I adore Courtney Walsh and her books, so I was eager to read Just Look Up. This was a quick read that made me smile - just want I want in a sweet romance. There was plenty of flirting, faith, and everything in between. I loved it!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After tirelessly climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about her brother draws her back home—a quaint tourist town full of memories she’d just as soon forget. With her cell phone and laptop always within reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on work—something her eclectic family doesn’t understand.

Ryan Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home. Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren’t ideal.

Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can’t find a trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. Facing a crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his relationship with the surrogate family he’s found in the Kelleys, Ryan hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in front of her all along—if only she’d just look up.

This is a wonderful book, it was a great read that keeps the readers attention until the very end.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Not normally a big reader of Christian fiction, but I do enjoy Courtney Walsh's books. The religious themes are not overt or overbearing which makes her books accessible to anyone.
This book tells the story of workaholic Lane, whose whole life is her job at a Chicago interior design firm. She has devoted her life to getting promoted to the exclusion of everything else, including her estranged family. She gets news from home that her brother has been in a serious accident and she is drawn back to Michigan to the life and family she left behind. While home she is forced to re-evaluate her priorities and finds herself falling in love, finding a new career path and reconnecting with friends and family that she thought she would never see again.
A heartwarming tale about finding out how the path you set for you life may not be the one intended for you and you should always leave yourself open for new experiences, including friendship, family and love

I really enjoyed this story, and if you're looking for a quick and easy read that delivers "the feels" and lifts your spirit, you will enjoy it, too!

I will say that I had a hard time connecting with Lane (heroine) at first, though that could be due to the overwhelming anti-Lane vibe that came via Lane's own thoughts regarding interactions with her family (both past & present). But I can relate to some of the flack she got for being the chubby kid when she was younger and how negative words spoken to you at that age are hard to shake, so I do understand some of her struggle.

I can also appreciate the attachment Lane had to her phone (her lifeblood) as I've experienced that in my day as well and really wish it were easier to not be so dependent on the darn thing! (FYI--this isn't a book about being attached to your phone. It's about balance. Balance between work & family, animosity and forgiveness, surface beauty and inner worth.)

The romance was super sweet, folks. Like... when (view spoiler) Those are the kind of "feels" I referenced earlier. Brooks is probably one of the most tender and loyal heroes I've encountered in a long time and it's his overall sweetness and care for Lane that makes those moments all the more swoon-worthy. I have always enjoyed the "I-loved you-way-back-when" kind of story and that's what had me pulling for Lane & Brooks from the get-go.

Courtney Walsh is a beautiful writer, and her passion for people and for inspiring people to connect outside of this life we live behind our screens really shines through this story. Add in the underlying themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and of course LOVE, and you've got a real winner. Don't skip the "Author Notes" in the back... they're every bit as meaningful as the rest of the book. I can't say I'll be switching back to an old flip-phone like Brooks, but the message came through loud and clear and I can admit the thought did cross my mind a time or two...

I have loved practically every page of this book as I never have loved a contemporary Christian novel since a long time! This one is realistic, vulnerable and very relatable, no sugar-coating of the hurts of the heart here and very sensitive to the raw places inside we all have.

Lane Kelley has once been a fat, plain girl (in her own eyes and in the harsh eyes of the people around her). She got betrayed by the very people who should have been here for her - her fiancé, her family.
But now she is slim, gorgeous and very successful at her job in interior design - and has neither wish nor dream to visit her small hometown of Harbor Pointe ever again. Till the time her dear brother, the only one who ever got her back, has an incident and is in a coma. OK, for Nate she will go.
Ryan Brooks lives with his own demons of past with an alcoholic, cruel father. His ticket out of a private hell has been a recruitment. With some scars from this time as well he builds his business and run his bike - until the accident.
And now Lane´s back in town, the Lane he has always had his eyes on - but this Lane is much more jagged and much more workaholic than the girl he has been remembering. Yet she is beautiful and there is a hidden vulnerability in her.

I can very much relate to Lane - being a bit of workaholic myself, the responsible one who keeps the business running. And the vulnerable one, wearing the unhealed scars on my soul, too. I guess many women can relate to that!
And Courtney Walsh can truly understand the heart of heroine and can write her as a breathing, living creature, not some artificial figurine we can so often see in the realm of Christian literature. This heroine is very human, very relatable - and a Christian with both real and realistic faith. She got from the place of hurt and made something of herself - yet she needs to touch the base of her heart, needs to recognize her worth again and her being worth of true love. To do that, she needs to forgive (herself, too) and ask for that forgiveness as well.
Ryan, while being bit less visible character (while he is a main hero, the Lane´s character is in the true spotlight - but he is not a only a handsome prop! This being a women literature, naturally the heroine´s arc is the main arc.), is as well relatable. He also got from the hurtful place and reinvented himself, with God´s help. But there is a dark place who also need a healing touch in him. And he deals with it beautifully.

