Fortune Is a Woman Book

Elizabeth Adler weaves a tale of three characters together through history, family relationships, and romance. Her three characters first meet in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but their stories actually start in the late 1800's and wind through the 1900's. The strength of women is displayed throughout the book along with the misogynistic behaviors of men who bring tragedy and misfortune to women throughout their lives.

Francine Harrison is an heiress who is treated like a prisoner by her father. She doesn't fit the social norm of girls of her day, and her father at first ignores, and then cruelly punishes her for the crazy girl he portrays her to be. Her brother continues his father's evil behaviors.

Annie Aysgarth, growing up in England, finds herself also a prisoner of her father in a different way. She becomes a servant to this emotionally stunted widow throughout her early life, robbing her of any chance to become a wife and mother.

Lai Tsin begins life in China under the cruel eye of a father who sells Lai Tsin and a sibling to evil men to be used and abused. After being resold again, Lai ends up on a ship as a cabin boy. He reaches San Francisco to work as a coolie.

All three characters reach into their souls to find strength and perseverance that help propel them to triumph. They also rely on the strength of their friendship with the other two to survive the tragedies of their lives.

This is a family saga that is well worth reading with stunning reveals at the end that I doubt few will expect.