Fortunate Harbor

Happiness Key #2

by Emilie Richards

Join five women connected only by their growing friendship and the road that runs like a lifeline between their cottages in a run-down Florida development called Happiness KeyTracy Deloche finally gets a chance to swap business for a romantic evening with Marsh Egan, but dinner goes cold when she spots her ex-husband prowling outside her cottage. CJ is supposed to be in prison and out of her life for good. Exactly what is this modern-day pirate seeking and what will it mean for Tracy’s future?Janya Kapur envies every pregnant woman she sees, but Rishi, her husband, is suddenly reluctant to talk about children. Is he disappointed in her inability to conceive? Their marriage was a contract between strangers. Can they ever hope for anything more?Waitress Wanda Gray loses her job after new owners turn the Dancing Shrimp into a tapas bar. Wise neighbor Alice Brooks’s suggestion that Wanda start her own business seems like a brilliant solution, until Wanda starts Pie War I with the owners of the local bakery.When the empty cottage at Happiness Key is rented by single mother Dana Turner, everything seems perfect. With Alice volunteering to watch Dana’s daughter while she works and Wanda’s offer of a job, this spit of Florida Gulf Coast land should be a fortunate harbor for a mother and daughter who have moved far too often. Except for Dana’s shocking secret.As the women of Happiness Key struggle to discover the truth in time to help their new neighbor, their only weapon is friendship. But will friendship be enough?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Friendship, Mystery, Ebooks

524 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose.

I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.

I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.

Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.

Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.

Reviews

[Emily Hiram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this better than the first one but there was a bit too much talk about weight loss. Overall though a nice easy read.

[Patti TheLoveJunkee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fortunate Harbor is the 2nd book in the Happiness Key series (the first book is Happiness Key). I don't usually like to start a series by skipping books, but I had no problems at all following the characters and events in this book.

There are several storylines going on in this book, and for the most part I enjoyed them.
The four main female characters in this series are: Tracy Deloche - a former "trophy wife" who's ex husband is in prison for real estate scams, she owns the five cottages on Happiness Key; Wanda Gray - a waitress who's married to a cop; Alice Brooks - a grandmother caring for her granddaughter, Olivia; and Janya Kapur - a newlywed who's mother frequently reminds her she wants grandchildren.

Tracy's ex-husband is out of jail and working his way back into her life; he claims he's turned over a new leaf and wants to make sure she's okay. Then, her boyfriend's ex-wife is getting in between Tracy and the boyfriend. Her job is getting stressful and she's having a hard time with her weight.

Wanda is let go from her job because she doesn't fit the "new, young look" the new restaurant owners are going for. She's well-known for her pies, and decides to start a pie shop but the bakery down the street is sabotaging her.

Janya and her husband, Rishi, have decided to start a family but so far haven't succeeded. Rishi starts staying late at work and their sex life is nonexistent, and Janya doesn't know why.

One of Wanda's co-workers, Dana Turner, has been living on the run, going from place to place and job to job with her almost-teenage daughter, Lizzie. Since they have a vacant rental cottage, the ladies invite Dana and Lizzie over for dinner and Tracy ends up offering to rent them the small cottage. Dana is very mistrustful of strangers and the other ladies want to find out why.

My Thoughts:
I have mixed feelings about this book.

I found Rishi's story a bit unbelievable, but at the same time I like how Janya grew from a timid wallflower to a stronger personality.

I also thought Dana's story was a bit far-fetched, but it definitely pulled at the heartstrings and I like how it all worked out.

Here's my real issue with this book: I think this is the part of the review wherein I disclose that I am a plus-sized woman, just so that's all up front. Throughout the book, various people tease Tracy about her weight, and you get the impression that she's carrying around a few extra pounds. One of the side stories involved weight loss, and Tracy's nutritionist told her she should lose 10-15 pounds. Just a few pages later, we learn *poor* Tracy has *ballooned* from a size 3 to a size 5!!! Really? A size 5? And we're supposed to sympathise with her? A size 5 is not even grown-up sizes, that's junior clothes. I was very unhappy with this part of the storyline. She's a size 5 and a 10-15 lb weight loss would be healthy? How tall is she, 4'3"?

Other than the weight thing, it was an enjoyable story. I enjoyed the mystery and getting to know the ladies. Even though they were from different backgrounds they were good friends and supported each other. I wish women in real life had these kinds of supportive friendships. I'd be interested to go back and read Happiness Key to see how they all met and read their previous adventures together.

I give Fortunate Harbor 3.5/5 stars.

