Spotlight & Giveaway: Fortune’s Holiday Surprise by Jennifer Wilck

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Jennifer Wilck to HJ!

Hi Jennifer and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Fortune’s Holiday Surprise!

Hi! I’m so excited to be here again. Thanks for having me!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Fortune’s Holiday Surprise is part of the Fortune’s of Texas continuity series. It’s the story of Arlo Fortune, who is dealing with the loss of his father, with whom he had a complicated relationship, and his best friend, whose sudden death has sent him reeling. He wants nothing to do with the joys of the holiday season, especially as he tries to figure out a secret his father kept that could destroy his family. Carrie Kaplan has come to Texas to take custody of her baby niece and bring her back to Arizona to teach her about her Jewish faith. She plans to swoop in, grab her niece, and leave Texas without forming any attachments. But then she meets Arlo, sees the connection her niece has for him, and has to decide if a little holiday magic might just be enough to make her stay.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

Carrie dropped the mold on the counter and hugged him tight. Then, she kissed him.
Man, if she was going to kiss him every time he had an idea, he’d ensure he turned into Albert Freakin’ Einstein.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

I had so much fun researching Spanish influences on Jewish traditions–the food (!!!), different customs, and the joyful celebrations. My favorite had to be the bimuelos, a fried fritter similar to a donut, that Jewish of Spanish descent eat on Hanukkah.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Carrie and Arlo are attracted to each other by how Carrie’s two-year-0ld niece relates to the two of them. Arlo is struck by Carrie’s compassion, and Carrie is entranced by Arlo’s playfulness with the toddler, something he doesn’t exhibit with anyone else.

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Arlo first meets Carrie at his best friend’s funeral. The emotion of the scene really got to me.

Arlo Fortune stared at his best friend’s front door and blinked hard. Only a week and a half ago, Isaac Abelman and his wife had died in a freak gas explosion while on a business trip overseas. He’d endured a funeral worse than any other he’d attended, including his own father’s. And now, seven days later, he’d come to pay a condolence call to Isaac’s grieving sister, someone he barely knew. He pulled at the clasp of his bolero tie and wondered if he should knock on the blue oak door or ring the black iron doorbell.
Once upon a time, he’d opened the door without a care, yelling hello to Isaac, kissing Isaac’s wife, Randi, on the cheek and tickling the chin of their toddler daughter, Aviva. Hell, going back even further, to his and Isaac’s childhood, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d knocked or rung before entering.
But now?
He grimaced and didn’t realize anyone was walking behind him until a throat cleared, and a man and a woman said, “Excuse me,” before moving past him, walking up the steps to the front porch and opening the door.
Despite the grief that slowed his thoughts and body, Arlo quickened his pace and followed the couple into the house.
He expected Randi to greet him, Aviva on one hip, a grin on her face. Instead, one of his neighbors nodded to him. From the front hall, Arlo glanced into the full living room on the right, filled with murmuring voices and subdued laughter. On his left was the dining room where he and his friend had shared many a meal. Today, the maple table was covered with a white cloth and loaded with platters of food and trays of dessert. More people gathered around it, helping themselves and huddling in groups.
He’d fiddled with his tie so much it probably needed fixing, but the mirror in the front hall was covered, probably a Jewish mourning custom he didn’t know, so he smoothed his hand down his front and wandered into the fray.
Snatches of conversation drifted toward him.
“…so sad about the baby.”
“…such a freak accident.”
“…going to stay here…”
Arlo scanned the room, trying to find someone he knew. He’d never paid a shiva call before, and he didn’t know what was expected.
Spotting one of his friends across the room, he started to make his way in his direction when a voice interrupted him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if everyone could come into the living room for the minyan, please.”
Minyan? What was that?
Someone handed him a book, open to the beginning. There was English and Hebrew writing on it, but the book was backward. He frowned. The rabbi he’d seen at the funeral walked to the front of the room and began to read.
The English was meaningful, the Hebrew chanting beautiful, and it brought into focus the importance of being together in this time of grief. As he listened to the prayers murmured around him, he looked at the people in the room.
Many of them were neighbors and townspeople he recognized. Some were people he’d grown up with. Others were strangers to him.
His gaze stopped when it landed on Randi’s sister. Arlo remembered her name was Carrie. Isaac had mentioned her occasionally, and he’d seen her at their wedding five years ago, but this was the first time he’d really had time to notice her.
She was pretty, with long dark hair she had twisted up in some kind of knot, big brown eyes filled with sadness and pale skin.
She looked…alone. Despite everyone joining her in mourning, there was a wall around her. He didn’t know if it was of her own making or maybe his imagination. But sympathy tugged at him.
In the middle of the service, Aviva began fussing. Carrie reached for her, and he thought he saw fear in her eyes, but he blinked and it was gone.
What must it be like to have parenthood thrust upon you like that? Aviva was adorable. He’d always had a bond with her, but even still, taking care of a two-year-old out of the blue? What kind of life change must that be?
He wanted to go up and reintroduce himself to her, see how she was doing and check on Aviva. But when the service ended, a swarm of people crowded around her, and he was forced to wait. He wandered through the living room into the kitchen, stopping to greet people he knew.
“Terrible tragedy,” his friend Jim said. “I talked to him the night before he left. Never thought it would be the last time, though.”
Arlo’s throat thickened. “Yeah.” His voice croaked, and he made a fist with his hand at his side. He hadn’t spoken to Isaac since a month before he died, and when he had, they’d argued. He’d had many arguments with his friend, but they’d always made up afterward. This time, they never would. He wanted to scream and shout at the unfairness of it all.

