Whispers of Fortune is a thoroughly fun hunt for hidden treasure. The problem is the treasure is just a rumor, a “whisper,” if you will. The rumor has been circulating in Brody’s family for years, but he’s willing to blow it off as just the fantasy of an old man who had participated in the gold rush years before. Brody’s teen brothers, on the other hand, are convinced that the treasure exists–gold, most likely, but no one is sure–and nothing will do but drag Brody into the hunt, much against his will. Oh, and while he’s at it, he might as well reluctantly start practicing medicine on the side since he just graduated from medical school. Also, there’s romance.

Great plot! And I loved the characters. If you enjoy western romance with a hint of intrigue Whispers of Fortune will definitely fill the bill.

I didn’t even read the summary of this before requesting it, because Mary Connealy is an auto-buy author for me; all of her books have been fun, endearing, and satisfying to my old west lovin heart. I love how Connealy’s books overlap and we get to see more of characters we’ve come to love.
So imagine my surprise when I started reading and recognized a lot of names — this is about Beth Ellen (Ellie), Zane Hart’s sister from the Lumber Baron’s Daughters trilogy!!

My favorite Mary Connealy book so far!! The pacing was so fun. The characters were so fun. The TREASURE HUNT was so fun. Just. So. Fun!!!

Woohoo! We get to catch up with some characters from another series! The Harts from The Lumber Baron’s Daughters own a ranch in California to benefit orphans. Teens Thayne and Lochlan MacKenzie ran away from New York on a quest to find a treasure that their grandfather never found. They end up on the Two Harts Ranch. Big brother Brody, a doctor, tracks them to the ranch and demands their release, but they do not want to give up the search.
This book had a lot of parts to keep up with but with the story spanning three books, I see the need for the plot to carry over with several sub plots and hints of more than one romance to take center stage in their own book.
The premise of a treasure map that was given to more than one family has all sorts of possibilities. Who is trustworthy? What exactly was the original agreement? The story certainly kept me guessing and it’s not over yet!
With her signature humor, solid faith thread, complex plot and sweet romance, Ms. Connealy has written another absorbing cowboy western to entertain us.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. A NetGalley copy was provided through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

Armed with a map and lured by the promise of a treasure, teenagers Lock and Thayne MacKenzie have run away to follow the clues. Their older brother, Brody, must leave his newly founded medical practice to track them down and return home to the East Coast. It sounds straightforward, but things don’t always go as planned. I enjoyed this story as Brody reconnects with his brothers as well as meets the Hart family who have taken the boys into their care. I may never get to go on a treasure hunt, so it was fun to be a part of the search.

Ellie Hart is one of the ladies who lives at the Two Hearts Ranch and has grown attached to the boys during their stay. I admired that even though she didn’t feel comfortable in the classroom, she was still willing to teach the children at the ranch. This showed that she would do her best in order to help the children succeed.

With descriptive scenes of the west and perils the group of treasure hunters faced, I was drawn into the story. The villains were portrayed well and provided a sense of danger and suspense. This story continues with book two, and I am looking forward to reading it to see what will happen with the search.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley and AustenProse. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

I really enjoyed this book! I was immediately hooked from the very beginning. There's runaways, intrigue, a mysterious treasure, and more.

The Hart family is amazing! They run Two Harts ranch with kindness and compassion. Ellie is one of my favorites. She's a little bit sassy, but she's compassionate, loving, and wise. Brody, I'll didn't impress me at first. However, after his past was revealed, his true heart was too. He genuinely loved and cared about his family. Lock is my favorite. Yes, he gets in trouble a lot. Yes, he worries people a lot. But he's just so passionate about his grandfather's treasure. I also share his love of maps and geography.

