I was intrigued by a different upcoming book by Pepper Basham, so I thought I would give this book a go. At first, I was slightly skeptical about the fictional Scottish island, Hallmark-movie feels, and its purport to be a Christian romance. I am a Christian, but typically I've found Christian books to be a bit too browbeatingly evangelical for my liking. This book sucked me in and didn't let me go, though. The characters' communication was refreshingly open and straightforward, which deepened the believability of their romance. The characterization of the island and the Scottish characters was not stereotypical at all, either. I especially loved the fact that the characters referenced Hallmark movies and how cheesy they are - I love a meta moment of self-awareness. Most importantly, there were no saccharine conversion moments or Bible-thumping speeches. The characters' faith was strong, but subtle; it gave backbone to all they did, but never overpowered the rest of the plot. I'm now very much looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

This was such a good book! I am such a fan of Pepper Bashams books so I was excited for this one. It didn’t disappoint, I loved the storyline and the characters! Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced copy.

As far as rating goes this is closer to a 3.5. There are so many things that I enjoyed about this book. I loved Luke! Luke is our main male character. He is what I call a manly man. He loves coffee, black. He loves the great outdoors and he loves to work with his hands as a carpenter. He is scruffy and wears flannel. Some may say stereotypical but I like it. He is also the only boy in a family of two sisters and a female cousin that lived with them, so basically like a sister to him. Aside from the basics. Luke is a very sweet guy. I enjoyed his banter with his sisters and I especially enjoyed how tender and sweet he was to the children at the orphanage. He is thoughtful and considerate, honest and hard working. He is a family oriented kind of person and strives to do what is right.

Elliana St. Clare is a princess. I did not like the first encounter we have with her, though I don't think we were supposed to. However, as we move through the story she grows on the reader as a person who is dealing with conflict and trying to figure out who she is, how to be authentically herself and still uphold her family duties as a royal.

The relationship between Luke and Ellie is very sweet and at times so cheesy. There are a ton of movie references and Hallmark movie themes that gave me a bit of an eye roll but it was also very cute. I appreciate the clean romance and this is just that. I have not read the other books in this same family, but I want to. I appreciate that I can read them as stand alones but will get a better understanding of Luke's siblings if I read the first two books.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this #gifted book!*
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Synopsis: “ ‘But instead of a knight’s armor, you wear a flannel.’ A chuckle wrapped around her words. ‘And instead of a sword, I carry a hammer?…I’m not sure where you’re trying to compliment or insult me.’ “ Luke Edgewood is all things man: bass pro, flannel, hammers, Rambo. And absolutely zero romance. That is until he accepts a job to help with renovations on an orphanage in Skymar, and one of his coworkers just happens to be a literal princess who he can’t take his mind off of. As Luke’s and Eliana’s friendship grows, they find themselves thoroughly enjoying each other’s company but torn between heart and family, past mistakes and future hopes. Is true love and acceptance possible? What does a future look like with two people from worlds so different?

Analysis: Pepper Basham’s Skymar series is an absolute delight! But I think this book takes the crown 😉 for my favorite of the three! Loyally, Luke is another epistolary novel, but you do get a lot more narrative in this one! Luke is just a good, old-fashioned guy. He is hilarious and often typical man, but it’s what I loved most about him. Pepper isn’t afraid to write a good character to fall in love with! Eliana is a princess with a past but fun and totally relatable. I loved the witty banter between the characters, the sizzling romance, and the way the story still points to important truths and values. If you’re looking for a book to make you laugh out loud and feel all the feels, be sure to add this one to your tbr line up soon!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pepper Basham has done it again! Loyally Luke is another fun, humorous and sweet romance novel. It is Book 3 in her Skymar series and it is just as enjoyable as the other two. This is one of my favorite series that have been published in recent years. I was looking forward to reading this book and I was not disappointed. I’ve already had conversations with friends about this latest book and expect to share many more laughs and favorite moments as more friends read it. (Thank you Pepper Basham, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for letting me preview this book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review & all opinions are my own.)

Oh wow. After reading all of the Edgewood books, I think I have to say that this one's my favorite. While I could relate to Izzy and her deep love for books, I couldn't relate as well to Penelope and her love for sparkles, princesses, and the like (still a fabulous book, though-you should definitely read it!). But Luke??? Goodness, I think I AM Luke! Well, the female version of him, anyway. A little cynical, blunt, sarcastic, a little gruff, and a background support who hates being in the spotlight. Also, not romantic, though I do like romcom books. Not so much the movies.

