Such a fun book with so many "very Richmond" twists and turns. This is a great summer read and is so good. I loved reading about all the characters and getting their backstory. So amazing and lots of good river sidebars about Rivah places. Totally recommend!

Unfortunate it was a dnf for me.. i just couldn’t get through it. I don’t know what it was exactly but it just wasn’t catchy for me.

Stubborn and a curmudgeon, Wyatt does not want to accept the help his agent thrust upon him in the form of his sister, Josie. Brother’s best friend romance at its finest! Perfect summer read. Slow burn romance that will have you invested to see when will the HEA arrive.

Get your boat shoes, sunscreen, cool whip containers, and waterway maps ready for a sailing trip you need to take this summer! This trip is with Josie and Wyatt, two of the most unlikely pairs, at first glance, but with a little deeper look you will find not a grump but a softy and not a standoff girl but a woman who craves hugs and physical connection.

Will a little time together on a sailing boat crack open these two and show them what each other is missing and how wrong they have been about one another?

Wyatt is a pro hockey player, you may have heard of him from the Appies series if not don't worry, he also is a client of Josie's brother, Jacob. He is currently rehabbing in a "murder cabin" (that is a direct quote from Josie). But his rehab isn't going quite like expected. His mental health is also taking a toll and Jacob realized that Wyatt needs a little help, in the form of someone who won't backdown from his sarcasm and Josie is the perfect nurse! However, Josie isn't exactly lining up to take the job. Her and Wyatt aren't exactly best friends, like him and Jacob. But after a little sibling trickery Josie finds herself saying "yes" to helping Wyatt. What she doesn't expect to find herself saying "Yes" to is: late night fever induced love confessions, scary animal sounds from the barn, wild pigs that require bodily harm to fight off, midnight splinter removal, shirtless therapy sessions, and most of all a sailing trip that leads to questioning feelings. But all that can be billed back to Jacob, right?

Emma does a great job writing this slow burn between Wyatt and Josie and sharing both their histories that hold them back from one another. She pops in great laughter filled moments that will make you forget the fact that you aren't sure if they are ever going to end up together!

If you love the slow burn, the hidden grump, the secret pasts, adorable pups that will make you jealous of your attire, and swoon worthy kisses this is the perfect summer romance that will bring all the heat for you!

Thank you, Emma, Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley for my eBook. It was not expected for me to leave any positive feedback. These opinions are 100% my own.

A One-Click author who never disappoints.
Anytime Emma St. Clair writes a book, I'm there waiting impatiently to get my hands on it. I know:
1) it will be hilarious;
2) it will be clean; and
3) it will leave me with a soft sigh, because it will have a feel good HEA ending.
Emma St. Clair, you knocked this one out of the park (or should I say that you slapped that hockey puck right into the net, with the buzzer sounding and the red light flashing!)
Love, love, loved it!

I was so excited to get an ARC of Emma St. Clair’s trad published debut! And was even more excited to realize Wyatt was one of our Appies hockey players. I love how Emma finds ways to connect all her series to each other. It’s truly so much fun.

The setup for this one was so fun. I knew Josie was going to end up on a sailing trip with Wyatt, her brother’s BFF, but I wasn’t sure how that was going to play out. And I felt like there were a lot of ways it could go that would seem flimsy but I thought the reason for this made so much sense and made the story that much more fun. I loved watching Wyatt and Josie get to know each other and for Josie to see the real Wyatt and have her preconceived notions of him destroyed one by one. There’s a lot of lead up in the book to the actual sailing trip but I enjoyed all of it and felt it was really well done. I also loved getting some cameos from some favorite Appies. That was such a nice surprise. Also Wyatt is a thoughtful sweetie and I just adored him so much. I wish I could’ve gotten more of his POV but that’s because I tend to love the guy’s POV more. Overall this was a fun one and I think it’s a great summer read.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Emma for the ARC!

This is the perfect summer book!

If All Else Sails follows Josie and Wyatt. Wyatt is a hockey player who is struggling to get back on his feet (literally and metaphorically) after an injury. Wyatt’s best friend / Josie’s brother, Jacob, tricks Josie into helping Wyatt get back on track, and that’s where our story begins. Much of the story unfolds as the pair sails down the Intracoastal Waterway together stopping at spots like Carolina Beach and Savannah.

Wyatt and Josie were so adorable, and I absolutely loved this romance! Emma St. Clair packed this story full of hilarious, laugh out loud moments alongside tender, intimate ones. Sailing on a boat down the coast was such a fun setting for this book, and the author really created such a fun world for our two main characters to fall in love.

Wyatt was a strong, protective, masculine male main character while also being incredibly patient, thoughtful, and completely smitten. Josie was witty and funny while also being incredibly compassionate and selfless towards those she loves. They both had their personal issues and struggles that they were able to share with one another as their relationship deepened.