This is simply a wonderful book with a very strong mesage - but also a very good literature (a great accomplishment in my books!).
Deeply recommended both as a light-hearted read, but also a read for the rainy days, when your heart needs another heart who understands.

Y’all.

This book.

It purse whomped ME in the best possible way.

A heroine who is so attached to her work, to her dreams, that she’s more stressed about missing her deadline than she is about the family emergency that called her away. A heroine who deals with body image issues, anxiety issues, and may need to be surgically separated from her smart phone.

Oh my goodness, y’all. I related to Lane on so many levels.

And then there’s Ryan Brooks. Can we just say yum-my?!? He lived up to all my swoonilicious expectations and then some! Strong in character as well as physically, Brooks is a flirt and a gentleman all at the same time. And his kisses!!!!

(Did I mention he rides a motorcycle?)

Pardon me while I melt into a little Book Boyfriend puddle all over again.

Ahem.

Besides being a hit-you-in-all-the-feels romance, Just Look Up has a timely and important message for all of us. The rat race clamors for us to do more, be more, and achieve more. And somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten to look up and to be still. We’ve also forgotten the power of forgiveness, trading it for our perceived right to be right. We’ve missed the point that forgiveness doesn’t make it alright – it makes us alright.

Bottom Line: Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh is poignant and sincere, with just the right amount of flirting and faith. Ryan Brooks is the perfect book boyfriend, and you’ll find yourself grinning like a lovesick teenager whenever he’s on the page. Lane is a heroine who could be your sister, your best friend, your coworker … even you yourself. Together, they team up with a colorful cast of supporting characters to tell a sweet story of family, forgiveness, and restoration. This one will be lingering in my heart for a while!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I had never read a book by Courtney Walsh before, so I was pretty excited to try Just Look Up. It was a book recommendation from an author I love, so I thought I would enjoy this book.

It can be easy to get so caught up in work and life that we miss many of the good things we can experience. From relationships to relaxing afternoons, this book was a reminder to look up and see the good things around us.

While the concept of the story was a nice reminder, I had a really hard time getting into the story. I just didn’t connect with the characters and this story.

Although this story didn’t live up to the expectations I had, I appreciated the reminder to just look up.

Sometimes you read a book and turn the last page and say, "That was lovely, but it did not really speak to my heart." This is NOT what happened to me with Just Look Up.

Wow, talk about a reality check and this book helped me see some things from a different perspective. Author Courtney Walsh shines a light on some timely issues, such as ambition, a frenzied busy pace of life, and the need to constantly be connected to the interweb.

I fell in love with these characters, especially the hunky construction guy, Ryan Brookes who treats Lane with love and care, and a ton of patience. This story had some unpredictable twists and turns and I simply HAD TO READ IT ALL IN ONE SITTING. A girl has gotta know what is going to happen next!


I was cheering Lane on and at other times wanting to shake her and tell her to see herself through Ryan's eyes. I love the character development of both main characters.

This is the first book I have read by Courtney Walsh, but I had already heard such great things about her books. Boy! Totally loved Just Look Up and days after I finished it I was still thinking about the themes and lessons reflected in this gem.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and my opinion is my own

This book follows Lane Kelley a very successful Interior Designer who is up for a promotion at her company. A phone call from her family finds her back home with her estranged family. Harbor Pointe, the little town Lane grew up in holds many bad memories for her, a town she would like to leave first chance she gets.
Ryan Brooks has set up shop in Harbor Pointe, a place that now feels like home, with people that feel like family. With Lane’s return comes the feelings he once had for her but Lane doesn’t seem much like the girl he once knew.
This story gets one thinking about what is important in life, highlights that God’s love is not conditional on what we do and that in the midst of the chaos of life what we really need to do is… look up.

I absolutely loved this book! Oh my goodness! This book has all the feels! Ms. Walsh is on my top 10 favorite authors list and I am looking forward to more books like this.

I requested a review copy of Just Look Up because I’d heard so many good things about it. Surely it couldn’t possibly measure up?

