Lucky's Lady: A Novel (Bayou)

I rarely write reviews - but always read them. I should have listened to the other reviewers here that said this book sucked. I'm actually pissed I wasted time reading this crap but I'm one of those people that once I've committed to start reading something, i HAVE to finish it! A previous reviewer mentioned how two dimensional all of the characters are - so true. Not only that - they just weren't likable characters - not one! Especially the main character who seemed very trashy and the male character lazy and a bit stupid for a cop. This book may have turned me off from this author permanently - hopefully it was just a beginning career pass for her!

Elizabeth does not have good luck with the men in her life. Recovering from a very public failed marriage hoping for a fresh start she and her sixteen year old son Trace leave Texas for a small town in Minnesota where she buys a dilapidated farm house and a sinking weekly newspaper business in a town of three thousand people that does not accept outsiders especially southern divorced woman. If things are not bleak enough after her car runs off the road and trying to hitch a ride before a storm breaks she discovers a dead body with his throat slit ear to ear at a construction site. Dane is the sheriff and his life is just the way he likes it, quite, orderly and predictable until the new newspaper woman in town turns up a well known not necessarily well liked dead man.

Reilly’s Return is the third novel in the Rainbow Chasers series by American author, Tami Hoag. Jayne Jordan, widow of Joseph MacGregor, is hiding out in the California coastal town of Anastasia with three llamas and a pregnant teen. Zany Jayne is a film writer and director, but is wasting her talent as a scathing film critic. Aussie actor, Pat Reilly was Mac’s best friend, but when he met Jayne, neither could deny a connection. At Mac’s funeral, he vowed to return to her. And now he has. But Jayne is uncertain of his intentions, disappointed in his choice of movies to make and is unconvinced that he can resist the attractions of Hollywood. This fairly early Hoag offering drags somewhat, is occasionally repetitive and the portrayal of Pat Reilly as an Aussie is not well done: most Australians will wince at the dialogue, which is unrealistic and clunky at best. It is a sweet story that would have benefited from some judicious editing.

Serena Sheridan is definitely out of her element. As a psychologist in Charleston, Louisiana, she isn't used to being manhandled by shirtless, hunky men. In fact, she's known for being able to stop a guy in his tracks with just a look alone. But she's no longer in Charleston and if she wants to find her ailing grandfather before he does something seriously stupid, Lucky Daucet is her only chance at maneuvering the Atchafalaya Swamp here in South Louisiana.

Her first impression of raw power is a more accurate description of the man than she could ever have imagined. Unbeknownst to her, her grandfather's health isn't the only thing in danger. Now that she's back home and Giff has put the decision of keeping or selling their ancestral home in her hands, someone's afraid their plans to buy out and then tear down Chanson du Terre is rapidly dwindling. And they don't want to be stopped. As Serena is drawn deeper into the mystery, she's also drawn to her unwilling protector. Can she save herself from a killer bent on destroying everything she's ever known, while protecting her heart from a man who doesn't want it?

Lucky Daucet was perfectly satisfied with the way his life was going. He was fine handling the company wanting to destroy his swamp all on his own. Then his friend, Giff, goes and throws a wrench into everything by manipulating his granddaughter back to South Louisiana. If that wasn't enough, the old coot kicks the girl out of his fishing shack, leaving her to face the elements of the swamp along. With night closing in around them, he has no other choice than to take Serena back to his home. Not only does this end up opening up a piece of his world to the sexy doctor, but also a piece of his soul. Now everything is riding on Serena's decisions. His home. His swamp. And now his heart.

This week I decided to review an older book on my bookshelf. When I say older, I mean way back to 1992. Lucky's Lady is the very first romance book I bought. As full blown suspense reader, I hadn't thought about jumping into the area of romance. Heck, at that time, I didn't even know there were different genres. It wasn't until a Wyoming snowstorm that I found myself without very many options. A friend of mine had this book in her bag and offered to lend it to me while I stayed at work during my lunchhour. By the time the day was over, I was dying to get to the store so I could see how it all ended. Thank heavens for 4-wheel drive....

As soon as I read this story, I was immediately hooked. It was sexy, suspenseful, had fabulous dialogue and an awesome visual of the location. I was right there in the swamps of Louisiana swatting at mosquitoes (a long way away from that two feet of snow we ended up with). Tami Hoag introduced me to a whole world that was completely different than anything I had ever imagined. It was this book that opened up my love of reaching that Happily Ever After and this book that sparked the desire to create my own stories. If you ever get a chance, I highly recommend finding and reading Lucky's Lady. It's timeless and something that could easily be relevant in today's world. I haven't been disappointed any of the numerous times I've read it and neither will you.

