So Damn Lucky

Deborah Coonts

Lucky O'Toole is the head of Customer Relations at the most expensive casino in Las Vegas, the Babylon. She recently discovered the Big Boss, the owner, is her father. That is a secret known to only a few people. She earned her position, not received it through nepotism. That may present problems in the future.

In the meantime, her lover is the newest sensation in the rock and roll world and is on tour opening for an international star. Her mother has left her business and now lives in the hotel with her father. They just bought a dying casino and now plan to bring it back to life. Halloween weekend is coming up, which means it will get crazier than normal at the Babylon. She is working with the gorgeous new French chef and has to remember her current relationship. Plus the Area 51 and UFO believers are in Vegas for a convention. Her life is under control until the magician she hired for Halloween dies in a duplicated Houdini trick. His body doesn't make it to any of the local hospitals, though. It has disappeared.

Lucky O'Toole is the professional version of Stephanie Plum. Lucky has her professional life well in hand and is good at what she does. She earns good money and lives well. But...weird things happens and her life gets as funny/adventurous as Stephanie's. The reader spends a lot of time chuckling or laughing at Lucky. Lucky is fighting her hormones while her lover is gone - especially with Chef Tastycakes. Then there is the Gambling Commission's representative, Dane, who is attracted to her. (I want Lucky's love life, thank you...) There are unusual visitors at the Babylon, which is common in Vegas at any time.

So Damn Lucky is full of magicians, UFO fanatics, middle aged swingers, women turning 50, attractive men, psychics, and murderers (maybe...). Deborah Coonts dreams up wild scenarios and pulls them together to keep the reader laughing. Murder is nasty, but Coonts' books instead look at the humor of life. Murder is the glue to bring the story together. For Lucky's full story, read Wanna Get Lucky? and Lucky Stiff as well. So Damn Lucky stands fine on its own, as well.

There is pathos as well. So Damn Lucky has scenes with Lucky reevaluating her life and her relationships, especially the new one with her father. The older one with the absent love is also a vital part of the novel. There is sadness tinged in So Damn Lucky, keeping it from being a complete farce.

Enjoy a romp in Lucky's Las Vegas.

Notice:  Strong indecent language, Suggestive dialogue or situations