Saturday 22 May 2021

Book ~ "Lucky" (2021) Marissa Stapley

From Goodreads ~ What if you had the winning ticket that would change your life forever, but you couldn’t cash it in?

Lucky Armstrong is a tough talented grifter who has just pulled off a million-dollar heist with her boyfriend, Cary. She’s ready to start a brand-new life, with a new identity - when things go sideways. Lucky finds herself alone for the first time, navigating the world without the help of either her father or her boyfriend, the two figures from whom she’s learned the art of the scam.

When she discovers that a lottery ticket she bought on a whim is worth millions, her elation is tempered by one big problem: cashing in the winning ticket means the police will arrest her for her crimes. She’ll go to prison, with no chance to redeem her fortune.

As Lucky tries to avoid arrest and make a future for herself, she must confront her past by reconciling with her father; finding her mother, who abandoned her when she just a baby; and coming to terms with the man she thought she loved - whose complicated past is catching up to her, too.

This is a novel about truth, personal redemption, and the complexity of being good. It introduces a singularly gifted, complicated character who must learn what it means to be independent and honest…before her luck runs out.


Lucky was raised on the run with her father, who was constantly scamming people to make a buck.  They  never stayed in the same place for long and were always on the go.  Lucky is an adult now and had just pulled a big scam with her boyfriend, Cary.  They decide to spend a night in Las Vegas before heading to make a new life in Dominica with the cash.  When Lucky wakes up the next morning to catch their flight, Cary is gone and so is their money.  With just a few bucks in her pocket and a lottery ticket which turns out to be a big winner, Lucky tries to figure out who she can trust to cash in the ticket ... she can't because she is wanted by the law for their latest scam.

I thought this story was okay.  It is written in third person perspective from Lucky's point of view.  It bounces back and forth in time, from when Lucky was a young girl with her father to present day (present day being 2008) on the run.  Eventually the timelines catch up.  Even though present day was back in 2008, it was a bit of a stretch to believe that Lucky could pick up jobs along the way that paid her cash and no one asked for references and ID.  The ending came together rather quickly and loose ends were tied up a bit unrealistically.  As a head's up, there is swearing.

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