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Lucky Charm
Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college love, an aspiring author Jeremy Blake, but her plans for an ideal wedding are rudely interrupted when she catches Jeremy kissing his gorgeous book agent. Shell-shocked by Jeremy's betrayal, Annabel retreats into the quiet routine of TV dinners and solitary evenings. It is then that Annabel's best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, sets herself on a mission to draw Annabel out of her shell. In an attempt to persuade Annabel to keep an open mind on dating, Lilly takes Annabel for a stunning makeover, but after Annabel passes on a date with a dashing entrepreneur, Lilly decides that more drastic measures are needed. Lilly invites Annabel to see a palm reader who gives Annabel a lucky charm that is supposed to help her find true love. A few weeks later, during her trip to Paris, Annabel meets a handsome Parisian, and as the two embark on a whirlwind romance, she starts to believe in the power of the talisman the palm reader has given her. But what Annabel doesn't know is that Lilly is hiding a secret that could unravel her faith in her newly found luck in love.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2011
55 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Marie Astor
17 books240 followersMarie Astor is New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. Marie is a die-hard romantic, which is why she loves writing romantic suspense and contemporary romance. In her spare time, Marie enjoys being adventurous out-of-doors. She often gets new story ideas while she is hiking up a mountain or trying to avoid bumping into a tree while skiing.
Marie loves hearing from readers and always answers all of her emails personally. Visit Marie at www.marieastor.com to learn more about Marie’s new book releases and events.
Marie Astor
Marie loves hearing from readers and always answers all of her emails personally. Visit Marie at www.marieastor.com to learn more about Marie’s new book releases and events.
Marie Astor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
January 23, 2016
What do you do when the man you are going to marry cheats on you with a business associate? If you are Annabel Green you first try to get over it by retreating into your shell and becoming a semi-hermit, only going to work and then straight home alone.
The fun part of the story comes about when Annabel's best friend Lilly, a social butterfly who in the past was always on the lookout for the next Mr-Right-Now, takes things in hand and forces Annabel to update her hair and wardrobe and at least try to date once again.. When this fails to get the required results Lilly invites Annabel to go with her to Paris where Lilly is competing in a fashion design show and reuniting with her long distance boyfriend who has moved back to Paris after being in New York on business.
Going to Paris at first seemed like such a chore, once Annabel got into the swing of things however her excitement over the trip takes over and she researches and plans numerous outings to discover the "City of Love" on her own... Lucky for her those particular plans are soon scrapped as she is swept off her feet and finds the one man who sees Annabel the way no one ever has before, a rocky road to a true HEA but well worth traveling!
Lucky Charm embodies the best of contemporary romance reading, it is serious but fun, full of the spirit of two friends who support each other through good and bad, manages to touch the readers emotions without being overwhelming and is an all out treat to anyone who has ever been "dumped". Annabel's comeback from despair to total joy was a wonderful journey as along the way she discovered that sometime's dreams do come true and making it happen is half the fun!
Contemporary romance/chick lit fans get yourselves out and get a copy, you will be happy you did.
The fun part of the story comes about when Annabel's best friend Lilly, a social butterfly who in the past was always on the lookout for the next Mr-Right-Now, takes things in hand and forces Annabel to update her hair and wardrobe and at least try to date once again.. When this fails to get the required results Lilly invites Annabel to go with her to Paris where Lilly is competing in a fashion design show and reuniting with her long distance boyfriend who has moved back to Paris after being in New York on business.
Going to Paris at first seemed like such a chore, once Annabel got into the swing of things however her excitement over the trip takes over and she researches and plans numerous outings to discover the "City of Love" on her own... Lucky for her those particular plans are soon scrapped as she is swept off her feet and finds the one man who sees Annabel the way no one ever has before, a rocky road to a true HEA but well worth traveling!
Lucky Charm embodies the best of contemporary romance reading, it is serious but fun, full of the spirit of two friends who support each other through good and bad, manages to touch the readers emotions without being overwhelming and is an all out treat to anyone who has ever been "dumped". Annabel's comeback from despair to total joy was a wonderful journey as along the way she discovered that sometime's dreams do come true and making it happen is half the fun!
Contemporary romance/chick lit fans get yourselves out and get a copy, you will be happy you did.
I have to disclose that this book was an e-arc copy submitted to me by the author via The Bookish Snob Promotions for an honest review and that there is no other compensation from her, the tour host or the publisher except my reading pleasure and enjoyment of the characters depicted in the story.
February 13, 2013
I dont see how this qualifies in the least as a romantic comedy.... This book was very flat. I didnt see why you had to go through 3/4 of the book dealing with the lead up to the arc... was just boring and a slog to read :-(
August 22, 2013
If you thought romance was dead, read this book. It is alive and kicking. I loved this book from start to finish. It was impossible to put down once I started reading it. It was that good.
September 8, 2011
This book was so sweet, a few sad moments but a great story all the way around. You felt for the characters, and boy, were there a lot of them. I've found with most stories, who have a lot of characters, the stories are too over done but this one was perfect and easy to follow. I loved it!
Set in the Big City, Annabel is living the life. She has a good job, a wonderful fiancé, supportive friends; life is predictable and safe, until the uneventful happens. Annabel catches her fiancé in an affair and breaks off the wedding. Distraught, she decides going on vacation with her best friend to Paris, it’s just the thing she needs. And there, she meets tall, dark and handsome!
Etienne, a French man, is smitten with Annabel the first day he meets her. Love at first sight? Three glorious weeks in Paris and they both believe so but will their love last when Annabel's fiancé comes back in the picture?
Did Annabel go back to her ex- fiancé or did she take a risk and go to her French man? Read the book and find out. I can promise that the story was wonderful, sweet and each character ended up with a happy ending. :)
Set in the Big City, Annabel is living the life. She has a good job, a wonderful fiancé, supportive friends; life is predictable and safe, until the uneventful happens. Annabel catches her fiancé in an affair and breaks off the wedding. Distraught, she decides going on vacation with her best friend to Paris, it’s just the thing she needs. And there, she meets tall, dark and handsome!
