My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh

 

Synopsis:

A humiliating break-up leads to an impulsive New Year’s Kiss with a complete stranger.
What could possibly go wrong?

It’s no secret that I love life. And Dr. Pepper. But also, I love a challenge. . .

So when the coach of the Chicago Comets gives me the opportunity to help their star player, newly traded to their team, acclimate to life in Chicago, I'm all in.

I have to be. After my last job went up in flames, I have something to prove.

It turns out that the player, Grayson Hawke, is the rudest, most off-putting, reclusive guy I’ve ever met.

It also turns out that he is the beautiful stranger I kissed on New Year’s Eve.

I can do this job. I can do this job. I can do this job.

And I can. Really well.

I can make Gray’s life easier, show him all the reasons to fall in love with this city, and in the process, hopefully completely forget that the amazing kiss ever happened.

How hard can it be? We’re total opposites anyway.

I love people . . . and all their stories. Gray loves hockey . . . and nothing else.

I love to talk. Gray only stares.

I’m happy-go-lucky. Gray’s all work and no play.

There’s just one problem. The more time I spend with Grayson Hawke, the more I start to see that underneath his bristly, standoffish exterior, he’s nothing like the man everyone thinks he is.

And suddenly, all the reasons for keeping my distance, staying professional, and not falling for someone again. . . are impossible to remember.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. I am a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine love story. I don't know why but they just make me happy. And this one did not disappoint! 

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be AMAZING! From the moment I picked it up, I was transported back to Loveland where I lived and breathed all things Eloise and Gray. Their journey was full of ups and downs. It was heartachingly beautiful and had me feeling all the feels, while letting out all the dreamy little sighs. I will admit that I was extremely frustrated with Gray at times. I may or may not have wanted to Gibbs slap him a time or two. But in the end, he realized what he wanted, needed, and deserved, and set about getting his HEA with the phenomenal woman who was made just for him. 

I hardly ever read reviews or descriptions any more so it was fun to discover a little surprise by the name of Scarlett (with two t's) in the story. Y'all. That sweet, sassy little girl stole my heart the moment she entered the picture. I loved seeing her with not only Gray, but with Eloise as well. Their bonds were precious. 

I loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Side characters are seriously my jam. They just make the book that much better. I can't wait to get my hands on Raya's book. Y'all. She is one tough cookie and I have a feeling her story is going to be the most emotional one out of the Hart sisters. It's going to take someone pretty special to sweep that girl off her feet. 

Can someone please tell me why I've waited so long to read Ms. Walsh's books? Like seriously. Why have I waited? Her books are what I crave when it comes to reading. She's quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I can't wait to read more by her!

And we all know that I can't forget my casting. Again, I am in love with these two! What do you think?

My Phony Valentine by Courtney Walsh

Synopsis:

A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

My Review: 5 Stars

Oh my heart! Guys... get ready for all the feels in this one! And I mean All. The. Feels! Once I started this book, there was no turning back. I was hooked!

Poppy and Dallas are perfection! Oh how I adored these two! I loved watching their relationship grow from friendship into love. I quickly fell in love with these two and found myself rooting them on from the very beginning. They both had things in their past that haunted them and held them back from finding love. But if ever two souls belonged together, it would be these two. They balanced each other out and were there for each other during the hard times. Their HEA was absolutely beautiful!

Now lets take a moment to discuss the off the charts chemistry and swoony kisses. YOWZERS! It was hot, hot, hot! I may or may not have turned into a big ol' pile of ooey gooey goodness. This girl had all the heart eyes and dreamy sighs for all things Poppy and Dallas. I seriously did not want this book to end! 

Y'all know how much I love me some amazing side characters and this book was full of them! Gram was probably my favorite. I loved her feistiness. She had me rolling at times. Everyone needs a Gram in their life! I also adored the relationship Poppy had with her sisters. I can't wait to read their stories! 

This is my first book by Ms. Walsh and it definitely won't be my last. I was so engrossed in the book that I didn't even realize I was doing the same thing the characters were doing. I found myself getting teary-eyed, laughing out loud, giggling, and letting out all kinds of little dreamy sighs. I love when an author can make me feel like I am right there with the characters, listening to them tell me their story. And she had me doing just that. I can't wait to dive into more of her books! 

As for my casting. Y'all. I just can't with how much I love these two! What do you think? 

Covert Mission by Rebecca Deel

Synopsis:

Brutally attacked and left for dead was not the way second-generation cop Seth Dixon wanted to start his day. When he's set up for the murder of his confidential informant, Seth figures his chances of scoring a date with his beautiful running partner are slim to none.

After discovering the murder is connected to a deadly militia brewing big plans, the Feds ask Seth to infiltrate the group. His partner is none other than the woman who stars in his dreams, the mysterious Teagan.

