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There are currently 25 member reviews
for The Fortune Hunter
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Kay K. (Oshkosh, WI)
Sometimes True Love Prevails
At first I thought the premise of this book was not a feasible one. It was pretty slow in the beginning so I didn't think I was going to like it. Then in the author notes I found that the characters were based on real people and real events. That made the story more interesting, as a study into the character of the Empress of Austria (Sisi), and English Society just before World War 1. As a young orphaned heiress, Charlotte represents the changing role of women. She is not rebellious, but she is not going to let old traditions dictate her life. She knows her own mind and I enjoyed learning about her. The young officer, Bay, is torn between two paths with two very different women and circumstances. And in the end Love prevails, which is always nice!
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Freya H. (Phoenix, AZ)
The Fortune Hunter
This was a pleasant enough book, a fast read with a predictable but satisfying ending. Not something I would recommend to Book Clubs for I fear there would be little, if anything, to discuss.
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Molinda C. (Suffolk, VA)
Average period romance
The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin is a highly readable Victorian era novel about a romance triangle. It centers on the Empress of Austria, the infamous Sisi, the Fortune Hunter of the title, Bay Middleton, and a young English heiress, Charlotte. Ms. Goodwin does an admirable job of introducing details of Empress Cici's struggles against fame an notoriety as she searches for happiness in an unforgiving and judgmental world. She is unfortunately not a sympathetic enough creature and I spent much of the book rooting against her. Unfortunately, it was difficult to root for star crossed lovers as I tire of books that represent woman as either grasping and conniving (Sisi) or insipid and weak willed in the face of the man they love (Charlotte) and the man who needs their forgiveness to be redeemed (Bay). It ends well if predictably. Great mindless beach reading for the summer.
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Portia A. (Mount Laurel, NJ)
Beautiful Cover
Although loosely based on fact, this story contains every cliche you can imagine..fortune hunter, poor little rich girl, seductrice, loyal friends, buffoons and even a monkey. As I read I felt that I had read this book in a dozen different incarnations. It is not a bad book if you are a true romantic or a 15 year old girl...I am neither.