Etienne, a French man, is smitten with Annabel the first day he meets her. Love at first sight? Three glorious weeks in Paris and they both believe so but will their love last when Annabel's fiancé comes back in the picture?
Did Annabel go back to her ex- fiancé or did she take a risk and go to her French man? Read the book and find out. I can promise that the story was wonderful, sweet and each character ended up with a happy ending. :)
September 25, 2013
Sometimes you just want to have a glass of wine, read a book that's light, romantic, and fun. You want to laugh out loud, root for the underdog and enjoy a Saturday afternoon. That is what I did while reading this book. It's that book that feels like home.
I'm loving this author! So for a chilled Saturday afternoon grab this book and escape.
I'm loving this author! So for a chilled Saturday afternoon grab this book and escape.
December 4, 2011
Marie Astor’s Lucky Charm is one of those books that once I started it, I just wanted to know what happend next. I really enjoyed Lucky Charm and it is this month’s selection for the ChickLitPlus reading challenge I’ve been doing this year.
Annabel Green catches her fiance cheating on her. In the wake of this betrayal, Annabel is lost, uncertain of how to move forward and reclaim her life. Her best friend, an up and coming designer called Lilly Collins, tries to help. She treats Annabel to a fabulous makeover and makes sure she meets new men. However, Annabel still uses any and every excuse to delay jumping back in the dating pool. Worried about her friend, Lilly takes Annabel to visit a fortune teller, where Annabel acquires a special charm that is supposed to bring her luck in love…. but will it? I don’t want to say a lot more about the summary because I want you to read it and discover it for yourself. You’ll see a few more tidbits below, but only because they pertain to things I really liked about the story.
The first thing that drew me into Lucky Charm was Annabel herself. She’s not perfect, but she’s also not a simpering idiot. It always helps to have a heroine that you feel like you could be friends with. Annabel’s reaction to Jeremy’s betrayal is authentic. It doesn’t feel contrived or desperate. Nor do Lilly’s plans to get Annabel back in the dating game. And if you like the idea of a lucky charm, then the fortune teller gifting Annabel with a talisman is endearing. I think most of us, whether or not we admit it out loud, would welcome any charm that would bring more love into our lives.
I also enjoyed Annabel’s foray into Paris. I love reading about places I’ve visited and saying to myself “Yes, that’s spot on”. I did just that reading about Annabel’s dinner at Cafe Marly at The Louvre. The Cafe at night, and the surrounding area, is one of the most romantic places I’ve been- just something in the air.
When Annabel learns that Lilly’s been hiding a secret that could mean Annabel’s not been as lucky in love as she thought, I found myself rooting for Annabel, and for her friendship with Lilly. In fact, my only real criticism of the story is that I thought Annabel overreacted and immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion when she learned Lilly’s secret. That may be me projecting my own practicality into Annabel’s character, but even though I felt like Annabel’s reaction wasn’t completely warranted, I still really wanted everything to work out in the end.
This was a quick read for me. It was easy for me to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. If you’re a chick lit fan, I think you’ll enjoy Lucky Charm and I for one am excited to read more from Marie Astor. You can learn more about Marie here.
Note: In the interest of full disclosure, Marie did ask me to review Lucky Charm. As I state in my review policy, a request for a review does not guarantee a positive review. I did genuinely enjoy this story and provided an honest review.
Annabel Green catches her fiance cheating on her. In the wake of this betrayal, Annabel is lost, uncertain of how to move forward and reclaim her life. Her best friend, an up and coming designer called Lilly Collins, tries to help. She treats Annabel to a fabulous makeover and makes sure she meets new men. However, Annabel still uses any and every excuse to delay jumping back in the dating pool. Worried about her friend, Lilly takes Annabel to visit a fortune teller, where Annabel acquires a special charm that is supposed to bring her luck in love…. but will it? I don’t want to say a lot more about the summary because I want you to read it and discover it for yourself. You’ll see a few more tidbits below, but only because they pertain to things I really liked about the story.
The first thing that drew me into Lucky Charm was Annabel herself. She’s not perfect, but she’s also not a simpering idiot. It always helps to have a heroine that you feel like you could be friends with. Annabel’s reaction to Jeremy’s betrayal is authentic. It doesn’t feel contrived or desperate. Nor do Lilly’s plans to get Annabel back in the dating game. And if you like the idea of a lucky charm, then the fortune teller gifting Annabel with a talisman is endearing. I think most of us, whether or not we admit it out loud, would welcome any charm that would bring more love into our lives.
I also enjoyed Annabel’s foray into Paris. I love reading about places I’ve visited and saying to myself “Yes, that’s spot on”. I did just that reading about Annabel’s dinner at Cafe Marly at The Louvre. The Cafe at night, and the surrounding area, is one of the most romantic places I’ve been- just something in the air.
When Annabel learns that Lilly’s been hiding a secret that could mean Annabel’s not been as lucky in love as she thought, I found myself rooting for Annabel, and for her friendship with Lilly. In fact, my only real criticism of the story is that I thought Annabel overreacted and immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion when she learned Lilly’s secret. That may be me projecting my own practicality into Annabel’s character, but even though I felt like Annabel’s reaction wasn’t completely warranted, I still really wanted everything to work out in the end.
This was a quick read for me. It was easy for me to keep turning the pages to find out what happened next. If you’re a chick lit fan, I think you’ll enjoy Lucky Charm and I for one am excited to read more from Marie Astor. You can learn more about Marie here.
Note: In the interest of full disclosure, Marie did ask me to review Lucky Charm. As I state in my review policy, a request for a review does not guarantee a positive review. I did genuinely enjoy this story and provided an honest review.
August 14, 2011
This was a very cute story! I really enjoyed reading this. To be honest, sometimes the covers can throw me off. I thought it would be super cheesy but it really wasn't. It was sweet, charming and very romantic!
