From USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jewel E. Ann comes a beautiful, passionate, and powerful story about unexpected love, sacrifice, and daring to dream again. Forty-something Gracelyn Glock is living the dream. No husband.No retirement plan.And since her self-imposed man-ban—no need to shave above her knees.
After a tragic accident, Gracelyn inherits her ten-year-old … Gracelyn inherits her ten-year-old nephew. She signs a lease on a San Diego beach house and learns their neighbors for the summer are a sexy anatomy professor and his young daughter.
Professor Nathaniel Hunt has spent the last decade being a single dad … and not having sex.
So when he discovers Gracelyn has a peculiar outdoor stripping ritual, a million inappropriate thoughts fill his responsible mind.
When kisses are stolen, man-bans are broken, and summer comes to an end, will hearts stay in one piece and hope stay alive? Or will saying goodbye destroy everything?
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The third book in the Transcend series is a beautiful closure to the fascinating series.
This is Nate’s story and proof that you can find true love even in your forties.
I love that the book is about people who are older, because most of the romances that I read are about young people in their twenties.
Because of that, the book is a bit different, a bit more melanholic and of course with different problems.
This part has nothing to do with the reincarnation, but all with the life after loosing your love once and the long way of grieving and finding the new purpose in life.
A beautiful love romance with heartbreaking stories, between two broken people that found their happiness in each other after a lot of tragedies in their lives.
Yes, it’s totally a ugly cry story, but the ending is so unbelievable beautiful.
I’m officially addicted to Jewel’s books I just read a blurb to her other book and immediately downloaded it
WARNING—READ BOOKS 1 & 2 FIRST!!!
I read this book before I knew that it was Book 3 in a series, and while I really liked this book, I feel that I would have understood Nate a whole lot better if I had started the series from the beginning. I didn’t understand why he would take his daughter around the world and never stop back home even once in 8 years for a visit with the grandparents for a holiday or birthday or a funeral or a wedding or just because they are family. I didn’t understand why he was so broken up about Daisy. Their relationship sounded more like a romance than a childhood friendship.
I always expect profound writing from Jewel E. Ann and there was plenty of that in this story. (I think I highlighted the complete last third of the book.) But I believe I cheated myself of the depth of this story by missing out on Nate’s history. A story with an underlying theme of reincarnation and visits from beyond the grave needs much more history than what I got so I’m going to go back and read books one and two and then this one again, and only then will I write my real review. This is just a warning not to make the same mistake I did.
I absolutely loved this book. Although it is a stand-alone I read it after reading Transcend and Epoch which gave me a full understanding of Nates back story. This book starts with Gracelyn learning about the untimely death of her brother and sister in law which leads to her becoming the guardian of their son, Gabe. Having moved in to a beach house in San Diego, Gracelyn notices a new neighbour move in across the road. This is Nate with his daughter Morgan. They have been travelling the world for the last eight years following his need to get away after the death of his wife during childbirth. This is a wonderful emotional but sometimes funny book which will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I would recommend this book to everyone, it’s utterly fantastic.
I read this on the recommendation of a friend not knowing anything about the story and totally fell in love. The writing is gorgeous and I found myself giggling (or trying not to giggle reading too late in bed), smiling and swooning at the chemistry between Gracelyn and Nate. Highly recommend.
“This is it. This is what it looks like to love someone deeply… madly… to the depths of your soul. So much it rips your fucking heart out of your chest to let go.”
I finished reading another book by Jewel E Ann and it solidified the fact that she is on my favorites list! Fortuity was so many things wrapped into one and I devoured it. Seriously, I read the whole book on Friday and I am still thinking about it. IT’S THAT GOOD! I love when a book really brings it with all the emotions. There were so many hilarious laugh out loud scenes and conversations and then bam a raw punch in the gut and tears streaming down my face. And the steam so many swoon worthy bits of chemistry between these two characters. This book is actually the third in her Transcend series but is also a stand alone so as soon as I got a copy {thank you Social Butterfly PR} I went straight in and had no problem falling absolutely in love with these characters. Now I’m curious about the previous two books so I have a feeling I’ll be circling back to read those soon because let’s be honest, at this point I’m picking up anything Jewel writes.
I’ll admit that my first reading experience with this author was not a great one. With all of the Jewel E. Ann reader love, I was optimistic and hopeful enough to try another one. Let’s just say, I now understand where some of this reader love comes from. THIS BOOK! This book encapsulates all that is my personal reading bliss – natural and delightful wit, realistic evolution of a romantic relationship, fantastic heroine (HUGE plus!), swoon-worthy single dad hero, emotionally bruised main characters, and honest and mature communication. Gah!! This story was wonderful and I want more just like it.
