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Book Reviews of The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes
The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes
Author: Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer, Anne Stuart
ISBN-13: 9781429951180
ISBN-10: 1429951184
Publication Date: 11/24/2008
Pages: 500
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 5

4.1 stars, based on 5 ratings
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

33 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

Mistry avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 105 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 18
This was an entertaining book, but took a while to get into. I couldn't connect with the sisters until further into the book. I also felt that I was dropped into the middle of a conversation and had to catch up. That said, there were some good parts to this book, especially Mare's penchant for quoting movies, most of them favorites of mine, so there are some hidden laughs in there. The descriptions of the sisters' magic was great, but it just didn't go deep enough. The ending was almost decent, but wrapped up too quick, and I'd like to have seen the book go farther, or at least have an epilogue.
All in all, it was a quick read, but I think it could have been done much better, considering the caliber of the authors.
Mendy avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14
I expected 3 novellas with a common thread and was surprised to find 1 story about 3 couples written by 3 authors. I can't say that I found it enjoyable. It is a good enough paranormal romance but it felt choppy. It was rushed in some aspects and in others I just couldn't wait for them to get the lead out and get to the darn point.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 68 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
Ho-hum... really didn't care about the young ladies in this book... keep your powers, lose them... whatever. Not much of a story here... wicked
Aunt, wants to stay young... willing to kill... whatever. The only good line (laugh out loud!) was when the evil aunt had sent a Jude Law look-alike as a "gift" for one of her nieces... the Niece doesn't go for him and the Aunt wants to know why.
"How could he not be your type?" Xan said. "Your entire generation is mad for Jude Law."
"Well, some of us felt he lost some luster over the Nanny thing," Mare said. (How funny is that!)
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 126 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I had expected three short stories that tied in together. Instead this is one solid story that they collaborated on. At the beginning of the book it seemed a bit spastic and was hard to read, but farther into the book I got sucked in and it flowed quite nicely.
msdamgoode avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 83 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I adore both Anne Stuart and Jenny Crusie and picked this up as soon as it came out. I thought it was a cute beach read, but lacked a certian spark since there were three love stories crammed into a 390 page book. There just wasn't enough room to devote to fully fleshing out the characters. However, it had a certian "Practical Magic" charm, and kept me entertained on a camping trip.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 41 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This storey is of 3 sister that are goofy witches and unable to really handle their skills. and evil relative wishing them harm, sends them the "men of their dreams" in order to try and get the girls to give up their magic.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 149 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
For years, the three orphaned Fortune sisters, each endowed with a different magical ability, have been on the run from their evil aunt Xan. Dee, the oldest, is their shape-shifting protector; sullen middle child Lizzie has transmutative abilities (her latest aim is turning straw into gold); and self-satisfied Mare can move things with her mind. Aunt Xan, up to old tricks, uses a spell to send each girl her one true love-but if the sisters fall for these paramours, Xan will get her hands on their powers. What Xan doesn't count on is that the girls are wise to the plot and determined to beat their aunt at her own game.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 62 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
If you are a fan of the "Charmed" genre, this book may be a great choice for you. About three sisters who have 'supernatural' powers, their struggles to remain hidden from their evil aunt, their trials and tribulations as they attempt to learn to control their powers... and then, the face-off with Evil Auntie! Very amusing, fast and fun read.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 93 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Story of 3 magical sisters and their wicked aunt that wants to steal their powers. She sets them all up w/ the men of their dreams, so they will give up their powers to her. I have to admit, I didn't finish this book. I just couldn't get into it. The characters were not engaging & the writing didn't make me care enough about what happened next to keep me reading.
batreader avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Good for a quick, light read. The characters...the three sisters and the three guys...weren't in depth enough to make them stand out as separate people. The sisters' personalities were interchangeable, as were the three guys'. The difference were just superficial.

But it was a way to pass a summer afternoon.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 199 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I guess I'm just not into fantasy. I grabbed this book when I saw Jennifer Crusie's name. I love her books, especially her humor, but I think she's better when she works alone.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of the most humerous fantasy books I have ever read. Each of the Miss Fortunes has a magic ability, but have no idea how to control it. Each has "her own true love" but fights the attraction. The villain is nasty. If you enjoy fantasy and humor, read it!
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on
Helpful Score: 1
The story was a little slow in the beginning, but by the end I didn't want to put it down!
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 71 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
There are several other reviews for this book that I agree with. It does take a bit to get into the characters. The format of the story told from the perspective of each sister is fine if you go into the book expecting that. Before reading the reviews I thought this was three short stories. (Another book, "A List and a Promise" by Sally Lane, is told in a similar fashion, but she headed each chapter with the lady's name whose perspective was being told.) It is kind of like reading a soap opera, bouncing from story line to story line as they cross and diverge.
The story was cute. It would have been nice to have the characters a little more fleshed out, but as mentioned in other reviews it is hard to develop that many characters in so short a space. That is really what keeps it from being really engrossing. That said, it was worth finishing, but you do have to stick with it for the first 100 pages or so to get caught up in the story. You still don't feel real close to the characters, but you at least care to find out the end. I also would have liked an epilogue. (Do you suppose the publisher required them to keep it under 400 pages and that was one of the cuts along with more on the magic and characters?)
sweb4us avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I have to agree with the other reviewers who said it was difficult to get into the beginning of the book, but once I became familiar with the cast of characters, I enjoyed reading it. It was a good book, but not a great book.
Judy-Ree avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great paranormal story about 3 sisters. They are fighting for control of their powers as they meet with the 3 men who will love them.

