This was such a good book! I loved this characters. Sports romance and opposites attract, grumpy and sunshine, perfect mix of witty banter too.

While I enjoyed the first book, this one didn't hit as hard for me. I found it really hard to connect with the female character and her dynamic with others. Her sister often showed a really harsh personality and was honestly rude at times, in my opinion. Our male main character was also just a little too grumpy for my liking that it also felt rude at points. The ending conflict wasn't a working in my favor also. Overall, I will continue reading Courtney's books, but this just didn't work for me.

I don’t physically read many books anymore, audiobook has taken over for me.

But.

I will always make an exception for Courtney Walsh’s romcoms. I can’t wait for audio to release, I need her books ASAP. The lady has charmed me body and soul. Her writing is incredibly sweet, romantic, and low angst. Her writing is the chocolate chip morsel to a vanilla cookie batter. She takes these stories that could be like any other romcom and brings the sweetness to the next level with a rich finishing.

I probably took the chocolate chip morsel analogy in a weird direction. It’s late and I just finished this delightful story, so I wanted to gush and the hour doesn’t suit my brain power.

But seriously.

You want the sweetness of a cute romance with little angst? GET THIS ONE. Well, get My Phony Valentine first, because it is the first and equally adorable.

I hope Courtney Walsh keeps writing stories that she wants to read, because I want to read them too. She and I must be reading twins, because these are the stories I will eat up.

Also, this is a horrible “review” because I’ve told you absolutely nothing about this book, just know that my feelings are strong and I loved it. So cute. So, very cute. I’ll just be Courtney’s hype girl and not a reviewer, it’s way more fun.


*oh and I totally forgot I had gotten this from netgalley… but thank you tons for this ARC that I’m late to the game with reading.

My Lucky Charm by Courtney Walsh

Eloise Hart has had her fill of down luck. She recently went through a break-up which also caused her to lose her job. When the opportunity arises to work as a personal assistant for the newest Chicago Comet star, she jumps at the chance.

Grayson Hawke has been traded to the Comets and does everything in his power to make sure everyone knows he’s not going to be happy about this change. He wants to remain focused on the game and not get tangled with anyone or anything to distract him.

This grumpy/sunshine book had me laughing out loud and falling in love with these characters. Eloise definitely earned the title sunshine with her positive outlook and pure resilience in the face of so many challenges. I loved this uplifting and swoony book right up there with the first in the series, My Phony Valentine. Do yourself a favor and go pick this one up!

Another perfect and swoony romance. I loved Eloise so much. The way she truly loved with her whole heart. My heart ached for Grey and everything he had to overcome. I also enjoyed the almost tangible angst we got to see as their relationship grew and developed.

My favourite romance book I’ve read this year so far! So pleased to have been able to read this book through NetGalley! I really enjoyed the style of writing by the author and will definitely be reading more of the authors books in the future! A very sweet sport romance story with a FMC and MMC who I was rooting for from the start

I enjoyed this book and I love this series. I'm excited to see what this author writes for the last sister. This book had a great opening, great characters, dialogue. flow, humor and overall held my interest to the end. I knew there'd be a h.e.a. but I didn't know how that'd happen and so I enjoyed their journey. I was really rooting for Grey and Elosie individually and as a couple. What I appreciate about this author. and why she's a 5 star author for me, is her ability to write relatable characters and relationships. The characters feel genuine. Also, I think Courtney Walsh understands and is able to convey the nuisances, dynamics, complexities, and layers of relationships whether familial, romantic or friends all without telling but showing the reader. The ending was perfect for those two characters
*thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy. Opinion is 100% my own*

Gray and eloise are the epitome of grumpy/sunshine. I loved their initial meeting (swoon) and I loved their chemistry throughout the whole book.

For someone so grumpy, you can’t help but love Gray. Once you understand why he is so grumpy, why he is so closed off, and you get the opportunity to see the soft spot he has inside, he’s actually pretty sweet.

I loved Eloise too, she is funny and silly and I just really enjoyed her all around.

The hockey team and the Hart family make for some of the best side characters and I loved getting to know them and can’t wait to see more!

If you love swoony romance with all the chemistry but none of the spice, this is a great choice, and it’s hockey, which is always a good idea!

This book was a one-sitting wonder for me! Eloise and Gray are a super sweet and easy to root for couple. This true grumpy sunshine was a delightfully fun, sweet romance where two flawed people fit perfectly together!

First thought: Loved this one! This is the perfect grumpy sunshine romance, the grump is dialed up to 100% and it’s so perfect to balance the super sunshine. This book has it all: dual pinning, opposites attract, workplace romance, some hockey, small town and a bunch of adorable banter. All wrapped up in a sweet & clean bow.

