Wanna Get Lucky?

Jan 27, 2012 Bonnie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller, adult

4.5 stars

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Lucky O’Toole is head of Customer Relations at the Babylon; Las Vegas’ newest and largest ‘mega-casino’. Her job title may be simple but her job is far from it as she’s responsible for any problems and for making sure that all casino operations runs smoothly. When a woman falls to her death from a Babylon helicopter and it doesn’t look like a suicide, it’s Lucky’s job to get a handle on the situation so that the situation doesn’t tarnish t...more 4.5 stars

Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!

Lucky O’Toole is head of Customer Relations at the Babylon; Las Vegas’ newest and largest ‘mega-casino’. Her job title may be simple but her job is far from it as she’s responsible for any problems and for making sure that all casino operations runs smoothly. When a woman falls to her death from a Babylon helicopter and it doesn’t look like a suicide, it’s Lucky’s job to get a handle on the situation so that the situation doesn’t tarnish the Babylon name.

This book sat on my shelf for a shamefully long time… I finally decided to pick it up when I was in the mood for some simple good fun. I sure got that with ‘Wanna Get Lucky?’ but I got so much more on top of that. I went into this mentally comparing it to a Janet Evanovich novel but I ended up being blown away by how much better it was and how much I enjoyed it. A fun mystery, an authentic romance, and strong likeable characters… this book had it all for me.

I love a good mystery, and this one entertaining and exciting. I loved how there were so many facets to the mystery and how each smaller story eventually tied in to the ‘bigger picture’. The end result may have been slightly inevitable but I give the author major points for still managing to make it exciting with each step of the way.

I think it’s a requirement that there be a secondary character that’s hilarious and cusses a lot. In this series, that would be her pet parrot, Newton. He wasn’t a major part of the story but the few scenes he was in were memorable enough.

The elevator deposited me in the middle of my living room.
“Where you been, bitch?”
God, I’d forgotten about the bird. My one foray into pet ownership and it had to be a belligerent macaw with a foul mouth.

Lucky was a wonderful character that I loved from the start. Charming, witty, and independent (and no that didn’t change with the introduction of a love interest!) she was my kind of girl. She was just a normal badass; she didn’t have super powers or even an awesome weapon, she managed to still be able to hold her own and take care of business. I look forward to reading more in this series… it has huge potential and I’m really excited to see where the author takes it!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review.(less)

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Jul 18, 2012 Lydia Laceby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally Reviewed at Novel Escapes

Wanna Get Lucky is a fun, fast paced read. A murder mystery and love story twist through these pages amidst all the chaos and debauchery Las Vegas has to offer. I whipped through this chick lit mystery and giggled frequently along the way.

I loved Lucky O'Toole's character. She is full of brawn, brains and had a great sense of humour. She's far from perfect though and I loved seeing her character grow through the story. And it wasn't just her character I enjoye...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Jayne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

(From my book blog)

Okay I’m not even going to pretend that this is a good book, but I had a total blast reading it. It could be because last month I went to Vegas with 20 of my best lady friends and it was amazing, and I am still enamored of all things Vegas. It could be because this is exactly the best kind of trashy book - shameless, fun, and hard to put down.

The heroine’s name is Lucky. GET IT? Lucky O’Toole, to be exact, and she’s a “problem” solver for Babylon, a big casino on the Strip. Th...more

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May 22, 2012 Nicole Green rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book from Deborah Coonts publicist and I am so glad she sent it my way. I would compare this book, and most likely this series, to that of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. The characters are absolutely loveable, the storyline is original and invigorating, and I just could not put this book down for the life of me.

This book is one of those that you grab, curl up and read it on a rainy or snowy night. It's a fast-paced read though its contents are not to be passed over ligh...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Feather rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-kindle

This book cracked me up! I wasn't feeling well, picked this ebook off a Kindle sale, and spent the afternoon cackling in my recliner while visiting friends and housemates mocked me.

Lucky is a "fixer" for a Las Vegas casino, and this means she manages the many visiting "celebrities" for the XXX film awards, real and metaphorical cat herding, to shooting a boa constrictors bent on smothering security personnel a guest snuck in for a quicky room comp. All absolute chaos, and it utterly delighted m...more This book cracked me up! I wasn't feeling well, picked this ebook off a Kindle sale, and spent the afternoon cackling in my recliner while visiting friends and housemates mocked me.