[Janga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fortunate Harbor is a sequel to Happiness Key (2009), and, like the first book, it is what Richards herself calls a “friendship book.” In Book 2, the four women who formed a circle of friends in Happiness Key return. Just when Tracy Deloche is ready to see her relationship with environmentalist lawyer Marsh Egan progress to the next stage, former relationships complicate their lives. Janya Kapur is eager to start a family, but her husband suddenly is distant even on the rare occasion when he’s home. Losing her waitressing job at the Dancing Shrimp turns into an exciting new venture when Wanda Gray opens her own pie shop. With her son-in-law in prison, Alice Brooks is settling into a life of quiet contentment with her granddaughter, Olivia. These four women, whose stories began in Happiness Key, are joined by a new character, secretive single mother Dana Turner. This unlikely collection of women share their problems and their triumphs and discover that whatever curve life throws can be navigated successfully with a little help from your friends.

Janya’s problem with her husband was solved too quickly and smoothly for me to find it credible, but that’s only one quibble in a story filled with likeable characters involved in interesting situations. Fortunate Harbor lacks that extra quality that marks my favorites by Richards, an old category romance The Trouble with Joe and Prospect Street, an extraordinary women’s fiction novel, but it is an entertaining read. There will be a third book about the women of Happiness Key, and I look forward to it. I’m hoping to see more of philanthropist Henrietta Claiborne, and then there’s Janya’s brother . . .

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Happiness Key series. I thought it was better than the 1st book. I think they keep getting better. Looking forward to Sunset Bridge.

[Gloria Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in a series about Happiness Key. Most of the characters were introduced in the first book, but some new ones were added. I enjoyed this one much more than I did the first in the series. In the first book, the author seemed to spend way too much time setting the people, place and circumstances and I just couldn't feel a part of it until well over 100 pages in.

However, reading this book shortly after the first, it was like joining old friends. I was immediately immersed in this somewhat more complicated story. I will let others tell about the characters, etc. I will just say that it was fun reading this book and I am ready for the next, if there is another one.

This is definitely a woman's story with female characters who have individual characteristics that make them likable and interesting. There are some men involved, but mostly it is about women's friendship. I recommend this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another not-too-light-but-not-too-heavy read, with some substance to it. Once again the friends of Happiness Key are trying to help each other stay afloat amid life's vicissitudes, and doing a good job, for the most part. The suspense aspect of the book is well done; there was enough foreshadowing to keep me satisfied but enough mystery to keep me guessing till the end.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and especially all the different and entertaining characters. I read this story while at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and I even left the book at the rented beach house so that other vacationers will be introduced to Emilie and her books. The only criticism I would have is that the story dragged in some places.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Emilie's first book in this series, and read it a while ago. I had to refamiliarize myself with the main characters. But once I did, I was sucked in!
Nice story. I enjoyed it. Thanks Emilie, I hope there are more to come!

[Nellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out the mud and had some good parts but just went on and on and on I found myself skimming for the last hundred or more pages. It was just too much detail, and ironically the parts that were interesting towards the end felt rushed through.

[Laura]

I picked this up in a free bin at a used book store. It was fun and easy and just as I began to lose interest (about 100 pages from the end), it got good again! Lol
I would recommend this book. I didn't read the first in the series and can't say if I'll read the last.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great beach blanket book. The friendship and sisterhood of this group is fun to be a part of. The twist of the crazy ex husband and the hidden “treasure” makes it a perfect book to read in the sun and relax.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series

[Carol Stanley-Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great chick-lit and beach read!!

Great group of friends who are all going through something!!

Very relaxing..

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a whole lot of OK.
I have no desire to read the first or third book.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. Will read more in series and by the author.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

This is the second in the series. I can see myself living with these ladies as my neighbors. Be sure and read them in order. Can’t wait to get started on the next one.

[Elena Mora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sono tre e mezzo. Bella storia, bei personaggi.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt adrift shortly after I got into this book. If I ever run across a copy of the first in the series I may try again.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A good but predictable bedtime read. This is a better written novel than book #1 in the series.

[Paschalis]

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[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my least favorite by this author. Still a 4. Too much chit chat in this one. I don't like secrets kept until the end of the book. Several laugh out loud lines. That's appreciated.

[Karen Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one!!!

[Sarah Schott · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Definitely one of my favorite books so far by Richards! This book always kept me guessing what would happen next. Such a fun read!

[Geraldine DEIBERT · Rating 3 out of 5]

keeps you thinking

[Heather B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beach read

[Carol McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read all 3 books in the series and I loved them all.

[Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald]

Fiction B+ This one was better! I enjoyed the characters and while the main plot was a little silly it was a fun read

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the characters!
Many different story lines going on at the same time. It doesn't get boring!
Will be moving on to book 3 in this series.

[Mire_mire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro muy tranquilo sobre cinco mujeres y sus vidas!