Lucky Ce Soir

Lucky O'Toole #10

by Deborah Coonts

Death by future mother-in-law.

It’s a thing.

Lucky O’Toole is sure of it. What she isn’t sure of is how to deal with it. In Paris, far away from her Vegas home, Lucky is out of her element and out of ideas.

Especially when a fortune of rare wine is stolen from her fiancé’s family in a daring heist using the tunnels under Paris.

When an unsavory man from Lucky’s past shows up to implicate her in the crime, Lucky is left to debate the merits of a firing squad over a guillotine or…

She could find the wine and clear her name.

Easy…until people start showing up dead and everyone seems to want Lucky’s head on a pike.

Especially the lead police detective investigating the murder and the theft who happens to also be the torch-carrying flame of her betrothed.

Sensing an opening, Teddie, Lucky’s former lover, in Paris to open a musical review in Montmartre, gives her a shoulder to cry on.

A wise woman, Lucky runs, risking life and liver to find the wine and catch the killer before he kills again.

Then, and only then, will she be free to make a choice about her future.

Genres: Mystery

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2019

About the author

Get a free bundle of novellas ripped from the headlines of Lucky O'Toole's world: http://deborahcoonts.com/lucky-offer/

Deborah Coonts swears she was switched at birth. Coming from a family of homebodies, Deborah is the odd woman out, happiest with a passport, a high-limit credit card, her computer, and changing scenery outside her window. Goaded by an insatiable curiosity, she flies airplanes, rides motorcycles, travels the world, and pretends to be more of a badass than she probably is. Deborah is the author of the Lucky O’Toole Vegas Adventure series, a romantic mystery romp through Sin City. Wanna Get Lucky?, the first in the series, was a New York Times Notable Crime Novel and a double RITA™ Award Finalist. She has also penned the Kate Sawyer Medical Thriller series, the Brinda Rose Humorous Mystery series, as well as a couple of standalones. Although often on an adventure, you can always track her down at www.deborahcoonts.com.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lucky, but please go back to Vegas and less philosophical meandering.

[Judy Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

True confessions time— I’ve read every single Lucky Adventure (ok, devoured really), & while I love them all, I’ve never really felt that Lucky’s fiancé, Jean-Charles, was worthy of her. I know, I’m supposed to love him. But, there’s always been something just a little, not-quite-right about him. In Lucky Ce Soir, Deborah Coonts latest Lucky O”Tooke “Paris/Vegas” Adventure, the mystery of Jean-Charles is just a fraction of what our girl Lucky has to face, in what’s supposed to be her big engagement-trip-meet-the-in-laws in France. In true Lucky-style, things are never simple. Instead of a simple engagement party, Lucky’s big night finds her barely arriving on time from England (another adventure), with a mother-in-law to be whose glare may turn her to stone, her sister-in-law an apparent no-show, uninvited guests wandering around, her future father-in-law barely able to stand up after being attacked, and a mystery man from her past making an entrance worthy of Houdini. By the end of the evening, some things are painfully clear, including that at least one person wants Lucky to take the fall for the theft of a fortune in wine, & also that the “Paris Jean-Charles” may not be quite the knight in shining armor Lucky believes the “Vegas Jean-Charles” to be. When Lucky needs a knight, enter...Jordan Marsh. Friend, actor, singer, sometime- partner-in-crime but devoted to his own (same-sex) partner, Jordan shows up to lend a shoulder, bringing Lucky’s sometime-old-flame-lost-best-friend to confuse things. As Lucky sets out to solve the mystery of the wine, more & more mysteries keep coming to light. There are intrigues from the past, dead bodies, stalkers, and a very persistent lead detective with more than a little history with Jean-Charles. I love the Lucky O”Toole books as they bring action, adventure, romance, intrigue, mystery, comedy, friends, family, procedural, & just plain smarts all together in action-packed series where I find myself holding my breath, waiting for each new scene to unfold. Like others in the series, Lucky Ce Soir can be read as a stand-alone, but is better when read as part of the series. The final reveal, when all is said & done, stands up- it doesn’t fall into a giant plot hole. And, it’s clear that by the end, Author Coonts has decided — as Lucky has— that it’s time for the men in her life to do something to deserve her, or back off. And I can’t wait to see what happens next! Get Lucky Ce Sour, & enjoy the adventure.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good addition to the series

Good, characters, plot and mystery. I throughly enjoyed this one. Ms. Coonts has a way of grabbing you from the first paragraph and not letting.

