The Good Luck Charm

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Release Date August 7, 2018

Is it love, or is she just his good luck charm? New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting absolutely delights with this witty and fun standalone contemporary romance. 

Lilah isn't sure what hurt worse: the day Ethan left her to focus on his hockey career, or the day he came back eight years later. He might think they can pick up just where they left off, but she's no longer that same girl and never wants to be again. 

Ethan Kane wants his glory days back. And that includes having Lilah by his side. With her, he was magic. They were magic. All he has to do is make her see that. 

Just when Lilah might finally be ready to let him in, though, she finds out their reunion has nothing to do with her and everything to do with his game. But Ethan's already lost her once, and even if it costs him his career, he'll do anything to keep from losing her again.

Lilah had no idea the bad day she was having was going to lead to surprising life changes. She was living a single, controlled, orderly life and working on achieving some new goals for herself, and BOOM the rug is pulled out from under her and her past is slapping her in the face....in the form of a big, brawny NHL player, Ethan Kase. He was her best friend and first love that broke her heart eight years ago. She is still hurt, angry, and dealing with repercussions from the loss of him.

Ethan's career has been on a downspin and he is now home in Minnesota and starting with a new team. He is also dealing with family issues. And now he is facing  the woman he loved and left. 

Neither really got over the other, but there is a lot of anger, hurt, and misconceptions between them. But now they will be in the same place again and Ethan is ready to take another shot. But he will have to break through her walls, her fears, and make up for his past mistakes. He's an idealist and also believes in superstitions, rituals, and fate. And his life seems to be on an upswing now that she is back in it.  He is also persistent and overwhelmingly sweet, romantic, and passionate. 

She is usually grounded and in control, but Ethan is an all consuming distraction. And she still has deep seated fears and issues. She needs balance, boundaries, and to find her sense of self. But with Ethan beginning to infiltrate her life again, will she lose herself and give up her dreams again? Are they meant to be, or will she lose again?

This is an engaging, sweet, sexy, second-chance romance about  the importance of family, passion, priorities,  and unconditional love. These characters had some issues to work through and healing that was long overdue. But they also needed to figure out if and how they could fit back into each other's lives after a lengthy separation and plenty of life changes. I really liked both of these characters and could understand where they were coming from. They had amazing chemistry and a strong connection. It was easy to get swept away with the familiarity and history. But they were also both on their own personal journeys trying to gain confidence in their own abilities, and figure out what they wanted and needed for their own happiness and futures. Sometimes timing is everything. But sometimes no matter how good everything is, there still needs to be compromise. And sometimes compromise is not that easy. 

I loved the side characters of Carmen, Emery, and Dr. Lovely. I would enjoy seeing spin offs with these characters. And of course, Ethan is part of a hockey team so that opens up some possibilities too.

I received this book for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ethan is piecing back together his career with one last chance back in his hometown. He left home eight years ago to pursue and focus on his hockey career, leaving behind his best friend and girlfriend, DJ (Lilah). He has struggled in several aspects of his life since then and hopes that the return home will help him put the pieces back.

Lilah has made some changes in her life and has no interest in going back to the woman she was when Ethan left town. When he returns, she fears that he wants her to be who she used to be rather than who she is, that he is using her as his good luck charm. Ethan’s superstitions are something fierce, as is typical of many sports stars.

These two had fantastic chemistry. From the beginning it just felt like they belonged together, like they couldn’t stay away. Lilah and Ethan have what I love in a good second chance romance: the history, the pull, and the spark that lingers even after so much time and distance. Even though they had been apart for so long, the spark that grew from their childhood friendship did not dim.

This was a lighthearted, fun second chance romance. I usually expect a little further down the comedy side of the rom-com scale from Helena, but this was such a great change of pace. They had a lot to deal with, pain, hurt and misunderstanding as they navigated not only what they had in the past but what they could have if they can move beyond.

I received this book for free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.