Lucky is a "fixer" for a Las Vegas casino, and this means she manages the many visiting "celebrities" for the XXX film awards, real and metaphorical cat herding, to shooting a boa constrictors bent on smothering security personnel a guest snuck in for a quicky room comp. All absolute chaos, and it utterly delighted me (I might have related to all the insanity!). Of course, Lucky is the daughter of a well-known ex-showgirl turned madam, and there is sex, sex work, and all the grey areas between used through out the book. Very anti-slut shaming, I must say.

The plot is a murder-mystery of a casino employee that was a sex worker at one time. The character of Lucky is a bit Mary Sue-ish in her ability to conquer EVERYTHING, but she is also a little dumpy until she and her super assistant get a make over (who, fyi, is an accidental cougar and utterly charming in her flailing at her situation) from the cross dressing love interest.

Yeah, I said it! The choice of love interests are a very manly hunk of cowboy and a Harvard MBA that is the toast of Vegas for his drag show. Lucky is both pleased and annoyed they are the same shoe size because he steals her stuff.

I liked that this romance. It was different! It is very shallowly touched upon, but Lucky firmly states she falls for the person and nothing else (yeah, spoiler, she picks the guy in the dress!), but she finds her guy hot both in and out of drag. There is a heavy make out scene with him in full dress! And they go back and forth about lipgloss stains.

I haven't read the next in the series because I think the love interest "decides" not to do drag any more, which I find disappointing, but I liked this first one. Again, it was different! Also, cracked me up. Not high literature, but good mind candy. I highly recommend it for those in need of some fluff reading!(less)

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Feb 23, 2012 Sabrina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wanna Get Lucky is the first book in a new-to-me series that I wanted to catch up on before book #3 releases this February. After finishing this one, I'm itching to start on book #2.

I really enjoyed almost everything about this story. It takes off at a quick pace and doesn't slow down - which is fitting since that's exactly the way the main charcters life is like and I felt the story matched up to that perfectly.

One of my favorite new author blogs is called Wonk-O-Mance and this book is perfect...more Wanna Get Lucky is the first book in a new-to-me series that I wanted to catch up on before book #3 releases this February. After finishing this one, I'm itching to start on book #2.

I really enjoyed almost everything about this story. It takes off at a quick pace and doesn't slow down - which is fitting since that's exactly the way the main charcters life is like and I felt the story matched up to that perfectly.

One of my favorite new author blogs is called Wonk-O-Mance and this book is perfect for them! Their blog focuses on Romances with wonky heroes and heroines - stories with characters and plots that just shouldn't work but totally do. Characters so over the top that instead of not believing in them, you heart them so hard.

That's exactly how I felt about this book. It's totally a wonky little mystery/romance and I heart Wanna Get Lucky and it's heroine hard. Lucky is a force of nature bit with every action you can really envision her taking on all the crazy things that happen in her Vegas world. The crazy works.

Add in a cross-dressing hero who's also trying to make the move from best friend to lover and the crazy becomes amped up 10 more notches. But, and I was truly surprised at this one, it totally works. Yep - a cross-dressing hero worked for me. In this insane little story it all works and that is in large part to the author's ability to create characters of depth that I connected with instantly.

As I mentioned above this is also a fast-paced mystery that keeps you pushing forward as the pages fly by. That is yet another reason Wanna Get Lucky works. Everything about this book worked for me.

I did see the twist at the end coming but I think the reader was meant to - or at least the author meant to instill the hope in the reader that what is revealed is what they were hoping for all along. Sigh. I really loved that last twist and had hoped for it as I got further along in the story.

I'm off to read book #2 in this series - Lucky Stiff - this weekend so I'm ready for the newly released novella Lucky in Love and the 3rd full book in the series So Damn Lucky which releases on February 28th.

