A new year and a new baby. Sounds like a great start for Stacy Fortune Jones. But when you've been dumped by your fiancé and are raising a baby alone, maybe it's not so great. HAPPY NEW YEAR, BABY FORTUNE is the latest in a series about Horseback Hollow so at the initial party we - and baby Piper - meet many characters from previous books. Since I wasn't up to date on the Fortune family I needed this to read well as a standalone.

Colton Foster, working away on his folks' ranch in Texas, has known Stacy most of her life, and his sister Rachel is a good friend to her. He thinks anyone who left a girl and baby doesn't deserve someone as lovely as Stacy. While he has no designs on her, he gives her his first New Year kiss as the countdown turns to cheers. Having the baby has made the girl grow up fast, and Colton suddenly starts seeing her in a whole new light. From a remark he makes, Rachel and Stacy think he's interested in some other girl he won't name, and a few amusing incidents occur such as a cooking lesson.

Stacy, twenty-four and a trained nurse, feels responsible and tired and harried; she hardly knows what it's like to go outside her parents' house. She takes Colton up on his offer of an evening at the bar and grill, but of course has to be home early for her child. Shortly afterwards we get a merry scene where Colton is obliged to care for the baby for an evening, fussing and changing and blowing bubbles. He's not used to babies, but he copes well!

The start of the book revisits siblings who were separated and adopted, who they married and who had money and who didn't, all of which will be welcomed by fans of the series but could deter newcomers. After that however the main characters take over the tale and a new reader will be fine. While Stacy often does feel that she and the baby were let down, and the father isn't providing support, the overall tone is light and families and friends rally around to help. This is an adult romance but it's one of those times where the couple don't admit how strong their feelings have become until something serious occurs.

Leanne Banks has written several great reads and - provided you can handle a lot of baby talk, including useful tips - HAPPY NEW YEAR, BABY FORTUNE is sure to make a lot of new friends.