Cowboy in Disguise - Allison Leigh (HSE #2839 - June 2021)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Hotel Fortune (Book 6)

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...

An Officer and a Fortune - Nina Crespo (HSE #2835 - May 2021)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Hotel Fortune (Book 5)

His homecoming was temporary.
Until he met the woman who changed everything.
 
Captain Collin Waldon is on leave from the military, tending to his ailing father in his final days. Knowing his stay in Rambling Rose will be short, Collin is not looking for romantic entanglements -- especially not with Nicole Fortune, the beautiful, free-spirited executive chef of Roja Restaurant in the struggling Hotel Fortune. Yet these two unlikely lovers seem perfect for each other, until Collin's reassignment threatens their newfound bliss…
 
Excellent book. Nicole Fortune is the head chef of the restaurant Roja in the family's hotel. The story opens as she shops at the local farmers' market, looking for fresh ingredients for the restaurant and contemplating ideas for new dishes. While there, she notices a handsome man who is also picking out fresh herbs and veggies. After a brief conversation, Nicole invites him to Roja to sample the dish she's experimenting with.
 
Collin is an army officer home on leave to care for his terminally ill father. Matters are tense between the two men, and cooking is one way that Collin destresses. Encountering the beautiful Nicole proves to be another. The last thing he expected or wanted was to get involved with a woman in his hometown when he's only there for a short time.
 
I loved watching the relationship develop between Collin and Nicole. Neither is looking for a relationship. Nicole is too busy with her restaurant, and Collin's experience with long-distance relationships holds him back. I loved how the two of them connected over food. Their lunch together as Collin sampled Nicole's new dish only deepened their connection while exchanging stories about their foodie experiences. Nicole, who has been struggling with her upcoming summer menu, invited Collin to help her develop the recipes. I enjoyed watching them cook together, beautifully matched in skill and enthusiasm.
 
Collin needs this time away from his dad as they butt heads over Sam's upcoming move to assisted living. I ached for Collin, who wants these weeks with Sam to be a return to the closeness of his youth. It's evident that something deeper bothers Sam, and he takes it out on Collin. I loved seeing Nicole reach out to help Collin deal with his problems with Sam. Her insight goes a long way toward assisting Collin and Sam regain their closeness. I loved the depth of emotion displayed as Collin and Sam find their way back to each other. I loved the sweet reminisces expressed by Sam.
 
Meanwhile, the attraction between Collin and Nicole continues to grow. Though they know there is an expiration date, eventually, they can no longer resist the pull. Neither one expects the attraction to deepen into more. Both dream of a future together, but neither can see a way to make it happen. I ached for them both as they struggled to find a way to turn "for now" into "forever." I loved Collin's big moment at the end and the epilogue that hinted at their future.
 
Throughout this series, the Hotel Fortune has struggled with suspicious accidents and other strange happenings that impact the business. In this book, someone sabotaged the hotel's big fundraiser for community charities. They messed with the foods that Nicole worked so hard to provide, making them not only inedible but, in one case, dangerous to consume. I ached for Nicole and the devasting blow this was to her professionally and personally. This was on top of a local diner using questionable tactics to entice patrons and staff away from Roja. I've had my suspicions about the culprit, which strengthened in this book. I look forward to the next book, which should reveal whether I am right. 

Runaway Groom - Lynne Marshall (HSE #2827 - Apr 2021)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Hotel Fortune (Book 4)

From "I don't" to…" I might?"
 
When Mark Mendoza discovers his fiancée cheating on him on their wedding day, he hightails it out of town. Megan Fortune is there to pick up the pieces -- and to act as his faux girlfriend when his ex shows up. Mark swears he will never get involved again. Megan doesn't want to be a "rebound" fling. But they find each other irresistible. What's a fake couple to do?
 
