Welcome to my Den of Delights! Please make yourselves comfortable.

Monday, July 18, 2011

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!!! ^_^

26 comments:

  1. I haven't actually read that much romatic suspense but my very favourite is Suzanne Brockman and her Troubleshooter series and the books I love the most is either "Out of Control"

    nyxxy@hotmail.co.uk

    Suzanne @ Under the Covers

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  2. Oh, yay! My first Giveaway participant! ^_^

    Welcome to my Reading Den, Suzanne! Please make yourself comfortable, and enjoy the delightful eye candy scattered throughout.

    Good luck for the Giveaway and thanks for sharing about Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters. I have heard of it but haven't read any yet. I've only read one book by Suzanne Brockmann, so far, and it was a cute story called Letters to Kelly. I really enjoyed it!

    My favourite Romantic Suspense series is actually the I-Team series by Pamela Clare. SO GOOD and I highly recommend them!!

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  3. Hi Rhonda!

    Great to see you here! I hope you are well. Good luck for the Giveaway!! Lucky Doucet is one sexy Cajun with a sexy mouth. And Gilles Marini is a yummy image of Lucky, I say. ^_^

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  4. I want it, I want it, I want it!!! :)

    My favorite CR/RS "classic favorite"? Hmm, that's a tough question... The first book that came to my mind was "Open Season" by Linda Howard, but I'm sure there are other books I loved as much as that one.

    geraldina.lau.pon@gmail.com

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  5. A wonderful giveaway Jayne!

    I have so many favourites! The best Romantic Suspense for me is definitely the wonderful Pamela Clare's I-Team series and for Contemporary Romance, I really enjoyed Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series.

    scondous(at)tpg(dot)com(dot)au

    Have a wonderful week.

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  6. Hey Jayne!

    My fave contemporary Romance is by Julie James and it's A Lot Like Love

    highlandhussy AT gmail DOT com

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  7. Woman,woman!! and here i am!!!!!! ***ta-da** :P Long time no see, but i couldnt miss the opportunity to participate in one of your contests.

    So, as romantic suspense goes..well.. **wink wink** Pamela Clare is my goddess!! she balances all the elements that make a great story to a fine caliber !!

    ps: The candy eye provided here is the sweetest of lures.. ;) you keep it up girl!

    sweetienena AT gmail DOT com

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  8. Way to go Jayne!
    I'm getting stuck on the "classic" part of the "list your classic favorite". There are way too many options!!
    I'll say: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard is right up there for me.
    And you know I love Pamela's I-Team.
    And Karen Rose...anything she writes.
    And....yeah, ok. I'll stop now. ;-)

    Great first give away!

    Ronlyn

    ronlynhowe@yahoo.com

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  9. Great giveaway Jayne!

    As for my favorite classics (if you can call it that) would be one of the first Nora Roberts' books I read - she's the one that hooked me to romance in the first place - Birthright or Bayou Moon. :-)

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  10. @Dina: Well, Dina, you know what they say, if you want something bad enough, you may just get it. ^_~

    I love Linda Howard’s Open Season, too, and Mr. Perfect and several of her earlier books. She's definitely a "classic fave" of mine. Thanks for sharing. Good luck!

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  11. @Sharon: Thanks, Sharon! Oh, yes, I love Pamela Clare’s I-Team and Jill Shavis’ Lucky Harbor series, too. Great taste! ^_^

    All the best for the Giveaway!

    You have a wonderful week, too!

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  12. @Laurie: Hey, Laurie! Oh, yes, Julie James is a new fave author I discovered this year.

    Good luck for the contest!

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  13. @Autumn: Hey, woman! I know! I haven’t “seen” you in ages. Great to see you here! xx

    As you know, I completely agree with you on Pamela Clare. ^_~

    Life is so much better with candy, I say! The edible and visual. Not to say that the “visual” isn’t “edible, too. LOL
    All the best!!

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  14. @Ronlyn: Hey, Ronlyn! Great to see you here! Sorry, didn’t mean to make it hard. ^_^ I amended my post on the “classic” part, since some people aren’t as old as me (NOT that I’m that old – Haha!), or may be new to the CR/RS genre and don’t really have any “classics”.

    Oh, yes, Mr Perfect is also one of my “classic faves”. And Pamela Clare’s I-Team is a current fave but will definitely be a “classic” for me in the future. MANY re-reads in my future! ^_^

    My BFF has recently been talking up Karen Rose, so I’ll have to give her a go. Thanks!
    Good luck for the contest!!

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  15. @MBR: Hey, gurl! Great to see you here. I know you loved Lucky’s Lady, too, and it was you who asked me to look for an image of the delicious Lucky Doucet, which inspired me to re-read and review it! So, thanks heaps!

    You didn’t put down your email address, but did you want to enter to win the paperback? I know you have the Kindle version. xx

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  16. @Ana Smith: Hi Ana, I haven’t read those Nora Robert books, so thanks for the reco. You didn’t include your email, but I can track you down on GRs if I draw your name as the winner. Good luck for the Giveaway!

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  17. Yay! Congrats for the 1st giveaway Jayne!! ^0^
    I hope there will be more giveaway at the future ;)

    My classic favorite suspense (since I'm rarely reading contemporary) is White Lies by Linda Howard. I must say thank you for my friend who lend that book to me, because since reading White Lies, my love for reading romance begin :) (and Linda Howard is one of my favorite author)

    Way to go Jayne!! ^_^

    Ren
    sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com

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  18. I've came here from goodreads by my friend account. I love free books because buying a book is such a luxury for me *sigh*

    Btw, my all time favorite book are The Harry Potter serials. But if you insist on contemporary Romance then it'll be The Language of Love by Nora Roberts, and my classic pick is "Search for Love" as it was my first romance book. First Love never dies, isn't it? ;p

    asrina_1986@yahoo.com

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  19. @Ren: Hi Ren! Great to see you! Well, let's see if the "Giveaway Winning Machine" will strike again! ^_^ Good luck!

    Hmm…I don't think I've read White Lies. I've read a lot of Linda Howard but not all her books. She is one of my "classic fave" authors.

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  20. @asnwords: Hi, Asrina! Welcome to my Reading Den! ^_^ I love the Harry Potter books, too. I haven't read very many Nora Roberts, so thanks for sharing that reco.

    All the best for the Giveaway contest!

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  21. I forgot to answer Ren's question about future Giveaways. Yes, there will be future Giveaways and I'll be having another one after this one, actually.

    Hint: It's a new release (end of May 2011) from an Urban Fantasy series. Fans of the series will likely have read it or already own a copy, but I accidentally ordered one too many and so will be having it as a Giveaway. Turn a mistake into something positive, I say! ^_^

    Stay tuned!

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  22. Hi Jayne. Would of have posted sooner, but blanked out at the contemporary romance/Romantic suspense question. I'm new to the genres too and had to think about it. Then the answer hit me like a ton of bricks, and the answer was obvious. Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas.

    Lisa (aka Lisarenee)
    seducedbyabook@gmail.com

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  23. Hi Lisarenee!

    Great to see you here. Oh yes, Smooth Talking Stranger is one of my Fvaourite Contemps, too.

    All the best for the Giveway!

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  24. My favourite contemporary romance classic is Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard.

    spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. Hi Spav, Welcome! Mackenzie's Mountain is one of my "classic" fave Linda Howard's too.

    Good luck for the Giveaway! I'll be drawing and announcing the winner soon!

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