Cover Image: Lucky Charmed

Lucky Charmed

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A second chance romance. Carmen Frost wants to be out of Charmed. Sully Hart who visits Charmed yearly as a part of the carnival wants to set his roots in Charmed. The book was from Carmen's point of view. It was fun with lots of drama. Enjoyable read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

Was this review helpful?

Living in a small town is never easy. The days are usually filled with more rumors and gossip than truth and everyone is in your business. So after living 33 years in Charmed, Texas (the honey capital on Texas) Carmen Frost (who hates honey by the way)is ready to finally leave and live the life she always wanted. That is until the man who broke her heart 15 years ago shows back up in town and she finds out is here to stay in Charmed for good.

Sully Hart was and is the one man that has always held Carmen’s heart but when he disappeared without as much of a goodbye, she was shattered. Sully was going to be the one person to help her leave Charmed. Sully was part of a traveling carnival that came to Charmed every year with the Honey Festival and she had fallen hard and fast for the handsome carnie. But instead she married her old high school boyfriend, who later became the mayor of Charmed and stayed. After divorcing her husband six years ago, she started to plan… but now with Sully back in the picture all she feels is confusion and anger. Why did he have to come back now?

I absolutely love this series and Carmen and Sully’s story is full of heart, heat and full throttled emotions. You can read this book without having read book one (which I LOVED Lanie and Nick’s story, so you are better off reading it too) since this series is interconnected standalones. Make sure to visit the charming town of Charmed, Texas. I’m sure you’ll fall in love just like I did.

Was this review helpful?

Welcome back to Charmed, Texas. Ms Lovelace has written another fun story filled with fun and quirky characters. Carmen is a lawyer who is ready for changes in her life. And wouldn't you know it, the boy- now a man Sully is back, this time to put down roots in the only town that made him feel like he had a home. I like Carmen, she was such a great friend to the heroine Lanie in the previous book, but she is angry that Sully broke her heart when he left for his life in the carnival world years ago. Sully is a sweetheart and they both made mistakes. I was on pins and needles reading and waiting for them to get their HEA at last.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adore this story!! It is the second book in the Charmed in Texas series & can be read as a stand alone. But once you read this one you will be reading the others for sure!!

I love the author's writing style- it pulls you in & makes you feel a part of the story.

Carmen & Sully are so unique & entertaining. And the cast & characters of Charmed TX are a crazy fun bunch of folks.

Can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Yet another book, I couldn't put down. If my reading keeps on like this, then I will be one happy reader.

I thought I loved book one of this series, A Charmed Little Lie. I absolutely loved Lanie and Nick's story, but this one is so much more.

I have never read a book along these lines, and I'm glad because this one will definitely hold a special place in my heart. There is nothing like this series. Charmed Texas is something else, in a very good way.

Carmen has lived in her small nosey as hell town her whole life. Everyone knows everyone, and their business. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad, the towns people of Charmed know it all. All she's ever wanted to do was leave it all behind. But her mother had different plans for her. So settling down was what she did. Even though her marriage didn't last, she was still stuck in the one place she didn't want to be. When the one person from her past that both broke and holds her heart, comes back into town, she knows nows her time to finally go.

Sullivan has always lived his life on the road. The carnival is what his family does. So where the carnival goes, so do they. Never staying in one place long. He's never had a place to actually call home. That's his dreams, that's the one thing he wants in life, a home. And there is only one place he wants to settle down, Charmed Texas. His home being that city, has never been an option. That city holds many memories, including the ones of his love and lost.

One wants to fly.
One wants to settle.

Neither willing to stand in the others way of their dreams, so a life together isn't possible. No matter how much they love each other, it still may never be enough.

This book shows that you never truly know someone. Everyone has secrets they try to hide. Until they can no longer hold that door shut, and everything is aired out.

Life has its ups and downs. It's pretty and ugly. It's good and bad. It's hurt and healing. That's all the things this book has also.
~Lynzi

Was this review helpful?

***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.

Was this review helpful?

This is the second book in the Charmed in Texas series. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series, but it will help to understand some of the characters and what has happened in the past. I had not read the first book, and I had no problem following along with this book. Of course, once I was finished with this book, I had to buy the first book. This was such a sweet story about Carmen and Sully. Carmen is the outcast in Charmed, and Sully is the carnie from her past. The two characters had such passion and fireworks, and I could not put the book down. There was some drama, and I could not believe some of the information that came to light towards the end of the book! This was my first book by Sharla Lovelace, but it will definitely not be the last!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

a great second chance romance
This is the first book I've read in the charmed in Texas series and I must say it had me hooked from the get go, I felt like I was walking the streets of charmed Texas. The scenes of the story were so beautifully descriptive that I want to be a part of it.
the main characters had such chemistry, it was a slow build in all the right ways a romance should be, I was hurrying through the pages to see what the outcome would be in their story.
and the story really didn't disappoint, for me I was eagerly awaiting their reunion wondering when it would happen and if it would happen.
I really loved reading this book and will be going to buy the first book to read and any books that come after this one because if their stories are as good as this one, then I will be glued to the pages of those books too. Sharla Lovelace delivered such a beautiful angsty love to hate second chance romance that will have you wanting the story to never end.

