Synopses & Reviews
All that glitters isn’t gold in this new compelling tale of love, money, and divorce gone wrong from award-winning and #1 Essence bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley.
Most people think that money is the key to happiness, but when an ecstatic Nina Lawson wins millions in the Powerball lottery, her world is turned upside down. At first, she and her fiancé, Rick, are delighted with the unexpected windfall and immediately begin planning their future. Soon, family members and friends begin coming out of the woodwork to claim a piece of Nina’s winnings. But the most unexpected request comes from Todd, Nina’s ex-husband. He and his fiancée, Pam (with whom he had the affair that ended their marriage) reveal that the paperwork making Todd and Nina’s divorce official was never filed...and she may be compelled to share half the money with her husband. As the situation begins to spiral out of control, Nina risks losing her heart and her newfound winnings to find out what really matters.
With just the right blend of joy, drama, and humor, Billingsley entertains and inspires readers with every turn of the page—it’s no surprise that her readership grows with each new book.
Synopsis
Faith-based fiction doesn't get better than Billingsley's entertaining soaps, notable for their humor, wonderful characters, and challenging life situations that many readers, Christians or not, can identify with.--"Publishers Weekly."
Synopsis
As Luck Would Have It... 4-7-14-17-21-25. Those numbers, printed on a slim paper ticket, are about to change the lives of two couples, lovers past and present, in Houston. When Nina Lawson wins $16 million in the Texas Lotto, the real estate executive and her fiancé, personal trainer Rick Henderson, ecstatically begin planning their future -- from paying off their credit card debt, to setting their wedding date, to a spontaneous, spare-no-expense island getaway.
But while counting her millions, Nina didn't count on one other astounding twist of fate: her ex-husband, Todd Lawson, isn't her ex anything -- since the paperwork for their divorce was never officially filed. Now he's shown up with his money-hungry girlfriend, Pam, to claim half of Nina's winnings. Add to this the relatives coming out of the woodwork to seek a payday for themselves, and Nina must ask herself if scoring a fortune in cash comes with too high a price tag. With a little bit of luck, Nina will discern the real wealth in her heart, not just her bank account -- or risk losing everything -- to find out what matters the most.
Synopsis
ReShonda Tate Billingsley is the author of the nonfiction book Help I've Turned into My Mother and six previous adult novels: My Brother's Keeper, for which she received the prestigious Gold Pen Award for Best New Author from the Black Writer's Alliance and the Nova Lee Nation Award from the Greater Dallas Writing Association; the national bestseller and #1 Essence bestseller Let the Church Say Amen, chosen for Library Journal's Best of 2004 list for Christian fiction; I Know I've Been Changed, a main Selection of the Black Expressions Book Club and #1 Dallas Morning News bestseller; the sequel to Let the Church Say Amen and a USA Today 2007 ?Summer Sizzler? and Essence bestseller Everybody Say Amen; The Pastor's Wife, also an Essence bestseller and Can I Get A Witness. Her previous teen novels are Friends 'Til The End, Fair-Weather Friends, Getting Even, With Friends Like These, Blessings in Disguise, and Nothing But Drama, all available from Pocket Books. She is also a contributor to the anthology Have a Little Faith. She welcomes readers to her websites at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com.
About the Author
ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s #1 national bestselling novels include Let the Church Say Amen, I Know I’ve Been Changed, and Say Amen, Again, winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. Her collaboration with Victoria Christopher Murray has produced three hit novels, Sinners & Saints, Friends & Foes, and Fortune & Fame. Visit ReShondaTateBillingsley.com, meet the author on Facebook at ReShondaTateBillingsley, or follow her on Twitter @Reshondat.
Reading Group Guide
Summary
When Nina Lawson wins the lottery it seems like all her dreams are coming true. A year earlier her marriage had ended when she discovered her husband, Todd, was cheating on her, but now she and her new fiancŽ, Rick, are about to be married and sheÕs a millionaire.
But soon NinaÕs dream-come-true turns into a nightmare. Relatives she hasnÕt seen in months are knocking on her door, looking for their piece of her pie. And theyÕre not alone. Her ex-husband, Todd, and his scheming girlfriend, PamÑthe woman for whom he left herÑreveal that the paperwork for his and NinaÕs divorce was never finalized. HeÕs still her husband, and he wants to claim half of the lottery winnings.
Nina is forced to put her plans for the future on hold as her familyÕs demands escalate, RickÕs demands escalate, and ToddÕs return to her life rekindles old feelings. Ultimately, she must choose between forgiveness and revenge in order to discover where her true happiness lies.
Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. Winning the lottery seems like a dream come true, but it becomes a nightmare for Nina. What is your opinion of the old adage Òmoney canÕt buy happinessÓ? Did the novel change your point of view about the advantages of wealth?
2. Money has a powerful effect on NinaÕs family, bringing out the worst in many of them. Why do they each feel they deserve a piece of NinaÕs winnings? Why do you think money drives people to such great lengths?
3. Did you agree with ToddÕs decision to go after NinaÕs money? How much of his decision is based on helping his grandmother and how much is based on PamÕs influence?
4. What reasons does Todd give for staying with Pam? Why does he feel breaking up with her would make him a failure?
5. NinaÕs friends and family urge her to stop hating Todd and give up her need for revenge because Òhate is wasted energy.Ó Does Nina follow that advice? If so, how?
6. How do PamÕs money-grubbing ways set her up for a fall? If she hadnÕt pushed Todd too far, do you think he might have stayed with her?
7. NinaÕs grandmother offers her important guidance. How do her wise words about NinaÕs mother and Todd change NinaÕs course?
8. PamÕs actions are directly responsible for bringing Nina and Todd back together. Does that make those actions in some way forgivable? Could they have gotten back together without her interference?
9. Throughout the book, Nina gives Rick the benefit of the doubt even as his attitude and behavior change. Was she right to ignore her misgivings? What might you have done differently in her place?
10. Discuss the role of trust in the novel. Nina trusted Todd and Rick, and both men let her down, but eventually she begins to trust Todd again. Does he deserve to regain her trust, or do you agree with Yvonne that no man can be trusted?
11. Grandma Odessa tells Todd and Nina, ÒYou both had to go spend a little time with the devil before you realized just how important each other was.Ó Do you agree? In what ways did Todd and Nina take each other for granted before they split up? What do their experiences apart teach them about each other and about themselves?
12. How did you feel about NinaÕs choice to rekindle her relationship with Todd? Did your opinion of him change over the course of the book? Why or why not?
13. ToddÕs grandmother says that God will find a way to get Nina and Todd back together. Does the novel bear that out? If so, what were His signs that they should be together?
Activities to Enhance Your Book Club
1. The book begins with NinaÕs winning lottery ticket. See if anyone in your group shares NinaÕs luck. Have every member bring a scratch-off lottery ticket and begin your book group by seeing whoÕs a winner.
2. Share with your book group what you would do with the money if you came into a windfall like NinaÕs. How would you share with your family and friends? What would be your biggest fear about winning the lottery? Discuss whether any of the motives behind your ideas for sharing the money can be accomplished without money.
3. Compare your own experiences to NinaÕs. Have you forgiven a breach of trust as she did ToddÕs? Have you believed the best of someone only to be let down, as Rick let her down?