The love story is sweet. It's Ellie's idea to have Brody help out the ranch with his doctor skills. The more time they spend together, their affection for each other grows. I love that he calls her his treasure!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Brody MacKenzie has traveled across the country to find his two missing brothers. He finds them at Two Harts Ranch. His brothers have been on a treasure hunt and don't want to go back with Brody. Brody agrees to be the temporary dr. at Two Harts Ranch while trying to convince his brothers to leave with him. He even agrees to help them search for the treasure. Ellie Hart helps Brody with his doctoring. Of course they start to develop feeling for each other. While searching for the treasure a couple of men attach them for the sole purpose of stealing the treasure from them.

This was a fun book to read and I am looking forward to the next installment.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishers vis Net/Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

This novel had a few different historical events as well as a treasure hunt! Loved it all. Brody heads West in search of his two missing brothers. He is afraid of the truth of why they headed West, the same as what took his grandfather and then father with nothing good coming out of the hunt. The Hart ranch has taken in many orphan's that have been sent West and the two McKenzie brothers have melded well into the family, although they have tested them a time or two. So when Brody shows up demanding his brothers back, so he can head back to Boston with them, the Hart's are not about to just let two boys run off with a stranger claiming to be big brother. How could he have let them take off in the first place and now just come calling for them? What kind of brother is this? As Brody proves himself, the two brothers also slowly come out with the truth of what brought them this way and how they used the orphan trains and streets to stay alive. Bound to find what their grandfather and father could not, Brody agrees with the Harts to allow the boys to hunt for this treasure that their grandfather had written about, but with some rules. Meanwhile, none of them knows that someone else is also on the hunt for this treasure. Will it be found, and who will get to it first? I loved this story line and can't wait for the next novel as we are left wondering what happens next. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Austenprose for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

This book is a wonderful start to what I can only imagine will be another amazing series from Mary Connealy. I did feel a little lost in the beginning, like I had missed something, then I realized this series is tied to The Lumber Baron’s Daughters series. While you don’t need to read the other series first, it would clarify what has happened in the past and who some of the referenced characters are. This series is set around Zane Hart’s family and the Two Hart’s Ranch, but there is also a hunt for a family treasure. In this book, we meet what remains of the MacKenzie family, brothers Brody, Thayne, and Lock, and learn about “MacKenzie’s Treasure”. Their grandfather and father spent their lives looking for the treasure, and now this generation of MacKenzies are on the trail of it also. They find more and more clues along the way, but they also run into trouble that makes them think twice about continuing their hunt for the treasure. If you are a fan of mystery, intrigue, treasure hunts, family, and a hint of sweet romance, then this book is a must-read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Unfortunately this one was a DNF for me. I loved the storyline, and was invested in that. The format was just too much of a struggle. In the pdf to kindle format there were no breaks to tell me that the POV was changing and that was a struggle for me.
It’s a book I’ll definitely pick up once I can get my hands on a paperback copy!

Whispers of Fortune is a treasure mine of faith, adventure, and heart. Mary Connealy sets her story against the rugged backdrop of post-Gold Rush California, delivering a Christian Historical Romance that captivates, inspires, and tugs at your heartstrings. With themes of faith, freedom, forgiveness, and friendship, this story speaks directly to the soul.

The characters truly shine. Ellie Hart’s strength and resilience make her instantly relatable, while Brody MacKenzie’s transformation from desperation to divine dependence is beautifully crafted. Whether it’s the precious orphans stealing scenes or the heartfelt prayers grounding the story, every page feels alive with purpose.

Connealy’s gift for blending suspense, humor, and heart sparkles just as brightly as the treasure they’re chasing. From action-packed moments to tender reflections, the narrative pulses with a constant reminder that God is the ultimate source of peace, hope, and redemption.

If powerful heroines, thrilling adventures, and faith that lights up even the darkest moments captivate you, Whispers of Fortune will claim your heart. It’s an immersive journey filled with treasure hunts, prayers, desperation, and an unshakable Christian faith.

I received a digital ARC of this book from JustRead Publicity Group, the publisher (Bethany House Publishers) and NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review in any way or for any reason. My honest and unbiased opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing style, the pacing, and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

Going on a treasure hunt…X marks the spot.

