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Love is the ultimate gamble...
Seasoned gambler Philip Drake knows every trick and u...
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reviews
Dec 27, 2011
Emery
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AUTHOR'S COMMENTARY:
Passion, drama and excitement fill the pages of my follow-up to THE HIGHEST STAKES. Set deep in the world of 18th century gaming, FORTUNE'S SON immerses the reader in a time and place where nothing is sacred and virtually anything might be wagered on the turn of a card, or a roll of the dice.
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http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewboo...
TOP PICK by NIGHT OWL REVIEWS:
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Revie...
AUTHOR'S COMMENTARY:
Passion, drama and excitement fill the pages of my follow-up to THE HIGHEST STAKES. Set deep in the world of 18th century gaming, FORTUNE'S SON immerses the reader in a time and place where nothing is sacred and virtually anything might be wagered on the turn of a card, or a roll of the dice.
More...
5 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Sep 30, 2011
TJ
rated it:
Wow! Emery Lee slammed this one - aced it, won it, wrapped it up and gifted it!!
As an editor over the historical dept. of a women's literary magazine (Affaire de Coeur ) I read an average 8-12 HRs every month. Seldom do I see one so rich, intelligent and intensely absorbing as "Fortune's Son". Ms. Lee has crafted a story that is so beautiful and so emotionally powerful, it is sometimes hard to read. It is romance that rises far above the average, with history that is so More...
As an editor over the historical dept. of a women's literary magazine (Affaire de Coeur ) I read an average 8-12 HRs every month. Seldom do I see one so rich, intelligent and intensely absorbing as "Fortune's Son". Ms. Lee has crafted a story that is so beautiful and so emotionally powerful, it is sometimes hard to read. It is romance that rises far above the average, with history that is so More...
12 comments
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(15 people liked it)
Dec 19, 2011
UniquelyMoi *~*Dhestiny*~*
rated it: 
Emery Lee is one of the few authors who can write historical fiction and make it come to life, sweeping us away to another time and place! Through her authentic period dialog and beautiful, vivid descriptions of Georgian era clothing, customs, and the day to day life of both those who have and those who have not, Ms. Lee pulls us into the story and makes us believe we’re right there, living it all, and not just reading about it.
Fortune’s Son, the sequel to The Highest Stak More...
6 comments
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(10 people liked it)
Oct 28, 2011
Rane
rated it:
Emery Lee has a way with making history come alive, while adding a strong element of romance that span years through heartbreak trials and errors and in the end forgiveness and love stronger then ever.
Luck never made a man wise. ~Seneca, Letters to Lucilius
Philip Drake a titled peer, but now impoverished, gambles with chance and dances with lady luck at the tables at night to win his fortune and free him from his father's grasp. His life changes wh More...
4 comments
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(11 people liked it)
Nov 07, 2011
Jill
rated it:
4.5 stars
"I refuse to be placed under any man's dominion again. Who, now, must I truly please but myself?"
For Susannah, Lady Messingham her unfulfilling and unhappy ten year marriage to a much older man, is finally over, wanting now to be able to choose the life she wants to live. However, there is a small problem. Not only has she been left virtually penniless, but with a household to maintain, her debts are accruing. How can a lady in 18th century England acqu More...
"I refuse to be placed under any man's dominion again. Who, now, must I truly please but myself?"
For Susannah, Lady Messingham her unfulfilling and unhappy ten year marriage to a much older man, is finally over, wanting now to be able to choose the life she wants to live. However, there is a small problem. Not only has she been left virtually penniless, but with a household to maintain, her debts are accruing. How can a lady in 18th century England acqu More...
10 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Oct 01, 2011
Marmar
rated it:
I had the immense pleasure of receiving an advance, unedited copy of this book. This is truly a wonderful story. It has everything, upper class wealth vs. lower class, romance, debauchery, gambling, duels and revenge........ throughout the story, the love between Phillip and Susannah (Sukey) is evident to everyone but, themselves. They are utterly besotted with one another. Though torn apart time and again, they always find their way back to one another.
Very well written book. The c More...
Very well written book. The c More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Feb 03, 2012
Ava
rated it:
Just purchased Fortune's Son for my kindle....can't wait to start reading!!!!!!