Side note: I had no interest in the first two books of the Transcend trilogy and skipped straight to Fortuity. It’s a seamless story that reads perfectly as a standalone.
This was a book I totally picked up on a whim because I was seeing a lot of recommendations for it. I’m so glad that I did because it is one of the best books of 2020 that I’ve read this year so far. I realized after the fact that it is the third book in a series but I read it as a standalone.
Fortuity is one of those books where two people who have been devastated by love in the past, finally find a love that lasts. Both Gracelyn and Nathaniel have had their hearts broken multiple times to the point where Gracelyn has put herself on a self-imposed man ban and Nathaniel has been relationship-less for the last 10 years! But these two are thrown together by happenstance and given a new chance at a happily ever after.
Yes! Another book with a heroine in her forties! We meet Gracelyn when she’s on her self-imposed man ban having had her heart broken by three men in her life. Her heart is even more shattered when her brother and his wife die in an accident, leaving her as the guardian to her ten-year-old nephew, Gabe. They move into a house on the beach in San Diego, renting the top floor from an older gentleman whom they befriend.
Next door lives Nathaniel, who recently moved in with his ten-year-old daughter, Morgan, after having traveled with world for eight years. San Diego is their last stop on their world travels for a few months before moving back to Wisconsin to be near their family whom they’ve been a part from for so long. He too has suffered lost love three times and has since focused his life on raising his daughter.
Neither Gracelyn nor Nathaniel are looking to start a relationship given their finite time as neighbors, but it didn’t take long to see sparks. It helped that Morgan is so lovable and friendly toward Graceyln and Gabe giving no choice for these neighbors to become friends.
I liked that this story isn’t too marred down in their past relationships and hurts. You learn just enough to understand where their hearts are and the chasm that had to be crossed to open them up to love again. They weren’t rehashed to the point it made you depressed but to where you could sense real devastation in these two. This was brilliantly balanced with moments of sweetness, hilarity and pure summer fun.
Morgan and Gabe were great characters in themselves helping to move the relationship along with levity along the way. Navigating a relationship while also trying to do what’s best for your children is not an easy feat. I liked how the kids weren’t just side pieces to this story, nor were their interests just discarded. Nate and Gracelyn had to make some tough choices when it came to being parents first and foremost and I appreciated that aspect of this story as it unfolded.
The most surprising aspect to this story is the slightly dominant side to Nate that you see behind closed doors. That was so hot! As a parent myself I could totally relate to his determination to want to keep Morgan away from screens. Morgan was a hoot and I loved how she just put herself out there. She didn’t hold anything back when it came to asking questions either. She was so funny and the time she asked Gracelyn about what she walked in on in the kitchen was hilarious!
I didn’t read the prior books in the Transcend series and after reading the book synopses for them, I don’t think I will. I like the picture I have of Nate now and want to keep it. I really liked that I went into this book blind and found myself really liking the characters and story. It tugged on my heart and had me rooting for their happy ending for sure! A must read for sure in my opinion.
Check out this review and all my romance book reviews and romance book lists on my book blog, She Reads Romance Books: https://www.shereadsromancebooks.com/
LOVED IT!! This book had everything I needed right now – humor, sweetness and sexiness all rolled into one.
Gracelyn has struck out 3 times at love and at 41 years old, she has decided she is done with men for good. After a tragedy, she finds herself guardian to her 10-year-old nephew, Gabe, and lets that be her sole focus in life. She isn’t sure how to be a parent but she can be his friend and try to help guide him in the right direction.
Professor Nathaniel Hunt has spent the last 8 years traveling around the world with his 10-year-old daughter, Morgan, and is spending the summer at a beach house in San Diego before returning home to Wisconsin for good. He’s used to living a celibate life, focused solely on being a single parent. He never expects his life to be upended when Gracelyn and her nephew move in next door.
Sparks fly almost immediately between Gracelyn and Nathaniel but they are both determined to not act on it. However, since Morgan and Gabe have become best friends, it becomes too difficult to ignore the chemistry between them. What starts as a no-strings fling, quickly grows to something more but how will it work when Nathaniel and Morgan’s life awaits them in Wisconsin and Gracelyn and Gabe are staying in San Diego?
I loved this story!! Just as every other book of Jewel E. Ann’s, I was drawn in from the start and could not put this book down. The characters in this story are fantastic, even the 10-year-olds. I was so excited for Nathaniel to get his own story and this one did not disappoint in any way!! Even though this is book 3 in the Transcend series, it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book and all of Jewel E. Ann’s other books as well!!
