Lucky Turtle

By: Bill Roorbach

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

In this “thrilling” love story (Lily King, author of Writers & Lovers and Five Tuesdays in Winter), a teenage girl with a checkered past finds instant chemistry with a mysterious stranger.​

When sixteen-year-old Cindra Zoeller is sent to a reform camp in Montana after being involved in an armed robbery, she is thrust into a world of mountains and cowboys and prayers and miscreants and people from all walks of life like she’s never seen in suburban Massachusetts. At Camp Challenge, she becomes transfixed by Lucky, a camp employee of mysterious origin—an origin of constant speculation—and the chemistry between them is instant, and profound. The pair escape together into the wilderness to create an idyllic life far from the reach of the law, living off their resounding love, Lucky’s vast knowledge of the wilderness, and a little help from some friends.

But they can run from the outside world for only so long, and the consequences of their naïve fantasy of a future together—and circumstances shaped by skin color—will keep them apart for decades. Cindra gets trapped in a relationship, safely if stultifyingly suburban, where she is both cosseted and controlled by a man who claims to be her rescuer. But for Cindra, there will never be another Lucky, and she dreams of one day finding him, the only man she’s ever fully trusted, her soulmate.

Engrossing, full of vivid characters, delicious suspense, and ultimately joy, Lucky Turtle is a big- hearted, deeply engrossing love story from one of our most entertaining and perceptive writers.

©2022 Bill Roorbach (P)2022 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

“An unforgettable love story.”—People

“Fans of Roorbach’s prolific work will appreciate his signature lyricism and sense of place, his sweeping narrative, humor and romance. New readers are walking into the hands of a skilled storyteller who’s not afraid to take on a big, messy tale of love, privilege and abuse.”—New York Times Book Review

“Nobody else could have written this gorgeous novel, full to the brim with tragedy but also fun, as well as the best kind of romance—embracing so much more than the couple at its center. Cindra is an impeccably loyal and honest narrator, our perfect guide through the wilds of Montana. Lucky Turtle is an ode and a love letter to our wounded, imperfect, and oh-so-beautiful world.”—Nina de Gramont, author of The Christie Affair

Stay with it - a VERY nice story

There was a point when I wasn’t sure about finishing this….but I was so glad I did! I would definitely recommend it!

Interesting but not my cup of tea!

Interesting fiction about teenage girls and a boy. Seemed a little far fetched for me!

Ok but not worth a credit.

This book was ok but truly not worth a credit. I’m glad I got it as a daily special.

Harlequin + Hatchet

What happens when you mix My Side of the Mountain with a Hallmark Christmas special? This book is one answer. The writing is fine, but the characters are predictable -- tribal members are good, white men are bad, the elderly Indian matron foresees the future, and that spunky city slicker white girl from the East Coast finds love and adventure gallivanting in the Western wilderness. It's all entertaining enough until the end, when magically and without warning (or justification) a bounty of wealth and karma enshrouds all. There's enough unearned sweetness to induce a diabetic coma. Too sappy for my tastes. Excellent narrator, though.

Unusual and Quirky

I loved the story. Interesting and unexpected. The author brought potentially dull, stereotypical characters to life and made me love them.

This one surprised me!

I hadn’t heard of this book until it came up on Audible, but I decided to go for it. I was expecting a “meh” read, but was surprised by how attached I got to the characters! If you’re looking for action or a thrill, this isn’t your book. But if enjoy character development, a thoughtful storyline, honest love, and beautiful imagery, this is a great choice.

I finished it

I finished it but it was a strange listen. The characters were weird. I couldn’t really bond with them. When the narrator was personifying Ricky and Lucky, it was awful. It could have just been the story itself. Then there were obvious Liberal leanings in the story. This automatically turns off 1/2 of the population.

Absolutely incredible !

this love story is beautiful I highly recommend you give it a shot. it's kind of slow to start but once you get into it you won't be able to stop. I will definitely be relistening in the future.

Stunningly engaging

This story holds your attention, stretches your imagination and nourishes both your humor and compassion. Brilliant!

Loved!!

This is such a great book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. As always the narrator did a beautiful job!!