I absolutely adored this book! Luke and Ellie were absolutely adorable with off-the-charts chemistry while still keeping the story clean. There was a lot more kissing than I'm used to, but I'm not complaining! Luke really came out of his shell in this one and showed his secretly romantic heart in all things involving Ellie. Their meet-cute was so fun and I loved how her identity was kept a mystery and that the aftermath of finding out didn't drag on forever. There was just enough drama to keep me turning pages without rolling my eyes at the absurdity of it. Both characters were incredibly likable and complimented each other well.

This isn't what I'd consider "Christian fiction" since there wasn't any sort of Fatih arc, but I did appreciate the moments where we saw glimpses into their faith and see how God did fit into their lives. Luke's encouragement for Ellie also brought a tear to my eye and was a great reminder to every Christian.

My ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💋💋
✝️

Pepper Basham's books are always engaging, funny, and unique! Loved this book :) I still have yet to read the other two books in the series, but I plan on it very soon!!!

What a sweet sweet romance. My biggest sadness was not reading the other books in the series first, just so I could spend more time in Skymar. That being said, I loved getting little tidbits into the family dynamics, and seeing the way Luke's sisters loved him. I know he's a fictional man, but there's something so special about sisters loving their brother this much. And it did a beautiful job at intertwining faith, and romance, which is not always an easy thing to do. Beautiful, sweet, and now got me interested in the first two books of the series!

I've been waiting for this third book in the Skymar series written by Pepper Basham. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion. I loved Luke and Ellie's story.
Luke has been hired for a secret project along with the cabin restoration he has flown to Skymar to undertake. The 'macho man' who grew up with girls has some incredibly comical thoughts which add great humor to the story. His need to go watch Rambo because 'sweet' things had come to mind is giggle worthy. His sister, Penelope is all about romance movies and Hallmark moments while he is Rocky, Star Wars and World War II movies. Sentences in the book are gems. It's such a pleasure to read. For example, "Luke... took a giant bite of his sandwich to keep his words from offending his own ears."
Stop using time to read my opinion, grab this book. If you love romance, a masculine guy with a teddy bear-soft heart, a gorgeous princess with her sad back story and great humor, this is your summer read. It works as a stand-alone but you will want to read the previous books too.

This one just wasnt quite my cup of tea. There were just too many cliches and what I felt like not trusting the reader to make the obviously obvious conclusions. Just felt rather disappointing to read, I feel like this book and story plot could have had so much more potential. I decided not to post about it on Instagram etc as I don't want the author to get a setback from negative reviews so close to publication date.

This is a really cute romance! I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this one. To me it made sense as a stand alone novel. The running joke of the novel is that the love story shennanigans are better than a hallmark movie, and I couldn't agree more. From the meet cute to the first kiss, it definetly followed the Hallmark movie vibe. My absolute favorite part of the novel was the texting between the characters. It was such a fun addition that helped me feel like I knew their friends and family even more, especially as Luke and Ellie processed their friendship to relationship journey.

What you can expect to find:
- Text messages
- Surprise royal visits
- Family forgiveness
- Construction work

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.

This was such a cute read. It's a modern day royal romance and was so fun to read. I enjoyed the storyline and characters. Definitely recommend this book so go give it a look

“Sometimes love means embracing the good, the bad. . . and even the impossible.”

Be still my hallmark loving heart! 😍 The Hallmark Chime! 🫠 This book! Gah! I don’t have words, and what I have to say has probably been said and better too! But my friends if you want to laugh, and swoon, and feel a sugary rush of sweetness then pick up this book by Pepper Basham, in any format because it’s all wonderful! I have read it, I have listened to it! I love love love the audiobook!!! Grab your favorite socks to knit on and just sit back and enjoy this delightful narration. It’s read by multiple narrators give the main characters Luke and Ellie fantastic voices, but we also get to hear Luke’s sisters voice come in when text and emails are read. It’s a lot of fun!