Readers should read this book….

…if they love ranchers, holiday traditions, and adorable toddlers whose antics jump off the page.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently working on my third Fortune’s of Texas book. My next release is A Fortune With Benefits, set to release in the spring of 2025.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: I’ll be giving away a paperback copy of The Perfect Match, the first book in The Perfect Match series. Open to all.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What’s your favorite holiday recipe?

 
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Excerpt from Fortune’s Holiday Surprise:

As the sun set through the trees, Arlo finished fixing the pipe under the master bathroom sink, his mind on Carrie as it had been the entire day. The more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. Aside from being a terrific cook, she was funny and smart. Emotionally strong, too. As he put his tools away, a citrusy sweet smell wafted from the kitchen below, making his stomach growl. He closed his toolbox, peeked into Aviva’s room to see if she was there and jogged down the stairs.
He paused in the doorway of the kitchen. Carrie stood at the counter with Aviva sitting next to her. The two of them were patting dough and forming it into balls. He admired the graceful movements of Carrie’s arms as she worked the dough. The kitchen light shone onto her dark hair, giving it reddish highlights. And the smile she gave Aviva as the two chatted melted his heart.
He stepped into the kitchen. “I smell something yummy,” he said, striding over to Aviva and tickling her tummy.
She giggled and held up her sticky hands “Bimwos!”
He snagged one, popping it into his mouth and rolling his eyes in delight. “What are you doing this evening?” he asked.
She gave a rueful smile. “Same thing I do every evening. Putting Aviva to bed and either going through Randi and Isaac’s things or curling up with a book.”
Arlo shook his head. “Not tonight you aren’t. Tonight, you’re going out with me.”
She looked at him askance. “Oh, really?”
“Yes, ma’am. Have you seen the lake yet?”
“I’ve driven by.”
He scoffed. “That’s a no, then. We’re going to the lake.”
She pointed out the window. “You do know it’s winter, right?”
“Yep.”
“And what about Aviva?”
“Bring her.”
“But…”
Arlo gripped Carrie’s upper arms. They were soft, yet he knew they were strong. Her brown eyes gave away her worry and also, for a split second, desire. Did she want him as much as he was coming to want her? The look was gone before he knew it, but the worry was still there.
“You both deserve a break. And a change of scenery. Please? I promise we’ll be back in time for Vivie’s bedtime.”
He waited, sure she was going to refuse. Just as he was about to let her bow out gracefully, she relented.
“Okay.”
Joy surged through him. “I’ll pick you up at five.”
Pushing away from the counter, he packed up his tools, grabbed a last bimuelos—gosh, they were good—and returned to the ranch. He checked in at the office at the main house to make sure there wasn’t anything he needed to do right away. And then he got ready for the evening.
At four fifty-eight, he pulled his pickup truck into her driveway. The asphalt needed patching, and he mentally added it to his to-do list. He laughed to himself. If his father could see him now. The man had thought manual labor was beneath him, and here Arlo was, leaning into it. He shook his head to clear it. He didn’t want to think about Casper tonight. Glancing into the back seat, he triple-checked there was enough room for Aviva’s car seat before getting out of the cab and loping up to Carrie’s front door. His hand hovered over the bell, but before he could press it, the door opened.
His heart stuttered. Something about this woman took his breath away. Her shiny brown hair was cascading around her shoulders. She wore jeans that hugged her hips and a V-neck sweater in a light blue color that emphasized her eyes. Her necklace, a gold Jewish star, drew his attention to her chest, but he wasn’t about to ogle her. Not when she held Aviva on her hip.
“Awwow!” the toddler cried, holding out her pudgy arms to him.
He took her from Carrie’s arms.
“Hello, little one. Hi,” he said to Carrie, wondering why he was tongue-tied.
She smiled softly. “Hi.”
She reached for a bag with what he presumed was for Aviva, and he took it from her. Their fingers touched, and once again, heat shot up his arm. Their gazes met, and this time he was sure she felt it, too.
“You’ve got your hands full with her,” Carrie said. “I can carry the bag.”
“Go open the back seat of the truck,” he insisted. “I’ll take care of this.”
Nodding, she grabbed a jacket from the hook next to the door, locked the door behind her and rushed over to the truck.
“Pway game?” Aviva asked.
“Hmm,” he said as he sat her in her car seat. “We’re owls,” he said. “Hoot, hoot. They’re night animals.” He widened his eyes.
