JUST MY LUCK BY ADELE PARKS

Rating: 3.5 stars

Goodreads Description:

It's the stuff dreams are made of – a lottery win so big, it changes everything.

For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. Over dinner parties, fish & chip suppers and summer barbecues, they've discussed the important stuff – the kids, marriages, jobs and houses – and they've laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything more than a tenner.

But then, one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There's a rift in the group. Someone doesn't tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever.

Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth £18 million. And their friends are determined to claim a share of it.

Review:

Two beautiful children. Wonderful well-loved jobs. A weekly lottery syndicate with their closest friends. Life couldn't get much better for Lexi and Jake.

Every week for the past fifteen years, they get together with their friends to put in for the same numbers in the lottery in the hopes of one day winning big. However, one night their friends conclude that they're ready to call it quits and drop out of the syndicate. Much to Lexi's confusion and concern that the decade-long friendships they've cultivated are also coming to a close.

Yet she continues to buy a ticket the next week for old time's sake - lo and behold, her numbers come up!

Lexi and Jake are millionaires! Their family is swimming in gold, their children dressed to the nines in Prada, Tom Ford and Balenciaga whilst Jake motors around in a flashy Ferrari. Life could not be better!

Little did they know that the people they considered their friends would be the ones not to celebrate with them over their win but instead try to claim the winnings as their own.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Just My Luck seems like an easy-going, fun read about the life of lottery winners to begin with, but antics shortly ensue leading to something far worse than Lexi and Jake could ever imagine.

Their little girl is kidnapped.

What follows is a rapid adrenaline-filled chase to find out who kidnapped Emily and make payment of £10 million for her safety.

As bad as it sounds, I thoroughly enjoyed this particular debacle of the story and how it was told from both Lexi and Emily's perspectives; one of a worrying mother who is ready to stop at nothing to get her baby girl back home, the other of a young girl having to fend for not only her own life but that of her newly-discovered baby of whom she is pregnant with during all this.

It's chaotic, gripping, emotionally tormenting and will have you on the edge of your seat much like Lexi as you pray Emily and her baby to survive.

Now, I've heard so many wonderful things previously about Adele Parks' writing, and I must say she lives up to the expectations set. But my, oh my does she know how to write a character that you just want to...URGH.

I'm just going to say it...

Jake. By VERY far is the most disreputable, wicked, lying, disgusting, downright dirtbag I've ever come across in books! At first, he seems so good for Lexi and the kids, happy to live an easy family life but OOOH the dirty bastard he is! 

It just riles me up thinking about him!

Trust me, once you read Just My Luck you'll feel the same.

Lexi. What a woman. Strong and courageous in the face of animosity, a woman who holds her ground, would never let a bad thing happen to her family and holds pride in what she believes to be right. She deserved so much better than Jake.

Emily and Logan are honestly the sweetest children, both happy as can be in their everyday lives and are the two to react in the way of what would be expected if your parents won big in the lottery. Emily shops til she drops, Logan makes new friends - though that's mostly the money doing the talking - and they live life like never before!

Though for Emily it takes a rather twisted turn prior to her kidnapping - yes, this book did her dirty but made up for it by making it such an intense plot point.

Carla and Patrick & Jennifer and Fred, the dynamics in this friendship are put to the test as the couple win big and undoubtedly it brings out the worst in those closest to them.

As the news come to light, the secrets and betrayals come out in this group and this causes greed, jealousy and plenty of back-stabbing to come into play.

I mean c'mon...if you won the lottery, wouldn't you want your friends to be supportive and happy for you?

In terms of the pacing, I won't lie, it was rather slow for the first hundred or so pages. I found it rather difficult to get into.

Don't get me wrong though there were a few moments in the first section that definitely captured my attention but realistically I fell more into the story further in.

As we hit the 180 page mark, the pace really did pick up and I for sure found myself gearing up for pure chaos and an adrenaline rush worth of a page turner! It did not disappoint.

And even through to the climax of the main conflict - with it's respective sub-stories - I was flying through each page right to the end. So overall, a bit of a slow start easing into the story, but the pacing was relatively well done but maybe just not my cup of tea.