This book was just too good to just breeze thru... You know the type ladies.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters! Good, better, best, bad worse evil... it's got it all. Including the involved gaming that takes place...how our Emery Lee did it, she surpassed any other author that I have read. You come away with almost being able to play the games!
...and what games More...
This book was just too good to just breeze thru... You know the type ladies.
I absolutely fell in love with the characters! Good, better, best, bad worse evil... it's got it all. Including the involved gaming that takes place...how our Emery Lee did it, she surpassed any other author that I have read. You come away with almost being able to play the games!
...and what games More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 17, 2011
Linda
rated it:
Emery Lee's Georgian romance, FORTUNE'S SON, is a fascinating, fast-paced tale of power used and abused, opulence and desperation set in the London world of high-stakes gaming.
Life among the rich, powerful and famous in Georgian London is not as wonderful as you might think. Ask young Philip, estranged second son of an earl, who lives hand-to-mouth by gaming. And ask Susannah, knight's widow, left a small jointure and quickly running out of money. When these two impulsive people, both More...
Life among the rich, powerful and famous in Georgian London is not as wonderful as you might think. Ask young Philip, estranged second son of an earl, who lives hand-to-mouth by gaming. And ask Susannah, knight's widow, left a small jointure and quickly running out of money. When these two impulsive people, both More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 25, 2011
Laura
rated it: 
In the spring of 2010 I had the pleasure of reading The Highest Stakes, a delightful equestrian-themed novel by Emery Lee. I was also honored when she offered the very first guest post for my blog, The Calico Critic. When I heard she’d published another novel and was given the opportunity to review it, I jumped at the chance.
While my reading interest in recent years has heavily favored novels with romantic themes, I try to stay away from cheap, tawdry “bodice rippers”, as I term th More...
While my reading interest in recent years has heavily favored novels with romantic themes, I try to stay away from cheap, tawdry “bodice rippers”, as I term th More...
Nov 09, 2011
SOS
rated it:
Publishers have oversaturated the historical market with Regency Romances and Scottish medievals. Emery Lee offers something different - a Georgian romance with a widowed heroine that modern readers can root for in FORTUNE'S SON. Determined to overcome her mounting debts, Susannah Messingham recruits Phillip Drake to teach her how to win at gambling. It's a risk both take with their merger assets and their own hearts. FORTUNE'S SON delivers an engrossing story of how a passionate love can
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Oct 25, 2011
Patty
rated it:
Philip Drake is a man who lives by the skin of his teeth. A handsome devil he is a second son of an earl who cares not a whit for his family, the title or his father's money. Not if it means kowtowing to a man he despises. Young, brash and quick witted he makes his way in the world as a gamester. While out at the tables one night he meets the oh so beautiful Lady Messingham, a widow with many a secret she cares not to share. She sees a potential partner in young Drake; not a lover but rather a m
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0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 03, 2011
Maggi
rated it:
Philip Drake, an impoverished but titled gentleman, is forced to liquidate his assets and go back to his past gaming habits in an effort to right himself. Lady Susannah Messingham is a woman with a past and nearly ten years Philip's senior. After watching him at the tables, she propositions him to teach her to win at gaming. This fascinating and original look at an uncharted aspect of English life explores a gentleman snared by gambling, the threat of debtor's prison, and the wayward lady who re
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0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 04, 2011
Michele
rated it:
FORTUNE’S SON is a great title for a book. At least I thought so when I used that title for my own book. Now there is another FORTUNE’S SON out there by another author, Emery Lee.
Even a casual reader can usually tell whether or not a work of historical fiction is well researched. With FORTUNE’S SON by Emery Lee, there is no doubt. It is obvious that she has fully immersed herself in the Georgian period. Even her writing style reflects that period. She must eat, live, and breathe thi More...
Even a casual reader can usually tell whether or not a work of historical fiction is well researched. With FORTUNE’S SON by Emery Lee, there is no doubt. It is obvious that she has fully immersed herself in the Georgian period. Even her writing style reflects that period. She must eat, live, and breathe thi More...
Jan 31, 2012
Beanbag
rated it:
Emery Lee is a very good writer and, while this is most definitely a romance, it's not your typical historical romance. Don't look for Kleypas or McNaught or even Beverley in this story. IMO, Lee's writing is a cross between Georgette Heyer and Diana Gabaldon. At once unique and recognizable, and a nice change of pace from the typical.
