Irish Fiction Month Review: Michelle Jackson - 4 a.m. in Las Vegas

It's Halloween in Las Vegas and things are crazier than normal for Connie the wedding planner. Vicky and Frank are in town for their nuptials but she soon realises that he has more on his mind than wedding bells. Vicky's teenage daughter Tina is less than impressed until she meets Connie's moody and enigmatic son Kyle. Frank's brother John is trying to hold everyone together but then something happens that turns the wedding party on their heads at 4am in Las Vegas! 

Life and love seem to have slipped through Suzanne's fingers but then, new to Facebook, she stumbles upon more than she expected when she receives a friend request from old flame Ronan in Boston. He's on his way to Las Vegas for a work convention and Suzanne's friend Eddie convinces her that she should go too. What has she got to lose? 

When they all meet in Binion's Casino the cards have already been dealt but will there be a winner?

In 4 a.m. in Las Vegas we meet an interesting mix of characters who all happen to be in Las Vegas at the same time for different reasons but their lives soon become intertwined as the story progresses.

There's Vicky and Frank who have come to Las Vegas to get married along with best man John, Frank's brother, and Tina, Vicky's teenage daughter where they meet Connie, Vicky's wedding planner, and her teenage son Kyle.   Frank is hoping to win big at the casino whilst there to try and save his business back at home but he has more than his gambling secret to hide from Vicky.  Tina and Kyle hit it off and soon give both Vicky and Connie plenty to worry about, meanwhile John is left trying to be supportive to Vicky whilst deflecting the attention he's receiving from Connie.   

Suzanne has never forgotten her first love Ronan so she's surprised when he contacts her out of the blue via Facebook and during their email exchanges he tells her he's going to Las Vegas for a work conference.   This prompts her best friend Eddie to book surprise tickets for them both to go to Las Vegas to give Suzanne the chance to re-connect with Ronan.  But for Suzanne it's not as simple as saying that she'll go as she has her mother Mary to think about who has Alzheimers. 

But one thing is certain their lives are never going to be the same again after their few days in Las Vegas as hidden secrets come to the surface forcing them all to re-evaluate their futures...

One of the things I've loved about reading Michelle Jackson's books are the destinations that she takes us to, her other books have taken us to Biarritz, New York, Havana and Perth.  But this is the first book where I've actually been to the place she's describing, even if it was 12 years ago, so I can visualise it perfectly in my head.  I cannot wait to see where Michelle takes us next in Six Postcards which I think is due to be published later this year.