A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate

It is always enjoyable to read a romance that is a little different from all the others and that is exactly what this story is! It seems to go a little deeper than many books do with characters who appear to the outside world to have it all, and be in control, but in reality are anything but!

The main character is Kristi who is very well known as a self help guru but she has reached a point in her life where she doesn't know what is best for her in every walk of her life - be that work or personal! She seems to be having a crisis of confidence and her only way of dealing with this is to take a 'break' to try and find herself and find happiness and meaning once more.

We also hear the story from her partner Toms' Point of View - he is an artist so is also prone to a lack of belief and often retreats to a cabin in the forest to live and do most of his painting and creating. He is conflicted by staying true to his artist principles, and that of making money through corporate pieces without feeling like he is selling out. So he tries to help Kristi with her concerns but fails miserably as he's going through exactly the same thing. They've been friends since school so their relationship always felt so comfortable to them but that feeling has changed over the years.

And we also hear things from a third Point of View - Kristi turns to a tarot card reader Patrick on her journey to find the real her, and he opens her eyes to different ways of thinking and approaching issues she has within her life. He also senses spirits, something else which she is also drawn to her as she often hears 'the voice' within her head advising her at tough times and she can't work out who would be watching over her. Patrick even has his own issues with his past and whether that will interfere with his work life again is always high on his mind.

This really grabbed my attention as i think most of us go through those times when we are full of doubt and are wondering if we are doing the right thing and this story really brings those thought processes to the fore and makes you realise that sometimes the people who seem so settled are often those in most need of help and guidance. And people can get that guidance from many different forms - be that a self help book, tarot cards, or just a brutally honest friend making them see things more clearly!

Was so fascinating to follow the journey of the three main characters as they followed different paths in their search for peace and happiness and was a very positive book to read and full of hope!

Kristi Danielson is a life coach to the rich and famous and quite a celebrity herself, but is struggling with her personal life. Now don't stop reading straightaway, I didn't think I'd have much sympathy for her either. Her home life is a bit of a mess and she's not sure that her love life is going the way she wants either. Really unsure what she can do - after all, who would someone as successful as her turn to for advice? - she decides to get in touch with a psychic. She's not really sure she believes in that kind of thing but is willing to try anything. Patrick is the psychic she contacts but what he tells her leaves them both with big decisions to make.

I loved this novel! It was charming but also thought provoking. It wasn’t one of these novels with lots of action or lots of laughs but it was beautifully written and I was really engaged with the story. I wouldn’t have expected to like a story about a successful celebrity life coach but found Kristi a really likeable character. I could empathise with her soul-searching and wondering if she was doing the right thing with her life. I did think her relationship with Tom was a bit odd at first, but it seemed to work for them. They seemed to get along well but it seemed to me like they had slipped into a comfortable routine which perhaps wasn’t the best thing for either of them. Tom was generally a likeable guy except when he was having a bit of an artist’s strop!

Patrick is a character I instantly liked. He seemed a caring, sweet and principled man, keen to help people. Again I was surprised to find myself liking a novel that had a lot about spirit guides, tarot cards and psychic readings. It was an important and significant part of the storyline but even if you don’t believe in it, it was presented in a way that was plausible and worked well in the story.

I thought the author captured the characters’ emotional turmoil really well. I really cared about the characters’ happiness and found it a very compelling read. This is a book that shows that love can turn up in the most unexpected ways and not always when or where you are looking for it. This is the second of Linn B Halton's books I have read recently and I have to say I really enjoy her style of writing. She creates great characters who I can really relate to and she certainly knows how to write a satisfying romance!

What an absolutely lovely romantic read this was with such likeable characters too. I love Linn’s writing, it has a different edge to any other books I have read and I always look forward to reading her work.

This book is thought provoking and quite emotional but there are giggles too.

All in all a number one and a must read for everyone 💖

I really enjoyed this heartwarming story about Kristi Danielson's journey of self-discovery. She is writing what she hopes will be her final self-help book and record her life changes as she does. When she seeks out the help of a psychic, her journey gets really interesting! A wonderful, romantic read.

