Ahhh, this was a delightful finish to an enchanting series.

I was down with a cold last week, so jumped ahead in my TBR pile to this gem; I needed a laugh, and knew anything by Pepper Basham would fit the bill. This absolutely did the trick!

After two books written from the female perspective/a female MC, it was fun to flip the switch with Luke. His story made for an entirely different ballgame (or Hallmark movie, a reference I'm sure he would hate--which makes me love it all the more, haha). I was truly sad for the book to end, because not only was it over, it meant the series was, too!

Plenty of LOL moments, as to be expected; Basham continues to shine here and bring plenty of humor!

For new readers entering the series (yaaaaaay, you have much to look forward to): I do recommend reading the books in order, as they build on each other.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loyally Luke is a light and sweet story featuring a quaint small town, an orphanage in need of rescue, and a newly reformed princess. This gentle romance provided lovely escape, and I really enjoyed the loveable side characters. Luke was kind and endearing and I loved seeing him and Ellie work though her list.

The book's tongue in check references to hallmark movies are apt- it reads just like a cosy movie, without being overly corny. This is a great read for anyone looking a warm romantic read without unnecessary complication.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A delightful romance with a meaningful message! This third book in the series is a fun, fast read with surprising depth.

"Sometimes the best people to come into our lives are the ones we least expect."
Luke's humorous and hard working personality shine here, but his encouragement to a discouraged princess brings out the best of him. A bit of a pride and prejudice beginning quickly turns into a mutual respect friendship and more. For sure a romance, with some sighworthy kissing moments, but it is squeaky clean otherwise.
I enjoyed the banter with his sisters in texts and emails--still laugh out loud funny to read--yet this time they were more about encouraging Luke. The heart-to-heart talks with the little girl, Faye were heart melting. Who can resist a guy who cares enough to take the time to stop and listen to a little girl?
The author adds a welcome message of hope and inspiration interjected briefly into conversations without weighing down the plot. Knowing that we aren't lost causes no matter how many mistakes we make, is something many of us need to hear. Dealing with family expectations is also a struggle many people can relate to at different stages of life.
Recommend reading the previous books in the series to thoroughly enjoy this one. Hoping there will be another. 4.5 stars

I shrieked throughout the whole book, it was that cute. I love a grumpy and sunshine character duo and this book brought it all. As someone who adores European countries and want to escape through the characters, this one was perfect. 10/10, all the stars. Get ready to fall right off a cliff in love with these characters.

I received a copy of this for my honest review

This is the third book in an interconnected standalone series. Luke is a country boy, who has moved to Skymar to help his grandfather rebuild a cabin. Ellie, or Princess Elliana, is the youngest royal of Skymar, who is working to rebuild her reputation after some bad press. Luke and Ellie's meet cute, getting each others coffees, and spilling it on him, helps to convince his sister Penny that he is destined to live a Hallmark Movie, he just wants to keep his head down. He gets a contract to help refurbish a local orphanage, and it happens that Ellie is there as a project manager. At first they are both angry at each other, but as they work together they start to expand their relationship - except Luke has no idea that Ellie isn't just Ellie. They battle their desire for each other, with the knowledge that she wants to be a working royal, and he wants to keep his business in the US.

I've recently gotten into romcoms, I read some good and some bad, but most importantly I read maaany of them. So now my standards are a little higher than before for this genre. And while I found "Loyally, Luke" to be a rather enjoyable rom-com, I wish it'd been a little less superficial and/or stereotypical.

The story is as follows: Luke is an American carpenter who just moved to Skymar, a (fictional) European island, to repair an orphanage for a couple of months. On his first day, he meets a lovely-looking young lady but after a coffee mix-up at the airport, they basically hate each other on sight. Then, the story develops *exactly* as you'd expect: at the orphanage, he realises she's his boss, they become friends, then more, she doesn't tell him she's a princess, he discovers it at the wrong time and is angry with her, but they reconcile, and blah blah blah.