“Hoot, hoot,” Aviva replied, bugging her eyes out, too.
Arlo opened the door for Carrie, who laughed as she climbed into the truck.
“Okay, owls, it’s time to go,” she said.
He glanced at the sky through the windshield as he backed out of her driveway. They’d just make it.
“You said the lake,” Carrie said. “Where exactly are we going?”
“My cabin.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Carrie stiffen.
“Don’t worry, we’re headed to the dock behind my cabin.” he clarified, hoping to put her at ease. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he had anything untoward in mind.
A short time later they arrived at his place and he parked in the driveway. When she unlocked her seat belt, he smiled over at her. “Follow me,” he said.
Arlo had chosen his cabin—one of six that he and his five siblings moved into, because of its view of the lake. Entering from the front, he led Carrie through the flagstone foyer into a huge great room, with the kitchen on the right, a huge sitting area in the center and his office and guest rooms on the left. But it was the back of the house that caused Carrie to gasp.
The back wall was all windows. The views of the lake were spectacular. While she and Aviva stood at one of the windows, he grabbed two blankets and exited the back of his house. Making sure they were still with him, he brought them down to the dock, where two large chairs, made from logs just like his home, sat facing the water. He sat and motioned to Carrie to do the same. When she was settled, he handed her a blanket before pointing to the sky.
“Now watch,” he said.
The air was cool, the lake smooth as glass. As the sun began to set, the sky turned shades of pink, red and blue. The colors reflected off the water, turning the world a rainbow hue and making it seem as if the sunset was endless.
“This is…beautiful,” Carrie whispered.
The awe in her voice made Arlo smile.
“It is.” It’s why he’d insisted on a wall of windows at the back. He looked over at her, though, instead of the sunset and thought to himself, So are you. He didn’t dare say the words out loud. After her stiffening in the car at the idea of going to his house, he didn’t want to push his luck and scare her off. He watched her snuggle under the blanket with Aviva.
Was it his imagination, or was she sneaking glances over at him, too? In profile in the waning light, it was hard to tell. But a few times, when he thought their gazes may have met, her mouth quirked in a smile. Then again, it could have just been the presence of Aviva. He wasn’t sure.
When the sun had set and the colors had muted to black, she turned to him.
“That was one of the most gorgeous sunsets I’ve ever seen. Thank you.” She glanced around the lake for a few more seconds. “You and your neighbors must love living here.”
He nodded. “We do.”
At her quizzical look, he continued. “The ranch is owned by my family, and my siblings all live on the property, along the lake.”
He’d already pointed out Jade’s and Nash’s houses as they entered the property. “You can’t see them from here, but Ridge, Sabrina and Dahlia live further down. We have golf carts to travel from one cabin to the other.”
A wistful expression crossed her face. “It must be nice to live so close to each other.”
His heart squeezed with sympathy. What would he do if he lost one of his siblings? He’d thought burying his best friend was awful. He couldn’t imagine losing one of his brothers or sisters as well.
“I’m sorry,” he said thickly. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
She shook her head, wiping a tear from her cheek.
He made his hand into a fist so as not to catch the tear on his fingertip. He could only imagine how soft her skin would feel.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m glad you brought me here.”
He reached across the space between their chairs and squeezed her hand. To his delight, she squeezed back.
“It’s getting chilly,” he told her. “Would you like to come inside for dinner?” He’d been so sure of himself this afternoon, almost cocky. But now, although still confident, he was aware how skittish she was, and he didn’t want to do anything to push her away. So even though she’d agreed to come out with him this afternoon, he checked in with her now, to make sure she was still on board.
He’d bring her home if she wanted…but he hoped she didn’t want to leave.
“That would be nice,” she replied, her voice shy. She cleared her throat. “I think Aviva is getting cold.”
Arlo stood and reached for Aviva, keeping her wrapped in the blanket. With his other hand, he helped Carrie up, and the three of them walked toward his house. He would have liked to hold Carrie’s hand longer, but she let go of his, and he didn’t try to take it again.
Inside, he lit the fireplace for warmth and then went into the kitchen to check on the beef ribs he’d put in the slow cooker earlier in the day.