The premise was interesting. Annabel ends up finding her fiance kissing his book agent and decides to chuck him. Good for Annabel! But the real part of the story wasn't just trying to get over the hurt and pain that came along with being cheated on, but learning to love again. And that made this story such a treat to read!
I thought this was written really well. The narrative was easy to read and the story flowed so well. It's written in third person and there were a few times it changed character views, but for the most part it stays with Annabel. What I liked even more was that Annabel wasn't the only one finding love. We had some great side stories filled with couples falling in love.
Definitely read worthy! If you haven't taken a chance on this book, definitely check it out. Plenty of romance to melt the heart!
The premise was interesting. Annabel ends up finding her fiance kissing his book agent and decides to chuck him. Good for Annabel! But the real part of the story wasn't just trying to get over the hurt and pain that came along with being cheated on, but learning to love again. And that made this story such a treat to read!
I thought this was written really well. The narrative was easy to read and the story flowed so well. It's written in third person and there were a few times it changed character views, but for the most part it stays with Annabel. What I liked even more was that Annabel wasn't the only one finding love. We had some great side stories filled with couples falling in love.
Definitely read worthy! If you haven't taken a chance on this book, definitely check it out. Plenty of romance to melt the heart!
August 20, 2012
I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to more from this author. Its a light, fun, enjoyable read and I am glad I have read it.
The characters are well developed and you really like Annabel and Lilly. And you can sympathize with Annabel when she catches Jeremy cheating. Lilly is a great friend and would make a fun lead character in her own story. You are glad she and Annabel are friends and you want both to get their HEA.
The settings are realistic as well. You can easily visualize the office where Annabel works and you can imagine what her apartment looks like. Also while in Paris you can easily pretend you are there with them. Even if you are like me and have never been there.
If you are looking for an enjoyable fun read you can not go wrong with this one.
The characters are well developed and you really like Annabel and Lilly. And you can sympathize with Annabel when she catches Jeremy cheating. Lilly is a great friend and would make a fun lead character in her own story. You are glad she and Annabel are friends and you want both to get their HEA.
The settings are realistic as well. You can easily visualize the office where Annabel works and you can imagine what her apartment looks like. Also while in Paris you can easily pretend you are there with them. Even if you are like me and have never been there.
If you are looking for an enjoyable fun read you can not go wrong with this one.
March 22, 2013
Ick. "Every fiber of my being"...several times!?! Please. And, what is up with these two women turning into such weak, pathetic, simpering fools as soon as they meet the love of their lives? I gave this book two stars, because I thought the first half of the book, while rather slow paced, wasn't horrible. But the second half-YUCK.
February 9, 2013
Very cute story. You get caught into it from the beginning and it doesn't let you go. Definitely a page turner ,makes you want to know what happens next. Loved it!
April 5, 2021
Predictable boy meets girl but an enjoyable, sweet, easy, Chick Lit read.
Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college love, an aspiring author Jeremy Blake, but her plans for an ideal wedding are rudely interrupted when she catches Jeremy kissing his gorgeous book agent.
Shell-shocked by Jeremy's betrayal, Annabel retreats into the quiet routine of TV dinners and solitary evenings. It is then that Annabel's best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, sets herself on a mission to draw Annabel out of her shell. In an attempt to persuade Annabel to keep an open mind on dating, Lilly takes Annabel for a stunning makeover, but after Annabel passes on a date with a dashing entrepreneur, Lilly decides that more drastic measures are needed. Lilly invites Annabel to see a palm reader who gives Annabel a lucky charm that is supposed to help her find true love.
A few weeks later, during her trip to Paris, Annabel meets a handsome Parisian, and as the two embark on a whirlwind romance, she starts to believe in the power of the talisman the palm reader has given her. But what Annabel doesn't know is that Lilly is hiding a secret that could unravel her faith in her newly found luck in love.
Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college love, an aspiring author Jeremy Blake, but her plans for an ideal wedding are rudely interrupted when she catches Jeremy kissing his gorgeous book agent.
Shell-shocked by Jeremy's betrayal, Annabel retreats into the quiet routine of TV dinners and solitary evenings. It is then that Annabel's best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, sets herself on a mission to draw Annabel out of her shell. In an attempt to persuade Annabel to keep an open mind on dating, Lilly takes Annabel for a stunning makeover, but after Annabel passes on a date with a dashing entrepreneur, Lilly decides that more drastic measures are needed. Lilly invites Annabel to see a palm reader who gives Annabel a lucky charm that is supposed to help her find true love.
A few weeks later, during her trip to Paris, Annabel meets a handsome Parisian, and as the two embark on a whirlwind romance, she starts to believe in the power of the talisman the palm reader has given her. But what Annabel doesn't know is that Lilly is hiding a secret that could unravel her faith in her newly found luck in love.
November 3, 2017
Ok read...
There were parts of the book that were cute, but so much of it was really cliche. The characters were not super original and the plot was weak at best. The emotion in it felt realistic, but I could tell what was going to happen before it did. Not a bad read if you’re looking for something light and predictable, but nothing spectacular.
There were parts of the book that were cute, but so much of it was really cliche. The characters were not super original and the plot was weak at best. The emotion in it felt realistic, but I could tell what was going to happen before it did. Not a bad read if you’re looking for something light and predictable, but nothing spectacular.
April 14, 2021
Romance
I didn't finish this. When a twenty-eight year old starts freaking out about being an old spinster like its the end of the world I stopped reading. There was a lot of negativity and putting people down. Had the potential for a fun read if the characters were decent.
I didn't finish this. When a twenty-eight year old starts freaking out about being an old spinster like its the end of the world I stopped reading. There was a lot of negativity and putting people down. Had the potential for a fun read if the characters were decent.