Eloise is a pure ray of sunshine, but life isn’t going to plan. It’s NYE and she finds herself boyfriend and jobless, make it worse her ex just walked into the bar. So her bestie convinced her to approach a stranger and convince him to kiss her when the clock strikes midnight. So she found a handsome man sitting solo at the bar, strikes up a one sided conversation. He doesn’t have much to say but at the last minute pulls her in and gives her a life shattering kiss before he walks out.

Gray is an amazing hockey player but has a bad attitude, he was just traded and his overall demeanor is causing issues. So the captain, coach, and team owner decided to get him a personal assistant to help him adapt to the new city, team, take over his pr and just help make his life easier. He hates the idea, he doesn’t want anyone in his business. He has one focus in his life: hockey, he doesn’t date and he doesn’t do distractions.

Eloise knows nothing about hockey but her sister’s boyfriend is the caption of the pro hockey team. He just offered her a job to be an assistant for a new player on his team. She is a people person and helping others is her favorite thing, she’s excited about the chance to prove she can do this. But then the said hockey player shows up at her parent’s door for family brunch, and it’s him! The man she kissed on NYE. Oh boy this job is going to more than she bargained for.

How will the sunshine learn to navigate the grump of little words, will he put out her light or will she pull him out of his shell? You have got to read this cute and sweet romance to find out!

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Grumpy vs Sunshine
* Forced Proximity
* Found Family
* Single Dad
* Workplace
* Small Town
* Dual POV

🍏🌵🏒🍏🌵🏒🍏🌵🏒🍏🌵🏒🍏🌵🏒🍏

This is my second book by Courtney Walsh and I know I will be a forever fan of hers. I am always on board for a grumpy/sunshine trope.
Eloise is instantly that wonderful sunshine that I enjoyed reading.So kind and caring for all. I loved Gray’s growth from grumpy, it was fun to read. Their meeting was so fun.
The pacing is perfect and there are some funny and sweet moments. (And wow for that first kiss!)

Thank you for the Netgalley approval. I can’t wait to read more books from Courtney Walsh!

My Lucky Charm" spins a captivating tale of unexpected connections and second chances, wrapped in the cozy embrace of a holiday romance. Courtney Walsh weaves a delightful narrative, blending humor, heart, and just the right amount of sweetness. Eloise's vivacious spirit leaps off the pages, contrasting beautifully with Grayson's brooding demeanor. Their chemistry crackles with every encounter, making their slow-burn romance utterly irresistible. Against the backdrop of Chicago and the vibrant world of hockey, Walsh crafts a story filled with warmth, laughter, and genuine emotion. From witty banter to heartwarming moments, this book is a delightful journey that will leave readers grinning from ear to ear. With its charming characters and uplifting storyline, "My Lucky Charm" is a true gem that shines brightly in the world of romance fiction.

Review: *My lucky charm* - ARC - Courtney Walsh
5/5✨

I'm super grateful for the chance you've given me to be part of the ARC team for this book. So thank you Courtney Walsh and NetGalley 💙!! It was an amazing read and I devoured it in less than 2 days 🤭.

Eloise is the smallest one of the Hart sisters. She had a really bad end of year and one the New Years Eve she decides to kiss a stranger, to make his old boyfriend jealous. But after a few months, she discovers that the man she kissed is a famous hockey player for whom she must work. She gradually gets to know Grayson Hawke, a grumpy man who just hates everyone and everything. It's going to be a difficult job for Eloise, but her positivity it's infections and it's hard not to steal some of her good vibes.

I adooored every part of this story. The slow burn, it had lots of banter between Eloise and Gray, lots of funny scenes and some sad parts which made you think about life. The characters were built really good, but also their relationship with the others.

I loved the interactions between Eloise and her family, her sisters and father were really funny and the ones between Gray and his hockey teammates and his family.

The story had a small plot twist which added another character into the spotlight, which had a big part at building the happy ending for Eloise and Grayson. It was great to watch them throughout the story and see them how they were getting attached to each other.

Even though it was my first read from this author, I can say that I clicked instantly with this story and I felt really good reading it. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a super sweet story, with no spicy scenes but I'm telling you that it didn't even matter because the way the story was buit is going to keep you captivated!🤭

Tropes: Sports romance, forbidden love, grumpy-sunshine, found family, athlete, good girl/bad boy, boss/employee, close proximity, opposites attracts, workplace romance.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 🌟

This was such a cute, sweet, story! I really loved the first one in the series and was so excited to read this.

I related to Eloise so much and I think her character development is amazing and was done in such a real way.

Gray is the broody, grumpy, mmc who stole my heart. I loved seeing his relationship with his daughter and how he came so far as a person.

This author is really easy to read (not in a bad way) and I binged the entire book in one sitting.

Oh this was super cute. Grumpy and Sunshine, sports, forced proximity, etc. the ending had me giggling with the cuteness.

Thanks, Sweethaven Press, for the early review copy via NetGalley.

