Melissa Brayden’s romances are like warm, fresh-baked Toll House cookies. Always enjoyable and tasty, these romances can be counted on to brighten the day. When I picked up Lucky in Lace, her twenty-third full-length novel, I knew it would be yummy, and it was.

This warm romance centers its narrative around strong themes: character redemption, community, and family relationships. Peyton Lane, its main character, has made some terrible choices in her youth, ones that resulted in four years of jail time. Upon her release, she’s forced to confront her past and start over. Her road to redemption involves returning to her hometown, the very place where she went astray and disappointed many. Once in Landonville, she busts onto the scene and opens a lingerie store. (Yes, the pun is intended.) Predictably, her presence makes quite a stir. This isn’t Brayden’s usual tale-telling track, but it’s a nice surprise. I like how she handles Peyton’s journey to atonement. It’s heartfelt and tender.

Juliette Jennngs plays the part of Peyton’s friend turned lover in this cozy romance. Though a bit quirky, she presents as an endearing persona, one that readers find hard to resist. As her arc progresses, her personality morphs into something that is quite fun to be around. It’s particularly appealing, and I quite enjoyed watching her come into her own as the storyline evolved. In fact, she turns out to be a real touchstone, not just for Peyton, but Brayden’s storytelling as well. She is a memorable heroine, hitting her marks effectively every time.

Final remarks…

The subject matter of this romance (incarceration and redemption) may make it seem like this is a heavy romance, but it is not. Lucky in Lace is as its title suggests; it’s fun and flirty. Though there are some low moments for Peyton, the overall storytelling remains light and relaxed. Brayden focuses on the things that her readers have come to love about her writing–quick-witted, smart dialogue between likable, fun characters. This is a pleasant read; no doubt wlw romance lovers will enjoy it.

Strengths…

Great dialogue
Likable characters
Warm, sweet romance
Entertaining read

DNF - I just couldn't connect to the characters and didn't sense any attraction between them. The story just fell flat for me. I've enjoyed other books by this author, but this one didn't work.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

maybe it’s just me, but i really don’t know how anyone could dislike a good ol’ opposites attract dynamic. i found this to flow at a steady pace, and the interactions between the main characters didn’t feel clunky or forced. it included one mc’s second chance at life in general, and the other’s second chance at love after ending a relationship to come out and be true to herself. the side characters were also lovable and genuinely seemed to add to the story, instead of just being written in as filler or to involve more than just the two love interests. i would buy a physical copy of this one upon release for sure!

Melissa Brayden’s latest offering, Lucky in Lace, is perky, uplifting and insightful. The saying never judge a book by its cover could not be more fitting in the case of the book’s main characters, Peyton and Juliette.

While Peyton returns to her hometown with great aplomb; owner of the new lingerie store and with a sunny and cheery disposition to boot, something lies deep below the surface. As for her neighbour and opposite number Juliette, being uptight and reticent is just how the town sees her. While placing them side by side would show that they could not have been more different; with a dose of attraction, magic happens.

Life is full of twists and turns and for Peyton with a past, being thrown a lifeline and working and making something out of it made her an admirable and lovable character. I loved how the characters were a positive influence to each other, they grew out of their shells and the transformations were encouraging and beautiful. While The Last Lavender Sister and and Marry Me were angsty and made of the heart wrenching stuff, Lucky in Lace is a balm for wounded souls.

I just reviewed Lucky in Lace by Melissa Brayden. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

This is grumpy/sunshine romance, a combination I enjoy reading about. Peyton has had a difficult past and now must overcome challenges due to it, but she refuses to be anything but cheerful, happily talking to strangers even if it's with closed off Juliette. Simply put, Juliette prefers sticking to her comfort zone, and keeps to herself where possibly but when Peyton becomes her shop's next door neighbour, things start to change.

From the get go, I liked Peyton and Juliette's character development, they were already likeable characters to begin with but throughout the book, I enjoyed Juliette becoming bolder and Peyton showing her more sensitive side. This was clearly shown through the attraction between them and the steady pace of their romance.

But it wasn't all plain sailing, some parts of the book felt choppy and didn't flow. I also felt like near the middle there was a rush, I'm not sure what for but that's what it felt like. And I had a real aversion with Cherry, one of the supporting characters, I don't think she really added much to the story. More so, she seemed to just be another filler character. Though I wish we got more from her friendship with Juliette.

I've previously read some great books by Brayden and was looking forward to this one, though unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. And I have to say, this cover was not it for me. Taking into consideration the characters in the book, I would expect a more saucier cover.

