Steamy romantic comedy from Sylvie Stewart… Meet Bailey and Jake: She’s a stubborn, irreverent tomboy and he’s a handsome, easygoing guy with a plan. A hot encounter at a wedding lights a flame between the two. Can Jake convince Bailey to give him a shot, or will Bailey keep her walls up and let a chance at love pass her by?
BOOK REVIEW: The Lucky One by Sylvie Stewart
“How’s Bailey taking all this? I mean, no offense, but she’s about as maternal as a cactus”.
With a line like this you just know there is a story behind it. Sylvie has created this world where Bailey in her mind is this awkward tom boy that no man would wake. From the very start of the book Jacob/Jake wants Bailey and sees more than what she portrays at her brother’s wedding. In a night filled with passion there are consequences even though they used protection.
This is a love story about a girl who has had her heart broken and lacks both self-esteem and confidence. Bailey is a tom boy through and through and finds it difficult doing all the girly things her friends are into, she does not show emotions or cry, but that all changes when Jake walks into her life and changes it forever with consequences neither were ready for.
With love and determination Jake shows Bailey she is worth more than she realises and that she can trust him with her heart.
This story really touched me in many ways it reflected my own life and how one very special man can see more than what you show the world, what you keep hidden and protected from the world so that you don’t get hurt.
Sylvie has found a way to reflect real possible event and lives of individuals that we can all relate to in some way while at the same time adding in humour throughout the book.
I strongly recommend this book for your leisurely Sunday reading especially since this weekend is Mother’s Day in some of the parts of the world spoil yourself pick up your Kindle or reading device and purchase this book, sit back with a coffee and spend the day relaxing and enjoying a great book
Bailey does not let others in. She is still holding on to her tomboy ways, but her heart is about to betray her. Jake is determined to break Bailey down. I love his nickname for her. It is so fitting, both fun and feisty. This is such a fun and light romance. Jake won my heart from the beginning and the chase really made the story so much fun. Bailey’s hard to get attitude created a dynamic between her and Jake that I could not get enough of. It is the perfect laugh out loud romance that I could not put down until the end.
Meg Price is the perfect Bailey. Meg brings out the spunk and attitude of Bailey, exactly like I imagined her to be. Meg Price has a smooth male voice that was easily distinguishable. Meg has an easy to listen to voice, easy to follow and uses consistent different tones for each character. Through her narration, Meg helped me get lost in the story.
This story has a lot of laugh out loud moments and smile-to-myself moments. Bailey and Jake seem to be on the same page but yet different pages at the same time. Jake mentions frequently how Bailey runs hot and cold with him and he is unsure where to go from here. Bailey keeps her heart closed down tight and doesn’t trust herself to be with a man she has feelings for. When Jake is near her all he wants to do is kiss her….well not all, but the struggle to keep his lips off her is real. After reading about Jake in the previous book I wasn’t sure if I would like him. Now I think he is awesome. All the great things he did for Bailey, don’t get me wrong he did have a few demons of his own but he does have priorities.
I still love all these characters. It’s nice to touch base with all of them again. The girls still seem tight and the relationships with their men add to this fun. I really, really liked reading about the relationship that Jake and Mark have. They have that fun brotherly love but yet savor the smackdown on each other and always have each other’s back. Very enjoyable to read when they have their one on ones.
I did listen to this on audio. Meg Price is an narrator I haven’t listened to before. She did a great job reading both male and female. She spoke well and is easy to listen to.
Ms Stewart has that innate ability to draw you into a story and to make the characters feel like your friends.
This book made me laugh, cry, threaten bodily harm but most of all love Jake and Bailey.
My first Sylvia Stewart read… Man! have I been missing out! This lady is all kinds of hilarious To the point that I was laughing out loud and getting some strange looks from my boyfriend.
After having read a really heavy book earlier this week I knew I needed something up beat and cheerful to get me back in my reading groove. This book was the perfect fit.
Funny? Fuck yes
Sexy? Yup
Hot guy? Jake will be starring in my dreams for sure.
Witty banter? Plenty
Surprises? Heck yes
HEA? Sure is
Even the friends were awesome. I’m totally digging Fiona, I feel like we may have been separated at birth.
I will be reading more of Sylvie Stewart work for sure!
I won this copy on a fb site giveaway.