Was this review helpful?

Lucky Charmed was times fun, and sexy, but I didn’t love it like A Charmed Little Lie. I won’t bother to summarize the story because the description does a good job of that. Instead, I’m just going to list what I liked and didn’t like about this installment.

What I liked:
Sully. He was such a sweetheart and was back in Charmed to stake his claim on happiness. He was nice and professional to everyone in spite of the unfair treatment from those such as Carmen’s mom, and Dean, Carmen’s ex-husband. I thought he was super patient to Carmen even though she was pretty hostile. In her defense, she didn’t have the whole story so I can kind of give her a pass. Up to a point.

Sully and Carmen’s chemistry. Every time she’d let her shields down they burned up the pages!

Even though Carmen was pretty upset with Sully, she came to his defense basically every time someone got critical.

I enjoyed how it all turned out.

What I didn’t like:
Carmen’s mom. Seriously, this woman was something else. So critical of Sully when she had absolutely no reason to be! When everything was revealed I couldn’t believe that it was swept under the rug and forgiven so easily by Carmen!

Carmen’s ex-husband was a total piece of work, too! He had a sneaky part in the past, too, but things didn’t work out so well for him in the end, so there is that.

Carmen constantly running away from Sully, right when they were on the verge of getting close again, and finding out exactly why Sully left.

Carmen hated on the town of Charmed for much of the book; talking about getting out of there every chance she got, then all of a sudden, she does a complete 180 turn around with her opinion at the end. I got tired of her negative attitude.

In spite of my issues, I did have fun with Lucky Charmed. I’m looking forward to the next in the series: Once a Charmer out in October.

A copy was kindly provided by Lyrical Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book as much as Lovelace’s first Charmed, Texas, romance. The hero, the secondary characters, the quirky small-town setting—they were all fine. However, I had a really hard time connecting with the heroine, Carmen.

Carmen has always wanted to get out of her small town, to travel and see the world. She had planned to do just that as a teenager by running away with her carnie boyfriend, Sully. When Sully left her waiting in a parking lot without a word of explanation, she felt abandoned and angry. She seems to blame him for the fact that she then got trapped in Charmed.

BUT . . . I don’t really see how Sully is responsible for her winding up living in Charmed, so her anger just fell flat for me. He didn’t make her start a law practice there or marry a man she didn’t love. Being a lawyer is profession that doesn’t really tie you to one place, so after her divorce, why didn’t she look at getting a job elsewhere? If she’s trapped in Charmed, it really seemed to me like she trapped herself through the choices she made, and that made me less able to sympathize with her.

The teaser for the next book in the series really grabbed my attention, though, so I’m just going to count this as an unfortunate miss for me and look forward to the coming novel.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is book is #2, in the Charmed In Texas series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding and enjoyment of the series, I recommend reading this in order.

Sullivan AKA Sully has a past with Carmen. A past that brings him back and thinking of a future. When she sees him again, however, there are doubts that will happen.

Carmen is not big on her hometown. She has wanted to be long gone. She has ties here that keep her coming back. Her friends, family, and yes even her heart.

This series is just hot! The characters have great banter, and the heat seems to be turned up on high. I love the sparks that sizzle and nearly jump off the page. Second chance romance always seems to be hotter than the simple. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.


***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publishers.

Was this review helpful?

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.)

Was this review helpful?

Small-town life comes with its own set of problems. As we all know gossip, drama, embarrassment, angst, drama, and a bit more of drama can be overwhelming for the small-town and one Carmen Frost. The town is known for its honey. Carmen herself hates honey, bees, and the memories of Charmed, TX. She maybe a single lady now and a lawyer, but she did not see herself as being desperate. The one temptation that she had has not been a fixture in Chamred in years. That was until the day she looked up to see a pair of eyes she would never, ever forget, Sully Hart.

Sully was back in town and he wanted to make it home. Stay, drop roots, make a stable, steady life, grow old. The one dream that he let himself have was that he would see her, Carmen, again. Their chemistry off the charts. They still have that fire. The emotions that go along with this intensity was palpable. The words on the page allowed for me to feel the consuming fire and heat between Sully and Carmen.