I KNOW many rom-com are based on tropes and cliches, and this one purposefully does this (as shown by the number of times the characters refer to their own lives as "a Hallmark movie") but there were just so many clichés there was nothing original at all! My problem is, I don't like Hallmark movies. They're just unpalatably sweet for me. I usually prefer rom-com books because they have a bit more substance and introspection than their movie counterparts. But that's what was missing here for me — I'd have liked to seen more profound reflections about what it means to be a princess, what should someone give up to be with the one they love, etc. Some sections (e.g. the paparazzi and the ball) were basically a "microwave-reheated" version of the Princess Diaries (which I believe is also mentioned in this book actually). And don't get me started on repairing an orphanage (#PrincessDiaries)! Most orphanages have been replaced by foster families in this day and age, and Luke proposing to find foster families for the children is not a genius, original idea. Lastly, the text message conversations absolutely did not seem credible at all, no one writes like they talk.

Anyways, after this long rant (sorry about that), I must still say that it was still a somewhat enjoyable read. I wanted to read something light, I wanted a rom-com, and this book is exactly what it pretends to be, there is no deception. While I'd have liked a stronger backstory and a bit more depth, some people — the Hallmark fans, notably — will find in "Loyally, Luke" all the ingredients of the simple, cliché romances they love. This book was generally well written, rather well paced, and there were a few mildly-developed side characters, which is always a plus. I also enjoyed the setting of the book, it certainly made me want to visit this fictional place.

Overall, not a bad read. A bit too sugar-sweet for me, though.
A clean, lighthearted romance which fans of Hallmark movies will probably enjoy.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Am I allowed to love the third book in a series the most?!

I loved everything bookish and epistolary about "Authentically, Izzy." I positively adore the pure delight that is "Positively, Penelope."

But "Loyally, Luke"? His wry sense of humor, his careful craftsmanship, and his endless patience with his sisters make him a humble hero in every sense of the word. He aims for that delicate balance between fixer and friend. And he's loyal to home and family.

Pepper Basham writes books with characters who feel like friends—and in this case, they feel like family, because Luke reminds me of the best men in my life (my husband, daddy, brothers, and guy cousins).

Luke Edgewood is headed to Skymar to help out with some construction projects and his sister Penelope and cousin Izzy (who is more like a sister than a cousin since she was raised with the Edgewood family) both hope he’ll find love in Skymar – after all, they both recently found their happily-ever-after's there. Luke has been hurt in the past, and isn’t sure that love is in the cards for him, and when he (literally) runs into Ellie St. Clare at the airport and things get off to a rough start, he’s sure he’s right. Little does he know that Ellie is also overseeing one of the construction projects he’s been hired to work on and he’s going to be spending a lot of time with her … he also doesn’t know she’s a Princess.

Luke Edgewood is a swoon-worthy character if there ever was one! I’ve greatly enjoyed his character through this entire series and was so excited when I found out he was going to get his own book, and his story did not disappoint! Luke is a builder who loves to wear flannel and is very down-to-Earth. He’s also very committed to those he loves. I think what makes Luke such a loveable character is the fact that he has a softer side that he is most definitely not afraid to show, but having grown up with 3 “sisters” he also doesn’t like to talk about all the frou-frou and his replies during the sibling’s text message chains can be downright hilarious!
This novel could be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading the first two books in the series -- “Authentically, Izzy”, and “Positively, Penelope”, I think having read those first made reading “Loyally, Luke” an even more enjoyable experience. My only complaint with this story was that it had to end!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

*Spoiler alert*. Don't you just love a great happily-ever-after?! This one does not disappoint. Swoon-worthy flannel-wearing heroes and true princesses just can't be beat. If you're looking for a feel-good read, you've found it in Loyally, Luke. Recommended.

Pepper Basham, need I say more? Loyally, Luke is a book for everyone, and by everyone I mean everyone. My older teens will be reading this along with all my friends. The relationship between Luke and his "sisters", is so lovely, and his interactions with other characters in the story. He melts your heart.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Wow! Another wonderful, heartwarming, love story from Pepper Basham! It was a sweet and funny and romantic fairy tale with Basham's special brand of witty banter between the siblings and friends. As with Books 1 and 2, there's a nicely incorporated atmosphere of faith in the plotlines without getting preachy or self-righteous. After I read it the first time, I went back and re-read "Authentically Izzy" and "Positively Penelope to revisit their stories. It enhanced my second read of Luke's story.

