Born Under a Lucky Moon

This was my first Dana Precious novel so I wasnt sure what to expect, but I could not put the book down! I love the way the story was written, and I laughed out loud quite a few times. I took a break from my normal YA/HEA books and was not disappointed.

Fun to read about my home town!

Born Under A Lucky Moon by Dana Precious was released on February 8th, 2011. I had the pleasure of reading it in order to write a review on [...] and immediately, I was hooked. I highly recommend it and heres the link to read my review. [...]

Jeannie Thompson, a marketing executive for Oxford Pictures in Hollywood, has a problem. Her wonderful boyfriend Aidan has asked her to marry him, but shes hiding something. She has a family. A crazy family in Muskegon, Michigan that just might preclude her from being wife material. She wasnt the first time around. Despite loving him like crazy, she refuses to give him an answer. She explains to him by beginning to tell him the story about her familys crazy double wedding. Along the way, she comes to terms with the family and the hometown in Michigan that makes her who she is. I make no secret about loving my home state of Michigan. There was no way I was turning down this book. In Born Under a Lucky Moon, I found a book almost as familiar as a trip back home. Toss in a healthy dose of crazy family antics and I was set for several afternoons of reading pleasure. Dana Precious made Jeannies family come alive. They had so much personality. I could relate so easy to the nuances of living in a larger family. With each chapter set in Michigan, I felt closer to her. It wasnt just her growing up years in Michigan, though. I could relate to living so far away from home. Roanoke is by no means Los Angeles, but its still an entirely different culture. I really enjoyed my time spent with Jeannie and her family. Reading Born Under a Lucky Moon made me feel at home without being homesick. Reading it was like a celebration of my roots as I enjoyed the antics of the Thompson clan. Dana Precious has such a wonderful sense of humor that flows so well into writing. I really enjoyed this book. If youre looking for a fun beach read for this year, pick up Born Under a Lucky Moon. Even better, plan your vacation along Lake Michigan while youre at it. You may never want to leave.

Born Under a Lucky Moon marks the debut novel of author Dana Precious. And I really hope shes at work on her second, because I loved this book! Jeannie Thompson and her four siblings grew up in the town of North Muskegon, Michigan. Jeannie is in her late thirties, very successful in the film industry and has a boyfriend, Aidan, that she loves very much. It is when Aidan asks her marry him, that Jeannies tightly held life begins to unravel. How can she explain to Aidan that... My family isnt like your family. our family seems to have everything under control at all times. But stuff just happens to my family. I think of it as really funny, but apparently other people dont. Like Walker (Jeannies ex-husband), or most of the other spouses in my family. A lot of them are ex-spouses now. My family seems to be very trying on the people we love. When Aidan asks for an example, she begins... This is just one story of my family. It starts with a long-planned wedding on a Saturday, followed by a surprise wedding on Sunday. It ends with a murder and a sex scandal. Like every relationship in every family, this story doesnt reside in the black and white of right and wrong, it resides in the gray area called love. Now really - how could you not want to delve into the pages of a book with an opening like that? Born Under a Lucky Moon alternates between 1986 and the present 2006. Each story is equally addicting, but the story of the 1986 weddings had me actually laughing out loud. Precious has created wonderfully warm, funny, loving, quirky characters that you cant help but love. As Tom the handyman says... I didnt say you werent all crazy. But Ive never seen a family pull for each other so much. And this is the part of the story that really shines. The love between the family members is tangible and incredibly heartwarming. Through thick and thin, crises and joys, each of them is there for the others. The present day tale in 1986 is just as charming. I found myself reading just one more chapter late at night in order to get back to the other story. A really strong debut novel, one I absolutely recommend! Its the perfect summer beach read.

I could not put this entirely readable, charming story of worlds and lifestyles intersecting down. Precious writes with a keen eye and a sense of humor that gives her characters humility and humor. If you want a multi-generational love story with all of the trimmings including self-discovery, mystery and Hollywood... this is it. The book is... Precious.

This is an EXCELLENT read!! With very minimal language, and no bed room scenes, lots of laugh out loud moments and just plain awesome writing style, this is a book that is sure to hit home with most anyone! The authors skills are phenomenal and she captures the reader from the start. She takes that reader on an adventurous and crazy whirlwind ride between two different years for her main character and when the readers land....well, its a surprise! From a surprise wedding (for an already married couple!) to M-80s (dont yall know how to clear away gophers???) to missing teeth after an accident, this book makes the reader laugh out loud, and be thankful for their family, no matter how crazy and whacky they may seem to be. Its told back and forth between the 80s and 2006, two very important times in Jeannie Thompsons life. Shes got a life like no other thats for sure! Shes been hit by an ambulance, she has a wild-side granny who likes to run away (while shes naked!), not to mention that she used to get to go to Chi-Chis (man, I miss that place!). All these things happen to poor Jeannie and it really makes it a fun read, as she is telling her story to her boyfriend, Aidan. Shes just not sure about introducing him to her family. After all, the old ladies at her Episcopalian church held the preacher hostage, cause he was helping them! Oh and shes been told that she was born under a lucky moon....well, Im not so sure it was a lucky moon...more like a lucky curse. LoL! Its just all around H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S!!! So, please give this author and her fabulous work a chance. Its 5 star worthy and highest praises are shouted from this reader! I definitely and truly recommend this book to all the women out there (and Im sure theres a guy or two who may read and find the laughs in this humorous book!). I am anxiously awaiting the release of another of Dana Precious books! *This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review*

I loved this book! I havent sat down and read a book in years. I currently live in Muskegon area and was recommended this book by a friend. Such a feel good, fun, and exciting story!

I wanted to become a part of this wonderfully crazy family. With all the twists and turns this is truly a journey you wont soon forget! It is a book that you will pick up and not put down until you have exhaled your last laugh, and cried your eyes dry.

This is the only book, out of the thousands my wife has read, where I can recall her laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face. There were also numerous Awww moments as well. So the premise: The (mostly) true story of a precocious small town girl (the youngest of five kids) who makes it big as a Hollywood ad exec but cant seem to escape the wondrously destructive vortex that her family keeps dragging her into. The story is told as a series of flashbacks in which she very patiently explains to her would-be fiance why he might want to reconsider his offer. Both the present day scenes in which she deals with over-pampered starlets agents, studio, heads and directors as well as the flashback scenes in which she deals with the decidedly by the bootstrap to a fault family members and townies are wonderfully revealing and expertly told. At first I found myself along for the ride with the first person voice that was disarmingly neutral. However, as the book progressed I found myself falling head over heals for the character and her seemingly impossible situations. In short this was an amazing read. Strong recommend to buy (guys, this is the one you get for your girlfriend/wife). Dani