Review: Betting with Lucifer by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Available December 10, 2009

(Blurb)

Lindsay is determined to outshine the memory of her mother’s illustrious career. As head of the marketing department of the exclusive Freeman Hotel, high up in the rarified mountain air of northern Washington, she grapples with her rival — the charming newcomer, Lucifer Furey Pierse.

No one knows much about Luke except that he could turn a murder into a side-splitting comedy routine, and that he has an eye for women, including an inexplicable attraction for the prickly, definitely not-interested Lindsay.

It starts with a bet that goes horribly wrong.  If Lyndsay wins the bet, then Luke leaves town—forever.  If Luke wins the bet, he gets a date with Lyndsay.  But when Luke wins the bet and Lindsay is forced to pay the price, she learns more about Lucifer Furey Pierse than she thought existed…and the process of discovery for both of them becomes a bitter-sweet journey through their personal histories as they learn why they are the people they have become.

Then life hands them an unexpected twist that they must deal with…one that tests both of them to the limit.

When doing a review, I usually prefer to sum up the story in my own words while highlighting what I liked most, instead of using the official blurb. That didn’t work for Betting With Lucifer. Every time I tried, I was left staring at a blank screen. Then it finally dawned on me. I can’t highlight what I liked most about the story, because I loved everything about it. From the introduction of Lindsay at the meeting, all the way to the HEA, Tracy Cooper-Posey made me feel everything that Lindsay and Luke felt.

When we first meet Lindsay, she is so career focused, she is blind to everything else. And then there is Luke. Calm, cool, and in control of everything around him. Not the most lovable characters at this point, but they are very interesting. Then, as the story progresses, we start to see glimpses of the real Lindsay and Luke, the events from their pasts that made them who they are and you start to understand a little more. And that leads up to one of my favorite scenes.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Yes, what is this?” she said. “What part does this fall into?” Tears pricked at her eyes and she blinked them away furiously, determined not to turn that particularly feminine tool upon him.

“Does this fall into the part that is truth, Luke? Or the part that was all lies?”

He sighed and picked up her hand. Gently he spread her fingers and kissed the palm. “This is truth,” he said, resting her fingertips against his lips. He dropped his coat from his shoulders and pushed aside his jacket and slid her hand against his chest. She could feel his heart thundering against her hand. “This is truth,” he said quietly.

Her tears did fall, then. “Thank God,” she whispered.

He brushed them away with his thumb. “Perhaps you should send me away, anyway, Lyndsay. I’ll turn your life upside down if you don’t.”

“I’ll risk it,” she told him.

~~~~~~~~~~

The vulnerability shown by both characters in that scene changed my entire perspective of them and caused me to root for this couple all the way to the end.

This story really had the feel of an old-school Linda Howard romance. For those that may not know, that is as a compliment. 😀  That’s the style of books that hooked me on this genre almost 20 years ago and they are the ones that I go back to time and again.

Betting With Lucifer is a character driven book that revolves around the romance of the story. And when you get to that HEA, you know that it’s really a happily-ever-after. The issues were not glossed over, there were no quick-fix solutions to the problems that Lindsay and Luke faced. Everything was worked through in a very realistic way that made this story completely believable, and at times, heartbreaking. Betting with Lucifer is easily one of my favorite reads of this year. It’s going on the keeper shelf (virtual shelf, that is) and I’m sure it will get many rereads in the future.

***Tracy Cooper-Posey will be stopping by the blog on Friday, December 11th. Please stop by to say hello and be entered to win her giveaway!