This book is told in alternating first-person viewpoints from Kristi and Tom who used to live next door and have grown up to be... well. It's interesting. Kristi seems to think of Tom as a friend (at least in the first few chapters) while Tom describes Kristi as his girlfriend (they are, indeed, dating). There are also some chapters from Patrick, a tarot card reader who Kristi reaches out to for help.
You see, Kristi is an incredibly successful modern living guru and she's been working non-stop for the last ten years. Suddenly (literally) there's a Voice that tells her to stop and take time. So she decides on a four month sabbatical. Time to create a book that will tell the world that her life is not as picture perfect as it seems. And time to figure out how her life should work since perfection isn't working for her.
Tom is an artist. A very surly artist who has built a self-sustaining cabin to help stay away from the world. He is seemingly a very good artist but can't get the voice of his overbearing father out of his head. He loves Kristi for all that she's done for him but he's worried that their relationship is changing.
This was a nice book with a somewhat strange ending <spoiler>Suddenly Kristi can see ghosts?</spoiler>. And I have to admit that I was trying to stretch my reading horizons a bit so a blonde heroine who is just trying to figure out her life was a bit disappointing but I did end up finding a new-to-me publisher that I think I will enjoy.

This book comes out October 25
Four stars

I loved A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate by Lin B. Hilton. I was given a chance to read this book for a review. Kristi is a successful self-help star who is a a crossroads in life. She has a long time relationship with Tom, a temperamental artist, but they have not committed to spending all their time together. They have each focused on career, her traveling the world and him isolated in the woods. As Kristi realizes that her life is empty and she needs to make changes she is guided by her grandfather's spirit to contact a medium. The book is written in first person accounts by Kristi, Tom, and Patrick, the medium. In this way we, the reader, are allowed to hear the thoughts of the characters as they evolve into the people they were meant to be. I was glad to take this journey with them.

I loved this book. I did not want it to end. At fiirst I thought I could see where it was going but I was wrong, it surprised me and kept me wondering what would happen with the characters. I would recommend this to other people and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Life style coach, Kristi Danielson, has it all, money, fame, celebrity status and a relationship that just doesn’t feel right. Oh yes, and she also happens to be on the verge of a breakdown. A sabbatical, perhaps even a career change, and reassessment of her relationship with her boyfriend, Tom, is in order. It sounds a sensible plan, so why is she drawn to Patrick, a tarot card reader who speaks to the dead?

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well drawn, realistic and although they inhabited a world I can only dream of, the plot-line remained believable. Halton avoids drawing a caricature of a relationship that needed to be kicked to the kerb. The relationships are more complicated than good verses bad. It makes for a refreshing read as we all know that relationships which hit a rough patch can also happen to a nice couple. The romance is gentle and enjoyable. Well worth a read, and if you are a “believer”, this book will tick all the boxes.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review

A delightful escape into the life of a burned out lifestyle coach and a psychic. Delightful characters in a story that is hard to put down and even harder to see end.

On the surface, Kristi Danielson has it all. She’s lifestyle coach to the rich and famous, She has more money than she needs and is recognised everywhere she goes.
But Kristi doesn't practice what she preaches. Her home life is a mess, her relationship with boyfriend, Tom, is not much better – They don't see each other very often. Are they more about security for each other or is it love?
Kristi decides to seek out the help of Patrick Blakeslee, a tarot card reader and psychic medium, in an attempt to make sense of her life and what she should do next.

But Patrick’s visits make Kristi doubt everything she believes in, leaving her with more questions than answers – Should she listen to the cards? How does she cope with the changes that come about in her life. An unusual premise which I enjoyed.

Kristi seems to have it all. She has a successful career as a lifestyle coach, she's a bestselling author and she has a large fan base. Kristi is used to live out of a suitcase, she almost never has the chance to be at her house. She bought it a few years ago, but never made it her home. She didn't even bother to unpack all of her stuff, so the place is still filled with boxes. Kristi has a complicated relationship with Tom. Tom has been her best friend for a very long time and they're both expecting to end up together. Tom is a brilliant artist with extreme mood swings.

Kristi finds herself at a crossroads. She is no longer happy and satisfied with the life she is living. She makes the decision to take a sabbatical for four months, so she can write a new book. A book that will be totally different and completely honest. Kristi is the one who normally helps people out, but this time she needs guidance herself. She reaches out to Patrick, a well known tarot card reader and psychic medium. It turns out that Kristi has more help than she realized. Patrick becomes a very important part of her life and he tries to steer her in the right direction.

Kristi is a very loyal friend and a hard worker. She has put her own life on hold to be the successful lifestyle coach she wanted to become. Now the time has come to be who she needs to be. This takes a lot of courage and I think that Kristi is very brave. I liked to read about how sweet and kind she is towards others. She helps people out with advice or in other ways whenever she can. Even though she is very wealthy she doesn't look down on people. Kristi is all about creating chances for people and helping them to get further in life. I was hoping for her to achieve the same. I loved the chemistry between Kristi and Patrick. He's such a patient and kind man. I felt he was perfect to help Kristi through her struggles.

