In Independently Wealthy by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal, Savannah is an heiress to her father’s billions. A father she 
never knew. Living in New York, Savannah is working as an editorial assistant at her late father’s company. She is slowly getting to know her two half siblings, Caroline and Ned, who she also works with. They have a difficult relationship due to their father’s life choices, but the relationships are becoming more amicable.
There is one thing they all agree on though. Their father died in an accident a midst scandal and unanswered questions…and none of them believes it was an accident. When the first PI Ned hired didn’t get them any answers, together they decide to hire another one. Savannah is determined to find out the truth, and throws herself into investigating he father’s life and death on her own. Disregarding the wishes of Ned, her boyfriend Alex, and without much thought to her own safetly, Savannah just wants the truth.
The truth isn’t easy to find, with road blocks, secrets, and someone who doesn’t want the truth known. As Savannah embarks on this journey, she is also dealing with her family and romantic relationships. She has a lot going on, but that doesn’t stop her and she keeps a fairly level head. Will she stay safe and find out what really happened to her father?
Independently Wealthy is actually the sequel to Lorriane’s book New Money. I didn’t realize this, and at first felt like I was jumping into the middle of a story instead of the beginning. It was a little hard to get into for this reason, but with Lorraine’s smooth, easy to read writing style, I found myself pulled in and as I got farther into Independently Wealthy everything and everyone fell together nicely.
Savannah is a character I admire. She has sudden new found wealth, but that does not seem to have changed who she is one bit. She remembers where she came from, and she remembers those less fortunate. She doesn’t do anything in a way that focuses attention on her. She does not come across as angry or bitter about her father or her half siblings, instead she shows a lot of maturity beyond her years. I really like how Lorraine developed Savannah’s character and how Savannah has goals in her life that she doesn’t lose focus of. Romantic relationships are not Savannah’s priority, but they are still important to her.
Ned and Caroline, Savannah’s brother and sister, are strong secondary characters in Independently Wealthy who bring a lot of depth and background to the story being told. I really saw a lot of growth in Ned and his relationship with Savannah. The complicated family relationships are a big part of Independently Wealthy.
I really liked how Lorraine draws Independently Wealthy out of a period of time. This makes it more realistic. The setting of New York at Christmas time is fabulous and even though I’ve never been there, Lorraine took me there with her vivid descriptions.
With unexpected plot twists and turns, complex relationships and high society, Independently Wealthy is fast paced and intriguing. I’d recommend Independently Wealthy to romance readers looking for a bit of mystery. I would recommend reading New Money first.
Book Info:
Published December 2nd 2014 by Thomas Dunne Books
In New Money, Savannah Morgan was thrust into high-society New York when she learned she was the sole heir to her father’s billion-dollar fortune. In Independently Wealthy, she is living her dream life on the Upper West Side, excelling at her job as an editorial assistant, and enjoying her handsome new boyfriend, Alex.
Everything in Savannah’s life should be perfect—but she can’t ignore the questions and scandal surrounding her father’s fatal accident. Her hopes of solving this mystery are shared by Caroline Stone—her newfound sister who is slowly becoming a friend. Savannah decides to investigate, although not everyone wants her to discover the truth. Her domineering older brother, Ned, has his own problems, including a lingering regret over his recent divorce, the constant pressure of running the Stone media empire, and managing a playboy bachelorhood. As Savannah’s quest for justice becomes complicated and dangerous, she is led to Washington, D.C., an alluring stranger, and more surprises, trouble, and changes than she ever could have imagined.
