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

A VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

We're in a whole other league now...

Hey loves! I hope you've been well!

If you've been paying close attention these past couple weeks to my Instagram and Twitter, you'll know that I've had something very special I've been working on. And I can FINALLY reveal it to you!

Drum roll please!

Ladies and gents, may I introduce to you, the Limelight Literature YouTube channel!!

That's right my loves, we've officially gone live!

Get ready for all the crazy creative content you've been loving on the blog to also be available to you on the go.

With weekly videos detailing the best successes, new releases and controversial conversations about what's going on in the world of books, film and tv!

I am beyond excited to share this new chapter with you all and I can hardly wait for our Limelight Literature family to reach new heights!

Head on over, check it out and leave a comment letting me know what you'd love to see on our lil YT space!

https://youtu.be/_lE657EBVD0

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.