All’s fair in love and real estate…

They’re practically strangers. But for Max Fortune Maloney to get his house bid accepted, he has to convince his agent, Eliza Henry, to pretend they’re wildly in love and heading for the altar.

Eliza needs the deal to advance her career, but she fears jeopardizing her reputation almost as much as she fears falling for the sweet-talking cowboy. Her heart, she warns him, is not for sale!

Titles in The Fortunes of Texas: Hitting the Jackpot continuity series include —  A Fortune’s Windfall by Michelle Major —♥— Fortune’s Dream House by Nina Crespo —♥— Winning Her Fortune by Heatherly Bell —♥— Fortune’s Fatherhood Dare by Makenna Lee —♥— Fortune’s Runaway Bride by Allison Leigh —♥— Self-Made Fortune by Judy Duarte —♥—

This is an adult 18+ story that may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult audience.

Title:  Fortune’s Dream House
Series:  The Fortunes of Texas: Hitting the Jackpot #2
Author:  Nina Crespo
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  January 24, 2023
Publisher:  Harlequin Special Edition
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Fortune’s Dream House is the second title in the continuity series, The Fortunes of Texas: Hitting the Jackpot.  We met Max in the first story, where he was very impatient about getting his portion of the unexpected inheritance from an unknown grandfather.  Not much has changed about the impatience since Max has gone looking at several houses, even going as far as putting in an offer only to have to rescind that when the money still hadn’t hit his bank account just yet.  He’s not being greedy, he simply wants to find his forever home, but his real estate agent is starting to pull back from showing him houses when it appears that he just can’t make up his mind.

Eliza likes Max and wants to help him find that perfect home… and it wouldn’t hurt her career one little bit to make that final sale, but his inability to stick to a decision is wearing on her nerves more than a little bit.  She’s about to stop showing him houses when he convinces her to go to just one more, and that is where life is about to take a huge turn for them both.  The owners of this home (well, the husband) have some quirky requirements about the people they are willing to sell to, mainly that it be a couple, in love, with thoughts about a future family strong in their plans.  It’s not that they’re being unreasonable, but this older couple has found happiness here, and the husband might be dragging his feet a bit, but his wife has a solution for Max… a tad unusual, but a possible way to convince her husband to sell to him.  Pretend to be madly in love, at least until the closing papers are signed.

I loved this couple so much, especially Max.  Their “courtship” in front of this couple (who seem to show up just about everywhere) is adorable, but also Eliza and Max are starting to see the truth behind the pretend as their attraction grows into more than either expected.  There are, of course, a few complications, yet watching them take their working relationship deeper into the forever possibilities was a delightful, emotional journey that I completely enjoyed.  I had fun with this story and have some ideas on the series-long mystery as well (but those are my thoughts; I won’t spoil that for anyone else).

If you love an unexpected romance with lots of laughter, bantering, and moving past the pretend stage-styled romance, then Eliza and Max will bring all that and more to life for you.  Fortune’s Dream House is a well-written, engaging, fun, romantic adventure – one you won’t want to miss.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader