A Fortune to Win by Suz deMello Review Tour
BLURB
Drug addicts Harvey, Lord Darlingside, and his supermodel wife, Mara, died by drowning in the Trevi Fountain while on a heroin binge. In a previous rare moment of sobriety, Harvey created a trust for their three children with a peculiar stipulation designed to ensure none would go his way: each must demonstrate maturity by making a substantial non-monetary contribution to others.
A Fortune To Win is the story of the Darlingside heirs' journey to love and their legacies.
MY REVIEW
This is a 3-in-1 book about three siblings who have to perform a non-monetary act of kindness in order to claim their inheritance, plus a bonus story about an ancestor of theirs.
Novella 1: Alice's Sheikh
This was a short and super sweet story. The hero is quite appealing (who doesn't love a hot and confident sheikh, right), and his first entry is grand. Alice is sweet. Their attraction is instant and undeniable. I enjoyed the progression from awareness to consummation :-). My only problem was that the story was too short, so it didn't allow room to truly explore conflicts or delve into deeper matters of character development. It left me a tad disappointed because this story could have been a real roller coaster of emotions and a clash of personalities. However, it was an enjoyable, fun read and the characters were likable. Great for readers looking for a simple, uncomplicated love story
Novella 2: Saving Sophia
Sophia's story started a tad slow for me, but it picked up very quickly and I found myself liking her a lot. Her best friend, a transgender woman, is murdered and Sophia finds herself volunteering in the charity shop in honor of her friend. This makes her a target too. Enter Nick, the detective assigned to her case. The two seem to be well-matched and their attraction is mutual. Nick does a very interesting thing with regard to work when he finds himself falling for Sophia. However, just like Alice's story, this is too short and does not create the kind of depth that I would have liked to see in this kind of plot. The author ends the story on a HFN and leaves no loose ends in the subplot. However, I found the resolution of the subplot too simplistic.
Novella 3: Peter's Story
Peter wakes up and finds a dead woman in his bed. His lawyer, Roxanne Fox, comes to his rescue. The case against him (and the judge's ruling) force Peter to re-examine his life and choices. One of the big changes leads him to discovering more about Roxanne whom he already finds himself attracted to. On the surface, Peter and Roxy's lives couldn't have been more different, but as they get to know each other better, they discover similarities that bring them closer together. This story attempts to deal with the issue of alcohol abuse and does an okay job of it - mainly (IMO) due to the length of the story. I would have loved to read more of Roxy's POV. E.g. I didn't really get whether she was always attracted to Peter or if it happened at some point in the story.
Bonus read: The Cowboy and His Countess, and Her Companion
This story is set in 1870 London (mostly) - a sort of prequel to the previous stories. I normally don't review bonus stories, but since this one is somewhat related to the first three, I thought I might as well say something about it. Though it is an M/F/F, it is quite a sweet romance and the story takes precedence over the sex. I found it to be an interesting read, but just like the other three, there wasn't room to explore some real issues raised or achieve serious character growth.
Overall, the book is an entertaining diversion, something to ease your mind with in between daily chores. Ms deMello's writing is fluid, which makes the stories flow well and easily. I'd be willing to try another of her stories - as long as it's a full-length novel.
*I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Novella 1: Alice's Sheikh
This was a short and super sweet story. The hero is quite appealing (who doesn't love a hot and confident sheikh, right), and his first entry is grand. Alice is sweet. Their attraction is instant and undeniable. I enjoyed the progression from awareness to consummation :-). My only problem was that the story was too short, so it didn't allow room to truly explore conflicts or delve into deeper matters of character development. It left me a tad disappointed because this story could have been a real roller coaster of emotions and a clash of personalities. However, it was an enjoyable, fun read and the characters were likable. Great for readers looking for a simple, uncomplicated love story
Novella 2: Saving Sophia
Sophia's story started a tad slow for me, but it picked up very quickly and I found myself liking her a lot. Her best friend, a transgender woman, is murdered and Sophia finds herself volunteering in the charity shop in honor of her friend. This makes her a target too. Enter Nick, the detective assigned to her case. The two seem to be well-matched and their attraction is mutual. Nick does a very interesting thing with regard to work when he finds himself falling for Sophia. However, just like Alice's story, this is too short and does not create the kind of depth that I would have liked to see in this kind of plot. The author ends the story on a HFN and leaves no loose ends in the subplot. However, I found the resolution of the subplot too simplistic.
Novella 3: Peter's Story
Peter wakes up and finds a dead woman in his bed. His lawyer, Roxanne Fox, comes to his rescue. The case against him (and the judge's ruling) force Peter to re-examine his life and choices. One of the big changes leads him to discovering more about Roxanne whom he already finds himself attracted to. On the surface, Peter and Roxy's lives couldn't have been more different, but as they get to know each other better, they discover similarities that bring them closer together. This story attempts to deal with the issue of alcohol abuse and does an okay job of it - mainly (IMO) due to the length of the story. I would have loved to read more of Roxy's POV. E.g. I didn't really get whether she was always attracted to Peter or if it happened at some point in the story.
Bonus read: The Cowboy and His Countess, and Her Companion
This story is set in 1870 London (mostly) - a sort of prequel to the previous stories. I normally don't review bonus stories, but since this one is somewhat related to the first three, I thought I might as well say something about it. Though it is an M/F/F, it is quite a sweet romance and the story takes precedence over the sex. I found it to be an interesting read, but just like the other three, there wasn't room to explore some real issues raised or achieve serious character growth.
Overall, the book is an entertaining diversion, something to ease your mind with in between daily chores. Ms deMello's writing is fluid, which makes the stories flow well and easily. I'd be willing to try another of her stories - as long as it's a full-length novel.
*I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
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