A tale of secrets and betrayal, greed and jealousy with families and friendships ripped apart. Adele Parks' Just My Luck brings to life a heightened reality to how money can ruin everything and how one big win can cause a whole world of loss.

A big thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me an arc of this new release.

If you are interested in picking up this new release by Adele Parks, be sure to check out Just My Luck

Plenty more blogging goodness to follow, but in the meantime be sure to jump on over to my YouTube channel to see what your resident bookworm has been up to!

Think lovely thoughts xo

KNIVES OUT - 2019's newest whodunnit thriller by Rian Johnson

RATING: 5 Stars

As their backs are turned, these A-List celebs become slay-list in Rian Johnson's new whodunnit mystery flick.

Featuring a coveted cast led by Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas and Christopher Plummer, and then incredible supporting performances from Lakeith Stanfield, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson and Katherine Langford.

Following the anonymous hire of P.I. Benoit Blanc (Craig) to discover the truth behind the mysterious death of Harlan Thrombey (Plummer) who was found dead in his home library with a slit throat. Supposedly, a suicide but Blanc suspects there's more to this death than meets the eye.

Enter the affluent Thrombey family, living life by the millions, working in the family business and all of whom were present on the night of Harlan's death. Also present were housekeeper Fran (Patterson) and nurse Marta (de Armas).

Thus antics ensue as each present member of the Thrombey family and company are interviewed by police detective Elliot (Stanfield) and mystery-thriving Wagner (Segan).

Unlike other Cluedo-style films previously, Knives Out isn't afraid to keep it simple, creating twists and turns that are logical yet still surprising. So carefully and cleverly plotted, you, much like the detectives are just as intrigued when Blanc uncovers new pieces of the puzzle. All leading to the classic drawing room reveal of the person behind it all, the conclusion is just so satisfying and perfectly laid out.

For a film running for two hours and fifteen minutes, it is a long one but will continue to keep you guessing. You'll find yourself thoroughly enjoying the unrecognisable Southern 'CSI KFC' drawl of Craig's, the boyish cheekiness brought out by Evans, and de Armas hypnotic but such expressive eyes as a true show stopper.

And the score is absolutely fantastic and the tone it sets as Blanc uncovers the mystery could not be more spot on. Composed by Rian's cousin, Nathan Johnson, the two grew up together and would create home movies - hence why the score is so in tune with the film as the two cousins are with each other's creative style.

Knives Out is the ideal film for those who love a thoroughly enjoyable mystery with some on-point sattire thrown into the mix. Rian Johnson has written the perfect whodunnit reminiscent of Agatha Christie's work. Keeping the viewer quite literally on the edge of their seat and whispering to their fellow moviegoers about who was behind the heinous murder. I, myself, will certainly be going back to watch this movie whilst it is still in session.

Knives Out in cinemas from Thursday 28 November, don't miss your chance to see one of top movies of 2019!

Think lovely thoughts xo

LOSERS REAP HER BY HAYLEY STUMBO

Rating: 5 stars

**SPOILERS AHEAD FOR HIDE AND SEEK HER TRILOGY**

Goodreads Description:

It's been four years since Jackson Greene was tossed into prison for his heinous crimes. Four years of quiet for the Wait family, and peace for Charlotte. But in the silence, Jackson has found new ways to make noise.

With a final score to settle, Jackson sets his sights on Locke's Pointe and prepares to ruin Charlotte, once and for all. Blackmailing his brother Daniel into helping him get revenge, Jackson starts unravelling the threads of Charlotte's life, including Vance.

When Charlotte's world begins to crumble, the only probable cause is her worst nightmare. Secrets that were hidden in the corners of the last four years are uncovered, and Charlotte learns that everything is not as she once believed. When the pieces of truth add up to one big lie, she must differentiate between what has been a ruse and what she can hold onto.

Review:

Wow. What a ride!

After reading Hide And Seek Her & Finders Keep Her, this final book in quite frankly, one of the best book series I’ve ever read – in my opinion – was truly the most emotional, heart-warming, gut-wrenching and perfectly unsettling end to this insane journey.

