Short synopsis: In the second book of the Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships series we get Nina’s story. Including childhood Olympic dreams ending in injury, parent problems that create trust issues and a hot Irish Chef named Ollie desperate for a green card.

My thoughts: I loved getting an inside look into Nina, how her past shaped her and the growth she went through in this book. She had a lot buried that she refused to unpack for a long time, and I liked that Ollie did what he could to help push her out of her comfort zone.

This one could totally be a standalone, but i am glad I read both these books close together. I enjoyed getting more of Jo’s story, and seeing the lives of Jo and Alex, and Nina and Ollie intertwine.

Read if you’re a sucker for:
* Series building on side characters
* Marriage of convenience
* Over coming a traumatic past
* Mental health issues

⚠️ Trigger warning gambling addictions, identity theft, sexual harassment

This book was an absolute delight! A gem! 

So, admittedly, this is one that hooked me by the cover--and then I read the synopsis and was thoroughly intrigued. And then... The book is just so cleverly done and lovely.

It is a part of a series and I'm sure would be better enjoyed reading it in order. However, I did not read the first one and I don't feel I missed a thing. The first book is about another couple that is featured in this one. But, again, it was a great standalone. 

This book features Nina Lejeune, chief stewardess on a super yacht, and Ollie Dunne, an Irish cook, she meets on said yacht. This book vacillates between timelines: current and around a decade prior when Ollie and Nina first met. 

I love that the story was told this way because the first time we see Nina and Ollie together we know there's some history there and we know that they have some type of feelings--but it's revealed casually, slowly, what they really mean to each other. 

And, it's just so fabulous. Because in this story, Nina is the one who is slow to realize and admit her feelings for Ollie. Which, when you read this, you realize how obvious and ridiculous it all is. But poor Nina hasn't had the best example of a good relationship--nor has she had a lot of reason to place her trust in people. 

By the end of the book I was just so wrapped up in Ollie and Nina--and at times frustrated by how emotionally stunted Nina was. 

But I promise you, it's all worth it in the end! This book was such a treat!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. My review will be live, at the link given, on 8/10/22, as part of a blog tour.

Luck and Last Resorts is the second book in the series Love, Lists & Fancy Ships, which, of course, I didn’t know when I read it 🤦‍♀️ On the plus side, this can absolutely be read as a standalone, but I loved it so much, I’m definitely going back to read the first book!

This is a second chance romance told through present day and flashbacks where we learn about the various statuses of Nina and Ollie’s relationships. We get to flashback to when they first met, and to see how their love blossomed (and wilted).

Nina clearly has some issues with committing, and Ollie seems to be completely ready for a second chance. I really enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed originally and how Ollie tries to get Nina back in present day. I got to know each character, and I felt connected and invested in their stories individually and as a couple.

This is a great story for romance readers who enjoy that second chance at love and some great laughs along the way!

Highlights: second-chance romance, friends-with-benefits, workplace romance, a marriage of convenience, cinnamon-roll hero.

Luck and Last Resorts is a second-chance romance between two co-workers and old flames, Nina, the chief stewardess on a super yacht, and Ollie, the chef. It has a lot of elements that I enjoyed, the banter and the chemistry between Nina and Ollie especially. I found the setting, working on a super yacht, rather interesting. I really liked Ollie, who is the sweetest cinnamon-role hero. Nina was a frustrating character. She took the fear of commitment to the next level. She refused to work on her commitment issues for most of the story. Their relationship often felt one-sided, with Ollie being more invested in the relationship than Nina.

Overall, I enjoyed Luck and Last Resorts. I was rooting for Nina and Ollie and their HEA. I would've enjoyed this book a little more if Nina wasn't so emotionally stunted and frustrating. She did improve by the end of the book, but boy..., it took her a while!