It was a nice read. Not alot of depth, but the plot kept moving along and the 3 story lines happen all about the same time frame and you get to see the same story from 3 sides. Definately worth a read.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoed reading this book, light, fun and fast. The sisters seems lonely yet have each other and are each wanting there true love. Then comes the wicked aunt who gives them what they ask for and still they question? But all ends well. All around just a great book. Will be looking for my books by the same Authors.
cameling avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a really fun read .... i wish i could do magic like some of the sisters.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I love Jenny Crusie's books and she has the collaboration idea down to a fine art. If you were given the book without the cover and title page I don't believe you would know that 3 people wrote this together. For her other collaborations look for those she wrote with Bob Mayer. Excellent books.
Gr8Smokies avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 98 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book was AWFUL. I love Jennifer Crusie and totally love Anne Stuart, but this book read like it was written by three people who barely talked to each other.

It was hard to keep the characters straight and the story was bland and uninteresting at best. By page 100, I still did not care about the characters, so I stopped reading.

I love paranormal, but this was one of the worst books I read last year.
luvlove avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Light and humorous, this book can lift the melancholy out of your day. If you like it simple, unique and delightful, this is the book for you.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book, I found it highly comical in parts. Although the intro to zombies didnt really have much of a story in the book for me. I did enjoy this book and read it in one night.
barbsis avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 1076 more book reviews
I was disappointed in this book. It wasn't an anthology like I expected but a conglomeration of authors writing the same story. There were parts that were great and others (most of it actually) that was just so-so. I liked the grand premise: the aunt who's losing her powers through aging targets her powerful but don't know it nieces. Aunt Xantippe is an evil woman who manipulates everyone into doing what she wants regardless of the consequences. Dee, Lizzie and Mare are good moral people just trying to live their lives under the radar when Aunt Xantippe reenters their lives. The only good thing she did was introduce each woman to their soul mate. Unfortunately, she didn't do it for their sakes but her own. Anyway, a good premise but not executed very well.
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on
If you like the tv series Charmed Ones, you will love this book!!!
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 204 more book reviews
Very cute, lots of magic, frogs, sparkles and true love x3. A good fast read
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 24 more book reviews
Good collection of short stories!
pookiesbooknook avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 2 more book reviews
Super cute fun book! I really enjoyed this one and it was just so easy to fall in love with all of the characters!
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 517 more book reviews
The Fortune sisters have been hiding out since their parents death avoiding their aunt who is a witch. She wants their powers to make herself stronger. Interesting story/
mtngal1963 avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 19 more book reviews
This is a funny book. It's about 3 sisters with magical abilities that dont always go the way they want them to. The other characters are interesting as well. It's an easy read on a nice rainy day.
keno avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 866 more book reviews
i thought this book was good, lot's going on with it, with 3 sisters and 3 guys! so let's get sparkle dustin'! : )
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 1568 more book reviews
This is a delightful paranormal romp!

From back cover:
Spend a weekend with three extraordinary sisters . . .
When she was sixteen, Dee Fortune kidnapped her two younger sisters and ran from danger. Now twenty-nine, she's still trying to control her shape-shifting power--no easy task when Danny James shows up one Friday morning with his deadly smile and dangerous questions about the past.
Lizzie is determined to save her family from financial ruin by turning straw into gold; now, if she could only stop turning forks into bunnies. Then Elric, a sorcerer, appears one Friday--annoyed with the chaos Lizzie is creating in the universe and in his heart...
The youngest Miss Fortune, Mare, towers above her sisters but her telekinetic power is dwarfed by their gifts. She spends her days at Value Video!! and her nights contemplating the futility of her existence. But then a gorgeous Value Video!! VP and Mare's long-lost love turn up...and they all turn up the heat on a weekend that no Fortune will soon forget!
reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 25 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book. This is for the paperback. My cover is a little different - has vines and butterflies and such - no house.
buzzby avatar reviewed The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes on + 6062 more book reviews
One story by 3 authors, experts will be able to tell who wrote what.