this was a cute enjoyable small town romance read. perfect palette cleanser. The sweetest romance

3.75 stars

3.5 stars! Not quite the thoroughly satisfying series conclusion I had hoped for, but still an enjoyable, single-sitting read! I felt this story wasn't as well-formed as the first two books in this series, because there just isn't enough for Luke and Ellie to do (except secretly ogle each other!), and then, after a lot of will-they-won't-they stalling, the ending wrapped up a bit too suddenly/last-minute. Even so, I still enjoyed spending time with these characters again, and especially appreciated its glimpses into the HEAs of the previous couples in the series.

This was my third Pepper Basham book. I listened Authentically, Izzy via audio and read the physical book of Positively, Penelope. Luke is my favorite character in this book series, so when I saw that Basham was coming out with this one, I immediately added it to my to-be-read list.

I wasn’t too sure about the book at first, as I didn’t get into it until about 30 percent in. But once that timestamp hit, I could not put this one down and finished it quickly!

There’s truly not much about this book that I didn’t like! Here is what I loved:

*The text exchanges between Luke, his sisters, and his cousin. Those were packed with banter, love, and wisdom.

*There were so many quotable quotes that left me saying, “Wow, that’s so good.”

*Readers see a depth to Luke’s character that is only touched on in the first two books. I enjoyed seeing his personality illustrated in this one.

*The book is faith-based but it’s not an “in your face” gospel message or full of cheesiness.

Something I would’ve liked reading more of: a little more about Ellie’s friend. Near the end of the book she was a part of the plot and I found myself thinking, “Wait, did I miss a detail about Maeve’s life because I didn’t see this coming.”

I hope Pepper Basham continues with this series, because I will be one of the first in line to read the next book!

OMG, this hero (all the heart eyes!)

Luke Edgewood is in Skymar for three months to help with some renovation work and attend his cousin's wedding. He ends up working with a woman he "met" in the airport where neither of them were too kind. After an apology, they are able to work together on better terms, though each soon finds themselves a little enamored with the other. It's all fun and games until Luke discovers Ellie's been keeping some very important information to herself. Despite their mutual attraction and the way their personalities and likes suit, will their very different dreams and family expectations keep them apart?

A great addition to the Skymar series with a truly swoony hero who champions those he loves.

Did you hear that? If you listen really closely, you'll hear me releasing a very HAPPY SIGH!!! I can't tell you how much I adore Luke Edgewood! And waiting so patiently to read his story after all of his scenes and interactions in the first two Skymar books! He is full of it! He's a broody, sarcastic, flannel wearing, hard-working man who is fiercely loyal to his family and friends.

If you haven't read the first two books, go do so now! You have time before this one releases! You won't be disappointed to come to know Luke's character and all of his quirks and ups and downs and everything! There were plenty of times when reading all three of these books that I couldn't help but think how much fun it would be to know Luke. He would be such a fun friend to have! He might make you watch Rambo to pass that friendship test, and he will make you keep the glitter and sparkle and sunshineyness at a minimum or far away from him. But once you pass those qualifications, you'll never have a better, more trusting and caring friend than Luke.

And oh my heavens, get ready for the funniest meet-cute or meet-sarcastic you've ever read! If I had been drinking something while reading that scene, I 100% guarantee that I would have spit my drink out of my mouth from laughing. Luke and Aliana Roselynn St. Claire definitely get off on the wrong foot. And neither one knows who the other is or any clue about what is coming their way! *Snickers* And let me tell you, you're all going to love it!

This whole book is utterly delightful and heartwarming mixed with a little Rambo (you'll see what I mean)! I loved every scene with Luke and Ally in it. They have some ups and downs of their own but it's all worth seeing how it plays out.

The orphange, the renovations, the cabin, the fishing, the surprises, the Royal family, the dressing up (oh my!!!), the casual flannel dressing down, the orphans, the bodyguards (hee hee), the outdoors, the little moments, the BIG moments, the learning and growth, the vulnerability, the friendships, and of course the sweet, sweet love story!!!!!!!!

You don't want to miss this one! Skip watching a chick-flick or Hallmark movie and dive right into this one. I promise you won't regret it!

Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further. Some talk of scandal but nothing graphic.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

He’s an American flannel wearing carpenter and she’s just an interior designer. As far as he knows, that is 🤫

Favorite line: “All good guys have a little bit of rogue for the right woman.”