The follow-up to one of my favorite books of 2021, Luck and Last Resorts does not disappoint! While Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships felt closer to women’s fiction than purely a romance, Nina and Ollie’s story is definitely more centered around their relationship. I love how this book somehow manages to put all the best tropes into one story: fake dating, second chance romance, forced proximity, enemies to friends to lovers, workplace romance. I mean, truly everything you could want! There were definitely times when I wanted to grab Nina and shake her because she couldn’t see what was so clear, but it made the payoff even sweeter. And if you finish reading this and Ollie Dunne isn’t your new book boyfriend, I have concerns, because 😍🥵! I’d recommend reading LL&FS before starting this, because there isn’t much of a recap to catch you up, but this could still be read as a stand-alone. (But you should definitely read the first book because it’s incredible!) Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a brilliant author, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

What a delightful summer sequel! LUCK AND LAST RESORTS is the follow-up to LOVE, LISTS & FANCY SHIPS by Sarah Grunder Ruiz. I enjoyed setting sail with Nina and Ollie, on-again-off-again lovers and fellow crew members of a superyacht catering to the super wealthy.

With Nina & Ollie each bringing complicated family dynamics to their relationship, there was plenty of emotional depth to the story. I’m finding that the second chance romance trope is one that I gravitate towards and don’t find over the top or cheesy. We all need a little grace and a second chance, don’t we?

While the story could be read as a stand alone romance, picking up LOVE LISTS & FANCY ships beforehand will surely enhance your reading experience. Although they weren’t the main event, it was fun to see where life had led Nina’s bestfriend Jo Walker & her newfound love with Alex Hayes.

Be sure to add both books to your beach bag this summer!

RATING: 4/5 stars
PUB DATE: August 9, 2022

Gosh y’all, this is one of those books you don’t want to put down and stay up way too late into the night finishing (but it will be totally worth it). Sarah’s writing is so beautiful and perfectly balanced between funny and emotional. The characters emotions bursted off the page and boy will you root for both of them! Nina’s character growth, Ollie’s Irishness, and their complicated love story is one I won’t soon forget!

Luck & Last Resorts comes out 8/9 and needs to be in your shopping cart!!

Thank you @berkleyromance for the free copy

I absolutely adored this book! The setting of being an employee on a yacht is fascinating. I worked seasonal jobs for a long time and I loved seeing this setting and perspective. The characters and travel journeys were so fun.

Nina and Ollie, the 2 main characters, were wonderful. Their banter and growth through the end were great, even if it took Nina forever to realize what she wants.

I love that this Romcom is a perfect t biz of adventures, banter and emotional growth. Highly recommend

TW: Abuse (retelling; mental, physical, emotional), Gambling addiction, identity theft, sexual harassment (on page), infidelity

After Ms. Grunder Ruiz’s first book in this series, I was looking forward to Nina and Ollie’s story. Unfortunately this book didn’t quite meet my expectations. I did love was the plot twist I didn’t expect, what I didn’t love was the flashbacks and flash forwards even though they were somewhat necessary. A story of messy relationships, love, hope, and learning to trust when the people you trusted most in your life let you down, Luck and Last Resorts had some good moments but overall I struggled with this book.

I loved Nina Lejeune is the first book of this series; she was vivacious, fun loving, and independent but that’s not the Nina in this book. This book Nina is angry to the point of being surly, she’s closed off, and at times rude mostly because things aren’t going her way. She’s having trouble with her crew and Ollie Dunne her on again/off again relationship is back on board as chef and has made it known if they aren’t together by the end of charter season he is leaving for his homeland of Ireland. This doesn’t set well with Nina because while she likes to keep Ollie at arm’s length she also likes knowing he’s there when she needs him. I get why Nina has issues, it was explained in depth throughout this book however after a decade I would have hoped that she knew Ollie’s character well enough to trust him. Honestly, for a large part of this book I could not understand why Ollie stayed, why he bothered with Nina because she would not give an inch and I got tired of her reasons and her excuses so I imagine Ollie after a decade felt that even more. I didn’t blame Ollie one bit in pressing the issue; he was tired of living in limbo and ready to move on with his life. What frustrated me was that throughout this book Nina refused to make changes, refused to give in at all, refused to admit her feelings for Ollie ran deep, and most of all refused to admit that she trusted Oliver with her heart and her life. Over and over we went through this and yet she seemed surprised that the outcome didn’t change. I simply cannot deal with a character that refuses to grow and for me her growth came too late for me to completely enjoy this book. It was tedious and I felt like I was slogging through quicksand for the few lighthearted, sweet, fun moments it contained.