I said it in the review of the second book in this series and I’ll proudly say it again, I did not think I could take any more of an emotional ride with these characters but as always, Hayley threw me a big one and winded me with a punch of feels.

Picking up from the ending of Finders Keep Her where my heart, and that of readers of the previous book, were left gasping for air and tearing through a box of tissues whilst trying to not hyperventilate. Hayley sure knows how to keep her readers absolutely begging for more of this gritty series!

We continue to follow the lives of Vance, Charlotte, and Riley – who for all our sakes, miraculously survived his attack at the end of Book 2. The events of this third installment settle around Charlotte’s new life as wife to Vance, dealing with PTSD from the past, Riley’s road to recovery and how he distracts himself by coordinating events with his sister in-law. It is very much a breezy beginning as we are introduced back into the luxurious lives of Wait family, however, trouble in paradise is brewing. Jackson’s ghost remains, unbeknownst to our protagonists that the convicted criminal, in fact, is no longer behind bars but plotting his final demise of the family.

Unlike the other two books in the series, we gain a fresh perspective in Losers Reap Her where we hear more from Jackson Greene himself, his past and how/who made him the unhinged psychopath he is today. Starting with his first victim, his abusive family life, the undying love he holds for Charlotte and how he got involved with the Wait’s.

A plot full of the perfect amount of twists, numerous flashbacks, and fresh perspectives of the ever-unsettling and manipulative Jackson Greene. Losers Reap Her was the right mix of everything this series needed to close it. As always, I won’t spoil the ending but I’ll briefly summarise it in the following gifs:

Good luck figuring out that one, I sure as hell did not see that ending coming AT ALL.

I’m not going to lie, I absolutely loved this climax to the trilogy. Hayley poured her heart and soul into this series. The final book really shows how passionate she is about these characters, this journey she’s taken them on, how she writes their perspectives, choices and actions, etc. She echoes to her reader the emotion she pours into Losers Reap Her, it is a rollercoaster of emotions, pulling at several heartstrings, making you gasp for air and continue to turn the page even after you tell yourself you ought to take a break – you just keep on reading!

Now, I never thought I’d be saying this – especially after finishing this series – but in the end, my favourite character was actually…Jackson? Take it easy and bear with me whilst I explain. I do not and never will associate my values and beliefs with that of a sociopath, but Jackson just has this magnetism to him. He’s slick, knows the right buttons to push, he can turn on the charm but unleash a monster inside within an instant. But he just is so clever and knows exactly what he’s doing.

I’m sure Hayley loved writing his character further, developing his backstory and perspective, which I will say was a welcome change to see the mind of a sociopath develop over time. His family’s upbringing, his first killing and the meticulously perfect plan he put in motion over many months’ time was so intriguing and yet so underhanded.

‘Kind of like how you managed to be successful in life, you knew all the right people. When it comes to the low-lifes of the world, I know all the right people.’

That single quote from our sinister antagonist. Chills.

From the whole series, that is the one quote that not only drew out goosebumps and had me hungry for more, but also the one quote that echoed in the back of my mind every time I picked up this book to read more. Jackson Greene, he’s one gritty poet.

Overall, Hayley could not have given this series a better ending. She tied it up in the perfect, yet heartbroken, little bow. I certainly will miss these characters I’ve grown so accustomed to over the years. But some doors must close for new exciting doors to open to further tales and wild emotional journeys to be written about.

As many of you know, I have been with Hayley on her journey from the moment she was sending out beta copies of Hide and Seek Her, and I will forever be incredibly indebted to her and her amazing work. Hayley, you’ve not only given me so many stories that I have fallen head over heels with but also a lifetime of a friendship with you.

Thank you for inviting me into the world of your writing, being able to review these incredible books you’ve worked tirelessly to put out there in the world – you know I’ll always be one of your biggest supporters and drop everything to read one of your books.

If you guys haven’t already checked out Hayley and her crazy-talented writing, be sure to head on over & pick up a fresh read from her collection of books and enjoy the chaos that ensues with every word she writes!