In my own personal opinion (and I get the feeling I am not among the minority of readers), Lucky Doucet has now become somewhat of a prototype to many a fantasy along the "knight in shining armor" adage. Tami Hoag is exceptionally talented with her twists and turns shrouded in mystery as well as character development. The latter is so concrete, that it actually perplexes my mind that these people really do not exist.

This more slightly milder version of mystery is more inundated with romance. The progression of the story is fulfilled with intrigue at every turn that upon the conclusion, I actually returned to the beginning just to recapture the introduction of the main characters all over again.

Aside from Jack and Laurel in Hoag's other Cajun suspensful romance Cry Wolf, Lucky and Serena are probably my favorite romantic couple in literature. The only downfall I detect here is that everything else I read now is going to have to live up to these two and the enchanting journey Tami Hoag enraptures her readers on from beginning to end.

And yes, as with Cry Wolf, I have rescheduled to re-read this yet again a year from now.

Elizabeth Stuart and her teenage son arrive in Still Waters, Minnesota to start a new life after a bruising and very public divorce from an Atlanta media mogul. Elizabeth, along with her old college friend Tess, buys the town newspaper, determined to live up to its motto and print the truth. Because she's sexy and beautiful - not to mention the fact that she discovers the body of an unpopular developer, the first murder victim in Still Waters in 33 years -Elizabeth causes quite a commotion. She meets Sheriff Dane Jantzen for the first time at the murder scene. Jantzen is an embittered ex-football player forced to retire due to a knee injury. He's also bitter because his ex-wife walked out on him when the going got tough.

And that's where the problems start. Jantzen is so bitter and one-dimensional it verges on the ridiculous. After insulting each other (Jantzen initially considers Elizabeth a murder suspect) they fall into bed in a matter of days - an all-too-common theme in Hoag's novels.

On the plus side, Hoag portrays small-town life beautifully, especially the issues and problems facing a community where the Amish and English live side by side and the reluctance of both to change their way of life. The heroine comes across as feisty and likable and you find yourself rooting for her to have the happy ending she desperately wants. Hoag's written better novels so buy this one used if you possibly can.

I thoroughly enjoyed this title. When I lived in Houston, TX for a short time, we would sometimes go over to Louisiana and in various small towns, one could hear the sharing of conversation in Cajun French. Conversations always seemed a little more heartfelt as one would listen. For anyone that is familiar, this book will strike a beautiful chord. For anyone not familiar, one will find an introduction to a rich heritage. I learned that this was a transitional title for the author's work - I'll let you find a copy to discover my meaning by your own reading. You will not be disappointed. The story combines many layers of family relationships, the layers of environmental dynamics all in the midst of an intriguing love story. Enjoy!

This is Wuthering Heights meets His Girl Friday meets It Happened one night, except not even on par with them individually.

A refined, educated, professional lady, Serena, from the right side of the tracks meets dark, surly, smoldering, and highly sexed rogue, Lucky, from the Louisiana swamp because he is the only one who is willing to take her to her grandfather, who is living in the dangerous swamp. Gee, guess what happens when they are forced to spend the night together after a day of the prerequisite ego clashing banter of insults, protestations, and orders. With his blunt sexual talk and physical aggressiveness towards her, Lucky turns her on to a "heat" her body has never felt before, even though she's been married before. Somehow, she just can't help herself, even though up until that point he's been nothing but a rude and crude cad and potential thug/rapist/killer, and she gives way to his "huge" (snort) prowess on the second day after meeting. Wow. Just wow. This is definitely fiction.

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a very light and easy read, and it is the first Hoag book that I read, which was written prior to her later, much more edgy mystery/thriller books, which I had read first. I love the way she writes so I took a stab at one of her transition from romance, which I haven't really read much of, to the mystery/thriller novels she's written. To be fair, there is even a sort of light mystery in this book. (It's touted as a mystery). Serena and Lucky have to find out who is trying to sabotage the plantation, which has been in Serena's family for generations and which represents something Serena holds dear. Is it the evil guy from the big conglomerate, which wants the land so it can pollute the swamp? Or, the evil twin sister, who wants the money from the sale of the land to help her get her dream position in society and further her ambitions? Or, maybe the two Neanderthal thugs that hang out in the thug bar on the outskirts of town where Lucky hangs out? It's pretty easy to figure out who the villain is.