I'm so lucky to have found the Lucky O'Toole series! Yes, you can go ahead and groan. I did, but it was too good to pass up. (less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Romancing the Book rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, romantic-suspense

Reviewed By- Steph O.
Review Copy Provided By- Publisher
I read the blurb for this book and was struck with interest when I read that is was about Vegas. Not to mention the fact that it pretty much starts out with some chick falling from a helicopter during the pirate show. The book had its hooks in me before chapter one was even over with. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It didn’t seem to matter what Lucky had dealt with and put to rest, something was always happening and she had...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Meredith Allard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, romance

I live in Las Vegas. Yes, it’s true, people really live here. Admittedly, I don’t live on the Strip where all the excitement happens. I live in a regular neighborhood where regular people live. There are schools, churches, grocery stores, strip malls. If you like the exciting Las Vegas, the Vegas of neon lights, ultra lounges, and designer shopping, then Deborah Coonts’ debut novel Wanna Get Lucky? is for you. It’s about the Vegas everyone wants to visit—gamblng until you hit the jackpot, drinki...more I live in Las Vegas. Yes, it’s true, people really live here. Admittedly, I don’t live on the Strip where all the excitement happens. I live in a regular neighborhood where regular people live. There are schools, churches, grocery stores, strip malls. If you like the exciting Las Vegas, the Vegas of neon lights, ultra lounges, and designer shopping, then Deborah Coonts’ debut novel Wanna Get Lucky? is for you. It’s about the Vegas everyone wants to visit—gamblng until you hit the jackpot, drinking until you’re naked in the hotel hall, and the peeking at the porn convention with its big, busty naturals. There’s also a murder, and that’s where the story begins.

Lucky O’Toole is the head of Customer Relations at the Babylon, a mega resort on the Las Vegas Strip. She’s the hotel’s troubleshooter, and if there’s a problem at the Babylon, Lucky is the go-to person. On a typical crazy night at the hotel, a woman falls to her death from a helicopter. Turns out the woman has connections to the Babylon’s Big Boss, and someone is trying to frame him for the murder. If Lucky can discover who pushed the woman from the helicopter, she can learn who’s been trying to blackmail the Big Boss. Threaded through the murder mystery is a love triangle, with a hot Texas security guard, who may be playing for the other side, and the most unlikely romantic interest, Teddie, a heterosexual female impersonator (that’s right, he dresses up as a woman to entertain crowds at the Babylon).

I admit this is not the kind of book I normally read. The only murder mysteries I’ve ever read were Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse series, and I live in Las Vegas so I’m not usually drawn to books about it. Having said that, I loved Wanna Get Lucky? . I loved the sense of humor. I loved the wild extravagance of the Strip lifestyle, with the fast cars, designer clothes, and penthouse apartments. I loved the crazy problems Lucky faces in the course of a day (such as that naked drunk in the hotel hall). Most of all I loved Lucky herself. Smart, observant, with a whip-like sense of humor, she’s determined to find those responsible for blackmailing the Big Boss, and find them she does. And like many modern women, she’s in control at work and not so in control in the rest of her life. This book is a fun romp through Vegas that’s part murder mystery, part romance, and part Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. If you’re looking for a book that’s great for reading on the beach or lounging by the pool, something that’s pure entertainment, you’ll love Wanna Get Lucky?.
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Aug 12, 2011 Mal Warwick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lucky O’Toole is the chief problem-solver at a top-ranked Las Vegas casino and hotel, where a sequinned semblance of life goes on frenetically 24/7 and causes problems without fail on a daily basis. She is somewhere north of 30, six feet tall, the daughter of one of the city’s leading madames, and wicked smart. Lucky possesses boundless energy and an upstairs neighbor and best friend who is celebrated female impersonator, a graduate of Harvard, and looks better in Lucky’s dresses than she does h...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Jen Rothmeyer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stephanie Plum meets Sookie Stackhouse meets Eve Dallas inWanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts. Get ready to suspend your disbelief and join Lucky O’Toole on a rollicking tale of sarcasm, fun, zingers, and libido in the glitziest city in the United States: Las Vegas.

Lucky O’Toole is the head of Customer Relations at a Vegas casino and she’s In Charge. Sexy, smart, and sophisticated, Lucky takes life day-by-day as she tackles all the challenges of helping run a hopping casino that promotes drinking...more Stephanie Plum meets Sookie Stackhouse meets Eve Dallas inWanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts. Get ready to suspend your disbelief and join Lucky O’Toole on a rollicking tale of sarcasm, fun, zingers, and libido in the glitziest city in the United States: Las Vegas.

Lucky O’Toole is the head of Customer Relations at a Vegas casino and she’s In Charge. Sexy, smart, and sophisticated, Lucky takes life day-by-day as she tackles all the challenges of helping run a hopping casino that promotes drinking, drinking, drinking, and gambling. At the beginning of the novel, Lucky learns that someone has taken a header out of one of her helicopters right in front of Treasure Island Hotel and the person died. Darn, now she has to manage all the publicity and media fallout from this. As Lucky looks into the matter, she starts to think something is up. The stories aren’t adding up and her boss isn’t looking so great. But, she trusts him, so how is she going to discover the truth? Add in a suspicious security team member, a famous female impersonator, mob connections, a brothel-owning mother, and a lot of humor and you’ve got Wanna Get Lucky?.

As I started reading this, I was struck by how it was a subdued form of Janet Evanovich’s humor. Yes, the story is over the top. Yes, it’s meant to entertain and not to educate. However, the jokes weren’t quite as in-your-face as Ms. Evanovich’s. This isn’t a negative nor a positive, but rather an observation.

My favorite theme in the story is that of warm-heartedness. Lucky realizes that she has been missing out on some parts of life because she’s been so concentrated on her job. She’s walled herself off and not been as genuine and connected to her friends as she thinks she should because of some defense mechanisms she realizes she has. On top of it, she hasn’t been dating or having any intimacy! She sits down in the bar of the casino and asks her best friend for some help in developing a deeper relationship. He looks at her and offers to help her let down her walls and then he gives her An Offer. Offended, she asks why casual sex is all men think about. Offended, he responds that it wouldn’t be casual. But, Lucky has a few other prospects to review while she ponders if she’s really ready to let down her barriers.

There is predictability to the story, but that’s part of what makes it so fun. It’s a glitzy and glamorous parody of Las Vegas chock full of over-the-top stories. There are naked men in public, snakes choking guests, runaway cats, and porn shops. Some people may think that Vegas could never be like this, but as someone who has been the guest of a few casinos, I’m not sure it’s that high above the mark. As Exhibit A: I did walk through a packed casino wearing a see-through lingerie top with a matching bra and pajama pants. Annnd… I wasn’t the only one.

Thank you Ms. Coonts for writing a story that made me laugh and brought back some fun memories.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts free from Forge/Tom Doherty Associates through the FSB Media review program. I was not required to write a positive review and did not receive any other compensation. The opinions I have expressed are my own and no one else’s. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When a woman takes a nose dive from a helicopter into the middle of the pirate show at Treasure Island, this can only spell bad news for Lucky O’Toole. Lucky is the head of Customer Relations at the grand Babylon in Las Vegas. This is because the helicopter that the woman came out of belonged to the Babylon. Now Lucky must solve a murder before her luck runs out.

Author Deborah Coonts is a new voice in the mystery genre. She introduces readers to Lucky O’Toole. Lucky is one tough cookie. She is t...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Vicky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“Wanna Get Lucky?” by Deborah Coonts is one of the best love story/murder mystery combinations I’ve read in a while. Fast paced, funny, irreverent, and intriguing, it will keep you turning pages until the very end.

Lucky O’Toole is the head of customer relations at a major Las Vegas casino. She likes fast cars, gorgeous guys, and expensive clothes.

Having grown up in the city built around sin and corruption, Lucky knows that anything that happens in Vegas is rarely what it seems.

When a young woman...more

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Jul 04, 2010 Meagan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mystery

I've heard comparisons of this book to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, and I can definitely see the similarities in appeal, even though the books themselves are quite different. Stephanie Plum is based in Jersey, while Lucky O'Toole is a Las Vegas native. Stephanie is a bumbling bounty hunter while Lucky is the supremely capable head of customer relations for a major casino.

But both women are surrounded by quirky characters: Stephanie has her action-obsessed Grandma Mazur, her wisecracking bo...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lucky O'Toole is the Customer Relations executive at the Babylon casino and resort in Las Vegas. She and her assistant work twenty hour days and still the job is never done. Living at work, she has no love life, nor does she really want one. Her mother owns one of the most profitable whorehouses in the country and she doesn't want to end up like her mom, broken hearted and alone.

When an acquaintance falls to her death from one of the casino's planes, Lucky immediately begins to investigate. It w...more Lucky O'Toole is the Customer Relations executive at the Babylon casino and resort in Las Vegas. She and her assistant work twenty hour days and still the job is never done. Living at work, she has no love life, nor does she really want one. Her mother owns one of the most profitable whorehouses in the country and she doesn't want to end up like her mom, broken hearted and alone.

When an acquaintance falls to her death from one of the casino's planes, Lucky immediately begins to investigate. It won't do for the Babylon to get a mar on their impeccable reputation. The more she investigates, the more she realizes it was no accident; it was murder. With the casino about to embark on their busiest week of the season, she knows she has to help the police wrap it up quickly and quietly.

Teddie is a heterosexual who dresses as a woman and performs one of the best shows the Babylon has. He's also Lucky's best friend but he wants more. She has deep feelings for Teddy but is afraid to deepen their relationship. She's afraid if things go south, she'd lose her best friend. Meanwhile, security at the Babylon has hired a new employee, Paxton Dane. He's a cool drink of water, and although she might be interested, she's not sure of his intentions. His name has come up in her investigation and she isn't sure if he is a good guy or a bad guy.

When Lucky learns that her boss, the owner of the Babylon, was in the airplane at the time of the victim's jump, Lucky kicks up her investigation a few notches. An old flame of Lucky's has contacted her and subtly let her know that her boss is about to go down for the murder and the Babylon will be up for grabs. Adamant about keeping her job, her sanity and her libido under control, Lucky is about to discover how far she is willing to go to keep those she loves safe.

WANNA GET LUCKY? is a highly entertaining read! I couldn't put it down. The characters are eccentric, erratic and lovable. Lucky is the glue that holds everything together and when she begins to unstick, the pieces fall in the most unsuspecting ways. Glamourous, hilarious, mysterious and romantic, WANNA GET LUCKY? is a fabulous read that I can't recommend high enough. I can't wait to read the next one, LUCKY STIFF.
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Jun 02, 2011 Paula Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

What a great little mystery. When we meet the main character Lucky O'Toole she is witnessing what appears to be the suicide of a co-worker or was it murder? Lucky O'Toole has not been lucky in love but lucky in her job as head of customer relations of the Babylon a casino on the strip in Vegas. She has a best friend Teddie who performs in drag who wants more than anything to be something more than just a friend. The mysterious Dane Paxton who is not what he appears as the newest member of securi...more

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May 23, 2011 Evanston Public Library added it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, romance

This book was just nominated for a RITA in the category of "Novel with Strong Romantic Elements." That being said, I can't decide if I liked it, or I was just intrigued. The Ferrari driving main character, Lucky O'Toole, embodies the Zen qualities of Buddhist detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep juxtaposed with the balls and brawn of Magnum P.I. To confuse things, however, this character is unleashed in a Carl Hiaasen-style over-the-top plot.
Lucky O'Toole is definitely a product of Vegas. Her mother,...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Whitney Oaks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: free-books-for-reviews

LOVED this book!

When a woman takes a plunge out of a helicopter belonging to the most luxurious hotel-casino on the Strip in Las Vegas, Lucky O'Toole has her work cut out for her to keep this story away from The Babylon. As head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, it's her job to make sure things run smoothly but of course, Lucky takes it one step further to prove that this is no suicide.

Full of sarcasm, quirky characters and surprises, Deborah Coonts has written a fast-paced mystery/romance...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Jeannie and Louis Rigod rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book suggested a good look at life in Las Vegas and a mystery to solve. It also suggested humor. I have to say, for me, I was not overly impressed. I did like it but was weary of the sex by the time I plowed half way through it. I know the Casino was named "Babylon" but I was thinking "Hanging Gardens of..." Not, well you must have figured it out already.

The mystery was my main focus. The book started off with a bang. A woman is thrown from a helicopter. Why? Alas, we are told the culprits...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Margo Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Bottom line: loved it.

Lucky O'Toole is in charge of customer relations at an opulent casino in Las Vegas, and she needs to figure out whether or not Lyda Sue committed suicide or was murdered.

The opening line of the books reads: "As her final act on this earth, Lyda Sue Stalnaker plummeted out of a Las Vegas helicopter and landed smack in the middle of the pirates' lagoon in the front of the Treasure Island Hotel, disrupting the 8:30 p.m. pirate show."

Ha. That's a great start.

What I did not lik...more Bottom line: loved it.

Lucky O'Toole is in charge of customer relations at an opulent casino in Las Vegas, and she needs to figure out whether or not Lyda Sue committed suicide or was murdered.

The opening line of the books reads: "As her final act on this earth, Lyda Sue Stalnaker plummeted out of a Las Vegas helicopter and landed smack in the middle of the pirates' lagoon in the front of the Treasure Island Hotel, disrupting the 8:30 p.m. pirate show."

Ha. That's a great start.

What I did not like: Some of the character development seemed forced. Several times I was taken out of the moment, out of the story, because an action or description of a character made me scrunch my eyebrows. Also, I'm not a fan of promiscuity. So, the storylines involving partner swapping and the porn star convention made me grimace ... and almost lower the rating to three stars. I kept reading, regardless of this issue, because the author mostly skimmed along the edges of these topics. Only later in the book did she actually devote any real paragraphs to the topics. So, if you're skeemish, you can simply skim or skip those few pages. There's plenty of warning that the topic is coming up - so you won't be caught by surprise.

What I loved: I used to work in the hotel industry; so, I really enjoyed reading about a main character who was in charge of solving customer problems. It was a hoot! Skill is required to hold a customer responsible for their own actions, and yet make them think you are doing them a favor. Coonts did a great job of describing these scenes. I also really enjoyed the unpredictability of the book. Normally, I'm quick to figure out the plotline and forsee the ending. Not this time. Coonts had me guessing throughout the book.

I also appreciated the fact that the "high fashion" was NOT overdone in this book. I've read other books where every detail of a high fashion shoe was described (and I think I threw up a little in my mouth). Lucky O'Toole wears high fashion, but it's described lightly and almost in passing. So, while I don't know one brand name from another, and couldn't care less, I wasn't tortured or made to hate Lucky O'Toole because of her wardrobe.

If you enjoy the likes of Stephanie Plum, you'll enjoy reading about the adventures of Lucky O'Toole. (less)

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Sep 12, 2011 Brad Hodges rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I checked out this book because it is set in Las Vegas, and I'll read any book set there. I'm obsessed with Vegas, and may know more about it than any other person who's never lived there.

Wanna Get Lucky?, by Deborah Coonts, does have a lot of details about Vegas right, and the author hits all the spots one would expect. The narrator is the custom service manager of a fictional casino (the Babylon), and there are side trips to a brothel in nearby Pahrump, a swinger's convention, an adult film ex...more I checked out this book because it is set in Las Vegas, and I'll read any book set there. I'm obsessed with Vegas, and may know more about it than any other person who's never lived there.

Wanna Get Lucky?, by Deborah Coonts, does have a lot of details about Vegas right, and the author hits all the spots one would expect. The narrator is the custom service manager of a fictional casino (the Babylon), and there are side trips to a brothel in nearby Pahrump, a swinger's convention, an adult film expo, and the pirate fight in front of the Treasure Island. The only thing missing was a midnight trip into the desert, or a stop at Area 51.

This is classified as a mystery novel, but there's not much mystery. It gets off to a juicy start; a woman falls from a helicopter and lands splat in the middle of the Treasure Island spectacular. Lucky O'Toole, the aforementioned casino employee, knows the victim (the helicopter is from her casino) and smells a rat. A new security guard has her suspicious, and when a swinging, 400-pound minister is being blackmailed she starts to put it all together.

The problem with this book is that it's formulaic, saccharine, and highly unbelievable. Do the Las Vegas police really take orders from a casino employee? Maybe, but I never really bought Lucky as a character. Maybe it's her name, which sounds like a chain of Irish pubs, or that every word out of her mouth is sarcastic. She seems to be piggybacking on a string of sassy female protagonists, from Kinsey Milhone to V.I. Warshawski to Stephanie Plum. I got the feeling this is just the first Lucky O'Toole book, and I'm not looking forward to more.

Perhaps I'm the wrong gender. This book was clearly intended for women. One chapter is dedicated to O'Toole and her frumpy assistant getting make-overs (so the frumpy assistant can promptly bed a hunky private eye) and Lucky has a sappy romance with the female impersonator who lives upstairs. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop in this relationship, like he was the killer or something, but no, it's strictly romance novel stuff, with the buff hero looking good in a dress.

Coonts gets pretty explicit with the sex industry stuff, kind of mocking it while trying to be blase. I think it might be the same effect a sex-toy party would be in a suburban household.(less)

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Nov 26, 2011 Susan (The Book Bag) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

My thoughts on Wanna Get Lucky? ~~

I loved this book and I love the character of Lucky! She kind of reminds me of a cross between Stephanie in Evanovich's Plum series and Eve Dallas in the J.D. Robb In Death series. And I love both of those series!!