Hit up Hayley on her Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates in her writing journey and more on these amazing books of hers!

Think lovely thoughts xo

JOKER - A thought provoking origin story of the Clown Prince of Crime

Rating: 4.5 stars

Following the controversial film of Suicide Squad in 2016, Todd Phillips’ Joker focuses in on DC’s most well-known villain and the story of how he came to be the coveted Clown Prince of Crime. From the first shot to the very end, audiences are treated to a gritty, fine-tuned, sophisticated woven tale of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian seeking connection in the streets of Gotham City. Much like his comic counterpart, he wears two masks – one where he puts on a show and paints his face as a clown-for-hire at his day job, and the other projecting his attempts to fit in with society despite being bullied, isolated and disregarded. As society’s views on him become more and more obvious, Arthur slowly begins his descent into a dark world of madness, vengeance, and betrayal, ultimately transforming him into the criminally insane mastermind known as the Joker. 

Joaquin Phoenix delivers a phenomenally, gut-wrenching and thought-provoking performance as the titular character, from the way Arthur interacts with society to the inner thoughts shared in both his journal and with his social worker. He never misses a beat.

Joker presents a whole new controversial origin story for the iconic DC villain, one where Todd Phillips’ loosely makes use of a real-life medical condition to explain the criminal’s infamous laugh. The Pseudobulbar Affect or PBA, is an emotional disorder where the person’s outward emotions are completely disconnected to that of their inner emotions, manifesting in uncontrollable fits of laughter or weeping in situations deemed inappropriate.

Now, I personally am on the fence about using real-world mental conditions in films to portray the struggle of characters – particularly those considered villainous – and their isolated connection to society. But I will say, Joker plays this out really well by using Arthur’s “condition” as a way of enhancing the character’s disconnect with the real world around him, people seeing him as ill and essentially giving more reason for his journey down the dark path and why he would later end up in Arkham Asylum.

Given the story follows a lonely, disturbed man in a dark, chaotic and unconventional city such as Gotham in the early 1980s, it’s important to be able to capture both the darkness and sensitivity of the city and its titular character.

Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir creates an eerily beautiful soundtrack for the character, full of melancholy to reflect the inner torment that Arthur experiences throughout the film. ‘Call Me Joker’ is a theme often played throughout the film when he starts what could be this enchanting almost metamorphosis of a dance. Phoenix himself even credits Broadway performer, Ray Bolger – most well-known for his role as Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz – where Joaquin takes inspiration from Bolger’s The Old Soft Shoe.

“There’s this odd arrogance almost to his movements” and this is something that Arthur portrays in his movements when dancing up and down the steps or in the grimy bathroom.

Joker is truly a fantastic piece of cinema – depending on where you stand. It plays around with the idea of the iconic DC villain, taking a more twisted turn in way of his origin story and how he became to be the leader of Gotham’s underbelly. In some strange way, it’s bleak and gritty but at the same time is able to bring those uplifting undertones of finding his freedom amongst Gotham City and its chaos.

TILLY MAGUIRE AND THE ROYAL WEDDING MESS BY EMMA GREY

Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads Description:

Aspiring writer, 18-year-old Tilly Maguire, is a totally reformed ex-superfan of British boyband singer, Reuben Vaughan. Yeah, she was going to marry him when she was thirteen, but that fangirl phase is way in her past now, along with an unfortunate side ponytail and a weird obsession with galaxy leggings – ugh. Cringe!

When her writing wins Tilly a six-week internship at a top London PR firm, she doesn’t expect to stumble from a long-haul flight straight into an A-list debacle of her own making, but these things happen. She proves to the entire world that jet lad and social media definitely don’t mix.

Obviously, Tilly didn’t intend to get tangled in a ridiculous scandal involving the British royal family. She’s not the attention-seeking type! She’s just a socially awkward introvert, with a galloping case of anxiety made even worse after a high-profile run-in with the very last person she ever imagined she’d meet for real.

Not on her gap year, anyway.

And not like this!

