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Fortune's Lady
Seeking to enmesh free-spirited Cassandra Merlin in his own twisted plan to save the king, Philip Riordan asks her to seduce another man, all the while wishing it was him
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
10 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Gaffney
40 books319 followersPatricia Gaffney was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, and also studied literature at Royal Holloway College of the University of London, at George Washington University, and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
After college, Gaffney taught 12th grade English for a year before becoming a freelance court reporter, a job she pursued in North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., for the next fifteen years.
Her first book, a historical romance, was published by Dorchester in 1989. Between then and 1997, she wrote 11 more romance novels (Dorchester; Penguin USA), for which she was nominated for or won many awards. Many of these previously out of print classics are available again today as digitally reissued classics, including the author's most recently re-released and much beloved novels in The Wyckerley Trilogy.
In 1999, she went in a new direction with her hardcover fiction debut, The Saving Graces (HarperCollins). A contemporary story about four women friends, the novel explored issues of love, friendship, trust, and commitment among women. The Saving Graces enjoyed bestseller status on the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and other lists.
Circle of Three (2000), Flight Lessons (2002), and The Goodbye Summer (2004) followed, all national bestsellers. Gaffney’s most recent novel was Mad Dash (2007), a humorous but insightful look at a 20-year marriage, told from the viewpoints of both longsuffering spouses.
More recently, Pat's been indulging her purely creative side in a brand new format for her -- novellas. With friends including J. D. Robb, she has contributed stories to three anthologies, all New York Times bestsellers. In "The Dog Days of Laurie Summer" (The Lost, 2009), a woman in a troubled marriage "dies" and comes back as the family dog. "The Dancing Ghost" (The Other Side, 2010) brings together a pretty spinster and a shady ghost buster in 1895 New England. And in "Dear One" (The Unquiet, 2011), a fake phone psychic (or IS she?) meets her match in a stuffy Capitol Hill lobbyist -- who couldn't possibly be that sexy-voiced cowboy from Medicine Bend who keeps calling the psychic line.
Patricia Gaffney lives in southern Pennsylvania with her husband.
After college, Gaffney taught 12th grade English for a year before becoming a freelance court reporter, a job she pursued in North Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., for the next fifteen years.
Her first book, a historical romance, was published by Dorchester in 1989. Between then and 1997, she wrote 11 more romance novels (Dorchester; Penguin USA), for which she was nominated for or won many awards. Many of these previously out of print classics are available again today as digitally reissued classics, including the author's most recently re-released and much beloved novels in The Wyckerley Trilogy.
In 1999, she went in a new direction with her hardcover fiction debut, The Saving Graces (HarperCollins). A contemporary story about four women friends, the novel explored issues of love, friendship, trust, and commitment among women. The Saving Graces enjoyed bestseller status on the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and other lists.
Circle of Three (2000), Flight Lessons (2002), and The Goodbye Summer (2004) followed, all national bestsellers. Gaffney’s most recent novel was Mad Dash (2007), a humorous but insightful look at a 20-year marriage, told from the viewpoints of both longsuffering spouses.
More recently, Pat's been indulging her purely creative side in a brand new format for her -- novellas. With friends including J. D. Robb, she has contributed stories to three anthologies, all New York Times bestsellers. In "The Dog Days of Laurie Summer" (The Lost, 2009), a woman in a troubled marriage "dies" and comes back as the family dog. "The Dancing Ghost" (The Other Side, 2010) brings together a pretty spinster and a shady ghost buster in 1895 New England. And in "Dear One" (The Unquiet, 2011), a fake phone psychic (or IS she?) meets her match in a stuffy Capitol Hill lobbyist -- who couldn't possibly be that sexy-voiced cowboy from Medicine Bend who keeps calling the psychic line.
Patricia Gaffney lives in southern Pennsylvania with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 20, 2016
Discovering Patricia Gaffney's books has been one of the highlights of my reading year, and I don't hesitate to say that she's become one of my very favorite historical romance authors, so it's sad to have to say that this one just didn't work for me. The second half in particular had me tearing my hair out!
The story started out well, with a premise inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's film Notorious, and a good dose of sex, angst, and intrigue. Then about halfway through, the wheels came off. Time after time the hero and heroine encountered Big Misunderstandings, usually when one or the other was manipulated by an outsider with an obvious agenda, and instead of talking about things they would jump to the worst possible conclusion. Or they would lie to each other and hide things from each other, and even though there were ostensibly reasons for their behavior, it just drove me nuts. For two supposedly intelligent people, they acted like nitwits a lot of the time.
Then there were the bad guys, who telegraphed their badness from a mile away. Especially painful was the sadistic gay villain who wore dandyish pastel waistcoats, hated women, and enjoyed hurting people. Shades of Black Jack Randall. What's with these old HRs and sadistic gay villains? Sigh.
I don't know. Somehow it's even worse when an author you know can do better writes something that's disappointing. I adore Gaffney's voice and writing style, and the kinds of character-driven, emotionally rich stories she tells are right up my alley. Not this one, though. Oh well, you can't win them all.
