Thank you Anne-Marie Mayer for letting me read the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Not going to lie, I was hooked from the start, as I am with every book from this author. I like that the romance between Stone and Emerson feels like a slow burn but also fast at the same time. I liked the fact that the book was based loosely around current pop culture (probably helps that I’m a Swiftie through and through!).

I took a star off for the length of the book as I think there was so much more room for development of the characters. Saying that, in keeping with previous series from this author, I’d love to know Tilly’s story hear Cayden’s point of view. Perhaps family rifts could be righted and there could be a budding romance between these two characters.

All in all, another great one!

Lucky Charm by Anne-Marie Meyer

4⭐️

In high school, Stone Walker had a huge crush on Emerson King, but he never pursued her because she was his best friend Cayden’s little sister. Stone had a rough home life so he spent a lot of time with Cayden and the King family, but after Stone was offered a football scholarship over Cayden, he was no longer welcome at the King house. Emerson is trying to make it as a singer in Nashville, but has not had any luck. When she is offered to sublet someone’s apartment while they are in Europe for six months, she ends up living across the hall from Stone, the boy she secretly crushed on as a teenager. She has not seen him since high school and now he is playing football in the NFL. When her manager suggests they pretend to date to help promote her career, Stone agrees but they are both afraid to have their heart broken again.

This book was adorable! As a Taylor Swift fan, I was excited to read this book when I saw it was about a singer and a professional football player. While the idea for the book was inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, I love that the story was completely unique. I really enjoyed this book and it was hard to put down! If you are a fan of sports romances, you should definitely read this book!

Read this book if you like:
▫️Football player / aspiring singer
▫️Brother’s ex-best friend
▫️High school crush
▫️Forced proximity
▫️Fake dating
▫️Slow burn

Thank you to Sweet Escape Publishing LLC and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are obsessed with all things Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, than this sweet romance is for you!

I am not a huge fan of the couple but still enjoyed this story and appreciated that the spice level was low. There were a lot of cute moments and it's a great slow burn, just not the kind of book for me. I am not a slow burn girly! If you do enjoy a good sweet slow burn between a musician and a football player, pick this book up on April 23rd!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book!

Synopsis: This book is credited as being inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship, following an up and coming singer and a football MVP who have a difficult past stemming back to highschool. (Hopefully this inspiration ages well, lol.)
Pros/cons: This was a very quick read and I found it to be a good palate cleanser: light and easy.
Unfortunately there were a lot of cons for me. The story revolves around this broken relationship all because the male lead “stole” a college football scholarship from the brother of the female lead. This was a bunch of gaslighting BS. Scholarships don’t work like that, so it was a dumb sub plot. The entire family supposedly hated him for this reason- but in the end there was no conclusion one way or the other about this.
Also, the cheese factor was high. There was zero spice, and in this circumstance it lead to zero chemistry. The couple avoided each other then instantly were in love after one kiss. It wasn’t believable.
Lastly, this is so minor, but the female’s style was so 2005. It was distracting. Charming Charlie’s called- they want their chunky necklaces and belts back, he he.
But overall, a Hallmark-y read. And if you like the Taylor/Travis romance, check this out when it’s released in April!
Thank you NetGalley and Sweet Escape Publishing for the arc!

Stone and Emerson have a past but will they let her family stand in the way of a possible future? Loved how they meet up again after several years. Not your typical fall in love with the brother's best friend story - it was so good. My heart hurt for Stone, her family and brother shocked me at how they reacted to Stone's good luck or should I say talent. Loved the "lucky" charm(s) part of their story. Somewhat of a suspense as there is a mystery person involved in her life. Loved loved the ending. Would love a book 2 - hoping this becomes a series.

I was lucky and received this as an ARC. Thank you Anne-Marie Meyer, publisher and NetGallery for the opportunity!

This book is a good slow burn romance. Quick read and fast paced despite being slow burn. It is a little repetitive though with Stone and Emerson and their feelings. Overall it was good, childhood crushes, forbidden love, football/singer, fake dating, brothers (ex) best friend. Got a little bit of everything! Definitely will be looking at more by the author

If you’re looking for something fluffy this is it, no spice unless you get the bonus chapter which is still minimal spice.

It is definitely giving Taylor Swift and Travis Keelce (?)much like the dedication says 😅

First of all, thank you Netgalley and Sweet Escape Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC for an honest review.

This was a very quick and enjoyable read! After I read the dedication, I knew the storyline was going to be great. And it was! The author did a great job basing it on the real life pop star/football player romantic duo we hear about everyday while still maintaining a unique and different love story.

I wish I could give this book more than 3 stars, but I felt like it needed a lot more character and plot development. The book felt really rushed with important storylines barely glossed over. The characters were likable but could have been fleshed out a lot more. However, it was still a fun read!

