Expecting a Fortune

The Fortunes of Texas: Digging for Secrets #3

by Nina Crespo

His poison pen…
Would soon be Cupid's arrow!

Bea Fortune vows that she'll be the most talked about restaurateur in Chatelaine. But when her opening night’s sabotaged and she’s skewered in the local paper, those dreams take a nightmarish turn. So after she’s unexpectedly thrust together with the affronted critic—Devin Street, the paper’s multifaceted owner—she expects another rebuff. But to her surprise, the charming single dad sweeps her off her feet…and into his bed. Now she’s having his baby! Devin’s committed to being a devoted dad…but it might be his good Fortune to have so much more.

Genres: Romance, Harlequin

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2024

About the author

Nina Crespo lives in Florida where she indulges in her favorite passions -- the beach, a good glass of wine, date night with her own real-life hero and dancing. Her lifelong addiction to romance began in her teens while on a "borrowing spree" in her older sister's bedroom where she discovered her first romance novel. Let Nina's sensual contemporary stories and steamy paranormal tales satisfy your own craving for love, romance, and happily ever after.

Reviews

[Ashley Yungbluth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Expecting a Fortune" by Nina Crespo was an excellent read. I enjoyed Devin and Bea's story and characters so much. I loved how Devin is there for his family and will do whatever he has to to make things work with Bea. My favorite part is when Bea is teaching Devin's daughter, Carly, how to make things for her school bake sale. I can't wait to read on in this series to see what happens next.

[Cheryl Jamai · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books in The Fortune of Texas series are stand alone, however each book includes information about a mystery related to the Fortune family that will be solved in the final installment. Expecting a Fortune features Devin Street, a single dad who owns the Chatelaine Daily news. Bea Fortune is a business
owner and is excited about opening her café. Early in the book, it’s clear that someone is trying to sabotage her restaurant opening.
Bea is attracted to Devin and the times she interacts with him, she feels like an awkward school girl.
Devin has wanted to ask Bea out, but his journalistic interest in the mystery related to her family, causes him to hesitate.
Bea is excited to attend her sister Esme’s wedding and honored to cater for the reception. Devin attends as well, and the pair take the opportunity to dance. They share a heated kiss and decide to explore their budding attraction.
The unexpected pregnancy is part of the book’s plot, so readers know this in advance. Ms. Crespo explores how two individuals navigate their friendship
and relationship, a bit out of order.
Some of the side characters are featured in other books in the series so there were a lot of characters to keep up with. In addition to this, there were
unanswered questions about what happened in a mining accident years ago. I knew this on advance, however I still found myself looking for closure. Despite this, I enjoyed how Ms. Crespo explored this couple’s journey I recommend Expecting a Fortune for your reading pleasure. See complete review at Romancein color.org. 3.5 stars.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in The Fortunes of Texas : Digging For Secrets series and it is Bea and Devin’s story. Bea dream was to open her own restaurant in Chatelaine and that dream had come true and now with open night approaching she hopes and needs everything goes right and according to plan only for everything to go completely wrong when her restaurant is sabotaged and received a really bad write up in the local paper which has turned everything that she hoped and dreamed of upside down. Devin owns the local newspaper that did the bad write report on Bea’s restaurant and he is also a single dad meaning that his life is always really busy. When Bea and Devin meet at her sisters wedding and with the attraction and chemistry between being so strong they end up having a explosive one night stand only for Bea to find out later that she is pregnant with Devin’s baby but how will he react when Bea tells him. Bea and Devin will have secrets, ups and downs and it will definitely not be plain sailing between them but will they be able to eventually communicate with each other and sort things out before it is too late for them in the long run. I really enjoyed reading this story so much and I look forward to reading more books in the future by this author.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dunno... I like the lifestyle changes Devin made at the end to make more space to be there for Bea and their baby, but I'm still not convinced that his workaholic-ness is due only to workplace capacity and not his personality.

I do like the grand gestures of care he did with reminders to Bea to take care of herself, but again, it felt a bit too easy, like throwing money at a problem instead of putting in the work himself. so I did appreciate the lifestyle changes more.

I also realized that the mystery of who sabotaged Bea's restaurant was never solved? I guess that's part of the bigger series mystery that will only be solved in the final book?

I did like Lauren. she seemed a solid mom and i'm glad that Devin's ex wasn't portrayed as a bad guy just to prop up the current romance. and Devin and Lauren's teenage daughter Carly also seems pretty solid.

Bea is a bit frustrating in how often she forgets to eat or look after herself even when pregnant. like girl, you have a responsibility to the fetus now. but overall she wasn't bad.

it was really just Devin I couldn't get all the way behind, and while I didn't love Bea enough to demand she deserves better,. I still think she kinda does, and I'm glad Lauren chose to look after herself and their daughter.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book and a fun easy read. Bea is opening a cafe in Chatelaine but on opening day, the place is broken into and the food is stolen. The area food critic tries to be nice and asks if it's worth a second chance. At Bea's sister's wedding, Bea and Devin hook up. Their one-night stand results in pregnancy and Devin also tells her that he is the food critic.

Just a nice story but I was missing a few things that must have been in the previous books so I will have to look into finding out what books came before this one.

[Becky Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea Fortune is all ready to open her new restaurant in town. But sabatage seems to the word of the week, as someone kills the electricity overnight, then steals all the food. Not wanting to let the reason out, she just cancels the grand opening. But Devin Street, owner of the local paper, and the secret restaurant critic, writes a review questioning Bea's ability to run a restaurant. But then, they meet, get together, and suddenly, there's a baby. And they have to navigate their feelings on that, along with Devin's relationship with his ex-wife and teenage daugher.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devin and Bea weren’t thinking long term after their night together but a surprise baby ties them together. But he is pulled in various directions with work, his ex, their daughter, and Bea. She feels pushed aside and that puts a strain on their relationship. Her restaurant is sabotaged in the beginning and I was disappointed they didn’t investigate it and solve that mystery.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expecting a Fortune is full of surprises. From the temptation to the emotion, Crespo captures the attention. Unpredictable romance and irresistible characters make for a heartwarming, all the feels kind of read.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
The Fortunes of Texas: Digging for Secrets (Book #3)

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it,an awesome romance and some mistakes they are.But mange to work it to make it work.Also love a happy ending

[Jeriann Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Surprise Baby

This is average interracial surprise baby romance for a couple in their mid thirties. There's a couple plot holes and a unreasonable heroine. I'd say skip this.

[Annette Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. I had a hard time putting it down. Love Bea's character.