But I digress.

I loved this book so much! I was cracking UP, and even in the van, with all the kids around, when I heard a bell on the radio, I thought, 'chime!' And then I had to remind myself that I wasn't actually living in a Hallmark movie OR a book.

Listen. When you hear chimes, when you get a little teary-eyed, and when you end a book with a great big grin on your face, you know it's a good one. But also a little bittersweet, you know? We have to say goodbye to the world of Skymar. It's been simply wonderful.

What a beautiful story! I don’t always read sweet romance books but when they are so well written as this one you tend to forget about the lack of spice. I loved grumpy Luke and the texts he would get from his sister and cousin! I’m going to have to go back and read the other stories by Pepper Basham!

Thank you for the ARC for my honest review!

This is possibly the sweetest book you’ll read all year! I was looking forward to reading Luke’s story, and it didn’t disappoint. From the meet-cute intro to the HEA, it was so fun to see the sly winks at the Hallmark tropes while watching them play out with Luke and Ellie. I recommend reading these in order.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary review copy of this title.

This was such a sweet, adorable, cute (can I use anymore words?) book! All the talk about princess and love and royal things made my heart burst!

I loved Luke and Ellie and was rooting for them the entire time! This book was a little slow in the beginning but the banter between Luke & his sisters kept it flowing!

Isn’t this what we all want? To find our Happily Ever After?

If you’re looking for a good choice to make in your life, read this book as soon as possible. It was ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL 🤩. I so enjoyed all various styles used (narrative, texts, emails, “gossip” articles); all of it made for a reading experience that was pure bliss! I didn’t want it to end!!

As an avid cheerleader for the first book in the series, I surprise myself when I say I might have enjoyed this one even more. It seamlessly continues on the series, and it was so fun to get more of Izzy’s and Penelope’s story in this book (including a wedding!)

Beyond being just a wonderfully sweet and swoony romance story, it held some elements that were a bit deeper and thought-provoking than is common: the impact/power the online world can have over past mistakes never being forgotten, the importance of involving other trusted people in big life decisions, and how healthy communication is so important!

😇: Christian publisher (); brief mentions of Christian themes and active faith in the characters
😍: a few descriptive kisses
🤐: no language!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Loyally, Luke is the third book in the Skymar series. I haven’t read the previous books but I think that’s not necessary to understand this one. I enjoyed reading this story but I didn’t love it and I don’t know why. I couldn’t connect with the characters and the story was too long for that ‘plot’. I liked the text messages at the beginning of each chapter. Maybe I should read the two previous books to like this book more? I don’t know
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this arc.

LOYALLY LUKE is almost here!

The series that started with AUTHENTICALLY, IZZY and continued with POSITIVELY, PENELOPE concludes with the love story of my favorite of the Edgewood siblings, Luke, as he falls in love with his unlikeliest match, a princess.

As with the first two books, this one features text threads among the siblings and lots of time in the charming fictional country of Skymar, but it deviates a bit from the epistolary format of the first two book to suit Luke's less effusive nature. I am not typically a reader of royalty romance, but this book won me over instantly with its memorable and hilarious meet-cute, genuine and believable characters, and especially with the development of Luke's inner life, which made me love him as a hero even more.

I was fortunate to receive approval on Netgalley for both the ebook and the audiobook, and I switched back and forth betwee them. I'm not usually one for full cast recordings, but I actually love the way these audiobooks allow each of the siblings to have their own voice, not just in his or her individual book, but across the trilogy. Being able to hear Luke's voice immersed me that much more in the world of the story.

LOYALLY LUKE comes out on Tuesday! If you're new to the series, I think you can read it on its own and still enjoy it, but I wouldn't recommend against binging the first two this weekend...

I’m afraid this one is a flop for me. From the get go I struggled to get into it, finding this wordy and frankly, kind of boring. There is nothing to hook your attention. Sure we get tons of details about things that don’t matter, but no real insight on the characters - it’s very surface level. Even reading the onslaught of information I was wondering why half of it even mattered. Plus the weird strings of text messages don’t make sense half the time, there is no context with the siblings and the drawn out texts (over and over again) are rather unnecessary as they don’t add to the plot, and don’t seem like real messages you would send/receive.