May 19, 2012
Twenty-eight year old Annabel Green is just months away from marrying her boyfriend of seven years, Jeremy Blake, when she catches him kissing his book agent, and suddenly her whole world is turned upside down. She had willingly been the breadwinner in their relationship, taking a "temporary" copywriter's position at an advertising agency, setting her own dreams of writing aside while Jeremy writes his first novel. Faced with a cheating fiance, she confronts Jeremy and finds out that he has been seeing his book agent for the past three months, brokenhearted Annabel ends their relationship. For the next few weeks, Annabel slides into a depressing routine of working late, eating takeout and watching tv, while ducking attempts from her best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, who tries to get her out of the apartment. Determined to pull Annabel out of her funk, Lilly treats Annabel to a makeover and a tarot card reading, where Annabel is given a heart-shaped charm on a gold necklace to wear as a talisman to bring her luck in love. Lilly asks Annabel if she would accompany her on a three week trip to Paris, to help her in a fashion contest that she has entered. Will Lilly's attempts to get Annabel back in the dating game work? Will a dream trip to the famous City of Lights and a lucky charm bring Annabel love?
Lucky Charm is a delightfully fun and flirty romance novel that will draw you into Annabel's story from the start. The storyline is a true chick lit novel at its best, filled with romance, broken hearts, learning to love again, and the promise of a happy ending, all you'll need is some wine, chocolate and a comfy couch to enjoy this story. The author does a wonderful job of engaging the reader's interest and drawing them into Annabel's journey of self-discovery and learning to find love again. With a touch of dramatic, flirty and sassy interactions between the characters, you can't help but giggle as you turn the pages. Annabel and Lilly's friendship is a realistic BFF relationship that everyone can relate to. You can't help but smile and giggle at their crazy antics, it reminded me of my own relationship with my BFF. The author does a fantastic job of describing Paris and its cultural treasures, it reads like a virtual tour guide, and is truly sigh worthy. When Annabel meets the handsome Parisian, Etienne Gerard, I found myself smiling and cheering her on as their whirlwind romance developed during her three week stay in Paris. Even though an ocean separates them, love can overcome all obstacles, if Annabel will allow herself to trust and love again.
There is so much that can be said about this fun little novel, but I don't want to give any spoiler information, so if you are looking for a lighthearted contemporary romance novel that will leave you smiling, I would definitely recommend reading Lucky Charm, you won't be disappointed!
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Lucky Charm is a delightfully fun and flirty romance novel that will draw you into Annabel's story from the start. The storyline is a true chick lit novel at its best, filled with romance, broken hearts, learning to love again, and the promise of a happy ending, all you'll need is some wine, chocolate and a comfy couch to enjoy this story. The author does a wonderful job of engaging the reader's interest and drawing them into Annabel's journey of self-discovery and learning to find love again. With a touch of dramatic, flirty and sassy interactions between the characters, you can't help but giggle as you turn the pages. Annabel and Lilly's friendship is a realistic BFF relationship that everyone can relate to. You can't help but smile and giggle at their crazy antics, it reminded me of my own relationship with my BFF. The author does a fantastic job of describing Paris and its cultural treasures, it reads like a virtual tour guide, and is truly sigh worthy. When Annabel meets the handsome Parisian, Etienne Gerard, I found myself smiling and cheering her on as their whirlwind romance developed during her three week stay in Paris. Even though an ocean separates them, love can overcome all obstacles, if Annabel will allow herself to trust and love again.
There is so much that can be said about this fun little novel, but I don't want to give any spoiler information, so if you are looking for a lighthearted contemporary romance novel that will leave you smiling, I would definitely recommend reading Lucky Charm, you won't be disappointed!
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
February 28, 2015
Annabelle is happily planning her wedding to Jeremy, but feels like they may have fallen into a rut. She makes a couple of attempts to spice things up, but her worst fears come true when she stumbles upon Jeremy kissing his agent. She immediately kicks him out of the small studio they share in New York City.
She clings her to her best friend, Lilly. Meanwhile, Lilly has fallen in love with a Parisian. She still finds time to comfort Annabelle and encourage her to get her life back after the devastation of getting her heart broken.
Lilly is a fashion designer who has an upcoming fashion contest in Paris. She somehow convinces Annabelle to join her for a few weeks in Paris, but first, they happened upon a fortune teller one evening a month or so prior to their Paris trip. The fortune teller got a lot of things spot on about both Lilly and Annabelle and gave Annabelle a beautiful necklace with a heart charm on it. Said it was a lucky charm and would bring her love.
Annabelle had been very skeptical of the fortune teller, but quickly embraced the talisman and immediately started wearing all the time. Love was a little rocky at first with the charm, but it lived up to its lucky nature once she arrived in Paris.
She fell for Etienne hard after their first date! And he for her. It was fun to follow along on their adventures in the most romantic city in the world. Of course, he was handsome, muscled, and very wealthy (drives a Porsche)!
Their romance was fast and all-encompassing. And the love scenes were very well-written without being graphic. Just enough to make you really feel the love that was blossoming between the two of them.
This books isn't entirely all about the love and romance. There are plenty of other interesting plot twists and turns and characters.
In her professional life, Annabelle works in a boutique advertising agency writing ad copy. She finds it unfulfilling and longs to devote more time to her writing - something that she'd put on hold while her finance, Jeremy, had worked on his first book. It was fun to meet a couple of her clients at the agency as well as her boss and the other women in her office.
This was definitely a fun, quick read with a perfect ending!
She clings her to her best friend, Lilly. Meanwhile, Lilly has fallen in love with a Parisian. She still finds time to comfort Annabelle and encourage her to get her life back after the devastation of getting her heart broken.
Lilly is a fashion designer who has an upcoming fashion contest in Paris. She somehow convinces Annabelle to join her for a few weeks in Paris, but first, they happened upon a fortune teller one evening a month or so prior to their Paris trip. The fortune teller got a lot of things spot on about both Lilly and Annabelle and gave Annabelle a beautiful necklace with a heart charm on it. Said it was a lucky charm and would bring her love.
