Book Review - And a Sixpence For Luck by Lilac Mills

Amazon UK

Title: And a Sixpence For Luck

Author: Lilac Mills

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Lilac Tree Books

Publication Date: 29th September 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Curl up with a fun, festive read...


Daisy Jones has hit rock bottom. Or so she believes.

A cheating boyfriend, trouble at work, having to move back in with her mother, and being forced to compare her brother's loved-up, newly-wed status and brand-new shiny house with her own dire lack of prospects, isn't what she imagined her life was going to be like at thirty. To top it all off, Christmas is just around the corner!
Daisy, bless her, thinks things can't possibly get any worse, but when her ancient great-grandmother persuades her to plant a silver sixpence in the Christmas pud for luck, Daisy is about to discover that they most definitely can.

This is the third book I have read by Lilac Mills and although it isn't my favourite, that title still goes to Elephant and Pinky Moon, it is yet another incredibly enjoyable story, which I am very glad that I read. 

There was though slightly too much toilet humour in the first part of the book, which although completely justified and fitting, just left a slightly bad taste in my mouth.  That being said the rest of the humour was top notch, and I daren't say too much or I will spoil the fun for everyone. 

Daisy's great gran suggests putting a silver sixpence at the bottom of the Christmas pudding, so that Daisy's rather poor run of luck will come to and end. The results of the sixpence are more outrageous than you would predict and well there is a change in her luck just not in the way you expect. 

During the book there are multiple trips to hospital for various reasons and in that she meets an incredibly dish doctor, but again keep an eye open for all their initial dialogue especially if you love people talking at crossed purposes and getting confused! 

This is a light hearted, incredibly fun book and although the humour didn't quite tickle me, I was impressed with the pacing of it, and all the various threads of story that were weaved into this book.  In addition to the romance and comedy parts of this rom com, there are more serious topics that are touched upon, and also you get a great feel for all the generations of women in Daisy's rather madcap family. 

Despite the mentions of Christmas pudding and the majority of the book taking place around Christmas and New Year, it really isn't the sort of book that will have you longing put the decorations up, it just happens to have that as the time of year setting, while the story makes you laugh and is fun for any time of the year. 

Thank to Lilac Mills for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Q&A with Lilac Mills - Blog Tour

What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

Paying for reviews. It’s a total no-no as far as I’m concerned.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Energises me! If I’ve had a good writing session before work, I go to the day job with a smile on my face and a spring in my step (it doesn’t last though!)

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Concentrating on everything else, other than writing. Write whenever you can. Get that book out there.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Procrastination. If emails need answering, I can’t settle to writing until I’ve done that. I know it’s a stalling tactic on behalf of my subconscious.

Have you ever gotten reader’s block?

Yes, though I’d say it’s more of lost my way, than a block. What I tend to do is go back to a point in my manuscript where I was happy with it, then brainstorm, going off onto lots of different tangents. Though I must admit, having Daisy abducted by aliens might not work too well in a rom com.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Definitely. If I was to drastically change genre, then I wouldn’t want my chick lit fans to suddenly be confronted by horror!

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I write what interests me at the time. I try to deliver a happy ever after, because that is expected in my genre, but apart from that, I don’t consider the reader either the idea or the writing itself.

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

At the moment, each book is a stand-alone, but if I felt a book should be part of a series, then that’s the direction I would take it in.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Just do it. Stop messing about and get on with it. Writing is more important than playing on Twitter, trying to get followers, for instance.

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

It made me hungry. I knew I could do it again and that it would be easier next time (I’ve heard they say that about murder…), not because the process itself is any easier, it’s not. Just like running a marathon takes the same amount of training and will power the second time around. Writing a full length novel isn’t easy. It takes time, and patience, and determination. But I’d done it once so I knew I could do it again.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Seven? Hmm, yes, seven. Two are completed novels which will never see the light of day, and the others are either something I am working on right now, with the aim to complete in the next two months or so, or ideas where I’ve had to get the first chapter off my chest before it disappears into the ether.

What does literary success look like to you?

I’m not sure anymore. I did think it was to have my books on the shelves of large retailers, but now…? I’d like to earn enough from by books that I could give up the day job and concentrate on writing for a living ie, – PLEASE BUY MY BOOKS!!

Thank you so much for answering these questions Lilac. I really do need to bump your book up my stack! 

Daisy Jones has hit rock bottom. Or so she believes.

A cheating boyfriend, trouble at work, having to move back in with her mother, and being forced to compare her brother's loved-up, newly-wed status and brand-new shiny house with her own dire lack of prospects, isn't what she imagined her life was going to be like at thirty. To top it all off, Christmas is just around the corner!

Daisy, bless her, thinks things can't possibly get any worse, but when her ancient great-grandmother persuades her to plant a silver sixpence in the Christmas pud for luck, Daisy is about to discover that they most definitely can.

Purchase links

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0752XTPHB

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0752XTPHB

Bio

Lilac spends all her time writing, or reading, or thinking about writing or reading, often to the detriment of her day job, her family, and the housework. She apologises to her employer and her loved ones, but the house will simply have to deal with it!

She calls Worcester home, though she would prefer to call somewhere hot and sunny home, somewhere with a beach and cocktails and endless opportunities for snoozing in the sun…

When she isn’t hunched over a computer or dreaming about foreign shores, she enjoys creating strange, inedible dishes in the kitchen, accusing her daughter of stealing (she meant to say “borrowing”) her clothes, and fighting with her husband over whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher.

Website: www.lilacmills.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilacmills

Facebook:  https://en-gb.facebook.com/LilacMills/

 And a Sixpence for Luck Giveaway

Prize: Signed copy of the book and a silver sixpence necklace

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