On Linn's website you'll read: written from the heart, for the heart. That's exactly how her stories feel. Linn B. Halton knows what she is writing about and connects with her characters. A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate is a beautiful story about how you sometimes need to re-evaluate your life. All of the characters felt like real people to me. It was like reading a diary instead of a story. Linn B. Halton's stories flow naturally and you'll find yourself lost in her heartwarming world. I have been a big fan of Linn B. Halton's books ever since the first time I read one of her novels. I highly recommend any of her books.

- "When something major goes wrong in your life and other people can see that failure for what it is, that hurts. But doing nothing is the biggest failure of all. So face up to it and be prepared to say, loud and proud, 'I've failed, but do you know what, I'm still standing and the lessons I've learnt have made me even stronger'."-

Chocolate Lit Publishing continues to live up to its name by giving us another book to savor with A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate by Linn B. Halton. This quirky book reminds us that it is easier to give advice then it is to apply it to one’s own life. I couldn’t help but like all three of the main characters even while I was shaking my head in disbelief at them. No, it not that the story is implausible but because their actions were so believable.

This very complicated story works on so many levels but especially where we are given three POVs. Then there are the multifaceted characters who I would never see being put together; a life coach, an artist and a tarot reader. I knew how I wanted Kristi, Tom and Patrick’s story to play out but it was by means a sure thing that Kristi would do as I wanted her to do. Then there is the fact that Tom and Patrick are both good guys, just completely different. It makes for one incredible read.

What an unusual book! Kristi embarks on a life changing journey. As a public figure giving out advice for life improvement to everyone, she realises that her life needs to change - she is empty and has no time for herself.

This has a knock on effect on everyone in her life. Tom, her longterm boyfriend is forced to assess his life away from Kristi's nurturing. Her cleaner gets help for her husband's perceived mental problems and Kirsti's family benefit from her new way of thinking.

And then there is Patrick - the psychic that Kristi turns to for help. His feelings start to get in the way and prevent him for helping her as much as he could. But maybe the feelings will help more?

The chapters are written from the points of view of Kristi, Tom & Patrick so you get to know the characters in a lot of depth.

Lovely romance, twists and turns and makes you think about your own life and if you're where you want to be. Fabulous book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the wonderful Choc Lit in exchange for an honest review.

Try this one if you like romantic triangle that work out just the way they should, even if it doesn't seem perfect at the start. Kristi, Patrick, and Tom are all very real- quirks and all. There's some thoughtful advice in here that transcends the novel. Nice writing, easy read- perfect for a relaxed afternoon or evening. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- I have not read Halton before but I will look for her again.

A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate is a contemporary romance novel.
The book is about Kristi, a life coach who has succesfully pusblished self-help books in the past and whose life, objectively, is going very well. However, Kristi herself is missing something... Not per se her first step normally, she seeks the help of a psychic. The story is about finding what's missing, what to do about it, what the tarot cards say, her relationships with family and friends along the way and so much more..

The characters in the book are only a few in number, but this does mean that the characters are sufficiently well-rounded. First and foremost the story is about Kristi. We do see the story from various perspectives, though: Patrick, the psychic, and Tom, her best friend, also play a role in the narration of the story.
We also meet Eve, Kristi's housekeeper, and her parents and brothers (though very short).
We aren't shown much of the other people's lives in terms of relationships, but we do get a few snippets when it is relevant to Kristi's story. This means most communication is either with Kritsi or solo reflecting on their thoughts.

I think it's pretty hard to be very particular about the relationships or the plot without giving too much away, so I won't go into that too much.
Let's just say Kristi is on the path of finding herself and readjusting her goals in life, but she changes them a few times along the way, which makes the story unique enough and not at all the predictable happily ever after you might come to expect from a contemporary.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and so much more than I had expected from it. 4/5 stars!

It’s often easy to believe that the rich or famous professionals have it made. Easy Street. But then there’s that whole “judging a book by it’s cover” thing. You can’t always believe what you see. Kristi is a perfect example. On the surface she has it made in the shade. A popular and influential life coach to those rich and famous folks She has what we all think we want, the fabulous career, money to spare and then some, a beautiful home, a consistent boyfriend. She has it all. Or does she, really? Underneath the surface Kristi’s life is changing. Call it burn out, call it hearing voices in her head, call it bored… but still change is coming and she senses it.

