REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: Lucky's Lady by Tami Hoag

*~*INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY details at the bottom of this review.*~*

5 of 5 Stars

WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE LUCKY'S LADY?
 

"Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point."

“The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of."

~ French Proverb

I first read Lucky’s Lady in 1994, during my late teens, and have re-read it several times over the years. Writing this review has spurred me to re-read it, my last re-read being about 8 years ago. It was such fun revisiting this "classic favourite" of mine.

For me, Lucky’s Lady is my favourite Tami Hoag book and is a blend of steamy, sexy contemporary romance and suspense; though stronger on the former, as this was her first full length novel after writing Category Romances (Loveswept) for many years. Tami Hoag’s later books focussed more and more on the suspense elements and eventually went from Romantic Suspense to Crime Thriller. I really miss her Romantic Suspense.

In Lucky's Lady, psychologist, Serena Sheridan, is looking for her missing grandfather and she needs a guide to navigate the dangerous back country of the Louisiana swamp. Enter, the dark and mysterious, smart-mouth, ex-military, Etienne “Lucky” Doucet, a tortured, artistic soul who calls the wild and treacherous swamp his home, to be her “guide”. There is some great banter and sexual tension between Serena and Lucky, and here are some samples to whet your appetite:

“I’m hiring you as a guide,” she said through clenched teeth, her voice trembling with rage or desire or both. “Not for stud service.”

Lucky mentally thanked her for breaking the spell. He stepped back, cocking one hip and hooking his thumb in the waistband of his pants. He gave her a devilish grin. “Why not, angel? I’d give you the ride of your life.”
...
"I'm amazed," she said at last.
"What?" He gave her a narrow look. "That I wouldn't sell you to white slavers?"
A corner of her mouth lifted in a wry smile as she started toward the dock. "That you have a friend."
…
"Serena lifted her chin in a defiant notch. “You have an amazingly high opinion of your own appeal, Mr. Doucet.”
“Oh, no, chère, I just call ‘em like I see ‘em.”
“Then I suggest you make an appointment with an optometrist at the earliest possible date. A good pair of glasses could save untold scores of women the unpleasantness of your company.”
Their gazes locked and warred – hers cool, his burning with intensity."

But Lucky's Lady is more than just a sexy read. It is emotional and romantic. And there's a scene with Lucky and some baby raccoons that just melted my heart. 

I learnt quite a few Cajun-French words reading this, with the handy glossary of words and phrases at the back of this book. Just remembering Lucky say mon couer (my heart), vien (come)...ahem... and je t'aime (I love you) sends shivers down my spine. And there's a scene with a mirror that is forever burned in my memories. *fans self*

Tami Hoag does a fantastic job of painting, with her words, images of the hot, steamy and wild Louisiana bajou. I had images just like the ones below, in my mind's eye, as I read. I just love the setting!

Lucky and Serena traveling in his pirogue through the misty bajou.

The wild bajou with its many mysteries and lurking danger terrifies Serena.

How I imagine Serena's grandfather's plantation, Chanson du Terre, to look.

And if that doesn’t make you start to feel excited and warm, then the dangerously sexy Cajun, Lucky Doucet (or as I like to call him, "Luscious Lips" Lucky), will.

“Her first impression was of raw power. Broad shoulders, bulging biceps. His chest, bare and gleaming with a sheen of sweat, was wide, and hard muscle beneath taut, tanned skin. The strong V of his torso narrowed to a slender waist, a stomach corrugated with muscle and dusted with black hair that disappeared beneath the low-riding waistband of faded green fatigue pants.

She raised her eyes to his face and felt a strange shiver pass over her from head to toe, making her scalp tighten and her skin tingle. He stared at her from sleepy lids with large, unblinking amber eyes, eyes like a panther’s. His brow was heavy and straight, his nose bold and aquiline. His mouth did the most damage to her nervous system, however. It was wide, with lips so masterfully carved, so incredibly sensuous they would have looked perfect on a high-priced call girl. The effect of that mouth on a face so masculine – all lean planes and hard angles and five o’clock shadow – was blatantly sexual.”

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this sizzling Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense, first published in 1992. Read it for yourself and see if you don’t want to be Lucky’s Lady, too. ^_^

THANK YOU, Ms. Tami Hoag, for Lucky Doucet!   *sighs* 

My recent image of Lucky Doucet (The swoon-worthy Gilles Marini)

- It's a good thing I didn't "know" him as a teen, since my parents would have had a heart attack if I'd had posters like this in my room! LOL

 

*~*INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!!!*~*

My very first Giveaway and I'm excited! ^_^

To honour one of my "classic favourites" and to give one lucky person the chance to "know" the sexy Cajun, Lucky Doucet, too, I will be giving away a brand new paperback copy of Lucky's Lady by Tami Hoag. Entries open from 18 July 2011 - 25 July 2011. The randomly drawn Winner will be announced on 26 July 2011 here at Lady Jayne's Reading Den and notified by email.

Please enter by posting your name and email address in the comments below, and by sharing the name of the book (plus the author's name) of your "classic favourite" Contemporary Romance or Romantic Suspense. (Edited to add: Or if you are not as old as me *LOL*, or new to these genres and don't have any "classic favourites" yet, then current favourites are also welcome. ^_^)

Please note that the Giveaway is only open to followers of Lady Jayne's Reading Den (including new followers) and  must be from the ~100 countries to which The Book Depository has free shipping. Please see list below for eligible countries:

List of eligible countries

Good luck!!! ^_^