Leap Year is my favorite romcom so when I read the synopsis for Lucky Leap Day, I was so excited to read it. Lucky Leap Day was heartwarming and funny, and exactly what I needed to read on the chilliest day of the year so far. Cara and Finn had instant chemistry!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for this egalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have posted my review on Goodsreads and a photo on my bookstagram (@ash.reads.a.bunch)

The romance in Lucky Leap Day is described in the title as a hilarious whirlwind romantic comedy. While I wouldn't call it hilarious necessarily, I would call it a whirlwind romance. Cara meets Finn in Ireland where she has escaped for a quick weekend after breaking up with her boyfriend. Finn is her taxi driver turned tour guide. They hit it off and on her last night Cara has a little too much to drink and throws caution to the wind and participates in the leap day tradition of the woman proposing to the man and they are married on the spot. Obviously, she knows they can't stay married, but she must get back to work so she drags Finn and his dog with her back to Malibu while they work out the details of an annulment.

I don't normally go for the insta-love type story, but this one sounded so cute and different that I gave it a try. I have to say that I really did like Finn. He was sweet and caring and sounded like quite the catch. I truly enjoyed the beginning of the book when they are together in Ireland. While Cara and Finn are cute together, I just didn't feel much growth to their relationship. I was not really engaged with the middle of the story. I did appreciate Cara's grand gesture at the end, but again, it all seemed way too fast, and I wasn't completely convinced that they would be forever. Overall, Lucky Leap Day was what it professed to be, and I enjoyed it.

My sincere thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it.

Thank you NetGalley and sourcebooks Casablanca for an eARC copy of Lucky Leap Year by Anne Marie Walker.

In an incredibly sweet romance, Cara wakes up hungover, to realize she, in Irish tradition, ended up proposing to Finn, the sweet Irishman she’s known for 2 days, following a whiskey filled night celebrating Leap Day in Ireland. Now they are left to figure out how to annul the marriage, and Cara suggests Finn come back to LA with her to figure it out.

Rating: 4/5 - Like already stated, this is a hella sweet, clean (fade to black scenes) romance. My only qualm with it was it was such a sweet story. The story was very simple, and it was more on the predictable side, but it had an interesting twist to what causes the third act break up. But over all, I couldn’t bring myself to put it down! Definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a sweet contemporary romance!

Lucky Leap Day is a really cute, fast read because it's relatively short and has quick pacing. This book had such a fun vibe and was also very funny. If you're looking for a cute romance that will make you laugh along the way, this is perfect. I loved Finn and Cara's adventures in Ireland and I feel like having a beautifully charming country as the backdrop of their romance makes it that much more enjoyable.

Finn and Cara had undeniable chemistry and I was rooting for them from the very first time they met. Also, Finn having an Irish accent is enough to make anyone swoon. I think Ann Marie Walker did an excellent job with the dialogue and having his accent come across. I expected there to be spice in this rom-com but there actually isn't any so if you're someone who enjoys a clean romance, this is for you. As someone who personally enjoys spice, I didn't really find myself missing it because their banter and chemistry were so enjoyable. I just had a great time watching them interact in general; plus they did still kiss.

You also get the cutest dog ever with Oscar which gives Lucky Leap Day some bonus points. I loved all of the scenes with him in it always put a smile on my face. We also get some really strong side characters with Julia and Pippa and I loved them almost as much as I loved Finn and Cara. Some of the scenes are a little far-fetched in my opinion but I think it totally works if you keep an open mind and have fun with it.

I am obsessed with that epilogue. It's so unique and told in a way I never would've expected but I love that it made me laugh. I would recommend Lucky Leap Day to anyone searching for an adorably charming romance without spice.

Irish accents, pubs, f the patriarchy, a super adorable pup named after Oscar Wilde, AND THE CUTEST ROMANCE EVER!!

Lucky Leap Day was that fluffy rom-com you have been craving!!

I loved Finn and Cara. They totally gave me soulmate vibes since the moment he picked her up as the taxi driver in Dublin. Oh yes, btw this book is set half in Ireland and the other half in Malibu! It made for the perfect read! I finished it in a few hours because I just couldn't put it down. It was seriously one of those happy-go-lucky rays of sunshine books!

"You're not the kind of woman a man should let slip through his fingers."

