The Lucky Ones

I'm not sure I'm on board with the ultimate lesson this book is attempting to make about the difference between secrets and lies. Or where its main characters land on that spectrum.

The characters (particularly Thor and Deac) were varying levels of lovable. But I'm baffled why the author made Roland a monk at all if he performed exactly one (1) monklike thing the entire book. It just felt like a strange and pointless plot obstacle that didn't even stand up to a slight wind in the face of Allison's super sexy super sexiness.

I kept reading wondering if it would land closer to Umbrella Academy or CSI and it sort of never decided what it wanted to be. But it was a perfectly good way to fill a flight home from vacation.

First of all, the MC is living my fantasy lol. Being an English major able to recite poetry is my dream - as someone who had to take the business route in college, I always dream of what could have been.

As always, in some of my favorite reads, the characters always have to be up to my standards because they're my favorite part of any fiction book I read. I truly enjoyed reading about all of them, except the foster siblings that left of whom we only get a brief glimpse. I could read a whole book about each of their backstories. Their separate stories would provide great context to the overall plot but also provide a diversity of experiences inside the home. (That's all I'll say without going into spoilers, because oh boy is there a diversity of experience.) The author builds great tension through the book by mirroring the MC's reconnection with each of the foster kids to the growing horror of each of their lives after leaving the Capellos' home.

Such great writing, especially with the transition of the buildup when the MC travels to see her foster family again to slowly leading into the more mysterious climax of what happened in the past that forced her to leave. Also, there's an ease with which the author approaches sex in all of her books that I once again appreciated in this one. I almost wish this book was a first in a series because the ending truly felt like a beginning and I would love to delve deeper into the complexity of the relationships because we're left feeling like we're on a balance beam, so much potential for things to tip one side or the other while trying to keep the balance of secrets and lies just right.

This was an enjoyable, fast-paced story that held my attention from the beginning. It has mystery and romantic elements and is twisty in both those areas. 3.5 star read for me.

There was more romance than I wanted. I am super cynical about romance, so I almost never enjoy it. The setting was great. I guessed the answer or part of it to the mystery early. I tried to confirm my thoughts reading the end and it wasn't clear. So I think it is just not for me.

I first want to thank Netgalley the author and Mira publishing for my arc of The Lucky Ones. This is not my first novel by Tiffany Reisz I have also read The Red which if you love Erotica you should pick that up as well. I finished this book in a day and that to me tells me that this is a great read. The book takes place in coastal Oregon. In a house that freakishly looks like a dragon if you look just right. A foster home to many children who needed their foster father, Dr. Capello like nobody else. Only Dr. Capello, or Dad, could tackle this crew. Allison left this home suddenly as a child and never came back, that whole event a blur in her inner psyche. She hasn't looked back on that home, that family, until she gets a letter from her foster brother asking her to come home. Their father, Dr. Capello is dying. Allison the mistress to a rich man just got dumped received a lump sum of money did what any woman would do she opens the letter and Pandora's Box along with it and goes back home.
Roland the older brother has so many things he needs to say and so many things that need to be finished between them. What I loved about this book is the same thing toward the end is what I hated. While I understand why “Dad” adopted all seven orphans as the story unfolds O wasn't sure if I liked him hated him or just felt sorry for him.
In starting this book, I was expecting a solid mystery and a little bit of romance in true Reisz style, and the author certainly delivered on that point, but the plot offers much more with complexity and an intricately weaved plot bringing the characters full circle. As such, Tiffany Reisz pens a masterful and provocative narrative that allows the reader to experience the highs and lows of humanity. In this novel, you will not figure it out up until the last page. I will continue to read books by this author because I am never disappointed.