The Night I Got Lucky | Reviews

"Another fun "what if" tale: Billy Rendell is dragging herself through her life (set in Chicago, with plenty of local landmarks -- not surprising, considering the author is also from here). She hasn't been promoted to vice president at the agency where she's been slaving as a senior account exec; her marriage to Chris of two years has stalled; her crush at work, Evan, thinks of her as just one of the guys, and she can't deal with the father who abandoned her, her sisters and her mother many years ago. Billy's in therapy and just wants things to go the way she thinks they should. One day, she gets her wish and the fast, fun read of a book gets really interesting. A fun romp into the question of what happens if you really do get everything you think you want?"
-Chicago Sun Times

"At 32, Billy Rendell isn't exactly where she thought she'd be. She is still waiting, possibly in vain, for that promotion to VP at the PR company she works for, and her marriage to handsome Chris seems to be in real trouble. Billy pays a visit to her kooky therapist, Blinda, and leaves with a good luck charm, a small frog. The next day, when Billy wakes up, things are different. Her formerly distant husband is attentive and loving, and she has received the promotion to VP at work and already has a posh new office. Billy is puzzled but soon settles in by firing a snooty coworker, Alexa, and engaging in a flirtation with the office hunk, Evan, whom she has always had a crush on. But as her perfect life rolls on, Billy is nowhere near as satisfied as she thought she would be. Caldwell is one of the most talented and inventive chick-lit writers around, and her latest features a likable heroine in an unusual situation and ends with a clever resolution."
-Booklist

"There is a reason Laura Caldwell is one of my favorite authors - her books have been a perfect 10 so far, and this one is no exception. With wonderful, real-life characters, and an original story line that somehow manages to be realistic despite its magical quality, The Night I Got Lucky was a fabulous read that I simply couldn't put down once I started. Characterization is one of Caldwell's greatest strength, and it shines in this novel. I couldn't find anything in this book that I didn't like. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to everyone, especially chick lit fans."
-chicklitbooks.com

"Billy (dad wanted a brawling boxer hence her first name) Rendell cannot believe that she is in her twenties and questioning how life can be so boring. Married for two years, her husband Chris has seemed to lost interest in her even out of bed. Her mom, who has never untied the umbilical cord since her father abandoned them a quarter of a century ago, has recently tightened the noose if that is possible. Finally at work, her boss Roslyn hates her, she is unable to get the promotion she covets, and Evan, the VP she flirts with sees her as a friend."

"Her therapist Blinda tells her to look inside to ascertain what she desires and gives her a jade frog that will make it come true. Chris gives her full attention and mom discovers her own life. At work Billy is promoted and Evan starts flirting with her. All is perfect. So why is Billy on the top of the Sears Building tossing the jade frog away? Simple Chris is smothering her with affection, she misses mom the globetrotter, the VP job is all responsibility with no fun, and Evan has become even more tempting."

"The Night I Got Lucky is a fabulous deep version of chick lit meets the Monkey's Paw. The story line is owned by Billy as she starts lamenting that life is a boring rut, receives the frog, obtains her wishes, but hates the outcome wanting to go back to the starting line. Laura Caldwell provides a whimsical tale that showcases the sub-genre at its magically charming best."
-BookReview.com

"In The Night I Got Lucky, Laura Caldwell answers the question all of us entertain from time to time -- what would life be like if I had everything I wanted? Hip and hilarious, this chick-lit gem allows readers to live through a nightmare of a dream-come-true with the charming Billy Rendell and her lively supporting cast of characters. A page-turner that never disappoints and always surprises, this one should be on every reader's list."
-Author, Jennifer Coburn

“Caldwell does it again! In The Night I Got Lucky she delivers a thought-provoking cautionary tale told with style and grace.”
-Author, Cara Lockwood

"This modern day parable is told in a breezy, first person style that conveys a serious warning in a light way."
-The Huntress Book Reviews

"Laura Caldwell's new paperback is a comical look at a woman who discovers that getting everything she wants is the last thing she needs."
-Pages Magazine

"The Night I Got Lucky is a thoroughly entertaining tale of what can happen when wishes are magically granted. This is a delightful book that suggests the power to remake our lives is inside us, if only we know how to look for it."
-Forums America

"What a great story, especially for young, married, career women -delicately balancing their two roles, responsibilities, desires and dreams - or someone entering that part of life...The Night I Got Lucky for Billy was a very unlucky night because everything that she wanted - came true. Morale of the story: Watch what you wish for, because you might get it. Caldwell captured the different aspects of parental abandonment, sagging marriage and being unfulfilled at work. Armchair Interviews says: A good read, well-written. Lots to think about for any age, whether single, newly or long-married, about what"s important in this human job of juggling priorities and people, along with being in control of your own life. Billy wanted... but did nothing about it, until the "night she got lucky.""
-Armchair Interviews

"Billy is learning a lesson, 'to be careful what you wish for.' The Night I Got Lucky is an entertaining read. I enjoyed watching Billy's so-called perfect life unfold, seeing how it changes her – and what she has to do to get her old life back. Fans of chick lit and of Caldwell's previous books will enjoy this new release."
-Bookloons.com

"Ms. Caldwell has taken an intriguing topic and turned it into a well written story that will have readers wanting to ignore the demands of their lives to keep reading. Billy's story is one that should leave all readers wondering if their dreams were suddenly to come true how would they react? Chick Lit is a genre that I personally find to be hit or miss. I'm pleased to say that Laura Caldwell is a master of the genre, and has yet to write a book that hasn't kept me turning pages well past my bedtime."
-The Romance Reader

"The Night I Got Lucky is the story of a woman who wishes for all the things in her life to be different, and when she gets her wish, she's not sure that is what she truly wants. Billy finds all of these happenings new to her, but everyone else acts as though this is the way it has always been. She decides to go with the flow, but sometimes too much of a good thing is just that -- too much. It's an easy to read story with realistic characters and good dialogue that will hold the readers interest throughout. The secondary characters are essential to the story and help move it along smoothly… A very entertaining story."
-Romance Reviews Today

"There is a very important lesson to be learned here-happiness really does start with oneself. This is an entertaining and pretty short novel. The characters are well developed and really are like people we are around in our everyday lives. This book has it all-a bit of a love triangle, the nemesis at work, the absent father figure, and therapy sessions. The Night I Got Lucky really makes you stop and think about what it is you really want in life and how you can make it happen. Billy learns a really hard lesson when she gets what she wants. She uses her new position to get rid of her nemesis; her husband begins to be more attentive than she can stand; and her crush at work heats up and things go too far. Ultimately Billy learns that if she isn't happy with something in her life, she needs to examine what she can do to improve the situation. She learns to stop being a victim, and to stop watching the world pass her by. I really enjoyed this novel and plan to read more of Laura Caldwell's work."
-Romance Reader at Heart

"[A] comical roller-coaster ride… All the characters add vibrancy to a story that explores how we live with the mistakes we made, how we correct the ones we can and how love forms an unfailing bond."
-Romantic Times