Also, this book is a spin-off of the Appies series, and I LOVED that we got to see a couple of our favorite Appies players make a guest appearance in this book as well.

Read if you love:

💙 brothers best friend

🤍 forced proximity

⛵️east coast sailing

🐾 dogs in books

🚫 no spice

🚫 no language

A great summery read with a sweet romance and lovable characters who had good banter and chemistry. All my favourite tropes, too! Thank you for the ARC, it made the perfect holiday read.

I read this book in one day! I really loved the character development between the two characters. It was cute, romance (non-spice), and funny summer read. This book would be a perfect pool or beach read!

I really enjoyed this book. Wyatt is a bit of a grouch but he has a tender heart underneath it all. He started the book a bit rough but I warmed up to him quickly and was a big fan of his. Josie is full of anxiety and I loved how Wyatt tried to understand her struggles and was so patient with her. I also loved Princess Jib and her outfits. Overall a great book and a heartwarming romance.

This book was .. not great but not bad? It felt quite average for me and surface level overall. The entire book i was expecting more from the characters and more of a connection? It seemed to be missing something ...

What would you do if your brother sent you to a murder cottage instead of your annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza trip? More specifically, to his grumpy hockey-player client's murder cottage?

Here’s something about me: if Emma St. Clair writes a book, I’m going to read it. What can I say? I’m a fan.

After reading most of her works, I can safely say I'm an Emma specialist and that If All Else Fails is quite different from the rest. Don’t get me wrong—this book is amazing—but it has a different style than the others. It’s more of a cozy read, with a slower pace and emotional moments between all the fun and banter.

Here, we get to know Wyatt, a side character from the Appies Series, who is now recovering from an injury and grieving. His agent sends his sister, Josie—a school nurse—to care for him, but instead of sending the usual sibling trip info, he gives her Wyatt’s cottage address.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away, but from there, Josie and Wyatt develop a friendship and even go sailing along the Intracoastal Waterway—which makes this the perfect vacation read.

It has a funny dog with the best wardrobe, secret feelings, a murd3r cottage banter, giant pigs, a sailing trip, the most patient MMC ever, an Appies appearance (ugh I love when the boys appear to put some sense into the main characters), a Cool Whip container, and much more.

Thank you to the Thomas Nelson Fiction team for the ARC!

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

Okay this was a SUPER sweet book! I loved the back and forth between the characters and it was easy to follow. There were no "filler characters" and "side stories" to take your mind off of the story. It's sweet, clean and a great summer read! I love Emma's books and this one will not disappoint!

Oh my gosh, the re-meet-“cute” made my jaw drop. The hilarity just kept coming.
Cracking up at one disaster after another.

My heart went out to Wyatt. He’s dealing with a couple different types of losses. He’s closed himself off to everyone. He comes off as a grump, but he’s got such a sincere heart.

I loved Josie. She’s spunky, she’s feisty, she’s caring. Her summer plans did not include being a nurse to her brother’s friend and sailing the east coast, but it turns out to be the best thing for both of them.

There’s so much to love in this book. There’s great banter, some grumpy/sunshine, hilarious situations that make you laugh out loud, deepening connections, and fabulous adventure. Oh and an adorably cute dog.

Highlights:
⛵️Fever Wyatt
⛵️The pigs
⛵️The helmet
⛵️Jib
⛵️Wyatt’s mom
⛵️Boat shoes
⛵️Appies lunch

This is such a sweet and funny romantic adventure! A perfect summer read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the copy. All opinions are my own.

A light summer rom-com 🩷 4.5*

-Dual POVs
-He falls first

"I am standing outside of what could be described as a quaint little murder cottage..."

• Love the banter & humor
• A boat trip from Virginia to Georgia
• A hockey player with a grumpy exterior
• A school nurse doing a favor for her brother's friend

Latest novel from Emma St. Clair is a classic opposites attract story line! Sourpuss with little Miss Sunshine! Throw in best friend of the brother who's secretly been in love with her forever...add in a bit of humor, some sailing, a dash of hockey...And you've got this fun plot!

I definitely think I preferred Wyatt over Josie...but I did enjoy their chemistry.

This book is listed as Christian fiction, but it's basically just a clean enemies to lovers story. No deep inspirational truths.

4 Stars. Solid read

*thanks to the publishers and NetGAlley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

Cute and fun romance book. I really enjoyed this one! Perfect setting, romance between the MCs was cute and fun. Recommend.

“When Josie’s brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.

A hockey player who isn’t just one of her sports agent brother’s clients. He’s also his best friend. And Josie’s sworn enemy.

Oh—and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.

Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try.

Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.

Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle’s ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt’s first mate.

Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they’ll be able to make it home without killing—or kissing?—each other.

And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt’s layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.”

**What I loved about this book:
I really enjoyed both of the main characters, Josie and Wyatt! Wyatt was totally smitten with Josie and Josie was a smart, caring FMC! And the banter between them just put this book over the top for me!!

Read if you like:
*enemies to lovers
*brother’s best friend
*forced proximity
*closed door romance

Wyatt and Josie are enemies… at least Josie thinks so. Wyatt? He’s the silent brooding type who generally answers with a grunt or the word no. So, his opinion might be up for debate, except for the rather compelling argument of his reaction to Josie’s presence. I mean, his initial reaction is pretty big and not so welcoming, but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. The guy is not at his best in that moment. However, Josie’s sunny personality and her genuine caring for others does lead Wyatt through some rough stuff. I love how they both learn and grow personally throughout the story. This story is sweet and has some funny moments. When Wyatt and Josie are just themselves, and we catch their banter and teasing, the story feels genuine and authentic, which I liked. I enjoyed reading it. It is technically Christian fiction, but Christian elements are minimal. I would probably have liked it more had we seen the characters relying on God more and had the author shared their inner spiritual thoughts and prayers more. But, overall, I did enjoy this book. It is a good, relaxing, and just-for-fun read. I recommend this book to anyone needing a summer or vacation literary getaway.

If All Else Sails is author Emma St. Clair’s first book released by a major publisher. It’s a standalone book but is connected to the independently published Appies hockey romantic comedy series by Emma St. Clair and Jenny Proctor. All of the Appies books are free of profanity and sex scenes, with the romance limited to kissing.

Wyatt Jacobs was introduced in earlier Appies books as a member of the Appies minor-league hockey team, but he was promoted to an NHL team in Boston. Wyatt comes from a wealthy family who own a chain of successful restaurants in the Richmond, Virginia area. Wyatt became close friends with Jacob during college and often went to his home during school breaks. He was attracted to Jacob’s younger sister, Josie, but was told that she was off-limits.

Fast forward a few years and Wyatt is living at his late uncle’s remote cottage in coastal Virginia, recovering from a foot injury. He’s mourning his beloved Uncle Tom and trying to figure out how to renovate this dilapidated structure that he’s inherited. He’s mad at the world and refusing to go to physical therapy for his foot. Whan a young woman unexpectedly appears at his cottage, he calls the police to report a trespasser. He definitely wants to avoid nosy reporters. He’s shocked to learn that the lady is his agent and friend Jacob’s sister, Josie, who he’s had a crush on for years.

Josie is an elementary school nurse in Virginia who is struggling both financially and socially. Her parents sold her childhood home and are travelling the country in their RV. Her older brother, Jacob, is a successful sports agent with famous clients, and a string of affairs. Josie experienced two traumatic events in her youth and is emotionally stunted. She doesn’t date and specifically avoids athletic men. When Jacob invites her to their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she is thrilled to be able to reconnect with him. A previous extravaganza was a tropical cruise complete with norovirus, so she’s happy that they will be meeting in coastal Virginia instead. When she arrives at the rundown cottage that looks like a place where a murder has occurred, she’s arrested and put in a police car without air conditioning. When she gets ahold of Jacob, he informs her that he can’t come but he needs her to take care of his buddy, Wyatt, for a few weeks. Josie agrees to stay with Wyatt for four weeks to oversee his recovery after Jacob offers to pay her an exorbitant amount of money, more than she could make from summer school.

Wyatt and Josie get off to a rough start because Wyatt doesn’t want anyone helping him. However Josie’s nursing skills and experience with childish behavior help her figure out how to motivate Wyatt to follow his doctor’s orders and attend physical therapy. When she learns about the history of the cottage and Wyatt’s plans to scatter his uncle’s ashes on a sailing trip to Savannah, Josie offers to accompany him if he will get onboard with the recovery process. She researches sailing, and slowly a friendship forms.

As they sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah, Georgia, they have many interesting adventures. Josie learns more about Wyatt and discovers that she misunderstood their past encounters. She realizes that he’s not the enemy that she thought he was, and she falls for him. Josie has to work through her past traumas in order for their relationship to deepen.

If All Else Sails is partial romance and partial character development with lots of humor. Both Wyatt and Josie are well-developed, likable people who readers will root for. The scenes are described so vividly that it’s like watching a movie. The reader can absolutely sense Jacob’s matchmaking while both Wyatt and Josie are oblivious. While there are references to a sensitive topic, it’s a realistic scenario for many young women and is explained with care and sensitivity. I really enjoyed this book so much that now I want to go on a sailing drip on the Intracoastal Waterway!

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) e-book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.