Tasked with unraveling a conspiracy leading to the nation's capital, Seth plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with men who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Protecting Teagan and preventing an assassination become the most important missions of his life. Failure will be fatal.

Fortress Security operative Teagan Paloni thought she left the past behind, but some shadows refuse to stay buried. After spending years rebuilding her life, she plunges into the depths of her worst nightmare to protect the man she loves. With the stakes higher than ever, Teagan must defeat her demons and foil a plot to throw the country into chaos. One misstep, and Teagan will lose everything, including the man with whom she longs to build a life.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Confession. I was scared to death to start this book. With an all female Black Ops group who blends into the shadows and are considered myths within Fortress Security, my mind could only see them with heroes who were just as tough as them. I could not see them with a principle. It just would not have worked in my eyes. 

After hinting that Teagan had something going on with another operative that never came to fruition, I was kind of disappointed and felt she got gypped. But then I met Seth. 

Y'all. That man perfectly matched who Teagan needed in her life. I fell in love with the way he loved her, the way he treated her, the way he protected her, the way he lifted her up and promised to always be there for her. And Teagan was the same way with him. Their relationship was perfectly balanced. They strengthened each other and were just better together. I seriously loved all things Teagan and Seth! 

One of the things I enjoy about the Fortress Universe is getting to see and catch up with old friends. I loved seeing Phantom, Zane and Brent. I also loved meeting new characters. Seth's team were pivotal in this book and I think they would make a great addition to the Fortress Universe. IYKYK.

Ms. Deel's books have been hit or miss for me this year. If I'm being honest, more misses than hits. But this one was most definitely a hit! I was sucked in from the very beginning and could not put this book down. I absolutely loved it and finished it in less than a day. This book is a prime example of why Ms. Deel is a favorite of mine. I can't wait to see what happens next!

As for my casting, these two are all me and I am absolutely in love with them! What do you think?

Only in Your Dreams by Madison Wright

Synopsis:

Finley Blankenship is tired of always coming up short. When her long-time boyfriend dumps her because he isn’t ready to commit, only to announce his engagement to someone else months later, she’s had it. So when her now ex comes to her flower shop to check how she’s doing after hearing the news, she lies and tells him she’s moved on. Only for her brother’s best friend to walk in at the same time and get roped into her story. Committed to playing the part, she reluctantly agrees to pretend to be in a relationship with the one man in their small town that would never actually date her.

Grey Sutton has been in love with Finley for fifteen years, but he’s never thought he had a chance. After all, he’s an honorary member of the Blankenship family because his own is so dysfunctional. He has no idea how to give Finley what she wants. Especially since he was offered a job out of state, and Finley is as rooted in this town as the trees.

But as their relationship starts to feel less and less like a charade, it leaves them with more uncertainty than ever. Lines start to blur, and Grey and Finley have to decide if they’re willing to risk their hearts to have everything they’ve ever dreamed of.

My Review: 5 Stars

When two broken souls meet, they find their missing pieces in each other. 

From the moment I picked up Finley and Grey's story, I was transported back to Fontana Ridge and all the magic this small town possesses. I just couldn't wait to watch their story unfold. And oh what a story it was! 

Finley and Grey have known each other for years and have pretty much loved each other just as long. They both have been through so much and have a hard time believing that there is someone out there for them that they are deserving of. It had my heart breaking. But the more time they spent together, the more they were able to open up to each other and see each other as they truly are. They saw the good, the bad, and the ugly. And all they wanted to do was protect and lift each other up, be there for each other, and show each other that they are enough. 

I truly believe that no two people ever read the same book. This book, I think, is definitely one of them. 

Words cannot articulate all the feelings I have for this book. I went into it thinking the story would play out in a certain kind of way, but then it went in a whole other direction. A direction that had me seeing a deeper meaning, a deeper message, one that I needed to hear. This book is phenomenal! 

I've only read two books by Ms. Wright, but she is quickly making her way up my favorite authors list. I've loved the books I've read so far and can't wait to read more by her! 

And of course I can't forget my casting. I'm seriously loving these two! 

Content: Mild to moderate swearing; innuendo; lots of sizzling kisses; closed door/fade to black.

Merry Little Hate Notes by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

Nothing says I love you like a merry little hate note.

A woman does her very best to avoid at least one of the following people in her an annoying coworker, her brother’s best friend, and her first kiss. Unfortunately, for me, all three happen to be the same person—Brandon Cassidy. I’ve done my best to avoid the man, even if it means working in the ladies’ room whenever he visits the main office. Sadly, my days of hiding are coming to an end because I’ve been assigned to assist Brandon through the end of the year. The holiday season is already hard for me, but this . . . this is just the icing on the fruitcake that is my life. To add insult to injury, Brandon resurrects our old childhood game—the hate note game. I’m trying to resist the urge to engage, because do I ever have some hateful things to say to him. But that’s only because I really used to love him. Ugh. Please don’t repeat that. Like ever.