2.5 stars
The story started out well, with a premise inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's film Notorious, and a good dose of sex, angst, and intrigue. Then about halfway through, the wheels came off. Time after time the hero and heroine encountered Big Misunderstandings, usually when one or the other was manipulated by an outsider with an obvious agenda, and instead of talking about things they would jump to the worst possible conclusion. Or they would lie to each other and hide things from each other, and even though there were ostensibly reasons for their behavior, it just drove me nuts. For two supposedly intelligent people, they acted like nitwits a lot of the time.
Then there were the bad guys, who telegraphed their badness from a mile away. Especially painful was the sadistic gay villain who wore dandyish pastel waistcoats, hated women, and enjoyed hurting people. Shades of Black Jack Randall. What's with these old HRs and sadistic gay villains? Sigh.
I don't know. Somehow it's even worse when an author you know can do better writes something that's disappointing. I adore Gaffney's voice and writing style, and the kinds of character-driven, emotionally rich stories she tells are right up my alley. Not this one, though. Oh well, you can't win them all.
2.5 stars
December 6, 2012
3.5 stars, really.
Didn't leave me with a "Oooh, I loved it" feeling, but it was a pleasant read, over all. For some reason, I enjoyed the beginning, even the middle, but the end seemed to lose steam, and my interest waned. Perhaps because it didn't really feel like a typical Bodice Ripper (and I was expecting it to be, as it's my preferred branch in the Romance department) but instead it felt more like a Historical Romance.
Didn't leave me with a "Oooh, I loved it" feeling, but it was a pleasant read, over all. For some reason, I enjoyed the beginning, even the middle, but the end seemed to lose steam, and my interest waned. Perhaps because it didn't really feel like a typical Bodice Ripper (and I was expecting it to be, as it's my preferred branch in the Romance department) but instead it felt more like a Historical Romance.
December 5, 2012
I recently re-read this romance, because it was one of my MIA that I had forgotten the title/author and thankfully I recognized the cover! :)
Honestly, I thought Cass's entire family had given up on her. She's almost like, society let her down. Nobody really ever gave a damn about her, and considered her the jade, even from her earliest years. It wasn't that the author insisted we sympathize, or the violins started up, but it's the fact she didn't intend for it, that influenced my commiseration. It seemed she was the loneliest person in the world!
Even Riordan, whilst I did like him just fine, I thought the intellectual spinster he had strung along for years, was a better match for him.
Now, I realize you're supposed to be more suited with someone who intellectually challenges you, and I agree wholeheartedly, but I felt like the hero, with him constantly assigning her reading material, was pointing out their flawed makeup, or compatibility. Hey, if the author's going to go down that road, I'm jus' saying... the other girl he jilted for Cass, WAS intellectually compatible! If Riordan was daring to point out his cookie cutter match, I'd like to make it apparent, he went chasing tail, and didn't likely deserve the spinster chick. I wanna hear her story! :D
Oh well, it worked in the end. Liked it. Recommend it. :)
Honestly, I thought Cass's entire family had given up on her. She's almost like, society let her down. Nobody really ever gave a damn about her, and considered her the jade, even from her earliest years. It wasn't that the author insisted we sympathize, or the violins started up, but it's the fact she didn't intend for it, that influenced my commiseration. It seemed she was the loneliest person in the world!
Even Riordan, whilst I did like him just fine, I thought the intellectual spinster he had strung along for years, was a better match for him.
Now, I realize you're supposed to be more suited with someone who intellectually challenges you, and I agree wholeheartedly, but I felt like the hero, with him constantly assigning her reading material, was pointing out their flawed makeup, or compatibility. Hey, if the author's going to go down that road, I'm jus' saying... the other girl he jilted for Cass, WAS intellectually compatible! If Riordan was daring to point out his cookie cutter match, I'd like to make it apparent, he went chasing tail, and didn't likely deserve the spinster chick. I wanna hear her story! :D
Oh well, it worked in the end. Liked it. Recommend it. :)
Read
February 1, 2022Cassandra's father was executed as a traitor, so now she's friendless in London with no prospects, despite being a great beauty. One day a man offers her a lifeline: spy on a potential traitor for the British Crown, and he'll give her a bag of money and help her relocate.
Her partner in this operation is Philip Riordan, a politician and fellow spy. Philip becomes obsessed with Cass, and he starts to have second thoughts about using her to bait the villain.
This was so fun and unique, I was loving it until the villain reveal. The violent, sadistic villain is gay. Not only is his sexuality the reason he's not attracted to Cass, but it's the reason that he wants to hurt her during sexual activity. The harm of this is just... it's just not something I can sit with easily.
Her partner in this operation is Philip Riordan, a politician and fellow spy. Philip becomes obsessed with Cass, and he starts to have second thoughts about using her to bait the villain.
This was so fun and unique, I was loving it until the villain reveal. The violent, sadistic villain is gay. Not only is his sexuality the reason he's not attracted to Cass, but it's the reason that he wants to hurt her during sexual activity. The harm of this is just... it's just not something I can sit with easily.
