Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Well, mixed feelings on this one. I liked the premise and the sympathetic heroine well enough, but could have been a lot funnier with more potential.

I also didn't realize it had a sequel when I checked it out of the library. The sequel sounds like fills in more of the story, including her seeking answers about her father's dand the eath (not a spoiler, book opens with her getting her inheritance).

Whiff of a love triangle (which I seldom enjoy) that was fortunately quickly resolved. A little too easily resolved as one love interest became the saintly underdog and the other the snobby class-ist douchebag.

It would have gotten another star if hadn't used some disliked tropes like slut shaming the BFF, a lesbian character dressing in combat boots with bad makeup, etc. I have DNF'ed other books for less.

My rating was likely influenced because I generally like the rags-to-riches and Cinderalla type of stories.

The writing and editing were fine, but despite being mainstream published the story itself reminded me of many self published works. I think because flow wasn't great -- seemed improbable (or un-researched) in places and very stream of consciousness reality in others.

I do want to know what's next. But not enough to pay current basically hardcover price if doesn't come to my library or drop to normal paperback price range.… (altro)

Book Description....

Independently Wealthy is "soapy, fast-paced fun."

~Kirkus Reviews

"It's delicious fun."

~People Magazine - People Picks: "The Best New Books."

"In the sequel to New Money, Savannah Morgan delves into the mystery of her late media-mogul father’s death and uncovers more than she ever expected.

In New Money, Savannah Morgan was thrust into high-society New York when she learned she was the sole heir to her father’s billion-dollar fortune. In Independently Wealthy, she is living her dream life on the Upper West Side, excelling at her job as an editorial assistant, and enjoying her handsome new boyfriend, Alex.

Everything in Savannah’s life should be perfect—but she can’t ignore the questions and scandal surrounding her father’s fatal accident. Her hopes of solving this mystery are shared by Caroline Stone—her newfound sister who is slowly becoming a friend. Savannah decides to investigate, although not everyone wants her to discover the truth. Her domineering older brother, Ned, has his own problems, including a lingering regret over his recent divorce, the constant pressure of running the Stone media empire, and managing a playboy bachelorhood. As Savannah's quest for justice becomes complicated and dangerous, she is led to Washington, D.C., an alluring stranger, and more surprises, trouble, and changes than she ever could have imagined."

Title: Independently Wealthy
Author: Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4.5
Review:

"Independently Wealthy" by Lorraine ago Rosenthal

What I liked about this novel....

This was a well delivered intriguing novel of Savannah's search for many unanswered questions of her father's death. "Independently Wealthy" is the sequel to this author first novel of 'New Money' and I did find some of the characters from it in this second novel.

It was quite a read of about Savannah who learns about her father after his death along with learning that this Edward Stone had been a billionaire media mogul leaving her his fortune. However, with learning all of this her father had also left some stipulations in his will and that was that Savannah would have to move from South Carolina to Manhattan, N.Y to work at his new corporation. Now, why was this? Well, I liked this idea...because there were two other half siblings involved in all of this. After arriving in N.Y. Savannah begins to love the idea that she is now rich but also finding herself wanting answers to what had happened surround her father's death, I liked how she set out to find out the answers of this car accident that had taken her father's life. I also liked all of the twist and turns that were brought about from the half brother Ned and it was interesting seeing them playing detective to solve this mystery as it seems that this did becomes Savannah's obsession. This author present so well this relationship that will come about as Savannah, Caroline and Ned will grow and develop through the read. It was of great interest to how well Savannah wanted to find justice for the father she had never even met as questions will be answered from the story.

Be ready for a read which will be suspenseful as it goes into some scandalous cases, many enemies come forth, murder, to affairs to a few other issues and even many surprises will come from this read. This is definitely one of those reads that you will find hard to put down because there will be so much going the readers attention will easily stay very focused on just what will happen next. I found this characters were pretty much well developed, engaging, well portrayed and somewhat believable where the author was able to bring out to the reader by the end of the read just how and why they were the way they were. This author was definitely able to give the reader enough conflict in all that was going on in this story to keep your interest and making it seem like it was a real story that could have happened.