LOVED IT!! This book had everything I needed right now – humor, sweetness and sexiness all rolled into one.
Gracelyn has struck out 3 times at love and at 41 years old, she has decided she is done with men for good. After a tragedy, she finds herself guardian to her 10 year old nephew, Gabe, and lets that be her sole focus in life. She isn’t sure how to be a parent but she can be his friend and try to help guide him in the right direction.
Professor Nathaniel Hunt has spent the last 8 years travelling around the world with his 10 year old daughter, Morgan, and is spending the summer at a beach house in San Diego before returning home to Wisconsin for good. He’s used to living a celibate life, focused solely on being a single parent. He never expects his life to be upended when Gracelyn and her nephew move in next door.
Sparks fly almost immediately between Gracelyn and Nathaniel but they are both determined to not act on it. However, since Morgan and Gabe have become best friends, it becomes too difficult to ignore the chemistry between them. What starts as a no strings fling, quickly grows to something more but how will it work when Nathaniel and Morgan’s life awaits them in Wisconsin and Gracelyn and Gabe are staying in San Diego?
I loved this story!! Just as every other book of Jewel E. Ann’s, I was drawn in from the start and could not put this book down. The characters in this story are fantastic, even the 10 year olds. I was so excited for Nathaniel to get his own story and this one did not disappoint in any way!! Even though this is book 3 in the Transcend series, it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book and all of Jewel E. Ann’s other books as well!!
I wasn’t going to read this because I like to read about 20ish to 30ish people and I didn’t read the other two books that tie into this one but the plot sounded good so I gave in and read it. It took me just a chapter or two to be hooked. The first 70% I laughed so many times. The kids were killing me with laughter, especially Morgan. Uber-swoony Nate and dazed and confused Gracelyn are the main couple and they are wonderful together as well as apart. Morgan is Nate’s daughter and Gabe is Gracelyn’s nephew (she is his guardian). Then there is Mr Hans the landlord with his quirks and wisdom but you never know which is better because he’s such a treasure. Such wonderful characters. So wonderful that I forgot all about the MC’s ages except when the story reminded me. You’ve read the blurb so I won’t rehash that. Now, the last about 30%of the book, I cried and cried. Nate and Gracelyn were killing me with angst. The writing is so beautiful and heartwrenching. She writes prose that digs deep into your so and squeezes your heart until it can’t do anything but weep. She drags every emotion she can from the depths of your weeping heart. It’s emotionally exhausting but cathartic at the same time. JEA is a very wise soul and has such a talent for writing. She doesn’t just put pen to paper, she writes the words using the tears of her fans! What’s worse is that we pay her for it. LOL. Every book I have read of hers is phenomenal. The only reason that I can’t give this book five stars is because the plot was simply too much like my favorite book from JEA which is “Look The Part”. There were many changes but not quite enough to make it stand on its own merit. I still loved it and would recommend it to anyone. Four and a half big shiny stars!
I don’t even think I have the ability to write the words for my love of this book. The third in the Transcend Series by Jewel E. Ann was more than I could have ever asked for.
Jewel E. Ann is one of the authors who I have just found in the past year or so and I just can’t say enough about her writing, her characters, and her brilliant storytelling.
This book runs the gamut of emotions from sobbing tears to outright laughing. These characters will fill your heart with joy and then deflate it with sadness. But their journey was meant to be, their past a part of their future – just so hard to explain but a book that will surely be on my top reads of 2020!
Those of us who have read Transcend and Epoch, remember the wonderful Nathaniel Hunt and his daughter Morgan. We all wanted him to find his happily every after, after the losses he’d suffered. Now some 8 or so years later, we meet him again. Morgan steals the show and your heart (and gosh, everyone who meets her loves her too). She is smart, precocious and devilishly fun. She’s also her father’s heart and his only goal is to bring some normalcy to her life again after 8 world-wind years. Gracelyn has had her world torn apart by loss and by a responsibility she never saw coming. Trying to navigate the waters of parenthood while never really having to take care of anyone other than herself is the hardest job she’s ever had. She also only wants normalcy for her nephew. Never shall the two normalcy’s shall meet. A few whirlwind months may change who they are, but each has their own idea about how and where their lives will go. An HEA for them is seemingly impossible. While I truly enjoyed Morgan and Nate’s and Gracelyn’s love story, it was missing that “magic”, that jaw drop that I’ve come to expect from her stories. 4.5 stars
I loved this book! I mean who doesn’t want to live next to a man that reminds us of Jamie Fraser? I love that the kids are in so much of it. The story was about them too. I cried when Nate and Morgan went home. When they wrote their letters. How they meet again. I loved that Gabe cared so much about Morgan that he fessed up about why he had agreed to move. I just really felt this book. Their emotions were on blast.