I had such high hopes for Luck and Last Results but ultimately the book was depressing and disappointing and if I hadn’t cared about Ollie so much I probably would not have finished it.

P.S. – While this can be read as a stand-alone, I feel that most people would feel a bit lost without first reading Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships; a book I highly recommend.

Can Nina and Ollie finally- after nine years- find happiness with one another? That's the question that looms over this friends to lovers to fake relationship to separated to second chance rom com. Whew. Nina, a former gymnast, and Ollie, a chef, have been attracted to and acted on that attraction off and on for years but Nina has never been willing to commit. Why? No spoilers from me but know that she's carrying burdens from her childhood. Ollie's grown tired of the vagabond life on yachts and he's got to go home to Ireland. Will she go with him? Fans of the genre might not be surprised by the outcome but it's a fun ride to the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I decided to read this one before Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships to see if you could read it as a stand-alone and I absolutely think it’s fine. I may have missed some background on certain characters, but I’ll found out once I read the first. If you are a fan of the show Below Deck I feel this would be a great read for you. It was filled with drama, romance, and everything else I love relating to it.

This one goes back and forth within timelines of when Ollie and Nina meet, to present day. I instantly fell in love with them both for completely different reasons. Ollie was so care-free and spontaneous, while Nina was more disciplined and organized.

Overall I found this a fun, quick beach (or by the pool) read. I always love a good second chance romance, with a few plot differences when done well. I can’t read to every book by this author!

I know I'm in the minority here but this one didn't work for me. I found Nina incredibly selfish, immature and annoying and didn't buy that Ollie has been obsessed with her forever. I also didn't like all the time jumping back and forth.

Her issues with her parents explain some of her maturity level (or lack there of) but even that wasn't well developed. Some of the conflict didn't make any sense and I just...blah. I just didn't enjoy the story at all.

Nina and Ollie are the complicated, messy, angsty, emotional wrecks of my heart and I love them so much. They go through A Lot™️ in this book and I feel like their HEA is truly one of the most earned ones I've read in a romance in a while.

As a recovering commitment-phobe I deeply related to Nina and her struggles to learn to take a chance on what makes her happy (in all aspects of her life) even if it means giving up feeling safe, and I appreciated that we got to really see her learn and change and grow.

I also loved the present/past structure for showing Nina and Ollie's history as they work their way through their second chance (well, really, about their thousandth chance) at lasting love.

Ultimately reading this book felt a lot like watching the sun rise on a cold morning - little by little the light creeps through until you're finally bathed in golden warmth.

You should already know that I absolutely fell in love with Sarah Gunder Ruiz's first book, so I was pumped to receive her second book early on. And I was a bit disappointed after finishing this book. Let me explain.

I compared this book to her first book, and it did not measure up. It does not have the emotional damage that I felt in her first book. And you would think a second chance trope will have emotional damage? But that’s why I want to explain to you that you should not compare this book to her first book, and you will enjoy reading this book more.

Despite my comparison to the first book, this book does have good potential with the second chance romance trope. Nina and Ollie were a couple several years ago, and have been exes for several years as well. It may be confusing, but that’s just how they work for so many years. And things will start to unravel when they are on the same ship again. But this time is way different when Ollie gives Nina an ultimatum about them.

There is one more thing I want to say. I truly don’t understand Nina's reasoning. I couldn't understand it all. I’m still confused about it. Why break up when you love him? Still confused about that part.

I loved this book so much!! Luck & Last Resorts is a dual timeline story and I really enjoyed the way it progressed. The author does a great job of revealing bits and pieces at a time so that you just can’t put the book down. This book could be read as a standalone but the characters all continue from Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships, so I think it would be a better reading experience if you read the first book before this one. LL&FS is one of my top reads from 2022 so far and I liked this one even more. Its hilarious, romantic, angsty, emotional, and exciting! Nina’s journey to mature and grow takes a while and at times, she frustrated me. My annoyance with her helped make the conflict absolutely believable. Ollie honestly stole the show for me. He was a really great love interest to root for. If you’re a fan of the show Below Deck, you’ll love all the similarities in these books.

