Excerpt · Giveaways · Harlequin Spotlight · Meme · New Release · Release Week · Reviews

#Review of Their New Year’s Beginning (a Fortunes of Texas novel) by Michelle Major w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @michelle_major1 @HarlequinBooks

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle Major will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

At the stroke of midnight, a stranger’s kiss changes everything…

Brian Fortune doesn’t think he will ever find the woman he kissed at his brother’s New Year’s wedding. So when the search for the provenance of a mysterious gift leads him into a local antique store a few days later, he’s stunned to find Emmaline Lewis, proprietor—and mystery kisser! Surprise turns to shock when he realizes that she’s also six months pregnant. Brian has never been the type to commit—and he’s really not ready to become a family man in one fell swoop! But suddenly he knows he’ll do anything to stay at Emmaline’s side—for good…

 

 
 
 
 

Read an Excerpt

“May I kiss you, Emmaline?”

Welp. There it was. He was actually asking her permission. As if Emmaline could be more taken with him, his quiet question pushed her over the edge of reason.

She was smitten. The kind of enamored that had her wondering if he might be able to hear her heart pounding against her rib cage. As if her anticipation was a palpable thing.

After a moment, she nodded, not trusting her voice.

Brian’s warm hands lifted to her face, and he cupped her cheeks as if she were precious to him. She felt precious.

He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, featherlight and controlled. Her body erupted in goosebumps and she let out a tiny moan, both in satisfaction and frustration. She reveled in the sensations swirling through her and, at the same time, wanted more.

Brian must have heard the sound—another tally in her list of embarrassments for this night—but he didn’t seem to find anything wrong with it.

In fact, it seemed to spur him on. The kiss turned deeper as he shifted both of them into a nearby alcove so she couldn’t be seen by the crowd.

He continued to cup her cheeks, the softness of his touch in sharp contrast to the hard planes of the chest she could feel under her hands. But when he lowered one hand to the small of her back to pull her closer, Emmaline wrenched away.

She could not allow herself to be pressed up against him. Not now. Not without revealing…too much.

He looked as dazed as she felt as he stared at her.

“I have to go,” she whispered, more to herself than him.

Before he could answer, she turned and ran away.

The first book to review of 2022 and it’s definitely a keeper.  I just love this series from Harlequin.  You can pick up any book, from any author, and never feel lost.  The authors do a great job of just adding a few bits to keep the reader up to date on the other Fortunes in the series.  I particularly like the Fortunes in Rambling Rose.  I’ve read most of them so jumping into Brian’s story was great.

I really liked Brian.  He tries to come off as detached and aloof but underneath it all, he really does want a family of his own.  I completely understood why he wanted to distance himself from everyone in Texas and stay in New York.  Being a twin can be a pain at times and he truly believed that the miles between him and Brady were good.  He never had to prove himself anymore to anyone but once in Texas…A romantic at heart, he’s smitten with Emmaline and it’s great watching him fall for her, totally and completely.  Baby and all.

Emmaline took me a bit longer to warm up to.  I just didn’t like her mother and the way she treated Emmaline at times.  Back off already and Emmaline should have told her off at some point.  However, she stood her ground with Brian when needed.  I loved the push and pull between them.  I felt like they completed each other without all the sugar.  Both took responsibility for their actions, as adults.  Oh and Brian with the twin boys?  Roaring with laughter at times.

I really liked the mystery surrounding the wedding gift.  Silly me thought it would be solved and it wasn’t.  Note to self…buy the other books in the series so I know what happens and why the gift was sent.  Yes, I’m THAT type of reader and I don’t apologize for it.  Ms. Major does a great job with this aspect of the story.  Just enough to tease but also enough to keep you interested long after the book is finished.

I rarely review Harlequin Special Editions anymore.  I don’t know why but I do read them.  Especially this series and Ms. Major.  She’s not a new to me author at all.  I’ve been reading her work for years and she never disappoints.  Just a perfect blend of smexy/sensual times, emotional times, family time, and romance to make her an auto-buy for me.  I can’t wait to read the next one in the series and from Ms. Major.

About the Author:

: USA Today bestselling author Michelle Major loves stories of new beginnings, second chances, and always a happily ever after. An avid hiker and avoider of housework, she lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, two teenagers, and a menagerie of spoiled furbabies. Connect with her at www.michellemajor.com.

Facebook
Instagram
Goodreads
BookBub

Buy links:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Kobo
Harlequin

a Rafflecopter giveaway

6 thoughts on “#Review of Their New Year’s Beginning (a Fortunes of Texas novel) by Michelle Major w/a rafflecopter giveaway! @michelle_major1 @HarlequinBooks

So what do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.