Life lesson from Grady Buchanan: If you’re going to fall in love with the untouchable girl in town, don’t hire her as your only employee. Even after he bungled the interview with Magnolia MacIntyre, he knew better than to hire her. The list of why it’s a bad idea is a long one. Her father could ruin his fledgling business. She is completely overqualified. And he’s attracted to her. What does … to her.
What does Grady do? He offers her the job.
Magnolia knew better than to take it. Normally, she’d make the safe choice, and working for Grady is anything but.
He’s new in town–and entirely too charming.
Her dad will be furious.
She hates the outdoors and working for an outdoor adventure company is not exactly the right fit.
What does she do? She says yes on the spot.
Grady and Magnolia will have to prove to everyone in their life that they’re not crazy. And prove to each other that the list of why it’s a bad idea should be tossed out the window.
For these two opposites, sometimes doing the wrong thing is exactly right.
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Favorite Quotes:
In theory, I was doing well. But that theory was flimsy, and I refused to think about what might happen if it crumbled under the weight of reality.
I wiggled my fingers at her daughter, who gave me a pained, uncomfortable smile in return. Yes, your mother was a passive-aggressive busybody, and I’d be embarrassed if I were you too. Only a southern woman could convey all that in a finger wave.
“Good God Almighty, Grady, you’re gonna give me a heart attack, and believe me, that is not the way I plan on leaving this earth.” Maxine was a welcome distraction, and I smiled. “You’ve got a plan?” “I will either be sleeping peacefully in my bed, or I will go out while some sixty-year-old silver fox makes me feel young again … There’ll be no other options.”
I didn’t lose my temper often, but when I did, I was like a beach ball held under the water for too long.
Worry is like trying to win a race while you’re sitting on a rocking horse. You’ll move, all right, but you sure won’t get anywhere good.
My Review:
I don’t usually enjoy a slow-burn romance but this one was wicked funny, smartly paced, ingeniously nuanced, and highly amusing. I have smirked and giggled-snorted my way through each clever installment of Ms. Sorenson’s contributions. Regardless of the series or author, the denizens of Green Valley are a peculiar and curiously enticing sort, but in the hands of a skilled storyteller such as this, there is no end to the appeal and the odd secondary characters hold up the foundations as well as add extra sparkle. I cannot wait to read the next issue and see what she comes up with next.
Magnolia and Grady are great characters in this book. This story is a slow burn filled with a lot of angst. I loved the premise and the continued telling of the Buchanan curse. Quick read with an HEA.
Really enjoyed this sexy and fun journey filled with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists, fun unexpected moments and undeniable passion. Highly entertaining and exciting adventure.
Finding love in the great outdoors! Steal My Magnolia will leave you with a smile on your face and wanting to go camping with the one you love. I’ve been waiting for Magnolia’s story ever since watching her heart break in Batter of Wits, and it was SO worth the wait! This was another hit for Karla Sorensen and I love the world she’s created within this series.
I do enjoy this series! Plus this author has me gobbling up her books. This was a great addition to the series. I loved Grady. He’s so overwhelmed, but he’s so endearing. Magnolia stood no chance against him. Magnolia and Grady may be opposites, but you know what they say opposites attract. I loved watching Magnolia and Grady find their paths in life. They’re both taking chances to set their future on a new path. There is a family curse on Grady’s side. He may just break it like his siblings did. It’s not going to be easy because being together will risk everything they are trying to build. Magnolia’s dad is so over protective and I could tell right from the beginning he is stifling her. He’s not letting her blossom and grow, but the day she calls Grady about working for his new endeavor is the turning point in her life. I loved the touch of humor this book had. It’s also a book the packs the feels.
Choose Love & Magnolia
Who believes in Love-At-First-Sight??? Definitely not, Grady Buchanan! And who would think that a woman can make you fall helplessly in love??? Once again, not Grady!
But it happens… Seeing his “future” changed things… Changed him… And he had to figure out how to win her over because the Buchanan Love Curse is now something he believes in.
Magnolia McIntyre. We met her in the previous book, but now we get her story and get to see her grow & fall in love It isn’t an instant love & is built up. Her priority isn’t on finding the man of her dreams. She is focused on succeeding in her goals. She wants to break away from her father’s control and prove herself.
