Fortunate Harbor, a novel by Davis Bunn, is the story of seaside development and local pushback along North Carolina’s Crystal Coast. Representing the developers is returning native son Curtis Gage. Coming back to Fortunate Harbor brings back so many memories. It is the site where his father, then the local sheriff, was gunned down. It is also where his first love, attorney Rae Alden, practices law and works with the homeowners there.

As old friends unite, new loves are found, and enemies come from within the organization, this story unfolds in surprising ways. With well drawn characters and a delightfully twisted plot I did enjoy this book and do recommend it!

Are you looking for a new audiobook? Check out Fortunate Harbor by Davis Bunn. I really enjoyed it and it's available now.

I liked this but I think I would have enjoyed it more as a physical book. I had a hard time with the audio. The narrator was ok but not great. I will try to read a physical copy. I like the plot and story though. It was a book I would normally really enjoy.

First, this did not feel like a Nicholas Sparks novel. Second, I would like to see book II of this. Hint, hint.

Setting is the beautiful town of Beaufort, NC. A beautiful area that the locals do now want disrupted by big money coming in to destroy their little town. Curtis and his former sweetheart, Ray must work together to prove otherwise to the locals.

While there is a sort of sparking romance in the book, it's more about a real estate dealing with several loops to jump through. I still have a lot of unanswered questions, which I hope was the authors intent to lead up to a series.

The ending left me surprised, laughing and ready for more.

I loved that this book take place in the Outer Banks! There is an underlying love story in this book and a bit of mystery too that goes along with big corporations trying to take over small towns. I felt like I was on the coast and I love when a book transports me like that!

The serene setting stole the show in this legal drama with a hint of romance and suspense. It was lovely and moody at the same time, providing the perfect storm for Curtis’s experiences as he traveled back to his seaside home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where his past flame still lives, as the developer of a resort. Rae is the attorney trying to prevent any unfortunate changes to her idyllic town. There was the underlying question if these two could move on from the past and embrace the future, and how they could and would throughout the story. I was pleasantly surprised by the suspense and mystery of the plot as the two discovered legends and treasures that could save both the status quo of their hometown and their love. A hypnotic mix of slow-burn suspense, drama and romance.
I had the opportunity to tandem read this in ebook, physical and audiobook formats so I didn’t have to disrupt my reading progress. Susan Bennett’s narration added to the atmospheric experience of the story, she did a great job voicing both points of view.

I was not ready for Fortunate Harbor to end, it felt like there were a few things left unsettled and not quite the way I expected. I really enjoyed the legal drama and mysterious pirate twist. I did not expect that in a beach resort, rekindled romance book. The audiobook narrator is excellent! I would definitely recommend the book! It kept my interest and made me hope that there were more books yet to come!

To be perfectly honest, I picked this book because it promised me that my devotion to Nicholas Sparks and Karen Kingsbury would ensure this one would be for me. Um, this was false advertisting. This was equivalent to the "Non Fat yogurt" in Seinfeld (if you don't know what I am talking about, stop reading this and go watch that-Thank me later)
What am I talking about?
Nick Sparks romance you can pretty. much is going to be emotionally INTENSE (hello kissing in the row boat in the pouring rain...) TRAGIC (Yeah expect someone to die or experience some terrible illness) yet somehow uplifting....
I'm sorry, but the romance in this book felt like a business transaction. I kept waiting for the couple to whip out a legal document and sign across the dotted line. Speaking of the "couple" it was not who I was expecting to be the "couple" , but considering this is going to be a series I think we can all guess what is going to happen--don't get after me for spoiling anything, if that is a spoiler you have never read any kind of romance. The romance was so dull, I mean DOA flat....Sally Jesse Raphael-nothing.
Okay on to Karen. Similar to Sparks her stories are emotionally intense, very tragic (Baxter FAmily-omigosh) and have STRONG Christian themes. I am racking my brain....was God even mentioned? Faith? I sure don't remember it. Yes this book was "clean", but so is "Fundamentals of Thermodynamics" by Richard E. Sonntag and Claus Borgnakke.
So totally false advertising aside, this book still was not good. It was written with very choppy and segmented scenes. The dialogue felt robotic. So even if the false advertising of non fat yogurt left a few extra inches on the waist, at least you had a good experience eating the yogurt. This sadly would be equivalent to eating a bowl of sour rotten yogurt........

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this advanced copy. I was not influenced or paid for my review.

