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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This book was as perfect and sweet as its flower namesake in the title. I wondered how I’d feel about a book that gave Magnolia a true love. We met her in Batter of Wits, and while she wasn’t necessarily unlikable in that book, she had a history with the hero of that book that made me wonder just how she’d fare in this one. Especially since the hero in this book, Grady is the brother of Grace from the last book. The connection was there between the two right away, as the new series title would suggest. But Grady wanted to be so careful, because until it happened to him, he actually hadn’t believed in the curse his family had. Even after watching Grace go through it in the last book, he still wasn’t sure it was true. But when Magnolia walked in, he knew right away.
As usual I adored getting time with other Green Valley characters, especially Magnolia’s family. We definitely didn’t like her dad much after the last book, but he gets some explanation or we at least understand him a little better, even if he is and was in the wrong for the way he behaved.
While normally a woman like Magnolia isn’t really one I feel like I have anything in common with, because I don’t dress fancy, and I don’t mind being outside, there was one moment in the book where she talked about how just because she was a strong independent woman and could do things for herself, didn’t mean that she wanted to. Like replacing the burned out light on her garage door. That sounds really simple, but it was up high and took a ladder. I feel like that about a lot of things that need repair and such around my own house that I own. Just because I can do those things, doesn’t mean I want to.
I like how the author took something that Grace did that caused some drama in the first book and had Grady try to use that to make things go better with his own burgeoning relationship, and yet it still went wrong even fixing that particular bit. It really shows how just because something works for one couple, or doesn’t work, doesn’t mean it will be the same for another couple. Everyone and their situations are different.
I mentioned in my review of the last book how I didn’t feel it fit in with the series it had been with at the time, and I like that they now brought these over into a new series that fits perfectly.
I received an ARC via Smartypants Romance in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on February 5, 2021.
This is the third book in the Love at First Sight Series (previously part of the Donner Bakery series), and follows Grady and Magnolia who are mentioned in the previous books but are mainly featured in Batter of Wits. Grady is Grace’s twin brother and Magnolia is Tucker’s ex-girlfriend which makes for quite the interesting love story. I really loved this slow burn romance!
Grady has moved to Green Valley from California for a fresh start. He hated his life behind a computer and has since traded it for a life in the great outdoors and has decided to start his own outdoor adventure company in Green Valley. He needs some help with the office and organization side of the business so he can do the hiking and outdoor part of the business that he loves.
Magnolia is looking for a fresh start as well, she has been sheltered by her very loving family for much of her life and for once she’d like to make some decisions of her own. She is a very capable person, loves her town, and is very good at what she does. She has only worked for her overbearing and overprotective father for much of her adult life, which has made it hard for her to pave her own way in life. When the opportunity arises for her to take on the role of office manager for Grady’s new business, she uncharacteristically jumps on it. It is exactly the type of work she loves and despite the potentially awkward situation it will put them all in with Grace and Tucker, she needs to do something new and out of her comfort zone.
If you have read the previous books in the series, you are well acquainted with the Buchanan curse. Each of the members of the Buchanan family, when they find their true love, fall in love instantly, and Grady falls for Magnolia the second she walks through his door for the weirdest job interview you’ve ever seen. Magnolia is attracted to Grady, but she is still getting over her breakup from Tucker and while she isn’t necessarily mourning the loss of the relationship and the man, she is still feeling loss and embarrassment for the life she pictured for herself and things not working out the way she had planned. She is one of those people who has lists for her to do lists and has everything planned out, so when things didn’t work out with Tucker, she was left a little adrift. Grady knowing that his family curse is kind of crazy and that he’s her boss is willing to wait for Magnolia and doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize their working relationship, because she is pretty amazing when it comes to whipping the office and business into shape, and he doesn’t want to scare her away. When it comes to slow burn romances, this is the slowest of burns, but if you are patient it is worth waiting for. They both tiptoe around their feelings waiting for the other one to make the first move. Neither of them wants to make it awkward at the office, and it is already slightly awkward between Tucker and Grace.