For Thayne and Lochlan MacKensie this seemed to be in their DNA. A journal handed down from their grandfather told of a wonderful treasure - you just had to follow the clues and it would be yours. Unfortunately, they were not the only ones who were searching. All the excitement and danger are only a small part of the story. Are you ready to search?

The author has dangled the treasure hunting bug in front of all of us with this first book in the Golden State Treasure series. Received through NetGalley and published by Bethany House Publishers and Baker Publishing Group, these thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

In Whispers of Fortune, Mary Connealy returns her readers to the historic western frontier of California, and the Hart family ranch in her new Golden State Treasure series. In The Lumber Baron's Daughters series which focused on the older Hart family members, who have cameos in Whispers of Fortune, this one focuses on the younger members of the Hart family and the newly arrived Mackenzie brothers. Connealy does give just enough background story of the older siblings that one can follow them without having read The Lumber Baron's Daughters series. However, it is the opinion of this reader that to get the most out of this new series, one needs to read The Lumber Baron's Daughters series first!

Connealy, introduces us to the two youngest members of the Hart family, Josh who is running the ranch while his older siblings are away on other duties and Ellie who is trying to find out what her unique strength is through trial and error in this story. 

She also introduces us to Brody MacKenzie, a newly graduated doctor, who is searching for his younger brothers, Lock and Thayne, who ran away from home in search of treasure. He tracks them to the Hart Ranch where he is met at gunpoint by Ellie, and the adventure begins.

One thing I always love about reading stories by Mary Connealy is the bits of humor throughout. Lock and Thayne MacKenzie posing as two runaway orphans on a treasure hunt, stole the spotlight with their antics. Since this story centers around treasure Connealy reminds her readers that the true treasure is in heaven.

As a new series goes, the first book, Whispers of Fortune was a fairly good read. However, I personally felt a little lost in the beginning, like I had missed something, or maybe Whispers of Fortune wasn’t actually a new series but a continuation of an earlier series, which in a way it is. That is why I highly recommend reading The Lumber Baron's Daughters series first.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

Another good book by this author and a great start to a new series!
But, however I am just a bit disappointed because I honestly think that these books are starting to run together in my opinion.
Those is why I gave it 4 stars.
I love her earlier stories because they have her trademark humor in them.
It was a good book for sure and certain! Lots going on here and a few twists that I didn't see coming.
Lloyd made it interesting when he came into the story.
I really loved in getting to know these new characters and I also found myself rooting for them.
A solid 4 stars for a solid read and for keeping my attention all the way through. I recommend this.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Whispers of Fortune by Mary Connealy is a historical novel set in 1875 in California. While the book had a thrilling beginning and a great premise, it failed to capture my attention.

Through the lens of Brody MacKenzie, a doctor who has been searching for his brothers, the author takes the reader on a search for treasure and a search for Brody’s brothers, who keep running away from the orphanage where he eventually finds them.

He meets Ellie Hart and her brother Josh, who have taken the boys in at Two Harts Ranch. When she finds out Brody is a doctor, she tries to convince him to stay, when he tells her repeatedly that he can’t. But his brothers are determined to follow a map in an old journal left by their grandfather to what they are convinced is a treasure and refuse to leave without searching for it.

When Brody puts his foot down, insisting they have to leave, they run away again. Much of the book is then spent on finding this treasure and describing how the journal was found. In fact, the information about the map and the treasure and Brody’s family is repeated so much, I lost interest.

Meanwhile, other side characters were in play. Tilda was looking for the runaway brothers, Thayne and Lock, that she was in charge of on the orphan train. I feel this character could have been left out of the book entirely as her story disrupted the flow of the book.

Amid this, without a hint of attraction between them, Brody suddenly kisses Ellie. This moment in the book was so awkward and unnatural that I thought I’d missed something. After that, any romance between Brody and Ellie seemed forced.

The villain in the story (Loyal) added some much needed excitement toward the end of the book and I appreciated how the author talked about storing up treasure in heaven instead of on earth.