Overall, a decent read with likeable characters and an interesting story.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books, Inc., Melissa Brayden, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book is a cute, cozy, contemporary, and spicy romance. It was a great book. I loved Juliette and Peyton. They were opposites of each other but worked well together. I related to Juliette. Peyton is someone that I strive to be. The banter between the two is adorable and hot. From the description, I thought there would be an argument about Cotton Candy, but it surprisingly wasn't. It made the story better that she didn't argue about the store being there.

Peyton has a dark past but doesn’t want that to affect her in the present. She takes life and makes a great spin out of it. Her upbeat nature made it easy to fall in love with her. Peyton loves what she does and ensures that every woman, man, and non-binary person feels great about their body.

I enjoyed reading this book. It kept me interested. I'm going to check out more books by Melissa Brayden. I recommend this book if you want cute, cozy romance books.

I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book. A book about second chances after prison and finding love with a lingerie store? Perfect for me. However, this story isn't ready for print yet. There are very obvious grammar and typing errors that make the story unreadable.

The story also lacks consistent characterization throughout, which makes it hard to keep track of who is who.

I really adore this author and this book rates better than a lot of lesfic out there. This offering is definitely one of the lighter and fluffier books in her catalog, and much more subdued considering her last 2 books have been some of her best writing yet. I always look forward to what’s next in her catalog.

I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the relationship in this between Juliette and Peyton. I adored the focus on them, their cold start and their warming friendship leading to a hot romance. I also loved getting to spend so much time in both of their heads. In some sapphic romances I find myself constantly getting confused about whos POV I am reading from if they switch back and forth, but the author did such a good job fleshing out these two that it was easy. They had different issues, different personalities and different styles when we got to see what was happening in their heads.

The supporting cast was minimal but well suited to the task of helping our stars. The location of a small-medium town gave us plenty of details without becoming a character in its own right. The blowup our girls experienced felt believable and resolvable, sometimes a high bar.

I can't wait to read more from Melissa Brayden!

3.5/5 stars

This was a really charming read about redemption, living outside your comfort zone and a sweet opposites-attract romance. This is a book that will just make you feel good inside. There are so many sweet moments, it feels very down to earth and we have tonnes of funny moments as well. Lots of harmless flirting and heartwarming intimate moments made this such an easy book to enjoy.

Juliette is an introverted stationary shop owner who likes to live within her comfort zone. Suddenly there is a new store being developed next to hers that throws everything out of whack. Peyton owns a flirty and fun lingerie store and specialises in all things sexy. Unlike Juliette, Peyton is outgoing and vivacious, although she is only this way because of her experiences in the past. Despite being such opposites, Peyton and Juliette just click so well. I feel like Peyton and Juliette really brought out the best in each other, which elevated both of their characters. There was a lot of tender character growth and redemption in this book, and their sweet chemistry was really at the heart of it. I keep using the germs ‘sweet’ and ‘heartwarming’, this book was also surprisingly sexy which I think other readers will also love.

While there are so many great aspects of this book, it doesn’t really go past enjoyable for me. While it was a fun read, I don’t think it has the kick or heart that I was really after. In particular, I think the ending was quite weak, with things moving much faster than the pace of the rest of the book and the conflict feeling quite predictable yet unfounded. Nonetheless, it is still an enjoyable and sweet book.

As a big fan of Melissa Braydens books it will come as no surprise that I enjoyed the love story between Peyton and Juliette. The subject matter with Peyton being a felon is a little heavier than other Brayden books, but she keeps it light enough without disregarding the effects such events have on people.
It had all her signature components: a believable connection, quirky dialogues and characters, romance, some spice and a dash of humor. If you're looking for a great romance that has some body but still makes for an enjoyable, stressfree read; this is the book to pick up!

***Thank you Netgalley and Bold Stroke Books for giving me the chance to read and review this book***

I love Melissa Brayden. She is quickly becoming my favourite lesbian romance author and I absolutely devour her books. Lucky in Lace was a beautiful story of redemption and reconciliation. I appreciated greatly that the act 3 conflict that drove them apart felt like a moral quandary as opposed to something for drama. And the discussion itself about accusation and trust was considered and realistic. I can't wait for this book to be published and to recommend it to my friends. I've just bought another two Brayden books I hadn't read yet after turning the final page if that is any indication that this book is a winner!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Still not enough to make buy sexy lingerie but close enough! I’ve really liked the premise of the book, which it looked very different from other Brayden’s work. This is still a light romance that it doesn’t go too heavy despite the Peyton’s baggage. Enjoyed both characters but kept thinking for the majority of the book that Peyton was just too perfect and nice for what she had endured. I believe in redemption, and that one can take their life around and this is a good example of that. Juliette was slightly odd but funny, it was good to see her character evolving throughout the book. Definitely recommend this one.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Peyton who just wants a chance after her teenager years got her into trouble and she windup in prison now she out and wants a fresh start. She meets Candy who takes a chance on her when no one else would hire her and finds she has a talent to put woman at ease when buying lingerie. Juliette owns a stationery store which is doing ok but can be better she got divorce but still friends with her ex and although she happy for her ex and best friend Cherry she feels left out. Juliette meets Peyton when she returns to her hometown to open up lingerie shop and reconnect with her brother Caleb. Juliette a bit uptight and doesn’t know how to respond to Peyton being upbeat and positivity. They grow closer which turns into a friendship into more. I enjoy this read Juliette and Peyton both learn their worth and self confidence.