Good book. The book opens the night before Mark's wedding, as he plays poker with some of his brothers. They give him a hard time because he isn't marrying for love. Deeply affected by his parents' volatile marriage, he went about his a different way. Once he decided to marry, he looked for a woman with similar interests and desires. Love wasn't part of the process; it was more of a business contract. While he doesn't precisely have second thoughts, he intends to speak with Brianna before the wedding.
 
The next thing we see, Mark is driving to Rambling Rose, Texas, having left his bride at the altar. He's a hot mess, devastated by Brianna's betrayal and mourning the loss of his dreams. He shows up at the restaurant where his brother's fiancée works, and she asks her sister Megan to watch over him until Rodrigo can come to get him. Megan does a good job of distracting him, and it's easy to sense a connection between them. The two enjoy each other's company over the next couple of days as Mark tries to regain his balance. But when Brianna shows up wanting to fix things, Mark pretends that he and Megan are together now - and Megan plays along.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Mark and Megan. They agreed on a fake romance while Brianna is in town to emphasize that Mark has no intention of getting back together. The way he feels, he will never get involved again. Megan agrees to be friends as they carry out their plan. Over the next two weeks, they spend a lot of time together and discover that they have many things in common. There are some terrific scenes of them together, from hiking to swimming to dancing. They engage in their public displays of affection when Brianna is around and quickly find that those displays can get out of control.
 
I liked Mark. He is a nice guy who allowed his view of his parents' marriage to warp his thinking. While he didn't deserve what happened to him, he was very lucky. The more time he spent with Megan, the more he realized what a close call he'd had. He develops feelings for Megan, but he no longer trusts his judgment, so he tries to ignore them. And when the attraction between them bursts into flame, he can't resist it. Unfortunately, he freaks out the next morning, pulls away, and runs.
 
I liked Megan, too. As the numbers person in her family, she tends to fall more on the practical side of the issues. As the family "geek," I got the feeling she wasn't always comfortable in social situations, leaving her with some self-confidence issues. She's immediately at ease with Mark, and I enjoyed seeing him bring her out of her shell a little bit. She catches on quickly to her growing feelings for Mark and can't help dreaming a little of what could be. I ached for her the morning after as she watched those dreams crash and burn. Her understanding of his issues impressed me but frustrated me too.
 
I felt that Mark earned every bit of his misery after he returned home. While he eventually started to dig himself out of his hole, it took some brotherly butt-kicking to move matters along. Meanwhile, back in Rambling Rose, Megan's sisters provide lots of support and shoulders to cry on. Both Mark and Megan wonder how they will get through Ashley and Rodrigo's wedding, not realizing that their siblings teamed up to bring the wayward lovers back together. I loved the whole wedding weekend and seeing all of the machinations that happened. The ending was terrific.
 
The book also included a continuation of the series arc about the problems plaguing the Hotel Fortune. In this book, the reservations system either has glitches or hacking, which creates unhappy guests. I have my suspicions on who is behind it, and I look forward to seeing if I am right.

An Unexpected Father - Marie Ferrarella (HSE #2822 - Mar 2021)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Hotel Fortune (Book 3)

This is the story of a man named Brady
 
Reformed playboy Brady Fortune has suddenly become legal guardian to his best friend's little boys, and he is in over his head…until Harper Radcliffe comes to the rescue. His new nanny makes everything better, but her past makes her wary. Can Brady convince her they can somehow form a family? Their Fortune bunch won't feel complete without her!
 
Good book. Brady is the quintessential bachelor until his best friend and his wife die in a motorcycle crash, leaving Brady guardian of their four-year-old twins. The story opens a few months later with Brady at the end of his rope. The two boys are wild and have worn out their welcome with all of the family caregivers. Even Brady's mom tells him she can't take anymore. Brady gives up his job and moves from New York to Texas, where he has more family willing to help and the offer of employment at the new Hotel Fortune. His life doesn't get any easier, as his boys drive nannies away at an alarming rate. Even the owner of the preschool suggests he needs help and gives him a number to call.
 
Harper meets Brady when she stops at his cousin's restaurant looking for work. She lost her job as a nanny when the man of the house made unwelcome advances, but his wife blamed it on Harper. The wife has bad-mouthed Harper to her friends, making it difficult to find another position. The idle conversation with Brady doesn't go well, thanks to his misinterpretation of what the preschool owner said to him. It becomes even more awkward when the number he finally calls belongs to Harper. The ensuing conversation was pretty funny until they straightened out the confusion. Brady's relief that she was a nanny was overwhelming.
 
Harper's connection with Toby and Tyler was immediate. I loved seeing them fall in love with her and her with them. There were many sweet scenes of them together, and also with Brady. It was clear they were well on their way to feeling like a family.
 
The relationship between Brady and Harper was a cautious one. Sparks flew between them from the start, but Harper is extremely wary of trusting him. Brady doesn't want to lose the perfect nanny, so he tries to bury his feelings. I liked seeing Harper grow to trust Brady. It's easy to see them falling for each other and how close they come to admitting it. Then an unexpected ambush by her former employer sends Harper running. But a call from one of the boys telling her that they are at the hospital and Brady needs her stops her in her tracks. I loved the hospital scene and Brady's unwavering belief in her. The ending is sweet, and I loved the surprise the boys gave Harper.
 
There is a brief mention of the ongoing investigation into the balcony collapse from the first book. Brady does a little investigating.

Their Second-Time Valentine - Helen Lacey (HSE #2816 - Feb 2021)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Hotel Fortune (Book 2)

Sometimes love is a package deal...
 
Two sweethearts for the price of one!
 
Rugged builder Kane Fortune has never had any trouble attracting women -- he's just never been the type to stick around. Until he meets widowed mom Layla McCarthy and her adorable toddler, Erin. But just as Kane feels safe enough to let his guard down for the first time, Layla puts on the brakes. She's worried he's not up to being a lifetime valentine. Kane will have his work cut out for him proving he's right for the role.
 
Good book about two people who are wary about risking their hearts. Kane is a member of a newly discovered branch of the family. He moved from his home in New York to Texas to help his new cousins with their hotel project. Kane is handsome, charming, and an all-around nice guy who has his pick of women, but his relationships never last long. That is until he meets Layla and her daughter, Erin. Layla is a widow who still grieves the loss of her husband. She is beautiful, determined, and very protective of her daughter.
 
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Layla and Kane. They met at the daycare center where Kane picked up his nephew at the same time Layla arrived to get Erin. Kane was immediately smitten and wanted to get to know her better. Layla felt the same sparks but doesn't feel ready to do anything about it. Kane's patience pays off when she accepts an invitation to the hotel's grand opening. I loved seeing Kane with little Erin, who took to him immediately. It's that connection that helps soften Layla's resistance to spending more time with Kane.
 
I loved watching them spend time together, both with and without Erin along. It's obvious that the feelings between them grow stronger, but neither one is quite ready to admit it. Kane has some insecurity issues related to a secret he hasn't shared with Layla. He's wary of opening up completely for fear of being judged. It takes him a while to get to the point of trusting enough to share. At the same time, Layla worries about how fast things are moving between her and Kane, afraid of the effect on her and Erin if he ends the relationship. Those fears come to a head when Kane confesses his feelings and Layla pulls back.
 
I ached for Kane and the hurt he felt by Layla's withdrawal. I liked that he stood up for himself and refused to deny what he felt just to make her comfortable. In an emotional confrontation, Kane lays out his feelings and pushes back against Layla's excuses, leaving a lot for her to think about. I loved how a little kick in the pants provided by Kane's brother opened her eyes to what she was doing. The final scene was fantastic as Layla let go of her fears and allowed herself to be happy.
 
There is also a brief mention of the collapsed deck from last month's book (Her Texas New Year's Wish) and the uncertainty about its cause. Was it an accident, or was it sabotage? No conclusions have been reached, and there is an underlying worry that something else could happen.

Her Texas New Year's Wish - Michelle Major (HSE #2809 - Jan 2021)

Series: Fortunes of Texas: The Hotel Fortune (Book 1)

            Fortunes of Texas (Book 93)

Can you fall head over heels

And land on your feet?

When Grace Williams topples from the balcony at the soon-to-open Hotel Fortune, the last thing she expects is to find love with her new bosses' brother. Wiley Fortune is visiting from Chicago, and the polished attorney has looks, money and charm to spare. But Grace's past makes her wary of investing her heart -- and risking her job. Do a small-town Texan and a city sophisticate really have a chance?

Good start to the new series. The Hotel Fortune in Rambling Rose is about a month short of opening. The Fortune family hosts a birthday party there involving some of their management trainees. One of the people attending is the oldest brother, Wiley. Wiley always felt a little out of step with the rest of his family while growing up, as well as smothered by sheer numbers - he has seven brothers and sisters. He went to law school out of state, took a job in Chicago, and rarely visited his family. Wiley is at the party to support the family but plans to return to Chicago in a few days. Then a lightning bolt of attraction hits as he sees Grace from across the room.

Grace was born and raised in Rambling Rose. She left college to go home to help when her brother was injured in an accident. Afterward, she returned to complete her hospitality management degree, then took a job at another Fortune property, Cowboy Country. She enjoyed her time there but left after a humiliating breakup with a cheating boyfriend. Grace returned home to put her life back together and enrolled in the training program at Hotel Fortune. She is determined to earn the job as the hotel's general manager. She has no time or inclination for distractions in the form of a sexy lawyer from out-of-town.

I loved the first meeting between Wiley and Grace. It was short but hit Wiley especially hard. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the somewhat cynical man so gobsmacked by his reaction to her that he lost focus. Grace felt it, too, but is wary of trusting another man. When Grace is injured in a freak accident at the hotel, Wiley steps in to help her out.

I enjoyed the development of Wiley and Grace's relationship. In the beginning, Grace is wary of Wiley, unsure of whether he is interested in her or merely trying to prevent a lawsuit. Her family and friends urge caution, but she can't deny the sparks that fly whenever she's near him. Wiley can't stop his desire to take care of Grace. There are several sweet scenes of an almost shy Wiley doing things he thinks will help her. Grace has some issues with his help. She has worked hard to build up her independence and self-confidence after her breakup. Unfortunately, Grace feels smothered by her overprotective family, and Wiley's actions sometimes run up against those feelings. I liked that Grace feels comfortable enough to confront Wiley when she thinks he oversteps and that Wiley quickly reassures her that he has no doubts about her abilities.

As they spend time together, Wiley and Grace discover more than just attraction between them. I enjoyed seeing the friendship grow first, with their attraction simmering in the background. However, Grace is still cautious and insists on keeping anything between them a secret from everyone, afraid of being accused of using Wiley. I loved seeing them grow closer, and both begin to realize that there may be more to their feelings. When Wiley returns to Chicago because of an emergency at work, the time apart allows fears to surface. I wanted to shake them both for pushing each other away rather than talking about it. I ached for Wiley when his actions (or inactions) gave Grace a reason to end things between them. It was fun to see Wiley get relationship advice from one of his younger sisters and realize that he needed to fix things. I loved his big moment at the end and the unexpected help he received to pull it off.

I liked the secondary characters of Wiley's siblings and their obvious closeness as a family. Their support of each other is unwavering, both professionally and personally. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them. I also liked Grace's brother, Jake, though he did come across as a jerk initially. Like the rest of her family, he is overprotective and needs to see her for the adult she is. I liked the conversation he had with Wiley near the end of the book.

The collapsing balcony issue that injured Grace was referred to several times. There is some question of whether it was truly an accident. I'm interested to see if this concern continues through the rest of the books.