I did a mix of ebook & audiobook. The audiobook is wonderful because of Ollie’s Irish accent. ❤️ I highly recommend listening to the book so you can hear him say “kitten” and you can swoon every time he says something absolutely adorable or heartbreaking with that wonderful accent of his.

Thank you Berkley Pub for a free digital ARC & Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook.

I absolutely enjoyed this one! I knew a bit of what to expect because Love, Lists & Fancy Ships was heavier than an expected contemporary romance so I knew better than to expect Luck and Last Resorts to be just a cute lil' romance! And I was right! There's a lot of back and forth and the story very slowly reveals to us what went down in the past to lead to certain decisions. But I was so frustrated with some of Nina's decisions and thought processes. This one just didn't hit in the way that the first one did - I think I was left wanting more because there was so much missing.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series when I read it last year and have been so looking forward to getting to read Nina and Ollie’s story and I’m so glad it lived up to the hype for me! It had a different feel to it than the first book, which was a good thing because to me it just showed that the author is multifaceted and able to still right such an amazing romance just with a different feel. I think the biggest difference I noticed was this one was more angsty, but not in an annoying way. Nina and Ollie’s pain came from such a relatable place and I was rooting for them SO hard. They had amazing chemistry which lead to some wickedly funny banter and so much sarcasm. If you like romances with depth, some summery vibes and are a fan of Below Deck this is a must!

Welp. It’s confirmed. Sarah Grunder Ruiz is an insanely talented author! Her writing just flows so well. She mixes lightheartedness with serious topics and women’s fiction with romance so seamlessly. Her characters are so relatable and I found myself identifying with their imperfections. While this one deals with plenty of emotions, it’s not nearly as sad as her last book.

🛳 What to expect:
•HOT IRISH CHEF. Need I say more?!?!?

•Slow burn romance
•Surprising twist!
•Charter yacht BTS (I don’t watch Below Deck, but I hear it’s got that vibe)
•Alex and Jo updates!
•Alternating timelines (This is where my only criticism lies… I felt slightly confused at times about where we were in the story. It could have been because I listened to most on audio)

This is definitely a stand alone, but I would highly recommend reading her debut, Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships first for the best experience!!

I read this book as a standalone and didn't feel like I was missing any important story information.
This is a second chance romance between two friends who are in an on-again/off-again relationship. The male main character, Ollie, decides to give the heroine, Nina, one last chance to admit her feelings for him or he's leaving for Ireland never to be contacted again.
I was not expecting so much angst from this story (I mean just look at that cover!). But I think the author did a good job of capturing the complex emotions from Nina and Ollie. Although frustrating and downright heartbreaking at moments, the story does have levity and an awesome setting to balance out the more serious moments.
The story felt like it could be about real people and did a good job of making me care about these characters and their relationship.
A great read if you like friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, workplace romance, forced proximity, angst, grumpy/sunshine, and yachts!

SARAH, YOU DID IT AGAIN!
I should know now always to have tissues ready for the emotional turmoil she will put me through and how it is all WORTH IT for that love story!

Sarah Grunder Ruiz does a love story most realistically and magically, and I cannot express how appreciative I am of that. She does not act as if the Characters and their problems and worries go away after they say I love you. Nina & Ollie have to work on their issues together and apart to be the best and most healthy version of themselves for their love to be good and happy. You will laugh, cry, and scream (I had to spot myself from throwing my IPad, especially 70 pages from the end!), and it will be all worth it because this is the healthy love we all crave -passion, heat, hate, understanding and pain!

I did not expect to see so many connections to myself and Ollie and just how much he was so well developed as a character. Like, this book is a masterpiece, and now I am begging for a short story of chapters in his POV just so I can cry again - we connect a bit too much, lol.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! COME HERE, JACK, MY LOVE!