\\tBit the Jackpot didn't quite meet my expectations. For starters, Seamus didn't engage in much of the "running around Vegas keeping tabs on the candidate's wife and female entourage" as described in the summary. It might have been more interesting if that had occurred. The book wasn't truly "stand out," but it was still likable enough, offering nice, light, and mindless reading.
\\tI had a soft spot for Cara Kim. She's a walking contradiction. Naturally sensual yet painfully shy at times, reasonable and controlled one moment and then not. She's also a virgin stripper - two words you don't often hear together. She's girly, funny, a bit domestic at times, relatable, upfront, and normal. She's not a kick-ass heroine, and she knows it. But I just liked her.
\\t"Well, that depends. Do you like long walks?"
"Sure." The smile relaxed.
"Do you like sex?" Cara asked in a husky voice, hoping her acting skills were passable.
"Absolutely." His nostrils flared.
"Then take a fucking hike."
\\tCan you just feel the love in the air?
\\tSeamus was okay. He'll never make it to my top 10 heroes, probably not even my top 100, but he had his moments. Of course, there were more moments when I wanted to smack him. I think he gets a little better as the book progresses, going from creepy weirdo to not so bad.
\\t"What do we have?"
"Two Labs that think I'm the devil, an obnoxious Chihuahua that thinks he's the devil and two cats that really are the devil".
\\tI know these quotes don't really fit, but I'm tired and I liked them. So they stay.
\\tI wish this book had focused more on Seamus and Cara. Delving deeper into their pasts and developing a relationship between them. Yes, there was some romantic development, but not a whole lot, and I wanted more. I was so annoyed by the little things that kept popping up - like the search for Alexis' sister, Brittany's vampire dad, the murder attempts, Kelsey the Clingy and not-quite-right, and Ringo, the girl bonding (well, I didn't actually mind this one too much). Let's not forget one of the most pathetic bad guys ever, whose only real strength is apparently delegating others to do his dirty work, being a sleazy, slimy politician and picking on women, but pretty much giving up the fight as the men show up when they're not drunk.
\\tIt was funny at times and romantic at times, but not quite the full-blown romance I wanted it to be. If it wasn't going to be a full romance, I would've liked the wrap-up with the bad guy to be more... impressive. I mean, kill the sucker who was assaulting your women, throw him out the window, strip him naked, douse him in honey and unleash a swarm of killer bees on him - don't just break his wrist and let the tribunal deal with him. Ugh.
\\tBut still - I liked it more than I didn't. So, 3.5 Stars.