I want to leave you with two pearls of wisdom from Aunt Fran when she is talking to Grady about his relationship woes, (mind you this is from the ARC and they might change but they are pretty perfect so I don’t expect them to) ” 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.” Grady is willing to wait for Magnolia for eternity, but patience doesn’t come easy when you are waiting for your soul mate to come to terms with a family curse, especially when you are trying to break out of a life where everything has been decided for you. I love that Magnolia goes to her father for advice on how to maneuver through her feelings and that she doesn’t rush into anything. Magnolia is a pretty wonderful character; she doesn’t let anything or anyone change who she is or her values.
and a few lines later
“And don’t you even thing about leaving that dirty dish in the sink. Every person who walks in this house knows how to open a dishwasher.” If only my family would put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of the sink ledge. This has nothing to do with the story or my review, I just thought it was a pretty great line, and every mom can relate.
I love the side characters. I do wish Grace would stop punching Grady every 2 seconds, but having to sons who are practically twins, so I get it. They are constantly punching each other. Aunt Fran gives excellent advice, and while Magnolia’s parents are polar opposites they are a great example of two people who love each other despite their differences. I love the characters in this series and I’m very much looking forward to Hunter’s book!
Grady and Magnolia find each other when both of them are fighting for their futures. She wants to fly from under daddys wing and he wants to start his own business.
Their paths cross and there is a undeniable pull.
As they get to know each other, working togheter, we get a gimpse of life as woman with interracial parents in the south, mentalitys and difficulties that she must overcome.
And we find that love at first sight is a real thing!
This was a slow burn-tortured hero-swoony dream of a book. Although, it is part of a series I truly believe you can jump right into this book and not feel lost at all but there are plenty of references to the earlier couples.
In this story Grady finds himself in the unknown territory of being hit with his family’s famous love at first sign curse (but is it really such a bad thing?). It hits him the second he sets eyes on Magnolia with whom there is some history although he’s never met her before. The thing that hooked me was the beautiful longing that Grady experienced as he tried to navigate his feelings – essentially suffering in silence around her and yes adorably tripping over his own legs. His internal monologue was pure gold–full of lovesick tortured hero where I could feel his immediate and deep feelings and was cheering him on. Some of us may have come into this story with preconceived notions about one or both of our main characters but this story shattered them in the best possible way giving dimension and understanding where something else existed before.
There are some fun complications in the mix which if you read Batter of Wits you can guess a few but there is still so much more to this love story than meets the eye. I can read Karla Sorenson’s writing everyday. Her prose was so beautiful and meaningful that I found myself with way too many “favorite quotes” which is a good problem to have.
All the stars. Not that it’s a surprise. I LOVE Karla Sorensen’s writing style, I love Green Valley and all things Penny-verse, and I especially love the Buchanans and their end-all, be-all love you til the end of time “family curse”.
Sorensen has done such an incredible job creating this sub-series in the world of Green Valley and integrating the Buchanans into the town and lives that we have come to know so well. I love the dialogues she creates – laugh out loud funny, facepalm moments, sweet smiles…eventhe evil eye you give your Kindle when things start going off the rails…you get it ALL. The depth of character; feisty, steamy, snarky, heartfelt, swoony, love and loyalty…there are not enough adjectives to describe my adoration.
Magnolia and Grady are fantastic. I was thrilled to go along for the ride as Magnolia spread her wings with grace and skill, holding everything together for herself and her family, falling in love with Grady and seeing them grow with each other.
A few of my favorite tidbits about Sorensen’s style – she’s all about the couple. She uses the secondary characters to support them and help tell the story, but there is so much truth in their hopes & fears that you’re just completely enmeshed in their lives, invested in their HEA. You know the HEA is coming – of course it’s coming. You’d be pretty wrecked if it didn’t, don’t lie. But as with most things in life, it’s the journey that gets ya. In the case of the Smartypants Romance book series, we have the fantastic added bonus of seeing all of our favorite Green Valley friends popping their heads in to say hi or lend an anecdote to the story. The seamless way these authors hold true to the personalities of characters other writers have created is a beautiful thing.
As far as Magnolia and Grady go – I’m out of words. You don’t need mine anyway, when you can have Karla’s. She’s a 1-click for me every time. Go. Read. Swoon. Cry. Laugh. Love. You’re welcome!
I don’t care what anyone says about this book it was magical, breathtakingly beautiful and had my heart singing with awe and laughter!!
Grady and Magnolia are from two different world but what happens with those two worlds collide fireworks!!
This book is definitely a slow burn but it well worth reading!
Will Grady and Magnolia get a happily ever after or will the curse be the end?
