I hate to say this, but I have mixed feelings about this book. Let me explain. I genuinely had a hard time connecting with the main characters. I didn't feel the attraction between them when I started reading the book. And it didn't get better until we were halfway done. I just wish there was more chemistry between them. They seem more like friends or buddies than being a couple. It just wasn't it.

Having enjoyed Bold Fortune, the first book in M.M. Crane’s Alaska-set Fortunes of Lost Lake series, I was looking forward to reading more about the Fortune family and Bowie’s story Reckless Fortune does not disappoint! Combining a pioneering reality show, a mail-order ‘bride’, and adventure in the Alaskan wilderness with witty banter and a sexy romance makes for a very entertaining read.

Bowie Fortune is a bush plane pilot whose entire family lives out in Lost Lake, Alaska. It’s an isolated place where the extreme cold of winter would make anyone think twice about living there, and yet his family has thrived. He loves his risky job, flying in and out of isolated places that would make even seasoned pilots blanch. But being dared by his sister to take part in a publicity stunt/contest that entails pretending to be married, pioneer style for an Alaskan summer, all for a little prize money (and to whip up tourist interest in the Alaskan interior) might have been a mistake. Because when he meets his ‘bride-to-be’, a woman with killer curves who could have been the star of any of his fantasies, he can’t shake the premonition that he’s gotten himself into deep, deep trouble.

Autumn McCall is ready to leave her protective father, stepmother, and three blonde, willowy, beautiful sisters and their ranch in Montana. She’s used to being invisible next to her much prettier sisters. Since her mother passed away when she was twelve, she’s been the one to take care of everyone and now she wants to do something for herself, to be herself, away from all the people who know her. But she’s dismayed to discover just how attractive Bowie is in person, and she misinterprets his arrested expression at seeing her in person as disappointment that she doesn’t look like her sisters.

Autumn tells Bowie she wants to win the contest so that she can take the money and go on a tropical holiday. But the truth is that she needs $5000 (half of the prize money for the winning couple) to reclaim her mother’s jewelry that her father (unbeknownst to everyone but her) had pawned in order to have extra money for his daughters’ clothing for his second wedding. So, she’s going to pretend to be a hard-hearted reality show contestant and try to ignore the dismayingly attractive man she has to work with, who’s only doing it on a dare. No romance, no sex, she tells Bowie up front and matter-of-factly, in case he has other ideas. But as they spend time together, things get complicated and their attraction to each other leads to some loosening of boundaries. At the end of the summer, will what they’ve built be enough to keep them together?

As in Bold Fortune, the wild frontier of Alaska gets center stage. Autumn is fortunate to be visiting in the summer, a time appreciated greatly by all the inhabitants, with long summer hours and warmer temperatures. But it doesn’t make it any less dangerous in some respects and there are some scenes in the story that bring this to the forefront. I love the descriptions of the land and the people who reside there. The small town of Hopeless, nearby to Lost Lake, has some eclectic characters and a warm community spirit, a necessity in this land where the helping hand of a neighbour can mean the difference between life and death.

Autumn is a wonderful character. She’s practical, hard-working, and resourceful, throwing herself wholeheartedly into the role she’s chosen to play by studying ahead of time what pioneer women would have had to do, such as making a gill net for fishing and gathering edible greens. Occasionally she feels the grief of having lost her mother, and how she’s had to be responsible for so many things in her life. In Alaska, she learns that she can do things that she wants for herself and no one else (or not do them, if that’s what she chooses). It’s a freeing experience.

For Bowie, having Autumn in his life creates conflict. He harbours a secret that makes his attraction to Autumn inconvenient and unwanted. Bowie is intensely loyal, a trait that served him well in the Marines, and that defines his relationship with his family. Bowie is also a risk-taker, a bad-boy type of character who appears to have no cares in the world but living in the moment. It’s only half-true. He enjoys female company but isn’t looking for or offering commitment. Having Autumn living in his home (that he built) and seeing her, being around her, day in and day out eventually comes to a head where he has to face the attraction he feels towards her. And then it’s Autumn’s chance to live in the moment and take a chance on having what she wants – Bowie. Their love scenes are intense and sexy, their conversations deep and expansive, binding them together in ways neither expected.

Things take an unexpected turn later in the story that ratchets up the tension and make Bowie and Autumn take a good hard look at where they are and where they might go (and if it should be together). It certainly pulls at the heartstrings and there were a few moments when I had tears in my eyes. I was fully invested in their getting their well-deserved happy ending. Reckless Fortune is another winner in this series, and I look forward to what’s coming next (hoping it’s Piper, Bowie’s sister’s book).