[Vicki Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this only if you have read the other books in the series (this is number 10). The earlier books are much more entertaining though you do learn something about the French wine industry in this book. Thank heavens Lucky hasn't settled for any of the men in her life.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucky is in Paris with her fiancé Jean-Charles meeting her future in laws. The party at there home is for them. But things take a turn in a not great direction. Adventure, murder, and mayhem always follow Lucky wherever she goes.
The book was fast paced. It made me laugh. Lucky is so amazing. But when someone comes from her past Jean-Charles takes it the wrong way.

See what happens.

[Bobbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the boring storyline but 3.5 stars for the way Lucky managed to solve it.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been following the adventures of Lucky O’Toole for years now, and while this latest adventure wasn’t my favorite, it was still a great book. This time Lucky is away from her precious Las Vegas and in Paris to meet her future in-laws. The story gets off to a quick start and Lucky is soon called upon to help her fiancé’s family. The mystery revolves around the world of wine, and I have to admit to having no knowledge of the subject or any real interest in it. Reading about it wasn’t all that entertaining to me. But Coonts moves the story along well enough. There were several characters making a reappearance from previous books, and it was fun to catch up with them, though I did miss Detective Romeo, who only shows up briefly in this one. Lucky seems to be constantly on the go, and I have to say, I began to wonder how a person could live on so little sleep and so much coffee and champagne. By the end of the book, Lucky, who has been questioning her relationships for some time now, has made a few decisions. I won’t spoil anything, except to say it’s nice that the author made a decisive choice for Lucky rather than jerk the reader back and forth over her romantic entanglements. I recommend this book, but suggest reading the series in order to enjoy it more.
Note: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Malmquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, witty and fast paced. Very Creative, always has a new twist on the character and the stories!
Lucky goes to Paris with her fiancé to meet the parents.
Her fiancé, Jean Claude, is from one of the very top wine making French families.
But, they have had a huge theft of their collection of very famous and expensive wines.
And Lucky is determined to find out what happened to it, who stole it and why.
Being in Paris rather than her home turf of Vegas makes it much more difficult for her to know who to trust and to solve the mystery.
The local police detective would like to see Lucky in jail.
Her normal allies are not here.
Meanwhile a detective trying to find out about counterfeit wine is found dead in a barrel of wine.
Teddie, her former lover is performing in a play in Paris And would like to get Lucky back.
Jean Claude's father is very ill and JeanClaude will be the heir to take over the family business.
And Lucky is on the hunt.
A wild romp through Chateaus, the catacombs and all through the streets of Paris! What an adventure.
Love the little asides the author puts in about life as well.
Strong female character and lots of interesting people showing up around her. Like real life poker.
Good thing she grew up in Vegas and knows the game.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adventure for Lucky O’Toole as she visits Paris with her fiancé, Jean-Charles and his son Christophe. Lucky meets Jean-Paul’s parents and while her future mother-in-law appears as formidable as she has been warned, his father is in ill health. At their first meeting, Jean-Charles’s father has been injured and the families vault of rare wine has been robbed. Lucky will need to do what she is famous for…problem solving. A bound and injured man from Lucky’s past is found near the vault and another man will be murdered. As events escalate, Lucky has her work cut out for her. As if she doesn’t have enough to deal with, her former lover, Teddie, arrives in the city. Will she be able to find the stolen wine, appease Jean-Charles’s mother and keep Teddie from interfering in her life? What will happen when Jean-Charles needs to remain in Paris due to his father’s heart condition? A nice change of location for Lucky and I enjoyed her trip to Paris, but I missed the characters and action from Las Vegas. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucky is in Paris, far from home and surrounded by people who doubt her or make her doubt herself, and yet even as she worries about her family and questions her relationships and life choices, she's still the most competent and kick-ass person around, reacting without hesitation to whatever threatens those she cares about or piques her curiosity. And I love how, even when she's basically alone in a foreign country and doesn't know who she can trust, she still has such a strong sense of self, and I cheered when she told both Jean-Charles and Teddie what they could go do with themselves if they couldn't give her what she wanted and deserved. You go, Lucky!

I understand that different settings bring up new aspects and questions about characters and keep a series from getting stale, but after two books away from Vegas I can’t wait until she’s back home, surrounded by her family and friends. I miss them all, and she needs them, they have her back when she can’t do everything by herself. I’m glad Romeo made an appearance, but that wasn’t enough.

[EBD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newest book in the Lucky series by Deborah Coonts is fresh and different as it is set in Paris. Lucky is in France to meet her fiance's parents and see where Jean-Charles grew up. She is somewhat intimidated as they own one of the oldest and finest vineyards in France.

The Bouclet's entire library (cellar) of wine is stolen during her welcome party and, being Lucky, she jumps headfirst into finding who stole the wine and where it is hidden. She gets attacked, hit by a car, kidnapped, and after many adventures successfully ferrets out the people responsible, learning many unexplored facets of her relationships in the process.