I’ve had this book in my TBR list for some time, but had not gotten around to reading it, until today. Needless to say, I loved it.
Jake is a landscaper, and has returned home to start his life at a new job. He is living with his mother, for the time being, and has a close relationship with his brother, Mark. He had left his home at an early age, due to his abusive father, and he has always felt guilty for abandoning his mother and younger brother. He attends a wedding of friends, and there, he meets Bailey. He feels an immediate attraction to her, and they spend a night together.
Bailey is a complete tomboy with very low self esteem, because of her former boyfriend. He utilized her, and robbed her of her self esteem. At the wedding, she is dressed beautifully, and puts her tomboy ways aside. She also finds an attraction to Jake.
Jake persists her, but she refuses to respond to his calls. She feels like she had put on a girlish show at the wedding, but she knows that he will not find a tomboy attractive.
Several hilarious episodes occur while she babysits her new adoptive nephew, and Jake comes to her rescue. He is determined to break down her walls, and eventually he succeeds. They begin a relationship, but a customer of Jake’s tries to ruin it for them, until they both realize Jake was not at fault. They finally reach their HEA, and the book ends beautifully.
I’ve read a couple of books written by Sylvie Stewart, and have loved, the laugh, love, and close family connections in each one.I highly recommend her books.
What a great book! I really like this family and friends and their closeness that they have with each other. Everyone is in everyone’s business and yet they all still get along really well. These two characters are really fun to see in action, with all the drama they create. Watching their walls drop and the willingness to let someone in was fun the whole time I listened.
The Lucky One, like the rest of the Carolina Connections series, is a lot more fun as an audiobook than when I read it for myself in print/ebook. I would have liked to have dual narration for dual first person POV, but Meg Price does a good job covering both parts.
Overall, I’d recommend this series. The Lucky One is a standalone with no cliffhanger and you could read only this one, but you shouldn’t.
I am having so much fun listening to this sweet, engaging, and steamy series and Bailey and Jake’s romance was a complete delight! Bailey is just one of the guys. She is a stubborn, snarky tomboy with a tender heart and a passion for more than her families construction company. She is completely out of her element at her brother’s wedding when she is forced to look all feminine making her feel brave enough to have a night of unbridled passion with her best friend Mark’s, brother Jake. Jake is back in town to be closer to his mom and brother. He is totally captivated by the puzzle that is Bailey, and he loves all her different sides. Bailey doesn’t feel worthy of an amazing man like Jake, but he soon wears her down. They are so much fun together with their push and pull, snarky banter, and explosive chemistry. I especially loved the hilarity of Bailey’s babysitting scenes!
I enjoyed Meg Price’s narration as she brought this story to life. Her accents were wonderful and I thought she really nailed these characters making me feel all their fun, awkward, emotional, and steamy moments.
I love Stewart’s humor, and her easy ability to make these awkward and emotional stories feel real and authentic. This is a fun series with great characters I’ve come to care for and want to be friends with! I can’t wait for more from The Carolina Connections!
Audiobook Review
This is by far (currently) my favorite book in the series. It’s hilarious and swoony. Totally my favorite trope and I loved the characters so much!
Highly recommend!
A unique funny heroine, a sexy romantic hero and an ensemble cast of entertaining side characters makes this a must read. I listened to the Audible version of this book and the narrator was as amazing as the author’s story.
THE LUCKY ONE is the third book in the Carolina Connections series and is a one-night-stand romantic comedy. Each story in the series is a stand-alone contemporary romance, but there are relationships that make more sense if you read them in the order of release.
First things first, I love the nicknames for both the guys and the girls throughout this series. I love when authors give meaningful nicknames that have something to do with the story that we’ve been given. I hope this trend continues.
I love Jake. He has flipped his life to return to the Carolinas and be closer to family. He’s starting over in his business and rebuilding. He may not have planned to also start a relationship, but once he meets his “Irish,” he doesn’t really hesitate to claim her. He’s all in.
Bailey is a tomboy. I can get it. It’s funny watching the tomboy having to deal with the girly stuff that is thrust upon her – dang emotions! Still, I had a hard time connecting with her. Her inner monologue reminded me too much of the “inner goddess” crap that came from 50 Shades. Eventually, I had to fall in love with her too. It just took me some time. That could just be me.