Grady & Magnolia have a connection and it isn’t just the chemistry. Past relationships and new endeavors have the two crossing paths.
Grady & Magnolia were deserving of this story. While they were in prevous stories, they experience the Buchanan “curse”, new love, I love that the love progressed and didn’t just happen instantly due to the curse.
I loved this story!
This is book 3 in the series by the author and it was a wonderful story with characters I loved. I cannot wait for the next book featuring Hunter and Iris, whoever she is!
In the last book we met Tyler and Grace, Grace is the twin sister of Grady and they both moved to town to run a hiking adventure company. Tyler was previously in a very long term relationship with Magnolia until he met Grace and he fell hard for her. This story picks up after he has gotten together with Grace and Magnolia is now single and sorta brokenhearted, at the very least embarressed.
Grady when he meets Lia as she applies for a job falls hard for her. But she lied about her name so Grady would hire her. She has previously worked for her father who she adores but who also watches her like a hawk and she wants a bit of freedom.
When they meet Grady falls hard for Lia and Lia likes him a lot and she loves her job but what will happen when she confesses her secret and Grace and Tyler discover her new job?
This was a really fun story and I liked how the author got very realistic with the issues that would come up if Grady and Magnolia got together. I loved how awesome a guy Grady was. He never manipulates or lies to Magnolia and I loved how gun shy in the romance department Magnolia is.
This was a well written and very honest small town romance and I positively adored it and the cast of characters in this story.
I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Grady and Magnolia’s story was so sweet! Grady is such a swoony hero. Sorensen writes the the sweetest heroes that just always steal my heart. (Ex: Levi from Baking Me Crazy and her entire Washington Wolves series!!)
Magnolia is a bi-racial beauty raised in the south, who left Green Valley to gain her prestigious degree, but returned home to work with her father. She’s feeling like she needs a change and ends up getting hired by Grady, the new-to-town adventure tours business owner. Grady is rough, yet sexy, and Magnolia’s complete opposite. He loves the outdoors and is very disorganized and messy while Magnolia loves fashion, working indoors, cute holiday decorations and spreadsheets. 🙂
I enjoyed the story overall but would’ve liked a bit more chemistry and tension throughout Grady & Magnolia’s journey to love. Grady is the next victim to the Buchanan family “curse” and figuring out what that means for him causes much heartache and worry.
This is a slow burn romance with an insta-love element as well. This story is low on the angst, kinda low steam, but high on the feels and I loved seeing the other characters from the series be a part of this one.
The author generous gifted me a copy of the audiobook, and it was beautifullly narrated by Jason Clarke(my fav!) and January LaVoy! Jason’s deep, growly voice was perfect for Grady!
NO SPOILERS!
Steal My Magnolia was absolutely amazing and I loved returning to the quaint small town of Green Valley, Tennessee, and all of its charming residents!
Grady and Magnolia’s sweet, sexy, funny, entertaining, and swoon-worthy story made me so happy and my heart so full, and I absolutely loved every moment from beginning to end. Karla Sorensen did a fantastic job with this standalone contemporary romance, and it’s definitely been my favorite in the Love at First Sight series so far. My fingers are crossed that a certain side character (cough, Hunter, cough) gets their own story in the near future. I can already imagine the possibilities, LOL.
Steal My Magnolia was a MUST READ small-town romance, not only in the Love at First Sight series, but from Karla Sorensen as well. I absolutely adored Grady and Magnolia’s charming, heartfelt, swoon-worthy love story, and can’t wait to devour more from this author!
If you’ve read the two previous books of this series, you know the big curse of the Buchanan family. When they meet the love of their lives in Green Valley, it’s love at first sight and this love NEVER leave them.
“I was hammered over the head _ almost instantly _ with my feelings for Magnolia. Someone might dismiss it as lust at first sight, something shallow and unbelievable, but it wasn’t shallow. It was _ simply put _ certainty. A sense of rightness that i’d never experienced. But along with that came an unwavering instinct to put her happiness before mine.”
When Grady moves in Green Valley, he wants to ignore the curse but one look at Magnolia MacIntyre and his life is changed forever. BUT of course, things are a bit complicated.