Reckless Fortune by M.M. Crane is the second standalone contemporary romance in the Fortunes of lost Lake, featuring the Fortune siblings in Lost Lake, Alaska. A contest to promote their town has bush pilot Bowie Fortune spending the summer with Autumn McCall thanks to a dare and the mail-order bride contest.

A $10,000 prize and his sister’s dare have Bowie agreeing to spending the summer with Autumn McCall in the local government’s attempt to draw attention to Lost Lake, Alaska. Bowie, a former marine and bush pilot, is known as the reckless sibling and settling down isn’t on the agenda. Autumn is the oldest sibling and has taken care of her father and her three siblings after the death of their mother. Now that Dad is remarried, she has one last task to accomplish before she can begin a life of her own.

Five Reasons To Curl Up With Reckless Fortune
1.The premise of complete strangers spending the summer working and living together in Alaska will have you slipping right in to witness and enjoy each moment from their first meet.
2. Fantastic chemistry, awkward moments, rock hard abs and side grins will pull you into the story and have you laughing out loud. You’ll love the banter, the view and find Autumn refreshing. I loved her attempts at wildness survival and attitude.
3. A red dress, a long kiss, and a camping trip will leave you sizzling and dreaming of your own Alaskan getaway.
4. Lost loves, undeniable feelings, family and friends delivered All The Feels.
5. Characters you’ll love and circumstances that will tug at your heartstrings will have you reading into the wee hours for a happily ever-after.

While this is the second Fortunes of Lost Lake story, it can be read on its own, although I encourage you to read Bold Fortune. It was hilarious, with a delicious blend of sweet and steamy.

I thought this was a great follow-up to the first book! I don't know what it is about an Alaskan setting, but I always adore books set there. I loved the characters in this and how their story developed.

This story was a little slow to start for me and I was a bit worried that I wouldn't like it as much as I liked the first book. However, I kept reading and soon enough, I couldn't stop. I can't even tell you what percent it was that it switched for me because I was too busy reading. I ended up liking this book better than the first one!

I really enjoyed the instant chemistry between Bowie and Autumn and when that tension finallly broke, it was the BEST!! As we slowly got glimpses into what was holding Bowie back from letting himself really fall for Autumn, I was worried that when the full truth was revealed, it was going to hinder my feelings on them getting together. Thankfully, the author was able to work it out in a way that fit their story. Autumn's obliviousness to how other people really see her and how her insecurities let her see herself was kind of annoying but, again, the author didn't play too much into that in a way that ruined the story.

I love how the family dynamics played into this story for both Bowie & Autumn. It made the story that much more endearing and fun. I'm really hoping that the next book is Bowie's sister and his best friend.

*I received this book from NetGalley for voluntary review

What a fun, heartwarming, adventurous story! First of all, it's set in Alaska which is my new favorite contemporary romance location. Set your book in the stunningly beautiful, rugged, test-your-pioneer-spirit state and I am there for it. Second, it features a reality television, mail order bride contest premise and yeah, I'm totally into that. Third, both Bowie and Autumn are much more complex than they appear at first glance. Another plus! Add unexpected danger into the mix, a quirky, caring community of family and friends, emotional baggage the depth of which I was not expecting, and you have a totally immersive story I couldn't put down.

These characters were so endearing. I loved Bowie's adventurous spirit, his kindness, his humor, and his immediate attraction to Autumn even though the contest was not about romance. I loved his family, how they all embraced their Alaska lifestyle, and how they loved and supported one another...while still maintaining that teasing, snarky, sibling dynamic. Autumn's family was a bit more complex, with an unbalanced relationship dynamic to sort through, but no less staunch in their love and support of one another. I loved how Autumn threw herself into the contest, her competence and determination to win. My heart ached for how she viewed herself in relation to her sisters. It was so satisfying to watch her slowly begin to view herself as others viewed her. And so much fun to watch both Autumn and Bowie navigate the unexpected feelings that slowly developed between them.

The danger Autumn and Bowie faced was an unexpected twist but one that afforded them the opportunity to confront their deepest fears and uncertainties as well as, for Bowie, the secret emotional trauma that had steered his life for too long. Kudos to the author for crafting this unexpected, life-altering scenario that left me with a bundle of feelings, including tears, laughter, breath-stealing anxiety, enthusiastic cheering, and the confidence that these two were destined for a long life of love and adventure together.

If you're looking for a fun, fast-paced, heart-tugging story filled with adventure, witty banter, a community of quirky characters, well-placed humor, plenty of chemistry, danger, and unexpected emotional depth, join Autumn and Bowie in the Alaskan back country in M. M. Crane's Reckless Fortune. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

This is book two in Crane's The Fortunes of Lost Lake series. You do not have to read the books in order though now that I've met the main couple from book one, I will definitely be reading their story too.