Lucky has the quirky friends and family like Stephanie but has the seriousness and 'get the job done' personality of Eve. The setting is in Vegas, with that whole lifestyle and living like no other place. I would love to visit Vegas some day so the set...more

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May 19, 2011 Juliette Swett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-suspense

This book was just nominated for a RITA in the category of "Strong Romantic Elements." That being said, I can't decide if I liked a lot, or was just intrigued. The Ferrari driving main character, Lucky O'Toole, embodies the Zen qualities of John Burdett's Buddhist detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep mixed with the brawn of Magnum P.I. To confuse things, however, this character is unleashed in a Carl Hiaasen-style over-the-top plot.

Lucky O'Toole is definitely a product of Vegas. Her mother, Mona, runs...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Jamie Kline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-for-review

When a book is set in Vegas, you know some wild things are going to go down. This one definitely didn't disappoint. It did bring up two questions to my mind though: 1) Do these kinds of things REALLY happen in Vegas? and 2)If they do, why in the world would anyone want Lucky's job in customer relations? Too much stress if you ask me!

I really enjoyed the main character, Lucky O'Toole. She was incredibly confident in her job, good sense of humor (I think you would have to in that line of work), sa...more When a book is set in Vegas, you know some wild things are going to go down. This one definitely didn't disappoint. It did bring up two questions to my mind though: 1) Do these kinds of things REALLY happen in Vegas? and 2)If they do, why in the world would anyone want Lucky's job in customer relations? Too much stress if you ask me!

I really enjoyed the main character, Lucky O'Toole. She was incredibly confident in her job, good sense of humor (I think you would have to in that line of work), sarcastic, and an overall tough chick. She works hard at her job and at keeping everyone from getting too close to her. Her walls slowly start to break down, so we get to see her character develop through the pages. There are a lot of characters that help to enhance the story, such as Lucky's mother, Mona, who runs a brothel and her boss at the Babylon hotel, who they all call The Big Boss. Oh and let's not forget her trash-talking parrot; always good for an insult! They are all fabulous and I wish I could go into more detail on each and every one of them!

Underneath investigating the suicide (or is it homicide?), Lucky has an extremely tough choice to make: get with her best friend, Teddie, who just so happens to dress in drag for a living, or Dane, the hot new guy in security. I loved Teddie from the beginning, although I didn't think anything would develop between him and Lucky at first. He was just super sweet and loyal, always there for her to lean on. I also liked Dane a lot too. There was definitely an attraction there from the start, but any feelings she had for him were also marred by suspicions. I really wanted to put my favorite quote from the book in here, because it is so incredible and makes you want to scream, "WHY can't any guy say that to ME?" But I don't want to give away which guy she ultimately chooses, so I'll just let you read it and discover for yourselves.

There is certainly mystery and twists throughout the book. While I wasn't particularly surprised by them, as I've gotten really good at picking up on subtle hints, it was still exciting to see my suspicions confirmed at the end.

It started with a naked man in the stairwell and ended with a porn star gala, so you can just imagine the crazy things that happen throughout the book. I enjoyed meeting Lucky and all of the amazing characters, and absolutely can't wait to get my hands on Lucky Stiff so I can see what happens next! (FYI, the paperback of Lucky Stiff comes out November 29)

If you would like to see more of my reviews, please check out my book review blog, Bookerella (less)

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May 11, 2012 Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-thriller, favorites, humor, great-heroines, kickass, mystery, requested, romance, contemporary, romantic-suspense

Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-wanna-get-lucky-lucky.html

Thanks to Leyane for asking me to review this. I honestly had no idea what I was missing. This book was quite the page-turner jammed packed with the world's most amazing and borderline psychotic characters ever. Then again, can't expect anything less from Las Vegas.

From page one the book instantly puts you in the action. A girl who works for the Las Vegas hotel Treasure Island Hotel has seeming...more Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/05/book-review-wanna-get-lucky-lucky.html

Thanks to Leyane for asking me to review this. I honestly had no idea what I was missing. This book was quite the page-turner jammed packed with the world's most amazing and borderline psychotic characters ever. Then again, can't expect anything less from Las Vegas.

From page one the book instantly puts you in the action. A girl who works for the Las Vegas hotel Treasure Island Hotel has seemingly fell out of a helicopter. But it makes no sense since she was talking about bettering her life. It is up to head of customer relations, Lucky, to dissolve the problem without much publicity. It is her job to keep things under wraps. I love how deep the mystery went with this book. What seems like a run-of-the-mill accident turns out to be much much more given that the creep of a helicopter pilot, Willie the Weasel, decides to run and hide.

There is also more concerning who the creep is working with. Since it is mentioned he isn't the brightest. They are looking for his partner as well. I also love the suspicions surrounded the new head of security, the sexy Paxton. There are plenty pieces given in this book and Coonts handled them beautifully. I was so into this story, I really didn't want it to end.

As I said, the characters are not of the usual variety and that is what makes this book even better. Lucky definitely matches to the beat of her own drum. She has her head on straight and does what she can to protect those around her even those that may or may not deserve it. But it is in the job description. I love the chemistry between her and Paxton. I liked Paxton but he was very fishy in the book. It was fun trying to figure out his secrets and he has plenty.

But most surprising of all is the romance in this book. You think Paxton is the guy. Nope, the romance actually develops between Lucky and her best friend Teddie. Teddie is a well-known cross-dressing impersonator. You read that right. I loved this because not only were they truly a match made in Las Vegas heaven, but it really changes your perspective. I love that Coonts did stray from the usual male personas we are so use to. It really put a smile on my face because Teddie is a blast.

This is high recommendation for those that love a good mystery mixed with plenty of witty dialogue and out of this world characters. I hear the books get better and better, so I am definitely going to start book 2 next. If you are a fan of the Stephanie Plum series, I think you should start this immediately. It is full of laughs and very unforgettable characters. If you want a read that is beyond entertaining, get a copy of this book right now. (less)

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Apr 12, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What fun! Actually at times downright LOL funny! Meet Lucky O’Toole, head of customer relations at the Vegas mega Casino, Babylon. What a hectic time for Lucky…investigating the death (was it suicide or murder?) of a young women from a fall from her company’s helicopter, a spouse-swapping convention, and the annual adult film industry’s award banquet all happing at the same time! And then there is her personal life! A difficult relationship with her mother the Madam, her drag queen performing be...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Vicky Riggio rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Helicopters, Pirates, Las Vegas and a woman named Lucky O'Toole!

Lucky O'Toole has a great career and is well respected. Then, one night a co-worker falls from a helicopter and the mystery begins.

Lucky is not lucky in her personal life as her Customer Relations job at the casino consumes her. Then, her best friend and female impersonator, Teddie, kisses Lucky. Lucky just can't shake the way that kiss made her feel!!

So, Lucky not only has to figure out the murder mystery, she also has to find bal...more

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May 26, 2011 Aubrey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was so much fun! I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into, I'd heard about this book and that people really liked it--but you know, it's a new author and who knows, right? BUT, that being said----it really was a great escape from all of the drama I had going on at the time---I loved Lucky, the main character, and how she managed to be a strong professional woman with many strengths but also a lot of flaws----I like how she rose up from the circumstances of her childhood to b...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, chick-lit, mystery, romance, rita-finalist

I liked this book a lot. The heroine is the head of customer relations at a big hotel in Las Vegas which means she spends all day every day dealing with cranky customers. The story opens with a young woman falling out of the hotel's helicopter into the pirate show at some other hotel, while Lucky already has a half-dozen things to deal with, one of which is a new, hunky, pain-in-the-a$$ security guy. There's The Big Boss, who's more of a father figure than her boss, and her best friend, who live...more

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Jun 30, 2010 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction

Am I having fun yet? The set-up should promise the sort of romp you'd expect from Janet Evanovich or the TV series Sex & the City. Lucky O'Toole is the smart and sassy head of customer relations at Las Vegas's swankiest casino. She's got to protect her boss and their high rolling guests from fall-out from the porn-star convention hucksters, the swinging couples to-do, and assorted out-there Vegas stuff. However, you know it's falling flat when the author has to resort to putting comments lik...more

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Jun 29, 2011 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-review

Originally published at BethsBookReviews.com

This was my first experience with the author and I was very impressed. The characters felt real, and quite likable overall. The idea of a problem solver at a Las Vegas casino, with all its inherent problems (naked drunk guys in weird situations, etc.) is totally fresh and unique and made for an interesting read. The only thing I had issues with was that the chapters did not begin on a new page, they just began wherever the last chapter ended, which was...more

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title link	preview: Wanna Get Lucky?
avg rating	preview: Wanna Get Lucky? Goodreads rating: 3.71 (457 ratings)
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Wanna Get Lucky? (Lucky O'Toole series #1)

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