As the developer, Vivian feels that she must do the same.

Their pre-launch discussion shows that they have vastly different ideas of what makes the perfect match. Wes has grown up with parents who seem to barely tolerate each other, much less love each other. They may have done so at one time, but it's obvious that it didn't last. Wes has no intention of ever marrying, he'd much rather enjoy a passionate fling, then move on when the fire dies. On the other hand, Vivian saw the passion that her parents had for each other, but that was all they had. They had nothing in common otherwise, which led to her father moving on and her mother raising her kids alone. She is convinced that the secret to a long lasting relationship is compatibility first. Vivian is bugged by his cynicism and Wes thinks that she is delusional.

Though they've worked together for six years, this is the first time that Wes has had much discussion with Viv. Though he doesn't agree with her viewpoint, he finds himself having way too much fun winding her up. He had never noticed that much passion in her before, and he is intrigued by her. Having to work together on the launch gives him the chance to find out more.

I loved seeing the dates that they ended up with through the app. Viv's dates were definitely compatible in interests, but there was no fire with any of them. She's a little dismayed by her lack of progress, but refuses to give up too soon. Wes's dates are the beautiful types of women he's always gone for, but he's finding that they aren't holding his interest the way they used to. When Wes needs a date for his brother's wedding, he asks Viv to go as a favor, as taking a casual date to a wedding is never a good idea. He gets quite a shock when he sees her out of her office attire, and the attraction that he had started to feel intensifies. Viv is feeling it too, and she's not too happy about it. Wes isn't the type to want forever and she wants to find someone who does.

The development of their relationship was interesting. The attraction was there and they eventually quit fighting it though neither believes that there is a future for them. Wes still doesn't believe that love lasts, even though his mind keeps picturing Viv in his life. Viv is certain that the differences between them are too great to make a match possible. Thanks to the media attention from their challenge to use the app, any time they spend together has to be kept secret. Wes finds himself more and more invested in what he sees building between them and begins to realize that he may have been wrong about love, but can't figure out how to tell her. Meanwhile, Viv discovers that she wants more than Wes seems to be willing to give, and tries to pull away to protect her heart.

I loved the ending and seeing Wes try to make things right with Viv. He was kind of cute in his awkward way of trying to tell her how he felt. Viv was a little bit oblivious because she was so sure that he was out of her league. Seeing them finally admit their love was very satisfying.

Also running through the book is the continuing question of whether the Robinsons are really part of the Fortune family. So far, Ben and Rachel are the only ones truly interested in pursuing the answers. The rest of the family doesn't want the drama, and their father isn't talking. A little more information comes to light which I expect will be addressed in the next book.

Fortune's Secret Heir - Allison Leigh (HSE #2449 - Jan 2016)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune's Children (Book 1)

A Change In Fortune

Cool, confident and in control: that's Ben Robinson, the billionaire COO of Robinson Tech. With his imposing height and sharp blue eyes, he can convince anyone to do anything, but suddenly he feels like a fraud. The handsome Texan has just discovered his entire life has been a lie.

With the news that his father might actually be a long-lost -- and very prodigal -- Fortune, Ben trains his laser focus on determining the truth. He persuades sweet, earnest Ella Thomas to help him in his research; no one would ever suspect the part-time college student of subterfuge. Ella is sensitive and highly intuitive…in other words, Ben's total opposite. And as she digs for his Fortune roots, she may also uncover the billionaire's long-shuttered heart…

Great beginning to this year's Fortunes series. In the third book of the previous series Mendoza's Secret Fortune, it was revealed that there may be more Fortunes out there, with more information revealed in the epilogue of Fortune's June Bride. Now the Robinson siblings are dealing with the fact that their father has lied to them their whole lives, and that he is a Fortune. This hits Ben really hard, especially when he discovers that his father has also had multiple affairs and that there may be more siblings out there.

The book begins with Ben confronting the matriarch of the Fortune family with what he knows in the middle of a big party. Though he isn't looking for any part of the Fortune wealth, he does want their acknowledgment. While at the party, Ben meets Ella, with whom he has an instant connection. He hires her to do the research to help him find the truth of the connection and also to help him track down any siblings that he might have.

Ella works various temp jobs to earn the money she needs to complete her accounting degree. She lives at home with her mother and her sixteen year old brother, who has cerebral palsy. She is attracted to Ben from the moment she meets him, but doesn't see any future in it.

Ben is definitely obsessed with his mission, but also finds himself increasingly drawn to Ella. Though he could have taken the final steps in two of the searches by himself, instead he wants Ella with him. He had suffered a devastating blow a few months earlier, but spending time with her has lessened the pain. Their trip to Boston was great. Ben is focused on finding out if their quarry is one of his unknown siblings, but also discovers that Ella is starting to be more than just a research assistant. It was really sweet to see him get into showing her around Boston. He also found himself feeling very possessive of her when another man appeared to be flirting with her. He made a bit of an idiot out of himself, but it was pretty amusing. Ben also makes the effort to get to know her family. I loved her stunned surprise when he showed up at her brother's chess match, and how wonderful he was with her brother.

Ella has also realized that she is in danger of falling for Ben and is sure to get her heart broken. Even though he keeps telling her that he is not a nice person, and that he is selfish to the extreme, she doesn't see him that way. She sees the way that he worries about other people, how he wants to make sure any unknown siblings are okay, and how he looks after her in London, and knows that there is really a good and caring man under the gruff exterior. Giving in to the attraction between them is something she can't resist. But things come crashing down when she overhears him saying something that makes her believe that he doesn't care.

Ben has to face his fears from the past before he can let himself believe that he could have a future with Ella by his side. He fears that he has ruined everything when she stops coming to work. I loved his big moment at the end, as he exposes his vulnerabilities to her and speaks from his heart. It is all very intense and romantic, though there is a bit of comic relief provided by her brother. 

I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Finding out more about why their father walked away from his heritage should be very interesting. I'm also looking forward to seeing what progress is made in the search for more siblings.