Laura J’s review of Fortune’s Deception by Karen Erickson
Contemporary Romance Ebook released 4 March 2008 by Samhain Publishing

After winning a record jackpot in the lottery, Brittany Jones and her friends have hired financial planner Charles Manning to advise them. Unfortunately for him, Brittany is driving him crazy in more ways then one. She spends her money like it’s going out of style and he is worried that she’s not being responsible enough. But she also drives him crazy physically even though she’s not the type that he is usually attracted to. When Brittany comes to him for financial advice, he’s shocked to learn that there may be more to Brittany than what he originally thought.

Brittany has had her fun with her money and now she wants to do more with it by helping out troubled kids. She knows personally what it’s like and wants to make sure these kids are given a better chance than she got. She’s knows Charlie can help her, if only he weren’t so serious and grumpy all the time. When she catches Charlie looking…interested in her, she starts having thoughts about the two of them together. Brittany begins to wonder if he will be as good in bed as he is with numbers.

Ms. Erickson has written two wonderful characters that I enjoyed spending time reading about. There are times I feel that with the shorter novellas I am cheated out of getting to know the characters, but that isn’t the case with this one. Brittany seems flighty and self-centered at first, but you quickly learn that despite the past she has endured, she is a smart and warm person. Because of a past incident, Brittany finds it hard to trust men. And she finds i especially hard to believe that she could actually be loved by one. She sees Charlie as a fun guy who needs her help to relax, and who can help her satisfy her needs as well.

While Brittany is a fun person, Charlie is serious, tense and a little uptight. He believes in planning for the future. His attraction to Brittany doesn’t make sense to him, but he is willing to let her help him unwind and have some fun. I liked that in Ms. Erickson’s description of him he sounds a little geeky. He doesn’t come across as knowing that he is a great looking guy and this is refreshing from some of the heroes I’ve read in romance books. He’s alpha when he needs to be, but still has a tender and patient side that Brittany needs to help her get over her fear of relationships.

The intimate scenes are hot but also playful with Charlie and Brittany showing the fun side that they (especially the serious Charlie) keep hidden. There is a very hot scene in a bathroom that may leave you needing a fan.

We are briefly introduced to Brittany’s two best friends, Lauren and Madeline, who share in the winnings from the lottery, but I hope that we will also get their stories as well.

Overall, this is a wonderful book with warmth, humor and a hero and heroine that you will be cheering for to get their happy ending.

Grade: B

Winning the lottery changes her life forever…in more ways than one.

One minute Brittney Jones is living paycheck to paycheck, and the next she and three friends win a record-breaking lottery jackpot. Sure, she’s spent some money on herself—after her rough childhood, she figures she deserves a few indulgences, big and small.

To financial advisor Charlie Manning, his client Brittney is a shallow beauty out to spend all of her money. He thinks she should rein it in. She thinks he should loosen up, and resolves to help him do just that—in a very naughty way.

The passion between them burns hot and fast, and Charlie comes to realize Brittney’s heart is as big as her newly fattened bank account. She’s not only smart, but beautiful and sexy. And he can’t resist her.

Still, Charlie is aware that Brittney’s keeping secrets from him. If only she would trust him enough to tell the truth!

Read an excerpt here