Although he wasn’t a gourmet chef, he’d wanted a kitchen that was spacious and functional. With red cedar cabinets, copper pendulum light fixtures, black marble countertops and a slate tile backsplash, the room was cozy yet modern. Even Arlo, who didn’t like to cook, enjoyed being here. And when he had guests over—usually his family—the open, adjoining dining area and open living area made him feel part of the get-together, even when he had to prepare a meal.
Speaking of which, the barbecue smell wafted up, and he inhaled.
“That smells delicious,” Carrie said next to him. “What can I do to help?”
“How about a salad?” He looked across the open kitchen to the living room, making sure Aviva wasn’t near the fire. She was sitting on the couch, reading one of the books Arlo kept around for the little ones in his family.
Something about the way her little legs stuck straight forward on his brown leather couch, with the oversize cushions practically swallowing her whole, stirred something in him and made him yearn for a family.
“—you want?”
Carrie’s voice startled him, and he turned toward her.
She held two heads of lettuce in her hands.
He blinked.
“Which do you want?” Her lips twitched. “In your salad.”
“Sorry, wasn’t paying attention.”
“Clearly.”
“Romaine. I think there’s Caesar dressing in the cabinet.” He walked into the kitchen and reached around her to the pantry. Her hair brushed his nose, and he inhaled the floral scent of her shampoo.
He cleared his throat. “Here you go.”
As he handed her the bottle, their hands touched, and this time, he searched her face for a response.
Success! His chest swelled as he watched her bite her lip, her gaze alternating between their fingers and his face in rapid succession.
Despite his desire to continue the contact—keep savoring the warmth of her fingers against his—he let her go, a small smile his only sign that he’d felt the spark, too.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Flashing lights drew Arlo’s attention away from Carrie to the slow cooker on the counter.
“Perfect timing,” he said, with only a little sarcasm.
He lifted the lid, releasing steam and the aroma of barbecue ribs into the kitchen. Pulling out corn bread warming in the oven, he brought everything to the oak table in the dining room and began setting the table while Carrie finished dressing the salad.
She called Aviva over, got her settled in before taking a look at the food. She closed her eyes and inhaled, then glanced at Arlo, a gleam in her eye.
“Wait a minute. Can you even call yourself a Texan if you make ribs in a slow cooker? I thought you all were big barbecue people.”
He chuckled. “That would be y’all, not you all.”
She shrugged. “My question still stands.”
Arlo let the silence stretch while he served Carrie so she could cut up the rib meat into bite-sized pieces for Aviva. Then he took a bite of his corn bread while formulating his answer.
“Well, you see, yes, Texans love their barbecue, and I’m no different. But we also appreciate reality. And if I’m working all day, I can’t devote the proper amount of time to my barbecue, so then I use the slow cooker.”
Leaning on her hand, Carrie’s eyes widened. “Does that mean you’re just like the rest of us mere mortals?”
“Oh, honey, don’t you know everything is bigger in Texas?”
Her shoulders shook before she dropped her head and laughed. When she looked at him, tears streamed down her face.
“You cwying?” Aviva asked. Her lip quivered.
“Oh, no, sweetie,” Carrie said, quickly wiping her face. “I’m laughing. Arlo made a joke.”
The little girl frowned, looking between the two. And then, as if she didn’t want to be left out, she laughed, too.
Her forced laughter made Arlo laugh, and Carrie joined in as well.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

He’d lost the holiday spirit…

Until she brought light back into his life.

Rancher Arlo Fortune is devastated when he loses his best friend in a tragic accident. The only thing that heals him is opening his heart to his friend’s adorable daughter, Aviva…and his friend’s grieving sister-in-law, the brand-new guardian to the orphaned child. Carrie Kaplan has one mission: to lavish her niece with love in a Jewish home like her sister always wanted. Her stop in Chatelaine is only temporary. Right? But as she teaches Aviva about the miracle of Hanukkah, holiday magic might just beckon from Arlo’s ranch around the bend…

From Harlequin Fortunes of Texas:

Book 1: Fortune’s Secret Marriage by Jo McNally
Book 2: Nine Months to a Fortune by Elizabeth Bevarly
Book 3: Fortune’s Faux Engagement by Carrie Nichols
Book 4: A Fortune Thanksgiving by Michelle Lindo-Rice
Book 5: Fortune’s Holiday Surprise by Jennifer Wilck
Book 6: Fortune’s Mystery Woman by Allison Leigh
Book Links: Amazon | B&N |   kobo |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.
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