Review: The Lucky Ones

The Lucky Ones by Tiffany Reisz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When it comes to having my mind blown, I can trust in Ms. Reisz. Full disclosure, she is an auto read author. I do not even look at the book blurb. I see her name and grab the book. Going in blind is sometimes the best experience. I had no expectations and figured it would be a kinky romance or perhaps a bit different perspective of contemporary romance. If you are expecting erotica, kink or happy contemporary romance, walk away. This book is an intense roller-coaster ride of viewing the past from a different perspective. What one thinks happened may not be what really happened.

Allison is all alone in the world. One who lost all her family except a distant relative who pulls her away from her foster family. She was adopted by Dr. Vincent Capello who is a renown brain surgeon. Allison thought she found her forever home but when she experiences and "accident" as a kid, she is forced to leave this happy home. Since they never fought for her, she thought they didn't want her. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Now an adult and on her own, she thinks she has placed it all behind her until she receives a letter from Roland. The stepbrother she crushed on and thought would come to find her, his letter generates deep turmoil. The only father she ever though she wanted, is ill and wants to see her one last time. Allison makes the difficult decision to go see this foster family she thought would be her own. Because what she remembered couldn't have been further than the truth. But what really is the truth? Truth is in the eye of the beholder. Facts are what matter. Or does it? Because cold hard facts without an interpretation with emotion, it could seem too cruel. And this is what I love about Ms. Reisz.

Ms. Reisz takes something that seems so wrong and turns it upside down. When we take away the emotions and the notions of right versus wrong, we come to an amoral situation. When someone who is doing his best to cure what he thinks is a disease and his methods are questionable, is this wrong? The characters in this story are complicated and built with so many layers. When it comes to character creation, Ms. Reisz is one of the best. Her plot twists and unique perspective is impressive. Her books are thought provoking and can at times generate heated discussions. I imagine Ms. Reisz is hiding in the shadows with a little upward curl of her lips as she wants readers become all twisted up with her books. She is a sadist after all. The title of this book is profound. Ms. Reisz masterfully leads a reader down a path where it is hard to distinguish good versus evil. Is not the road to hell paved with good intentions? This book is highly recommended for those who enjoy books that wrestle with the demons within.

*provided by Netgalley