When he prays for her, with her present…YES 🙌🏻

She has a poor reputation that she is trying hard to right. He gives her courage and strength a time or two when her past comes back to haunt her.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC!

DNF at 13%

I couldn't get into this one at all, the writing style threw me off completely. There are so many paragraph long text messages exchanged between the characters that goes on for pages and pages. It just felt like a lazy way set up a story and write dialogue this way. The premise sounded interesting, I just couldn't continue.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham is the final installment of her Skymar series. Y’all it was a most charming series and this book with Luke and Ellie was the icing on the cake. I loved these siblings and all their quirkiness and shenanigans. And the movie references. Let’s not forget those. If you love romance and fairy dust, castles and grand vistas and small towns in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will love this whole beautiful tale!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

Another amazing live story! Luke and Ellie complimented each other so well. A story of how couples mesh together to become better together. I loved the humour and movie/book references. Love, love, love!

I enjoyed the cute storyline. While I haven’t read the other two books it was fairly easy to follow along. I think it’d be a great addition to any library. Thank you for the arc!

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

2.5

DNF: 52%

I didn't actually click on any stars because I'm not the right audience for this book. From the cover and synopsis, I thought this would be a cute and lighthearted read.

And it is, but not in the way you'd expect.

In actuality, it's full of massive Hallmark/Lifetime movie cliches. And I don't go for that kind of romance story. I find it too hard to relate to and that holds true for these characters, as well. The readers are practically force-fed reminders that Luke is a "manly man" and allergic to feelings. I'm over that idea. And Ellie is your classic not-like-the-other-girls girl. They came across as caricatures and it was exhausting.

The texting doesn't really add anything to the story. Sure, sometimes it's a nice addition like Luke asking Izzy to come have dinner with him so she can help him work through everything. Or Ellie and Maeve, though I found that those exchanges didn't mesh as well. But the ones involving Penelope? They're pointless fluff that should've been cut. Penelope herself is VERY annoying.

There are also some serious religious undertones (presumably Christian) and I don't go in for that in my romances. I don't hold it against the book, but I wasn't expecting it so I feel like the note is fair.

If a closed door (I'm assuming) romance with MAJOR Hallmark vibes is your thing, you'll probably adore this!

More than 5 stars!!! Be still my heart- Luke! I love you! This is my favorite book, hands down! What's not to love? A rugged, flannel wearing carpenter and a princess! A definite must read, must own, must read over and over!

I was provided a copy of the book by Thomas Nelson via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Any book that uses the word “Twitterpated”, references the Princess Bride, AND has Roman Holiday Vibes is an automatic winner for me!
Such a sweet, clean rom-com! Full review to come.
Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a read about family, and throw in some sweet romance.

We are back in Skymar, and we are going to a wedding, and brother Luke is there to work and attend.

Enter Grace Kelly lookalike and barbs flow. You are going to love the text that go on between family and friends, with chuckles and a few tears.

Can you imagine finding out that girl that you now like is really a princess? Wow, and then poor Luke!

Come along and see how two people who won't leave their family and country, but have an intense attraction, say goodbye!

We also get to see the beauty of Skymar, and the people that live there, including the paparazzi!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

This was a miss for me, and I DNF. The writing seemed all over the place and I could never tell whose POV it was. The texting correspondence at the beginning of the chapters left me confused as well. While I was initially drawn to the premise I just couldn’t connect to the characters. I appreciate the opportunity from both NetGalley and the publishers to read and review this books.

A satisfying conclusion for the Skymar series and the Edgewood family! I just ADORE the sibling dynamics and am sad to be done with Luke, Izzy, and Penelope... (well, Pepper announced a Christmas novella with one of Ellie's brothers, so I know we're not completely done with everyone :).

Can someone find me a Luke, please and thank you? He's protective and kind, resourceful and down to earth, clever and witty, and unbelievably cute with kids. Ellie's backstory was really sad (and sometimes a bit *too* much tragedy to make her feel like a real person). But I love where she's at now in life and her desire to build up her people and the land. I love her "list" and her attempts at feeling like a normal citizen rather than a royal. Yes, she makes some choices I didn't agree with, but she takes accountability and makes up for them in the end.

I was squealing everytime Luke and Ellie were together in a scene because their chemistry was just so perfect. They understood each other and encouraged each other to be their best selves. And a few swoony kisses too :) The ending was perfect and I'm so happy that everyone ends up incandescently happy <3

Luke is such a delightful character in both his role as a brother and now as a romantic lead. Who wouldn’t love a slightly sarcastic, truly warmhearted, handsome guy in flannel?