Not to spoil the story, the book delves into how you deal with feelings about current and past lovers and how to reconcile them. It is fast-paced and exciting and reveals many details of the catacombs under the city and the sheer magic she feels in the beautiful city. An engaging and refreshingly different Lucky adventure!

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky is back .....Well sort this book finds Lucky out on her own in France away from her beloved Las Vegas and friends. I did enjoy the book but couldn't help but miss the usual characters (Mrs P, Brandy, the beautiful Jeremy even Mona was quieter in this book than normal.)
Lucky and her fiance Jean Charles are in France visiting his side of the family but typical for Lucky's crazy life things don't go smoothly and it is not long before she is running all over France kicking butts and taking names like only Lucky O'Toole can do. I now know a whole lot more about wine making and the seedy underside involved but with the great plot,twists and description I am ready to take on France or at least go there for a visit, I just might miss out the murder, kidnapping and under ground tunnels. The book was well worth the read.

[Cathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucky just can't catch a break. Lucky O'Toole, Vegas "trouble-shooter" extrodinaire, has a difficult time keeping her job from invading her personal life. You would think that flying to Paris to meet her fiancé's family would put her far from troubles...but the day she meets her snooty in-laws-to-be, their precious, priceless wine collection disappears. Now Jean-Charles, her fiancé, is looking to Lucky to save the day... I enjoy Deborah Coonts' laugh-out-loud Lucky O'Toole series, Lucky Ce Soir did not engage my attention as deeply as the previous books. I had difficulty relating to the wine collecting culture that permeated the book. Lucky herself, however, did not disappoint me, remaining as brash and daring as I have come to enjoy. I received an advance copy of this book from the author and I am willingly giving this review.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky and Jean-Charles are in Paris, Lucky is sure her future mother-in-law will be the death of her (probably by murder).
While at a party Jean-Charles father is attacked and it is discovered that their entire library of wines has been stolen.

Lucky's ex, Teddie, is in town for the grand opening of his new review, Lucky is implicated in the wine theft, the Chief police officer is one of Jean-Charles former flames, and she still has a flame for him. Then you have the murder, kidnapping, and a feud between two families that go back to the late 1800's.

This is a story you really don't want to miss.

Solid characters, strong plot line, and an author who just can't help herself when it comes to messing with her characters lives. It's a page turner from beginning to end.

[Nancy Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in upper elementary school, we would sometimes jump rope “Double Dutch”...a style that requires two long ropes to be turned by two people in opposite directions while a third person did the jumping. It was tricky to enter the jumping area, and once you did you had to skillfully jump double time. Lucky books remind me of that...once you enter the story, the pace is fast and tricky. I admire Lucky's bravery and insight into life, and Lucky Ce Soir does not disappoint. It is also fascinating to see her maneuver in new environs outside of Las Vegas as well as learn new things about the fascinating world of wine. Bien fait, Deborah Coonts!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, Lucky, it is so good to see you back in Lucky Ce Soir. Lucky is one of my favorite fictional characters. Told in first person you have to be patient with the narrative; Lucky is not always on track. Knowing what Lucky knows, in a somewhat stream of consciousness manner, is what is so much fun about this series. You also never know what high-jinx Lucky will get into, but you know the ride will be a heck of a lot of fun. Lucky in Paris brings a magical quality to the whole story, even as it throws her out of her depth. Now, I want to book a trip to Paris.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky is in Paris to meet her future in-laws. Then someone steals some very expensive wine from her fiancé’s family. Lucky isn't sure what to do, after all she isn't in Vegas, this is Paris. When someone from her past shows up and implicates her in the crime. Now that is going to far! One way or another, Lucky is getting to the bottom if this no matter what her possible in-laws may think! If you haven't read any of Lucky's adventures, you are missing out! They are funny, the characters are like your best friends. You always want to hang out with...in good and bad. I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book.

[Amy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every book in this series and this book did not disappoint. The author has a way of grabbing you from page one and just when you think that you have the whole thing figured out, she throws in more twists so that you really aren't sure who did what. I will not add spoilers, but, the one I suspected was the one behind a lot of what happened, however, the additional "happenings" were DEFINITELY unexpected. I loved it and can't wait for more adventures from Lucky and her band of quirky, misfits.

I know I said no spoilers, so all I can say is right on Lucky....glad you FINALLY did what was necessary.

[Stephanie Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved all the Lucky books and enjoyed this one as well. I missed the Las Vegas characters and scenery! For some reason, this book didn't flow as easily for me as previous books have but the scene with Lucky, Teddy and Jean- Charles near the end is a classic. I appreciate that Ms. Coonts weaves in references to current events - in particular, the reference to the Vegas shooting and Stan Lee. If you enjoy this series, you can't skip this book! There's important developments in her personal relationships that we'll hear more about in the next one. I volunteered to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review - a good read and can't wait for the next one in the series!

