A Winning Betrayal

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Frankie and Shauna both win the lottery and end up meeting at a support group of Lotto winners. Frankie is terrified and Shauna happy, but both of them can benefit from learning from other winners the possible pitfalls of suddenly coming into millions. And there are many! Family, friends and people coming out of the woodwork with their hands out is only the beginning of the learning curve...
I felt trepidation during parts of the book - I didn't think I would be able to handle that situation; I think I would be happier with a few hundred thousand rather than millions. The stress of it would make me as terrified as Frankie was. I liked both women and their friendship and was very happy with the ending. Definitely recommended!

Three and a half stars.

Two very different women share the lotto jackpot AUD 10 million each.

Frankie and her husband Tom are hard-working and decent, but broke. They can't afford to pay their utility bill and they buy clothes for their two daughters at charity shops. But Frankie sees the win as more of a curse than a blessing and doesn't want to keep the money.

Shauna is a single career woman, she has no trouble accepting her win but will it bring her closer to her mother who can be difficult? Then when a magazine article makes it clear she has won the lotto people from her past start re-appearing, can she trust them or are they only after her money?

The two women meet at the lottery headquarters and bond at the weekly meetings for previous winners where people who have had similar luck share their good (and bad) experiences.

I enjoyed this but it was a bit predictable, also several of the characters are either too good or too bad to feel real, more like caricatures with no light and shade to make them interesting.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Louise Guy for an ARC to review.
First time to read to Louise, definetly not the last. Such and interesting, lovely uplifting story. I didn't want it to end, I wanted to live more with Frankie and Shauna and their families.
What would you do if you won 10 million dollars? would it bring you happiness and bliss or would it be a dooming disaster that would destroy your life?
This charming book investigates the possibilities and outcomes that would happen in such a situation.
I loved it and highly recommend it.

A Winning Betrayal is about the trials, tribulations and goodness that can come from winning the Lotto. Shauna and Frankie couldn’t be more opposite until splitting the lotto brings them together. This story is about their growing friendship and support of each other. It is about family, forgiveness and fortunes. What would you do if you were suddenly a lotto winner? This pleasant read may give you some ideas.

This is the 4th book I've read of Louise Guy and have enjoyed each one
OK they're all a little far fetched, but it's a food story to get wrapped up in. I loved how each character was portrayed in this one. The main characters Frankie and Shauna came from different classes and how they used their winnings. I did shed a tear too towards the end.

Let's cut right to the chase - I really liked this book!

It was the story of two different woman who win the big lottery. I loved that you got some backstory and got to know them before they won. I loved that you heard about each journey and each woman had a different voice. I loved that this was something different to read. I love the pure escapism of it.

Let's ne honest - most of us have thought about what it would be like to win the lottery. I loved that this gave a realistic story and not someone who goes out and buys houses and yachts, and lives like the rich and finds out they are being used, blah blah blah. This is a story of real people.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

An interesting idea, having two very different women win a lottery by chance. These two women Shauna and Frankie have to deal with a 10 Million Australian Dollar win and all the problems it brings. They both learn that having a lot of money does not solve their relationship or life issues and having more money makes things only more complicated.
It is a fast-paced, easy, and entertaining read.

A Winning Betrayal is a contemporary Australian novel about the effects of a large lottery win on two women in their thirties. It was previously published a few years ago under the title Fortunate Friends, but has been rewritten and one major character removed.
I needed a break from Crime and thrillers, and am not into chick-lit or romance, but this is more of a light drama with some serious themes, exploring everyone’s favourite daydream - what would happen if I won the lottery?

Shauna is a successful Melbourne recruitment consultant dealing with a difficult mother, a cheeky new colleague, and the reappearance of the Ex who broke her heart. Frankie and her husband Tom have a great relationship and two well-adjusted teenage daughters, but they struggle for money and with Tom’s obnoxious brother Dash. When the women discover they are to share a $20 million win, their families are delighted, but each is fearful of how the windfall will change their lives - with good reason...