Generally speaking I am often afraid to read Jewel E. Ann books – honestly they mess with my head and they tend to make me cry, but in the end I’m always glad I took a chance.
I love the Transcend duet and was excited to learn that Nate would (hopefully) get his own happy ending. Fortuity was perfect and I absolutely loved it.
Also, loved that we got small glimpses into the life of Swayze and her family.
This fantastic romance gave me all the feels. I loved everything about it.
I started this book late Wednesday night and didn’t do one productive thing until I finished it. I inhaled it. I loved Nate in Transcend and Epoch but never felt Swayze was right for him. Gracelyn, on the other hand, definitely, definitely is. I LOVED her. Hands down my favorite heroine of the year so far! And Morgan? Have you read Ghosted? Because Morgan gave me big time Maddie feels! Nate is his adorably dreamy self and I swear every time I turned the page and saw his POV my heart ratcheted up. Tortured hero (especially widowed) and single dad are my two favorite tropes and JEA nails both. The writing is spot on, beautiful, and delivers the feels. I laughed A LOT, cried a little, and hardcore swooned throughout. If you’ve read Transcend/Epoch, you’ll have background on Nate and you’ll be familiar with Swayze when she’s mentioned, but it really isn’t necessary because Fortuity stands on its own.
This was my favorite read of the year! I had not read Transcend or Epoch before reading this and didn’t feel left behind. I felt all the feels in this story! Jewel E Ann is a master storyteller and has given us a fantastic read!
~~ 5 SPECTACULARLY SWOONY STARS! ~~
“Love isn’t an emotion. It’s a force.”
Jewel E. Ann left me starstruck once again with FORTUITY, a swoony double single parent romance with ALL THE FREAKING FEELS!! And while I did not read the first two books in this Transcend series, which this book’s hero played a pivotal role in, I can fully attest that it reads wonderfully as a standalone!
PREMISE:
Forty something Gracelyn Glock thought she had her future all mapped out, but then life throws her the ultimate curveball that knocks her on her derriere. After a devastating tragedy that kills her brother and sister-in-law, she assumes guardianship of her 10-year-old. nephew, Gabe, relocates from Idaho to California and moves with him to a beach house in San Diego for the summer while they search for a new permanent home. After a string of heartbreaks, she has a man-ban in place and pours all her energy in doing right by her sad, grief-stricken nephew. She feels totally overwhelmed and out of her element but has a fierce determination to be there for him through thick and thin. But all her best laid plans are once again thrown for a loop when fortuity throws her in the path of a smoking hot single dad!
Professor Nathaniel Hunt has spent the last eight years globetrotting with his bubbly, gregarious little girl, Morgan, and has been living like a bona fide monk! In their last stop before they settle down back home in Wisconsin, they end up in a beachside rental in San Diego for the summer. Nate has seen his fair share of tragedy and heartbreak in his life but his vow of celibacy is about to end as he inadvertently gets an eyeful of his beautiful quirky new neighbor! Sparks sizzle and pop between these two hopelessly enamored single parents who not only are brought together out of molten hot lust but through their two children who also forge an instant bond. Along the way, Nate and Grace discover the true meaning of love and laughter, fate and destiny, and the beauty of second…and THIRD chances!
Together with their kids, Nate and Grace’s broken pieces make a perfectly imperfect whole and in each other they discover they have an “infinite capacity to love.” But by summer’s end, Nate is packing his bags once again and leaving with little Morgan. Is this the final chapter of their idyllic love affair or, against all odds, will fortuity bring them back together again?
MY MUSINGS:
FORTUITY, a warm, whimsical and PROFOUNDLY touching single parent tale was epic. Extraordinary. And completely exhilarating! As with all of Jewel E. Ann’s romances, I was hooked from the very first page. I have truly never read an author before who has the uncanny ability to make my heart ache and leave me in stitches, often within the very same scene, but there’s a reason she’s one of my UNICORN authors!
This book is not only swooningly romantic, scorching hot and sinfully sexy, but it’s refreshingly unique, deeply moving, a total riot …and also imparts valuable life lessons along the way about love and loss, hope and healing and the rejuvenating power of second chances. The manner in which this masterfully crafted plot unfolds is sheer genius, and a colorful cast of secondary characters rounds out this beautiful, heartfelt, utterly unforgettable tale!