When he hires her he doesn’t know she’s the ex-girlfriend of his sister’s boyfriend.
We met Magnolia before, in book 2, as well as her father. I didn’t hate her but didn’t really like her either, and i thought her daddy was not a good man. BUT now, with Steal My Magnolia, we know them much more and and i realized Mr MacIntyre has some qualities, he IMMENSELY loves his wife and his daughter, he protects them and want their happiness. As for Magnolia, she finally detaches herself from her family to be independant, to prove to everyone she can succeed all by herself, she really helps Grady, knowing who his sister is. With time she accepts her love for Grady and his love for her but she still keep proving she can live without help and i admire her for that.
The whole story is… Sweet, cute, lovely, smooth… Everything flows effortlessy, naturally. Even if the situation is complicated everyone wants happiness for their loved ones.
Grady is PERFECT in every way ! REALLY PERFECT ! He doesn’t know what to do with this curse, but he always choses honesty and respect first. He’s so romantic in his behavior and intentions.
I love his relationship with his family, especially his sister who understands him better than anyone.
Karla Sorensen evokes racism but in a really subtle and efficient way. It’s just a hint but it reminds us than even in 2021, some people needs to be extra careful in certain situations.
“…I remembered a race-centered conversation i’d had with one of my coworkers back in California, a black man my age, who told me once, “Don’t get mad for me, Grady. I don’t need your anger. I just need you to listen.””
The end of the book gives us hope there will be a book 4. I cross my fingers.
I loved Steal My Magnolia and want more. Thank you Karla Sorensen for this sweet love story.
Oh Magnolia. I love the family dynamics of an overprotective father, a semi-rebellious daughter, and the new hot business owner in town. Magnolia wants something new, something different, something that is just her own. She is ready to make her own way in life instead of riding her father’s coattails. Her rebellion comes in the form of Grady who is amazing at what he does, but a little unorganized. They are a match made in heaven! This book was a wonderfully easy read and so fun. I couldn’t put it down. I have loved all of these series and cannot wait for the next one!!
Grady Buchanan is the latest of the Buchanans to experience the family curse of love at first sight, and it could not come at a less-convenient time or in a less-convenient package. Grady has just decided to move bake to Green Valley and start a new business leading hiking and other adventures. The last thing he expects is for his destined love to walk into his shop asking for a job.
Magnolia MacIntyre is ready for a change. Working for her dad and having him fight her battles no matter how much she asks him not to is draining on her, and she wants a fresh start. She’s instantly drawn to Grady’s plight as the new guy in town and knows she can help him launch his business well, even though she’s got some awkward history with both his sisters and his business partner.
Grady and Magnolia’s romance is simply adorable. They’re both a little bit awkward around each other because they don’t know how to navigate the attraction. Grady KNOWS beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are destined for each other due to his family’s curse, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps in the road along the way. And Magnolia, well, she’s not ready for someone else to be telling her what they expect from her, so that is one big BUMP for sure.
The audio, narrated by Jason Clarke and January Lavoy, is so much fun, and I enjoyed it immensely. They are both such spirited narrators, and they really embrace the spirit of their characters. They are both at the top of my list when it comes to quality narrators.
Steal My Magnolia is the third book in Karla Sorensen’s Love at First Sight series ( the first two books of which was part of the Donner Bakery Series of the Penny Reid Universe which has now grown to a totally new thing). And yes it deals with the romance trope of falling in love at first sight and yes you start asking yourself how many times can this trope be written about without becoming boring? Apparently Ms. Sorensen has discovered how!
The characters were just perfect and adorable and all kinds of great! Both Magnolia and Grady bring something to the table of their blossoming romance that makes their relationship development both simple and complex at the same time. I love how Magnolia’s personal experiences are taken into account making her this whole individual who has a different mind set as Grady. I love how Grady acknowledges his own blind spots but manages to be honest enough to look at certain moments thru her eyes.
The romance can also be read as a standalone which is what I love about this series. They can stand on their own even with certain common characters and events. Steal my Magnolia will definitely convince you that love at first sight isn’t as simple as it looks!
Steal My Magnolia is book 3 in the Love At First Sight Series and can be read as a stand-alone although I recommend reading them in order.
I adore Grady. He is a man that knows what he wants and through all the frustration of everything still pushes on.