I loved it so much I've pre-ordered my own copy of the final version!

Rate G with some PG kisses.

I’ve said this about both Authentically Izzy and Positively Penelope but I’m gonna say it again because it’s completely true for Luke’s book too— this book made me really, really happy.❤️ I’ve loved Luke’s character since I read Authentically Izzy so I’ve been looking forward to his story for a while now. Well, it was wonderful and I absolutely loved it! I’m pretty sure I didn’t stop smiling the entire time I was reading it.🥰

This book was all Luke and his personality and I was here for it! He’s the type of guy who hides how much he cares behind humor and sarcasm. He’s really sarcastic and funny but he’s also really thoughtful and kind. As an introvert and more laid-back person myself, I also find him really relatable. Oh, and he loves kids so that just makes me like him even more. Basically I just love his character so much!
Watching him fall in love with Ellie was both really entertaining and really sweet. I loved it.❤️
As for Ellie, I really liked her! She was definitely a princess worth rooting for and a wonderful match for Luke. I loved how she was striving to be a better person and move on from her past.
Their romance was both funny and sweet! Luke and Ellie’s banter was everything. From the meet-cute to the many tropes in their relationship, it was a fun ride.☺️

One of my favorite things about this series is the sibling dynamics. I just love the Edgewood siblings! As a southern girl myself, I just get them so well.🥰

I laughed out loud numerous times which doesn’t happen very often with books. I LOVED the humor! I needed a good laugh and this book gave me that. The Edgewood siblings’ group chat is one of the most entertaining and hilarious things ever, especially Luke’s sarcastic replies.😂

I love that this book not only has lighthearted and funny moments but also has deep and meaningful moments too. I love the faith content in this book, especially the parts where Luke talks about his faith. It also had a really good message about finding your identity in God which I loved.❤️

In conclusion, I loved this book! It was such a fun read with a good message. I love these characters soo much so saying goodbye is bittersweet but I know I’ll want to revisit these books in the future.🥰
If you’re a fan of rom-coms that have sibling dynamics, a meet-cute, witty banter, laugh out loud humor, an inspiring message, and the romance a princess and a common guy, I think you’ll love Loyally Luke!❤️

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy! All opinions are my own.

This book is so much fun to read. I love the texts between Luke, Izzie, and Penelope. I also like the one’s between Ellie and Maeve. The dialogue between Ellie and Luke is clever too. I had to laugh at Luke’s reaction to Hallmark movies and the chimes. This is a very uplifting book and when it ended I felt better for reading it.

I would give Loyally, Luke 10 stars if I could!! Words cannot express how much I loved this book and the rest of the series! I’m a bit sad it has come to an end.
It was all so perfect from the movie quotes, the Hallmark references to Luke and Ellie’s budding relationship.
Read Loyally, Luke. You won’t be disappointed!

Caution; Do not read a Basham book in public unless you're prepared for others to witness reading reactions including: sighs, squeals, snort-inducing laughter, goofy grins, and tears (mostly happy).

Luke's story is everything I hoped for and more. I was smiling the entire book either from humorous banter & situations or heart melting interactions. Luke and Ellie are genuine, humble, loving, loyal, strong, and realistically flawed leads supported by friends and family who make the character depth so much richer. Ellie is the perfect match for Luke. I love them as a pair. The way their faith was shared throughout the pages knit with my soul.

This story invites you to become part of the Edgewood family as they explore new lands, adventures, relationships and friendships so true-to-life readers are fully immersed in the world and lives of the characters. I wanted to jump into the group texts with my own interjections.

So many scenes became instant favorites: the meet-cute (*chime*, sorry Luke), the closet, conversations with the children, the reveals, the first kiss, twitterpated Luke, the cabin, and so many others. My heart is full to bursting. How are any other books supposed to follow this one? I'm in a full book hangover.

