Eloise has been flailing as of late in the career department. So when her sister's boyfriend sets her up with a job as an assistant to his hockey team's new star player, things seem to be looking up.

But, that player, Grayson Hawke, is more than she bargained for. He is grumpy, rude, and super reclusive. And he is also the stranger she kissed at midnight on New Year's Eve.

As she works to prove herself capable in this new job, she has to work to chip away Gray's hard outer shell to try and find the real man hiding underneath. And in the process has to deal with her attraction to this porcupine of a human.

And when she finally gets a good glimpse into the man behind all the walls he throws up, things may change for both of them.
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In the dedication Courtney says in this one that she wrote the grumpiest hero she could, and I think she succeeded. In the beginning I wasn't sure how she would redeem him and make him loveable, but oh boy did she! Gray is just a hard candy with a squishy inside. That coating is just very hard to crack!

I loved the character arcs in this one. Both Eloise and Gray had some soul searching to do to figure out what they wanted out of life. I love how they balanced each other out. They had to come into their own identities apart from wanting a relationship with one another. Sometimes romance book couples feel a little too interdependent, but this couple complimented each other without being overpowering.

I desire to be a Courtney Walsh completist now and need to go read her whole backlist! She hasn't done me wrong yet.
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This is a closed door, kisses only rom com.

Thank you to the author for the ARC of this title! All opinions are my own.

This. Was. Adorable. Grumpy x sunshine of the highest order. Eloise kisses a stranger on NYE to make her ex jealous and soon finds out he’s her new boss - a hockey player transferred to her local team and she’s his assistant. They both stoically pretend to not remember the kiss but inevitably struggle not to give in to their mutual attraction.

Oooft - Gray is the grumpiest and I love it. I love how surly and quiet he is, how terrible he is at expressing himself and the fact that his connection with Eloise helps him with all this. And I also loved Eloise - she just so apologetically FEELS her feelings and it’s so relatable. She never kids herself on, she knows she’s unrealistically hoping for a relationship with Gray and is unashamedly herself. All the warm and fuzzy feelings 🥰

And all the best tropes!

- hockey romance
- meet cute - strangers kiss on NYE
- workplace relationship - he’s technically her boss
- grumpy x sunshine
- single dad
- second in series but can be read as a standalone

4.5 Stars

Oh my goodness! This book was absolutely adorable. If you know me, you know I love a grump and so I obviously LOVED Gray. Eloise was also such a great character. Even though it was sometimes her downfall, I loved her willingness to always see the good in every person or situation she encountered. Their romance and chemistry was addictive. I just had to keep reading to see how things would shake out.

A few minor things that bothered me:
-Gray seemed to have a complete personality change at some points which kind of threw me off
-I didn't love the "dark moment" in the book. I won't call it a third-act breakup bc they're not together at that point but I just didn't connect with this part of the story
-I didn't really like Raya. She just came off as a jerk to me although I'm hoping to see some redemption when she gets her own book

Over all though, it was a really enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it if you like grumpy/sunshine or hockey romances.

Spice: kisses only

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this wonderful book in exchange of an honest review.

I adore a good Grumpy + Sunshine and Courtney absolutely delivered on this one. I adored returning to Loveland and getting to spend more time with Poppy and Dallas while also getting to know Eloise and Gray. I can't wait to see what Raya's story will bring!

Eloise...What an absolutely pure ray of sunshine. I love Eloise's outlook on life and her true love of all the people around her. She is so genuine and always sees the glass as half full. I really enjoyed seeing her gain confidence and discover her purpose throughout the story. I think it's easy to view younger siblings as immature, but there was a lot of self-discovery and growth for Eloise from beginning to end. I think my favorite El characteristic is her refusal to give up on those she loves. Such a great quality!

Gray...Y'all, I love a truly broody and grumpy MMC and this guy takes the cake. I think I adore these characters as much as I do because there's usually a really great story about what made them the way they are. Gray certainly had his share of challenging events in his past that molded him into the adorable grump he is. Another thing about these guys is that because they seem so closed off in the beginning, their evolutions and love stories seem so transformative. I'm absolutely here for it every single time.

Things I loved...Scarlett (and all her pre-teen sassiness), getting more glimpses at Poppy and Dallas's story a year later, getting to know Raya a little better, more interactions with Gray and Dallas's teammates (Jericho's antics make me laugh out loud), and Gray's "grand gesture" (absolutely perfect for his and Eloise's story).