This was enjoyable and well-written with a distinct Aussie flavour. There’s a good range of characters - including some you just want to slap - and I enjoyed the evolving friendship between Shauna and Frankie. Yes there’s a romance sub-plot but it’s not the point of the book.
The author has clearly researched the common pitfalls of winning big, some predictable, others less so, and weaves them into the story. I don’t buy lotto tickets, but my husband does occasionally, and I’ve always suspected that the strain of not telling anyone would be almost as bad as the stresses that arise when you do. I’ve always thought it would be better for more people to win more modest prizes - a million dollars would solve most people’s problems without ruining their lives, but most people still dream of the big draws.
I would’ve liked some aspects to be developed more - like the effects on the daughters, and there were few surprises with the outcome, but overall I would recommend this if you’re after a comfortably easy read that still makes you think.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. A Winning Betrayal is published on March 16th.

Louise Guy writes a beautiful story about two women whose lives are about to change after winning and splitting a $20 million jackpot 50/50. From the very beginning, I was drawn into the two stories of strong and resilient women. The characters are beautifully written, and I came to adore them within the first few pages. I could not put the book down because I wanted more. The trials, tribulations and goodness that can come from winning the lotto after hearing about each of the women’s journey prior to their win. This is a story of real people even though the characters and story is fictional.

Good Or Bad Luck...?
Will a huge windfall rewrite lives? Unexpected good luck brings together strangers but will the luck actually prove to be a dose of bad luck in disguise? Will the money take over and ultimately take control? Enjoyable, interesting and engaging read and some entertaining escapism. Note that this was previously published as ‘Fortunate Friends’.

The Lottery is a fantastic idea for so many, and there are so many out there who have daydreams about winning it and what they would spend it on. But what is the reality behind all of it? Is it really a blessing or a curse? For both characters, Shauna and Frankie their big wins are life-changing, but this doesn't negate the fact that some things don't always appear as it seems. Even though they no longer have the stress of worrying about day-to-day expenses, not everything is stress-free. Rather, it has added more stresses of various quantities to the pot.

Compared to other books that I have read in the past, this is simply one which is able to delve a little bit into a fantasy that most of us would never get, in the most easy and light-weighted writing possible. However, I have found that in some ways, this comes at a price. From the beginning of the story, the foreshadowing was very strong, too strong. In fact, if I was able to pinpoint what might happen before I read it, I think that it would have been eerily similar to what actually did happen. But in my opinion, it seems like nothing can really trump the ending. How quickly it seemed on a timescale from going from point A to point B. Plus, why choose an ending like that? I don't know, it kind of felt a little forced and maybe overdone.

However, this does not mean that everything was completely alike to what I thought would happen. There was one particular twist that I did not see coming at all and I was very glad of it, because I do believe that it gave one of the characters a lot more heart. It was nice to see an expansion of what good winning money could do to your overall happiness, rather than just the security of not worrying about bills anymore.

Even though I thought that there were some disadvantages to this book, or certain topics that I feel were glossed over, which should have been more of a conversation, I did enjoy it. I actually put all my other TBR reads to the side just to finish it. If that is not a testament to Guy's writing, then I don't know what is.

Frankie and Shauna would never have met had they not both won the lottery. Frankie and her husband Tom work hard but they live week to week; this money can be their salvation. Shauna is single and the money will make a difference in her life. They meet at a support group for lottery winners and slowly but surely become friends. Guy has adroitly used some of the pitfalls of a windfall (all the people who contact Shauna when her name comes out) and what happens between Frankie and Tom. This is a re-write of a book originally published in 2017; I'm curious why one character was removed but know that this works well as a tale of female friendship. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, A cautionary tale on some levels and uplifting on others. A good read.

Is winning a big amount of money at the lottery a good or bad thing? This is what this book makes you reflect on.
It is about two very different women, Shauna and Frankie, who have to split a 10 million dollars win. Shauna is a single, successful young woman and Frankie is married, mother of two and struggles to make ends meet.
The win could change their life, but this is not an unrealistic story of becoming rich and being happy ever after.
It's about real people, real struggles, real consequences, real life.
Very relatable and enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is winning a lottery a good thing or a bad thing? Actually it is both as you will find out while reading this book. Two ladies win 10 million dollars each and they become friends while attending a support group for lottery winners. Both are good people with very different lifestyles who become close and support each other through some of the negatives that come with sudden wealth.. I enjoyed reading this book although I found it a bit predictable. The characters are great and completely likable and the writing is light and easy to read. I definitely recommend.
Thanks Net Galley for allowing me to read this arc for my honest review.

Frankie and Tom were happy but poor. Their two children, Hope and Fern were used to secondhand clothing, no spare money for treats and they were good kids, benefitting from the closeness and love in the household. Shauna had recently started a new job and loved it. She’d spent the past twelve months getting over her ex, Simon, who she had thought was ‘the one’, until he gave her an ultimatum. Happily single, Shauna was doing alright.

The day both Shauna and Frankie discovered their windfall, the two women didn’t know each other. Complete strangers, they met at the lottery headquarters for the meeting about their winnings. Shauna was ecstatic about her win and was determined to do it her way. While Frankie was terrified what the money would do to the family. Too many bad things happened when a lot of money was involved; people came out of the woodwork wanting a handout, families were split, greed caused rifts.

What would be the future for both Frankie and Shauna? Their views were different, but would their lives change inherently?

A Winning Betrayal (first published as Fortunate Friends) by Aussie author Louise Guy is a fascinating look at families, betrayal, lies, love and friendship. The two women were like chalk and cheese, but both were kind hearted and sincere, genuine to a fault. I thoroughly enjoyed A Winning Betrayal and have no hesitation in recommending it highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this book. I empathized and was able to really get into the lives and thoughts of the characters. Highly enjoyable read and I recommend this book.

The title says it all. The parallel between the main protagonists, Frankie & Shauna made this contemporary an intriguing read. Watching these two women, with such different lives, be intertwined by fate and their own personal struggles, was a realistic and a right nod to the yin and yang of life, especially with new wealth and the mountain of emotion that follows along with it.

Another nice light and easy read from Louise Guy. The story of two women from completely different backgrounds becoming unlikely friends, after a lottery win brings them both together we see the good and bad that it brings to their lives and how they help and support each other through all of these changes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Love, betrayal, family drama, new friends and lottery wins.
A fascinating novel about just how much a lottery win can change both the winners and the people around them.
I really loved both the female lead characters and was invested in both their stories. Watching their friendship develop was lovely. I was glad they both got their happy ending despite the heartache and trouble along the way.
The alternating chapters between the two stories is easy to keep up with and the writing style is easy to read and draws you in.
My only “but” is I would have liked the story to move along a little quicker sometimes.

How would your life change if you were to win the lottery? Would you give money to your brother desperate for another handout, give a past lover the money he needs to travel the world (the same way he left you a year earlier), or free yourself from the dragging, day-in-day-out drudgery of not enough in material things although you're rich in love or enrich your own life with the connections you crave? How and what do you change -- and how are you yourself changed? In Louise Guy's A WINNING BETRAYAL, the impact of a sudden windfall on two very different women is explored with Guy's unique compassion, intelligence, and clear-eyed insight into hearts and minds. I so enjoyed this well-written story -- and look forward to more from this exceptionally talented storyteller. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this story about Frankie and Shauna, two women who meet and form a close friendship after they both win the lottery. The women couldn’t be any more different and yet the positives and negatives that come from such a windfall binds them in a way neither expects. A very emotional and touching book!

What a great read. I couldn’t put it down. I was sure the writer had first hand knowledge of winning the lottery and the pitfalls that befall all winners. Highly recommended and yes I will still keep playing the lotto when stakes are high and now have a good idea of what to do if (and when) I win!!!

What would you do if you won $10 million?

Frankie and Shauna’s lives are changed forever when they each win $10 million on the Lotto. A Winning Betrayal details the aftermath of their wins, how it impacts their families, relationships, and jobs. Frugal Frankie is reluctant to accept her winnings, insisting the money will ruin her life, and Shauna’s troubled relationship with her mother is tested even further once the money comes between them.

This book seemingly has everything: a returning ex, an estranged father, a love triangle, an illness, a secret between wife and brother-in-law, the list goes on. It plays out much like a soap opera with no real plot, just things happening to people, all wrapped up with a ribbon at the end in the form of a happily ever after.

Guy’s writing style is easy to follow but a little simple at times. The characters are bland and the author tries to flesh them out with tragic backstories but ultimately, they wind up being annoying to read about.

A Winning Betrayal is nothing groundbreaking but it would be good for anyone looking for a (very) easy, fluffy read.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t really what I enjoy reading anymore, but I think I would have gained much more enjoyment out of this about five years ago.

A compelling story about how one lucky day can change your life for better or for worse. Quick easy read that held my attention from start to finish.

I enjoyed this gentle book. Tips on what not to do if you win the lottery. 2 women drawn together building a strong friendship and helping through the Life change. Money brings challenges,

How would your life change if you won $10 million? This book reminded me of the Aussie TV series ‘Winners and Losers’. A nice, light read, with great characters and a storyline that made you want to read on. I will definitely be reading more of Louise Guy!

What an interesting read! This book was a fascinating take on how two lottery winners have different viewpoints of their winnings. The winnings affect both Shauna and Frankie in different ways - but it’s their winnings that form an unlikely friendship that you can’t help but root for! It really makes you think to yourself, “What would I do if I won the lottery? Would I make the same mistakes? Would I make the right choices? Would I have done that?” This book made me want to be friends with both ladies! Highly recommend!

Louise Guy is a new author to me and I really enjoyed A Winning Betrayal. The story revolves around two strangers who share a huge lottery win. What they think will be the solution to all their problems turns out to be completely untrue. Money does changes everything but not necessarily in a good way. I really liked the character development in the stories of both Shauna and Frankie. I would be really interested to read another book by this author!
Thank you NetGalley for an early copy to read and review!

I enjoyed this book although found the main female characters slightly one dimensional.
This would be a great beach read .

Two woman, Shauna and Frankie, both win a large amount of money in the lottery on the same day. Shauna is a single businesswoman that has had bad luck recently in her life and feels that she can handle her winnings as she is a smart woman. Frankie is married and has been struggling financially as her husband isn’t making much money. Frankie doesn’t want to keep the money as she has seen what getting a cash windfall can do to a family. Her own parents had received some money and it broke down the family. The lottery company has a weekly group session to help lottery winners. This group counsels the winners on how to use the money and protect themselves so that they don’t become one of the lottery winners that end up bankrupt. The support group shares mistakes that they have made to help the new winners be more successful. Both woman join the group and become good friends. They experience some of the pitfalls that happen when others find out about their winnings and learn who their true friends are. This is an excellent book that shows different relationships and how you can find happiness and balance after winning the lottery. I highly recommend it.

Every one of us, whether we play the lotto or we don't, has at some point fantasized how our lives would change, if we hit the jackpot.
This book by Louise Guy explores this subject beautifully, the good and the bad.
There was enough drama to keep the book moving along, but not so much to weigh it down. Overall I would consider A Winning Betrayal a nice fluffy beach read, and would wholeheartedly recommend it to my friends!

I'm really not sure what to make of this book. I enjoyed the beginning. But I felt the end was just a bit predictable and meh.

I couldn't get myself invested in the characters and I just couldn't understand some of their thought processes.

I didn't find it a very positive book to read and it made me never want to do the lottery if I'm honest 😂.

This book looks at the story of 2 lotto winners and how it changed their lives in both good and bad ways. I really enjoyed it, found it easy to. Read and felt I got to know the characters. I am sure some people would think the ending a little cheesey but for me I want a book.with enough drama to keep me going but a happy feeling at the end of it. Will definitely be reading more by this author in the future.

Another fantastic read by Louise Guy who never seems to disappoint. Frankie and Shauna are strangers who have nothing in common until they share a multi million dollar lottery. They become firm friends as they individually navigate their way through Shauna's mum trying to claim half her prize and hiding the real truth of her past from her and Frankie trying to come to terms with her brother in law and his manipulation and lies. A great piece of writing that I did not want to put down.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of A Winning Betrayal, by Louise Guy.

This is a story of two families who win big in the lottery, and everything that happens after their winnings. Dealing with family, friends, navigating a new life after a big win, and knowing who to trust.

First off, lottery stories stress me the hell out. Do they ever end well? And I think it's a big statement on the need to for money in order to be happy. There's a balance there right? And when a large sum of money comes with a tidal wave of complication, how happy can it make you?

This book was fine as far as a high stakes lotto story can be. The two parties made for an interesting story, and I liked how the author wove their stories together. Sometimes the dialogue and relationships were frustrating, like ugh! Quit being a martyr and just have a conversation, gosh! But overall, it was an easy and enjoyable read.

Money does not buy happiness There is greed, betrayal, friendship, love, and secrets in this story. The characters were very realistic and I liked reading how they handled their windfalls.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What would you do if you were to win the Lotto?

I thought this book was going to be something completely different, but its about two women (Frankie and Shauna), who come from two different backgrounds and they win the lotto. Frankie and her family are a little below middle class, they live check to check, and lets face it they are poor, but Frankie is so humble, and its always about the little things like family time and being supportive to her husband who is trying the best that he can.

Then we meet Shauna, she already has it all, she has a great job, OOOOOOOKAY, she doesn't have it all, her mom is psycho, and she is single as a pringle. I was not a huge fan of Shauna at first, she appeared too cocky at times but she was very realistic. And a ton of family drama, I LOVED IT!!!!!!

Anyway, these women have gone through it or go through it in this book, I have seen a ton of shows on people who win the lotto, some lives are ruined after that because of greed and death, and some of successful with their winnings. I actually enjoyed this book, I didn't give it a high enough score mainly because it dragged a little too much, for a little too long, the end was rushed I wanted to know a little more, and if you read the book you will understand what I mean.

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A winning betrayal tells the story of two very different women and how their lives change after they win the lottery.

Does money really bring happiness?

Frankie is a married mother of two who struggles for money and buys her children's clothes from charity shops. Shauna is singke and successful. When they win the lottery, it is a life changing eventm but is it for better or worse?

The author alternates between the perspectives of both women and I thought this worked really well. I was rooting for both women to get the happy ending they deserved.

Thanks indeed to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

It’s everyone’s dream to win the lottery, right? In A Wining Betrayal by Louise Guy, it actually happens to two strangers.

One fateful day, two lives are changed forever by a winning lotto ticket. Something I admit to dreaming about (lol) and something that I’m sure will never happy .

Frankie and Shauna both have the winning numbers. Upon winning and meeting, the two become fast friends and both go through many trials and tribulations thereafter. You always think winning is going to be the answer to everything right, these two find out that, of course, it’s not.

A well written, albeit predictable novel that kept me hooked till the very end!

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the arc.

I have no idea why it has taken me so long to read one of this authors books, silly me this was a fabulous story that had me turning the pages, I often wonder what it would be like to win Lotto and this fabulously written story takes me through the that journey, it is not all bubbles and smiles and as we get to know Frankie and her family and Shauna as they discover that finding happiness is not all about money.

When two women from totally different backgrounds have a win on lotto they find friendship through some really tough times Shauna, hard -working, single after a break-up with her boyfriend one year ago and a mother who is different is celebrating with champagne then there is Frankie, wife of Tom, mother of two and this family struggles to make ends meet, Frankie is so scared about this money she is struggling to come to terms with it, but they find friendship, as they help each other.

Shauna is convinced that this is going to bring her such happiness she deserves it but when her ex comes back on the scene and her mother is being very needy things are starting to get to her and Shauna is in need of a friend and she finds that in co-winner Frankie.

Frankie has seen what money can do to people and is so scared of that happening to her beautiful family and it is going to take Tom a bit to convince her that this money could be just what they needed, but life doesn’t always go to plan when family are clamoring for a share, she finds help, support and strength in the friendship with Shauna.

This is a great story that shows what money can do to people, good and bad, their struggles are emotional and I was getting frustrated with them both at times and then I was cheering them on seeing them grow in strength and give each other support. What will happen to them in the future? The ending is beautiful and heart-warming and it had me smiling, this is a book that I would highly recommend a thoroughly good read. I do look forward to many more books from Louise Guy.

My thanks to Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

This was an interesting read and my first book by this author. The characters were well rounded and the friendship that develops between the two lottery winners was nice to read about. Overall, this was a light interesting read but slightly predictable in parts. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book.