Rating: 
Summary: Lucky You! You Found a Sensational Read!
Review: This is my second Hiaasen novel after reading the sensational novel Sick Puppy and this was just as enjoyable. Hiaasen has a knack for novels where the stupid an immoral get their comeuppance and the reader gets lots of laughs and satisfaction along the way. I'm going straight to the bookstore and getting another Hiaasen novel as soon as I've finished this review, he's that good!
JoLayne Lucks works as a vet in a small Florida town called Grange. Grange's town folk are a bit eccentric and not opposed to conning passing travellers to stop by and see their Madonna statue weep, the oil stain Jesus or marvel at the electric drilled hand and foot holes that are supposed to be a mark of the crucifixion. JoLayne couldn't be more opposite, she turned down a higher paying career in hospitals to help out animals and recently rescued 45 turtles from land which was going to be turned into a shopping mall. One day she wins the lottery, unfortunately so do a couple of redneck low IQ'd racists who can not see any reason why they should have to split their winnings, so after a violent assault take JoLayne's ticket as well. Accompanied by a disillusioned journalist JoLayne is determined to get the ticket back before it is cashed in. What follows is a fast paced adventure through the state of Florida where you'll laugh and smile as various con artists, corrupt officials and others get what they so richly deserve.
Rating: 
Summary: Salvation through Turtles
Review: After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to connect with Hiaasen's writing style, this one did it for me. Wacky and weird, it's kind of like reading a Fellini movie...set in Florida. I'm not going to give the plot away, the unfolding of the craziness is most of the fun, but hold onto your seat, you're in for a ride. There are characters, normal, weird, and off-the-scale, that should delight everyone in some way. What was most satisfying about this book was.....in the end....everyone got what they deserved. And in these days, where it seems like the bad guys always win, that in itself is a lot to be savored.
Rating:
Summary: Lucky me
Review: Whenever you've read a lot of books by one author (and Hiaasen has written quite a few), you tend to get nervous. Well, the first three or four were great, but what about this next one, you think to yourself? It's like waiting for lightening to strike--you know it's got to happen some time and you dread it. You KNOW you're going to finally run across a book by this author that you don't like. You KNOW he's finally going to run out of steam.But he doesn't. I'm happy to report that LUCKY YOU is just as good as any of the other Hiaasen books (think SKIN TIGHT or HOOT) and this guy just keeps going like the Energizer bunny. With the same great writing, style, humor, and insight into the south that are found in Jackson McCrae's books (THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD) Hiaasen gives us a wonderful if not disturbing portrait of the wacky characters that make up the southern-most region of our United States. Few living outside this region will recognize that Hiaasen isn't making this stuff up--for some of us, it's too real! All I can say is, buy this book and read it. If you're fortunate to, then . . . Lucky you.
Rating:
Summary: I hit the jackpot
Review: I had never read a book by this author before, trust me it will not be my last. The characters are all incredibly funny and fun to read. The basic plot runs like this a peaceful veterinarian in the town of Grange Florida has just won the lottery 14 million dollars. She is a women and black. Nothing big ever goes on in her quite little town except for the busloads of tourists coming to view the local favored religious shrines. There would not be story without a conflict which arrives in a pair of two skinheads who just so happen to have the other winning lottery ticket. The two racists steal the ticket and rough her up. Now she has to get it back, with help from an investigative reporter, a friend in the ATF and a waitress at Hooter's. My impression-I liked the characters, some of the one-liners are classic. The book would not be as good if the author were not as prolific but mystery writers as a general rule have to be. The book is not without flaws the largest of which is that it is too long in my view but the conclusion does not feel rushed or convenient. If enjoy a good fun read treat yourself to this
Rating:
Summary: Lucky Reader
Review: This was my first Carl Hiaasen book, so maybe that's why I'm so fond of it. But I don't think so. The hero/heroine are delightful. The villains despicable. The end of the villains delicious. I've recently read Striptease, and while good, it PALES in comparison. If you liked Striptease (the book, not the movie, for Erin of writ can dance, unlike Doomee More) you will adore this book.
Rating:
Summary: Fun!
Review: This was the first book I have read by Carl Hiaasen - and I was not disappointed. Lucky You was just ... fun! If you want an exciting thriller that you can't put down and will keep you up at night, this book isn't for you. But if you want an exciting read that, at times, makes you laugh - read this book. The characters are just fun. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read for the pure joy of reading.
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