It did.
Lane is an interior designer up for a big promotion at work when her mother calls to say her brother is on life support following a motorcycle accident. She returns home, but is immediately thrown into conflict with everyone in her family (except perhaps her father, who only gets about two lines in the whole novel). The reasons behind this conflict are gradually revealed as the novel progresses

Ryan was also in the motorcycle accident, but escaped with minor injuries. He’s from a bad background, but he’s made something of himself—with the help of the Kelley family, who were surrogate parents for him and his sister throughout his teenage years. He’s always had feelings for Lane, but never felt good enough for her. Now he meets the adult Lane, he realises she has issues, and he might be able to help.

Just Look Up was a great title that worked on many levels.
There was the obvious, that we have to look up to see the world around us, to live. Lane spent much of time looking down at her phone that she missed what was going on around her. And the more subtle, the way Lane consciously or subconsciously looked down on herself.

It seemed to me that looking down was a habit formed early in her teenage years, where she looked down because of her low self-esteem. I could relate to this—and I suspect many grown women can, especially those of us who were bookish teenagers who were never part of the ‘cool’ crowd.

To me, Just Look Up showed the lie that many of us believe in our teenage years.
The lie that we don’t fit in because aren’t good enough. Lane was different to the others in her family—lactose intolerant in a family that made and sold cheese for a living, unattractive and unpopular (or so she thought) in a family that were attractive and popular.

What especially hurt for Lane was that her family perpetuated the lie through their ‘harmless’ name calling (‘Pudge’ is not term of endearment. Ever). The result, I think, was a teenager and adult who never understood how precious she was to God, because she never felt she was precious to her family.

Overall, Just Look Up is a story about how achieving our dreams might not be everything we thought it might be, but the answer might have been in front of us all along. Recommended.

Thanks to Tyndale Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

The title of this book is absolutely perfect! The story portrays a powerful theme of the importance of looking up from technology or the busyness of the daily grind to cultivate our relationships with those around us, appreciate the beauty of life, and take time for peaceful moments. A deeper theme is looking up to God for help with accomplishing this, even through our struggles and difficult times.
Lane is flawed but easy to relate to. She has many hurts from her growing up years and is extremely vulnerable- so much so that she left town at the first chance and never looked back. She sacrificed her relationships in order to forget her past, but in reality it shapes who she is and affects her choices. The author skillfully reveals various details gradually, keeping me curious and full of anticipation as I read. I feel like I connected more with Brooks, who used a never-ending positive attitude to cope with his insecurities and trials. He and Lane had great romantic chemistry and tension, and I loved seeing him charm and tease her into smiling and lifting her mood. I enjoyed the different phases of Lane and Brooks journey as they deal with pressure and stress from work and learn important lessons from each other. There are so many details I loved in this book but I don't want to share any spoilers, so I'll just say, this is such a great book! Highly recommend!!!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Romance, contemporary, Christian faith elements
This was such a magical read for me as a reader. Lane's past hurts that piled on her like a weight, Ryan's hope for building a better future for the town, for himself, and for them together was a beautiful lyrical read. They both had hurts, both did things to ease them. Ryan's gift for helping just love and cherish, and care for Lane, was just so tender and beautiful. As I finished this, while I had some criticisms with the story line, I just loved Lane and Ryan as characters. The true friends that they both had were beautiful.
This was a novel of love and romance, but also about healing from past hurts and learning to be confident in who we really are, making sure who you really are is the best for you as a person. Lane's journey and struggles were so hard. I was so grateful that her hope came not only in someone to care for her and love her, but in her personal growth and understanding of herself, who she was, and in the confidence she had in herself to chase her dream in the best possible way.
While everything wasn't resolved, it was hopeful, and joyous and good.

A few weeks ago, I was privileged to host author Courtney Walsh for a book spotlight and interview all about her latest contemporary release, Just Look Up. After all the fun and wonderful comments I saw around the blogging community about this story, I decided I had to read it for myself! Everyone was right: this is a “keeper” of a romance that touches on a deep and VERY RELEVANT message for today.


Just Look Up is both emotionally touching and relevant, with Courtney’s balanced and lighthearted storytelling style. The themes in this story are serious but all presented in a personal and heart-to-heart manner. From the importance of noticing the blessings in front of you to recognizing the freedom in choosing forgiveness even when someone else doesn’t, this story is a beautiful example of the power of grace.

Lane’s character and her endless stress over little things show how even the best intentions (whether for achievement, career, or even family) can distract from important things right in front of you. Lane is blissfully unaware of her inherent worth, too, which made me just want to hug her. And take her out for coffee. (Thankfully she has Ryan Brooks for that). AKA Brooks to those close to him, he’s the perfect counterpart to her personality because he knows how to gently draw her out from behind her self-imposed fortress (with a lovely sense of humor!). He shows her that she is loved just as she is, by both him and her family.

