The Lucky Ones penetrated the fog I was wallowing in for more than a week.

Synopsis

They called themselves “the lucky ones.” They were seven children either orphaned or abandoned by their parents and chosen by legendary philanthropist and brain surgeon Dr. Vincent Capello to live in The Dragon, his almost magical beach house on the Oregon Coast. Allison was the youngest of the lucky ones living an idyllic life with her newfound family…until the night she almost died, and was then whisked away from the house and her adopted family forever.Now, thirteen years later, Allison receives a letter from Roland, Dr. Capello’s oldest son, warning her that their father is ill and in his final days. Allison determines she must go home again and confront the ghosts of her past. She’s determined to find out what really happened that fateful night–was it an accident or, as she’s always suspected, did one of her beloved family members try to kill her?

But digging into the past can reveal horrific truths, and when Allison pieces together the story of her life, she’ll learns the terrible secret at the heart of the family she once loved but never really knew.

A vivid and suspenseful tale of family, grief, love—and the dark secrets that bind everything together—Tiffany Reisz’s latest is enthralling to the final page.

GOODREADS  AMAZON

Review

5 gothic stars

Tiffany Reisz is what I would call a solid writer. No holes in her plot, characters constructed carefully, mounting tension, secrets unearthed and astonishing truths. She’s got talent and intelligence. It’s only my second book by Tiffany after The Bourbon Thief but once more I’m swept off my feet.

The Lucky Ones penetrated the fog I was wallowing in for more than a week. She took me out of the reading slump I was in after reading The Silver Cage by Anonymous. Meaning: it was a hell of a read!

But you tell me. What is your reaction when you read these first lines:

“Louisville, Kentucky, 2015

All Allison wanted was for the conversation to be over. That and she hoped the heavy gray clouds would part and the sun would appear. It could go either way today – sun or rain. She stood at the kitchen window, peeling old paint off the sill as she waited for the Kentucky sky to make up its mind. Meanwhile, sitting behind her at the table, her lover, Cooper McQueen, gently ruined her life.”

Do you think about the mountain of socks you have to wash? About the empty fridge? About the kids you have to chauffeur?

Well I didn’t!

This was it. Sucked into the story. I read compulsively. In two days as I had to work (you know to earn money and buy books, not for food or clothes…). I finished the book at 2 AM today and it’s been a long time since I battled sleep to finish a story.

Allison, really lovely Allison, estranged from her foster family for thirteen years after a dramatic incident she has no memories of will go back to her childhood home when receiving the news that her foster dad Dr Capello is dying.

She has only fond memories of her time in the beach house that looked like a dragon. Welcomed by Dr Capello, an incredibly talented neuro surgeon who made it his mission to foster kids no one wanted and raise them as his own.

Roland was her big brother. Her protector. The one she ran to sleep alongside when the rain was too loud. Her secret crush.

Deacon and Thora the “twins”. All adopted by Dr Capello. Playing all day with her. Brushing her hair under the attentive and loving care of Dr Capello.

More kids went and left.

Only fond memories and perfect family picture.

Only…

Only everything was not as it seems and the story led me into the depth of the human psyche. People can be evil.

Monsters are lurking in the shadows.

The family Allison once loved she did not really know.

Playing God comes at a high price. One several kids had to pay.

Slowly, word after word, page after page, doubts were creeping into my mind. I imagined different scenarios. Who did it?

I talked with my friend Angy about the theory but Boy was I wrong!

This story is riveting. I have no other words.

And don’t start me on the characters and the love/lust story!

First real sex scene and steam got out of my paperback fogging my glasses as I was walking in the snow and nearly fell on a root as I was entranced by the scene. Entranced. By a sex scene. Me. Yes, me! I wouldn’t have believed it two days ago.

I fell in love with Roland. He has the name of a knight and he is a knight. Even if he was not meant to be one.

Deacon is hot and playful like a puppy can be. And Thora is the big sister I dreamt of having as a kid.

Allison was just… perfect. I usually would have despised or pitied her because who likes the mistress? The kept woman? The dirty secret? Not me! Yet Tiffany Reisz made me walk in her shoes, see the world through her eyes, experience her sad childhood until she was taken away by Dr Capello. Allison just wanted a family. Someone by her side. She was lonely. Should I turn my back knowing this? No, absolutely not!

That’s how Tiffany made me team Allison. I followed this charming, fragile and yet strong young lady back to her family, back to terrible truths.

I don’t really know how to end this review. Maybe by telling you that I’m now a true Tiffany Reisz fan and that she made it to my top 10 authors? Or by telling you that if you like masterfully written mystery with a gothic “vibe” and “feel real” characters this is your next buy?

Or…

Just buy it!

Have you read it? Or any other Tiffany’s books?

Thanks for reading and happy Saturday!

Sophie