The entire Skymar series is a forever favorite. There is not one book I like better than another. I cannot find the words to fully express how much I love this author or how her stories touch my heart and life. I will treasure the Skymar series and revisit them time and again.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you fell in love with authentically Izzy, then you will definitely fall in love with loyal Luke. humor, I couldn’t put down authentically Izzy, and I definitely cannot put down this amazing book.
#LoyalLuke #PepperBashan
Who doesn’t love a book with hilarious family members texting back-and-forth and bantering to each other.LoyallyLuke

Pepper Basham has done it again! What a wonderful romance! I loved every minute of it. There were texts as in previous books, but that was only a minor ( but important) part! There were swoony kisses too in Luke’s story. Izzy and Penelope played parts, especially in texts. I really enjoyed reading this book! I received a free copy from NetGalley, but my review is my own opinion.

This book comes after Authentically Izzy and Positively Penelope. It helps to read those two first, since Basham doesn’t waste any time introducing the country of Skymar or the relationships between Izzy, Luke, Penelope, Josephine and their significant others. Once again, I had a horrible time putting the book down, laughed hysterically, and ignored everything else on my to do list to finish it. I hate to say goodbye to these special characters, so Basham needs to figure out how to write more books about Skymar!

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #LoyallyLuke #NetGalley

I just finished reading Luke's story and I'm very, very sad.

Why am I sad?

Because the epicness of Skymar romance is over! Because now I've finished the book and I wasn't done yet! Because this is by far one of my all-time favorite series' and now it's done!

But, oh, what a finish! I soaked up every single drop of this literary beauty and I'm full to bursting with joy. Pepper Basham just has a way with contemporary romance that both curls your toes and warms your heart, all while encouraging your soul and enriching your faith.

I don't quite know how she does swoony so well while keeping the romance sweet. That's most definitely a gift, and I still say she needs to teach seminars on how to do this!

A good satisfying read, a heart that's full and a teary eyed grin that makes my face hurt? Bring it! And if I waxed poetic, gushed over imaginary characters, or seriously fangirled at all... just blame it on a Basham book!

My thanks to the publisher for an advance copy. My review is truthful and has not been solicited.

Loyally Luke is THE perfect ending to an absolutely charming series! It had me in tears one moment and laughing out loud the next. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this story, one of my most anticipated in 2024! I am basking in the joy that this book brought me, and I just want their stories to continue, is that too much to ask? This series, Authentically Izzy, Positively Penelope, and Loyally Luke is at the top of my most cherished contemporary reads.

*The sweet, funny, and supportive texts between siblings/cousins has engaged and delighted me.
*The humorous banter is just SO fun.
*The integrity of Luke, and how he quietly supports and encourages others to shine.
*How he knows and responds to his family members is a hoot.
*His love of children, especially at the orphanage is endearing
*His gruff exterior and soft heart make him irresistible. Who can resist flannel or a tux?
*Enemies to lovers, Friends to lovers, opposites attract all work in this delightful story.
*Ellie and her best friend Maeve: love the texts between them too.

Penelope and her romance tropes and Hallmark movies directed at Luke, and his responses are a riot. "Meet-cute? He growled down at his phone. Just the two words paired with the definition turned his stomach. Ridiculous. Penelope and her little powder-puff, sparkly shoes, glitter world. What did she know?"

"His welcome smile dies a slow death on his face. Before him, in a gray suit with golden hair pulled back in a familiar bun, stood Grace Kelly." "He wanted to prove Penelope wrong. He was not in some rom-com. Or worse, a Hallmark movie."

For all the fun, there is a wonderful depth to the story as well. "El, you're going to have to keep choosing to do the right thing over and over again. It's much harder to climb out of a bad reputation than to sully a good one. So just keep choosing right and let all those right choices speak for themselves."

I highly recommend Loyally Luke by Pepper Basham (and the rest of the series)!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I plan to purchase a copy for my keeper shelf to go with the rest of this beloved series.

And down the road, I wouldn't mind a Book 4 or a Christmas novella with all my favorite characters from this series!