I gave this book 4 stars just because it was so entertaining. Although this is mostly a love story/romance novel really, there is just enough mystery and intrigue to keep the pages turning. I just also happen to enjoy Hoag's turn of a phrase; very snappy, fun, and colorful, even if over the top at times. I read this book in one day.

It was another great book by Tami Hoag, my favorite of hers however, was Cry Wolf, if you want to read a really great novel, try that one and this. Also A Thin Dark Line. Here I'll tell you a little about it
When Elizabeth Stuart moves to Still Water, she expects peace for her and her son after her messy divorce. But a mere two weeks after she moved, her car stalls, and when she walks to a neighbors house, she finds a dead man with his throat slashed. A man with plenty of people with enough reasons to want him dead.
Dane Jentzen is the sheriff of Still Water, and he's finding it hard to believe that there is a killer in his small little town. So he turns to the obvious person, Elizabeth Stuart, who is, in the town's opion, a dirty slut, but so beautiful, no man can resist her. Dane, still hurting after his wife left him after his football career ended, becasue of a serious knee injury, wants nothing to do with Elizabeth, but starts to fall for her anyway. As does Elizabeth, although she, too has been hurt by love, and in her words that she's sworn off men. But she may need help, because the killer may have little unfinished buiness. Like a witness.

Splendid! Awesome! Stunning!
The touch of Tami Hoag makes even the steriotype fascinating.
What I most liked about this book was the description of the interesting swamps of Louisiana. I have never been there, since Hoag is really successful in storytelling, I could feel the atmosphere.
The main characters have lots of emotional baggage. Serena is a psychologist and returns to Louisiana to deal with her grandfather. There is a chemical company that aims to have a factory on that region. They wants to buy the Sheridan property. Shelby (twinsister of Serena) is eager to sell the property, she and her husband are too greedy to have everything completed without Serena's interruption.
Lucky is the best of the best hero that I haven't read in a suspense novel for a long time. He has lots of misgivings, emotional turmoil and is slightly lack of self-esteem. The romantica and relationship of the characters are well-described and adventurous.
In spite of its shortcomings (written in 1992)it is relatively great, give it a try. I gave 5 stars because it is belivable and not boring. Ideal for vacations.
Have a nice read.

Please read addendum at bottom!

The power of an author is awesome with its ultimate and bottom-line right to create any character, any setting, any scenario. How much satisfaction and fun did Tami Hoag bring to "Lucky's Lady" in creating Lucky Doucet and Serena Sheridan? Their first meeting occurs on page four when the erotic fireworks begin and really never end even with the last word of the book.

I don't normally read books like this because they are reminders of a long-ago past life which included men. Now as an aging woman, I've made peace with having no man in my life. Along comes my mother: "You've got to read this book." My mother, aged 90, is my hero, so I read this book FILLED with one erotic scene after another. It is not porno by any means; rather, it is a vivid portrait of all that is good that can transpire between a man and a woman.

Actually, "Lucky's Lady" is the story of a strong-willed woman who tries to save the family plantation from demolition intended by her twin sister (in looks only), married to a handsome, old-school political type, whose political ambitions can be financed by the sale of said family home. Their grandfather, Old Giff, has moved to his fishing camp in the swamp to get away from the sales talk. He is infuriated.

Along comes Serena, Giff's devoted and close grand-daughter, and is ultimately manipulated into saving the plantation that has been in the family for two centuries. Who crosses whom and how are two threads of the story related is the mystery.

However, the main thread is this mad attraction between two people who don't want to be attracted to each other. Lucky considers himself damaged goods and lives in the swamp to avoid any entanglements not of his making. A political captive in one of the wars in Central America, he lived in total darkness by day and was tortured by night. A relationship with Serena's twin ended in fierce hatred and disappointment. So here's a man in need of a good woman.

Serena has been married which ended, but was never stirred into any kind of passion. Her job as psycho-therapist has taken her several states away from South Louisiana. She comes home for a vacation and walks into this big mess concerning family and greed and politics--and this gorgeous, hot-blooded Cajun. Her cool demeanor will definitely thaw before Lucky's primal heat which will unleash her own powerful desires.

Of course, the reader easily guesses where this clash of wills will lead, but, oh, the getting there is a climatic ride. Frankly, I'm going again.

