The truth is about to come out!
From the first time Jay Cross met Arabella Fortune, he
has longed to tell her everything. The Stetson-wearing Texan and hotel employee
has been hiding a secret, and it's a biggie. The closer he gets to sweet Bella,
however, the harder it becomes for him to divulge the truth. She is falling for
the man she believes him to be. Will she be able to open her heart to the man
he really is?
Terrific conclusion to the Hotel Fortune series. I love
the Fortunes of Teas continuity, and this series was excellent. It all started
with Her Texas New Year's Wish, as the Hotel Fortune in Rambling Rose, Texas,
prepared to open its doors. The hotel got off to a rough start when a balcony
collapsed during a party, injuring one of the staff members. The hotel
experienced so many glitches and problems for the next several months that people
wondered if it would survive.
Arabella Fortune, a cousin to the hotel-owning Fortunes,
attended that party in January. She met one of the management trainees, Jay
Cross, and couldn't forget him after returning to New York. A few months later,
she moved to Rambling Rose, staying with her brother Brady until she earns
enough to get her own place. She also hopes to see Jay again, though it doesn't
go too well when she does.
Jay Cross, a member of the original training program, has
been present in all of the series' books. Now halfway through the year-long
program, he has worked in every segment of the hotel. This brings him some
unwelcome attention from local law enforcement, who consider him a suspect. Jay,
frustrated by yet another interview by the cops, reacts badly when he
encounters Bella on the steps of the police station.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Bella
and Jay. The sparks were evident when they met in January, and I could feel
Bella's frustration at her father's insistence that they leave immediately
after the accident. I wasn't surprised by her decision to move to Rambling Rose
or her hope of seeing Jay again. She is especially interested in finding out
what he'd been about to tell her before they were interrupted that evening -
"I think you should know that..." Bella has a fertile imagination and
comes up with many different conclusions to that line. She's hurt and angry at
his reaction to seeing her that day, and Jay feels guilty about taking his
frustration out on her. I enjoyed the way he found to apologize and how it
opened up a chance for them to get to know each other.
I loved watching Jay and Bella spend time together. He is
sweet and caring, and I liked the simple things that they did together. Bella found
him fun to be with and easy to talk to, even sharing her secret hobby with him.
The more time they spent with each other, the hotter the sparks between them
grew until they couldn't help giving into them. But Jay has a big problem. He
has a secret, and the longer he puts off telling Bella, the harder it gets to come
clean. And while he waits for the perfect time, Bella stumbles onto the truth
herself. Understandably hurt, Bella also feels betrayed and furious with
herself for falling for him. I liked the advice Jay received about finding a
way to make her listen. What he came up with was perfect in several ways. Not
only did he find a way to express his feelings, but he also came up with a plan
to help the hotel.
I loved Jay's big moment and the effect it had on Bella.
But just when it looked like everything was perfect, disaster struck. Once
again, another "accident" came close to destroying everything they
hoped to accomplish. I never suspected the person revealed to be responsible,
and my heart broke for the story behind it. With the threat to the hotel ended,
and the financial troubles over thanks to Jay's plan, the future looks bright
for the Hotel Fortune. I loved the epilogue and wonder if the next Fortune
series will open with a quintuple wedding...
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