Sometimes you want something so badly, you do things you regret. Like kissing your best friend’s little sister on her sweet sixteen and then letting her believe it was all a dare. I’ve tried my best to move on from Holly St. James over the years, but how do you forget the girl you fell in love with before you even liked girls? When the opportunity arises to work closely with Holly, I jump at it. Unfortunately, the woman does her best to ignore me. So, I devise the only plan I can think of to get her attention—the hate note game. Anything to get her to talk to me. Because there are things she needs to know. First, how sorry I am. Second, I’ve never stopped loving her.

My Review: 5 Stars!

When life gives you lemons, throw them back, and curl up with a good book. After the last couple of weeks I've had, I could not wait to do just that. I woke up early this morning, did all the things I needed to do, put my pajamas back on, and just read the day away. Best. Day. Ever. 😍

What can I say about Holly and Brandon. *dreamy sigh* Oh holy swooniness with a side of all the feels Batman. These two were made for each other. Between their banter, merry little hate notes, smokin' hot kisses, sweet moments, and seeing each other in a way no one else has before, had me rooting for them throughout their entire journey. And oh what a journey it was! There's a lot of hurt and guilt they had to wade through to get it, but if ever anyone needed a HEA, it would be Holly and Brandon. 

Now, don't let the mention of hurt and guilt fool you. While this book has some heartachingly beautiful moments, it had even more hilarious ones. Y'all. I just can't with everyone in this book! Between Holly and Brandon, and the rest of the crew I may or may not have snort laughed a time or two... or five. Gah! I loved this book and did not want it to end! It's absolute perfection!

It always feels like Christmas morning whenever I get my hands on one of Ms. Peel's book babies for the first time. I swear they just keep getting better and better! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

Y'all. I absolutely love, love, LOVE this casting! They definitely give me heart eyes! What do you think?!

Off the Beaten Path by Madison Wright

Synopsis:

Wren Daniels is in over her head.

Between organizing a charity auction and trying to renovate a cabin she can’t afford, she’s barely keeping her head above water. The only bright spot is her new friend she met on an anonymous dating app four months ago. That is, until she discovers he’s the last person she would have expected—her grumpy neighbor who she’s never gotten along with.

Holden Blankenship likes his life just the way it is.

After his wife left him, he spent years putting his life back together. Now he’s got his daughter who is the light of his world, his family, and surprisingly, an anonymous friend. But when his anonymous friend turns out to be his neighbor who drives him crazy, he’s not sure what to make of it. Especially when her contractor backs out of her cabin renovation project and he finds himself offering to help her. Now Wren is getting under his skin in a completely different way and turning all his carefully laid plans upside down.

As Wren continues to show up for Holden and Holden keeps proving to Wren that he’s not really as standoffish as he seems, the lines between friendship and more start to blur.

Their relationship may have gotten off to an unusual start, but some of the best things in life are just a little off the beaten path.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Have you ever picked up a book and within a very short time of reading it, you just knew it was going to be one of your favorites? Well, that's what happened to me the moment I could imagine little June's high pitched giggles in my head and her telling Holden that he still has to put money in the swear jar even if he whispers it. Oh my heart! Y'all. That little munchkin stole my heart! 

Wren and Holden were equally amazing. I couldn't get enough of those two! The relationship these two had was fantastic! From enemies, to friends, to something more. I laughed, got teary eyed, let out all the little dreamy sighs, and turned into a big ol' pile of goo on several occasions. All I can say is sit down, buckle up, and hold on tight because the journey of Wren, Holden and little June will be one of the best ones you'll experience. I know I'll be enjoying that journey over and over and over again. Gah! I just loved it! 

I absolutely adored the small town of Fontana Ridge and everyone in it. From the meddling biddies, Myra and Melissa, to Wren's best friend Stevie, to Finley and Grey. They made the story even better. Have I told you yet how much I loved this book?!

Y'all. Ms. Wright did an phenomenal job sucking me and keeping me entertained from start to finish. One book in and I'm already invested in this series. I can't wait to get my hands on Finley and Grey's story. Thank goodness I don't have to wait long for it. September 27th can't get here soon enough! Hehe. 

As for my casting... y'all. I. Am. In. Love! What do you think?

The Spy Who Ghosted Me by Jennifer Peel

Synopsis:

Are you ready to get ghosted?

Three years ago, I fell truly, madly, deeply in love. It was kind of hard not to when Cash Denton, the sexiest man alive, literally ran into me on the streets of Bordeaux, France, and kissed me. Best. Meet. Cute. Ever. That led to the best two months of my life. Or . . . so I thought, until Cash disappeared into thin air. At first, I assumed he was in a coma or had amnesia after a tragic accident, since there’s no way he would have left me. But that was just wishful thinking because, you guessed it, he ghosted me with a capital G.