The perfect innocent, romantic, swoonworthy read!!

"I meant I don't want to leave you. There needs to be more. More adventures. More nights in. Or out. I don't care as long as there's more of you. More of us."

Ahh! Loved it!!

This was a sweep you off your feet kind of story where you find yourself reading all night to finish it. Cara and Finn were a cute couple with plenty of chemistry and lots of heart eyes for each other even when they weren't dating yet. I enjoyed reading their slow climb into romance and how that evolved seemingly seamlessly into love. They were each interesting characters on their own with a fun cast of characters around them. And the addition of one very special dog only added to the overall allure of this adorable book.

The story was fairly low angst but did have some drama and an element of secrets and misunderstandings to keep you turning the page. I was happy with how the story played out and look forward to more from this author.

This was a fun read that took the reader on a trip between California and Dublin. I've always wanted to travel to Ireland and while the portion of the book that took place there was a bit fleeting, it was exciting enough to make up for it.

I love the main characters here and their moments together, both funny and tender. Cara has some great one-liners and pop culture references that made me giggle. Finn's overly-emphasized Irish slang was so funny at times, too!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who loves a good rom-com! <3

A cutesy fun romcom that had me smiling almost the entire time.

I don’t read very many accidental marriage trope books, and this one was a good one. Fast paced and witty!

Cara heads to Ireland for a long weekend on trip that her and her ex boyfriend were supposed to take together. There, she meets Fin, a happy go lucky musician and tour guide. There’s instant chemistry. On Cara’s last night in Ireland (Leap Day) she has several too many drinks at the pub and proposes to Fin, waking up the next morning not remembering a thing.

Cara’s normally meticulously planned life is thrown for a spin, and she finds that she doesn’t hate it.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC!

Thank you to #netgalley and #sourcebookscasablanca for the eARC of this one that comes out January 18th in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say that sometimes the books you've read leading up to a book determine how you feel about it. I have had the incredible fortune of starting this year with some pretty great reads and this one just didn't hold up. There wasn't anything wrong with it, there just also wasn't anything so super right either. Would I probably read something new by this same author with an open mind? Absolutely! This one just fell a little flat for me among all the stellar reads I've had so far this year. I'd still give it a 3/5 though as I did love the banter between Cara and Finn and how Cara truly went after what her heart wanted rather than waiting and hoping for her dreams to come to life.

#bookstagram #romcom #luckyleapday

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of this book!

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pub date: January 18, 2022
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this book so much. It was a fun, engaging read that gave me an imaginary trip to Europe and a dashing Irish boyfriend.

I really liked the characters in this book. I liked the sweet slide into love, the outrageous (at times) story, and the HEA that I shamelessly love in a book. The biggest drawback to the story was yes, it is a bit unbelievable, and sometimes that bothered me a little. But the story is so sweet!

If you like romances, you will love this book.

Taylor swift references, Irish accents, cute banter, a cheeky wing-man dog (named after Oscar Wilde) and a charming Irishman with appreciation for literature — what more could a romcom-loving heart want!?

During a short, solo getaway to Ireland that was intended a couple’s trip with her now ex-boyfriend, Cara Kennedy ends up enamoured and accidentally married to her Uber driver turned tour-guide and guitar-serenader, Finn Maguire. (Can I just say, Cara, I know this mishap is the foundation upon which this story is built but who wouldn’t get caught up in the Irish tradition of women proposing on Leap Day when you’re faced with a man like Finn? We get it, see you, appreciate you and salute your whiskey-fuelled courage).

Deciding it would be more efficient to sort out their annulment in California, the pair return to Cara’s home in Malibu where the aspiring screenwriter and her new husband co-habitate while Cara returns to work as a screenwriter.

This wasn’t quite a 4- or 5-star read for me only because I devoured the first half (*ahem* read: pulled an all-nighter on a Sunday 🥴) but felt it plateaued a bit in the middle. I also found the mutual attraction a bit disjointed at times because while Finn is being a wonderfully patient gentleman, dog dad and house guest, Cara read a bit selfish in how she repeatedly avoids him.

I LOVED: seeing these characters earn a well-deserved HEA and success in their careers; the grand and dramatic romantic gesture that hit me right in the heart and had my cheeks sore from smiling; the epilogue is EVERYTHING (so clever I couldn’t stop talking about it); and the overall creative concept and its enchanting and hilarious execution.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca and Ann Marie Walker for the advanced copy!