Annabelle had been very skeptical of the fortune teller, but quickly embraced the talisman and immediately started wearing all the time. Love was a little rocky at first with the charm, but it lived up to its lucky nature once she arrived in Paris.
She fell for Etienne hard after their first date! And he for her. It was fun to follow along on their adventures in the most romantic city in the world. Of course, he was handsome, muscled, and very wealthy (drives a Porsche)!
Their romance was fast and all-encompassing. And the love scenes were very well-written without being graphic. Just enough to make you really feel the love that was blossoming between the two of them.
This books isn't entirely all about the love and romance. There are plenty of other interesting plot twists and turns and characters.
In her professional life, Annabelle works in a boutique advertising agency writing ad copy. She finds it unfulfilling and longs to devote more time to her writing - something that she'd put on hold while her finance, Jeremy, had worked on his first book. It was fun to meet a couple of her clients at the agency as well as her boss and the other women in her office.
This was definitely a fun, quick read with a perfect ending!
September 27, 2011
Lucky Charm by Marie Astor is a charismatic and endearing tale of falling in love.
Annabel has just found out that her fiancé is nothing but a lying and cheating rat. Not only that he is a scrounging rat that has been living off of Annabel for years trying to reach fame through his writing career. Poor Annabel is heartbroken and bravely pushes Jeremy aside to try and get on with her life; but she can’t let herself totally let go. Enter Lilly, Annabel’s best friend in the world and fashion designer. Lilly is going to France for a fashion competition and drags Annabel along to try and perk her up from her post-break up blues. Annabel is reluctant at first but soon finds the idea of visiting another country and seeing some of the wonders of the worlds exhilarating. She finds a lot more wonders that she could ever imagine.
I absolutely loved Annabel and Lilly. Their dynamic relationship is invigorating. It’s not very often you can find someone that you can be truly yourself around but this friendship is one of them. Lilly helps Annabel realize that she needs to move on and Annabel does the same for Lilly: by making her realize that she needs to let go of her grudge. Lilly is such a funky free spirit and I love her wit. Annabel is more of the shy one that takes some time to come out of her box. The only annoyance I had with this book was that about half way through there was a lot of spelling errors.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would happily read more of Astor’s work. It has a light fluffy feel to the plot and I like that every once and a while. Everyone wins in the end and it’s the perfect book to start me on my summer holidays (even though I am a bit late this year).
Disclaimer: I was sent this book for review as part of a book blog tour held by The Bookish Snob Promotions. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.
Add on disclaimer: The spelling errors are duie to uncorrected copy being supplied for review.
Annabel has just found out that her fiancé is nothing but a lying and cheating rat. Not only that he is a scrounging rat that has been living off of Annabel for years trying to reach fame through his writing career. Poor Annabel is heartbroken and bravely pushes Jeremy aside to try and get on with her life; but she can’t let herself totally let go. Enter Lilly, Annabel’s best friend in the world and fashion designer. Lilly is going to France for a fashion competition and drags Annabel along to try and perk her up from her post-break up blues. Annabel is reluctant at first but soon finds the idea of visiting another country and seeing some of the wonders of the worlds exhilarating. She finds a lot more wonders that she could ever imagine.
I absolutely loved Annabel and Lilly. Their dynamic relationship is invigorating. It’s not very often you can find someone that you can be truly yourself around but this friendship is one of them. Lilly helps Annabel realize that she needs to move on and Annabel does the same for Lilly: by making her realize that she needs to let go of her grudge. Lilly is such a funky free spirit and I love her wit. Annabel is more of the shy one that takes some time to come out of her box. The only annoyance I had with this book was that about half way through there was a lot of spelling errors.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would happily read more of Astor’s work. It has a light fluffy feel to the plot and I like that every once and a while. Everyone wins in the end and it’s the perfect book to start me on my summer holidays (even though I am a bit late this year).
Disclaimer: I was sent this book for review as part of a book blog tour held by The Bookish Snob Promotions. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.
Add on disclaimer: The spelling errors are duie to uncorrected copy being supplied for review.
August 26, 2011
Lucky Charm is a very enjoyable read that made me want to grab a comfy chair and a glass of wine, and just enjoy the story.
It was very easy to identify with Annabel, a young woman who discovers her fiancé is having an affair. Annabel has to deal with the fall-out of a failed relationship, as well as the embarrassment of canceling wedding plans, all while trying to keep her emotions under control. With help from her best friend, Lilly, and even some therapeutic target shooting sessions, Annabel begins to put the failed relationship behind her and make positive changes in her life. The last think Annabel expected was to meet an attractive man while on vacation in Paris, but when Etienne enters her life, Annabel is torn between risking her heart in a relationship with a stranger or staying safe in her single status.
Lucky Charm is an easy contemporary romance novel to relate to and enjoy. The characters experience real-life situations and emotions, making it very easy to relate to and get caught up in the story. All of the female characters in Lucky Charm face their own relationship struggles and issues, and they are all a bit different. There is something for every reader to relate to, at least in some way. After all, relationships are complicated, but we all look for that happily ever after. I appreciate that while exploring the hurts of unfaithful relationships, Marie Astor manages to pull in humor and amusement to the story.
I loved the settings in Lucky Charm. Annabel and Lilly live in New York City, and they are independent, smart women making their way in the city. They get to travel to Paris for a few weeks, one of the most romantic cities in the world. The cities fit the characters, and the story line so well. The settings just pulled me into the storyline that much more, and made me wish that I could go to Paris too.
As far as contemporary romance novels go, Lucky Charm is a great novel that I highly enjoyed and recommend.
It was very easy to identify with Annabel, a young woman who discovers her fiancé is having an affair. Annabel has to deal with the fall-out of a failed relationship, as well as the embarrassment of canceling wedding plans, all while trying to keep her emotions under control. With help from her best friend, Lilly, and even some therapeutic target shooting sessions, Annabel begins to put the failed relationship behind her and make positive changes in her life. The last think Annabel expected was to meet an attractive man while on vacation in Paris, but when Etienne enters her life, Annabel is torn between risking her heart in a relationship with a stranger or staying safe in her single status.
