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Thursday, December 15, 2011

My take on: Wanna Get Lucky?

Don't let that suggestive title fool you, Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts is a murder mystery with a dash of romance.

Lucky O' Toole is the problem solver for the Babylon hotel -- a well-known hotel on the Vegas strip. No problem is too big or too small for Lucky, just as long as she has her trusty Nextel on her hip. Whether it's a naked man in the stair well or a frequent guest who hides wild animals in his room or the shenanigans when the annual sex trade show hits the hotel.

Lucky is witty and cool. She has always dealt with challenges head on. She left her mother's home at 15. She felt her mother Mona was more interested in running her whorehouse than raising a child. Little does she know Mona was looking after her the whole time. Lucky convinced the Big Boss to give her a low level job. Years later Lucky is at the top of her game as the head of customer relations. Her assistant Miss Patterson keeps everything in order. Her best friend Teddie is always there to help her wind down at the end of the day. But now Teddie wants to be more than just friends. Did I also mention that he makes a living dressing up as woman and headlining one of the best shows on the strip? She hasn't been lucky in love in the past. Will a romantic relationship spoil everything Lucky and Teddie have built?

Can a dead body slow Lucky's cool?  Especially one that feel out of a helicopter and landed in the lagoon. To Lucky, a dead body is just another little ripple in the water. She just has to figure out a way to minimize the damage to not just the hotel but the Big Boss. She doesn't believe Lyda Sue jumped from the helicopter. There is something bigger going on. Is the Big Boss in on it? He was in the helicopter.

Lucky seems to be more perceptive, sometimes a bit too much, than even the cops. She thinks two or three steps ahead. She gives tips to local reporters in exchange for a little patience. Paxton Dane, a new member of the security staff, is asking a lot of questions. Paxton seems to have an ulterior motive. Nothing he says rings true to Lucky. Is he out to bring down the Big Boss? Lucky will do anything for the Big Boss. She will protect him at all costs. He gave Lucky her first shot, she owes him a lot.

Watching Lucky break down the mystery is a fun ride, but I found her personal relationships way more interesting. How can a woman form a relationship with a man who makes a living dressing up as a woman? I initially thought Teddie was the token gay friend that a lot of women have. He helps Lucky with her wardrobe. That doesn't spell romantic relationship to me. But there is another side to Teddie, one that has a deep passion for Lucky. At the end of the day, Lucky and Teddie only want each other. Her mother is eccentric, but at the end of the day she wants the best for Lucky. Despite not knowing who her father is, he has been around in his own way. I loved finding about the inner workings of hotel management. Those people must have lots of patience. If you like mysteries, pick this one up because I intend to read and review the next adventure in the series (Lucky Stiff).

Rating: Superb


Note: I received a copy of the book from the author's publicist (FSB Associates) in exchange for an honest review.

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