So I was pretty bored reading this book. It was a they drink too much a get married on leap day in Ireland then he follows her back home to America sorry. It was cute so maybe wrong book/wrong time for me. There was a cute dog in the book though so that made me like it a tad more.

It was also low steam and I think I just am not really enjoying those books these days. At least that’s what I’ve noticed.

I enjoyed her first book Happy Singles Day so I’ll definitely give her next book a try whenever that day comes.

Overall this story was cute. I enjoyed it, even if the pacing was a little bit weird. The characters were a little flat, and the third-act breakup seemed rushed and an overreaction to the conflict. The epilogue is what did it for me, being written, oddly, from the dog’s point of view.

This was a fun fast-paced adorable book and I definitely will be purchasing a copy for my shelves. I think this is one that I would definitely reread which is saying something since I usually don't read read books.

After a breakup with her boyfriend, Cara travels to Ireland to regroup. Too many whiskies ends in a Leap Day marriage to her tour guide. Due to return to LA the next day, she brings new husband Finn along with her to work out the details of the annulment. Except the more time they spend together, the more they start to feel like they have something real. But when the details of their wedding come to light, will it all fall apart?

This was a cute, funny story with endearing characters. I wish it had been told in chronological order, rather than opening with the morning after the wedding.. It made me lose interest in the flirtation between Cara and Finn when they first met. The plot regarding Finn's sudden acting success wasn't believable—it would have been much more realistic if he'd already been formally trained. Also, the way Cara fetishized Finn's accent reached the point of being offensive. Apart from those missteps, it was an entertaining story.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Super cute novel with an adorable premise. Love the setting so much! Also that first chapter hooks you IMMEDIATELY you just have to know what happens next! Super cute read.

My first two thoughts when I was considering this book:

I really hate these new cartoonish covers for romance books.
This sounds so freaking adorable.
And it was just that: adorable.

We follow Cara, who decided to go ahead and go on a trip to Ireland that was supposed to include her now ex-boyfriend. Since this is a romance novel, of course she meets a *chef’s kiss* of an Irishman. And in a drunken, impulsive moment, she takes advantage of the old leap day tradition of the woman proposing to the man.

For me, this was just an easy read. Pretty predictable, but funny and sweet nonetheless. There are some great characters, cute banter, and Finn is swoon worthy.

My only problem… well not really a problem, just a thought…. there is not much that made this stand out among the mass amounts of rom-coms out right now. Cute? Yep. Sweet? For sure. But thats all I find that I have to say when describing this book. It’s not a bad thing by any means! This was my second read of 2022 and it hit just the spot I needed it too, helped move along a reading slump. It’s perfect for the right mood.

For those of you that look for your rom coms to be sexy or smutty: this is not it. I wouldn’t call this book sexy or steamy on any level. Again, not a bad thing! I don’t need every page of my romance novels drowning with sexual content. But if that is what you are looking for from a romance novel, this is much more low key when it comes to sex.

I am left with one question though…. when deciding to travel, and spend money, and constantly want to pay for everything, Finn always had money. At home, he worked like 3 jobs. There is no way those small 3 jobs (uber driver, museum tour guide, and local band member) gave him these endless funds. I kept expecting to learn more about him, or his background and maybe find out how he has all this money, but no! Where did it all come from?! It’s just something I couldn’t stop asking. That’s how my brain works.

Lastly, there is an epilogue that comes from an unexpected perspective, only adding the the adorableness of this book! Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a light romance that’s easy to read.

LUCKY LEAP DAY – Ann Marie Walker
Sourcebooks Casablanca
978-1-7282-1652-2
January 18, 2022
Contemporary Romance

Ireland & California – Present Day

Fledging screenwriter Cara Kennedy went to Ireland using her honeymoon ticket after she broke off with her ex. Why waste a perfectly good vacation? Her driver, Finn, who picks her up from the airport is friendly and accommodating, even offering to show her the best parts around town and she accepts. On her last night in town, Finn takes her to a local pub, where Cara drinks too much whiskey and wakes up the next morning to discover herself in bed with Finn—and married to him. The pub had sponsored a “leap day” event where the women can proposition a man, and Cara went more than a little overboard. Uncertain how to undo things, Cara asks Finn—along with his beloved dog—to accompany her back to Los Angeles while she figures out how to get a quiet—and quick—divorce. Of course, living under the same roof in her beachside cottage has all the naughty thoughts she had about Finn in Ireland being ramped up.