Lucky Charm is an easy contemporary romance novel to relate to and enjoy. The characters experience real-life situations and emotions, making it very easy to relate to and get caught up in the story. All of the female characters in Lucky Charm face their own relationship struggles and issues, and they are all a bit different. There is something for every reader to relate to, at least in some way. After all, relationships are complicated, but we all look for that happily ever after. I appreciate that while exploring the hurts of unfaithful relationships, Marie Astor manages to pull in humor and amusement to the story.
I loved the settings in Lucky Charm. Annabel and Lilly live in New York City, and they are independent, smart women making their way in the city. They get to travel to Paris for a few weeks, one of the most romantic cities in the world. The cities fit the characters, and the story line so well. The settings just pulled me into the storyline that much more, and made me wish that I could go to Paris too.
As far as contemporary romance novels go, Lucky Charm is a great novel that I highly enjoyed and recommend.
August 7, 2011
A note: I received Lucky Charm from the author, Marie Astor.
At the outset of this review, I need to admit that I can't recall the last contemporary romance that I've read. I do read romances, but I tend toward the historical or the paranormal. Jane Austen is in fact one of my favorite novelists, romance or otherwise. So, on the one hand, I have particular tastes that may not make me the ideal contemporary romance reader. On the other, I like reading about people falling in love.
Astor's gently charming debut, set in New York where all kinds of magical events and situations seem plausible, features 28-year-old Annabel Green as its heroine. At the outset, Annabel, engaged to Jeremy and planning their wedding, finds herself surrounded by less-than-ideal examples of romantic love: her best friend Lilly is a love-'em-and-leave-'em kind of gal, her cousin Meredith pretends ignorance of her husband's many infidelities, and her divorced boss Paige flits from date to date. Things quickly go awry with Jeremy, leaving Annabel in an unenviable single and lonely state.
And that's the set-up.
Lucky Charm is a romantic confection that reminded me of the movie Letters to Juliet in some ways: both have a modern heroine working in a job that doesn't allow her to pursue her writing dream, both heroines support a live-in fiance pursuing his dream career in New York, and both heroines travel to a romantic European destination where their future romantic lives are forever changed. In fact, I can almost see Amanda Seyfried as Annabel.
I would love to end my review here, but I'm compelled to add a note about copy editing. The version of Lucky Charm I read unfortunately needs a serious copy editing pass. I found the numerous mistakes rather distracting. Ms. Astor also uses the word "presently" rather liberally.
At the outset of this review, I need to admit that I can't recall the last contemporary romance that I've read. I do read romances, but I tend toward the historical or the paranormal. Jane Austen is in fact one of my favorite novelists, romance or otherwise. So, on the one hand, I have particular tastes that may not make me the ideal contemporary romance reader. On the other, I like reading about people falling in love.
Astor's gently charming debut, set in New York where all kinds of magical events and situations seem plausible, features 28-year-old Annabel Green as its heroine. At the outset, Annabel, engaged to Jeremy and planning their wedding, finds herself surrounded by less-than-ideal examples of romantic love: her best friend Lilly is a love-'em-and-leave-'em kind of gal, her cousin Meredith pretends ignorance of her husband's many infidelities, and her divorced boss Paige flits from date to date. Things quickly go awry with Jeremy, leaving Annabel in an unenviable single and lonely state.
And that's the set-up.
Lucky Charm is a romantic confection that reminded me of the movie Letters to Juliet in some ways: both have a modern heroine working in a job that doesn't allow her to pursue her writing dream, both heroines support a live-in fiance pursuing his dream career in New York, and both heroines travel to a romantic European destination where their future romantic lives are forever changed. In fact, I can almost see Amanda Seyfried as Annabel.
I would love to end my review here, but I'm compelled to add a note about copy editing. The version of Lucky Charm I read unfortunately needs a serious copy editing pass. I found the numerous mistakes rather distracting. Ms. Astor also uses the word "presently" rather liberally.
August 31, 2011
Full review at Secrets of a Book Lover: http://secretsofabooklover.blogspot.c...
Grab yourself a glass of wine, a box of chocolates, light a candle and curl up under your favorite blanket. This was the quintessential chick-lit book. Fun, flirty, a bit of drama, girl-power and a trip to Paris. It has it all.
This story started out a bit slow, centering around Annabel's wedding planning and her job. Of course, the reader can see that there is something fishy going on with Jeremy from the beginning. This is a little frustrating for me, because I just wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. However, once the situation comes to a head, I absolutely loved the way she handled it. Of course, Jeremy was a sniveling bastard about the whole situation, but Annabel handled the situation perfectly. And, with any break-up comes self doubt and regret and Annabel has her fair share, but she doesn't go overboard with it.
What chick-lit would be complete without a trip to the City of Love? I loved the story while they were in Paris. It's full of awkward, funny, romantic and sometimes sexy moments. I loved watching Annabel progress from an emotionally scarred woman to a woman who believes in luck and love. The story is sweet and light-hearted, leaving me wishing that the trip never had to end.
However, Marie Astor brings the reader back to "real life" when the women return to New York to continue on with their lives. And what better place to wrap up the story than where it all began. Marie Astor made sure to wrap up all the loose ends (which I love!) and give each person their happy ending. Though, there is a certain character I wouldn't have minded seeing face down in a puddle of mud. And the twist at the end with Jeremy? Vindication is so sweet!
Grab yourself a glass of wine, a box of chocolates, light a candle and curl up under your favorite blanket. This was the quintessential chick-lit book. Fun, flirty, a bit of drama, girl-power and a trip to Paris. It has it all.