I was disappointed at the abrupt ending because there were so many loose ends not addressed in the book, so it was nice to have the first chapter of the next book follow the epilogue.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley for my honest review.

We follow the adventures of Lock and Thayne MacKenzie two runaway “orphans “ in Whisper of Fortune. It turns out that they are not really orphans when their brother Brody shows up to claim them the school ran by the Hart family in California. The boys are following their grandfather’s journal to a treasure which they believe they are finally getting close to here at the Hart’s ranch. Ellie Hart refuses to allow Brody to ride away with his brothers until he can prove that he can take care of them. Turns out Brody is a Doctor who finds the Hart’s ranch desperately needs, however Brody has made a commitment to a doctor in Boston who he must go back to help. His brother are less than agreeable to go with him as they believe the treasure is so close. The adventures begin there and it turns out that the boys aren’t the only ones searching for the treasure and that’s where the danger begins. So come along and enjoy the journey to treasure and adventures.
I didn’t give this book a full five stars as I was really confused through my first read through because of some characters form The Lumber Baron’s Daughters series so I had to go back and read the series to get characters straight in my mind. If you haven’t read the series I don’t think you will be confused.
I received a ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and Baker House Publishing , however I was not required to leave a review and the content of this review is completely my own personal opinion and views of the book.

Overall rating 3.5 stars. I was really confused on rabbit trail characters who are apparently part of a different series this author has written. That aside the story was very entertaining and the treasure hunting was quite the adventure. Really enjoyed the brother bonds and that the romance was light. I look forward to book 2 coming out later this year.
Thank you netgalley and justreadtours for my ARC, this is my honest review.

A fun start to a new western adventure series! Set in 1874 California, on an unusual ranch with an orphanage and school. A mysterious old journal spurs on a hunt for lost treasure, bringing outlaws and peril to the peaceful homestead.

A cross over of characters from another series--The Lumber Baron's Daughters--this one features other members of the Hart family, and the newly arrived Mackenzie brothers. I liked Brody and his determination to bring his younger brothers home, learning how to be their guardian through trial and error. Ellie is a trooper, sweet but strong in her own way, finding her gifting as she helps out when needed.

The author does a good job of filling in the backstories so it is easy to follow. She has a knack for writing strong women with unique strengths, with just enough peril to make it tense and tempered with a bit of humor. I want to go back now and read the other series because the characters sound quite interesting.

Recommend to teens and older who enjoy a good clean western adventure romance. 4 stars

This is a new to me author. It is a Christian Historical Romance with multiple POVs. Set in 1870 California, we are in gold rush culture. This book had a bit of a slow start for me and was a slow burn romance that went alongside the hero and his brothers searching for a possible family treasure. Intertwined are some hints of suspense. It was a good read. I thought it might’ve been the third in a series but then found out it’s actually the first, some things were mentioned with the heroine’s married siblings and I assumed that it was referring to past books, so this could possibly be a spin-off series? This book may have a positive HEA for our hero and heroine but it doesn’t tie up all the ends. I assume it’ll continue throughout the whole series. I am interested in continuing this series to see how that all resolves.

Whispers of Fortune by Mary Connealy is the great first book in a new historical Western series. The plot is lively, centering around a hunt for hidden treasure in post gold-rush California. The characters are every bit as lively as the plot. Ellie Hart is a Western woman and Brody Mackenzie is from New York, they meet on the Two Hart ranch where Brody hopes to find his missing younger brothers. Conneally does a great job of developing these characters and their families along with a couple of really bad guys. All the plot twists keep the reader guessing. The conclusion while satisfactory, leaves a nice opening for the next story in the series, as not all problems have been solved. This is a great book for readers of clean historical romance. Strongly recommended

This story is a treasure hunt full of twists and turns. It was so fun to follow the MacKenzies on their adventure. I loved revisiting the Hart family from another one of Mary Connealy's series! I was so sad to reach the end of the book and know that I have to wait a few months to read the next installment!

Join another grand adventure from Mary Connealy. I highly recommend this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.