This for me was another home run hit. Charmed TX invites you in. Helps you pour that cold drink of lemonade with honey. Provides with the angst that revolves around a relationship cut short and on the mend. There was a rich blend of all that could make you feel the slightest change or shift in Sully and Carmen’s tenuous second change. The angst, drama, chemistry, pain, heartache, emotional upheaval and various emotions.

Great afternoon read or better on a rainy day with a cup of tea with lots of honey.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, where to begin? Here. I cannot tell you how much I loved this book.

On every single level Lucky Charmed worked for me. There were true laugh-out-loud moments, there was compassion, there was comfort food and there was heat and sizzle. Lately it seems like when I read a romance, I like one or the other characters more, but here, I loved both Carmen who is hysterically sarcastic and real and Sully who is honest and good and hot, hot, hot. (Oh, no, the world is coming to an end–I used the word “hot.”)

Like, A Charmed Little Lie that I reviewed back in April (you can read that review here), Lucky Charmed takes place in Charmed, Texas so it has that small town feel with quirky characters most of whom are loveable. Even the ones who seem not so loveable are drawn with a gentle, although sometimes snarky, hand.

Sharla Lovelace has moved to the forefront on my favorite romance author list. Her writing is sharp. She combines all of the elements and even invokes a little supernatural magic that is charming. Her sex scenes are sexy and mesh with her writing without what seems to be the norm anymore of rote play-by-play that makes you feel like you’re reading a beginner’s sex manual.

Maybe one of the most important elements though is that Lucky Charmed feels like it has heart. You come to care about the characters because it feels like Sharla Lovelace cares about them and she’s breathed life into people you would really like to know. Some more than others: Hello, Sully!

“Waking up tomorrow isn’t a guarantee, either,” he said. “Driving across town isn’t a guarantee. Life is life, love.” He stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers. “Forever is what we make it. And it’s an awesome thing to aim for.”

I have to admit even though this will have the same rating as A Charmed Little Lie, I loved Lucky Charmed more. So let’s just say that the butterflies below are monarchs.

If you are a romance reader and haven’t picked up a Sharla Lovelace yet, I encourage you to do so. It will give you all the feels. And, obviously, I highly recommend Lucky Charmed.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

There is so much drama and angst in this book. I went from being intrigued to being pissed off. I wanted to shake Carmen so many times and tell her to let sh*t go. Seriously. I liked Sully but I felt he spent most of the book trying to apologize and I just couldn't connect with him. I don't want to say he was a weak character, but it did feel like we were missing some of his character or that it didn't really shine through. He felt more awkward than anything.

What I really didn't like was the constant public humiliation of Carmen, Sully and several other secondary characters. There were several scenes where it happened and I thought it was more cruel than entertaining. As much as this book was making me mad, I still had to finish it to find out what happened to Carmen and Sully.

The author definitely knows how to write, but I just didn't like the direction of the storyline and the proverbial beatings both characters took in order to achieve their happily ever after. I definitely think LUCKY CHARMED has an audience, it just wasn't the book for me.

Was this review helpful?

This is book #2 in the Charmed in Texas series.  I love going back to this small town.  Carmen has loved only one man her entire life.  She thought she could move on and be happy with her ex husband, but it did not work.  Carmen gave her heart away a long time ago.  Now Carmen has to deal with that love of her life being back in town.  Sully Hart has business to do in town.  He wants to put down roots.  

This book I loved.  I could see and feel how both Sully and Carmen felt for one another, but too stubborn to realize they belong together. I can not wait to read the next book in this series.

☆☆☆☆☆
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa

Was this review helpful?

I am loving this series. Second chance at love is hard to come by with these two. And history may just repeat itself.

Carmen is stuck in her hometown. And wanting nothing more than to get out. What's worse is Sully, the carnie that broke her heart and left her standing in a parking lot waiting is back. And no one told her. Looking sexier than ever, she doesn't know why he's back. All she knows is she can't be near him. He still has that invisible pull that she can't seen to resist. 

Sully has wanted nothing more than a home. To set roots down. And Homs is where Carmen is. Destroying her all those years ago was never his intention. He didn't want the carnie life for her. But now he's back and he wants her. But she is reluctant to even speak to him. Until she finds out he owns the company building the boardwalk. 

As these two fight their never ending feelings, truths come out and betrayals not for seen cause one of them to run. Will this be a repeat of the past or will they find their way back home??

Was this review helpful?

I really loved this book. It was equally heart-warming and steamy, with hilarious and relatable characters. This series is great.

Was this review helpful?

Carmen and Sully's story is filled with conflict and misunderstanding but also a lot of hope and redemption. I felt the heartbreak both Carmen & Sully had to deal with from their past but I also laughed out loud at times. I am loving this series and with each book it just keeps getting better! Can't wait for Allie & Bash's story!!

Was this review helpful?