When that voice in her head insists on some time off, a break to write one final self-help book all about her own journey to sanity and acceptance that only she is responsible for her own happiness, Kristi accepted her own challenge. At the end of this self imposed journey she never could have have imagined that her life would be turned upside down and righted again, that she would believe in things that most people brushed off as nonsense or that love, the real deal kind of love would be found in the most unusual place.

A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate is an emotional journey for the characters, and the reader as well. We are taken deeper into the characters and discover that all that glitter on the surface simply doesn’t go down through to the core of some people. Kristi will find disappointments, challenges and what makes her happy. And that alone is worth the journey. I’m certain there are reviews out there that will give you far more details than I have – yet, I believe, to get the most from this story you need to read it for yourself. Most of us know that feeling of needing a change in our lives, not all of us are brave enough to take that risk. After finishing Kristi’s story you just might be doing some self evaluating of your own. And, really, that is a good thing.

I would recommend A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate for any Romance reader, but especially those that enjoy digging a bit further beneath the surface to find treasures in their reading.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this novel. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this story.*

A little luck, a lot of fate by Linn B Halton. I just love the cover of this book, straight away I felt like I would pick this book up from a shelf.

Kristi is a famous life coach and has found herself in a bit of a rut. she has started to question herself and has decided to take herself out of the limelight for a while and concentrate on writing a book(which end up being a series of self help booklets). And has decided that the time is right to turn the house she has lived in for two years into a home, she is aided by her housekeeper Eve.

Strange things start to happen, she starts to 'hear' a voice and Kirsti does something that she would never have dreamed she would do, she contacts a tarot card reader (the number for home she is drawn to in the telephone book). On her first telephone contact with Patrick, she obviously lies about her name because the sync in her (quite rightly) does not want him to know who is really at the other end of the telephone.

When things happen in her whom (she is starting to question her sanity) she contacts Patrick to request a home visit, upon his arrival Patrick recognises her straight away.

(It was lovely when I discovered who's voice Kristi had been hearing and in many ways I almost felt jealous..would we not all love it if we could have a loved one guiding us from the other side).

Tom is Kristi's boyfriend who is much more comfortable living in is self-built secluded cabin in the woods, decides to stay with her for a bit, although Kristi does not feel very comfortable with the idea. (I get the feeling that Tom has become a bit more of a habit or as Krisi puts it a crutch).

Kristi starts to develop feelings for Patrick and really does need to decide what she wants.



This is a fantastic book and will be purchasing the rest of Linn B Halton's books.

Thanks NetGalley and choc lit

3.5 Stars

A lovely romance that challenged my thoughts on tarot cards, mediums, spirits and self-help guides. By challenged I mean, i had to put a lot of my own scepticism aside in order to try and enjoy this book fully, as they are just subjects I'm not convinced about.

In between the subject matter that I don't always believe in, there is a good story, written from three points of view, and it was always clear which character you were with, as their name appears on a separate page turn, before the next chapter heading, so there should be no excuse for confusion.

There is Kristi who is a famous lifestyle coach, who is on the verge of a breakdown and is scared that the public will discover the truth about her own not so perfect life, so is taking a sabbatical to try and solve that problem, while writing a new book.

Tom is Kristi's best friend and back up plan, he lives in a cabin in Forest Dean, and is a tortured artist. He and Kristi have known each other since childhood, and they are in a sort of relationship.

Then there is Patrick, who is a tarot card reader, and psychic medium and seems to be drawn into Kristi's life by a higher power. Due to my own beliefs I was not convinced by a lot of what Patrick had to say about the spirit world, but understand that many people love this sort of thing, and will enjoy everything about Patrick. A lot of his talk about the spirit world seemed accurate based on my vaguest understanding of it, I'm just not a believer!

This is a story of self discovery, not just for Kristi but also for the two gentlemen in her life, they are all going through big changes, and its interesting to see how the characters develop over the course of the book. I also loved Kristi's fledgling friendship with her cleaner Eve. Eve has a lot of her own troubles, but seemed to have a heart of gold, and I really enjoyed reading her interactions with Kristi.

I found A Little Luck, A Lot of Fate to be an enjoyable story, one that in places really held my interest, and the main times my enjoyment dropped were nothing to do with the book, but to do with me. The romance elements were done really well, and I also loved the journey that Kristi went on.

Thank you to Choc Lit and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.