Dana Precious

Born Under a Lucky Moon marks the debut novel of author Dana Precious. And I really hope she's at work on her second, because I loved this book!

Jeannie Thompson and her four siblings grew up in the town of North Muskegon, Michigan. Jeannie is in her late thirties, very successful in the film industry and has a boyfriend, Aidan, that she loves very much. It is when Aidan asks her marry him, that Jeannie's tightly held life begins to unravel. How can she explain to Aidan that...

"My family show more isn't like your family. our family seems to have everything under control at all times. But stuff just happens to my family. I think of it as really funny, but apparently other people don't. Like Walker (Jeannie's ex-husband), or most of the other spouses in my family. A lot of them are ex-spouses now. My family seems to be very trying on the people we love."

When Aidan asks for an example, she begins...

"This is just one story of my family. It starts with a long-planned wedding on a Saturday, followed by a surprise wedding on Sunday. It ends with a murder and a sex scandal. Like every relationship in every family, this story doesn't reside in the black and white of right and wrong, it resides in the gray area called love."
Now really - how could you not want to delve into the pages of a book with an opening like that?

Born Under a Lucky Moon alternates between 1986 and the present 2006. Each story is equally addicting, but the story of the 1986 weddings had me actually laughing out loud. Precious has created wonderfully warm, funny, loving, quirky characters that you can't help but love. As Tom the handyman says...

"I didn't say you weren't all crazy. But I've never seen a family pull for each other so much."

And this is the part of the story that really shines. The love between the family members is tangible and incredibly heartwarming. Through thick and thin, crises and joys, each of them is there for the others. The present day tale in 1986 is just as charming. I found myself reading 'just one more chapter' late at night in order to get back to 'the other story'.

A really strong debut novel, one I absolutely recommend! It's the perfect summer beach read. show less

Right off the bat, I want you all to know I loved this book. I loved the setting, the characters, the story. I love that Ms. Precious kicked it old school and set half the story in 1986. I love that it centered around a family, specifically sisters. I loved that I laughed out loud so many times, in public, on the train crowded with people giving me odd looks. I loved the title of the novel. I loved that it was about love.

From the beginning, Ms. Precious lets us know where we’re going. I show more have to admit she had me at this:

Like every relationship in every family, this story doesn’t reside in the black and white of right and wrong. It resides in the gray area called love.

Yeah, I was hooked. I dived into the story of Jeannie and her sisters head first. I loved the wacky Thompson family adventures. From unintentional fires to a grandmother with devious intentions to the exasperated police officer, Marv who puts up with them, this story had everything.

It bounces seamlessly from 2006 to 1986 without missing a step. I enjoyed how Ms. Precious revealed the past to explain the future. Truth be told, it was done so well the stories could have been told separately, one without the other would have made a great novel.

There was so many nuggets of goodness in this novel. I loved Evan’s Milwaukee metaphor. You'll have to read that one for yourself. However I will leave you this from Rose Thompson, Jeannie's mom, about family and love...

One thing I do know for certain is that no matter how much you kids complain about each other, you all drop everything to be there when someone in the family is in trouble. I think a family is measured by how it shows its love. Some people think that love is like a pie, that the more people you have to serve, the smaller everyone’s piece is. But that’s not the way it is. The more love you give, the more you create. My parents and your father’s parents poured their love into us. We poured that love into you. Elizabeth will pour that love into her baby and so on. Everyone has human weaknesses, and problems, but those will come and go during life. Love goes on nonstop forever.

Born Under a Lucky Moon is the kind of novel I will go back to: to read again, to laugh with the Thomspons, to fall in love, to appreciate family in all their crazy looniness, even mine. show less

This was one of those books that I couldn't stop reading. It's one of those rare occasions when you discover a brand new author and you pick up their book and you fall instantly in love. Yes this was that such book. I started reading it during my lunch break at work and I did not want to put it down. Yes, I was even contemplating reading the book while I was working but alas I don't want to get fired so sadly the book had to be put away until I got back home. As soon as I did get home, I show more savored the rest of the story like a fine wine or some good cheese. Seriously, this is one of the best stories that I've read this year.

I love sister stories and this book is full of them. There are four sisters (and 1 brother) in the Thompson family. Jeannie is telling the story of the summer of 1986 where everything that could possibly go wrong and crazy for her family does. There is so much hilarity in the story and so much going on that it could have possibly gone awry. But Precious weaves everything perfectly together. I can't believe how much could happen with one family but it did. From surprise weddings, gas leaks, a sexually charged priest and everything in between. That summer was one to remember.

And remember Jeannie does as she reminiscences about it in 2006 to the man that she's in love with but afraid to fully commit. 20 years later, she finds herself working in Hollywood and beings super stressed about her job. She is also hiding her family from her boyfriend because she doesn't want to lose him the way she did her ex-husband on account of them. Reading about the background scenes of the movie scene was fascinating. It's not all glitz and glamour to get those big budget movies out there. It's a frantic world and even when you give 200%, it still won't be enough.

I can understand being embarrassed or even a bit ashamed of your family. It happens to almost anyone. Jeannie's family didn't seem all that bad to me (ok except for her dad's mom, yes she was very touched). In fact, they seem like a family that loves each other and truly cares about each other throughout the years. I loved reading their story and all their adventures. I think that anyone who comes from a family with multiple siblings will really enjoy this story. There's so much emotion, realism and honesty in this book. This is honestly one of the best debut books that I've read and I cannot wait to read more from Dana Precious. A great read to enjoy during the upcoming summer break. HIGHLY recommended. show less

Jeannie Thompson, a marketing executive for Oxford Pictures in Hollywood, has a problem. Her wonderful boyfriend Aidan has asked her to marry him, but she’s hiding something. She has a family. A crazy family in Muskegon, Michigan that just might preclude her from being wife material. She wasn’t the first time around. Despite loving him like crazy, she refuses to give him an answer. She explains to him by beginning to tell him the story about her family’s crazy double wedding. Along the show more way, she comes to terms with the family and the hometown in Michigan that makes her who she is.
I make no secret about loving my home state of Michigan. There was no way I was turning down this book. In Born Under a Lucky Moon, I found a book almost as familiar as a trip back home. Toss in a healthy dose of crazy family antics and I was set for several afternoons of reading pleasure. Dana Precious made Jeannie’s family come alive. They had so much personality. I could relate so easy to the nuances of living in a larger family. With each chapter set in Michigan, I felt closer to her. It wasn’t just her growing up years in Michigan, though. I could relate to living so far away from home. Roanoke is by no means Los Angeles, but it’s still an entirely different culture.
I really enjoyed my time spent with Jeannie and her family. Reading Born Under a Lucky Moon made me feel at home without being homesick. Reading it was like a celebration of my roots as I enjoyed the antics of the Thompson clan. Dana Precious has such a wonderful sense of humor that flows so well into writing. I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a fun beach read for this year, pick up Born Under a Lucky Moon. Even better, plan your vacation along Lake Michigan while you’re at it. You may never want to leave. show less