Was a good book I liked the characters. It had a great plot and I love the location. The narration was good and while everybody was saying, it wasn’t a romance, I don’t necessarily agree with that. Well there might not have been any romance in the book. It was a love story. .

First time reader to this author and I enjoyed the storyline. There’s something deeply comforting in the way this novel unfolds. The coastal mystery is intriguing but never heavy, and the legal angle adds a layer of depth without overpowering the emotional core. The characters feel real and relatable, their struggles and triumphs echoing the ups and downs of real life. Fortunate Harbor, a new luxury resort project on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, has the locals in an uproar. When the Fortunate Harbor project brings Curtis and Rae, childhood sweethearts that have not seen each other in over a decade.back together the outcome is something neither could have imagined. The project brings intrigue, legal troubles, the need for trustworthy allies, and danger to the story. The setting of the Outer Banks is a favorite of mine with wonderful vacation memories. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for the opportunity.

Fortin Harbour by Davis Bunn started out promising, but it ended up being a little too sappy and drawn out for me. The premise had potential, and I can see how some readers might be swept up in the emotional tone, but personally, I just didn’t connect. The pacing lagged in places, and the overly sentimental vibe made it hard for me to stay engaged. Not a bad book—just not my kind of read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars

⭐️⭐️ 2/5 Stars (Meh)
Setting: The Outer Banks, North Carolina
Genre: Contemporary Romance (advertised as such but not what I was expecting a romance to be)

I picked up this book because it was billed as being similar to Nicholas Sparks, but unfortunately, that comparison fell flat for me. Yes, it’s set in the Outer Banks, but that’s really where the similarities end. I found the plot hard to follow, with too many characters introduced and several storylines that felt underdeveloped or left hanging. The premise had potential—especially the blend of local history, romance, and a treasure hunt—but the execution didn’t quite come together. I wanted to care about Curtis and Rae, but their connection didn’t feel authentic, and the stakes never seemed fully realized. While the setting was described nicely, it wasn’t enough to carry the story. I do think the author has talent and hope their next book finds a stronger footing. #netgalley #fortunateharbor #booked_this_weekend

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫 is an intriguing blend of International Corporate dealings, first loves reuniting in a complicated land grab, and even a little treasure hunting!

In these pages, the author skillfully weaves a suspenseful legal drama set in the picturesque Outer Banks, with a splash of romance. The considerable amount of legal and business detail, while at times felt vague and slowed the pace, did create a sense of mystery, keeping us on the trail and searching for more.

Without spoiling it, I’ll just say the romance did not go the way I expected, but didn’t detract from the story. I enjoyed watching the characters, whether family, friends, or the townspeople, work on trust and forgiveness.


Thank you @uplitreads @davisbunnauthor and @kensingtonbooks for these gifted books. Thank you @RecordedBooks for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.

I believe this is the first I’ve read from this author, and lucky for me that this is book #1 of a new series!

It is based in the Outer Banks area, and so it comes with beautiful descriptions of the area, as well as the climate of the people living in the area… especially since a huge, new resort has been built… and the GM is NOT a nice person… and the community is not afraid to let him know they’re not happy with him. But, he’s got his own agenda going…

Rae Alden is a top-ranking attorney in the area. Although she had the chance to leave, and move to a much more prestigious firm, she wanted to stay in her coveted small town, with it’s quirky townspeople who ARE the embodiment of ‘small town’!!

Curtis Gage is now in charge of a HUGE company who’s opening up phenomenal hotels… all over the world.
He’s also Rae’s HS sweetheart…. They haven’t seen each other in years…

They’ve both moved on though… they’re now in their late 20’s or early 30’s… right??

So when Rae is asked to represent Curtis’ company, under some sketchy circumstances, she takes a breath… and then asks her mentor to step in and help her out.

At the same time we learn that one of Rae’s clients, who owns a huge property that’s been damaged by multiple storms, has been missing for several years. Rae is desperately trying to locate him, as she’s his attorney, and she needs to make some imminent decisions regarding the property!

Once again, this is just the tip of the iceberg! There’s a whole lot going on in this one, with some startling twists!

I’m gonna stop 🛑 right here! 🛑
If it sounds like something you’d like, please look 👀 for it on shelves now. It was just released on 4/29/25!!

#FortunateHarbor by #DavisBunn and narrated beautifully, as always, by #SusanBennett!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

**** This has JUST BEEN RELEASED!! LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!! ****

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and & #RBMedia for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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If you’re looking for a feel-good summer read that blends mystery, romance, and personal transformation, Fortunate Harbor by Davis Bunn is a must-add to your beach bag. Set against the beautiful and breezy backdrop of the Outer Banks, this contemporary fiction novel delivers everything I love in a story: second chances, coastal charm, and just enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages.

The heart of Fortunate Harbor lies in its rekindled romance and the emotional journey of starting over. It’s a tender, hopeful tale about finding love and learning to live again after life’s storms. Bunn masterfully weaves in a legal mystery—one of my favorite elements—with the added bonus of pirate legends that give the story a fun, adventurous twist.

There’s something deeply comforting in the way this novel unfolds. The coastal mystery is intriguing but never heavy, and the legal angle adds a layer of depth without overpowering the emotional core. The characters feel real and relatable, their struggles and triumphs echoing the ups and downs of real life.

This is the kind of story that leaves you smiling, feeling a little lighter, and maybe even dreaming of your own second chance. With its seaside setting, mix of mystery and romance, and heartfelt message, Fortunate Harbor is a great pick for fans of contemporary fiction and a perfect companion for a lazy afternoon in the sun.

3.5* There seemed to be alot to keep track of in this novel. I did enjoy it overall. The character building is stretched out through the book.

It’s a promise of better things to come . . .

With its colorful history, and miles of sand, tide, and windswept oaks, North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a paradise for locals and tourists alike. For Curtis Gage, returning after nineteen years to be the new assistant manager of a 5-star, ocean-front resort, it’s a chance to start a new life—and come to terms with an old one. This is where his father, a revered police chief, died in the line of duty. Whisked away by his mother when he was just a child, Curtis always yearned to come back and reclaim this magnificent necklace of islands as home.

But he never imagined the risks . . .

This coastal haven is in attorney Rae Alden’s blood, and the resort’s expansion is encroaching on precious Fortunate Harbor. For Rae and the old-town families she represents, their generations-old heritage is not for sale for all the money in the world. Who’d have guessed that the ordeal would tie Rae to Curtis, a childhood sweetheart whose family tragedy once converged, fatefully, with her own past? The landgrab is reuniting them in more ways than one. Because the property is more valuable than even Rae believed. The proof is in a secret deed and a long-lost map to a bona fide buried treasure.

An enjoyable, multi-layered story of redemption and finding love again. There was a bit of a mystery and a fabulous setting - all in a great summer read.

This was my first time reading Davis Bunn, and this review is for the audiobook edition. Unfortunately, I didn’t particularly enjoy the narration. Sandra Bennett’s delivery felt flat and didn’t add much life to an already slow-moving story. Whether the lack of emotion was due to the narration or the storyline itself is hard to say—likely a bit of both.

From the synopsis, I was expecting a more romance-centered plot. Instead, the book leaned heavily into a legal and corporate drama set in a quiet coastal town, with the romantic elements feeling secondary at best.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy. While the premise had potential, I’m not sure I’ll be continuing the series.

While Sandra Bennett is a great Narrator, she couldn't make me love this book.
This was my first Davis Bunn book.

I felt misled by the description of the book. It didn't feel like as much of a romance as it did a long ago pirate mystery from childhood and a land grab. More of a secret corporate/legal mystery to grab valuable land from a small quiet town. There were a lot of legal meetings about obtaining this land by a secret group. All of this done by 2 people that grew up there and might be rekindling a childhood spark. So there's a lot of talking about the past. There is a surprise person that pops up near the end and really threw the story for a loop. The way so many things were left unanswered and opened it's obvious that there will be sequels. That is one thing that I find absolutely annoying about some books that have a sequel and I always give it a lower rating because of it. Please finish this story and then in the next book give us a new story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

You’ll like this book if you enjoy the Outer Banks, international / corporate plots, mysterious disappearances, and awesome military people. I would not classify it as a romance. There were several things left unresolved, which sets it up well to be the first in a series.

I haven’t read a book by Davis Bunn since he was co-writing with Janette Oke in the early 2000’s and I was curious about what his writing is like today. This wasn’t a book for me. I don’t enjoy all the corporate drama and got tired of the constant cliffhangers designed to keep my attention.

The audio narrator was more of a reader than an engaging narrator. Since the book alternates between a male and female point of view, I would have enjoyed it more with two narrators.

Many thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.