I’m so glad we got to know Magnolia and she’s wonderful. Her finding her voice and taking a leap really set her character for me as one of my favorites.
I’m excited to see the next victim…err Buchanan.
Magnolia and Grady… damn, that teaser at the end of Batter of Wits had me excited and and a bit annoyed at the same time. Yayyy, Grady. Mmh, Magnolia..
Thinking back and skimming Batter of the Wits, I realised that Grady hasn’t seen Magnolia yet as far as we know. Boy, am I excited for that to happen. Will he realise who she is right away?
Overall, I adored Grady, and I really liked Magnolia. Her stepping out of her father’s business, starting to make a way for herself and doing what she wants to do. Her family’s dynamic was interesting to read, as was the difference between her privilege in Green Valley due to who her father is in contrast to the prejudice and daily struggles as a biracial business woman outside of the city limits.
Grady is just the sweetest. His total acceptance of the „curse“, the way he treats Magnolia, his protectiveness of her and the way he made it unmistakably clear that he was keeping her on even after he realised exactly who she is made me swoon. Add to that the little things he did for her and said to her, and I am a total goner. He’s no Tristan, but he did come close!
Despite all that, it felt to me like quite a few things that I would have loved to read were happening off the page, and while I really liked all these sweet gestures and Grady giving space, at some point the slow burn felt a little drawn out to me.
This was a sweet and straightforward romance with low stakes and low angst. If you’re looking for a sweet, old fashioned small town romance that won’t break your heart, then I recommend this one.
I really enjoyed this addition to the series. Grady and Magnolia are perfectly suited for each other, and I liked learning more about her father/parents.
I particularly enjoyed the phone interview, and their first interaction. It was both hilarious awkward, and sweetly tender. The connection – aside from the Buchanan “curse” – was palpable, and later Grady was so endearing in his quest to be honest about things, while totally messing things up.
I’m really looking forward to Hunter’s story next!
3.5 stars
I admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of Magnolia in Batter of Wits. But that preview was interesting to make me want to see if she changed. So the title of this has been love at first sight so that’s pretty much what I expected. I wouldn’t get much lead up. But that’s Buchanan thing. Right away we see Magnolia step away from her father and the business to hop to Grady who was looking for an office manager. Little does she know Tucker her ex is his partner. Nor does Grady tell her since he’s quite enamored already.
It’s a weird thing the start felt very instant but nothing till way later. While Magnolia is more likable here. She’s more developed. Grady is too. I didn’t feel their chemistry. Though Grady is Buchanan through and through with the side of swoony. They just feel like they were together much to feel them more. They spent a lot of time apart on this.
Some characters felt a bit different than before. Still was a interesting story. Yes the time apart did make sense in the long run to make sense of the issues they had to solve to get to get their happy ending. Though I didn’t love this one as much as the first two it was still enjoyable. I like Sorenson’s writing.
Here is a fact: I am not a big fan of insta-love. Here is another fact: the way Karla Sorensen has written the Buchanan curse, makes me not mind one bit. Especially in Steal My Magnolia where she took a hard and honest look at an interracial relationship.
I absolutely adored Grady. His zest for adventure and life. How he put it all on the line to follow his dream. How he was a disorganized mess with a head and heart full of big ideas. Enter Magnolia organizer extraordinaire. The first time Grady saw her, she both settled and stirred something inside him. She was so smart and polite. But underneath that well ingrained southern demeanor was a sassy woman who wanted more than the life thrust upon her.
While the emotions between Magnolia and Grady were intense from the start, it was the slow burn, the anticipation, the longing that kept me riveted. Waiting for the moment they would give in to what they both wanted. And let me tell you, it was so worth the wait.
I loved how Grady saw Magnolia and tried to get her to see herself through his eyes. He pushed her boundaries and brought out a side of her she didn’t let out often. She opened his eyes, bringing order to his chaos. And made him realize what he was willing to do for love. Even if it meant walking away and being miserable. GAH! Grady and Magnolia’s romance was sharp, playful and I didn’t want it to end.
The way Grady and Magnolia meet is so amazingly awkward.
Their smoldering tension gives way to a slow burn. This drives home the “Buchanan Curse”.