The story settling will start from South Carolina, on to New York and to D.C. where you will find
"Independently Wealthy"was a contemporary read that was a little long but it was fast paced, realistic, with some humor, drama, mystery, intriguing and even some romance and in the end I am left saying that I would I recommend as a enjoyable read.… (altro)

Lorraine Zago Rosenthal’s New Money is a light, entertaining story of a 24-year-old debutante set loose in Manhattan after a lifetime among Southern society. To say she is lost amidst a sea of dark-clothed, serious New Yorkers is an understatement — but once she flees the comfort of her mother’s home in South Carolina, she is determined to create a new path for herself as a writer . . . or maybe something else entirely.

Though I enjoyed Savannah’s story, success seemed to find our heroine a little too easily. After learning the identity of her biological father, a billionaire, Savannah hops a plane and steps straight into a sleek apartment overlooking Central Park with barely a thought of the mother she is supposedly devoted to — or the life she is leaving behind. Her whacky best friend temporarily turns Savannah’s new life into a sorority romp, and the tenuous relationship she is trying to build with her half-siblings is constantly under fire.

The set-up of New Money felt to be entirely tell with no show — a fact that surprised me. I didn’t feel I actually got to know Savannah until the end of the novel, when she was in love with a bartender and fighting to keep her new family’s name out of the press. We were told she is this strong, passionate, intelligent woman . . . but her scatter-brained actions didn’t always reflect that.

But even having said that, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy this story . . . I did! It was fun escapism that demanded little of me, which was perfect. It’s actually been a while since I read a story set in Manhattan, and Rosenthal’s descriptions of the city through an outsider’s eyes were fun. Her budding romance with Alex, a reformed fighter, was sweet and sweetly believable; her attempts to get to know her brother and sister were realistic and a little heartbreaking.

All in all, New Money was the first novel I’ve read in the burgeoning “new adult” category — and with a little romance, plenty of family dynamics and lots of rich-people-peeping to keep me company, it was a fun story with interesting characters that I enjoyed getting to know.… (altro)

Now that Savannah is rooted in Manhattan society and earning her keep at Femme, the magazine which recently published her first work, she is focused on building a place within the Stone family — and discovering the truth about what happened to their father. When her search takes her to Washington, D.C., and into the complicated world of American politics, Savannah must decide whether to push harder than she ever has or turn back.

Filled with more mystery and depth than its predecessor, Independently Wealthy finds us acquainted with a much stronger, more empowered heroine with a clear goal: finding out the truth about the fatal accident that claimed her father’s life and a potential cover-up that could make headlines around the world. When investigators hit dead ends, Savannah snoops in Edward’s files to find connections others may have missed and leaves for Washington in the hope of learning the truth.

Given I’m from the Washington area, I loved seeing glimpses of my hometown as Savannah races among the political elite to confront the man she believes was instrumental in Edward’s death. We also see romantic development in several areas and a pretty dashing male lead — one I found vastly superior to Alex, quite honestly. In my book? Jack redeems himself tenfold.

What made Independently Wealthy really work for me were the growing family dynamics. Ned and Caroline, Savannah’s half-siblings, really became human in this second installment. In fact, where I once found Ned to be particularly insufferable, I actually started to like the guy. He is charismatic and snobby and cocky, but he’s a little lost, too. Each character seemed more vulnerable this time around — and I liked that we got to know them beyond the superficial.

Lorraine Zago Rosenthal has written two books with a sassy narrator who takes chances and goes big, and I enjoyed the time spent with the Stone family. As Savannah has grown so much between books one and two, who knows what could be in store for her down the line . . . I hope we’ll get a chance to find out.… (altro)