Good Luck (Bantam Discovery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Whitney Gaskell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2008 | Series: Bantam Discovery

Lucy Parker wins the lottery on the worst day of her life. But can all the money in the world make up for a cheating boyfriend, a derailed career, and ending up in the middle of a media circus? Everyone wants a piece of Lucy…and all she wants is to escape from it all.

After life as she knows it falls apart, Lucy heads off to Palm Beach to hide out at the home of an old college friend. There, living in a tropical paradise of millionaires, Lucy acquires a new hair color, a new social set, and enough anonymity to put her notoriety behind her. Soon she’s courted by two men who don’t know her history. But just as Lucy begins to envision a new life for herself, the past catches up with her. Lucy would give up every penny to have her old life back—as soon as she’s ready to cash it all in, fate has one last surprise in store for her…one that will show her exactly what she’s worth.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* One of her wealthiest students at Andrews Prep has accused teacher Lucy Parker of sexual misconduct, an act of revenge because she gave him a failing grade. The administration believes the teen (or rather, his father, a generous donor), and Lucy loses her job. That same day, her car breaks down and she catches her boyfriend in a very compromising position with a buxom blond. Then Lucy buys a lottery ticket and wins the grand prize, more than $34 million. The unluckiest time of her life turns into the luckiest, until the press finds out about the sexual misconduct charges, and suddenly, the world brands Lucy as a pedophile, something all the money in the world won’t fix. What else can she do except go into hiding and change her identity? Gaskell (Mommy Tracked, 2007) has crafted an emotional roller coaster of a novel. The highs are funny and furious, and the lows will tug at readers’ heartstrings as they relish this superb tale of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. --Shelley Mosley --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Whitney Gaskell grew up in Syracuse, New York. A graduate of Tulane Law School, she worked for several years as a reluctant lawyer before writing her first novel, Pushing 30, followed by True Love (and Other Lies); She, Myself & I; Testing Kate, and Mommy Tracked. She lives in Stuart, Florida, with her husband and son.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Discovery (October 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553591517
• ISBN-13: 978-0553591514
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #601,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi! My name is Whitney Gaskell, and I'm the author of PUSHING 30, TRUE LOVE (AND OTHER LIES), SHE MYSELF & I, and the forthcoming TESTING KATE.

For more information about my books, check out my website at www.whitneygaskell.com, and also my blog at www.literarychicks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and engaging story, December 2, 2008

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Good Luck (Bantam Discovery) (Paperback)

Lucy Parker thought this day couldn't get any worse. After losing her job as a high school teacher due to allegations of an affair with student, her put upon car breaks downs, and she arrives home early to find her fiance in bed with another woman. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers that she holds the winning lottery ticket worth $87 million. She'd prefer to keep the whole thing quiet, but a reporter out for a torrid story breaks the silence and her life his torn upside down, particularly when the ugly allegations about her job come to light and she is dubbed the "lottery seductress" by the press. People start coming out of the woodwork and she doesn't know who to trust. At the insistence of college pal Hayden, she heads to Palm Beach and changes her appearance to live down the infamy of her newfound fame. Back on the dating scene, she soon discovers that you have to be careful who you trust and that appearances and pre-conceptions can be deceiving.

Gaskell's lottery drama was such a fun story. The writing is so engaging that I read it in a single day. Interweaving secondary characters like proud best friend Maisie, two potential suitors, and a horrid bridezilla sister into the story, Gaskell makes it more than a one note plot.

© Tracy Vest, December 2008

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good chick lit...FINALLY, November 24, 2008

By 

Julia "Bookworm27" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Luck (Bantam Discovery) (Paperback)

I think I have seriously had it with chick lit. I am so sick of the stories with the four women: one's having an affair, one is juggling a new baby, one doesn't want kids, husband does, etc, etc. Every single book I pick up is like that now!!!!!

But this one is a winner. It's chick lit with a good plot and some twists that keep you entertained. I've liked Gaskell's previous novels. I like her writing style and her books are always humorous and full of realistic characters. I know this is short but I'm kind of a bad reviewer, I just wanted to say that this one is a keeper!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, November 25, 2008

By 

T. Prince (Shoreline, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Good Luck (Bantam Discovery) (Paperback)

I loved this book! I started it on Sunday and couldn't put it down until I finished it.

I thought it was a fun, entertaining story and I wanted to keep reading about Lucy Parker. What starts out as her worst day (being fired) turns out to be her best day (winning the lottery). She heads to Palm Beach with an old friend to escape it all. The many unforseen events are both heartful and funny which makes this a fun read.

I've read Whitney Gaskell's other books (also good), but this one is my favorite. I look forward to reading her future books.