For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her … head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.
Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out–and the best way to avoid more negative press.
Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town–and Quinn’s life–possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.
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Just Let Go is the second book in Courtney Walsh’s Harbor Pointe series and definitely worth reading. The author writes stories about imperfect characters trying to find contentment and happiness in an imperfect and messy world.
Just Let Go is a story about two people who are total opposites finding love and joy in spite of their differences and life disappointments.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more books by Courtney in the future.
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh
Abandoned by her mother when she was 9, Quinn’s need for control was overpowering at times. It wasn’t that she was bossy for the sake of being in charge – she needed to feel like she had at least a semblance of a possibility of having things work out the way she hoped. The “perfect” world she worked so hard to create was safe but caused her to miss out on so much. She became a creature of habit and was shackled to the town she loved, fearing to travel or change her routine.
I couldn’t help but fall for Grady. True, he had a terrible temper. True, he was cocky. True, he didn’t exactly live an exemplary life. But there was a hint of vulnerability to him and as the layers of his heart were revealed, it became obvious that he was a broken and hurting man, doing his best to handle the guilt that ravaged his soul.
Reading Just Let Go was quite an adventure! At one point in the story, when Grady thanked Quinn in the diner, I was laughing so hard I had to stop reading. I seriously don’t remember laughing that hard while reading a book for a while. Once I could contain myself, I read a little more but started laughing again as I thought about it. He was so arrogant and such a rat for intentionally saying what he did! Then, in the next chapter, just a few pages away, my heart ached as I got more insight into what happened with Benji and Grady’s motivation to ski and to win.
As with all of this author’s books that I have read, there were just so many things to love. I make a habit of highlighting lines as I read, marking ones that I want to come back to later and consider posting on my blog. I knew that I was highlighting a lot, but didn’t expect it would be more than 30. Oops!
Being a part of Grady and Quinn’s spiritual journeys was such a joy. This is a book that I want to read again and again.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Get a preview of Just Let Go at amongTheReads.net
I would like to thank Celebrate Lit, Netgalley, Tyndale House Publishers for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
I have to start by saying how much I love the cover of this book. I love the way the guy on the cover is a little blurry, leaving room for the imagination. I love the colors and I love the beautiful font for the title. I also really loved book one of this series, so I was very hopeful that Just Let Go would live up to my expectations…and it did!
Grady and Quinn were opposites in many ways, especially at the opening of this novel. I was absolutely enthralled with both of their journeys. They each had things that they were holding onto that were weighing down and sabotaging the real living of their lives.
I appreciated Grady’s faith journey in this story. It felt real and definitely not contrived. Everything didn’t just suddenly make sense to him, it was one small step after the other on a path to understanding. Grady grew a lot in this novel.
Just Let Go had so much heart, so many great lessons on perseverence and the importance of letting go of things that are not healthy for you emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I loved it from start to finish!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
” . . .it’s amazing that something wild and untamed could be so beautiful.”
There’s nothing wild and untamed about Quinn Collins; she’s living her dream as a small business owner in the small Michigan town of Harbor Pointe; enjoying her quiet, predictable, orderly, organized life that doesn’t include any semblance of an interruption from a tall, handsome, sassy, flirty Olympic skier with a gargantuan sized ego and temper to match. It’s the temper part that lands Grady Benson in trouble; shackling him to hours of community service with none other than . . .. Quinn Collins.
It’s just too much fun to rile the beautiful flower shop owner. If he has be stuck in the middle of nowhere, instead of training for the Olympic ski team, Grady Benson figures that annoying Quinn Collins can at least provide some local entertainment. She has a plan and she is sticking to it, no “live and let live” with her, but as Grady catches glimpses of vulnerability beneath the surface, a new image emerges and it’s not too far off from his own efforts to prove himself worthy.
Are their differences too great or can Quinn and Grady “just let go”?
I so enjoyed Courtney Walsh’s romantic return to Harbor Pointe. Just Let Go is her second book set in this charming tourist town along the shores of Lake Michigan and Walsh’s characters make the town such a great place to visit. The lessons that her characters learn in regards to faith, trust and courage are good lessons for us all. Although Just Let Go can be read alone, the first book from Harbor Pointe, Just Look Up, is a good read too! I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are mine.
A sweet story of forgiveness and learning to let go.
