Just My Luck by Adele Parks

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.

It has been a long time since I have picked up a book by Adele Parks so I was looking forward to stepping back into her literary world and getting caught up in one of her gripping storylines.

Lexi and Jake’s lives are about to change forever, no more struggling to make the bills each month, they can finally get that new sofa they need and add to that all the luxuries they can now afford! The pair have won 18 million on the lottery and life is looking bright, but things begin to cloud over when their friends are out to get a share they feel they are entitled too.

I can not tell you the last time I picked up a book and read it from start to finish without moving my butt once but I was so engrossed in this storyline I couldn’t put this book down. I thing I can safely say that for the majority of us the idea of winning the lottery is like a dream come true so this is definitely a storyline that will all get our thinking caps on working out how we would spend our winnings but I am also sure that a lot of us have only ever thought of the pro’s of winning the lottery and not taken into account the negativity which is something the author has researched for this novel and it has opened my eyes.

I found I liked Lexi from the start of this novel she was a very down to earth, caring, kind and thoughtful character and as the  storyline progressed her nature remained the same and she didn’t seem to let the huge win go to her head which can not be said of others. I found myself getting so wound up and uptight reading about the pure greed and seeing the personalities of certain characters change.

I have rewritten my review for this book a number of times because I wanted to be so careful not to give anything away because I feel that the reason this book made such an impact on me was the utter disbelief and shock that I found myself in at a certain point in this book, I actually found myself re-reading a page to make sure I had read it correctly as I felt like the wool was well and truly pulled over my eyes.

This was a thoroughly gripping read that I would definitely recommend if you are looking for something exciting, dark and unpredictable. This was full of betrayal, greed, negligence and abuse. It has definitely reminded me why I loved this authors writing all those years ago and I can not wait to go back and read some of her latest books.

 Just My Luck Is Out on Kindle and in Hardback on the 14th May.

Kindle                        Hardback

Whatever it Takes by Adele Parks

I have only previously read two books by Adele Parks so I still feel like a beginner! Both of the books I have read I enjoyed and so I really wanted to try another of her books so I have just finished her new novel Whatever It Takes.

Eloise is a Londoner through and through. She has a wide group of friends and usually finds herself entertaining for them, she really is living her dream but her husband has lived Eloise’s dream for a long time now and Eloise agrees it is time for them to start living husband Marks dream and move their little family back to his family’s roots in Dartmouth. This is a big step for Eloise as this means a complete lifestyle change and also means leaving best friend Sara behind when her friend needs her close by.

Eloise is looking forward to being closer to her mother in-law Margret but it’s not long after they arrive that they start to notice that Margret is becoming more than a little forgetful. Eloise finds herself trying to adapt to her new life in Dartmouth but is finding she is trying to help everyone around her with their problems but for Eloise who likes everything perfect she may need to face facts that she may not be able to fix everything.

Whatever It Takes is a very emotional book which tackles a number of deep issues such as Alzheimer’s and fertility problems all which are common health problems in day to day life so it was clear that this book was going to be far from a light hearted read.

Eloise was a very loveable and caring character, one of these people who are so kind they don’t see any bad in any one. She loves her life in London but she understands that it would be a nicer way of life for their three daughters to live in Dartmouth and she knows it means a lot for Mark to be closer to his parents so she sacrifices her dream to please her family.

Sara who is Eloise’s best friend (although I really don’t know how!) is far from a loveable character she is a very negative, selfish and most of all jealous character. Sara is desperate or a baby but she has fertility problems and it just doesn’t look like she will become a mum any time soon, now usually hearing this I would be so heartbroken for anyone in this situation and rightly so but I didn’t feel any kind of sorrow for Sara. I didn’t even feel as if it was a true longing for a baby I think it was pure jealousy of what Eloise had with her girls and Sara just wanted to compete.

Adele has brought the subject of Alzheimers into this book which was heart breaking but also it gave a great insight into living with someone with the terrible condition from both how Margret was feeling and also how her family around her coped.

There were a few surprises along the way in this book which only added to what I can only describe as a compelling read but what really shocked me was the ending to this book I am sure there is no way that you could predict the outcome of this book the truth seemed to be right under our nose during the book and yet it is not until it is pointed out to us in black and white that the truth becomes clear which I thought was very clever.

A compelling and emotional read from Adele Parks, which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Paperback               Kindle

Love Lies by Adele Parks

Adele Parks is a pretty new author to me. I have previously read one of her books which I enjoyed. I think it is the front covers of her book which stand out on the shelf and draw you in, as most of them are of long legs in grey and white with a bold bright pair os shoes! Not your usual chick lit front cover so they are hard to miss. I was recommended to read Love Lies by a friend who doesn't usually read but had been lent it and couldn't believe how good it was, so it was passed my way.


Plot
Fern, who is a passionate florist, is finding her 30th birthday creeping up on her. This gets her thinking about where she feels she should be in life and the one thing she is not happy about is her relationship with long term boyfriend Adam. She feels their relationship is stuck and needs to move forward she wants to move out and have their own house and most of all she wants him to POP the question!! She gives Adam an ultimatum, propose on her birthday or she is off!

Adam's gift for Fern was tickets to see her favourite rock star but the thing is once she meets him she cant stop thinking about him. What will she do fall for the man who can give her everything she wants or stay with long term love Adam?



My Opinion

I found this book as captivating as her previous book that I read. Adele Parks has a way of pulling you into the story in the first chapter which makes it hard for you to put the book down. It is your typical chick lit style read, easy, warm but a little farfetched in places but I think it is these parts that makes the book as good as it is.

I found the book similar in places to Paige Toons Chasing Daisy but instead of the love interest being a racing driver it was a heart throb rockstar. Any of you who was a fan of Chasing Daisy I am sure that you would also enjoy this book.

The book was split between England and LA. I found that the parts that were in England seemed more realistic compared to the parts in LA but I think this was done on purpose to show that it was like a dream living in LA.

The only thing I could say about the book on a lower note is that it would have been good to have got to know Adams character a little more as the book is written from Ferns point of you so we only read what she feels about Adam at the time.

I would defiantly recommend this book to any chick lit lovers out there and also this would make a superb holiday read. I will defiantly be looking out for more Adele Parks books after reading this one.