It was so entertaining to spend time with Eloise (never met a stranger, wears her heart on her sleeve, the Golden Retriever of people) and her hockey star new boss, Grayson (can you stay a stranger? I’m busy here. All work no play. The Belgian Malinois of people). Their banter and chemistry were more charming than a bowl of Lucky Charms, more sparkling than a Dr. Pepper. I challenge you to read this without grinning (I’m smiling, just writing this!).

“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.”

Five happy (green) hearts for this love story. 💚💚💚💚💚

This book was super fun & cute. The characters were very lovable and I found myself cheering for all of them. All of the characters seemed to think they all knew what they wanted but, what they truly needed was the opposite. This book also gave info about Chicago (since she was a tour guide) I have now booked my first trip to Chicago for this June and will be picturing this book! My new favorite trope grumpy meets sunshine!!! It's such a good romance!!

I loved this book! Gives off serious Sarah Adams vibes! Clean rom-com. Grumpy hockey player meets Pollyanna! My favorite kind of read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Courtney Walsh is ALWAYS a win!

OMG this book was so freaking good! It was like a hug to my heart! Gray was the epitome of a grump, and Eloise was such a funny character. I loved their banter and how quickly she became an integral part of his life. Gray was so miserable with everyone but his sweet moments were freaking swoon worthy! There was also a part of this book I didn’t see coming and it just made me LOVE it so much more! I haven’t read the first book, but I loved Poppy’s character so I for sure will be reading it! I even went out and got physical copies of both because I loved it so much!

Thank you so much to @netgalley @courtneywalsh and @victoryeditingngc for the advance copy of this to read and review!

This book is just perfect! The character development, the pace, the feels, the depth, the struggles, the growth and the love - it has everything! I just couldn’t put it down but unfortunately I had to sleep, LOL.

I LOVED this story. Eloise and Gray seemed total opposites. Like Eloise said: <i>“We couldn’t be more different. We’re not apples and oranges, we’re apples and cactuses.”</i> Eloise is happy, uplifting, friendly, chatty and smiley, a true sunshine. Gray is dark, moody, angry, grumpy and rude. They meet when Eloise is at a bar at new year’s eve with her friend Meredith and her boyfriend, when her ex enters the bar. The prospect of being alone when everybody is kissing someone while being watched by her ex-boyfriend is so humiliating that she straightforwardly asks a random stranger to kiss her at midnight. He does - and not only is it the best kiss she’s ever had, later she finds out he’s also the guy she’ll be working for! Eloise is hired as some kind of PA but with the main task of helping him get settled in Chicago, show him the town, help him get used to his new life, because he has a reputation of being difficult and reclusive. The only problem is that he doesn’t want a ‘nanny’. But Eloise isn’t put off by that. She’s up for the challenge! So she faces Gray head on, not backing away from being direct and saying it like it is. I really liked that she spoke her mind!

And Gray might be rude and reclusive, but he’s very hurt by the people around him. You soon learn that his father was a bully and didn’t do ‘nice’, didn’t care for how Gray felt, he only cared about results. He pressured Gray to be the best but Gray’s best was never good enough. He’s almost like a machine; programmed to work hard, be the best and not get ‘distracted’ by people, emotions, love. Enter Eloise, who is sweet, nice, kind, a people-person and loving… and you know you have a great story in your hands to enjoy!

But this book has so much more than just a sunny PA and a grumpy hockey player. It has so much depth, is so incredibly well developed and written - I don’t often find a story that is this good. Eloise and Gray have verbal face-offs (fun!) but there’s also those internal struggles and inabilities to say how you feel. Honest conversations where they get closer to each other and snappy, rude pushing away. Awkward silences and comfortable enjoyments. It has it all and it is beautifully written, not over the top but just perfectly executed!

The secondary characters also add so much.
Dallas, Scarlett, Poppy, even Raya and Jay. They all add a lot. (I hope the next book is about Raya and maybe Finn?) And I like that besides the story of Eloise and Gray together, there’s also the story of Eloise and Jay, and Gray and his dad, and what we can learn from those relationships. You could recognize so much in those stories about how you feel yourself or someone you know. It makes you think. It’s a wonderful story about finding and accepting yourself. It’s easy to read but has depth, it’s fun but with seriousness, it’s about you as a person but also about relationships with others. A clean story but with so much chemistry! Honest and realistic characters and character development. And it casually teaches you about toxic relationships and the world of sign language for deaf people.
I have added Courtney Walsh to my list of favorite writers, I’ll be checking out more of her books!

Last but not least: Read this amazing book and you’ll understand why my man never buys me flowers but buys me strawberries (in my case). Read this book and you will catch yourself writing tiny hearts on things.
<i>Do it because you love it.</i>
*thumbs up emoji*

Thank you Victoria Editing NetGalley, Sweethaven Press and Courtney Walsh for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.