Third Time Lucky: The Honey Trap

Third Time Lucky

by Victoria Browne

A fast moving witty chick lit drama that will take you on a journey of laughter and revelations.

Good friends Sarah a sensible simple soul, Laura bitchy complicated, Beth a ‘too cool for school’ high school teacher, and Jess a funky hairdresser, decide to honey trap Jess's new American boyfriend Richard. How could such a simple plan go wrong? Just add Jess’s new flat mate, hot sexy Elise to the mix, a few glasses of wine and you have a cocktail fit for disaster – especially when Elise honey traps the wrong boyfriend! Good friends are all Sarah needs when her uncomplicated life is jettisoned into chaos.

Dan, Sarah’s boyfriend makes some shady life choices. But who is friend and who is foe?

Wealthy bachelor Lee Preston sets his sights on Sarah and all Lee wants is to make her happy. Life could be fantastic when money is no object and your closet is filled with designer shoes, Oh, and his with secrets.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Ebooks, Amazon, Contemporary, Adult

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Victoria was born and raised in south London and now lives in California. Victoria left school and qualified as a dental nurse, she worked in Harley Street London before moving into the world of real estate. During this time she qualified as a mortgage broker and eventually opened her own real estate agency which she sold in 2012 and published her first novel 'Gut Feeling.'

With a great deal of determination due to dyslexia Victoria progressed to where she is today, living in Santa Monica, with her Husband and dod Tango. Victoria enjoys reading Sophie kinsella, Cecelia Ahern, Danielle Steel, Sebastian Faulks, J K Rowling / Robert Galbraith, to name a few.

Twitter https://twitter.com/VixBrowneAuthor

Web site http://www.victoria-browne.com/

Fan page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victor...

Reviews

[Ravenna Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Disclaimer--sort of*** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but when my tablet glitched, I went and downloaded it for free to my Kobo reader. THAT is how much I adored this read!

I haven't read a lot of chic lit, but this is by far the best one yet. From the first page, I became glued to the story of Sarah and her friends. The sassy brit humor kept me giggling as I read on. Browne creates a believable world in which most women can relate to--we all worry about men and careers and we all have a close circle of gals who love and support us and sometimes hurt us. Sarah's group of friends are there to support her as she struggles with a double-betrayal. She lives the next portion of her life trying to prove herself, while trying to conform to an ideal she doesn't really want.

The story plays out in such a way that you think it's going to go one way and then BAM it completely changes path and leaves you guessing and demanding more. The last half of this book was impossible to stop reading, and the ending wasn't at all expected. I need more! This read is romance, suspense, mystery and humor all bundled into one perfect little package. It's fresh, witty, well-written and formatted and the cover is first class! I highly recommend this book.

[Treacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This book was an exciting fun read. I started it going to bed and thought I would read it before falling asleep but it kept me up for hours, I couldn't put it down. The characters are well written and the story keeps you intrigued. I found myself laughing throughout the chapters. It was easy to read but kept me interested. If you are looking for a fun read this is it!!! Can't wait for the next one !!!!!

[C S R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Nice ordinary story done in a good way excellent way to unfolding plots bit comical bit girlish all together good read

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review first posted on my blog: http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...

Twenty-something Sarah has been with her boyfriend Dan for quite some time and while they live together, they have come to a point in their relationship where they hardly see each other and the spark between them seems to have just disappeared. Sarah's job at a furniture store also doesn't give her much satisfaction and her best friend Laura keeps urging her to dump Dan and start afresh. On a night out with her friends Jess and Beth, the girls decide to let Jess' new gorgeous room mate Elise honey trap Jess' boyfriend Richard. However, when Elise honey traps the wrong guy and Sarah continues to bump into the handsome Lee wherever she goes, her life suddenly changes from all sides. The question is: is it a change for the better and will Sarah finally find what she's been looking for all along?

'Third Time Lucky - The Honey Trap' is the first novel in a two-part series written by author Victoria Browne, and a chick lit read all about friendship and finding what makes you happy. I actually thought the plotline of the novel was quite original; I have never read any stories including a honey trap (and to be completely honest, I had no idea what it even was before picking up this novel!) and I think it's something that really works as a story element within the chick lit genre. While the novel had a good basis, I did personally miss certain things. There's a group of 4 friends at the core of the book (Laura, Beth, Jess, and a main focus on Sarah), but it felt like we didn't really get to know the girls. Not much detail was included of the characters' backgrounds, which would have been a nice extra layer to draw readers into the story and really relate to, for example, Sarah, which I wasn't really able to do while I was reading the book.

Victoria Browne's writing style is quick-paced and funny at times, which fit the genre quite well. However, I did think the story went a bit too fast every now and again, suddenly switching to another day/event, while more could have happened or been said to give the story just a bit more body and structure. Overall though, I am quite curious to read the second part in this series, so I will certainly pick up another one of the author's works in the future. 'Third Time Lucky - The Honeytrap' is a quite funny chick lit read with an original and promising storyline at its core, but a novel I would personally have enjoyed more with a bit more in-depth characters and more story detail.

[Karlishia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, feeling all the emotions of the main character Sarah I laughed, I creid, I was fuming mad at Dan, and a teasing twist kept me reading into the early hours of the morning! I really do hope there is a second book in thought process. Read read read!!!!!

[Jordie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whirlwind of emotions, I'll tell you now.
Review coming soon ~

------

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I received a message on
Goodreads from Victoria Browne, an author on a PR campaign looking for reviews on her latest book 'Third Time Lucky - The Honey Trap'. Nobody had ever offered me something like this, but I'm sure glad she did!

I automatically connected with the characters - four best friends just living life and having a good time while doing it. The ladies in this book are so relatable, it was hard for me to stop thinking of my own (past/present) friends while their personalities were unfolding.

There are some crazy twists and turns throughout the book that were definitely hinted at, but I never would have expected the outcome of it all! I probably would have finished this entire book in one or two sittings if I didn't have to work the past few days.

***SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD***

I could not believe the intensity of the scandal that happens after the honeytrap is laid out. It almost feels like two or three books in one after Sarah initially gets herself together, which made me even more interested. It kept me on my toes and thinking "Oh no! What could possibly happen now?!".

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced chick-lit that has so many plot twists, you'll be wanting to reread the beginning immediately to see how you missed the hints (cause I sure did)!



You can see my review here:
http://jordiesshelf.blogspot.com/2015...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to Victoria for a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a fabulous read. I was torn between reading it in 1 sitting to stretching it out so I could read it for longer.

It made me laugh out loud and feel sad in parts too. The characters were so easy to connect with, I felt like I was reading a story about me and my own friends in a lot of ways.

I actually defy anyone to not enjoy this book or connect with the character and stories. I think everyone has experienced a relationship like Sarah and Dan’s in the beginning of the story. It definitely spoke to me on a personal level. The story was very believable and true to life. It was a funny, lovely story and had a bit of a twist. I knew there was something going not as it seemed but I wasn’t expecting it to be what it was. It didn’t end like I thought it would either but that made the story even better that it wasn’t predictable.

I can not recommend this book highly enough to everyone and anyone. I have read one other book by Victoria and so was very much looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint. I can’t wait to read more from this author she is definitely on my favourite author list……hurry up with the next one please Victoria!

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dnf'd at 2%.

We start off with a huge info dump about poor Sarah, and how she moved away and how her 'arrogant' boyfriend announced he was going to be heading up a major project at work... (btw, its not arrogant to be proud of achievement as far as I am aware)

And he says 'goodbye' as she is standing there in a peaceful, early-morning, trance-like state with no real thoughts in her mind, just staring ahead with a deathlike vacancy

And he kisses her?? (If I had been Dan I would have walked out without a word.)

And then. THEN !! She screams at him (in capitals no less ;) ) 'DID YOU HEAR ME? DON'T BE BLOODY LATE!'

wtf?? I have no idea what was happening there. According to the blurb, Sarah is a 'sensible soul' ???!!!!

She sounded like a fishwife. Sorry. Not my sort of character or book.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to start by saying a massive thank you to Victoria for contacting me, after noticing I had this book in her to read pile and letting me read the book for free. Such a lovely kind person.

Ok onto the review. This is such a fun read. I was completely hooked right from the first page. I instantly liked the characters and lived the string style as it made the book soo easy to read. I was laughing out loud at so many points during this book. I only intended to read the first few chapters but I couldn't put it down and before I knew it I had finished reading it. I will defiantly be recommending to friends and I can't wait to read Victoria's next book.

[Sarah Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author Victoria Browne in exchange for a honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book, it is a typical chick lit book centred around a girl called Sarah who doesn't have much luck with men and jobs. It was easy to read and the plot was easy to follow, and did keep me guessing as so what was going to happen next.

The characters were really likeable however I did want Sarah to have a different ending. I will be looking out for the next book, to see what is next for her.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 3.5

Thank you Victoria Browne for an opportunity to read your book. This was a great read. I thought the characters were great, but they were annoying at times. I thought the storyline was interesting, but could have been better. However, I did like most of the plot twists that the story had. The ending was great, but I thought the ending could have been more happy. I guess I will have to wait for the next book. Overall, an enjoyable read.

[J. Kahele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

There is nothing more refreshing than reading a book about friends. Sara definitely goes through a lot in the story but she is lucky to have such a great group of friends always willing to help on a seconds notice. This book pissed me off, made me laugh, made me cry and made me happy. I loved it.

[Donna Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book and l found it a really good read and l highly recommended it and it was hard to put it down once l started reading it

[Erin Bedford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to start off my saying I’m not a chick lit reader. I’m a die hard HEA reader and proud of it. But on this momentous day as I cast off my chick lit v card forever I can say I have no regrets. I will hold my head high as I walk that long path to the book shelf and grab another off of my tbr pile.

So without further ado:

Third Time Lucky: The Honey Trap is a 230 something page novella featuring Sarah and her best friends, Jess, Laura, and Beth. We stalk Sarah as she has a helluva time finding a decent bloke and a career she can be proud of.

Now as an American I can admit some of the British slang/humor was lost on me. The only saving me from having to look up every other slang term was the fact that I am an avid Doctor Who fan. So, if you don’t have Whovian listed as one of your skills (and it is a skill to be had!), you may be in need of a translator (or google on hand).

Besides tripping up on some of the British slang, it was an overall enjoyable read. As I said before I am not a chick lit reader and honestly probably wont read another one for quite some time, I did not find myself wishing to gouge my eyes out at all the ups and downs this story made you feel.

And feel you will! A great writer will make you feel all the emotions that the characters are feeling as you are reading it and Victoria Browne does a fantastic job. When Sarah is sad and depressed, you are ready to nip off for the rest of the day just to get your country music on. When she is delirious in love you will want to call your SO just to cuddle.

You will find yourself cursing at the fucktards called men, giggling with the girls, and laughing your ass off at the outrageous crude humor. Does HR not have a cow about offering to suck someone off at work in England? Or is my American prudishness showing?

In the end, I didn’t get the HEA that I wanted, but it did give me the ending that Sarah needed. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a woman empowering read, along with a good laugh, and great friends. I give it a 4 out of 5 in my book!

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

I read Victoria Browne’s first book Gut Feeling last year and really liked it.
The blurb of The Honey Trap sounded great and like my kind of book.

I really like the idea of the book, with honey trapping a boyfriend, sounds like so much fun.
The story follows Sarah and her friends Laura, Jess and Beth. They seemed like a great bunch of friends from the start and I loved following them around. I found it a bit hard to relate to any of them though, mostly because I felt like they weren’t properly lined out. Sarah was the main focus and we learned a lot about her, but then they others were included as well. I got a bit confused of who was really telling the story. On one hand we were able to read about Sarah’s feelings, but then suddenly someone else seemed to take over.

So they honey trap the wrong boyfriend and that’s where it all starts, Sarah’s life changes drastically. I was glad she got rid of Dan, because he seemed boring and dull. But of course I felt bad for her, but when she met Lee though I had some hope. He seemed so nice and perfect for her. After a while his secrets started though and Sarah kind of wasn’t herself anymore, just letting him buy her everything, I couldn’t understand that.

First she was betrayed by Dan and her best friend, would the same happen again?! I was glad she had Beth and Jess throughout the whole story, they were there for her and they added a great spark to it.

For me the story moved a bit to fast, without connections and any details. This made the storyline difficult to follow and I felt it was a pity, because the general ideas were all so great.

What I really like about Victoria’s writing are the funny and memorable scenes she can create. There are so many LOL moments and very entertaining little bits, that made this story special.

All in all, I can say that I will definitely read more of Browne’s stories, even if this one wasn’t really for me.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't help but feel slightly unsettled after finishing Third Time Lucky The Honey Trap, to say it didn't finish how I was expecting would be an understatement. I enjoyed though the journey of the story and its got a great tone to it.

The book is well paced, and is about a group of friends, but mainly about Sarah, and her life. Sarah at the start has been with Dan for five years, and although is starting to be a bit fed up is relatively happy with life, she is working in the bed department of a furniture shop with a new friend and generally having a good time.

When Jess decides to honeytrap her new boyfriend, as she has trust issues due to her father, Elise the new flatmate who hasn't met the lads yet, decides to do it free of charge but managed to trap the wrong man, which leads to all sorts of issues for the group of friends.

There is also Lee Preston who is a rich man who has set his sights on Sarah, but you can't help but feeling he is far too good to be true.

Third Time Lucky The Honey Trap is Victoria Browne's second book, but I much preferred Gut Feeling. This one although still very likeable, just didn't quite work for me as well, it was light hearted, but I just didn't get a proper sense of any of the characters, and didn't really connect with them properly.

I felt that the honey trap was such a small bit of the book, I can't understand why its even referenced in the title, whereas the theme of Third Time Lucky made much more sense. Thinking about it, I much preferred the first half of the book, which felt more real and entertaining, whereas Sarah seemed to have a personality change once Lee became involved, and I just wasn't as keen.

Thank you to Victoria Browne for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.

[Darchelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really cute! It took me so long to read because I received the digital copy (thanks so much Victoria) & I don’t have a kindle so I read on my phone. I can’t read on my phone for a long period of time so I just read this book when I had 5-10 minutes here & there.
Sarah is in a content relationship with her long-time boyfriend, Dan, whom she lives with. She works at a furniture store with one of her best friends, Laura. When one of their friends thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her, they set up a “honey trap” which is where another female tries to hook up with the guy & see if he takes the bait. She did meet up with a guy at the club - but it may not be what you think!
Meanwhile Sarah’s friends Beth & Jess introduce her to their good looking, successful friend, Lee. Sarah is attracted to him, but she’s in a serious relationship & wouldn’t do that to Dan.
This book follows Sarah through her relationship & friendships over a few years. You can’t always trust those you think you can.
I will say, this story surprised me! I thought it was going to be predictable (as some chick lits can be), but it kept me on my toes! Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it changed on me. I don’t want any spoilers here so this may be a little vague. I love Sarah’s character. She reminds me a lot of myself. I did not like Laura from the beginning. She was a bitch to Sarah & thought she was better than everyone else. Also, Lee rubbed me the wrong way. He said some things to Sarah that either gave me the creeps or irritated me. I wouldn’t have been attracted to Lee after talking to him for too long.
So without spoiling, this was a great book & I recommend it to anyone who loves chick lit! I’m looking forward to reading the second one!

[Eliza Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is suitable if you're looking for:
- A breakaway from goody-goody chic-lits i.e. works from Rainbow Rowell, Sophie Kinsella etc.
- A book focused mainly on storyline

One line summary: Drama but lacks depth, and pre-mature story elements.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Although I finished this book in one sitting, this is the kind of book I could easily stop reading halfway through and keep for another day. There were some drama and it caught my attention but as I continued reading, I thought the drama were quite 'immature'. In terms of storyline and plot, I think this book lacks depth. On the other hand, while I understand the author was trying to capture the class of society, the use of words were not to my liking. All in all, in my opinion, the author focused on the series of events that took place and not so much on supporting elements that accompanied the events i.e. setting of the scenes, introducing the characters. In order to fully grasp a particular scene, the reader needs to have background knowledge on how (for example) high street Wimbledon looked like because it wasn't described but only merely mentioned. Imagining/setting a particular scene is important for me as it helps in getting the film rolling in my mind. Also, I thought the characters were not solid. As I was reading, it felt as if the main character was 2 different persons (or has split-personality disorder).

This book was the first book I read from Victoria Browne and if I were to judge from only this book, I may not pick up another book from this this author.

[Saradia Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third time lucky: The honey trap is an entertaining story about best buddies Sarah, Laura, Jess and Beth. Together they make a perfect girl gang and each is unique in her own way. They are often obsessed with boyfriends; they sometimes make the wrong choices and frequently find themselves in a mess. It’s great fun reading about their amorous adventures and epic fails.
I’m not much into chick lit but this book was quite a treat! It made me laugh and kept me guessing how things would turn out in the end. It’s a fabulous book to read on a holiday when you simply want to spend some quality moments alone. It’s also a book that most girls would want to chirp about while hanging with their favorite friends. But it’s is not solely a bubbly, casual read. It also hovers over themes such as relationship problems of a somewhat serious nature. In short, just to sum up, if you’re a girl looking for a hilarious and fun story that will keep you glued, this is definitely your book!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received the book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. Funny, yet with serious current relationship issues that come up. Sarah seems to be the rock in the girl group of friends so it seems. When Sarah's boyfriend, Dan, gets honey-trapped instead of Richard, things change. Sarah finds that he has been cheating on her. Her second beau, Lee, things did not go so well either. When Sarah is normally there for all her friends, her friends came through for her. Can the third time be the charm? Third Time Lucky was an enjoyable read and will be reading more from this author.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not really a reader of 'chick lit' and was not sure what to expect of The Honey Trap but I must say I was very pleasantly surprised!
The story was fast paced and the twists all the way through were quite unexpected (unlike some books), which kept my interest throughout.
It was entertaining and witty and, though some of the characters are not people I would choose as friends, they do add drama and interest to the story.
All in all I would recommend this book, even if (like me) chick lit is not usually your thing.
A good, entertaining read!

[kimberly wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost deleted it!!!

So I started to read this book and almost deleted it after the first chapter.....then it started getting interesting, really interesting .
***spoiler alert*****
I figured out Dan was a total wanker, but had no idea that Laura was such a slut. Then when Lee started acting up, I wanted to throw the book but I couldn't because I'm reading on my kindle...lol
Ultimately, extremely happy with how Sarah resolved everything and that her happiness truly was in her own hands the whole time.
Well done ms browne

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many twists and turns, kept me wanting to know what happened next. One part was predictable, but it was as if the author wanted the reader to see it, just to show how committed the main character was to the people she loved. The author made the main characters emotions very real. I was glad that the other characters played strong roles, and the main one kept overcoming her struggles & grew strong.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting and different. I thought it would be a romantic comedy with some humor but it was more like a soap opera with drama about who was going out with who, and who was cheating. At least it was an interesting story line. Some parts were easy to guess but some were a total surprise. Worth reading but not a favorite for me.

[Grace O'Callaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book it was a fun read.

[Nicole Normand · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book for free on Amazon via BookBub; this is my honest review.
-I don't think I've read this book the same way others did because it's only worth like 2.5 stars. The editing certainly needs another pass. The good side of it is that it's a quick read.
-First off, I have to say I didn't know what "honey trapping" was and was dumbfounded to see people do this to one another. In short, it's tempting someone to cheat on their partner/spouse/mate.
-The book's published date is in 2016 and the action seems to be during our lifetime, not the 60's. So why are people chain-smoking, then? Don't they know better? They also have a lot of one-night stands too (clean), but in reality people are no better.
-It's more or less a story about a bunch of losers, rich or not. About sexual harassment at work. About domestic violence (not too much details here, thankfully). It's also about being an adult and making adult decisions, good or bad, and hopefully not repeating them if they're bad.
-This is my first book from this author and regretfully I put my name in the pot to read and review book #2 in the series, with the hopes of getting a better story.
-PS who wants to be friends with Laura, anyways? Don't they learn? Apparently, no they don't.

[Sofiya Shahiwala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book in a giveaway and I was surprised at the content.
A light read and a great work.

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book might be a 2.5. It didn't really have a specific plot. The book started with Sarah being dissatisfied with her relationship with Dan. It was pretty obvious early-on what was happening, but Sarah was in denial. Then, Sarah's friend, Jess, decides to "honey trap" (one girl flirts with another another's boyfriend to see if he'll cheat) her new boyfriend. Well... the wrong guy ends up getting honey trapped. Sarah finds out Dan is the cheater and breaks it off with him.

It's almost like a new story starts after that. Sarah moves on and is in a relationship with Lee now, but references keep being made to some secrets about his past. Life is good- most of the time. Lee has money and got Sarah a cool new job, although he does occasionally lose his temper over little things and act somewhat controlling.

I think this is the first time I'm going to say that the pace of a book was actually too fast. It randomly moved ahead months and I never felt like I got to know the characters very well. I could hardly keep Sarah's friends straight. The book also kept changing points of view and it wasn't always clear whose point of view it was. There also wasn't much character development in the story. Because the book almost seemed like two different stories and plots, I had to check and see if this was a sequel to another book. But it wasn't. There is a sequel planned after this one, which makes sense, because it didn't end with much resolution. I would suggest that the author turn this one book into two novellas or maybe change the title of the book, since "the honey trap" is a very small part of the whole novel.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Victoria Browne.)

“I think…” Sarah said, dabbing at her eyes, “Dan is seeing someone else.”

This was an adult chick-lit type story, about a girl who didn’t have the best luck with boyfriends.

Sarah came across as quite a normal girl, and it was bad the way her boyfriend Dan behaved towards her. It wouldn’t have taken much for him to let her know when he was going to be home late, but he seemed incapable of doing even that.

The storyline in this was about Sarah and Dan’s relationship being on rocky ground, and her friends encouraging her to dump him and move on. We did get some twists thrown in though, and I really didn’t guess a couple of the things that happened at all!

The ending to this wasn’t really the happily ever after that I was looking for, but I would be interested to read the next book in the series to see what happens to Sarah next.



7 out of 10

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A free download from Book Blurb that didn't quite seem to be finished. The first third was setting up the first unlucky relationship, which was obvious about 10% of the way in. The too-good-to-be true relationship, was the shoe waiting to drop. Then we get into the lack of ambition and what do I want to be when I grow up. British Chick Lit sucks in this area because too many of the heroines are lazy and unambitious. Sarah is one of those. The ending felt like a set-up for the sequel, like Mockingjay Part 1 and II, or three Hobbit movies when one would suffice, or breaking up the last Harry Potter book. Ugh.