Ellie is also an interesting character for the female lead having overcome some really bad past decisions. But this is truly a story of Grace upon Grace and redemption.

The epistolary style has been intriguing and also well used to develop and reveal the sibling relationships. Family and God are the backbone of these characters and, even though there’s some silliness, particularly from Penelope, they were all delightful.

I was able to get an advanced copy from NetGalley and I’m free to give my honest review which you will find above.

Loyally Luke is the third book in a series by the author following the jet-setting romances of a set of "siblings" (choosing to use the phrase used by this particular character). This book follows the POV of Luke, who appears to be a gruff guy who actually has a lot of soft spots. He's a cinnamon roll who finally gets his HEA, even after being willing to step aside for the sake of other's happiness (and a personal sense of obligation). What's sets this book apart from the others in the series is that it is mostly focused from the perspective of our main love interests. While we do see it, there is less communication and plot movement from text messages (whereas in the previous books emails were mostly used). While one can argue that this is possibly falling into a stereotype (guys don't write letters or emails), this is actually a character trait that is consistent with our male protagonist (in the previous books he often doesn't answer his messages or gives short responses). I actually really appreciated the fact that there were less text message/email correspondence in this book because it didn't force me to make a mental shift while reading the book. Plus, the transitions were much more seemless in comparison.

Enjoyable book with lovable characters in a fun setting.

What a fun conclusion to Pepper Basham's epistolary series!

I've been waiting for Luke's story for a while now, and it didn't disappoint! In fact, I think it's my favourite book of the whole series.

Luke returns to Skymar to work for Mr. Gray (who we meet in book two). In addition to renovating an isolated cottage in the North Country, Mr. Gray has a secret project for Luke. Readers are dropped into the North Country, surrounded by lovely mountains and a town that prides itself in providing a safe haven for the royals. With vivid descriptions, it's easy to imagine the town and the beauty in this particular part of Skymar.

A castle, an orphanage, and a mismatched work crew keep Luke's story interesting. As Luke gets to know his crew and the orphans he's helping, readers will fall in love with the grumpy carpenter all over again. And not everyone is who they appear to be...

Texts and emails between the family continues the fun banter of previous books in epistolary form, broken up by an easy narrative in each chapter.

I'm sad to say good-bye to Skymar and the Edgewood family. It was a great trilogy. Unique stories that I look forward to reading again. And again.

This story has it all - royalty, grumpy/sunshine, secret identity, slow-burn/office romance, with all the fun hallmarks of a Hallmark film (pun intended!).

I highly recommend reading books one and two before reading Luke's story as there are a lot of references unfamiliar readers may miss.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Pepper Basham and Thomas Nelson for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review. received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pepper Basham's "Loyally, Luke" offered me ffered me a delightful escape into the world of Luke and Ellie. With its endearing characters, relaxed atmosphere, and plot peppered with humor and heart, this novel was a cute romance to read.

Luke immediately drew me in with his lovable charm, humor, and warmth. His interactions with Ellie, the equally endearing heroine, felt authentic and affectionate, despite the predictable nature of their unfolding romance.
While Luke stole the spotlight with his charisma, I found myself wishing for more fleshed-out background details for Ellie, particularly concerning her friends and family. Nevertheless, her likability shone through, adding depth to the narrative and complementing Luke's character.

Basham's portrayal of the setting set a relaxed atmosphere, though I struggled at times to fully envision certain locations, such as Skymar. However, the author's descriptive prose effectively captured the essence of the region, enhancing my overall reading experience.

The narrative structure with intermittent text messages aadded an engaging layer to the plot. While the storyline was somewhat predictable, Basham skillfully integrated this predictability into the narrative, making it feel organic and enhancing my enjoyment.

While the initial intrigue may have been lacking, the story gained momentum as it progressed, culminating in a satisfying resolution. While the Hallmark-esque logic may not appeal to all readers, I found "Loyally, Luke" to be a charming and "cute" romance that offered a satisfying blend of humor, heart, and mostly relatable characters.

In conclusion, "Loyally, Luke" provided me with a delightful escape, drawing me into its world of love and royality. Pepper Basham's narrative prowess shines through, making this novel a memorable addition to the genre.

Rating: 3-3,5