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Lucy McGee's Moment of Truth: A Novel
Lucy lives large and takes risks, conquering life's problems with breathtaking mastery--and a little help from her lifelong friend Joanne. All is well until a drama resurfaces after almost 30 years. Suddenly, Lucy's life twists in a heartbeat. When her nemesis calls unexpectedly about a situation that only she can solve, Lucy learns she can redeem her past mistake by saving someone she's desperate to help. Yet doing so would expose the adoption secret she's hidden from her family. Worse, she'd also be helping the very person who started the whole mess. Torn between the urge to get even or right a wrong, Lucy stalls in a haze of indecision because either way, she loses. With tension rising and time running out, Lucy must dig deep into her soul to Will pride and the need for revenge win out? Or will she do the right thing and risk losing the love of her family when her secret is revealed? Set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this story follows two best friends in their early fifties as they embark on a life-altering journey to Paris, where Lucy reconciles her past, and Joanne faces an uncertain future. With no roadmap, they wrestle with tough life questions about love, truth and family, and together, stumble towards the meaning of life.
- GenresContemporary
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2021
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Gina N. Brown
3 books3 followersGina N. Brown has written three novels: Pickled in Love (2025), The Sugar Bowl Feud (2024) and Lucy McGee’s Moment of Truth (2021). She has also written freelance travel, lifestyle and memoir articles for newspapers, magazines and digital platforms. After a lengthy marketing career, she began writing and in 2019, she founded NovaHeart Media, an independent publishing platform. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she swims, cycles, skates and plays pickleball.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 26, 2022
Not for me. Very one-dimensional characters. The characters I preferred are not explored as much as I would have wanted. The concept of the story is excellent, poorly executed.
July 7, 2021
Dealing With Life’s Curveballs: A Review of Gina N. Brown’s “Lucy McGee’s Moment of Truth” by Boakye D. Alpha
Human actions are frequently intertwined.
Something will happen as a result of one incident, which will influence someone else's life (or something), which will, in turn, influence another then on and on it goes. It becomes a vicious circle. One habit leads to another, one domino is knocked down, the next follows, then the next. Before you know it, all Dominoes are knocked over.
This is said to be the “Domino Effect”. According to the Domino Effect, if you change an action, or when an event happens, it will set off a chain reaction, causing changes in associated events as well.
This happens to be one of the major theories this book, Lucy McGee's Moment of Truth, thrives on.
“Hell… life’s curveballs were her specialty. Yet, there was a catch. There was always a damned catch: she hadn’t told her husband or children about Daniel and the unwed mother chapter early in her life. Her heart sank as she thought about the domino effect.”
“Revealing the story would spark enormous chaos in her daily family life and not revealing it could set off even bigger problems, possibly catastrophic. Either way, she’d lose.”
This concept, to me, is a very thrilling concept that I couldn’t wait to see how it was all going to play out in the novel. In the end, it is justified why the author used that theory. The chain of events that are seen in the novel are clearly events happening because something had happened, a decision was taken, and their repercussions are what the MC and her friend (and maybe their families) had to deal with.
When I received the notification to review this book, I remember contemplating whether or not I should dig in. As usual, I decided to have a go at the first chapter. I am glad I did. I was captivated by the first chapter. The conflict is very visible from the very beginning and that was what reeled me in.
Considering the short phone call Lucy McGee had with Elise Morin about Daniel and the short friction that brought, I knew something was about to go down and I better be a part of it. For me, that was the moment I decided I wanted to read the book. And that, in my opinion, counts for a book well-written. Yes, there are other factors to consider for a well-written book but to get your readers interested in your book in the very first chapter is talent, it is a plus.
"Well, bully for her. Lucy wasn’t ready to call him Max just because Elise decreed it so. In her mind, he was still the sweet little baby Daniel that Lucy held in her arms. Now in her fifties, she had learned how to present persuasive arguments without giving in to her emotions. Over the years she had rehearsed obsessively what she would say to this woman and her husband if given the chance. She knew it by heart, like a fine Shakespearean soliloquy ready to move a rapt audience."
The above paragraph is the beginning of a major tension that began as soon as the call started. And this tension never ended. With each sentence following that, there is a build up. It intensified from sentence to sentence and you could feel it. The writer knew the right words to use, the right descriptions and the right pace. All coming together to get readers to feel just exactly what is happening, captivating you.
"However, there was still a lingering burden from her past that refused to resolve itself; and she wondered if she could straighten out the past without ruining her future."