I’m also over the constant exclamations from the siblings on how Luke will find his romance while visiting, how it’s like a book or a movie. Going on and on about having a meet-cute. I’m sick of characters making everything a trope.
- magical snow globe of romantic tropes
- It’s the inevitable enemies to lovers trope!
- Where is your love for tropes?
- The usual trope of “save a business”
- We’ll stick to as many tropes as we can, right?

See what I mean? It’s too much. And you know what else is too much? The! Excessive! Use! Of! Exclamation! Points!

But then there is also stuff like this:
She made a soft purr of a sound, encouraging him to continue investigating the contours of her lips, to drown in the scent of her hair.

I’m bowing out at 40% because if I can’t get into this book by now, it’s not going to turn around for me. I tried, but there’s too much drivel… I could not tell you 3-4 specific, memorable scenes that have happened, and I’m not buying the relationship aspect either. Sadly, nothing here has given me any reason to keep reading.

Also for reference, this is a Christian romance. This is not mentioned in the blurb, but it should be. Use that information as needed.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

I reccomend this book for a sweet, fun, relaxing, light hearted read. A sweet story of redemption and 2nd chances and having comapssion. I thought it a fun spin of the author to play on the hallmark trope. As in the chararacters joking and having fun with either the idea of: I refuse to be a Hallmark movie by Luke or his relatives trying to say Yes! The transition to friends then romance was genuine. I found the storytelling descriptive. I was happy Luke finally got his book. Not necessary but may feel more complete if read in series order.
Some highlights are
*tight knot family
*steady hero
A favorite quote "I reckon the best kind of love is simple in one way. Choosing each other over and over again."
Overall a light, airy and relaxing read with the story being told thorugh text, email and dual pov

This was an AMAZING end to the series!

I am a fairytale girl but like Luke I understand that’s not real life.

We follow Luke who has an opportunity to help with building projects in Skymar and doesn’t know who he falls for. It’s Princess Diaries and all the heartfelt rom-com movies you can think of.

Luke and Elle have my heart. ♥️

I laughed and smiled through this entire book, I listened and read along.

I am going to truly miss this family and world.

I loved Luke! And i loved his interactions with Elianna.. There was magic! This was a delightful tale of wit, unexpected love, and magic moments.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loyally, Luke is part of the Skymar series. I didn't realize this when reading and it isn't necessary to have read the others to enjoy this one as it is considered a standalone. I thoroughly enjoyed Luke and will definitely be checking out the other Skymar selections.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

I have absolutely adored this whole Skymar series from Pepper Basham. And though I've always scoffed at the term "book boyfriend", I have to say, Luke Edgewood has defined that term for me. I was hesitant to read this one at first because I had so adored Luke as a side character, I was worried he would not do as well as a main character, but sure enough, he shined through in this story as well. This story takes Luke "across the pond" once again to help Lewis Gray with a construction project, when he's also called in to be the second opinion for a construction issue at the local orphanage because he can be fully un-biased. While this one had less of the epistolary feel than the first 2, it still had several epistolary "scenes", all of which had me either laughing or crying. But for those who are not fans of that style, this one has it only minimally. I enjoy both styles and maybe would have preferred a bit more of the text/email feel to it, but it had enough to satiate me. Overall, this one was a super fun read - full of romance and great banter, character development, a solid faith thread and all the hallmark-y vibes while making fun of the hallmark-y vibes. Though it was fun and hallmark-y, there was definitely still depth in the storyline and in the character development and romance as well, so don't discount this one as solely a fluffy read (even though it has the fun light-hearted feel of a fluffy read). Though reading the first 2 in the series is not essential to the enjoyment of this book, it does deepen the appreciation for the characters and the background story arc. I enjoyed catching up with both Izzy and Penelope in the background as well as getting to know Luke in the front and center. If you enjoy a good rom-com and enjoy some epistolary in the storytelling, this series and this book are ones I would definitely recommend. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

I'll start by saying, purely from a book standpoint, this was a good one. Good story, likeable characters, beautiful setting. It's clearly part of a series, as it talked about other character's and their lives like I should know about it already.

Personally, I struggled to get through it. It was just a bit slow for me. While I can still appreciate it as a good book, it took me a long time to get through it. But that's just my own experience. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I can still easily recommend it for a light, romance read. Princess and commoner. Longing. Technically hidden identity and forbidden love. The small town vibes and side characters!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Readers who have read the previous two books in the series will probably like this installment. I found the texting all the time was irritating. Not what I was expecting.