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe I made it through this book. It's all so contrived and repetitive. And this is a series?! I only realized I'd read the last one in the series at the end of the book. Thank God. I don't think I could make it through another. The main character continually tells us she knows who she is, but then questions every thought in her head. Not one thing is said without some sort of mental chatter, which could be great if only I cared about this character. Completely ridiculous. We are constantly reminded how she likes verbal sparring over and over again. Okay, we get it! Then use new phrases, stop trotting out the same ones. Ugh, I get flustered just thinking about it.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky is off to Paris.

It doesn't matter where Lucky finds herself . Trouble seems to find her . But she is the problem solver even though in a strange country. Counterfeit wine? A dead body, a run in with an old friend or two, running from the police or filling them in, leave it to Lucky, trying to stay on the right side of the law. Totally different setting, but we see a different view of lucky. The book takes off keeps you going and then leaves you hanging. Anxiously waiting for the next in the series . Great read!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had high hopes for Lucky's latest adventure. I was NOT disappointed. She has more serious issues to deal with in this book, but deal she does with her usual flair. I love Lucky best on her own turf, really, but Paris was something new, and she handled the challenges just fine. If you like a strong woman who is not afraid to take the bull by the horns, Lucky is your gal. 4 stars, only because they can't ALL get 5 stars. And I missed the Vegas people.

[Debbiebooknerdyoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky is in Paris.. the city of lights, and of love. Maybe not the place for Lucky to keep her love alive though. A meet and greet with the Mother in Law has Lucky shaking in her boots.
Missing wine, missing love, but Teddie is hanging around and that always brings up past issues for poor Lucky.
You'll fall in love with Lucky, and you'll feel all her crazy emotions as she has quite the narrative going on all the time in her head. I love these books!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wild time with Lucky in Paris. A lot is going on and you are holding your breath throughout the bookl. Jean-Charles is cold and acting superior. Teddy is causing trouble again. Lucky has men problems, murder, poisoning and a lot of deception. So sad that she and Jean-Charles broke up. Christoph really humanized Lucky and brought her down to earth. She needs to have a reason to slow down and take life at a more normal pace. Being a mother gave her a reason to be careful

[Melody McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Lucky and the whole series, her Paris adventure was a wonderful glimpse of that city, with a thrilling adventure as the top layer.. Most of the way along I had no clue where this was heading, the twists and turns were again the usual fast paced mystery thrill. The surprise ending was strangely satisfying. As much as I have enjoyed Lucky's international travels, I can't wait for her to get back home and see what happens next. I missed Vegas, although I did enjoy Paris.

[Cindy Rippentrop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oui

Once again Lucky finds herself in the middle of chaos while people are dying. Trying to solve multiple mysteries has her running ragged while she is supposed to be meeting her soon to be in-laws and winning them over. Good luck with that, she just walked into the door and already she is found wanting by their standards. Join Lucky as she navigates Paris making friends (or enemies) while solving crimes and searching for love.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
*audiobook version*

A change of location for some variety in this one as well.This time Lucky is in France meeting Jean Charles's family. Missing wine, a dead body and sick fathers are causing conflict in the relationship. 
Lucky is reluctantly off & running to investigate.

the twin names were cute. yeah!

But poor Lucky, she's surrounded by hotties...seriously..yet...it doesn't always work out. what up w/that? bummer!

[Lennia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Lucky Adventure series and am sad to be near the end of the saga. It's a witty, fun, and intelligent cast of characters that are relatable and creative. I will continue to be a huge fan of Deborah Coonts because of the fun I've had reading each book in this series.

In this book, Lucky seems to land on her feet against huge odds and not only find the end of the puzzle, but also finds her way home in both heart and soul. I've already started to read the next book!

[Sara 'capelle' parke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this series but this book is the worst. I skipped a lot of random paragraphs. All the talk about wine and all the characters involved at the beginning of the book with the back story just lost me. And then to randomly dump a guy but continue to help find out who stole his family’s wine? Also, can Teddie stop showing up everywhere and ruining everything? What is so wrong with Lucky marrying Jean-Charles? I was super disappointed with this book.

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my! Deborah did it again!

I so like Lucky, this self-effacing, beautiful, smart and truly good lady! I always pick up her latest conundrum and can't put it down until it's resolved. I feel tired with her, I hurt with her and I feel and cheer for her to the very end, and that's what I call great writing.

I can't wait for the next book, maybe...Lucky in Love!