So, you can imagine my surprise when he suddenly shows back up in my life at my parents’ resort—while I’m there for my sister’s wedding, no less. It’s the last thing I need, seeing as one, I hate drama, and two, I’m pretty sure my sister’s fiancé isn’t who he says he is. There’s a lot of that going around, apparently. Because get Cash, or whatever his real name is, claims to be a spy. You heard me right—a spy. If that wasn’t crazy enough, he wants me to pretend to be his girlfriend so he can keep tabs on the supposed diamond smuggler my sister is marrying. I’m not sure who or what to believe. All I know is, this wedding is way more than I bargained for and there is nothing pretend about my feelings for Cash or whoever he is. But can a regular girl and her ghost live happily ever after? Or will the spy turn out to be just another ghost story?

My Review: 5 Stars!

**WARNING** Do NOT start this book if you have plans to get things done. I'm here to tell you that it just isn't going to happen. Who needs food in their bellies and/or clean clothes when you have The Spy Who Ghosted Me calling your name?! 

Where do I even begin to tell you how much I loved this book?! First. This book is perfection! Second. This book is absolute perfection! Third. Did I mention this book is absolute perfection?! Well, in my opinion, it is! Gah! You guys! This is the kind of book I have been craving! They have been few and far between for me this year so I found myself treasuring every single moment of this ooey gooey swoony deliciousness! 

Sabrina and Cash are fantastic! They're both loyal, kind, loving, fiercely protective, and will do anything in their power to make sure the people they care about most are safe and happy. I loved watching these two get to know each other better. I don't think Cash knew what to do or say to Sabrina at times. Growing up the way he had made it hard to believe some of the things she did and said. 

Sabrina saw Cash differently than he saw himself. She saw his worth when nobody else did. She saw the amazing man he didn't even know existed. She helped him to see himself as she sees him. It was beautiful to watch. I have to say that these two are absolutely perfect for each other in life and love. Watching them finally getting their HEA had me letting out all the little dreamy sighs. 

Y'all know how much I love me some side characters and this book was loaded with them! I found myself laughing out loud during some antics and I fell in love with them just as much as I did Sabrina and Cash. Have a mentioned this book is absolute perfection yet?

Ms. Peel continues to surprise me with each and every book she releases. I love how she's not afraid to step out of her comfort zone to bring us new and exciting stories. I, for one, would love to see more Sabrina and Cash! I think a spy series could be a lot of fun! 

As for my casting... y'all. These two are perfection! What do you think?

The Relationship Clause by Emily Evermore

Synopsis:

Keeping an eye out for corporate espionage is hard enough when you're not falling for the boss...

The gig of fake secretary is find the mole trying to sabotage my grumpy boss's tech company while simultaneously keeping his mother off his back. In the meantime, I get to collect a tidy sum which I desperately need.

Piece of cake.

Or, it would be, if he wasn't so attractive and he didn't also happen to be my best friend's brother...

But I can be professional. I'm terrible at long-term relationships anyway and besides that, I signed a contract.

Unfortunately, nowhere in that contract did it say I'd be going on an overnight trip with him.

It also didn't say we'd be pretending we were in a real relationship.

And for sure there was no warning or clause or stipulation for how to conduct myself when I accidentally see my fake boyfriend/boss in just his briefs passed out on my bed.

Worst of all?

No one said falling for him would hurt so much.

My Review: 5 Stars

Y'all. It's been months since I've been able to read something new. MONTHS! It finally took two little words to grab my attention. Corporate espionage. 

Oh holy swooniness with all the feels Batman! Where do I even begin?! I absolutely adored this book! It had everything I've come to love and crave in the books I read. All the feels? ✓ Swoony? ✓ Sizzling kisses? ✓ Giggled/laughed out loud? ✓ Let out all the little dreamy sighs? ✓ Sweet moments between characters? ✓ Big gestures? ✓

From the very beginning I fell in love with all things Junie and Owen. It wasn't hard to root for them. They were easy to relate to and they just felt real to me. Both of them have issues when it comes to relationships but I loved how they pushed and helped each other to become better and more confident. Watching these two get their HEA turned me into a big ol' pile of goo. Gah! I just loved them! 

I've said it before and I will continue to say it. I love amazing side characters and this one had a few of them. My two favorite? Keira and Shane. Y'all. These two are seriously the best. They were the best friends that our beloved Junie and Owen could ask for. They loved them unconditionally, imperfections and all. I'm definitely looking forward to their story. 

This was my first book by Ms. Evermore and it definitely will not be my last. I'm looking forward to reading more book in this series. Even if May 2025 feels like a million years away... I'm definitely invested.  

As for my casting... I wasn't going to do one. But these two just called to me so I had to add them. I'm kind of in love. What do you think?