Lucky Charmed

Sharla Lovelace

Jul 2017 · Charmed in Texas Book 2 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

Charmed, Texas, is as warm and welcoming as it sounds. But even in a small town, when it comes to love, sometimes you’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet . . .

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 . . .

"Fans of the first installment (A Charmed Little Lie) will enjoy this second one just as much and be clamoring for the third." — Library Journal on Lucky Charmed

Ratings and reviews

***3.5 Stars*** I find myself in a bit of a conundrum over Lucky Charmed and the words are becoming all kinds of wonky in my head as I try to put them into something coherent, so I’m going to keep this on the short and sweet side of the line. The synopsis lured me in, I do love a good second chance at love romance set in a small town, and let me tell you that the small town feel jumped off the page in more ways than one, so that I totally enjoyed and once I started in on the book I read in no time flat, but I’m not so sure how I feel about Carmen and Sully. For the most part I liked them, separately and together, and yet there is a part of me that didn’t like them. I admired both in their determination and hard work, but their constant push/pull and lack of communication drove me batshit crazy. I will say that Carmen drove me to the edge more times than Sully did, but he wasn’t exactly mister calm, cool and forthright either and did his share of freaking out. I will say that I liked that they both ended up sticking to their guns and found their way back to each other in a way that made sense. This is my first read by the author and despite my issues with the MC’s, it was a totally engaging and quick read, though there is a part of me that does wish it was done in dual 1st person POV, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story. The supporting cast of characters were all definitely unique, some I liked much more than others, and am quite interested in checking out the next book in the series based on the little tease at the end of the book. ~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

Carmen has always had a bit of itchy feet and thanks to the gossipy nature of small towns she's feeling it even more now.  And that was before she found out that her carny ex was moving to Charmed!  She's always hated being talked about and this is just making things even worse.  It's bad enough that the man shattered her heart, now he's destroying what peace she has.   Like the first book in the series, Lucky Charmed is told entirely from the heroine's POV ... and I really think that we missed out on some feels because of it.  Sully didn't have the easiest life growing up and, along with the problems of a nomadic life, there has been a lot of family trouble causing him stress.  And while we get a pretty good feel for where he's coming from thanks to his conversations with Carmen, I really wish we'd gotten to see more of what was going on in his mind and heart.   Lovelace does a great job of blending angst. humor, sizzle and emotion all together to deliver a satisfying read where Sully and Carmen not only get a second chance at love but also the closure of their past, with a healthy look at their future, that they desperately need.   (Part of a series but can easily stand on its own.) *** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Oh my Lord what a hook this author gives this story. There is no way you can read this and not feel sorry for Carmen that is after you get over the fact she hates honey. She is something else with her dry witty sense of humor and her outlook on life you can’t help but laugh your way through turning the pages as fast as you can. As the book takes off the author grabs your attention with Carmen’s charming self complaining about the people in the grocery store and talking about her love or not so love of honey. As she takes a little walk down memory lane who does she run into but the one man she thought she would never see again. Then the story takes off from ex’s to her over bearing mother as friends take her side and others go against her she rides the tide of shame, loneness, heartbreak. Just as you get through one bump another one comes along that is bigger than the last. There are some major twists and turns and a few you won’t see coming as this author drivers you right to laughter. When Carmen was 18 she had all her hopes on one man who would take her way from her crazy life and give her true adventure with carnival his father owned. She spent her days dreaming of the only man she has ever loved in all of her short 18 years. Oh the life they will have doing this and that seeing the world one town at a time. That is until the day came and wait she did but he never showed. Maybe she made a mistake so she drove to the next town but again she sets and waits for hours all alone as day grew to night she knew he wasn’t coming. Going home with her head hung low listening to all the things her mother had to say she married the guy her mother wanted her to. After many years of more disappointment she divorces. Just as she is about to get her life on track in walks the one man she never forgot or forgiven. From this point on it is one shock after another until she can’t be shocked any more. Sully is done totally through with the carnival letting his brother takes it over. He has decided he is coming back to the only place that ever felt like home and the women he has always loved. When he starts his project he finds not only does his true love not forgive him but the town has a long memory as well. That is what happens when you mess with the hometown sweetheart. Not only will he have to get her to change how she feels but he has to work on the whole town as well. I just loved Carmen who stands up and said what she thinks. Her mother is a trip with little class but a good heart. She has some major explaining when the cat gets out of the bag. Carmen has her ideas of just what everyone can do including those dang bees. I laughed and laughed. At one point I was eating ice cream and just about died when something happened and I chocked my way through it. Sully stole my heart with his classy hot self that would turn any women to mush. The author does a wonderful job showing how the past affect everyone and how everyone deals with it. There is drama at its finest with so much emotion you aren’t sure who you feel for the most. As the author takes you along first your heart breaks for Carmen, than Sully and then Carmen by the time you have read the last page you even feel sorry for her ex husband who was really a piece of work. Stalker comes to mind but you can’t help feeling for a man who is and has always been so in love with her that he is willing to do anything to keep her. I totally loved this story of second chances filled with romance, learning about yourself, finding how to forgive so many and finally learning that sometimes you have to swallow some crow to make your dreams come true. If you are looking for an outstanding read one that will stay with you leaving you with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart this is the one for you. There is no way this cannot be added to my favorite reads of the year. So far to date I think this book is my favorite of the ones she has written.

About the author

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 www.sharlalovelace.com, 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 as @sharlalovelace.