The humor is amazing. Sylvie Stewart (the author) is the friend you want around to lighten your day, every day. I’d never have a frowny day with her around. Instead, I can just listen to one of her books.
Narration: Meg Price did a wonderful job of performing the South Carolina accent. It made me homesick that was only home for five years.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted audiobook copy, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: THE LUCKY ONE
Series: Carolina Connections #3
Category /Genre: Contemporary Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Listenability: NSFW
Received from: Sylvie Stewart (as an Audible gifted copy)
Bailey is a woman whose heart is soft, but because of damage done by some unworthy male; she sees something in her lacking. She doesn’t believe a man like Jake could possibly see her. Jake saw the woman, not the girl. There is no girl in Bailey, only what her friends try to make her wear. I learned it’s not about what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside that a man finds attractive. A real man likes girls, but they don’t fall in love with and a settle down with a girl. Although, I have to agree that Jake fell into that stalker category. Although, this is a very funny story; the topic is not. It’s about being yourself and finding the self esteem to accept that a man can love you for who you are.
“The Lucky One” audiobook is the story of Jake and Bailey and the third book in the continuing story of the group of friends we originally met in “The Fix”.
When Jake and Bailey meet at Bailey’s brother, Nate’s, wedding, they have an immediate attraction. They spend the night together and Jake wants to see Bailey again. Unfortunately, Bailey isn’t sure, her heart has been broken too many times to count and she doesn’t consider herself much of a girl. She thinks Jake is out of her league and only likes the “girly” Bailey he met at the wedding. She doesn’t believe there is any way he could like the “real” her since she’s pretty much a tomboy that wears comfy clothes, drinks beer and watches sports. Jake, on the other hand, thinks Bailey is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, doesn’t care what she’s wearing, likes beer and sports and wants to see her any chance he can. Jake pursues Bailey with a never ending passion and slowly breaks through her defenses.
“The Lucky One” was full of ups and downs and a few surprises. Sylvie writes the best male characters and Jake is another gem. Once again, I can’t wait for the next book.
A well written funny sexy entertaining story that was wonderfully narrated. This amazing standalone is part of a series. I am looked forward to others and reunited with past and present characters and meeting more. I loved the humor, romance and drama in this smooth flowing addicting story. The narration was perfectly done, being easy to follow characters and scenes adding a whole new level of enjoyment, perfectly portraying these strong characters.
Terrific RomCom & Narration BaileyJake
The Lucky One
A One-Night-Stand Romantic Comedy (Carolina Connections, Book 3)
By: Sylvie Stewart
Narrated by: Meg Price
Series: Carolina Connections, Book 3
I am loving Sylvie Stewart’s “Carolina Connections” series, each novel features different characters that run in the same circle, either family relations, friends and/or co-workers. Each book stands on its own but I highly recommend reading them all and in order, mainly because they are so good but also because of the character connections and knowing their who they are and their history. I love that each book has its own unique story with interesting and original storylines. This third book is Bailey Murphy and Jake Beckett’s story. They met and hooked up at Nate & Laney’s wedding, Bailey is Nate’s sister and was a bridesmaid. Jake is Mark’s brother and recently moved back to be closer to his Mom, he partnered with Fiona’s boss to do landscaping design. First off this book is hilarious, especially when Bailey was watching Rocco. In addition to the laugh out loud moments there were plenty of heartfelt ones. At times I felt Bailey was sort of having an identity crisis, with how she saw herself, working to keep her father happy and not doing what she rather be doing because someone crushed her dreams and broke her heart while at it. Jake and Bailey’s one night stand was a memorable one, Jake can not get it out of his mind and attempts to pursue her but she keeps shutting him down. Their friends encourage him to not give up and her to let him in. I loved how everything plays out, we are taken back in time several times to get glimpses of what happened when they first met as well as Bailey’s back story. There is never a dull moment in this book, there is plenty of drama, angst, some great humor and hot romance. Sylvie Stewart, thank you for another amazing story, all the laughs and the emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, Meg Price is a terrific narrator and voice performer. She brings the characters to life gives each their own voice and personality. Her portrayal of each character was spot on, they sounded as you pictured them. She captured their emotions, as well as the drama and humor of the story, which could be heard in her performance. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another great listen