The colorful secondary characters all have a hand in Lane and Brooks’ relationship or in prodding them to face reality at one time or another. They were a fun part the story… most of the time. I wanted to whomp a couple of them a time or two for hurting Lane or Brooks. Ha!

The thread of romance in this story is of the vest variety, the kind naturally born of friendship (and a years-old camaraderie). Brooks is relentless and unashamed in his pursuit of Lane, and I loved him for it. His subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) flirting was a way to break through Lane’s walls, but it was his protectiveness and genuine, selfless care for her that makes him endearing hero material. His journey is one of forgiveness and releasing bitterness, too, which mirrors Lane’s in some ways.

This is a story of family and home, of roots and forgiveness and the comfort found when someone accepts you for who you are — no strings or expectations attached. It is a gentle reminder that you have one shot in life with your family and people you encounter every day, so make the most of it. Embrace the quirks and differences. Bond over the similarities and joys. Choose to forgive. Recognize the blessings in front of you. Choose to love.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers and Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.

I readily admit that romance is not my jam. I love a great love story, but I’m out for something else on top of it. Put Christian in front of it and I get a little skeptical that you’re mixing Jesus in with your emotional fantasy.
But when I found myself at a Christian Fiction event for work, I was quite taken with how kind and friendly Courtney Walsh was and really wanted to read her book after seeing a few internet friends speaking so highly of the work.
Romance is still not my jam, but I cannot deny that Walsh is a very talented writer and was going beyond the basic CBA romance formula in her latest novel, Just Look Up.

Yes, the love story of the plot is central, but there is more going on. The female protagonist if flawed in a relatable but specific-to-her way—she’s not the empty heroine of your stereotypical romance. The secondary characters are fleshed out and added to the conflict in interesting ways. There are a lot of external pressure on the protagonist that are keeping me engaged in the story and hoping she will succeed.
I can see where the plot is going, but I don’t mind Walsh taking me on the ride to get there. I’m not eager to head into another romance novel, but Just Look Up gives me hope for the future of the genre in CBA—it’s thoughtful, well-rounded, and just general fun.

Lane Kelly is a driven, ambitious and determined woman. She’s also bitter, angry and angst filled. She can’t seem to let go of the past, and it clouds every aspect of her adult life.

The message of Just Look Up is a great one and has a triple meaning. First, the need to take our eyes off our problems and look up to see our blessings. Lane needs to take her eyes off her phone and look up at all that is her life. Finally, we need to look up to God to find our way.

Just Look Up is a good story and has a good message, but I could never really get into it. The idea of the novel is inspirational, and there are times in the story when its meaning comes to life. However, the largest part of the book conveys the relentless anger and angst of Lane, which gets old fast. I quickly began to skip over the parts of the book where she kept replaying her childhood in her mind.

Although I didn’t enjoy Lane’s storyline and couldn’t really connect with her, I did like the other characters and the story itself. Someone else reading the story may very well connect with her and her feelings.

I received this book from NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Great inspirational story by Courtney Walsh!
Going home...can often leave us feeling reluctant, overwhelmed and ambiguous especially if we have unresolved issues with our loved ones. Just Look Up is a story about family and forgiveness. You will not be disappointed when reading this lovely story.

As this is my first book by Courtney Walsh, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew it was contemporary romance, but would I like her style? Would it be a new take, or “the same old thing”? I’d heard so many excellent things and one of my friends very highly recommended it, so I decided to give it a go. And I’m so glad that I did! I immediately found myself drawn into this story, pulled into these characters’ lives and wishing I could take a trip to Harbor Pointe, MI. I have definitely found another favorite author, whose books will be finding a home on my keeper shelves.
The story line itself, intrigued me. A character that hides behind her phone, keeping it as a shield between herself and the world. It is so fitting for the time, where electronic devices are everywhere and so many seem so attached to them. I was curious to see how Ms. Walsh would tackle this subject and I have to say that I think she did an excellent job! I felt as though every time someone admonished Lane Kelley to “look up,” they were also speaking to me, challenging me to pay attention to the world around me. I loved that! I found this story to be a journey, both for the characters and myself. The further I read, the more I found myself pausing to really see the people around me, wondering what I’d been missing. I also loved how Ms. Walsh took care to describe the world around Lane, placing emphasis on the things she was missing by always running, going full speed ahead.
I have to confess, when I first met Lane Kelley, she didn’t impress me. She seemed selfish and stubborn, unwilling to bend. But, as I got to know her and saw beyond the cool facade she showed everyone, I found someone I would love to have as a friend. She’s spent most of her life feeling as though she doesn’t belong, doesn’t measure up. My heart broke for her, for the lies she’s believed, for how hard she’s worked to attain something that was always right in front of her. I loved watching the transformation her character goes through, learning to love and allow herself to be loved in return.
What do I say about Ryan Brooks? So many things . . . . first, he is SO swoony! Not only is he nice to look at, but he’s got a great sense of humor, doesn’t always take life too seriously, knows how to have fun, focuses on the important things in life, and is willing to drop everything for a friend in need. Oh, and he has a chivalrous streak a mile wide, which just adds to the swoony-ness. I loved getting to know him and seeing his heart for Lane, despite her standoffish behavior and sometimes cranky attitude. And their romance was so sweet! There were definitely several *sigh* worthy moments, a couple where I just wanted to “Gibbs slap” them, and the great “just have to smile” ending.
Overall, I would highly recommend reading this book, whether romance is your genre of choice, or not. I loved being challenged by the message with this story and would happily give it more than 5 stars, were that an option.

