Rating: 
Summary: Promises more than it delivers
Review: It was so disappointingly predictable and "boilerplate". I suppose, afterall, how many different ways can you describe a romance and marriage, with all its many forks in the road. "Evergreen" was the first Belva Plain book I ever read and it spoiled me for the rest. That book truly captured my heart.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable and tired plot but with non-typecast characters
Review: On reading the synopsis of the book, I formed my own expectations and predictions of the book and rather to my disappointment, they were more or less accurate. The story is predictable and the plot, tried-and-tested before: a man, who in his greed for more, makes reckless decisions and risks, his downfall is predictable. The only thing I find interesting is that the characters in the books are not typecast. Robb, for instance, is not ruthless in his quest for wealth, as we would have presumed most people of such nature would be. Instead, he is portrayed as a gentlemen, with a heart for the underdogs. Here, it does not make me close the book with a 'serve you right' at the end, but instead, I finished the book with a sigh, sympathising with him, even though I knew, almost right from the start, how he would end up to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Very pleasant quick read.
Review: Once again Belva Plain has given us a fine novel about everyday life. I was a little disappointed in the turn that Robb's life took in that he never did contact Lily again to at least see how she was making out. Everything came together nicely at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Good but not Great!
Review: Prehaps I'm a romantic at heart and therefore like the happy ever after endings. Although Robb seems to get everthing he deserves, I still could feel Lily's pain even after the ending. I would have felt that Lily was vindicated if maybe she had had children. This book is very similiar to Plain's Promises. The difference is that the end seems to justify the means more in Promises than in Fortune's Hand. Good read, but the end just leaves somthing missing.
Rating:
Summary: Tale of an overly-ambitious man
Review: Robb MacDaniel has his life all planned when a tragic accident changes everything. His parents are killed and he inherits enough money to go to law school instead of becoming a teacher as he intended. He puts off his marriage to his high school sweetheart and his entire life takes a different turn. The author makes it very plain (no pun intended) that Robb's pursuit of money and prestige inevitably leads to his downfall. The characters in this book are not as finely drawn or as sympathetic as many in Plain's other books and her message is pretty obviously made, but it's not a bad read.
Rating:
Summary: Tale of an overly-ambitious man
Review: Robb MacDaniel has his life all planned when a tragic accident changes everything. His parents are killed and he inherits enough money to go to law school instead of becoming a teacher as he intended. He puts off his marriage to his high school sweetheart and his entire life takes a different turn. The author makes it very plain (no pun intended) that Robb's pursuit of money and prestige inevitably leads to his downfall. The characters in this book are not as finely drawn or as sympathetic as many in Plain's other books and her message is pretty obviously made, but it's not a bad read.
Rating:
Summary: my review
Review: Robb MacDaniel is a man who has had to struggle to have it all. However, life has lent him a hard hand. He has had to hurt people he loved. He tries to pay back by helping others. However, his early ambition comes to haunt him.Belva Plain writes a very compelling story here. Her characters seem very alive and you become familiar with Robb's struggles and happiness. Good book.
Rating:
Summary: Relax for a while with a "good read"
Review: Robb McDaniel has his life all planned out. He will marry his high school sweetheart, Lily, teach at the high school and maybe eventually become the school principal. But suddenly, after a tragic car accident in which his parents are killed, he is able to have enough money to go to law school. And that's when everything changes for them. While Robb goes to law school, Lily stays in their hometown, works at the library and waits for him to graduate so they can be married. But Robb meets Ellen Grant, falls in love with her, marries her and becomes a partner in her father's law firm. They have 2 children, a daughter and then a much longed for son. But as time goes on, Robb becomes more and more involved in his work and getting ahead and Ellen is left to face some unique problems alone. FORTUNE'S HAND is fascinating in that it shows how a person can completely be taken over by ambition and greed and what happens to the family left behind.
Rating:
Summary: Relax for a while with a "good read"
Review: Robb McDaniel has his life all planned out. He will marry his high school sweetheart, Lily, teach at the high school and maybe eventually become the school principal. But suddenly, after a tragic car accident in which his parents are killed, he is able to have enough money to go to law school. And that's when everything changes for them. While Robb goes to law school, Lily stays in their hometown, works at the library and waits for him to graduate so they can be married. But Robb meets Ellen Grant, falls in love with her, marries her and becomes a partner in her father's law firm. They have 2 children, a daughter and then a much longed for son. But as time goes on, Robb becomes more and more involved in his work and getting ahead and Ellen is left to face some unique problems alone. FORTUNE'S HAND is fascinating in that it shows how a person can completely be taken over by ambition and greed and what happens to the family left behind.
Rating: 
Summary: Not enough character inter action
Review: This book didn't go together well. We meet Lily in the begining but don't get to follow her life in parallel with Robbs. It would have been nice to see some more of her life.
| 