Here is the gist. Luke is a no nonsense, honest guy, who doesn’t need much. Give him rich strong black coffee, quiet cabin in the woods, and flannel and he is happy. Till he isn’t. And he is happy with his bachelorhood. Till he isn’t. And he can do without an uppity high class Grace Kelly princess in the flesh in his life. Till he can’t. And he most definitely is not living a Hallmark Movie life. Till he is! ✨ Chime ✨ Luke is a knight in shining flannel and he will make you melt like hot butter in a skillet!

Ellie may be a princess in real life but that hasn’t kept her from some real world consequences of poor choices in her youth. She’s been working hard to repair her reputation but it’s hard to build back up than to tear something down. Ellie is very relatable despite her royal status and I love her for that. I love her and Luke and the whole Edgewood family.

If you are looking for a good arm chair travel itinerary then definitely add the whole Edgewood family books to your TBR list.

Read this if you love:
💕 Handsome men in flannels
💕 Scottish flare
💕 Hallmark movies (or don’t then you can sympathize with Luke 😉)
💕 Off limits or forbidden love
💕 Fun movie and pop culture references
💕 Sibling banter
💕 Royal Romance
💕 Kissing book

Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a copy of the book and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are mine.

Their first meeting was less than auspicious.

Luke Edgewood sees himself as a simple carpenter. At a friend's request, he's left his small town in the Blue Ridge mountains to oversee the upgrading and remodeling of an orphanage in the small country of Skymar. Imagine his surprise when he finds the disagreeable woman with whom he had a run in at the airport when he first landed. Only she's not as disagreeable as their first meeting would have had him believe. Elliana volunteers to help as she can on a project that's near to her heart. What begins as a working relationship becomes a close friendship - and maybe something more. But Ellie has kept an important part of her life a secret from Luke. How will Luke react when he finds out she's a princess.

Like the previous books in the Skymar series, the story is told through a combination of prose as well as a series of texts and emails. Though the prose is more predominant in this book than the previous ones, the texts provide deeper insight into the personality of the characters. Luke now has the benefit of turning to his sisters and his cousin for advice and assistance as his relationship with Ellie progresses.

I also like the growth we see in Luke in this story. In the previous stories, Luke was the dutiful big brother, providing a shoulder to cry on when needed, and teasing his sister and cousin like a good big brother does the rest of the time. In this story we see a more mature Luke. He loves what he does, which is apparent in the confidence he exudes. He's a simple person and his simple words of wisdom are what Ellie comes to rely on.

Ellie is aware she is being judged on past actions, despite the time that has passed. Luke seems to be the only one she can just be herself with. And he's happy to support her. His belief in her gives her strength. Even after he learns who she is, he can't help being just who he is, And Ellie comes to rely on that as she slowly gains confidence and steps out of her past and into her duty as a royal.

This is the third book in the Skymar series. While you can read this book as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the first two books in the series, but at the very least, the first book Authentically, Izzy. You'll have a much better understanding of who some of the secondary characters are and how Skymar comes to be the setting for this story. Reading the previous books will also give you a greater appreciation of how much we didn't know or didn't understand about Luke. I really enjoyed reading Authentically, Izzy, I think this in now my favorite book in the series. It's earned a spot on my keeper shelf.

Loyally, Luke is my third book I have read written by Pepper Basham. I must say I throughly enjoyed the whole Skymar series. Loyally, Luke was easy to read, rich in dialogue and wit. It captured me in from the start, and I could not put the book down. Though I am a little sad to put this series to rest, I look forward to reading some of Pepper Basham's other works.

The character development was great. I loved getting to know each of the characters on a deeper level. It was fun watching Ellie find herself and begin to rebuild herself as a more 'respectable' royal. I enjoyed the aspect of the orphanage, having done a few mission trips working with orphans it touched me. I loved how Luke interacted with the kids. It gave us, and Ellie, a glimpse into his heart.

The relationship between Luke and Ellie was cute. It was 100% hallmark, but better. I loved that in true hallmark fashion, Luke did not realize that Ellie was a princess and really got to know Ellie on a different level because of it. Luke is a very caring person and because of that he helps Ellie come out of her guarded self. She gets to be herself on a whole other level. Though their friendship turns physical-just kissing-the whole idea of them trying to remain friends but wanting to kiss, kind of was weird to me. I understand that some people actually think this way, though it was a little weird to me. I do know that Pepper Basham likes to write very passionate kiss scenes- and Loyally, Luke definitely contained that.

The storyline was great. It caught my attention and held me throughout the whole story. Pepper Basham did a great job creating this world of Skymar and having it intertwined throughout the series. I loved the text and email threads. It gave a different dynamic that really helped show the family bond and the feelings of Ellie and Luke to their friends.

The faith aspect was a little light. I would have liked to see a little bit more. But that is just my personal preference. All in all it was a wonderful book; light hearted, hallmark-like, romance comedy. It was very entertaining and I look forward to reading more from Pepper Basham.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW: Loyally Luke ⭐⭐⭐

I didn't realize two things when I received Loyally Luke as an ARC. First, I didn’t know that this is actually the third book in a series, but thankfully, it can easily be read as a standalone. The other thing is that I didn’t realize this was a Christian Fiction book. Nothing is wrong with that; I just thought this book would be more romance fiction.

I liked how Pepper Basham wrote this book. There were chapters from different characters' points of view, plus some news articles and texts throughout. The audiobook made this even better because it had a whole cast of readers. It made the story so much more enjoyable and genuine. I also really liked both of the main characters, Luke and Ellie. They both had so much personality and were confident in who they were. Both of them had very fun and sweet moments throughout the story.

There were a few things that I wasn’t super keen on. The story itself was very slow and drawn out. Along the same lines, the romance was a super slow burn (or spark even). They eventually kissed, but that’s it. At first, I liked some of the romance cliches in the story because Luke was so anti-rom-com, yet things kept happening to him like a rom-com. Unfortunately, after a while, it got to be too much. A few things were fine, but it got too repetitive. The last thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was that this is a Christian Romance. I am not religious, and I don’t usually like reading so much about religion in the book. That’s just me, though.

Overall, I still enjoyed Loyally Luke. The audiobook narrators brought the story to life. This book may be great for other readers, but it isn’t the kind of book I usually gravitate towards.

Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing | Thomas Nelson Fiction, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This was my first book by Pepper Basham, but won't be my last! Luke might be one of my favorite Heroes ever, and I loved his relationship with his family. I didn't know this was a series going in, and now I'm so happy to have more books to read!!

This is such a sweet romance by Pepper Basham! When I started reading this book, I didn’t realize this was the 3rd in the series. I didn’t feel lost or like I was missing anything. I quickly fell in love with Luke, Ellie and Skymar!

The prodigal princess Ellie is trying to repair her reputation tattered by the poor choices of her past. Her journey & development is a beautiful journey as she rediscovers her faith and who she is meant to be.

Luke is the quiet steady hero who is wonderful with kids. He cares so much for his sisters-the banter between them is hilariously written and you can tell they truly care about each other.

Together, Luke & Ellie are just perfect despite their extremely different backgrounds. They get off on the wrong foot, but find common ground as they are forced to work to renovate an orphanage together. Their “meet cute” is hilarious and I love their “trope” list!!

All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good romcom. And in Loyally, Luke, the characters constantly referred to different romcoms, including quotes from my favorite, Notting Hill. It was a cute story about a construction worker from North Carolina who ends up in a small European village and falls for a dutchess. Forced proximity, royal/commoner romance, all of it. The texts with his sisters and best friend were really cute as were the little social media posts about the dutchess. All in all, it felt like a hallmark movie.

A charming contemporary romance that follows my absolute favourite character of this series, Luke. He is a practical and emotionally reserved character, due to some things that happened in his past. I just love the slow way he learns how to navigate love and redemption.
This whole series was amazing, but I feel like "Loyally, Luke" has the best blend of humour and grace, making it absolutely delightful. I found myself quickly engaged in the book by the amazing storytelling, well-developed characters and the perfect Skymar setting.
Now I just want to read anything Pepper ever wrote!



* I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.*

For Luke Edgewood, love is not a priority. His sisters may be obsessed with all those mushy Hallmark movies, but he is not impressed. Until a coffee mix-up causes him to meet a girl he cannot stop thinking about. Only problem is that she's a princess. A real one! Does that mean that they have no future?