This story started out a bit slow, centering around Annabel's wedding planning and her job. Of course, the reader can see that there is something fishy going on with Jeremy from the beginning. This is a little frustrating for me, because I just wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. However, once the situation comes to a head, I absolutely loved the way she handled it. Of course, Jeremy was a sniveling bastard about the whole situation, but Annabel handled the situation perfectly. And, with any break-up comes self doubt and regret and Annabel has her fair share, but she doesn't go overboard with it.
What chick-lit would be complete without a trip to the City of Love? I loved the story while they were in Paris. It's full of awkward, funny, romantic and sometimes sexy moments. I loved watching Annabel progress from an emotionally scarred woman to a woman who believes in luck and love. The story is sweet and light-hearted, leaving me wishing that the trip never had to end.
However, Marie Astor brings the reader back to "real life" when the women return to New York to continue on with their lives. And what better place to wrap up the story than where it all began. Marie Astor made sure to wrap up all the loose ends (which I love!) and give each person their happy ending. Though, there is a certain character I wouldn't have minded seeing face down in a puddle of mud. And the twist at the end with Jeremy? Vindication is so sweet!
October 4, 2011
Lucky Charm is the kind of book that is perfectly paired with a cozy blanket and glass of wine. It is a sweet, albeit slightly predictable, love story about Annabel who after suffering a devastating heartbreak finds love where she least expected to.
Unfortunately I found the love story to be lacking creativity and it seemed as though the author ran out of ideas for failed relationships – every single character suffered the same type of betrayal. I would have preferred it if the characters and their relationships had a little more depth to them, they fell flat in my opinion and as a reader who looks for strongly developed characters this was a bit of a let down.
While I think that more could have been done with the relationships in this novel, I did genuinely like Annabel’s character and found myself rooting for her. I loved that she was a strong character and once she got over the shock of her fiancé’s disloyalty she found the strength to go for things in life that she had put off because of relationship. She put herself first for a change and that really made me happy.
The story line for the most part was light and breezy and the characters were fun and easy to identify with making Lucky Charm a perfect “girl’s night in” sort of read. After reading my share of dark and serious books lately Lucky Charm was a refreshing change. I would recommend Lucky Charm to fans of Chick-Lit, clean romances, and happy endings.
I received a free e-book of Lucky Charm from The Bookish Snob Promotions (thank you!!!) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Unfortunately I found the love story to be lacking creativity and it seemed as though the author ran out of ideas for failed relationships – every single character suffered the same type of betrayal. I would have preferred it if the characters and their relationships had a little more depth to them, they fell flat in my opinion and as a reader who looks for strongly developed characters this was a bit of a let down.
While I think that more could have been done with the relationships in this novel, I did genuinely like Annabel’s character and found myself rooting for her. I loved that she was a strong character and once she got over the shock of her fiancé’s disloyalty she found the strength to go for things in life that she had put off because of relationship. She put herself first for a change and that really made me happy.
The story line for the most part was light and breezy and the characters were fun and easy to identify with making Lucky Charm a perfect “girl’s night in” sort of read. After reading my share of dark and serious books lately Lucky Charm was a refreshing change. I would recommend Lucky Charm to fans of Chick-Lit, clean romances, and happy endings.
I received a free e-book of Lucky Charm from The Bookish Snob Promotions (thank you!!!) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 19, 2011
This was a sweet, light & quick feel good read that leaves you wanting to call your best friend. While this is a romance, it is also the story of friendship and how powerful & important it can be.
Annabel had her life planned, she was going to get married to her college sweetheart until she catches him kissing another woman. She immediately kicks him out but then she is left to deal with the heartache & begins to doubt her decision. With the help of her friends she slowly begins to heal and make a new life for herself.
What Worked For Me
~That Annabel stuck to her guns and didn’t go back to Jeremy. While she may have had doubts, she never gave in because she knew she could never trust him again.
~Lilly. A great friend to Annabel who was never afraid to speak her mind. She lifted her up when needed, gave her a hard kick-in-the-ass when needed & also a shoulder to lean & cry on.
~Etienne. Great character who was written well and allowed Annabel to be who she needed to, no questions.
What Didn’t Work
~While I understand that the story was about love & friendship – I felt that too much focus was placed on the friendship aspect. The story line between Annabel & Etienne could have been so much more if only they would have gotten more page time.
Annabel had her life planned, she was going to get married to her college sweetheart until she catches him kissing another woman. She immediately kicks him out but then she is left to deal with the heartache & begins to doubt her decision. With the help of her friends she slowly begins to heal and make a new life for herself.
What Worked For Me
~That Annabel stuck to her guns and didn’t go back to Jeremy. While she may have had doubts, she never gave in because she knew she could never trust him again.
~Lilly. A great friend to Annabel who was never afraid to speak her mind. She lifted her up when needed, gave her a hard kick-in-the-ass when needed & also a shoulder to lean & cry on.
~Etienne. Great character who was written well and allowed Annabel to be who she needed to, no questions.
What Didn’t Work
~While I understand that the story was about love & friendship – I felt that too much focus was placed on the friendship aspect. The story line between Annabel & Etienne could have been so much more if only they would have gotten more page time.
September 19, 2011
Lucky Charm is a book about a 28-year old woman named Annabel. She is in the midst of planning her wedding when she catches her fiance cheating on her. They have been together since college, so this is completely devastating to her. Annabel's best friend ends up dragging Annabel on a trip to Paris with her, where she meets a guy named Etienne.
I thought it was kind of weird how almost every character was being cheated on, or had been cheated on. It could almost make you paranoid that every man is a cheating scumbag, lol... I loved how Annabel was strong though, and kicked her fiance out on his butt. The first half of the book pretty much revolved around the affair, and we don't meet Etienne until the second half of the book. Since I am such a romance nut, I would liked to have seen more time between Annabel and Etienne. I really liked how their first date didn't go so well, and that it wasn't happily-ever-after from first glance.