Review:

A delightful contemporary read with a dash of drama!

And dare I say, a little reminiscent of The Princess Diaries.

Now, as someone who is not only studying PR but also is prone to running out the door with her face half done and one shoe on, I can proudly say that I 100% relate to Tilly Maguire! From the get-go, she’s uncoordinated, lost in a foreign country, jet-lagged and making last-minute impulsive decisions. Essentially, she’s the ever-so dorky Amelia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries making decisions on the fly and hoping for the best outcome, relatable right?

Following Tilly’s first assignment which results in a meeting with her teenage fangirl crush, Reuben Vaughan, the whacky antics ensue of her navigating her way through a world of celebrity crushed, publicity, gossip, innuendo and plenty of drama. Tilly’s adventures in London prove just how tough of a gig it can be to work in PR – especially when overseas and out of one’s comfort zone – and the ability to maintain a professional profile whilst simultaneously not letting feelings get in the way.

The dynamic between Tilly and Reuben is a mix of sorts; Tilly brings her fiery sass but also feels insecure about her writing and about potentially having messed up Reuben’s career. Whereas Reuben remains cool and calm under pressure, very suave in the way he handles situations and is able to read Tilly almost like an open book. Together the pair certainly seem to balance each other out, knowing when to make their quips and when time alone is needed.

The overall plot of Tilly Maguire and The Royal Wedding Mess is placed in numerous locations within London and its surrounding countryside. The bigger events such as Tilly’s slip-up, her crazy night of adventure with Reuben and her last-minute decisions and the chaos of said decisions all tend to center around Central London. Unlike the more reserved moments between our two protagonists, where they escape the insane popstar life to the countryside to hide from paparazzi and gather their bearings.

Overall, the plot runs at a reasonable pace. The reader almost feels like they’re there with Tilly during the chaotic, fast-paced moments, turning the page as quickly as possible to see what happens next. But are also able to take a moment to breathe and watch in anticipation during the aforementioned quieter moments in London’s countryside, taking one’s time to appreciate the slower points of the story.

This is the first book by Emma Grey that I have read and whilst I pretty much went into it blindly, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy of a read this book was! Grey has created a story that not only has a steady pace but enables the story to be played out almost like a TV show. The perspective of the story weaves brilliantly through the book, not jumping ahead in the story and taking the time to allow the reader to imagine each scene presented. Grey’s writing flows easily, maintaining a simple yet uplifting voice to the reader and keeping within the genre of YA contemporary romance.

I personally adored Tilly Maguire and The Royal Wedding Mess! It was a simple and sweet contemporary read full of fluff, goofy shenanigans, and drama galore!

I, fortunately, read this during a bit of a book slump and can happily say that it was the perfect little contemporary pick me up that I needed to get me out of my slump and back into my book lovin’ ways.

Finally, a HUGE thank you to HarperCollins for sending me a copy of Tilly Maguire and The Royal Wedding Messin exchange for an honest review, it was truly a delight to read and review!

THE HOLIDAY CALENDAR

Now, I know to some it may seem super early to be getting into the Christmas spirit...but to me, I’m one of those people who prepares for this time of year. As soon as Christmas in July (25^th) hits, I am getting ready to cover every new Christmas movie, test out the new hot chocolate flavours and dance around to new & old Christmas music!

So for the next two months, I’ll be watching and reviewing each new Christmas movie that comes our way – letting you know if it’s worth the watch. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the Hallmark channel, I mean how can one not be? Gimme a bit of romance, Christmas magic and Candace Cameron Bure – let’s face it, she’s like the Hallmark Christmas star of every single movie they release...and I’m not mad about it, she oozes the Christmas spirit!

First up on our list for this year, The Holiday Calendar!

Rating: 3.5 stars

Description

Following the story of a struggling but talented photographer who inherits an antique advent calendar. But this is no ordinary calendar, as she soon finds out that its contents seem to be predicting the future.

Review

First cab off the ranks! And I must say, I didn’t mind this one, it wasn’t my favourite but it was a cute little story to get one in the mood for the Christmas season ahead. However, I do feel like this movie followed the rules for Christmas movies a bit too closely. I personally would have liked to see the movie take a few risks, rather than just getting the job done.

