Tag: courtney walsh

Book Review: The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fiction + Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A near-death experience catapults workaholic junior editor Kelsey Worthington into changing her life–one yes at a time.

Kelsey Worthington always dreamed of being a writer, but she’s settled into a routine of helping other people tell their stories in her job as a junior editor. She doesn’t go outside of her comfort zone. Her relationships are safe. Her job is secure. Her existence is stable. And she’s great with that.

And then, the accident.

While she’s in the hospital overnight, she meets an older woman named Georgina Tate–a glass-ceiling-shattering, wildly successful businesswoman. Georgina sacrificed everything to become the woman she is today, but now, with a pair of failing kidneys and only a handful of months left to live, Georgina is forced to come face-to-face with her regrets. Kelsey is forced to reckon with her own list of “things I’ll do someday,” and she starts to ask a simple but life-changing What if I said yes to all the things I normally say no to? And The Yes Plan is born.

It takes some convincing, but Georgina finally agrees to go along with Kelsey on her Summer of Yes adventures. The two of them set off to see what might be out there waiting for them if they simply open themselves up to it. Together, they say yes to whatever comes their way–a whole day being tourists in their own New York City, dinner with strangers, a convertible that is far from practical but so much fun. But when Kelsey springs a surprise visit to Georgina’s son Hayden and Georgina’s ex-husband (who is not so much of an ex), the older woman is less than thrilled. But this is where the true journey begins.

Two stories of love, forgiveness, regret, romance, and finding a way to live a fearless life intertwine as these two women make an indelible impression on each other. And it all starts with a simple “yes.”

WHAT A GEM.

I loved this. As someone who struggles with the same fears and issues surrounding saying “yes” more often, this felt like a book written for me. I loved Kelsey’s journey. I loved seeing her find herself and choosing to say more often enough to realize all of the little things she has been missing (and of course, finding love too!!).

And I really loved Georgina. Her story line brought me to some misty eyed moments and I loved that seeing her growth and she learned some hard truths and took the best step forward to finally reconnect with her family.

I liked the audiobook. I thought the romance was absolutely adorable. It was sweet read that had a lot of wonderful themes that are easy to connect to and this is a new favorite!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Fiction + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content Warnings: a character with kidney disease

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Book Review: My Lucky Charm (Holidays With Hart #2) by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 376 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Indie Published
Release Date: February 23rd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

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 Lucky Charm is a grumpy/sunshine, sweet hockey romance with all of the sizzle but none of the steam. It’s the second in the Holidays with Hart series, but My Lucky Charm can be read as a stand alone.

I LOVED THIS.

I think this might be my new favorite Courtney Walsh book. I adored this entire read and found every spare moment to continue reading. I loved how Gray’s grumpy nature was portrayed and watching him sincerely work on himself and learning to let love in. Let people help, build a community and space that can motivate and support him through the ups and downs. There’s many super sweet moments too that you’ll have to read to see!!

I loved Eloise too. She spoke something to my soul about her life aspirations and where she wanted to be. I’ve often felt the same way and seeing a character with these attributions healed something in me. I thought Eloise and Gray had fantastic chemistry and some AMAZING sizzling kissing scenes. The push and pull tension had me shaking my kindle and I loved how life came together for them.

This whole book was an absolute gem. Loved the hockey content, all of the teammates, the themes and the sisterhood. An incredible read.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low

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Book Review: Can’t Help Falling (Sweater Weather #3) by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 360 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: September 14th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All it takes to start a fire is one single match. . . Owen Larrabee is not my soulmate. He wasn’t when I confessed my love to him on his wedding day, and he isn’t now. I should probably say that I wasn’t the bride when that happened. I don’t have the best timing. He’s got a temper, he’s moody, and he has a history of being misunderstood and making big mistakes. I, on the other hand, make pumpkin cupcakes, spend my Friday nights curled up with a beloved romance novel and long to be kissed in the rain. Owen is my best friend’s older, off-limits brother and the only boy I ever thought I loved. Which is laughable because he only ever saw me as his kid sister’s dorky friend. But that was a long time ago. And I’m over him. Mostly. Until he comes back to Harvest Hollow like some kind of hero, showing up just in time to pull me out of my burning house and make me feel all the things I told myself I’d never feel again. Darn him and that brooding, intense way he looks at me. But I have questions. Why is Owen back? And does he remember our secret friendship or the day I’ve spent the last eight years trying to forget? I know better than to get hung up on Owen again. Especially now, when he’s sworn off relationships and thinks romance is a farce. And I’m something of an expert—at least to the people who listen to my podcast, The Hopeful Romantic . Never mind that nobody would guess their local bookshop owner is the one doling out popular weekly relationship advice. Never mind that I’m basing all that advice on the hundreds, (thousands?) of romance novels I’ve read over the years and not on personal experience. And especially never mind that Owen is making me question everything I believe about all of it. Can’t Help Falling is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, opposites attract sweet rom-com with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.

OWEN.

He MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS. This is definitely one of my new favorites from Courtney Walsh. I LOVED all of the fall aesthetic vibes and this small town. The Sweater Weather series is hitting it out of the park.

I loved the contrast between more practical, Owen, and romantic, Emmy. I loved all of the conversations and themes surrounding the importance of both and how each facet can fit into your life and relationship. There’s no ridiculous third act, just two people who are finally getting the chance they’ve always deserved to be together.

There were so many moments I want to highlight. I loved the firefighter aspects, the CALENDAR, the podcast, the dock, the bar scene, they were all amazing!! The amount of times I was swooning and loving every single moment y’all.

This was a gem. Read it.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: house fire, learning disabilities, bullying

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Book Review: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Fiction + Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: June 13th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She’s out to prove that there’s no such thing as choosing happiness.

Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will.

As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever.

But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything “on a whim” makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong.

As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she’s stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there’s something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

HIT ME IN THE FEELS.

I wasn’t expecting this book to hit on so many personal things in my own soul. As someone who’s always struggled to connect and make lasting friendships, I could not get enough of Isadora’s journey and loved seeing her grow and struggle and ultimately find the happiness she had been searching for.

It’s not heavy on the romance, but it is there, and it is SWEET. I adored the relationship and even with the third act break-up, it worked. I loved all of the sweet, soft moments and how they learned to be there for each other.

And I LOVED all of Isadora’s new friends, young and old. It was absolutely heart-warming and made me misty eyed over and over again.

The audiobook was stellar and I’m so grateful I got to listen to that option.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Fiction + Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of a loved one (side character), an emotionally manipulative/gaslighting ex, strained parental relationship

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