I'm looking forward to exploring more of Courtney's backlog in the future. I honestly don't think she's capable of writing something I won't absolutely love!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

A huge thank you to Netgalley for my gifted copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My Lucky Charm is a hockey romance set in nearby Chicago (for me) and I loved following along as Eloise had to contend with grumpy and cranky Grayson. As his personal assistant, Eloise and her chatty herself seem to be everywhere and Grayson is having a tough time focusing on the problem at hand ... his move to Chicago and being on a new team, not to mention he's really far away from his daughter Scarlett. But as chance would have it, everyone, including Scarlett love Eloise and as far as Grayson can tell, so does he.

This was such a sweet story. Both characters were so easy to love and so easy to root for. The honesty between the characters was so refreshing and the fact that they were all tackling real life problems made them so relatable. There were even moments where I may have shed happy tears.

Walsh knows how to deliver a steamy romance with none of the spice. And I love that about her writing. She is consistent and delivers every time. Read if you enjoy:

*Grumpy/Sunshine
*Hockey Romance
*Daddy/Daughter Dates
*Found Family
*Single Dad

This is the second in a series, but can definitely be read as a stand alone.

Gray is the ultimate Grump, hands down.. and Eloise has her job cut out for her. With Gray new to lineup of the Chicago Comets that means a new city and management enlists the help of the second Hart sister to help make the transition a bit easier on him, she jumps at the chance as her current job hit the flames. Gray Hawke is having no part of this "helping hand" but Eloise is harder to ignore than he thought.
Give me all the hockey romance, I want them all! Courtney Walsh overdid herself on this one, its just soo good and a top contender of the year for me. I cant wait for Raya's story!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This grumpy/sunshine book was so good!!! I absolutely loved Eloise and Gray. Eloise’s character was so fun and had me laughing out loud 🤣 Gray is so totally grumpy yet charming! I really enjoyed all the characters. I didn’t read My Phony Valentine yet but I can’t wait to! There was great banter and I loved how heartwarming this book was🥰 It is a hockey romance but had so much more depth that I fell in love with! This is a closed door romance. I personally love both closed and open door romance with spice. Courtney writes amazing closed door romance novels!! This is my second book I’ve read by her and loved. My favorite so far is The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley ♥️ I can’t wait to read all of Courtney’s books!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It's the second of the Holidays with Hart series and is available now on Kindle Unlimited. Courtey Walsh is an author I've recentmy discovered and I'm so glad I did! I've read and loved a number of her books over the last couple of years, and this is definitely one of my favorites.

Eloise and Gray made me smile, laugh, and feel all the feels. Gray is a hockey player that got traded to the Chicago Comets when he didn't want to. He had a reason that he wanted to stay in Philadelphia that you'll have to learn when you read the book. (go read the book, and DM me your thoughts!). He is definitely the grumpy of this grumpy/sunshine book. Eloise is the youngest Hart sister. She has made it her life mission to stay positive positive and bring good energy wherever she goes. And lately that's been getting harder. She's beginning to doubt who and what she is and how she brings value. This is as much her journey of getting comfortable in her own skin as a very sweet romance between her and Gray. I loved all of it! The humor, the banter, the slow burn, the chemistry, the characters. It was perfect. I can't wait for book number three in this series!

Thanks to the author for sharing this story. All opinions are my own.

Courtney Walsh always writes a fun sweet romance and this is no exception. if you like grumpy/sunshine trope you'll love this one. These two characters end up working together after they shared a New Years Eve kiss as strangers. lots of fun ensues.

Thank you NetGalley, Courtney Walsh, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Sweethaven Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Courtney Walsh is one of my favorite RomCom writers! Her stories always pull me right in and I can't put them down, but I also don't want them to end, and this story did not disappoint! I loved the characters, the grumpy sunshine, the witty banter..the whole thing was chefs kiss for me!

4.5 star read for me!

When Eloise Hart sees her cheating ex-boyfriend on New Years Eve, she doesn’t want to seem desperate and alone so she kisses a stranger, something totally out of character for her. Little does she know that Grayson Hawke will become part of her life in ways unknown.
No job, a cheating ex-boyfriend who was also her boss, Eloise is having a tough time! But eternally happy, Eloise is still not quite sure about taking on a job as assistant to grumpy Grayson Hawke, new star hockey player for the Chicago Comets and the stranger she kissed on NYE.
Grayson Hawke did not want to be transferred to Chicago and he makes this known to everyone around him. He particularly does not want a new assistant, especially one that is cheerful and smiling and just happens to be the woman he shared a kiss with, a woman he certainly hasn’t forgotten. Yet these two, Mr Grumpy and Miss Sunshine are thrown together and it makes for a wonderful journey as they navigate this workplace relationship. Eloise knows she mustn’t fall for her boss again while Grayson finds it hard to let anyone in, ever. But slowly as the layers unravel, we get to see the true Grayson and understand why he is like he is. I love Eloise’s family and seeing how their relationship evolves as she undertakes her own personal growth.
There are moments of laughter and happiness (and stubbornness!) with My Lucky Charm a romcom that will warm your heart with family, Dr Pepper, hockey and the delight that grumpy x sunshine brings. I really enjoyed this book, a wonderful romance read!

