Nancy Robards Thompson

Good opposites attract story. Ginny and Draper appeared in the previous book, Anyone but a Fortune. Draper is Beau Fortune's brother, and they shared a house while building their investment business. Ginny is their quiet next-door neighbor.

This book opens as Ginny witnesses the vocal breakup of Draper and his latest girlfriend. Ginny watches, slightly embarrassed and somewhat amused, as Draper is clueless about the woman's motivation. Draper is also embarrassed that Ginny witnessed the whole debacle. While they've been neighbors for a few months, there hasn't been much interaction other than polite chit-chat. Now dateless for an upcoming art fundraiser, Draper asks Ginny if she'd like to go with him.

Ginny is an artist who recently returned to painting after a traumatic experience in college silenced her desire to paint. As a new year's resolution, she decided she would finish a small painting daily. After getting home from her teaching job each day, she heads to her porch to work on that day's painting. I loved her determination and the reawakening of the happiness she gets from it. She's stunned that he asked her out but steps outside her comfort zone and agrees.

I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Draper and Ginny. Draper is well-known as a ladies' man. He leans toward women who are beautiful and part of his world but never stays with any woman for long. He doesn't understand why he is so drawn to Ginny, who is opposite his usual date. It was lovely to see how he took an interest in her art and wanted to help her. As they spend more time together, the attraction they feel grows stronger, though Ginny's past throws a road bump into their developing relationship. I liked Draper's sensitivity in not pushing her and Ginny's realization that she trusts him.

While Ginny feels herself falling for Draper, he freaks out about his growing feelings for her. It all comes to a head when he takes her to New Orleans to a gallery showing that includes some of her work. Ginny feels like a fish out of water among the wealthy attendees. A feeling that isn't helped when women from his past are all over Draper. But Draper's fears have him behaving like a jerk until Ginny has had enough. Her anger and hurt were understandable, and I loved seeing her stand up for herself.

Draper earned every bit of the misery he felt. He behaved horribly, and he knew it. It took some serious soul-searching for him to realize what his problem was. He was determined to win Ginny back. I had to shake my head as his first few attempts showed that he still didn't get it. It took some outside advice to open his eyes. I had a good idea of what his big moment would include, and I was happy to see I was right. He still had to work for Ginny's forgiveness, but he redeemed himself very well in the end.

There is a little progress in the overarching series question of the mysterious gifts. Counting from the first book, there was a figurine with a key inside it, a painting, a pink blanket with an F on it, and now a record with an old song. I liked seeing the various members of the Fortune family work together to figure it out. I'm looking forward to seeing how the latest discovery works out.… (altro)

A powerful struggle that neither anticipated made lead to an unexpected consequence. Helena had the perfect life until she discovered some hidden truths about her late husband, herself and her feelings for Mateo. Mateo has one mission to resurrect the family empire. He never expected to be blindsided in more ways than one. I received an ARC of The Billionaire's Betrayal in exchange for an honest review. What I liked about this story is that both characters held their own and stood up for what they believed. Even at the most inconvenient of times. This was not a story of a weak female needing someone to rescue her and I loved that.

… (altro)