I'm deducting one star because I admit to being a bit annoyed at the back and forth first-person thoughts of Lucky then Serena, then Lucky and so on. The same thoughts are repeated over and over. But never you mind, the stuff between easily is more powerful than a little annoyance. Slow, lingering kisses, hot, passionate kisses, embraces, well, you know.

Addendum (written after review above)
I cannot get this book or the male character out of my mind. In fact, I read the book a second time just to experience Lucky Doucet once again. Why? As I complained to my mother, Lucky is not a real man, he's made up, he's fantasy. And maybe that's the point. What does a woman want? The Mel Gibson movie may have tried to answer in a Mel Gibson-fashion (pre blow-up). Well, so does this book. Tami Hoagg must have asked herself: If I could create a perfect man, no, not perfect, desirable, what would he be like? It's not so much the looks because she kept his facial details vague. The reader gets hair long enough to pull into a tail tied off with a length of rawhide. OK, so he is well-sculpted and tall, presenting a masculine image, bordering on dangerous. Not dangerous, but roiling inside, but self-controlled. Sensual, sexual with high moral standards and possessing the ability to be faithful. Desiring just one woman, wanting just one woman, having the animal drive to arouse in a cool woman a matching animal drive. The author gives him the ability to respect and desire to protect his woman, Lucky's Woman. Men, take a lesson from this book! This is as close as it gets in revealing what women want

This was not a suspense novel as it was advertised, but a romance in disguise. If I wasn't so darn stubborn, I wouldn't have even bothered to finish it. The characters were all one-dimensional, all whiny and full of themselves. Elizabeth was your average romance novel "heroine" - drop dead gorgeous - a woman who all the men want and all the women hate. Blah blah blah ... Dane, Elizabeth's paramour, was no better. (He made up half of the most incomptent police force in any book I've ever read. They were all too busy screwing around to get any real work done.) Handsome and bitter, he had been scorned by his first love and didn't want to love anyone ... yawn yawn yawn. This scenario is so old and cliched its positively embarrassing. They fell in love and into bed in like, 2 days. No kidding! The actual "suspense" (if you could call it that) was slow and also riddled with cliches. I guessed the murderer soon into the book and the motives for killing the tourist were obscure at best. Save your money!

I did not get this book through the store. First time with author. What an compelling story. Besides the in and outs of the murder mystery itself, the under current of romance between the 2 main characters is fun to see unfold. The characters are VERY REAL with all their flaws as human beings. I could not put this book down until I got to the last page.

Serena Sheridan is a phychologist who returns to her ancestral home in Louisiana for a vacation. Upon returning she realizes she has to deal with a stubborn, cantankerous seventy-eight year old grandfather, a calculating and self-centered twin sister, a laid back, easy-going wanna be a politican brother-in-law, an obnoxious chemical company rep, poachers and a hunk who roams the bayou like a mysterious pirate. Some vacation!
This is my first Tami Hoag novel and I found it to be a good blend of romance and suspense. Although I found the conflicts wrapped up too quickly and easily, I did enjoy the author's lengthy and descriptive scenes. Her descriptions of the bayou make you feel as if you are there. I feel that I must warn those of you who like "light" romantic reads that this book contains explicit sex scenes and some violence.

I got acquainted with Tami Hoag in this fabulous book and the reissue is a testament to her popularity in the romance genre. The chemistry between Serena and Lucky is engulfing in the midst of Louisana bayou and lots of quirky dialogue and a plot laced with tension makes this a compelling read. I remember the confrontation between Serena and Lucky with her obstinate grandfather - and the issue of an oil-business conspiracy.It is fraught with emotional drama - where Lucky is put to the test by his demons and where both of them strives to love again. Lucky's lady is sizzling hot and it is just a pity that Tami Hoag has ventured into the contemporary crimes arena for I missed badly her good old solid romance and the reissue proves a stoke for nostalgia.

After a nasty divorce, Elizabeth Stuart buys a newspaper and a home in rural Still Creek, Minnesota and attempts to resettle herself and her sixteen year old son there. Elizabeth finds that she's treated quite suspiciously as a single woman in a small rural area. There is no welcome mat out for her or her son. One night on the way home from work. Elizabeth's car gets ditched and she has to try to walk the rest of the way home. On the way she makes the effort to get a ride from one of the few cars she sees in the area. Unfortunately, the car contains the dead body of a wealthy area developer and Elizabeth becomes a prime suspect in his murder. Author Tami Hoag has created an exciting story and characters that it's easy to come to care about. An engaging story and mystery from beginning to end.

