REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: LUCKY CHARMED by SHARLA LOVELACE

 

It seems he and Carmen are at each other’s throats one minute—

and on each other’s lips the next. Someone’s gotta give . . .

 

 

LUCKY CHARMED

Charmed in Texas #2

Sharla Lovelace

Releasing July 18th, 2017

Lyrical Shine

 

 

 

In Lucky Charmed (Charmed in Texas #2) by Sharla Lovelace, Carmen Frost and Sully Hart fell in love years ago. There's was a whirlwind romance, but circumstances tore them apart. Now Sully is back and determined to settle down in her hometown of Charmed, Texas where he'll be working on a big project. However, it's not easy for Carmen to forgive and forget what he did in the past. Will Sully be able to convince her that what he did was for the best, or is there no hope of a second chance at happy ever after for the pair?

 

Ms. Lovelace has penned another absolutely fabulous read for this series, which was intense due to the main characters back stories; filled with plenty of drama because of Sully and the heroine's ex-husband butting heads over the town's project and their contest for Carmen's attention; where the main characters are put through the emotional wringer, especially that of the heroine because of the secrets those she trusted have kept from her; and the obstacles these two face on their journey to happy ever after. Will Carmen and Sully be able to overcome the hurdles keeping them apart? Will Carmen be able to forgive those that wronged her? 

 

The way this story started had me hooked, because of the heroine's dilemma. She's not big on the towns number one loves -- honey and bees and hates the gossipers that love to talk about her. Why can't they find something else more interesting to talk about? Why did her ex-husband come away from their divorce the town's golden boy while she's the one the town thinks did wrong?  However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time that drew me into this story completely and made this story a real page turner, as Carmen doesn't handle things very well.

 

Both the main characters were compelling, and I loved how feisty the heroine can get when she feels backed into a corner, which is proven when the truth comes out about what people she loved kept from her and when she's accused of something she didn't do. No way wouldn't she let the people she thought she could trust hear what was on her mind. Moreover, the hero is resilient, courageous and I liked that she stuck to her plans, even though she managed to alienate her best friend with decisions that had everything to do with the fact that she couldn't handle everything such her ex causing problems to not feeling like she can trust her mother to Sully staying in Charmed. 

 

While the hero, it's understandable why he wants to settle in one place after so many years on the road and I liked how he stood up to those that wanted him to leave town. I also liked his teasing banter with the heroine, especially when they're working on the town project. Certainly, Carmen doesn't have any skills when it comes to being a handyman or woman in her case. Furthermore, I felt sorry for the hero when certain things come to light about his past; things that end up hurting Carmen that he never wanted her to learn the truth of.

 

Overall, Ms. Lovelace has penned a wonderful read in this book where the chemistry was strong; the romance hot when they finally gave in to their feelings instead of fighting them; and the ending was heartwarming and had me smiling, because no way can Sully let Carmen get away a second time. Not when he's been in love with her for so long and always will be. I would recommend Lucky Charmed by Sharla Lovelace, if you enjoy the enemy to lovers trope, the second chance romance trope, or books by authors Kelly Moran, MK Meredith, Mackenzie Crowne or Marina Adair.

 

 

 

BLURB

Carmen Frost hates honey. And bees. And in her hometown of Charmed, Texas, which practically invented the stuff, that’s a problem. The good news is that the summer Honey Festival is finally over. Even better, so is the annual Lucky Hart carnival, a road show that made off with her dreams years ago—including the boy she loved. Now she’s got a divorce behind her, and a successful law career in front of her, but in a tiny town, big memories die hard. Or they don’t die at all—as Carmen discovers when she runs into an all too familiar pair of eyes—older, wiser, and just as heart-melting as ever . . .

Sully Hart has had enough of the nomad lifestyle. Travelling with his father’s carnival gave him adventures, but it cost him much more. Now he’s home to stay, contracted to create an entertainment complex in Charmed. He wants roots, a house with a yard and all the mundane pleasures that go with it. But the girl he loved has become a woman who still wants freedom. Can she still want him? It seems he and Carmen are at each other’s throats one minute—and on each other’s lips the next. Someone’s gotta give . . .

 

I lifted my chin, and refused to look away. No matter what was liquefying in my chest as his gaze burned through me. No matter what images flashed like a movie reel in my head. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

“Good for you,” I said, placing the package back on the shelf. I needed them more than ever but I would not need them in front of him. “Welcome back to Charmed.”

I made to walk around him, but the heat from his hand on my arm stopped me.

“Carmen, wait.”

His voice was like hot honey over my body.

I hate honey.

I was proud of myself. My acting ability to not suck my tongue down my throat, or choke on my own spit, or jerk my arm free like I’d been bitten by a rabid squirrel—was Oscar-worthy. Instead, I patted his hand and smiled up at him, slowly stepping to the side until his fingers slid free.

“We’re grown-ups now, Sully,” I said, wondering where the hell the words were coming from. “It’s all good. Have a great day.”

And I walked away. And out. And to my car. The pains stabbing through my middle stealing my breath. Damn grateful for nothing else in my hand because being chased down for shoplifting cookies while in a blind haze of what-the-fuckery would have been the final icing on a messed up cake.

Fumbling for my keys, I hit the button and got in as quickly as possible. I had to leave. Now. Before he came out. Before I could see what he was driving and then obsess over every other that vehicle I saw in every other parking lot in Charmed. Before I could succumb to the temptation of watching to see where he went. Where he lived, what his home looked like.

“Leave,” I whispered, my voice sounding vaguely desperate. I felt the burn behind my eyes and I shook my head and tilted my head back. “No. You will not cry, damn it.”

I blinked at the roof. I was thirty-three. Eighteen was a long time ago. Suck it up, Carmen.

I took a deep breath and faced forward, just in time to see him walk out of the store. He’d slid the sunglasses down over his eyes, causing a stray lock of dark hair to fall next to his face. He was probably twenty-five feet away, and I could feel that strand of hair on my fingertips.

Without another look, I pulled out and drove away.

 

Sharla Lovelace is the bestselling, award-winning author of sexy small-town love stories. Being a Texas girl through and through, she’s proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her retired husband, a tricked-out golf cart, and two crazy dogs. She is the author of five stand-alone novels including the bestselling Don’t Let Go, the exciting Heart Of The Storm series, and the fun and sexy new Charmed in Texas series. For more about Sharla's books, visit her website, and keep up with all her new book releases easily by subscribing to her newsletter. She loves keeping up with her readers, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

a Rafflecopter giveaway