Courtney Walsh has quickly become one of my must-read authors. I first discovered her last summer with the release of Just Look Up, and while I enjoyed it, I absolutely loved Just Let Go. I adored the little town of Harbor Pointe and was excited to revisit it, falling in love with it even more this time. Quinn’s flower shop was the perfect addition to the cute little town and I really wish they were both real. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting characters from the previous novel, including the sweet, quirky side characters around town. Quinn and Grady were both extremely relatable characters and I loved the banter and interactions between the two of them. Despite all of their personality differences, I enjoyed seeing them connect on their similar struggles with rejection and letting go of the past. They helped each other see the importance of forgiveness for themselves and I loved seeing them decide to let go of past hurts and move forward together. Courtney Walsh is one of those rare authors who expertly weaves together a sweet love story with poignant spiritual truths for a read that is both fun and memorable.
From the setting in a small town in Michigan, to the realistically flawed, but engaging characters, this book drew me in quickly and wouldn’t let go. Author Courtney Walsh has penned a sweet story of determination, redemption, forgiveness, and trust that is brimming with hope. Although Grady took a while to grow on me, I was drawn to Quinn easily and was rooting for her to heal and be successful. Walsh is talented at bringing her characters to life, and I enjoyed seeing Grady and Quinn deal with their individual pasts and let go of the hurts and pain. I loved the cast of secondary characters and their small-town friendliness. The cover of this book alone would have made me grab it and read, but the story within the pages is even more charming and refreshing. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean contemporary romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
“He realized he’d never been in control….”
Such a terrific read. This author always delivers far more than just a story. Each novel has a theme that runs through the novel…a nugget of truth that is played out before the readers eyes. It’s really what I love most about her books.
It does help that the setting is small towns, the characters real to life and relatable, and the story is so utterly charming! No, life isn’t perfect in these towns anymore than it is in mine- another charming quality of Just Let Go.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and even more I’m enjoying the thought process this author set me on of knowing Who is in control….and trusting that He will do what’s best because He loves and forgives. His idea and mine NEED to be the same. How “coincidental” is it that this has been a theme in my life this year…and it’s the theme of this book? No spoilers…just go get the book…and think about Who could best control your life- even if that life is from a wheelchair, as one disabled, one like mine? Yes, my life can be great too, because God writes great stories.
“How would it feel to really give up control? To trust that he could be carried by something greater than him? To believe that there was a God who cared enough to answer when Grady called?”
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Courtney Walsh invites readers back to the small tourist town of Harbor Point, Michigan in her June release.
While Brooks and Lane make appearances, but this story is all about Grady and Quinn. Two people who are worlds apart and, at first glance, complete opposites.
Grady is a world-famous alpine skier, intent on winning gold at the next Olympics. Quinn has spent her entire life in Harbor Point, content running the local flower shop. But both of these characters hold so tightly to a goal, they’ve missed things along the way.
Now Grady is forced to spend a few weeks in Michigan. Working closely with Quinn, the two slowly learn to appreciate the differences in the other. Their differences cause them to take a new look at their lives.
Walsh has the ability to draw me into the world she creates and makes me feel like a local of this fictional town. Her characters are flawed but likable. The relationships are real and sometimes raw.
Just Let Go is a story of finding balance, believing that in the midst of disappointments and difficulties, it’s okay to give God our dreams. Because He just might have something even better in store for us.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I have read all of Courtney Walsh’s books and they get better with every book released! Honestly I wasn’t sure I would like this one because the two main characters are so opposite that I wasn’t sure how they could actually come together but was I ever surprised! I also have struggled with rejection so at times this hit a raw spot but it was a clear reminder, as the title says to just let go. Courtney has a way with words that I can picture everything so clearly in my mind. I love this little town of Harbor Pointe and was so excited to go back again. I truly wasn’t ready for this story to end and I anxiously await the next one in this series!! I received a copy of this book from the author but the opinions strictly my own.
Just Let Go, Courtney Walsh’s latest novel, is a beautiful story of redemption and forgiveness. The second book in Walsh’s Harbor Pointe series, we return to this charming town and again encounter beloved characters, while meeting new ones that are quick to write their names on our hearts.
As with all of Walsh’s novels, Just Let Go is full of complex characters that pull the reader along into a story brimming with a message that challenges us to go deeper and live to the fullest. Walsh reminds us that we must not live in the past, but instead move forward into the freedom God intends for us to have.
I loved this book and all it represented. Walsh is not an author to be ignored!
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions in this review are my own.