Cara did more than have a little fling on her vacation in LUCKY LEAP DAY when she ends up married to Finn. Yes, he is attractive and fun to be with, but married? No, Cara has too much on her plate to have to explain to others why she’s now married less than a month after breaking off her engagement from Kyle. A potential job advancement is on the line and the last thing she needs to do is have her employers learn that Cara is flighty enough to get married on the spur. Finn, on the other hand, is enjoying his first trip to the United States. She does give him a few tours of the area, much like how he showed her around in Ireland. But it’s the nights together in her studio cottage that ends up with things getting very hot and heavy them. There’s no denying that they’re sexually attracted to each other. Will their marriage soon become the real thing? Will the idea of a divorce fly out the window?

LUCKY LEAP DAY is a cute, funny tale from the pen of Ann Marie Walker. While the tale revolves around Cara and Finn, there are minor characters who help add laughter to the story. One is Cara’s landlord, who ends up liking Finn and wants them to make their marriage permanent. Cara’s best friend thinks it’s a hoot that she got herself hitched in Ireland. Cara doing things on a whim is so unlike her! Meanwhile, Cara is juggling keeping Finn a secret from her bosses and trying hard not to fall in love with him. How will things end up? If you love a good romance that provides more than a few chuckles, then don’t miss LUCKY LEAP DAY.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

This was a good read. This book is about a woman who goes to Ireland and accidentally ends up marrying someone on Leap Day. Once I read this summary, it sounded like such an amazing, unique storyline. Plus there is a fur baby involved with this book which is so cute. So first I have to say that this book had less rom and more com. The storyline was greatly done and the author's writing was flowing with great pacing. I enjoyed how this book took place in both Ireland and Los Angeles as you get a mix of different areas. This book is written in Cara's pov but I wish we had Finn's story too just to see what was going on his head as he was also kind of an MC and is on the cover.

This book as said is told in Cara's pov. She is trying to get big in Hollywood but with ending up marrying she is confused with what she is doing. She does has a minor development in the book but it wasn't WOW. Then there is Finn who is the husband is ends up in LA with Cara as she had to go back to her job. I felt that most of the time that he was just there to be honest. He brought all the humor which I enjoyed about him. There are some side characters in this book like Cara's best friend, her landowner and the new pup who were very involved in the story which I enjoyed. The romance in this book was not my favorite as I felt it was forced. Even though they were married, I wish there was more slow burn romance in the book as they ended up being like whatever we are married.

The ending was okay and I wasn't disappointed with it. I think the story could have had all the stars from me if the romance was it. I really enjoyed all the comedy in this book and how I learned some Ireland culture. Even though I had some problems with this book, I still enjoyed it. I think it was unique and original from what I have read before.

Summary: After an abrupt breakup Cara decides to go on her trip to Ireland alone and while there she finds herself drawn to the charismatic Irish Uber driver/ tour guide, Finn. This leads to Clara’s impulsive Leap Day proposal to Finn who agrees and follows her back to her life in California where the surprises continue.

Thoughts: This was super precious and has me craving an Irish adventure of my own. This romcom had the happily ever after required in all romcoms. I do like that they tried to switch it up with a less grand gesture but ultimately had to rely on the grand gesture to fix all of their problems. The story is very believable with no one really doing anything super dramatic and Finn and Cara are super cute and I love them together. The only small issue I had was Cara’s obsession with his accent, she has an accent to and Finn doesn’t bring it up all the time, it kind of felt a little fetishized however I am willing to overlook it because it was super cute. Finn gets a 10/10 he loves his puppy, he can play the guitar and knows how to cook so he’s definitely a keeper. Their relationship is so adorable and I love that Cara is an anxious mess. I also like that both of them don’t have a firm career yet and are kind of hot messes. Overall this is a super cute romance with the much-needed happily ever after and now I need to go to Ireland and drunkenly propose to someone. As fun as the romance was it was also super fun to see her explore Ireland and get some traveling tips for my future trip to Ireland.