If you haven’t read the series from the beginning, you should. Not probably should, but certainly. You’ll have to trust me on that one. There’s a curse and a tangled web. That’s all I’m saying. LOL DO with that what you will 🙂
My heart was super happy with this one. Magnolia and Grady ticked all my *happy sigh* boxes and then some. Their story was this slow sizzle that just buried itself in my heart and made me smile like a lunatic most of the read. Their story was what I sometimes refer to as easy like Sunday morning. Even in conflict the story wasn’t dramatic or angsty, it was real and relatable and just easy! Don’t mistaken easy for slow or boring, because it was neither. Quite the opposite. Magnolia and Grady do find themselves in the midst of quite the challenge, which makes the story quite engaging and interesting!
I am super stoked to find out what Karla has in store for Hunter next!
Grady & Magnolia were 5 Love At First Sight Cursed Stars for me!!
This author always manages to give me stories that have me smirking as I read and I loved the love slow burn feels of this one. Because I will say, there might be a love curse happening here, but it definitely doesn’t make anything easier for Grady. I really enjoyed watching him struggle with his feelings for Magnolia and there were plenty of LOL moments for me too.
It’s a witty, sweet small town romance that definitely brought a smile to my face.
I just love Karla’s books and this is another one I can add to the love category! We go back to Green Valley, TN where Love at First Sight is a thing. If you are not a believe in love at first sight or if it is not your thing, I encourage you to dig in because Karla does it so well! Grady moved to Green Valley to change careers and Magnolia is in the need of a career change. I thought that it was very fitting that Grady and Magnolia’s story is a slow burn because of their complicated exsistence. The anticipation and chemistry and that grew between the two was perfect. I enjoyed how the couple complemented each other. It was great how Magnolia and Grady were able to work past their issues and build a beautiful relationship. If you are looking for a slow burn that make you believe that love at first sight is possible this is your book!
5 PERFECTION STARS!! This author know how to win me over with her words. You know those books that keep you up reading at night….well this is that book. You must read this one and the series.
Absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect addition to the series.
Great characters that has beautiful chemistry. Their dialogue kept me interested and the secondary characters just added to an already good storyline.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a great addition to the series. The characters are easy to connect with and I loved how their friendship evolved into love. It was a slow burn. Both of these characters brought their own baggage to the relationship. It’s messy and complicated but what love story isn’t. This series is one I would definitely recommend.
Oh my SWOON!!! Grady is just PERFECT! I LOVED his character. Magnolia just had my heart from the start. The life she lives was beautiful but there were hard times. Her father always trying to stand up for her and protect her didn’t always make things easy for her. I loved Magnolia’s will to BREAK FREE! The relationship these two build is just beautiful. Jam packed with all the feels you will NOT be disappointed.
Steal My Magnolia is another hit in the Love at First Sight series.
Grady and Magnolia have both thought they knew real love but it may have been a convenient version of the real thing. The attraction and pull is immediate for Grady when he first meets Magnolia but if he is overwhelmed imagine if he shared this feeling with her. So he will work side by side with her until he the time is right.
Magnolia is just coming off a bad break up and has just left the safety of working for her father. She is trying to discover who she is and what she wants out of life. So why is it so hard to suppress the feelings and attraction she as for her boss.
This was a slow burn that takes us on a beautiful journey of discovery, fresh beginnings and leaving past relationships just that…in the past. This couple was sweet, smart and had just the right amount of sizzle.
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Another well-written story from Ms. Sorensen! I couldn’t love it any more if I tried.
This was full of so much heart and it gave me all those feels and, my goodness, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Grady and Magnolia’s happily ever after was everything. Their journey toward that HEA had plenty of obstacles. But both were bound and determined to not let anything stop them.
Magnolia decides to make a big change in her life. A very important decision that will prove to others, and herself, that she is more that just the daughter of JT MacIntyre.
She applies for a job at Grady’s store.
A bad idea? Probably.
Much needed? Yes.
For both of them.
Are they both scared? Definitely.
Grady thought the Buchanan family curse was a bunch of BS. Then Magnolia walked into his store.
He was captivated.
He was struck dumb and got a bit clumsy.
But he knew… She was the one.
This opposites attract, slow burn romance was utterly adorable and romantic and put little hearts in my eyes so many times. Heart-warming goodness in every chapter had me swooning hard. Mr. Grady Buchanan had a lot to do with that.
He is so charming! Such a gentleman and shy and polite. And he blushes! Magnolia is the perfect opposite for him. She’s organized, he’s a mess. She’s prim & proper, he’s rough around the edges. He loves hiking and camping, she abhors both.
But the way these two fit together was absolute perfection. This book made me feel all the elephants!
