Wednesday, October 10, 2012

REVIEW: "Lucky Stiff" by Deborah Coonts

Type: Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery, Las Vegas baby!, Romance, Series, Book Two

About the book: As head of Customer Relations for the Babylon, Las Vegas' premier, luxurious Strip hotel, Lucky O'Toole is used to dealing with the craziness only Sin City can serve up: When a tractor-trailer spills a million honeybees, blocking not only the Strip but the entrance to the Babylon... When the district attorney for Clark County - apparently the odd man out of a threesome on the twelfth floor - is hiding in the buff in one of the hotel's laundry rooms... When Numbers Neidermeyer - one of Vegas' less-than-savory oddsmakers - throws some major attitude at ace private investigator, Jeremy Whitlock... it's just another night in Vegas as far as Lucky's concerned.

But when pieces of Numbers Neidermeyer turn up in the shark tank, Lucky is drawn into a deadly game where no one is what they seem, a game that will end only when she discovers who made fish food out of Numbers Neidermeyer. 

Lucky and fabulous Las Vegas - life doesn't get any better.

The Series: Wanna Get Lucky? [links to my review], Lucky Stiff, So Damn Lucky
   - Ebook novellas in the series: Lucky in Love, Lucky Bang

My Review: At 427 pages, reading this book was a bit of an undertaking - but one I gladly jumped into. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Wanna Get Lucky?, and I wanted to kick myself for taking this long until I read the second book. I took this book with me on vacation, but didn't get around to reading it until the long car ride home. But once I started reading, I could hardly put it down!

I really love the characters in this series - everyone has their own special quirks. I can't say I believe that Lucky is able to work so much with so little sleep, but other than that.. really, anything is possible in Vegas, so it doesn't seem that much of a stretch. The character interactions are absolutely fantastic, and I love seeing the glimpses of old Vegas, or the hidden underworld. The descriptions of the city and its inhabitants really make me watch to visit Vegas, though I'm not sure it would be as amazing without Lucky O'Toole.

This book really is an exciting read. From cover to cover, it was almost physically painful to put it down when I had to return to work after my break. A fun, fast-paced story and constant twists and turns, this book is more than entertaining, it's something special. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Cover Lovin': The cover is simple, but not too crowded, and it is eye catching enough to attract attention. I think the charm bracelet was a good choice - it's fun to look at it after reading the book and see what each charm represents.

Recommendation: This series is recommended for fans of mysteries with a touch of romance, and anyone who loves Las Vegas. Love Janet Evanovich but want something new - definitely give Lucky O'Toole a try!

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5).

Find out more about Lucky O'Toole and author Deborah Coonts at her website.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~