I love Hoag's writing. her subtle mixture of romance and whodunnit is a really compelling one. Her characters are superbly well drawn, her plots great, prose style absolutely stunning, ability to describe setting and way of life first class. I adore her books. She creates characters that you really really care for, and who are so so realistic.
If you like brilliantly written thrillers, with a wonderful cast of characters, a well weaved tapestry of occurences, and some romance thrown in for good measure, Tami Hoag is the author for you.
The solution is unexpected, and well brought off. THis is certainly more of a "whodunnit" style novel than many of her other thrillers.

I picked up this book with trepidation. Not a big thriller reader, this book was recommended to me as it is one of Hoag's earlier works where she had just started to branch into the suspense genere. With romance still on the front burner, this book held me from the first page to the last.
Lucky Doulcet knows exactly what the Sheridan twins are like. He's had his fill of one and there's no way he's going to get involved with another. Shelby Sheridan was the person that sent him on his path to self destruction and he wasn't giving up what peace he found to get involved with her twin, Serena, no matter how much he lusted after her. Dr. Serena Sheridan had come home to Lousiana from Charleston for a vacation, finding the family plantation in an uproar. Her grandfather has retreated to his cabin in his beloved swamp, her sister, Shelby, seems more malicious than ever, and to top it all off, there's Lucky. All she wanted was a guide to take her into the swamp that she fears with every breath in her body. She gets much more than she bargained for.
If you enjoy Hoag's thrillers, you most likely won't like this book. I think that is why it is getting unfavorable reviews, because readers are expecting more thriller and no romance, where this is more a romantic suspense (more romance than suspense). I will read more of Hoag's books, but as I'm not a thriller reader, I won't be picking up her latest.
Happy reading!

Hoag delivered a good book, as usual. I enjoy reading books that keep me guessing, and there's some romance thrown in as well. I don't care for explicit sex scenes, and Hoag took care not to get into too much detail. I appreciate that.

Still Creek, Minnesota has everything but still waters. Elizabeth and her son, transplants from Atlanta are outsiders and always will be according to the rather judgmental residents of the small town of Still Water, nestled in the heart of Amish farmlands. Nothing changes there.
When change does happen and a resort goes under construction, havoc including murder takes place. Throughout the investigation the hero sheriff uncovers one sorbet secret after another about his idyllic childhood town. Hoag has the mindset of this Midwest town down pat.

The only thing that has ever allowed me to distinguish this title from the rest of this author's very similar pulp is the creep Amish guy. Other than that, this book is like reading the same thing with characters that just so happen to have different names.

There's the Strong, Opinionated, Smart woman doing a Man's Job, who is better at these things than anyone else, not to mention that she's Beautiful.

There's the Bitter, Ex-Jock/Cop/Hero, who's coming back into his own following a Personal Disaster, usually he's been Widowed. He's sexy and a Man's Man.

Put these two cookie cutter charaters together, there's some hot sex and a convoluted mystery, and the same miserable things in every one of these books. Yawn.

Good suspense, and characters a reader can relate to. I really liked the cat and mouse suspense of this novel. My only complaint was the overuse of the term, "sugar", but overall a really exciting read!

Still Waters Review Jake Pike 11/19/00 This book was a good Romantic novel filled with suspense. There is a murder involving Elizabeth Stuart who was searching for a quiet, peaceful home for herself and her son. Still Creek was her destination, which seemed perfect. Nestled in the heart of lush Amish farmlands, this small Minnesota town would allow her to put a shattering divorce behind her, but as any other small and quite town the locals who do not like strangers were noticeably cool to the newcomer, who was rumored to be a gold-digger especially when she started stirring up controversy with her newspaper. And now when a murdered body appears at her feet, she was a suspect. Particularly with the arrogant sheriff whom she dislikes at first and falls in love with later. An ex-pro athlete who had returned to Still Creek as a hero, and Sheriff Dane Jantzen who doesn't have much use for the media, especially not in the form of this glamorous, gutsy outsider who spells trouble with every word she prints. So when she becomes his suspect in a vicious crime, the last thing Dane expects is the jolt of attraction at their every encounter. Elizabeth would soon challenge Dane's every assumption, including the one that he's better off without love. I think this book was a really good suspence novel and I recommened it to anyone who loves mystery and suspense. I give the book 4 stars because although it was very good it wasn't the best book I have ever read.
Was this review helpful to you?

