Publication Date: 22nd July 2025
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/ThirdTimeLuckySocial
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221981291-third-time-lucky
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3.5 Stars
One Liner: An escapist read with some laughs and sweet moments
Book Blurb:
Could a blast from
the past be the secret ingredient to their future?
Asher Wright has spent his
career creating and concocting the perfect dishes and is about to open his very
own restaurant. Life is good. His love life, however, is far from cooking! He
hasn’t thought about Lucy Gray in years – not since they both graduated,
reeling from the shocking loss of her then-boyfriend and his best friend Kris,
who tragically died at 18. So when he witnesses the breakdown of her wedding in
all its humiliating glory - old wounds and long-buried emotions resurface.
As Lucy lands a right hook on
her soon-to-be ex-fiancée in front of their entire wedding party, she has a
moment of realization... Love is not on the menu for her! Fate, however, has
other plans... A chance twist of events lands Asher as the private chef for
Lucy’s spirited grandmother, Mitzi, and what begins as awkward encounters in
Mitzi’s Portland mansion soon evolves into a simmering connection she never
expected.
As Asher and Lucy work through
their past, they discover a bond that feels both familiar and excitingly new.
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Lucy and Asher’s first-person POVs.
At the beginning, there’s a short note/ dedication where the author says you get two stories (HEAs) for the price of one. Like a typical middle-class Indian, I was excited for this one plus one offer.
We are right away introduced
to the main characters and get a brief gist of their past connection. Most of
this is done well. We are supposed to cringe at the primary side character,
which happens easily, lol.
The FMC and MMC get two
chapters each before a switch in POV. While this is helpful, it was rather hard
to distinguish between their voices. They sounded very much alike – nervous,
tensed, worried, and stressed.
I appreciate an MMC who looks
tall, handsome, et al, and has loads of tattoos that give him a rugged and
alpha vibe, but is actually a softie, nervous wreck with an overthinking brain.
He is the opposite of cocky. It’s quite refreshing to read such a character. I
would have liked it better if his voice were distinguishable from the FMCs.
The connection between the
main characters is sweet. Despite all the overthinking, they can communicate
well enough. However, the lack of conflict makes it a bit dull compared to the
OTTness of the other couple.
Moreover, the secondary couple
(the free HEA) gets almost equal space, which puts the main couple at a
disadvantage. Though you can clearly see that the MCs have a healthier dynamic,
the drama in the secondary track takes over the stage. This can be a hit or a
miss. I like how it contrasted their love stories. From a writer’s perspective,
I can see why readers love drama and angst. Easy and sweet romance just doesn’t
hit the same way, though it has more green flags!
Mitzi is my favorite
character. She is a loving, caring, assertive, lively, quirky, and adorable
grandmother. The risk of having such a fab side character is that the FMC gets
easily shadowed. Since the secondary female character is also more sparkly than
the FMC, it causes some issues with the interest levels.
Despite having many
laugh-out-loud moments, the book touches upon serious themes like death,
dysfunctional families, infidelity, cheating, trust issues, etc. Still, none of
these are deep. They aren’t meant to be.
The author’s note at the end
is heartfelt.
To summarize, Third Time Lucky
is a lighthearted read with some funny and serious moments. It’s pure escapist
fiction with characters you can root for.
Thank you, Rachel’s Random
Resources and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains
my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
About the Author – Aimee Brown
Aimee Brown is a writer of
romantic comedies set in Portland, Oregon. She writes closed-door romance (NO
sex scenes, light kissing) with humor and crude language. She spends much of
her time writing, raising three kids (who are all nearly grown now),
binge-watching shows on Netflix, and obsessively cleaning and redecorating her
house. She's fluent in sarcasm and has been known to utter profanities like
she's competing for a medal.
Aimee grew up in Oregon but is
now a transplant living in cold Montana with her husband of twenty+ years, two
of three children, and far too many pets. She is a lot older than she looks,
and yes, that is a tattoo across her chest.
Follow the Author:
Facebook: @authoraimeebrown
Instagram: @authoraimeeb
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AimeeBrownNews
Bookbub Profile: @AimeeBrown
***
This has been a stop on the
#ThirdTimeLucky blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources).
Thanks for stopping by!
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