GOOD LUCK by Whitney Gaskell

Publisher: Bantam Discovery
Publishing date: November 2008
ISBN: 978-0-553-59151-4
Contemporary Chick-Lit Fiction
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn
Obtained via Publisher


Lucy Parker has had the worst day ever! First she loses her job as a teacher, then she catches her boyfriend in the act of cheating on her and on top of it all….. she wins the lottery…..all $87 million of it. Now her life is a mess, the media circus is giving her hives and frankly, all she wants to do is escape from it all. Can money buy happiness? Lucy Parker is about to find out in GOOD LUCK.

GOOD LUCK is a charming tale of one woman’s life after winning the biggest lotto jackpot and finds herself swimming in a fish bowl after that. Especially when it comes to light that she lost her job as a Prep School teacher over something stupid yet serious. The author delivers laughs a plenty in GOOD LUCK and I was enchanted with Ms. Gaskell’s writing. The story starts with Lucy losing her job amid some foul accusations, then comes home to find her boyfriend in the act of cheating on her and frankly, Lucy’s life goes to hell in a hand basket. Full of intriguing characters, fast paced storyline and interesting plot twists, Ms. Gaskell delivers a heart warming story that shows you that sometimes, money just doesn’t buy happiness. If you enjoy a light hearted story that will keep you interested and engrossed, then pick up GOOD LUCK. It is a story that will keep you entertained for hours and deliver characters that will have you laughing out loud.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of the book.

GOOD LUCK by Whitney Gaskell

Publisher: Bantam Discovery
Date published: November 2008
ISBN 978-0-553-59151-4
Romantic Comedy
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Tina


How would you define GOOD LUCK? The only luck Lucy Parker has is bad. In one day she loses her job, catches her boyfriend doing the nasty in their bed and hits the lottery.

They say money can’t buy you happiness and Lucy Parker might just be living proof. Fed up with her current life she escapes to Palm Beach with an old college buddy, where she changes her appearance. She goes from plain Jane to swan and two men are vying for her attention. But she isn’t sure who to trust. One guy gives off the impression he’s a gigolo and the other maybe too good to be true.
She’s enjoying the high life, spending money freely. But soon learns she can’t run away from her past and exactly who her true friends are.

GOOD LUCK is a hilarious story. Yes, it has its emotional lows and Lucy must face problems to grow, but Ms. Gaskell is a very talented writer. When it rains it pours for this heroine. Ms. Gaskell engages the reader from the first page and keeps you hooked until you reach the end. This reviewer couldn’t put the book down.

The secondary characters are plentiful. From Lucy’s sister who longs for nothing more than a wedding fit for a princess, to her out of work college buddy looking to help Lucy find her new self. And her best friend back home that wants nothing to do with her newfound riches.

The men, well, lets just say they are sexy. Personally this reviewer routed for a happy ending for Lucy and Mal. If you want to find out if she has a happily ever after you’ll just have to read the book! I highly recommend you pick up your copy of GOOD LUCK today. As for this reviewer I’ve started on Ms. Gaskell’s backlist! Happy Reading.

A VERSION OF THE TRUTH by Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack

Publisher: Bantam Discovery
Date published: January 2009
ISBN 978-0-385-34020-5
Chick-lit, Humor, Romance
Trade Paperback
Reviewed by Pam


When Cassie Shaw is suddenly widowed, she decides to begin a new life and to forget the two-timing ex-husband, Frank. Her love is channeled toward birds, especially Sam. He’s a large parrot who has an extremely interesting vocabulary and isn’t afraid to use it.

Realizing she has no real qualifications, other than knowing about birds, she makes herself a resume full of lies that will make her look good enough to be a PA to two professors. She struggles to accept herself, while yearning to become someone else.
When Cassie secures a job at the local university, she hopes to turn her life around. Charismatic Professor Connor, makes her heart beat quicken, while Professor Pearce is kind and thoughtful. As she transforms herself into a new woman Connor encourages her to meet many new people. Sadly, Cassie knows the charade won’t last forever, but she plods gamely on. Her best friend Tiff, encourages her in reaching her goal, but also leads her astray with smoking dope and spells of getting drunk.