*My thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy of this book! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really connected easily with these characters and enjoyed every moment of this story. I've known people who felt like Lane did...an outsider in their own family. Not just any family to feel alone in, either—five kids and many honorary kids, because her parents had huge hearts and wanted to help all sorts of people. But Lane is so different, and all she can see are the differences, and the pain of having been teased in school mercilessly (and her mother doesn't think the teasing was that bad, because her mother is determined to think well of everyone).

It's tender, heartfelt books like this one that make me keep reading contemporary fiction. I've never enjoyed contemporary to quite the same level as historical, but every now and then there's one that just fills up my heart and warms it all through. This is a delightful story, and I loved spending time with Lane, Ryan ("Brooks"), and (most of) the whole colorful cast of side characters. For now it's a stand-alone, but I hope Courtney Walsh will consider returning to this cozy small town for another story at some point!

Anyway, Ryan, a veteran, has his own issues to think about, including an alcoholic father and a best friend in a coma in the hospital. He was deployed when Lane's life fell apart and he hadn't kept up with her much before that. To me, I didn't connect emotionally with him to the same degree as to Lane, partly because he was further along the road to healing, and she had so many more things to work through in the present. But he was a great hero, and he showed so many great hero qualities.

I liked it that both characters are already Christians, and though there wasn't tons of Christian-y stuff in the book, it's to the point and enjoyable. While you couldn't accuse it of being preachy, it's clear where the characters are in their beliefs and that they grow to be more dependent on God through the course of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free review copy. Positive review not required.

I wasn't overly sure what I was going to think of this book. The premise was enough to draw me in when I read it on the Tynedale page. But then I've read a few romances lately and tend to burn out on them fairly quickly. That and I've never heard of this author. I should have known I'd love her just based on the bio but well, ya know. Lane was everything a flawed character needs. Social tics, insecure backstory, and a drive to be better than what she believes she's not. Ryan, or Brooks, as he's called a lot by those who know and love him, is just as beautifully flawed with his own backstory, minus the social tics and feelings of insecurity. It just goes to show that having a so-called perfect childhood does not shelter someone from growing pains and guarantee a well adjusted adulthood. Or that being from the literal wrong side of the tracks means you will never stretch your wings and fly.

I loved these two flawed characters surrounded by flawed family and a town that never quite grew up. It's steady consistency is vital to these characters and this family. People grew, and sometimes changed but the town itself remained the safe harbor of 'home'. And yes, while you can never go 'home' again you can always go home to love and acceptance and memories. As Lane learned though, you have to be ready to go home. You can't just do it out of obligation. Lane has avoided home, the horrible memories, and the inferred betrayal of her family. Having gone away to college, changed herself completely as a person, lost her first love to her sister and feeling betrayed by that she's made her life about her career. And the hustle and bustle of the big city. How often do we all try to find ways to replace the hurts with something that can't hurt?

Brooks on the other hand was given refuge with Lane's family when he was just a kid. He got out, went to the military, deployed, came home the hero. But it wasn't enough for him either. From the next town over, a town to nowhere, he relocates to the haven of his childhood and knows he has found home. The son of an abusive alcoholic and a disappearing mother he knows the hardness of life. But he finds solace in the acceptance of his found family and tries to look for the silver linings. Their backgrounds are as opposite as the moon and sun. Their outlook is just as varied. I loved these two characters, watching them grow and learn and just figure things out. Sometimes you have to have the confidence to look up, look around, and hang on for your life.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tynedale and NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.