As Luck Would
Have It by Zoe May
Natalie
Jackson might keep up appearances on Instagram, but in reality her
fiancé has just jilted her after the birth of their baby and she’s
moved back in with her mum. Life isn’t exactly going to plan!
So
when she enters the village raffle for the holiday of a lifetime, she
thinks she has no
chance of winning. But her name is pulled out – and, as luck would
have it, so is a ticket bought by her childhood nemesis: Will
Brimble.
Surely
a romantic holiday for two is the worst
idea ever…right?
As
Luck Would Have It is a quick read with a short timeline. Packed
with
witty dialogue, Natalie and Will's journey to a happy ending is
eventful,
as these childhood sweethearts reunite at a local charity
fund-raiser!
Told from Natalie Jackson's point of view, we discover how she and Will ended up back in Chiddingfold, the town where they grew up. To the outside world, Will Brimble used to have it all; a dazzling journalistic career and an equally impressive marriage to an heiress. Now he's rebuilding his life, close to where his widowed mother lives. Natalie runs her PR business from her childhood bedroom after the father of her young daughter abandoned them both. As a single parent, she doesn't have time for relationships any more until fate steps in.
The narrative takes off at the charity event, a fun mix of chaotic humour before the focus shifts to Morocco. I admit, I much preferred the latter as Natalie and Will navigate the awkwardness of their situation. Along with the insightful descriptions of the North African backdrop, Ms May highlights the emotions of the former sweethearts and their self-consciousness especially when the trip is far from what they expected.
The epilogue ties everything up with a pleasurable ending but for me, it's the memories of Morocco which will linger.
Anyone looking for an escapist romance will enjoy As Luck Would Have It. It's perfect for a summer day, whether on the beach or in your favourite reading place. Alternatively, I highly recommend you pick up another novel by Ms May.
***Review copy generously received courtesy of the publisher***
Told from Natalie Jackson's point of view, we discover how she and Will ended up back in Chiddingfold, the town where they grew up. To the outside world, Will Brimble used to have it all; a dazzling journalistic career and an equally impressive marriage to an heiress. Now he's rebuilding his life, close to where his widowed mother lives. Natalie runs her PR business from her childhood bedroom after the father of her young daughter abandoned them both. As a single parent, she doesn't have time for relationships any more until fate steps in.
The narrative takes off at the charity event, a fun mix of chaotic humour before the focus shifts to Morocco. I admit, I much preferred the latter as Natalie and Will navigate the awkwardness of their situation. Along with the insightful descriptions of the North African backdrop, Ms May highlights the emotions of the former sweethearts and their self-consciousness especially when the trip is far from what they expected.
The epilogue ties everything up with a pleasurable ending but for me, it's the memories of Morocco which will linger.
Anyone looking for an escapist romance will enjoy As Luck Would Have It. It's perfect for a summer day, whether on the beach or in your favourite reading place. Alternatively, I highly recommend you pick up another novel by Ms May.
***Review copy generously received courtesy of the publisher***
Zoe
May is an author of romantic comedies. Zoe has dreamt of being a
novelist since she was a teenager. She worked in journalism and
copywriting in London before writing her debut novel, Perfect Match.
Having experienced the London dating scene first hand, Zoe could not
resist writing a novel about dating, since it seems to supply endless
amounts of weird and wonderful material!
Perfect Match was one of Apple's top-selling books of 2018. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award, with judges describing it as 'a laugh out loud look at love and self-discovery - fresh and very funny'.
As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading! She adores animals and if she's not taking a photo of a vegan meal, she's probably tweeting about the dairy industry. She is half Greek and half Irish and can make a mean baklava. Zoe has a thing for horror films, India, swimming, hip hop and Radiohead. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of handbags having spent several years working in fashion copywriting and could probably win Mastermind if this was her specialist subject!
Zoe loves to hear from readers, you can contact her on Twitter and Instagram at: @zoe_writes. Zoe's Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/zoemayauthor/
She posts updates and blogs on her website, www.zoemayauthor.co.uk
Perfect Match was one of Apple's top-selling books of 2018. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association's Joan Hessayon Award, with judges describing it as 'a laugh out loud look at love and self-discovery - fresh and very funny'.
As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading! She adores animals and if she's not taking a photo of a vegan meal, she's probably tweeting about the dairy industry. She is half Greek and half Irish and can make a mean baklava. Zoe has a thing for horror films, India, swimming, hip hop and Radiohead. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of handbags having spent several years working in fashion copywriting and could probably win Mastermind if this was her specialist subject!
Zoe loves to hear from readers, you can contact her on Twitter and Instagram at: @zoe_writes. Zoe's Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/zoemayauthor/
She posts updates and blogs on her website, www.zoemayauthor.co.uk