Good suspense, and characters a reader can relate to. I really liked the cat and mouse suspense of this novel. My only complaint was the overuse of the term, "sugar", but overall a really exciting read!

Still Waters Review Jake Pike 11/19/00 This book was a good Romantic novel filled with suspense. There is a murder involving Elizabeth Stuart who was searching for a quiet, peaceful home for herself and her son. Still Creek was her destination, which seemed perfect. Nestled in the heart of lush Amish farmlands, this small Minnesota town would allow her to put a shattering divorce behind her, but as any other small and quite town the locals who do not like strangers were noticeably cool to the newcomer, who was rumored to be a gold-digger especially when she started stirring up controversy with her newspaper. And now when a murdered body appears at her feet, she was a suspect. Particularly with the arrogant sheriff whom she dislikes at first and falls in love with later. An ex-pro athlete who had returned to Still Creek as a hero, and Sheriff Dane Jantzen who doesn't have much use for the media, especially not in the form of this glamorous, gutsy outsider who spells trouble with every word she prints. So when she becomes his suspect in a vicious crime, the last thing Dane expects is the jolt of attraction at their every encounter. Elizabeth would soon challenge Dane's every assumption, including the one that he's better off without love. I think this book was a really good suspence novel and I recommened it to anyone who loves mystery and suspense. I give the book 4 stars because although it was very good it wasn't the best book I have ever read.
Was this review helpful to you?

A good Romantic novel twingled with suspense as there is a murder involved When Elizabeth Stuart searched for a quiet, peaceful home for herself and herson, Still Creek seemed perfect. Nestled in the heart of lush Amish farmlands,this small, idyllic Minnesota town would allow her to put a shattering divorcebehind her. But as any other small and quite town the locals do not like strangers were noticeably cool to the newcomer--who was rumored to be a gold-digger--especially when she started stirring upcontroversy with her newspaper. And now when a murdered body appears at her feet, she was a suspect..particularly with the arrogant sheriff whom she dislikes at first and falls in love with later An ex-pro athlete who had returned to Still Creek a hero, Sheriff Dane Jantzendoesn't have much use for the media--especially not in the form of thisglamorous, gutsy outsider who spells trouble with every word she prints. Sowhen she becomes his suspect in a vicious crime, the last thing Dane expects isthe jolt of attraction at their every encounter. Elizabeth would soon challenge Dane's every assumption, including the one that he's better off without love.

-Sad!

All of her stories are about love and redemption, but Still Waters, is about love, and loss, and madness caused by loneliness, and not being able to forgive. Hate lives in all of us, how we chose to respond to that hate is what sets us apart!

Must read. I think this is one of the best mysteries I've read all season.

In this romantic mystery, Tami Hoag gives us Elizabeth Stuart, a reputed divorcee of ill-gotten gains and a non-trusting Sheriff, Dane Jantzen.
Their relationship begins with wisecracking banter from her and long lengthy stares from him after she is brought in for questioning about the dead body that dropped at her feet.
I did enjoy the mix of romance & mystery. I just thought the plot could have been more fully developed. Still a good read.
Thanks--CDS

I just absolutely loved this book. The romance.. the suspense.. the characters.. all make for a nice package. It is one of those books that I can easily read over and over again. The details are superb and Tami really develops the characters well.. The little bit of french Lucky speaks throughout the novel add that extra something. I just loved the ending, but was so sad to see the book end. You must ready this!

This book was the start of my recent obsession with reading. I love how Tami writes, she is very detailed and really makes you feel like you are part of the story. The two main characters have such great chemistry together. I know there are some pretty steamy scenes in this book but it's not only about the sex (which by the way is not bad). It really is a great story that sucks you in till the end. I found myself a bit depressed when the book ended, I wanted to read more about Lucky and Serena. If you find yourself in the same boat as me wanting more, I can tell you there is a little blurb about these two in Tami's book Cry Wolf, but dont get to excited because if you blink you might miss it.

This book had great potential, but the author seemed to lose the mystery during the development of the relationship between Elizabeth and the police character. It felt like the book couldn't decide if it was a mystery or a romance novel. While I really enjoyed some of Hoag's other books, this one was really lacking a sense of direction. The minor characters were totally unbelievable and the clues screamed out who the killer was early on in the book. Definitely not a book I would recommend to a serious mystery reader.

typical "modern romance" book... shallow characters, transparent plot, roll-your-eyes dialog... but all in all, a good read if you're in the mood for a "quickie" (bad pun intended), something that requires few brain cells to absorb.