The characters weren’t developed very well, and it was hard to bond with them as a reader. Cassie’s obsession with birds and the monologues under the trees became a bit boring in places. The parrot, Sam, was the best character in the story along with her supportive mother. Dyslexia has made Cassie a late bloomer, but considering she’s now thirty-years-old, surely she should act more maturely. Tiff also acts like a teenager, with her constant drinking and dope smoking, with the nasty Alison and her lovelorn brother hovering on the side lines.

Cassie seems to be a lost soul, chasing equally lost causes, like mythical wood-peckers, unseen for many years. It made this reviewer want to suggest she join Greenpeace instead of her dream of becoming normal.

The two professors also seemed like bit players waiting in the wings, as life went on around them. As the gregarious Tiff, tries to cheer everyone up, but always seems to have it backfire on her. To sum it up, there are flashes of brilliance in this version of the truth, but don’t expect a very great tale.

EVERYTHING NICE by Ellen Shanman

Publisher: Bantam Discovery
Date issued: July 2008
ISBN: 978-0385340533
Contemporary romance
Trade Paperback

Reviewed by Valerie



Michaela ‘Mike’ Edwards has lost her job. Due to office politics she finds herself pounding the streets looking for a new job. But no one wants to hire her. She has a rather bad reputation of being a cold, hard bitch. There’s nothing left for her to do but to take up her father’s offer and move back in with him. Father is however getting married again. Michaela has a best friend, an Australian journalist named Gunther. They’ve been best friends for a long time, but soon things get a little more complicated and Michaela needs to sort out her feelings for Gunther. She takes a job teaching ‘life-skills’ to six graders and finds that she not only enjoys the job but the little tykes actually need her. It’s time for Michaela to take a good look at her life. With everything that is going on, she’s learning that she doesn’t have to go it alone.

This is a funny, yet touching story of a young woman and her struggle through life. Michaela has a lot of things to learn and when she loses her job, her journey begins. When her best friend, Gunther, starts to become more than just a friend, things really get interesting. Although this is a genre I do not usually read, I quite enjoyed this story and in parts it was so touching I had to reach for a tissue. Secondary characters give the story depth and life. Gunther is a man you can root for and all in all this is a story that many readers will highly enjoy. I especially loved the scenes with Michaela and the children. They were poignant, witty, and often very bright. Ellen Shanman has written a story that will entertain and captivate. It certainly held me and I am glad I had the opportunity to enjoy this story.

Valerie@Loveromancesandmore.com

GARDEN SPELLS by Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher Bantam Discovery
Date published May 2008
ISBN 978-0-553-59032-6
Genre Urban Paranormal
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Pam


The Waverley family has always been different, as is the garden surrounding the old house they grew up in. Claire has become the homebody, cooking for local functions while using her own mix of herbs and flowers. When her sister Sydney comes home with her young daughter, Bay, it turns Claire’s quiet life upside down. Their Aunt Evanelle is also a worry as she gives out gifts the recipients’ don’t always want. They often find a sudden a need for them, making them suspicious of her intent.
Bay finds contentment away from the father she doesn’t like. The garden also welcomes her and here she finds her own magical place, as the slightly crazy apple tree turns everything upside down. Meanwhile Clare keeps running from her new amorous neighbor, Sydney has to deal with the man in her life and Bay watches as the apple tree begins to affect all their lives.

GARDEN SPELLS is a blend of folklore and odd-ball happenings as sisters come together and begin to realize they are more alike than they had ever imagined.
This is a charming, whimsical tale, almost as it was a folktale from days gone past.
Ideal for a lazy afternoon as a relaxing read with a refreshing, sweetly magical story that almost sucks you in to turning the pages over. It’s a tale with no hot sex, so ideal for anyone who prefers a sweeter tale, with irresistible characters. I found the characters easy to relate to and the way the magical plants in the garden were used was pure genius. Even the bad guy was dealt with in an unusual way. With some added information from the Waverly kitchen at the end, I’m sure you’ll find a way to put some magic into your life.

Take care readers, or it may cast a spell or two over you.