November 18, 2022
This one ended up being a lot more enjoyable than what I expected, even including the slightly silly scenes and one detail I found didn't age well.
But it was quite an adventure and the main characters were appealing, even though -as usual! - a lot could have been avoided if they had had more conversations and less assumptions.
But it was quite an adventure and the main characters were appealing, even though -as usual! - a lot could have been avoided if they had had more conversations and less assumptions.
Read
January 26, 2017DNF @20%
March 29, 2012
Fortune's Lady started with promise and then meandered. I liked Cass and I was quite sympathetic to her plight. Riordan seemed alright, but it didn't seem as if his character was fully developed. I disliked all the other characters. In fact, I despised some characters.
I do like Patricia Gaffney's writing. There is such an ease in falling into the book. Unfortunately, I found the latter half of the book less enjoyable than the first bit.
I do like Patricia Gaffney's writing. There is such an ease in falling into the book. Unfortunately, I found the latter half of the book less enjoyable than the first bit.
December 24, 2016
The poor heroine is being used by people on all sides. With so little agency, the heroine's journey was a bit depressing to follow, as plucky as she is. I did like the romance. The plot was not that compelling to me, and the reveal of the cruel villain as being gay to boot? Sheesh. That dated this book.
March 18, 2014
I enjoyed the beginning of the book. After Cass and Riodan get married, the conflict between them could have been resolved with an honest conversation. I skipped a lot of the middle of the book because of that. It just didn't do it for me.
July 8, 2017
I'm sorry but Fortune's Lady is weird.
June 29, 2025
A good read. Both the H and h appeared lovely to me. If only their characters could be of more depth.
And the background of the story is set against politics and public debate in England during the period of French revolution. It tells a vivid and appealing story about various struggles within a person in regards to personal beliefs, principles and feelings.
Overall, this work of Ms. Gaffney, while not as elegant or sophisticated as To Have and to Hold, is still vary heartening and romantic.
And the background of the story is set against politics and public debate in England during the period of French revolution. It tells a vivid and appealing story about various struggles within a person in regards to personal beliefs, principles and feelings.
Overall, this work of Ms. Gaffney, while not as elegant or sophisticated as To Have and to Hold, is still vary heartening and romantic.
no-never
May 14, 2022the villain is revealed to be gay and that's why he's is sexually violent to her 😍
October 3, 2025
Liked this more than I expected but what a roller coaster. I do wish mc’s wouldn’t have let themselves be manipulated so much.
October 15, 2013
While I don’t completely understand why this historical romance is titled “Fortune’s Lady,” it is clearly a wonderful read. Patricia Gaffney is gifted with words.
“Fortune’s Lady” has elements of a spy novel woven into the romance. The passion that Cassandra and Philip share is nicely done. The tenderness is there, too. Cassandra and Philip find something in each other that they’ve never had before. As she comes out of her shell and comes into her own, he is pleasantly surprised and finds more about her to love.
There is plenty of angst for the star-crossed lovers to wade through. Plots of assassinations to uncover to protect the British crown. And a misguided saboteur who clearly has never been in love.
I’m already looking forward to my next Patricia Gaffney novel!
“Fortune’s Lady” has elements of a spy novel woven into the romance. The passion that Cassandra and Philip share is nicely done. The tenderness is there, too. Cassandra and Philip find something in each other that they’ve never had before. As she comes out of her shell and comes into her own, he is pleasantly surprised and finds more about her to love.
There is plenty of angst for the star-crossed lovers to wade through. Plots of assassinations to uncover to protect the British crown. And a misguided saboteur who clearly has never been in love.
I’m already looking forward to my next Patricia Gaffney novel!
June 8, 2016
Fortune may raise up or abuse the ordinary mortal, but the sage and the soldier should have minds beyond her control.
Sir Walter Scott
I enjoyed reading Fortune’s Lady immensely and the seizing nature of the characters. I have always said a good book is one that you always make time to read, but a great book is one that makes you experience the characters emotive and can’t put down.
If you are interested in reading the complete review and other reviews from my 2016 Goodreads Book Challenge go to http://sensoryperceptionsbc.blogspot..... Also please check out Sensory Perception Book Club’s latest reading.
Sincerely,
Misha
Sir Walter Scott
I enjoyed reading Fortune’s Lady immensely and the seizing nature of the characters. I have always said a good book is one that you always make time to read, but a great book is one that makes you experience the characters emotive and can’t put down.
If you are interested in reading the complete review and other reviews from my 2016 Goodreads Book Challenge go to http://sensoryperceptionsbc.blogspot..... Also please check out Sensory Perception Book Club’s latest reading.
Sincerely,
Misha
Want to read
August 26, 2009have
September 23, 2013
Enjoyed this one. Interesting characterizations and plot strategies.
August 12, 2014
3.5. DNF Not a bad story at all... Just lost interest at the 63% point and couldn't pull myself back to it.
October 20, 2014
Sorry... can't get past the writing style.
It's a non stop adjective fest.
It's a non stop adjective fest.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews