LUCKY STREAK - Carly Phillips
Lucky Series, Book 2
HQN
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-77375-6
June 2009
Contemporary Romance

Las Vegas, Nevada ; Stewart and Boston, Massachusetts - Present Day

Boston police detective Mike Corwin is just in Las Vegas for his partner’s wedding; he’s certainly not looking for a woman of his own. After all, the Corwin men have lived under a curse since the late nineteenth century --- any Corwin man who falls in love is destined to lose both the woman, and his fortune. But then he meets Amber; the attraction is instant, and the next morning he wakes up after the night of his life, married, and the winner of a six-figure jackpot. Maybe the Corwin luck is changing. Then, Amber and the cash go missing. It looks as if the curse has struck again.

Amber Rose is a good woman facing some hard times. Her father, a former gambler extraordinaire now suffering from Alzheimer’s, needs better care than she could afford on her concierge salary, so she turned to Marshall Banks, her dad’s former protégé, to partner up on a few cons. The money has certainly improved her dad’s situation, but Amber is getting tired of the guilt her new “job” inspires. Just as she’s decided to retire from the gambling game, she meets a knight in shining armor, Mike. Amber is more than ready to take a chance on love with her new husband, but Marshall isn’t ready to let her go. Amber has no choice but to deal with Marshall’s threats, and that requires leaving Mike without a word, or his half of the cash.

After one last con with Marshall, Amber heads for Boston and Mike. But can a cop forgive a con, and what about King Bobby Boyd (he lost big to Marshall with Amber’s help, and he’s not too happy about it)?

What looks like good fortune in the beginning, meeting someone who has that certain something, and winning big at slots, hasn’t turned out so well for Mike and Amber. But fate’s a fickle thing, and it could be that they’re about to end up on a heck of a LUCKY STREAK. If anyone deserves such a thing it’s these two. Mike’s dad, along with many others in his family, has felt the sting of the curse. However, his dad is the only one who’s seemed to lose his mind in the process. A reclusive old coot with crazy ideas, he makes Mike worry about his own future --- could he end up a nutty old man too? An honorable, hard-working man with charm and wit to spare, Mike has everything Amber can imagine desirable in a husband. But can this unlikely con woman with a heart of gold and an independent spirit convince Mike to take a chance on love before her past catches up with her?

If you read the first book in this series, LUCKY CHARM (Sept. 2008), then you’re sure to recognize many of the secondary characters. Derek (Mike’s cousin) and his new bride Gabrielle starred in that story, and they shine in this one too, as Gabrielle becomes friends with Amber, and even Derek finds himself encouraging Mike to give her a chance. Mike’s other cousin, Jason, a snowboarder looking forward to the Olympics, is having some woman trouble of his own, and he too finds himself home in Stewart and involved in Mike and Amber’s relationship. His story, LUCKY BREAK, is coming in October 2009 and promises to continue this series’ record of great characters and plotting with flair. Dan Sullivan is Mike’s partner; he’s not too sure about finding love with a con artist, but he’s there for Mike no matter what. Mike’s dad, Edward, is a funny old man, but underneath his gruff exterior and weird hobbies, he’s a good man with much to offer if he gets the help he needs. Marshall is, as you probably already suspect, a truly bad guy. I’m pretty sure he feels none of the guilt Amber does, and probably wouldn’t recognize it if he did. King Bobby Boyd (owner of multiple car lots and himself a cheat at cards) is an interesting character. Although he has friends in low places, he has certain ethics, hopefully among them is one that says no hurting the woman who may have helped rip me off. Clara Deveaux is an intriguing soul. The owner of a Wiccan shop, she proves to be a good friend to Amber and the Corwins.

Carly Phillips can always be counted on to provide a book that stirs heartfelt emotion and tickles the funny bone, too. She’s certainly continued that tradition here, and I highly recommend you don’t miss LUCKY STREAK.

Lori Ann