Thanks to Courtney Walsh and Netgalley for the early copy I received.

My Lucky Charm has kissing scenes only and is out now via Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

This was cute and lighthearted— but it very low angst, low tension and it was missing witty banter for me. I think this is a good fit for those who want a light romance read with no spice, but wasn’t my cup of tea, personally.

📚Book Review - My Lucky Charm📚

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️

Published: February 23, 2024
Sweethaven Press
376 pages
Goodreads rating: 4.42⭐

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh is my new favorite rom-com! A new book boyfriend, sports romance, grumpy sunshine and plenty of banter made this novel my ideal light read.

I’m adding this to my list of comfort reads and will read it again when I’m in the mode for the perfect romance book.

I know people have different preferences when it comes to spice level, so know this is completely closed door.

If you’re a fan of Sarah Adams, this is a perfect book for you!

Courtney Walsh is my comfort author. I love how easy her writing is to read. I loved Eloise and gray and their grump sunshine trope. Their chemistry was 🤌🏼

Grumpy Sunshine? Yes, please! Courtney Walsh's books never disappoint. I was hooked from the first page with these cute characters and fun storylines. The witty banter, dual point of view (always my favorite), and a clean hockey romance (which is very hard to find - ha!) will have you devouring this book in hours.

Add it to your list - you'll love it!

𝗠𝗬 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 is the textbook definition of a comfort read. This was the type of read that was meant to be enjoyed and savoured on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Which is exactly how I read it. Eloise and Gray were such incredibly sweet and funny characters l I enjoyed everything about them and couldn’t wait to see them get their much deserved happily ever after. Once I started this book I could not put it down. I’m giving 𝗠𝗬 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗠 the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!

In her "Love Letter From the Author" at the end of the book, Courtney Walsh tells readers that she aims to write the books she wants to read: "playful, fun, low angst romance where you can count on the happy ending." What a perfect summary of one of the most delightful books I've recently read!! My Lucky Charm was pure joy - lovable characters, an uplifting and heart-warming story, and perfectly-placed humor. I love holiday-themed books, and reading this one around St. Patrick's Day was such a breath of fresh air. Check it out for a grumpy/sunshine, hockey romance, sexy boss, forced proximity dream of a book. The first book in this series, My Phony Valentine, is up next on my TBR, and I can't wait for more stories!

Thank you to Sweethaven Press for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own. I loved it so much!!

A heart warming, uplifting, and just overall beautiful story about a grumpy hockey player, Gray, and the sweetest soul there is, Eloise. There was lots of emotions while reading this book. Happy ones, frustrating ones, and sad ones. But what made this book so special to me was the banter between these two characters. I was hooked. I could not put this book down because I needed to find out the next silly thing the two would argue about.
Eloise had me cracking up the whole entire time. Her constant rambling and love of life and people made this book amazing. It is so refreshing knowing that people like her are out there in this world.
Gray?? Sexy. The misunderstood hockey star. But has the kindest heart. A solid book boyfriend. Where can I find a real life Gray?
This was my first Courtney Walsh story and I was NOT disappointed. Her writing is addicting and gripping and I cannot wait to read more from her. I would have liked to read some steamy scenes between these two love birds but I also liked how it left me to my imagination.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐌𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐡
𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵: 𝘗𝘩𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭/𝘌-𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5

“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘳. 𝘖𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.”

“𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘴, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭.”

Oh, Courtney Walsh, you just get me. This is only my third of her many books, but each one of them has brought a smile to my face and the warm and fuzzies to my heart.

In My Lucky Charm, we follow Eloise, the second of the Hart sisters, after initially being introduced in My Phony Valentine. Eloise, who is sunshine personified, is offered the job as assistant to Grayson Hawke, the new star player of the Chicago Comets, and professional grump.

This is a story of opposites, of looking past first impressions, of self acceptance and vulnerability. How Courtney Walsh writes these low angst romances, but still brings all the feels, is beyond me, but I’m here for it. I can’t wait for the next one. Don’t miss Eloise’s story!