How to Read Christina Dodd's Fortune Hunters Series
If you love high-stakes romantic suspense, steamy romance, and deep-seated family mysteries, Christina Dodd’s Fortune Hunters series is a thrilling ride. The overarching plot centers on the legacy of Nathan Manly, a disgraced billionaire businessman who fled the country with his company's wealth, leaving behind a legitimate son, Carrick, and a trail of illegitimate sons who grew up in the shadow of his scandal. As these "lost brothers" discover their connection and cross paths, they must navigate dangerous criminal plots, seek out the missing fortune, and find love along the way.
While the four main books of the Fortune Hunters series can technically be read as standalones, they are deeply intertwined with another of Dodd's popular contemporary series: the Lost Hearts (also known as Lost Texas Hearts) trilogy. The character of Gabriel Prescott connects both series, serving as the foster brother to the Prescott sisters in the first trilogy before becoming the primary protagonist and resolving the Manly family mystery in the final Fortune Hunters book.
The Recommended Reading Order
For the ultimate experience, we highly recommend reading the Lost Hearts trilogy first, followed by the Fortune Hunters series, and concluding with the Christmas novella epilogue. This combined reading path ensures you trace Gabriel's origins and follow the slow-burn mystery of the Manly family fortune from start to finish:
- Just the Way You Are (2003) – Lost Hearts Book 1. Focuses on Hope Prescott, the eldest sibling, who works at an answering service while trying to reunite her family. She meets Zachariah Givens.
- Almost Like Being in Love (2004) – Lost Hearts Book 2. Focuses on the rebellious Pepper Prescott, who goes on the run after witnessing a crime and reunites with Dan Graham.
- Close to You (2005) – Lost Hearts Book 3. Focuses on Caitlin Prescott (Kate Montgomery), a reporter stalked by a killer and protected by Teague Ramos.
- Trouble in High Heels (2006) – Fortune Hunters Book 1. Brandi Michaels pawns her ring and meets Roberto Bartolini, getting swept into a dangerous crime ring.
- Tongue in Chic (2007) – Fortune Hunters Book 2. Meadow Szarvas gets caught stealing a painting by Devlin Fitzwilliam, who claims she is his long-lost wife.
- Thigh High (2008) – Fortune Hunters Book 3. Nessa Dahl in post-Katrina New Orleans is suspected of bank robberies by investigator Jeremiah MacNaught, with Gabriel Prescott playing a key supporting role.
- Danger in a Red Dress (2009) – Fortune Hunters Book 4. Hannah Grey escapes her abusive marriage and finds shelter with Gabriel Prescott, leading to the final confrontation with Carrick Manly.
- Gabriel's Gift: A Lost Hearts Christmas Story (2014) – Novella Epilogue. A festive wrap-up that concludes Gabriel Prescott's long journey and provides final closure to both series.
Publication Order Breakdown
If you prefer to skip the Prescott sisters' stories and focus strictly on the core Fortune Hunters novels, you can read them in their original publication order. The main series was published between 2006 and 2009:
- Trouble in High Heels (2006)
- Tongue in Chic (2007)
- Thigh High (2008)
- Danger in a Red Dress (2009)
- Optional: Gabriel's Gift (2014)
Reading in this order allows you to focus purely on the search for Nathan Manly’s missing fortune. However, skipping the Lost Hearts trilogy means you will miss the backstory of Gabriel Prescott, whose quest to find his sisters and discover his biological parentage reaches its dramatic climax in Danger in a Red Dress.
Inside the Fortune Hunters Books
1. Trouble in High Heels (2006)
The series opens with Brandi Michaels, who decides to live a little after being betrayed by her fiancé. She pawns her expensive engagement ring, buys a gorgeous pair of high heels, and spends a passionate night with a handsome Italian stranger named Roberto Bartolini. However, Roberto has a hidden agenda, and Brandi soon finds herself caught in a web of criminal activity and corporate espionage tied directly to the Manly fortune.
2. Tongue in Chic (2007)
Meadow Szarvas is caught red-handed attempting to steal a priceless painting from the estate of the wealthy Devlin Fitzwilliam. To save herself from jail, she fakes amnesia, but Devlin plays along by claiming she is actually his beloved wife. As the two engage in a witty, high-stakes game of deception, they must confront their growing attraction and the dark secrets surrounding Devlin's true heritage.
3. Thigh High (2008)
Set against the sultry, chaotic backdrop of post-Katrina New Orleans, sensible bank employee Nessa Dahl finds her life turned upside down when investigator Jeremiah MacNaught suspects her of coordinating a string of Mardi Gras bank robberies. As they work together to clear her name, they uncover links to the overarching Manly family drama. Gabriel Prescott also features prominently in this installment, setting up his own book.
4. Danger in a Red Dress (2009)
The main series reaches its thrilling conclusion as Hannah Grey, running from an abusive marriage and hiding her identity, takes a job caring for an elderly woman. She meets Gabriel Prescott, who is hunting down the truth about his biological father, Nathan Manly. Together, they must face off against Nathan's ruthless, legitimate son, Carrick Manly, who will stop at nothing to claim the family's missing billions.
What to Know Before You Start
Christina Dodd’s romantic suspense novels stand out for their blend of intense, fast-paced action, sizzling romance, and lighthearted humor. Readers should expect strong, resilient heroines and complex, often secretive heroes. The series also incorporates vivid real-world settings, such as post-Katrina New Orleans in Thigh High, adding a layer of atmosphere and realism to the plots. While each book resolves its main romance, the overarching mystery of the Manly fortune and the connections between the brothers build from book to book, making a sequential read highly rewarding.