OK, what’s the Number 1 Female Fantasy? Forget sex for now. Let’s concentrate on the more imaginative stuff. In my opinion, it’s got to be one of two things: it’s either Healing the Tortured Soul or Taming the Rake. Both are delicious fantasies, and I’d say they regularly tangle with each other for the top spot. In Get Lucky, Suzanne Brockmann gives us a wonderfully fun example of the Taming the Rake scenario. It’s absolute entertainment in the guise of ink and pressed wood pulp.

To do this type of plot justice, the author has got to get both contenders just right. The rake has got to be naughty without being nasty, and elevated enough that the fall will be worth watching. Your neck has to actually crane. And the heroine? Well, she’s got to be pretty special, worthy of the reformed rake in every way. You’ve got to like her, and you have to respect her. She’s got to be able to kick some rake butt and bat her eyelashes at the same time. This is hard to do, but Brockmann pulls it off beautifully here.

In the one corner we have Luke “Lucky” O’Donlon, gorgeous, multitalented, Navy SEAL womanizer who has enough charm to give Bobby Tom Denton (of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Heaven, Texas) a run for his money. Luke has never wanted for female company, but his girlfriends tend to be decorative rather than contemplative. And this suits him just fine. He figures it would be selfish of him to limit all his good lovin’ to just one woman, and he’s inclined to be more generous than that.

In the opposite corner we have Sydney Jameson, everywoman journalist. Not beautiful, not gorgeous, a much better candidate for Mensa than Miss America. She’s flat chested, wide hipped, and sassy as all get out. And she sees through Lucky at first glance.

The book begins with serious premise. A serial rapist who may or may not be a SEAL has been terrorizing the Coronado/San Felipe area. When Sydney’s young neighbor becomes a victim Sydney confronts the police with an article she has written, threatening to generate publicity unless they get serious about finding the rapist. That’s when the SEALs get involved. Since they do not believe the rapist to be one of their own, they have a vested interest in catching the guy. Lucky gets assigned to a task force consisting of SEALs, FInCOM agents, the local police force, and Sydney.

Problem is, Lucky’s not too convinced that the task force is that good an idea. He thinks the SEALs could take care of business faster and with less fuss. And he has no use at all for a smart-mouthed reporter. But Sydney’s not budging. This creates a bit of a conflict. In the background of their first meeting, you can almost hear the bell ding and the hush of the crowd as the opponents square off. The resulting verbal sparring is most enjoyable. From the first time Sydney accidentally calls Lucky “Ken” (as in Ken doll) to Lucky’s eventual sad realization that he’s been taken out of action, this is a complete romp. And the plot ain’t bad either.

Get Lucky is one of my favorite category romances. It’s a very good mix of action, humor, and romance, and, as a bonus, we get to catch up a little with the SEAL wives, see what’s happened to them lately. If you’re like me and you like a good Taming the Rake story, do check this one out. It’s the fight of the year, and at the end of it, everybody wins.