Customer Reviews

Strip Poker (Sierra Lavotini Mysteries)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the first three books of the series, Nancy Bartholomew introduced us to Sierra Lavotini, the headliner of the Tiffany's Gentleman's Club in Panama City. Sierra is book smart, loyal and no nonsense. She controls her boss, Vincent Gambuzzo, by hinting to her (non-existent) familial connections to a New Jersey Mafia boss known as `Big Moose' Lavotini. Ms. Bartholomew's books are filled with funny situations, a great supporting cast and a nice, cozy mystery. The author never makes her characters demeaning or condescending but after writing those fun books the writer decides to get a bit serious this time.

It is December and Christmas is just around the corner. Vincent Gambuzzo has lost the club during a poker game and is then accused of killing one of the players. Sierra is exploring her relationship with Detective John Nailor wondering if she has finally found true love. She is unhappy with the club's new management after changing its name to Big Mike's House of Booty that she decides to stage a walkout with the other dancers. Just when everyone needs her to help Vincent and save the club she has to fly to her hometown of Philadelphia to deal with a family emergency. This event will demonstrate how strong Sierra can be with herself.

In STRIP POKER, Sierra Lavotini has matured as a character after her adventures in the previous three books. We get to appreciate how she interacts with her entire family throughout their personal crisis and see the love that they share with each other. With the sole exception of Sierra's kooky neighbor Raydean, the comedy in this book is not so strong but that is all right. We get to see a major change in Sierra's life at the end of the novel making us wish that the next novel comes out soon. I guess it is time to read Ms. Bartholomew's other two novels that introduces Maggie Reid. It should be good.

The beautiful and classy Sierra Lavotini is back in her fourth page-turning adventure. The action is fierce and the stakes are high in this hysterically funny book.

Nancy Bartholomew is quickly becomming a stand-out mystery writer with a nice collection of books. In STRIP POKER, exotic dancer Sierra Lavotini's boss, Vincent, has gambled away the club, and is arrested for murder. While Sierra and the girls walk-out on the new owner, she must find a way to clear Vincent's name so she can make next month's trailor payment. During her escapades, she has to deal with a life-and-death family crisis, her boyfriend's ex-wife, and the infamous New Jersey crime boss, Moose Lavotini.

The book flies by at a blistering pace, peppered with humor, witty dialogue, and some of the strangest settings you could ever imagine. All of the regular characters are back, including the ever-popular, alien-hunting, machine-gun-carrying Raydean. Her off-the-wall, wacky humor is unmatched, and helps make the book one incredibly enjoyable read.

The storyline is fantastic, and the suspense factor is wonderful. Bartholomew keeps you guessing right through to the explosive ending, in which you are still left wondering if what you read really happened. This excellent book is a can't miss. STRIP POKER will leave you "royally flushed."

In my opinion, Stip Poker shot Nancy Bartholomew way past Janet Evanovich! I love this series and the characters. If you want action, humor, tears, all out enjoyment for a couple of hours - read any one of Nancy Bartholomew's Sierre Lavotini's books. This one was fantastic - her best yet and I can't wait for the next. It was definitely worth paying for the hardback and is now sitting in the honored spot on the bookshelf. Thank you, Nancy, for the enjoyable time and for bringing in Moose Lavotini.... he added a touch a spice and mystery!

Stephanie Plum make room for Sierra Lavotini! Sierra is a Phillie transplant who works as an exotic dancer in Panama City, Florida. Somehow she always seems to wind up near a murder which brings her closer to the attractive homicide detective John Nailor.

I was looking for a series like the Stephine Plum series. I found Nancy Bartholmew's "sierra" and feel this is BETTER then Stephine Plum. Sierra needs help but can also take care of her self, whereas Stephine has become somewhat weak as time goes on. The "stripper" character , I feel , is totally believable .
The mystry is also written better, there is actually a mystery. Granted shes not an agatha christy, it is still an easy read, but enjoyable.
Unfortuantly, St. Martins, the publisher, didn't choose to continue the series and they hold the rights to the Strip series.
Please write them and beg them to bring this series back!

I read the other three books in this series a few years ago and just got around to picking up a used copy of this one. And I'm disappointed -- not in the story, but that there's no more Sierra!

I don't know why the author stopped this series. I've read her other books and while they're good, they can't hold a candle to this series. The characters, the storytelling, the mystery -- everything put together makes it a book you don't want to put down, and a series you don't want to see left hanging when there's still so much story to tell.

Bring back Sierra!

Sierra Lavotini is a great character. This is a wonderful series. I have them as a keeper on my shelves. The striper and the cop were just becoming a great couple. I was so looking forward to their relationship developing! And the loose ends that this book has----so many unanswered questions!

I wish that Nancy would finish this series _ I know that there are many other readers that have the same wish. Looking forward to the rest of Sierra's story!

Fantastic. Nancy, you have outdone yourself! I did not think I would ever find a series I loved as much as the Stephanie Plum series, but you have changed my mind. I liked the first book, but as the series continued and the writing improved and the characters developed, I was hooked beyond hooked! Please Please Please write another Sierra novel!

I love this series of books. My only concern is that I have not been able to find any new books in this series since this book was published. Try reading these books in public and you'll get funny looks because you can't stop yourself from laughing. Does anyone know what happened to this series? I truly hope that there are more coming.

We missed you! With the introduction of Sierra Lavotini, the readers of mysteries starring wonderfully human female sleuths have another series to wait impatiently for. In Strip Poker, Nancy Bartholomew has returned us to Sierra's world- complete with all the lovable characters, and not so lovable ones, we hope to meet again and again. Keep writing, and we'll keep reading!