This is a sweet sapphic romance with many enjoyable aspects. The two main leads are great, especially Payton. I liked how she grew and blossomed as a person, after a difficult end to her teenage years where she was harshly punished for a crime she committed. It is great to see someone get a second chance after making foolish mistakes in earlier life. I liked how jules opened up from being closed, controlling and a bit paranoid. I thought the ending was a bit weak and fairly predictable, but this should not deter anyone from having an enjoyable read

Melissa Brayden always brings the feels, and I'm loving it once again.
Juliette's prim and proper lifestyle, including her stationery store, is disrupted when a new business moves next door...selling lingerie. Peyton's extroverted energy makes Juliette bristle and blush, especially since she's so put together and hot. They strike up a friendship that turns both their lives upside down... but maybe that's what they both needed.
A good friends to lovers type story. But I have to admit to being annoyed by both characters at first. Peyton seems bold to the point of pushy and Juliette is uptight and judgy. But it works in this story since they both challenge each other's world view. Both characters go through a lot of learning and changing throughout the story, and it feels right.
Plus, I have a huge crush on Jaccquelyn.
If you want a fun read with flawed characters bringing out the best in each other, give this one a try.

An opposites attract romance about two people who manage to make their differences work in their favor. Redemption and finding a way through past regrets is one of the main topics of this book. Overall, it was a nice read but there wasn't much chemistry between the main characters and I think the story would have benefited more from having a compelling plot and if Juliette's character was more complex.

A slightly different story than Brayden’s usual. Peyton is a redeeming felon that’s taking a lighter approach to life and interacts seemingly very easy with others while Juliette has a very tall fence surrounding her comfort zone. It went a little flat towards the end and then Peyton’s past came back to haunt her although it seemed a little forced. It’s missing the wow factor for me but still a good read.
Free ACR via NetGalley

Another charming and amazing read from Melissa Brayden!

I have to say, I’m a bit shocked by the average reviews but hey, not every book is for everyone.

The story follows convicted felon, Peyton, and her adventure in setting up a life for herself after her release from jail. This leads her back to the town where her and her brother spent a large part of their life and where she also hopes to make amends with him for her past. She ends up setting up shop next to an endearing and almost introverted woman named Juliette and the story really takes off following their relationship which starts as a tentative friends and well, I guess you can figure out where that goes.

Characters-

Maybe it’s in contrast to the last story I reviewed but I really liked the personalization of the characters in this book.

Peyton and Juliette make up majority of the story and while I’m not exactly complaining, we were also introduced to others who I don’t think it would’ve hurt to get some more insight into.

Peyton is sunshine and positivity while also holding a natural flirtatious attitude. But even with this positivity we feel the hesitation and cautiousness that she carries with her baggage of her past. I for one find it very commendable just how natural Brayden produced this character.

Juliette is a little bit harder to read but I still loved seeing her open up to accept Peyton into her life in the various capacities she found herself considering. Would’ve loved to see more of her and her friends dynamic but nevertheless, loved her character.

Plot-

Very original and refreshing to the lesbian genre, at least to what I’ve read. I did see someone say they found the lack of variety in setting a turn off and while I do agree that the book doesn’t have much of it, it wasn’t really a problem for me.

There isn’t much for me to complain about in terms of the plot. I found it charming, interesting and natural flowing.

Writing-

Melissa Brayden managed to bring this story about in a way that was natural and engaging. From the pacing to the dialogue, everything ran smoothly. Amazing characters, hot interactions and the amazing writing to compliment it.

So yes, I recommend this book especially if you’re looking for a light story which isn’t too dark but also not too surface level.

It’s perfect for a light stress free read!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in return from an honest review.

This was a well-written read that was somewhat darker than the author's usual fare. I really connected with Peyton and her quest for redemption, as well as Juliette and her struggle to get out of her comfort zone. They had great chemistry and the book overall was steamier than any of the author's recent works. It all fizzled out a bit towards the end due to Peyton's past coming back to haunt her, but I still enjoyed the book and appreciated that the author didn't add drama for drama's sake. Overall, it was an enjoyable read.