I did have some issues with the actual story, although I never wanted to stop reading it. I always wanted to get back to it when life got in the way of More...
I did have some issues with the actual story, although I never wanted to stop reading it. I always wanted to get back to it when life got in the way of More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 06, 2011
Lucinda
rated it:
This was my first book by Emery Lee and it won't be my last. Lee's style is reminiscent of the novelist Julia Ross, whose Georgian Historical Romances I treasure. FORTUNE'S SON is historical fiction at its best, with strong likeable characters in Philip and Susannah, and secondary characters that add depth and interest, more so because many actually lived. It is a skilled historical writer who can breathe life back into real people, and Lee does so effortlessly. The story is steeped in Georgian
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Feb 15, 2012
Amy
rated it:
I'm sure that many readers have enjoyed Miss Lee's trek through 18th Century English history but I personally feel that it just didn't rate up there for me as a historical romance. Had it given us more romance, a feeling that Susannah really was willing to give herself over completely to Philip and perhaps just a bit more conflict between them with resolve in the aftermath, the historical documentation would have been a bonus instead of the star.
If you are looking for a mild romance fi More...
If you are looking for a mild romance fi More...
Nov 08, 2011
Christy
rated it:
If I recall from The Highest Stakes, Philip Drake was a bit of a bastard, but I remember feeling sorry for him. Fortune's Son tells his story, which immediately intrigued me.
The book starts in 1751, but quickly segways back 12 years, where we stay for the first two parts of the book. At 20 years old, Drake is an experienced card player who catches the eye of Susannah, Lady Messinhman, eight years his senior and a widow. She expresses interest in learning to play cards, a reason she More...
The book starts in 1751, but quickly segways back 12 years, where we stay for the first two parts of the book. At 20 years old, Drake is an experienced card player who catches the eye of Susannah, Lady Messinhman, eight years his senior and a widow. She expresses interest in learning to play cards, a reason she More...
Oct 24, 2011
April
rated it:
FORTUNE'S SON by Emery Lee is an exciting historical romance set in 1739 - 1751 Georgain England.It is the next installment to "HIGHEST STAKES" and is the story of Philip Drake and Susannah,Lady Messingham, who where secondary characters in the previous book,but played a very important in that story. "Fortune's Son" has romance,betrayal,love,high stakes,secrets,gambling,sacrifice,redemption,a bit of carelessness,forgiveness and a bit of sensuality.Philip,after years of gamb
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Dec 06, 2011
Deborah
rated it:
If more historical fiction were written like this, I'd be reading more of it!
Intelligent, elegant, and intimate in characterization, Emery Lee has delivered yet another exhilarating book in her historical fiction series, making a name for herself in the ranks of those who write the best historical novels in the business. Gambling, horse racing, poverty, prison and passion~ want more?
"Fortune’s Son" is rich in authentic Georgian detail that brings the More...
Intelligent, elegant, and intimate in characterization, Emery Lee has delivered yet another exhilarating book in her historical fiction series, making a name for herself in the ranks of those who write the best historical novels in the business. Gambling, horse racing, poverty, prison and passion~ want more?
"Fortune’s Son" is rich in authentic Georgian detail that brings the More...
Nov 03, 2011
Jerelyn
rated it:
I think it is important to first point this out Romantic Historical Fiction, is not a mistake, it is a deliberate choice to categorize a sub-genre of historical fiction. Historical Romance is much too broad a brush. Emery Lee is an author who writes historical fiction with an emphasis on romance. While her stories are relationship driven don’t be fooled by the covers, there is serious research and substantial scholarship behind her writing. Lee’s talent is how she takes you into the decadent,
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7 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Aug 22, 2011
Gaile
rated it:
MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! This book reeks of it, the possession or non-possession of it, the greed for it,
the compulsion that makes people gamble for it and the unfair laws 0f the 18th century against people who fall into debt.
Newly widowed Susannah Lady Messingham meets Philip Drake, younger son of the harsh Earl Of Hastings and persuades him to teach her how to win at tables. Thus they embark on a tumultuous relationship.
For readers who may not understand gambling terminology this bo More...
the compulsion that makes people gamble for it and the unfair laws 0f the 18th century against people who fall into debt.
