Make Your Own Luck

A Remy Summer Woods Mystery #1

by Joanne Lewis

Make Your Own Luck, a Remy Summer Woods mystery, is the unforgettable and moving novel of a young attorney who refuses to believe thirteen-year-old Bonita Pickney killed her father, Patrick Pickney, despite her insistence of guilt. Remy risks her relationship with her own father and her life to prove Bonita's innocence. Along with learning what really happened the night Patrick was murdered, Remy discovers hard truths about her family and herself.

Genres: Mystery, Amazon, Thriller, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2011

Reviews

[Victoria Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look out lawyer-mystery lovers, there is a new name in town and it is NOT Grisham.

Joanne Lewis's mystery, Make Your Own Luck, is the story of a Ft. Lauderdale lawyer trying to fight for her client, a 13-year old girl accused to killing her father, and trying to fight for her life. From the first page you are drawn into Remy Summer Woods life and can't stop turning pages until you find out what happens. Right up until the big reveal, I had no idea who the killer was and when I read it on the page I was shocked I hadn't seen it coming. As a lover of mysteries, it is a great feat to totally surprise the reader with the ending. Make Your Own Luck does this.

It is a fast-paced mystery that digs deeper than just murder into the family bonds and trust issues the characters have. The back-drop of Ft. Lauderdale is expertly woven into the story making me miss the sun and white-sand beaches of the city.

I look forward to many more Remy Summer Woods mysteries and hope this is the superb start of a long-lasting series.

Victoria Allman

[Mitsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! I won this fascinating story! I love it!

Remy is a star and a character everyone will want as a best friend. When Remy sees a 13-year-old girl accused of killing her father, Remy is drawn to Bonita. Perhaps because both Remy and Bonita lost their mothers to cancer. Remy decides to represent the girl. That decision is either the best or worst of her career, even her life. Yes, Remy is the superstar in this story.

The writing is crisp. The plot so crazy I wonder what the heck is going on. Did the girl kill her father? Why does Remy have all these sudden threats? What is up with Remy's father, uncle, and step mother? There are so many shady characters no wonder Remy doesn't know who to trust! Will Remy live long enough to discover the truth? Will she want to know the truth? What happens if everything comes out? There are many layers to this mystery.

Also, is Bonita innocent? If so, what will happen to her? Will she be okay or spend her life in prison? So many questions.

Nowhere in the story hints at the ending. Not one sentence. Also, I can't believe who killed Patrick, Bonita's father. No clue to that, either. Some of the shady characters are good guys. A few good guys are criminals. Whatever you think you know, you have NO IDEA!

Love an excellent mystery? Read this now! Love a feisty heroine? Read this now! Want to try and figure out the ending? Read this now, and good luck with that!

[D.J. Warrior · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll like Remy Summer Woods. She's an unexpected heroine who'll win your heart and take you on a journey of mystery. The daughter of a high powered lawyer means she's got some pretty big shoes to fill. You'll eat up the pages. MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK was a goooood read.

[Kwoomac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great first book in what will hopefully be an ongoing series starring Remy Summer Woods. She's an attorney working in Fort Lauderdale at her father's law firm. So not only is there a mystery but lots of complicated family dynamics, always interesting stuff.

Lewis created some very interesting characters here. I really liked Remy, her brother Carlos, and step-mother Maria Elena. There are also plenty of great bad guys. My favorite character, though, would have to be 13-year-old murder suspect Bonita Pickney. I feel like the author really nailed the angry, self-defeating teen. Bonita is going to make you want to pull your hair out. Surprise, surprise. She doesn't listen to reason, she deosn't respond to threats, and she'll frustrate the hell out of anyone who tries to help her. She's perfect.

It's fast-paced and I never knew from one minute to the next who Remy could trust and who was out to get her. Well done, suspenseful. Looking forward to more in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the author.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads ARC Giveaway. Remy is a lawyer in her fathers law firm in Florida. She risks her life and relationship with her own father to represent a 13 year old girl accused of murder. It's a fast paced murder mystery with some family secrets thrown in. I would definitely like to read any further books if it becomes a series. I would like to see how some of the family dynamics play out.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine...a murder mystery with characters of substance and real life, complicated relationships......such is Make Your Own Luck by Joanne Lewis. I enjoyed this novel and recommend it.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it a book about relationships with a murder mystery woven in, or vice versa? Both were present in this fun read, written by my cousin, Joanne Lewis. Recommend!

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did win this book, but it is a very inviting story. So many mysteries, who is behind trying to kill Remy and why? Even the police are in this mess, never mind that her father is supposed to be good friends with them. I don’t think Remy realized how dangerous these guys really are. Or who the “good guys” are.

[Mickey Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific story!

This is a well written story with an incredible cast of characters! The unexpected twists had me guessing till the end. Well done!

[Lilmissmolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the Audio version of this book. Make Your Own Luck is a murder mystery with the familiar story line of rich girl from a dysfunctional family who is out to save the world. She has something to prove while at the same distance herself from her father. Parts of the book were enjoyable, but others just seemed very stung-out and unbelievable. This book could have easily ended a few chapters earlier for better effect.

Sue Sharp’s performance was just OK. You could tell she was reading and she didn't have much differentiation between the characters.

[Jean-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A quick read and fun mystery set in South Florida. I probably would've given it more stars if I didn't find myself rolling my eyes at all of the flip-flopping characters. Ronnie is dead. No he's alive. (I was relieved that it wasn't his twin brother alive, although I wasn't quite sure what to expect until the last page of story.) Ronnie is a good guy. Villian. Good guy. Villian. Good guy! It was a crazy ride.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast moving story in which I got lost. I had a hard time keeping up with the characters and there was so much action I felt bombarded. It seems like in the last action scene Remy got blown up three times and apparently came out of it with no injuries. I would lend the book to a friend.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and it was a good mystery. I liked the main character, and while there was a trace of romance, it was not a huge part of the plot. There were a few twists that kept me guessing, which I enjoyed. I listened to this on audio and the narration was also good.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent murder/ mystery!

[Leedoglaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns throughout the entire novel. A ton of fun.

[Mahree Moyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story. I think Lewis can only get better. Connected with the characters. I would read other books by this author.