4.5 Stars
ARC received from publisher for fair and unbiased review

I loved Autumn and Bowie’s amazing opposites attract romance, forced proximity reality TV, in Reckless Fortune by M.M. Crane, book two in her Fortunes of Lost Lake series. This story had lost within their stories, and not able to put this book down, as I drank in each page. This quirky, funny, snarky, steamy, and totally enjoyable tale, takes the reader on a journey to an off-the-grid, small town in the middle of Alaska; a town that makes you feel as if you are family.

As an ex-marine and now bush pilot, Bowie Fortune is an adrenaline junkie. He has never turned down a dare, and when his sister, Piper, challenges Bowie to join a promotion for Alaskan Tourism where a fake mail-order-bride would come to their tiny hamlet of Lost Lake, he accepts against his better judgment. Bowie is a love them and leave them guy but one look at Autumn McCall, his “wife” for the next three months; he knows his life will never be the same. Autumn is determined to win the contest, as she needs the money to pay off some family debts. She grew up on a Montana ranch, a caring person who took charge of her younger sisters and father after the death of her mother, since she was fourteen; neglecting herself. Autumn travels to Lost Lake, to immerse herself in the pioneer lifestyle; but what she finds is a group of people, who treat her like family, as she discovers how much she is enjoying this small town. As Autumn and Bowie get to know one another under the pressure and forced proximity of living together in Brady’s home, they each take the time to assess where their lives are going.

What follows is a wonderful delightful adventure, with Bowie taking Autumn to different sights, and when a fun camping trip into the heart of the Alaskan wilderness goes wrong, they become stranded. Bowie knows they are in danger, as once summer is over, the snow and cold will come; making him wonder if they will have a future together considering their magnetic attraction, let alone the chemistry sizzling and sparking off them.

Ms. Crane wrote an intense, emotional and love story rich with sizzling chemistry, magnetic attraction, wonderful dialogue, and a rugged community of characters along with vivid descriptions of the intense weather and beauty of Alaska. This story grabbed me and did not let go until I reached the end. I highly recommend Reckless Fortune to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

4.5 STARS

Bowie Fortune lives rough in a very remote part of Alaska near his family, who have been in Lost Lake since the Gold Rush days. As a bush pilot, Bowie’s everyday life is filled with thrills, chills, and extreme adrenaline rushes. Bowie is a love’em and leave’em kind of guy after an early relationship caused him to close down his heart forever. Bowie never met a dare he did not like so when his sister challenges him to win a reality show with a mail-order bride contest, Bowie accepts against his better judgement. From the moment Bowie meets Autumn McCall, he knows trouble is about to happen.

Autumn grew up on a Montana ranch with younger sisters and a widower father whom she has wrangled for the last several years when at a young age, she took over caring for the grieving family. Autumn believes she can embrace the pioneer life-style, win the contest, and decide what her life might be like afterwards. While living in Montana can be very rough, the outback of Alaska takes things to a whole new level especially after some misadventures occur that have the potential to turn deadly.

As Autumn and Bowie get to know one another under duress and forced proximity, they each evaluate where their lives are going and whether or not they just might have a future together. Bowie has spent too many years playing the guy who only cares about a good time and taking risky chances to the limit while Autumn has taken care of everyone but herself. I enjoyed this second book in The Fortunes of Lost Lake series where life can be harsh but filled with good people looking out for each other as well as the wonder of nature’s bounty in the Alaskan Wilderness.

Just when I thought the author couldn’t possibly beat the first book, I was proven wrong.

Bowie Fortune is a ex-marine, a pilot and a man who cannot refuse a dare. His sister, Piper, has dared Bowie to join a promotion for Alaskan Tourism where a fake mail-order-bride would come to their tiny hamlet of Lost Lake. Bowie and his bride would engage in Alaskan frontier living, which they would post on social media and at the end of summer, votes would be cast and the winners would receive $10,000.

From the moment that Bowie flies into Montana to pick up his bride, Autumn McCall, he knows that his life may never be the same. Autumn knocks his socks off with her beauty and her hour-glass figure but also that she’s is no wilting daisy. From the moment she arrives at in Alaska, Autumn has plans for their frontier living, and she isn’t afraid of the Alaskan wilds, or as she reminds Bowie, Montana isn’t exactly a tropical paradise.

At fourteen, Autumn had taken over the care of her father and youngers sisters after her mother passed. Autumn has always been organized and focused. She has planned out how to win this contest. But she hadn’t expected to be spending her time in the Alaska frontier with someone as sexy as Bowie. She also didn’t expect a regular house that was well cared for by a man who can cook. His profile picture make him look scruffy and she expected to spend at least some time reorganizing his ramshackle cabin.

But when a camping trip in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness goes afoul, will the biggest issue they face be the local wildlife or the ghosts of the past.

