"sometimes love is right in front of you"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted February 16, 2014
Romance Contemporary
HAPPY NEW YEAR, BABY FORTUNE is the first book in a series
of four revolving around the Fortune family in Horseback
Hollow. LEANNE BANKS authored this first story which
reintroduces the Jones family and their neighbors from this
very small town. Horseback Hollow is basically an area
comprised mostly of ranches built around a very small strip
of stores that passes for the town center of sorts. As in
most of the Fortune family type books there are references
to people that appear in previous stories but since this is
a very distinct series we are concentrating on the Jones'
who have recently discovered that they are indeed part of
the illustrious international Fortune family.
But that's not really central to the story told in HAPPY NEW
YEAR, BABY FORTUNE which is a story about growing up and
facing responsibilities. For some this is a foregone
conclusion that occurs as one gets older. For others it's in
their makeup but for others life conspires against them and
they have to grow up quicker than they anticipated.
Having a baby does that -- it makes you take stock of your
life and plans. Then reality sets in and you realize your
options have been severely curtailed. This is true for
Stacey Fortune Jones but unfortunately not the case of her
fiancé Joe. Joe basically bails on Stacey leaving her
pregnant and single facing a future very different than the
one she had pictured.
Luckily Stacey has a remarkable support group of her close
family and friends from Horseback Hollow. But living in this
small town has its shortcomings. Small towns are notorious
for gossip and it's almost impossible to hide anything from
its folks.
Stacey didn't hide the fact that she was a single mother
living with her parents. She was grateful for their
acceptance of both her situation and for her baby Piper.
But having your entire life revolve around a baby leaves
much room for discontent and loneliness especially for a
lovely young woman. Stacey finds herself very much attracted
to her best friend's older brother Colton. The fact that the
two ranches are neighboring kept bringing these two people
together, at first accidentally and then not so.
At first it seems to be just a mutually beneficial
friendship that gives Stacey a needed outlet for socializing
with people her own age. But both Colton and Stacey can't
come to grips with the fact that they are beginning to need
to be together.
The burning question is how to do that without stirring up
gossip. This probably isn't going to become a permanent
relationship but in a small town people are known to come to
their own conclusions. Even though Stacey and Colton do
their best to avoid being seen together in public -- like a
couple -- someone is already spreading less than
complimentary rumors.
Kind of damn if they do and damned if they don't. What this
young couple needs is time. Time to see if it is more than
just a mutual attraction. Time to see if it's love.
Actually, HAPPY NEW YEAR, BABY FORTUNE is a cute story about
finding your true soul
mate. Sometimes it's just not as obvious to the world or to
the two people involved. But Leanne Banks did a really
entertaining job of working out the kinks in this seemingly
ill-fated relationship.
SUMMARY
Lullabies…and cowboys? USA TODAY bestselling author Leanne
Banks kicks off the new Fortunes of Texas continuity with a
story of a single mom and the sexy rancher who sweeps her
off her feet! As she rings in the new year in Horseback Hollow, Texas,
single mom Stacey Fortune Jones tries to count her
blessings. She has an adorable baby girl, Piper; supportive
parents; good friends. Best of them all is Colton Foster,
her longtime neighbor from the ranch next door. He always
seems to be around when she needs him. Trouble is, she may
be starting to need him a bit too much…. She's off-limits, Colton keeps telling himself. The tall,
muscular rancher turns to mush every time he sees Stacey.
But falling for his little sister's best friend seems wrong
on so many levels. She's on the rebound. She's got a baby.
She's…complicated. What's a big-hearted cowboy to do?
What do you think about this review?
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