The love and devotion, passion and connection that these MCs forged together was BEYOND BREATHTAKING! And as much as I delighted in Gracelyn and Nate’s sexy, utterly engaging, slow burning romance—watching these “worthy opponents” fall head over heels, passionately in love over the course of the summer was just captivating— their young’uns stole a huge piece of my heart. Gah, at first, young Gabe is detached and sullen —and with good reason after all that he’s lost—but his broodiness proves to be no match for Nate’s exuberant little girl who blows into his life, chases away the dark cloud hovering over him with her bright, blinding rays of sweet sunshine, giving him a reason to smile again! Morgan truly stole the show and holy moly did this smart, sassy, adorably bossy little chatterbox charm the socks off of me and everyone who’s blessed to be in her orbit.
The witty, breezy banter (Ms. Ann’s trademark) was a true highlight and the character development was awe-inspiring. I love that this book features two fortysomething characters—TOTALLY RELATABLE! —and both Nate and Gracelyn are so incredibly nuanced, deeply flawed, organic and REAL! This heroine aka “Queen Hot Mess” endeared herself to me right away! She is quirky and fun-loving, kindhearted and compassionate, woefully insecure and achingly vulnerable at times. And oh yeah she has few “eccentricities”…. like unabashedly stripping outdoors after work and her penchant for conversing with her dead boyfriend! Gracelyn is admittedly a bit of basket case at times as she settles in to her new normal and tries to find a way to reach her orphaned nephew. But as their lives are slowly interwoven with Nate and Morgan’s she comes to see that she’s hardly alone. As the saying goes, it truly DOES take a village to raise a child. And yay…she might have just found the perfect Jamie Fraser doppelgänger next door to tempt her to break her man-ban!
As for Nathaniel, this hunky professor is everything this self-professed sapiosexual CRAVES in a smexy hero. He’s big, tall, brilliantly book smart, devastatingly handsome, unabashedly masculine and delectably brusque. Yet also innately sensitive and sweet and chivalrous.! And sighhh don’t get me started on the achingly tender and hysterically funny daddy/daughter bonding moments between Morgan and her adoring , waaaaay too overprotective father . Pure OVARY EXPLODING GOODNESS! I looooove how fiercely devoted Nate is to Morgan who has become his whole world, but as much as he clings to his precocious babygirl, he knows that he needs to let her spread her beautiful wings. But sob! Letting go is NOT easy!
Both the H&h have endured a plethora of pain and loss in their lives. And despite outward appearances, are both kind of stumbling through life, still, in many ways, haunted by ghosts of the past , Yet these kindred spirits. learn so much from each other—about starting over, the joys and struggles of single parenthood, grief and recovery, and finding a way to live in the moment. And despite their vows to not get attached, love comes unbidden to this duo as their fun and frolicking, secret sexcapades and surprising soul deep connection slowly awakens their wounded hearts. However, as the sun dappled days of summer wind down, their exchanges are also tinged with a sense of bittersweet melancholy because they know they are on borrowed time. But never fear because this wickedly clever author pens the perfect resolution for this duo that’s guaranteed to leave you with an EPIC BOOK HANGOVER!
BOTTOM LINE:
FORTUITY WAS EVERY EFFING THING I LOVE IN A DRAMEDY! My heart was put through the ringer many a times, causing me to blink back BUCKETS of tears, but in the next breath something would happen that made me positively giddy with glee! And ultimately, I know that fans of the Transcend duet are going to be gloriously, over the moon euphoric that Nate finally got his own slice of happiness!
FORTUITY is my new, feel good fave read of 2020!
Although book three of a series, this can be read as a standalone. As a reader, I’m largely broken these days and find it hard to discover books that captivate me, but this one held me in its grasp and didn’t let go. The characters and setting were so well written you forgot you were reading words and I found myself living with them. A book where you want to know how it ends, but yet you’re upset at reaching the final page. Highly recommend.
This book Gah! All the feels! I laughed, I cried I did a cartwheel- okay maybe not and actual cartwheel but in my mind I did. Jewel E Ann knows how to ring your emotions and take you through the spectrum of them. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait for it to come to audiobook so I can listen to it and experience it in a whole new way! I’ve All the stars for this wonderful book! I loved how everything came full circle for Nathaniel. I mourned for him in Transcend and Epoch and wished he would find a hea in those books. But this experience was even better. Gracelyn was his true soul mate I feel like I have been on a long journey with Nathaniel and watch him grow as a man, father and now a lover He and Gracelyn lit up ears with their banter, humor and feisty repartee. I couldn’t get enough of their dialogue and the children’s antics. This was a heartwarming book with a touch of the supernatural to get you thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed it!