Newly widowed Susannah Lady Messingham meets Philip Drake, younger son of the harsh Earl Of Hastings and persuades him to teach her how to win at tables. Thus they embark on a tumultuous relationship.
For readers who may not understand gambling terminology this bo More...
Dec 01, 2011
Angelc
rated it:
This story was a nice change of pace from the typical historical romance. It definitely didn't follow the same formula as most romances. For that reason, it was a refreshing read.
On the same note, I was a little frustrated that so much of the story revolved around the gambling instead of the romance. This was especially true at the beginning. I found myself a little bored of all the explanations of how to win at cards and other games. But once the romance finally kicked off, I was de More...
On the same note, I was a little frustrated that so much of the story revolved around the gambling instead of the romance. This was especially true at the beginning. I found myself a little bored of all the explanations of how to win at cards and other games. But once the romance finally kicked off, I was de More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Oct 25, 2011
Misfit
rated it:
Fortune's Son is a follow-up to Lee's first novel, The Highest Stakes. The prologue begins with the ramifications to Philip Drake after his high stakes wager with you-know-who at the end of the first book, and then back tracks to Philip at age twenty, a wastrel second son of the Earl of Hastings. His luck with the dice fail him one night and facing exposure for...umm...improving his odds he's saved in the nick of time by Susannah, Lady Messingham. Susannah (Sukey) is recently widowed and short o
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23 comments
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(10 people liked it)
Dec 19, 2011
Pam
rated it:
Emery Lee brings Georgian England to life in her recent release Fortune’s Son. With its cast of colorful characters and a love story rife with twists and turns, this meticulously researched book is a captivating from start to finish. Not your typical beach read, it accompanied me everywhere I went on a recent cruise vacation: poolside, afternoon tea, even to the beach in Cozumel. I simply couldn’t put it down. It’s that good.
After you finish this one, you will want to go back and rea More...
After you finish this one, you will want to go back and rea More...
Sep 05, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
With so many who recapped and will recap the book I'm choosing not to do this instead I'll tell you what I thought. Although I still enjoyed this book immensely it wasn't a book that pulled me in and I was so inthralled I couldn't put it down. There is such a big difference with giving a book a 3 or 4 star which is why I chose 4 star. Essence for me this book is more like a 3.7 star.
Jan 11, 2012
Seriously
rated it:
ROCK ON!!!! WOW. Okay, so I am having a bit of trouble finding the right words to tell you how much I enjoyed this one :)
Amazing story and charaters all tied up in a breathtaking story that knocked my socks off. Fast paced and entertaining, this story will be with me for a long time to come :) Stand back ladies....I think I just found a new must read author :)
Amazing story and charaters all tied up in a breathtaking story that knocked my socks off. Fast paced and entertaining, this story will be with me for a long time to come :) Stand back ladies....I think I just found a new must read author :)
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 30, 2011
Growlycub
rated it: 
What a hot mess of a book. Basically a 'see how much research I've done' story loosely connected by a helter-skelter relationship with too many impossible twists thrown in. The language goes from archaic to modern, sometimes within the same sentence. For a 'plot' synopsis, see my tweets on Nov 30th and Dec 1st 2011 (@GrowlyCub).
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 25, 2012
Christina
rated it:
This book was so interesting. I have never gambled in my life, but this had me rivted to each page. Imagine having so few choices in your life that gambling for a living was your best option to maintain your freedom. Emery has created a fascinating book with characters who you want to overcome their dire circumstances and triumph. I won this book through GoodReads. Thank you for sending me a copy.
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 03, 2011
Christy
rated it:
Emery Lee tells an engaging story of the rogueish Philip Drake and his beloved, Susannah. Set in Georgian spelendor, FORTUNE'S SON is a novel of love and lust, wealth and penury, a tale of true love lost, and of true loved redeemed. A wonderful trip into the lost world of Georgian England.
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 26, 2012
Jenny
rated it:
ok.....this book was good. It was well written. But for my personal preference there was no steam in it. They sincerly loved each other, but she just brushed off the romance part I think. And then it is 75% thru the book and it skips 12 years!! WHAT??
Overall a good book, but not steamy enough for me.
Overall a good book, but not steamy enough for me.
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
