Book Review

Reckless Fortune
by M.M. Crane

This is the sequel to Bold Fortune and is thus another delightful romance set in ultra-rural Alaska. Bowie Fortune runs a bush pilot business from his remote cabin on Lost Lake. In response to a dare from his younger sister, he agrees to participate in a local mail-order bride publicity stunt. Autumn McCall, who has been taking care of her family on their Montana ranch since her mother died, signs up for the Alaskan mail-order bride contest with the intent to win. Despite the fact that the contest is using the mail-order bride aspect strictly as a framing device and no romance or intimacy is implied or intended, Bowie and Autumn are intensely attracted to each other. When an accident leaves them stranded in the wilderness together, the fire of their attraction turns into something deeper.
I loved this romance. It took its time getting started, but once Bowie and Autumn got together, it was wonderful. They were such good characters. Bowie is a little roguish, with a devil-may-care attitude layered over deep love for his home and his family. Autumn is a smart, practical, resilient woman who can handle most anything. They were also great as a couple - they got each other and complemented each other really well. The story also has some really good themes of shedding old roles that no longer fit. Plus a lot of beautifully emotional moments.