I enjoyed how the book flowed easily. The author knew the right time to reveal what, not forcing things, given the gravity of some of the issues. Brown just takes your hands and walks you through each stage of the story, one step at a time. It is worth the read.
Human actions are frequently intertwined.
Something will happen as a result of one incident, which will influence someone else's life (or something), which will, in turn, influence another then on and on it goes. It becomes a vicious circle. One habit leads to another, one domino is knocked down, the next follows, then the next. Before you know it, all Dominoes are knocked over.
This is said to be the “Domino Effect”. According to the Domino Effect, if you change an action, or when an event happens, it will set off a chain reaction, causing changes in associated events as well.
This happens to be one of the major theories this book, Lucy McGee's Moment of Truth, thrives on.
“Hell… life’s curveballs were her specialty. Yet, there was a catch. There was always a damned catch: she hadn’t told her husband or children about Daniel and the unwed mother chapter early in her life. Her heart sank as she thought about the domino effect.”
“Revealing the story would spark enormous chaos in her daily family life and not revealing it could set off even bigger problems, possibly catastrophic. Either way, she’d lose.”
This concept, to me, is a very thrilling concept that I couldn’t wait to see how it was all going to play out in the novel. In the end, it is justified why the author used that theory. The chain of events that are seen in the novel are clearly events happening because something had happened, a decision was taken, and their repercussions are what the MC and her friend (and maybe their families) had to deal with.
When I received the notification to review this book, I remember contemplating whether or not I should dig in. As usual, I decided to have a go at the first chapter. I am glad I did. I was captivated by the first chapter. The conflict is very visible from the very beginning and that was what reeled me in.
Considering the short phone call Lucy McGee had with Elise Morin about Daniel and the short friction that brought, I knew something was about to go down and I better be a part of it. For me, that was the moment I decided I wanted to read the book. And that, in my opinion, counts for a book well-written. Yes, there are other factors to consider for a well-written book but to get your readers interested in your book in the very first chapter is talent, it is a plus.
"Well, bully for her. Lucy wasn’t ready to call him Max just because Elise decreed it so. In her mind, he was still the sweet little baby Daniel that Lucy held in her arms. Now in her fifties, she had learned how to present persuasive arguments without giving in to her emotions. Over the years she had rehearsed obsessively what she would say to this woman and her husband if given the chance. She knew it by heart, like a fine Shakespearean soliloquy ready to move a rapt audience."
The above paragraph is the beginning of a major tension that began as soon as the call started. And this tension never ended. With each sentence following that, there is a build up. It intensified from sentence to sentence and you could feel it. The writer knew the right words to use, the right descriptions and the right pace. All coming together to get readers to feel just exactly what is happening, captivating you.
"However, there was still a lingering burden from her past that refused to resolve itself; and she wondered if she could straighten out the past without ruining her future."
I enjoyed how the book flowed easily. The author knew the right time to reveal what, not forcing things, given the gravity of some of the issues. Brown just takes your hands and walks you through each stage of the story, one step at a time. It is worth the read.
September 18, 2024
I learned of this book and its local author at the Dartmouth Book Exchange's book club, and was delighed to receive it as a birthday gift. It is a superb debut novel, easily and quickly devoured. I had no idea what I was getting into, neither the title nor the back cover's intriguing summary giving the story away, but I was quickly involved with the major players, their lives, Lucy’s dilemma, and Joanne's open willingness to help. Gina Brown has a way with characters, all so carefully drawn they become real, and although the two friends we follow are as different as long-time best friends can be, their love and caring for each other helps them through their lives and pulls them through its difficulties. It pulls the reader through too. I opened the book with no preconceptions and found it was all a novel should be, even allowing me to relate to many of the characters and situations, diverse as they are. This story is touching and moving, light and dark, serious and funny, a great feat for a writer, and there was nothing I did not love about it--except that it ended. It ended well, satisfactorily, and happily, but it ended.
June 27, 2021
Gina N Brown has given readers much to think about as they read her first novel. I couldn’t help but think about my past and the decisions I have made, and how those I love now would think about my decisions. The story of family and girlfriend relationships hit hard for me. Gina has reminded me to be truthful (which can be very, very hard) and to nurture those important relationships. The story weaves in what is likely real life scenarios for many and reminds the reader of the consequences of hiding your past. I was totally captivated reading the last few chapters to see what decisions Lucy and Joanne would make. How would their family react and especially, how would Max react. A fabulous read that will not disappoint. Can’t wait for another book written by Gina N Brown!
August 24, 2022
I loved this book. Friendship and families, secrets and challenges. So much drama. I really felt for the characters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews