Fortune Favors the Wicked

by Theresa Romain

The newest Romain, though not about horse racing, involves a treasure hunt, a former courtesan, and a blind hero who does not magically become not-blind by the end of the book.

A chest of gold coins has been stolen from the Royal Mint, and a large reward has been offered for their return. Charlotte Perry is in her hometown to find them (she needs the money to start a new life for herself that does not include being a courtesan).

Benedict Frost is in the same town for the same reason, but HE needs the money to self-publish his memoirs. He would rather be traditionally published, but all of the publishers won’t touch it as a memoir because he has done some ridiculous stuff in his life, and no one will believe he really did because he’s blind, and OBVIOUSLY other people did all the stuff while he wrote things while wrapped in a blankie sipping tea.  So he’s forced into self-pub, but self-pub requires capital and capital is hard to come by so when the Treasury is like ”help us find our gold coins!” Benedict is ON IT.  Naturally he and Charlotte met and sparks fly.

What I found the most interesting about this book was how the blind hero was written. He hadn’t always been blind – he was struck by a disease while he was in the Navy – and the narrative describes with abundant detail how he moves through a world he can’t see, but he still perceives. And I really appreciated that she doesn’t magically cure him of his blindness. Love doesn’t cure all things, and this is a part of who he is now.

Charlotte is a well-drawn take on what brings a person to leave her small village and become a courtesan in London, and what causes her to leave that life, and all of the messiness that her choices have caused.  I literally don’t want to say anything else because spoilers.

This was a fun adventure story, with a HELL of a cover.  Seriously, look at it, it’s GORGEOUS.

– Redheadedgirl

INDECENTLY LUCKY

As a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, Benedict Frost had the respect of every man on board—and the adoration of the women in every port. When injury ends his naval career, the silver-tongued libertine can hardly stomach the boredom. Not after everything—and everyone—he’s experienced. Good thing a new adventure has just fallen into his lap…

When courtesan Charlotte Perry learns the Royal Mint is offering a reward for finding a cache of stolen gold coins, she seizes the chance to build a new life for herself. As the treasure hunt begins, she realizes her tenacity is matched only by Benedict’s—and that sometimes adversaries can make the best allies. But when the search for treasure becomes a discovery of pleasure, they’ll be forced to decide if they can sacrifice the lives they’ve always dreamed of for a love they’ve never known…