MJ has finished three Old-Fashioneds, and the Lemon Pie she ordered as a special anniversary surprise for Chris. He is no show and MJ is "buzzed" but concerned. What happened to their closeness, the dancing butterflies that once were part of their love story? After 20 years together, she recalls when Chris proudly baked her a luscious Lemon Pie for their first anniversary. Something has to be done to ignite their fire, bring back some Pizazz Zzzzzz, but what? Chris spends a lot of time playing poker at the Casino. Why not propose a date night together playing poker at the Casino? So begins her plan of action but the results are a far cry of the togetherness she yearns for.

They do not even play Poker at the same table. The bug hits MJ and hits her hard. She becomes obsessed with the game, sneaks away from home to the""felt top" and her newly found freedom and something she is good at. She plays and wins often.When she wins a tournament and a free trip to Vegas she is ready to gamble and take a chance. She and Chris will go to Vegas, spend romantic time together and and make their marriage GREAT again. Will her gamble turn into a good bet?

Ms. Reichert, I sinceriously loved LUCK, LOVE & LEMON PIE. What a wonderful story you tell. I had problems putting the book down. MJ, pushed my patience but in the end she came through with flying colors. The portrait you painted with words of the Boudreaux children was real and touches my heart. Especially touching was Tommy. I , too, find sons have a way of getting into our hearts. Chris is a keeper even without his creation of luscious Lemon Pie. I have never understood how Poker is played but MJ was gutsy to get in there with strangers, figure out their "tells" and win sometimes by "the seat of her pants." Again your descriptions of the tournaments was exciting and fun. The lady killer, sexy, Poker Icon. mega-rich Doyle added to the story and was HOT, and makes for a subplot that adds color to the Vegas scene. WOW!

Perhaps one of the lovely quotes in this book tells it quite simply. "To stay married, you must continually find a new reason to fall in love with your partner". MJ remembers reasons and tells Chris. She also tells him they are meant to stay together forever. I loved it! Delicious novel and am going out to find "THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE." You have a new and loyal fan.

Book Summary

When Milwaukee-area wife and mother MJ Boudreaux notices her husband Chris seems more interested in the casino than her, she’s more bothered that she isn’t upset than by her husband’s absence. She picks up poker as a way for them to spend more time together—and reignite their marital flame.

Although the game doesn’t give her the quality time with Chris that she’d hoped, MJ finds she has a knack for it. Increasingly unhappy at home, she turns to the felt top of the poker table for comfort. Intoxicated with newfound freedom, MJ begins spending more time at the gambling tables and less with her family, finally carving out for herself a place outside her role of wife and mother.

After a string of great wins, MJ finds herself in Vegas, attracting the attention of a certain magnetic poker star. But when she’s forced to choose between her family and her new exciting lifestyle, the stakes may be higher than she thought and MJ will have to play her hand carefully…or risk losing it all.