Kat Graham – best known for her role as Bonnie in The Vampire Diaries – is utterly charming in her role as leading lady, Abby Sutton. I'll admit that despite this flick not being the best Christmas movie out there, I loved Graham's performance. She introduces the audience to Abby as this gorgeous, charismatic, relatable artist who’s sitting on the fence between dreaming and struggling to find success as a photographer in both her personal and professional lives.

My take on this is that because The Holiday Calendar stuck so close to the traditional rules of Christmas movies, it was clear within the first few minutes of this movie where it would be going between Abby and Josh (Quincy Brown). And whilst they tried to spice things up by throwing Ty (Ethan Peck) into the mix, it doesn’t give much more than presenting the audience with a typical speed bump on Abby and Josh’s journey to realisation.

Now, I know that not all Christmas movies can be perfect, but I really had high hopes for this one. seeing that it was the first movie of the jolly season. In my opinion, The Holiday Calendar tried...unfortunately didn’t go to plan, but good on them for trying to kick off the holiday season in a good light.

But not to worry, we’ve got some highly anticipated holiday movies coming out this season and I look forward to reviewing every one possible!

Think Lovely Thoughts xo 

LOOK FOR ME BY LISA GARDNER

Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one—a sixteen-year-old girl—missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case—but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me.

My Review:

The past two years I have had the privilege of being opened to the world of psychological thriller fiction with the beautifully terrifying writing of Lisa Gardner and her books Right Behind You and Find Her.

Detective D.D. Warren has teamed up with badass survivor Flora Dane for a riveting new investigation into the life of a missing teenage girl. Like in any book written by one of your favourite authors, there is always something about their writing that just hooks you in immediately. I started reading Gardner’s D.D. Warren series on her seventh book into the series, yet it read like a standalone. I was baffled, I felt this guilty urge to go and read all of her other books before reading Find Her, but I didn’t need to. Every book she writes, whether it’s the Detective D.D. Warren series or her Quincy & Rainie series, she always writes in a way where they can be read as standalone adventures. Yes, there are many references to past stories, but it doesn’t leave you confused or feel like you are missing a part of the story.

Gardner certainly knows how to tell a story well and something often seen in her books is multiple perspectives, whether it be from different characters or different moments in time such as past tense reflections. However, in Look For Me, readers are enlightened into the mind of young Roxy Baez through her series of class essays entitled “What is the Perfect Family?”. In these essays, Roxy illustrates for the reader what it was like from the inside of her family, how she became a mother to her siblings and their experiences in a foster home system.

Look For Me is a story of mistakes, revenge, forgiveness and the true meaning of what it is to be a family. There are two really strong themes that Gardner focuses on in Look For Me, survival in a world of social media and how far one may go to stop the toxic cycle that continues to haunt many characters. Survival becomes a large part of Roxy’s part in the novel, whether it be in the foster home, out on the streets or in her family house with an alcoholic mother. In the years following Flora Dane’s escape from Jacob Ness, she becomes a vigilante as such where she starts up a support group for other survivors of kidnappings, predatory attacks or mass shootings. Roxy joins this group through a mutual friend’s recommendation and she learns what to pack if running away, what defence tactics work best and how to escape unscathed.

This new addition to Gardner’s D.D. Warren series isn’t as gruesome or cutthroat as her other books like Find Her but it still can be quite overwhelming as there is a lot going on in D.D. and Flora’s lives outside of the investigation. It certainly brings a large element of reality to the plate with the police procedures, the failure of the foster system and the irreplaceable damage that abuse can do to a family.

Lisa Gardner is a truly fantastic crime author and I highly recommend her books to anyone wanting to dive into crime fiction. If you enjoy books where you feel like you are constantly on the edge of your seat, her book Right Behind You is the book for you! However, if you are more of the grisly, gripping and gruesome, Find Her is one that will have you clawing for air as you turn the final pages.

Think Lovely Thoughts xo