August 21, 2009
Jacket Copy:

Long ago, as revenge on a Corwin who stole her son's fiancée, a witch proclaimed an eternal curse that every Corwin male who married for love would be destined to lose his love and his fortune ...

The good news is that Mike, a police officer, awakens after some hard partying in Vegas $100,000 richer and married to Amber, the gorgeous woman he met the night before. The bad news: His last name is Corwin. The really bad news is that Amber's a consummate con who took his money and ran. Seems the family curse has finally hit him.

But to Amber, Mike isn't business as usual. Something about her new husband softens her steely heart, even as she betrays him. And Mike, first hell-bent on divorce, welcomes a second chance to defy the curse... and turn his run of bad fortune into a lucky streak!


I read this book in 24 hours! That is a rare thing. Normally reading it takes me at least a few days to read a book, however, now I was sick at home and add to that, that this was an engaging read, led me to finish it before I knew it. The book started nice and smooth and I was drawn in from the very first chapter. It had a somewhat different vibe compared to LUCKY CHARM but I was pulled into the story just as fast. The immediate attraction between Amber and Mike set the tone for a fast-paced, funny and breezy contemporary romance. It was exactly what I needed and what I was looking for after some intense reads and one very disappointing one.

What happens when a straight-laced cop saves a Las Vegas con artist from her persistent partner in crime? In Carly Phillips’ LUCKY STREAK what follows is an impromptu Las Vegas wedding, $ 100,000 won by the groom and then stolen by the bride who pulls a disappearing act. And this is just the beginning. There is a curse to thwart, a redneck con who got conned to avoid and fathers who need physical and psychological help.

Amber Rose is charismatic and vivacious. She has a photographic memory, which comes in handy in the con artists’ scene. Her reasons for using her talent to con people are not selfish, even if Mike doesn’t see it that way at first. In her eyes she doesn’t have a choice and she tries not to con people who can’t afford to lose the money. She is independent, confident, loyal and caring and tries to make up for the bad things she has done to Mike in an endearing way.

Michael “Mike” Corwin, is one of the cursed Corwin cousins but he chooses to pretend it doesn’t exist. He has enough on his mind with his job and his eccentric father. Mike is very straightforward and he’s also a black & white kind of guy. No grey areas for Mike Corwin. His father’s behavior and mental condition, rather than the Corwin curse, is what made him shy away from relationships. But he is a great guy who is charming, witty and protective.

I enjoyed how the relationship between Mike and Amber grew from fling and Las Vegas hitch to a meaningful relationship with both eventually going for it and wanting to make their marriage work. Mike a bit more hesitantly, but not less convincingly. And I absolutely loved the ending and resolution for Mike and Amber. Carly Phillips chose an original and endearing end that moved me deeply.

LUCKY STREAK is endearing, hot and well written. Once I started I couldn’t stop reading. It read so fast, I flew through the pages and before I knew it I was at the end and now heavily anticipating book 3: Jason’s story. Carly Phillips’ writing is so true to life and easy to grasp it was like seeing the characters and events in front of me while reading. And because she also writes characters that are easy to identify with, understanding their conflicts and dilemmas didn’t take much effort.

Reflecting on both LUCKY CHARM and LUCKY STREAK I realize that Carly Phillips is making this trilogy about much more than just the main couple and their romance story. I love how she brings in the whole family (cousins, uncles) and the dynamics that go with their interactions give the books its rich and realistic flavor. Another thing that resonates well with me is the subtle undertone of humor that shines through regularly throughout the book, making it a very pleasant read.

While Carly Phillips enticed me with the first book of the trilogy, she’s solidified the fascination with this one and now has me craving the final installment of the trilogy.


Quotes:
She sucked in a shallow breath. There was nothing soft or giving about his body and yet everything in his expression told her he’d give her everything she asked for and even some things she didn’t.

Mike awoke with a morning hard-on and Amber’s hand on his groin. Helluva wake-up call, he thought. The woman was obviously put on this earth to make him a very happy—but insane—man.



6 comments:

carly phillips said...

Very nice! Thank you!!! I'm so glad you loved Lucky Streak. :)

SarahT said...

Alone for the HAWT cover, I need to read this book! Thanks for the review.

Marissa said...

Pearl, as always awesome review! I have these books from Carly Phillips and they are on top of my contemporary to be read pile!

Marissa said...

O and the hunk on the cover is very nice eyecandy!

SusiSunshine said...

Great review and I have to agree with Marissa this cover is yummy. Story sounds really interesting.

Maija said...

I don't usually read contemporaries, but I decided to buy this one because I liked the synopsis. It was my first by book by her and I really liked it! After reading it, I've decided to try more contemporaries and finish this series at some point.

Nice to meet you!

My Photo
Pearl
Netherlands
39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
View my complete profile

Search This Blog

Reviews by Author


Reviews by Rating

Fellow Bloggers

Powered by Blogger.

GR Reading Challenge

2011 Reading Challenge

Pearl has read 10 books toward her goal of 50 books.
hide

On My TBR Shelf

  • Unforgivable - Laura Griffin
  • Snapped - Laura Griffin
  • Darkness at Dawn - Elizabeth Jennings
  • Sizzle and Burn - Alexis Grant
  • No Mercy - Lori Armstrong
  • Animal Magnetism - Jill Shalvis
  • Crazy for Love - Victoria Dahl
  • Kink - Saskia Walker/Sasha White
  • So Sensitive - Anne Rainey
  • Dark Taste of Rapture - Gena Showalter
  • The Darkest Secret - Gena Showalter
  • Vampire in Atlantis - Alyssa Day
  • Vampire Dragon - Annette Blair
  • Captive Spirit - Anna Windsor
  • Chosen by Blood - Virna DePaul
  • Rebel - Zoe Archer
  • Stranger - Zoe Archer
  • A Taste of Desire - Beverley Kendall
  • Mistress by Midnight - Maggie Robinson
  • To Desire a Devil - Elizabeth Hoyt
  • To Tame a Dangerous Lord - Nicole Jordan

Digital TBR Next

  • Driven - Jayne Rylon (reread)
  • Shifting Gears - Jayne Rylon
  • Beg Me - Shiloh Walker
  • Tempt Me - Shiloh Walker
  • Jazz Baby - Lorelie Brown
  • Playboy Prankster - Pamela Britton
  • Just Like That - Erin Nicholas
  • Sweet Inspiration - Penny Watson
  • Breathe - Donna Alward
  • My Gigolo - Molly Burkhart
  • Scent of Persuason - Nikki Duncan

Grab My Button!

Followers

Visits

You're from...

The ROOB Posse

Leontine's Book Realm


Marissa's Romance Retreat




Realms On Our Bookshelves


Blog Archive