Loyally Luke is a sweet, clean romance. I would absolutely consider this Christian Fiction as there is some talk about God. That said, I don't feel that it was overly aggressive with the delivery of these scenes. It was tactfully done, and if you're ok with a religious character, you can easily overlook the religious aspect in the book.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, and would rate it a 3.5 (rounded up). It was one of those fluffy Hallmark-esque books with minimal real drama, and gave "You must be married to a Prince," vibes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and author Pepper Basham for making this possible.

Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham is book #3 in The Skymar Series. I've read the first two and totally loved them. I thought nothing could surpass POSITIVELY PENELOPE, but I was wrong. I think I might have swooned a few times reading about Luke and Ellie. It's told in the same style with a lot of texts and group chats, but if you have read the first two you will be use to that. It's a very humorous book, but it's also a romantic book too. I'm sad there will be no more Skymar books. I fell in love with the place and this family. I know for sure I'll be reading all three books again. I was given a copy, but all opinions are my very own.

I received an ARC of this book, my first from the author, and it was so cute! I loved the theme of being loved for who you are, no matter your standing, your past, or what others think! I adored the family and friends of our two min characters and the setting, as well! Ellie is such an inspiring character, outside of the fact she is a princess, she has overcome great adversity, serious health issues, the pressures of being a royal and targeted by critics, and her own mistakes. She does so with grace, caring, and she’s not afraid of putting in work! Luke is such a good man—a heart of gold, will do anything for those he loves, sure and true, and wise. It’s adorable the things he does for the kids at the orphanage, his sisters, his friends, and most especially, Ellie. He says very poignant things and his intentions are pure. Seeing their love and tension grow, surrounded by friends to lovers, hidden royals, a spot of fake dating, and forced proximity/working together were all combined to show how they loved each other for who they are and truly. Plus, all of the text exchanges and hallmark references were hilarious!

Last year, by total chance I found the book, Authentically, Izzy and was immediately sucked into the world of Izzy, Penelope, Josephine and Luke Edgewood. And of course, the dazzling country of Skymar. It was the beginning of a beautiful thing and I never looked back! (Can I just confess right now that after reading Izzy’s book I googled Skymar, hoping it was a real country? 😜 I know, I know… totally embarrassing but if it was- I was needing to go!✈️)

Luke’s story was everything I anticipated it would be.. and more! Luke, having two sisters and a cousin who is like a sister, really has to be a little tough and sarcastic to fend off their constant matchmaking and romantic tendencies. But at the center of his flannel wearing and tool belt toting heart, we discover how tender and loyal he truly is. When he meets the real life, very lovely Princess Ellie while in Skymar, he knows it can never work out. He’s the opposite of anything Royal.. and he doesn’t desire that fishbowl life… but… those kisses…🤭🫠 I think at some point I have called Pepper Basham the Queen of Kissing and she definitely earns that title here!

What I loved:

🏰 The renovating of a castle turned orphanage & the cast of sweet orphans that Luke befriends
🏰 The meet- cute at the coffee shop
🏰 The comical text messages between all the Edgewood’s
🏰 Countless movie references
🏰 The hallmark chime
🏰 Ellie’s bucket list
🏰 Ellie’s redemption story
🏰 The tight knit family feels
🏰 Luke’s thoughts on kissing
🏰 The antique shop and it’s lovable, sometimes meddling owners
🏰 The car ride to the Royal ball
🏰 The small, quaint town of Crieff
🏰 Being able to check in again with Izzy & Penelope
🏰 Themes of faith & hope
🏰 The feel good way this book made me feel!
🏰 Lots of laugh out loud moments

You don’t need to read the other two books in the series as this works as a standalone just fine but I highly recommend if you can to get the full experience!

Content: no language, kisses only/closed door.

Thank you to @pepperbasham for giving me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Loyally Luke by Pepper Basham is a wonderful contemporary romance that is the third book in the Skymar series, it follows Luke Edgewood's love story with Ellie a protocol Princess.

This story does not disappoint, it is a sweet, heartwarming, humorous rom-com with many laugh out loud moments.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.