Lucky's Lady

Pretty much your typical early-90's romance. I liked the plot of the story, even though it could be way too generic in places. Etienne "Lucky" Doucet (I love that name, so much) is, again, your typical romantic hero. Big, broad, and brooding. He has a difficult past and, of course, that has caused him to become reclusive and apt to hold everyone at arm's length or further. Basically, the warrior with the heart of gold. For some reason, though, some of his secrets – especially one that is rather pertinent to Serena – never comes out. I don't know why we didn't get to see him telling her (or her finding out in some way). He knew hers. Serena started off great for me. She has a mouth on her. Unfortunately, she only used it on Lucky. show more She let her terrible twin sister get away with murder (almost literally) without ever really confronting her. She figured out what her grandfather was doing with her, and let him get away with it. She just had to see the good in everyone and that eventually put her in a too stupid to live scenario. While it was definitely a hero propping moment, there were better ways to get to it than to make her look incredibly dumb.

While there is a lot that is typical about this story, and the way the romance evolves, I have to say that I loved the setting. Thankfully I'm not from Louisiana, so I can feel that way. It is a neat setting for a book, and not in the usual Louisiana setting of New Orleans.

Overall, a somewhat enjoyable read. I just wish some of the characters got more of a comeuppance and that Serena made me facepalm a lot less. show less

For those who may have read Tami's later works before this one (like me) would be slightly disappointed. The book is a romance novel built around strong, vibrant and somewhat terrifying landscape. It is well written and nice to read. Very entertaining. Though written in an extensively detailed manner , it kind of seemed to me to be more like a Mills and Boon. The educated, delicate lady from the city returning to her roots as she feels 'something is drawing her hinting at the hole in her soul'. She falls for the tough brazen anti-hero and inevitably hopes and pines to reform him, yet surrendering to her fate of love-less suffering. The devilish hero does everything worth winning hearts but is a self proclaimed 'unworthy man with a dark show more past' loves her and yet can't be with her and still wants her.....Amongst all this is a scheming twin sister and a brother -in-law with a partner in crime, its all for the money. In the end everything is fine.. the girl gets the guy and the property, while the villains are caught. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed this title. When I lived in Houston, TX for a short time, we would sometimes go over to Louisiana and in various small towns, one could hear the sharing of conversation in Cajun French. Conversations always seemed a little more heartfelt as one would listen. For anyone that is familiar, this book will strike a beautiful chord. For anyone not familiar, one will find an introduction to a rich heritage. I learned that this was a transitional title for the author's work - I'll let you find a copy to discover my meaning by your own reading. You will not be disappointed. The story combines many layers of family relationships, the layers of environmental dynamics all in the midst of an intriguing love story. Enjoy!

Serena Sheridan has come home to her family's farm in Louisiana for a vacation, but when she arrives, her grandfather has escaped to the swamp and refuses to come home and her twin sister and her brother-in-law are in the process of selling her family's home to an unscrupulous and environmentally irresponsible company. The only way to get to where her grandfather is hiding is Lucky Doucet. At first Lucky wants nothing to do with Serena, but it isn't long before he realizes that she is going to need help, so he reluctantly takes her into the swamp thinking that he will drop her off at her grandfather's shack, leaving Serena in his care, but nothing goes the way it is supposed to on this trip and he sees that his involvement with the show more Sheridan family has just begun.
In 1992 when this book was originally published, the effects of PTSD were just coming into the common, public consciousness, making this story way ahead of its time in acknowledging the long term repercussions. Also at this time, the author was combining her talent at writing romance novels with her desire to write strictly suspense. I love the novels that she wrote during this period and wish she would write more. Overall, this is a good romantic suspense with very engaging characters. show less

Serena returns home to Louisiana. Her grandfather is at his hunting camp. Serena hires Lucky Ducet to take her by boat to her grandfather's cabin. Lucky is attracted to Serena, but thinks this educated woman is too citified. Serena is at first reluctant to be alone with him because of his reputation, but begins to find him attractive. She learns from her grandfather that her twin sister, Shelby is trying to sell the family home to a chemical company. Lucky explains to her how the chemical company will destroy the ecosystem of the swamp and the life therein. Serena eventually falls for Lucky and they work together to make her sister to see the error of her ways.

What's not to love? Novels set in Louisiana (my native state) always grab my attention and this one didn't disappoint. This is one of the novels that show Ms. Hoag slow transition from romance to mystery/thrillers. Its got a little bit of everything, topped off with the irrestistible Lucky Doucet.

There were passages in this story that reminded me of 'African Queen' only this was set in the Lousiana swamps. Not as good as TH's usual stories but Lucky Doucet is very welll matched with a prim Serena Sheridan.