This is the first time in a long time where I've read a book without any paranormal elements in it. Overall, it was a cute story though. It was interesting reading about the different aspects of Paris. This book is pretty squeaky-clean in the passion department, so it's okay for romance lovers of any age.
I thought it was kind of weird how almost every character was being cheated on, or had been cheated on. It could almost make you paranoid that every man is a cheating scumbag, lol... I loved how Annabel was strong though, and kicked her fiance out on his butt. The first half of the book pretty much revolved around the affair, and we don't meet Etienne until the second half of the book. Since I am such a romance nut, I would liked to have seen more time between Annabel and Etienne. I really liked how their first date didn't go so well, and that it wasn't happily-ever-after from first glance.
This is the first time in a long time where I've read a book without any paranormal elements in it. Overall, it was a cute story though. It was interesting reading about the different aspects of Paris. This book is pretty squeaky-clean in the passion department, so it's okay for romance lovers of any age.
April 15, 2012
Annabel Green has been in love with her college boyfriend, Jeremy, for what feels like forever. For six long years she supported him by working at an advertising job she hates, so that Jeremy could work on his novel. Now that Jeremy is finally getting a book deal, the two are about to get married, and Annabel's life could not be more perfect, right? Wrong.
When Annabel catches Jeremy sneaking behind her back with his drop dead gorgeous book agent, her world comes apart with maddening speed: she cancels the wedding, and crawls into the safety of her apartment to nurse her wounded heart. But her best friend, Lilly, will have none of it. After all, where would we all be if we didn't have our friends looking out for us? And so begins Annabel's return to the dating world - she hits a few stumbling blocks at first, but the initial mishaps only make the final outcome sweeter.
Lucky Charm is a fun, quick-paced contemporary romance read - I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story.
When Annabel catches Jeremy sneaking behind her back with his drop dead gorgeous book agent, her world comes apart with maddening speed: she cancels the wedding, and crawls into the safety of her apartment to nurse her wounded heart. But her best friend, Lilly, will have none of it. After all, where would we all be if we didn't have our friends looking out for us? And so begins Annabel's return to the dating world - she hits a few stumbling blocks at first, but the initial mishaps only make the final outcome sweeter.
Lucky Charm is a fun, quick-paced contemporary romance read - I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good love story.
September 8, 2011
Contemporary romance is not the normal genre that I usually review but every now and again I like to break from my usual and dive into something different. The premise of this book is pretty much what you read in the summary. Annabel Green finds herself alone and unable to move on with life without fear of being rejected. After her friend, Lilly, convinces her to go to a palm reader she is given a necklace that is said to hold a great power that will help her find her true love. Armed with this weapon she embarks on a fantastic trip to Paris with Lilly (who has found the man of her dreams) where she meets Etienne. He is funny and seems to really love her, but is it just the power of the amulet? Annabel returns to America and finds out that her friend has betrayed her and now she wonders if everything she has experienced even real. Friendship and love is but to the test in this contemporary read.
June 14, 2013
I enjoyed Lucky Charm and I think Ms Astor has definite promise as a novelist. There were some things which made me give it 3, instead of 4 stars. The writing seemed to be redundant in places. I think good editing would have tightened up the story line. Ms Astor seemed to have lost track of a character's name as well. She named her Athena Alexander in one place in the story (loc 3394), but in a couple of other places she's Athena Christy. I don't know how authors confuse their characters in this way or why their proofreaders don't catch that. I would think that using giant sheets of paper with all the names, relationships, attributes given a character would be pasted around the writing room walls to make sure names, characteristics, occupations, relationships/family would be consistent.
I hope Ms Astor continues to write but gives more time to consistency and tightening her plot lines.
I hope Ms Astor continues to write but gives more time to consistency and tightening her plot lines.
September 7, 2015
One of my recurring gripes is about books where there are just too many ingredients. I get indigestion. This is a case in point - one jilted girl, one lover trying to get back together with her, one wacky best friend, one foreign destination, one lucky charm, one dashing lover. Each of these elements would have made a respectable story in its own right, but mixing them all together means that none of them gets a chance to shine - e.g. the dashing lover doesn't even appear till half way through. A more interesting book might have focussed on a superstitious heroine and covered her journey from naive belief in lucky charms to a more mature trust in her own judgement. But hey. This book didn't.
July 27, 2014
This is a cute love story. Annabel has been with her boyfriend for 7 years and then finds him with another woman when it is close to their wedding. Hurt and in a job that she didn't want so she could support him while he wrote a book. She breaks up with him and then has doubts as to whether she should have or forgiven him. Her best friend Lilly gets her to go to Paris with her as she does a fashion design contest. Lilly is also meeting a Simon there as she meets him in New York but he is from Paris. It was good to see the characters be brutally honest with each other and not hate each other for it. The Annabel meets a guy and things start to change. Interesting read.
August 9, 2012
We've all been there at some point in our lives, trying to recover from a bad break up, but you don't have to be nursing a broken heart to enjoy Lucky Charm. I found myself rooting for Annabel as she stumbled to regain her bearings in the disorienting world of dating. I also loved the vivid characters: Annabel's spunky boss, her best friend Lilly, and, of course, let's not forget the charismatic Etienne, and the slimy snake Jeremy.
May 16, 2012
This is a charming chick lit story that is refreshingly not fixed on the silly twenty something characters but the aged 30 to 40 modern woman. Love found, love lost and love found again sets the pace. A little heartbreak and a little bit of fairy tale goes a long way. I always love a story that also incorporates a trip to Europe and a European heartthrob. Glad to have discovered a new chick lit author to follow.
March 27, 2013
I absolutely loved this book it was so easy to read & u felt like u were part of the story. I loved the characters and like most girlie books u could guess what was gonna happen but it wsd nicely written u wanted to read it. The book was light hearted and had a happy ending and left u with feel good factor. I thought how the relationship between paige and ana was good it was nice how they found s friendship and I totally loved lilly's character. Great read especially holiday read :)
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