I hadn’t read books 1 and 2 before this one. Do I wish I would’ve? Yes. Was it necessary to enjoy this one? Nope. Will I go back and read them? Definitely!!
And I am super excited for the next book. That little tidbit at the end was a delicious little tease.
The Buchanan curse strikes again, and causes jaw dropping reactions when Grady discovers who has caught his eye, and same thing happens when Gray’s his sister Grace and her instant and forever love Tucker discover the truth.
If you’ve been reading this series, you know about the “curse” and that his sisters encounter caused the much needed ending to Tucker and Magnolia’s relationship. Magnolia is working for father, and when he buts into a situation and fires a subordinate, Magnolia decides she’s had enough. She applies for a position managing Gray’s new business venture. Grady thinks he’s hiring Lia, but when he discovers her true identity, he’s crushed.
Torn between his true love, his sister, and the havoc caused by his heart going to Magnolia causes him to make all the wrong choices.
As with all the others in this series, the couple works their way through the drama and finds their happily ever after.
This one also gives you a peek into the next one that features the elusive Hunter, who didn’t marry his “one” and is now coming back after getting divorced.
Steal My Magnolia will definitely be in my 10 reads of 2021. It’s January, how can I know that you ask? Well, let’s start with Grady and Magnolia’s outstanding storyline and then you throw in Karla Sorensen’s brilliant writing and exceptional, and I do mean exceptional, character development and you have a book that you want to rave about to everyone.
Grady Buchanan is following his dream and that brought him to Green Valley. Navigating his way to get his business up and running isn’t exactly his forte. Enter Magnolia. Looking for a change in her life, she takes a chance on Grady and his business. Together, they work well, until the outside world and the Buchanan curse descend upon them.
As I said this book is brilliantly written with grace, humor and all the feels. This is an exceptional story.
What happens when you are cursed by love??? That when you met that one person you are supposed to be with the rest of your life, you have no other options. What happens when that person is the one that you least expect? That’s what we get with Grady and Magnolia. Karla Sorenson gives us the newest Buchanan story with Grady, and it is well throughout, well written love story that you never knew you needed. Grady is this wonderfully scattered person who knows wha the wants, but has the organizational skills of a toddler and Magnolia comes in to save him. However, when he meets her for the first time, that Buchanan love curse smacks him right in the face. Although, she isn’t 100% truthful and he doesn’t exactly know who she is at first. These two have so many things against them because of Tucker and Grace, Magnolia’s dad, and Grady’s general fears. What we get is a story of self-doubt and two people who really grow as people and find that they truly need each other to be better. They are sure of their paths, but realize that together they can be stronger, and they don’t let the outside influences affect anything once they make the decision that they are going to be each other. There is a slow-burn, but not slow-burn at the same time. If you have read anything by Karla Sorenson, you will not be disappointed in this book, and if you haven’t read her yet…you need to start!
I am an avid reader. I read and I mean, I read a lot. After a while, everything starts to run together because the same tropes, and the same plotlines are always used. I am here to say that Steal My Magnolia is not the one and the same story you read time and time again. Everything was different about this one, but a very good different. Steal My Magnolia’s storyline was not something I expected. The characters was something I was not expecting. In my opinion, Steal My Magnolia was a breathe of fresh air that I so desperately needed to keep me from turning my back on the wonderous literary world.
Not only was the development and depth perfectly, but this author choose to showcase diversity in it’s most rawest form, and she done it beautifully. Steal My Magnolia is a book of growth and not only within ones self, but as being someone’s partner. It was also crafted from great world building. The story flowed at a wonderful pace which led to some amazing self discovery, witty banter and one of a kind dialogue from all characters. Speaking of characters, they were unique in their own ways, which set them aside from every character I have recently read about. My most favorite part of Grady and Magnolia’s story you ask? The patience and understanding that these characters evoked. It made the romance aspect even more enthralling than I anticipated. It was powerful and unrelenting, picture perfect.
As I am sure you have noticed, Steal My Magnolia is the book that I recommend time and time again. I look forward to the next book in this story, as I am sure it’s going to be just as powerful.
This was a great addition to this series! I loved Grady and Magnolia together. There was push and pull that made it interesting. Add in the fact that Magnolia is the ex girlfriend of Tucker, Grady’s sister’s new boyfriend and the family curse, made this so fun to read! I really enjoyed reading their journey to happiness!
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book in exchange for an honest review! Well done