Sandy M’s review of Fortune’s Promise, (Fortune Series, Book 2) by Karen Erickson
Contemporary Erotic Romance published by Samhain 20 Jan 09

I’m usually not a fan of celebrity stories, either the hero or heroine is famous, they get involved with someone nonfamous, the tabloids do their thing, misunderstandings occur. While this book does follow that formula to a certain degree, what made it different for me is the characters, both of whom are drawn to each other from first glance but who both have their own issues to overcome, especially the hero, and Ms. Erickson makes them so likable that when the misunderstanding comes, I found myself rooting for them instead of groaning as I usually do when it comes to that type of circumstance for characters.

Maddie is one third winner of a huge lottery jackpot she and her two friends, Brittany and Lauren, shared. We’re talking big, big bucks. But Maddie hasn’t changed her life one bit since getting all that money. Still drives the same old car, works her same dull job in a business owned by her mother, still doesn’t take any changes in life, and, thus, is still alone. She’s just completed her bridesmaid duties for Brittany in her wedding with Charlie, the hero and heroine of the first book in the series, Fortune’s Deception.

For her reception Brittany has snagged the music industry’s hottest performer, Tanner Robinson, to entertain folks. It’s during his first ballad of the evening that Maddie is mesmerized by the man, who has also taken notice of her alone in the corner of the room. She feels as though he’s singing just for her, but, of course, she knows that’s silly. Tanner has just received his divorce papers and he’s looking to get laid, a dirty, nasty lay to make him forget all he’s gone through with his now ex-wife and the work he’s put in on his latest album. Trolling the hotel bar after the wedding reception, he spots the woman who’d watched him so intently as he performed earlier. He’s interested and hopes she is too, and they’re headed to his room after a swift introduction.

Knowing her friends are right, Maddie makes the jump back into life when Tanner asks her to join him in his room. Self-conscious of her weight, she’s nothing like the women he’s usually seen with, she’s not sure she’s made the right decision, but Tanner shows her how wrong she is. He loves her body and its response to him during their hot and sizzling lovemaking. But Maddie is fully aware nothing can come of their time together, Tanner will return to California and his music. leaving her alone again. However, he surprises her a couple of weeks later with an invitation to spend a weekend in Malibu with him, and she can’t resist, longing to be in his arms once again.

I really enjoyed both of these characters, Maddie for her vulnerabilities even though she’s now got money to take care of some of them, but it’s Tanner who hit my emotion button when we learn about why his ex-wife left him, but even more so later when he can’t get Maddie out of his mind. He even handles the aforementioned misunderstanding even though it wasn’t of his making. Brittany and Lauren are also involved quite a bit, being the good friends they are and looking out for Maddie when needed.

My only nitpick is the very end of the book. Though we’re given the proper signs and signals for their relationship at that point in time, we’re not given a concrete be-all end-all answer for that HEA. My first thought was maybe it’s supposed to be answered in the next book, Fortune’s Chance, which was released this past March and which I haven’t read yet. I also haven’t read the first book, so I have no idea if this type of thing happened in that story or not or it’s a one-time thing just for this book.  Yeah, okay, I can use my imagination and knowledge of the characters to come up with what I want, but I’m one of those readers who likes is spelled out, no guessing, no speculation. I was really irritated at this on my first read of it and nearly graded the book lower because of it, but I’ve since read it a couple more times and have satisfied myself enough that I left my original grade intact.

Grade: B

Summary:
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One amazing night. A waste of time? Or a new beginning?
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After winning the lottery a year ago with her two best friends, Maddie Carpenter’s life should have changed for the better. Right? Wrong. She’s still stuck in her boring old life while her friends are living theirs to the fullest.
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Watching one of them get married brings all her self doubt into sharp focus. She resolves to do something exciting, something thrilling. Starting right now, with the singer performing at the reception.
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Tanner is still bitter over his divorce, bitter toward women in general. But something about sweet and sexy Maddie turns Tanner inside out—and he can’t resist her.
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One amazing night of sex turns into many nights of more amazing sex. Soon their relationship is moving way out of the casual zone. But both carry excess baggage of suspicion and distrust that could cost them everything…
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Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

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