THOUGHTS:
When I picked up Reckless Fortune, I was a bit apprehensive about whether or not I was going to enjoy it. Violet Parrish was my favorite part of Bold Fortune. While I loved Violet and her can do attitude, I also didn’t want this to a copycat of the first book. While Autumn did have a can-do attitude, but it was a different kind of can-do. It was more that Autumn worked a ranch in Montana and she wasn’t afraid of hard work or the harsh weather of Alaska. While Violet was in awe of the Alaska wilds, Autumn knew what to expect and was prepared to roll up her sleeves and get busy living the frontier life and winning the contest. That is something I can’t imagine doing myself. They were still wearing layers in July!!! JULY!!! I’m out!

Autumn considered herself the curvy, ugly duckling with four stick-thin, blonde beautiful sisters. She though she caught Bowie looking at her sisters’ when he picked her up at the ranch and was disappointed getting stuck with her, but Bowie was looking away from her because he was immediately attracted to her and knew he was in trouble if he had to keep his hands to himself for the next several weeks.

While any Alaskan adventure is not the cards for me, I was able to enjoy Autumn and Bowie’s story just as much as I did Violet and Quinn’s story.

I requested this title in the Fortunes of Lost Lake Series because I thought the premise sounded fun – a reality competition where “mail-order brides” head to Alaska to embark on homesteading ventures. The competition’s purpose is to encourage tourism in the area. While this might be a good fit for readers looking for a light romance with outdoorsy elements, it was not a good fit for me. The characters were a bit two dimensional. They spend the first thirty pages reflecting on each other’s physical attributes and the first half of the novel being adversarial. After a slow first half, the end picked up and was more entertaining but finished a little too quickly and tidily. I purchased this for my collection as it has its charms for the right reader. 3 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.

Reckless Fortune by M.M. Crane is the 2nd book in her The Fortunes of Lost Lake series. We meet Bowie Fortune, our hero, at that start, when he accepts a dare from his sister, to enter a mail order bride contest. Lost Lake is now in the midst of a three-month summer, and the contest will bring him face to face with his mail order bride, who is a beautiful woman, whom he cannot take his eyes off of her.

Autumn McCall, our heroine, is independent, smart, savvy and devoted to her sisters and father. Autumn is determined to win the contest, as she needs the money to pay off some family debts. When she meets Bowie, she is shocked that he is a tall handsome hunk, with a wicked smile, but though they both start off on the wrong foot, they each know that they will have to work together to have a chance to win the contest. Autumn will travel to Lost Lake, and immerse herself in the pioneer lifestyle; but what she finds is a group of people, who treat her like family, and she discovers how much she is enjoying this small town. The sparks fly, as Autumn fights off her attraction to Bowie, ann he also does the same. But best laid plans do not always work out.

What follows is a wonderful delightful adventure, with Bowie taking Autumn to different sights, and when something goes wrong, they become stranded. Bowie knows they are in danger, because once Summer is over, the snow and cold will come. Will they survive? I loved how Bowie knew he was falling hard for Violet, slowly opening his heart. Autumn also fell hard for Bowie, and soon they would succumb to their feelings. I loved Bowie and Autumn together, and hoped they would find a way to stay together. The banter between them was amazing, and their chemistry was off the wall; even if they were very different, yet so great. The secondary characters of this series are awesome, as it was great to see many of the Lost Lake characters, we meet in the first book.

Reckless Fortune was a wonderful, cozy, fun, book to read, that was very well written by M.M. Crane, and look forward to what she has in store for us in the next book of this series. If you enjoy romance, great couple, wonderful characters, then you need to start this series.

I absolutely loved the first book in the series so I was excited to pick up the second. Sadly, it did not deliver. The two MCs didn't have that same sparkling chemistry that the first couple had. I felt like I was revisiting the black and white pining of my teenage years. More nuance, please.

I eat this series of rough-around-the-edges Alaskan men being brought to their knees by outside women like it's ice cream. Just scoop it all up and gimme.

Pilot Bowie gets dared to enter a mail order bride contest to bring attention to Lost Lake but the last thing he ever expected was to be paired with someone like Autumn. The sparks fly, and I swooned. Loved every second.

I didn't love this installment in The Fortunes of Lost Lake series by M. M. Crane. The premise seemed intriguing: an Alaskan bush pilot, a woman from Montana, and a mail-order bride contest. Yes, please. I didn't hate this book, but I struggled to connect with the characters and I found Bowie and Autumn's relationship to be lacking some much needed chemistry, Also, at one point to book turned into the characters being stranded in the Alaskan wilderness? I felt like it was a little all over the place and I struggled to get through it. Overall, it wasn't my favorite.

I've been waiting to read this since I finished the first book in the series. I loved it - characters you can root for, great setting, and loved it! I hope there are more books coming from this author.