Also - I love the title and the meaning of lucky charms throughout this book. It was a very cute addition! 🍀

I hate to admit it but the inspiration for this storyline is my Roman Empire 😆. So when I saw this book I knew I had to read it! I think it had a lot of potential because all the bones to a great novel was there however, it felt really rushed. I loved the slow burn and the characters were lovable but right when we got to the good part it seemed to just rush to the happy ending. I wish the author put a little more into the story, a little bit longer time fake dating, an explanation/convo between the main characters about their history that was holding them back, a little more build up to the villain of the story and a little more for the happy ending. It was all there but just felt hurried and I was hoping for it to be a little more thought through. I’d still recommend if you want a quick read with a cute storyline and happy ending.

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"Lucky Charm" by Anne Marie Meyer is a captivating read that skillfully weaves inspiration from real-life celebrity relationships (I'm looking at you, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce) into a delightful frenemies-to-lovers tale.

The characters, particularly Emerson and Stone, are compelling and the chemistry between them is palpable. The development of their relationship, transitioning from friends to enemies and then navigating the intricacies of fake dating, keeps the reader engaged. Tilly, Emerson's supportive bestie, adds a delightful dynamic to the narrative, embodying the role of the ultimate cheerleader.

The pace of the story is quick, making it an easy and enjoyable read, perfect for those who crave a quick yet satisfying romantic escape. The tension between the main characters is expertly maintained, and their individual personalities shine through, making them endearing both as a couple and as individuals.

While the overall experience is highly enjoyable, the story does feel a bit rushed towards the end, which slightly detracts from the otherwise seamless narrative. However, the inclusion of bonus scenes, allowing readers to choose between spicy or sweet, adds a thoughtful touch.

In conclusion, "Lucky Charm" earns a solid four stars for its engaging storyline, well-developed characters, and the perfect blend of inspiration from real-life relationships. Despite a slight rush towards the end, the bonus scenes provide a satisfying resolution for readers, making it a delightful addition to the romance genre.

This one was a bit of a miss for me. The fake dating didn't actually start until 70-80% of the way through and only lasted a week or two. I definitely enjoyed parts of it, but the lead up to the fake dating was long and had a bit too much going on. The most confusing part for me was that the main issue between the 2 main characters was their family history, but we only hear from the mfc's mom once in the whole book and never actually hear from the brother (who was the main one affected by the falling out).

Overall, I think this book has good bones but could use a little more character development. Instead of having the stalker storyline in there, the romance portion could be fleshed out a bit more.

The concept of this story intrigued me from the start: a dynamic mix of fake dating, sports romance, and a complex past. It held so much promise. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to my expectations with its slow-paced narrative that never quite gained momentum. Additionally, I found it rather immature for the parents to assume a young man had taken away opportunities from their child. This aspect didn't contribute enough to drive the story forward, leaving me wanting more substance.

Although the main character claims to have fallen in love, their connection as a couple wasn't adequately explored, leaving me feeling disconnected from their romance. The lack of genuine romantic moments left much to be desired. Despite this, I believe there is potential within the story, and with some additional development, the plot could be more captivating.

In conclusion, while this particular book might not have resonated with me, it may appeal to those who appreciate slow-burn romance.

Thank you for this ARC. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

A chance meeting after years of starting their adult lives restarts the connection between Emerson and Stone. Amid family tensions and fake dating, I was hooked to see how their stories would play out. I couldn’t put the book down and finished in one sitting. I am so grateful for the opportunity through ARC to read this. Now to pick the next book from Anne-Marie to read!

I am not a fan of Taylor Swift or American football so when I saw what the book was going to be about I was disappointed. I even put it off a bit but then decided to read it.

I read it mostly in one sitting. In one day I read the entire book.

I like how the author builds the characters and doesn't necessarily let you guess what is going on. I think maybe some of their talking about why they shouldn't be together could be less, it isn't overwhelming and that's probably just a personal opinion.

Overall, I thought it was a sweet story and I've never read romance novels before so no idea exactly what they are like, but the fact hers are clean and something your daughter could read and not be offensive means a lot. I also appreciate the glimpses of faith in some of them. Just making it normal, life....

At any rate, I think most readers, whether you like Taylor or Travis you will like this book. It addresses some of life's difficult situations in a respectful way.

I will say, as I mentioned I've not read romance novels prior but having read this one and one more of hers I plan on reading more of her books. The characters in the other one I read had an almost nostalgic Mayberryesque quality to them that makes you want to know them more....

This is a sweet story that goes right with the pop culture story of a singer and a NFL player but with its own special twists and turns. It is an easy read and fun. Has a great fake dating trope and a little second chance romance. There are some great sub characters in Emerson's manager Tilly and Stone's grandmother. However, I do feel there could have been a little more depth to the characters and unpacking the issues they currently face based on what happened between them in the past. Cute book overall!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Lucky Charm by Anne-Marie Meyer and it did not disappoint.

At first it started off a little slow, dipping into Stone & Emerson’s past history, where her family has everything and his life is falling apart. Emerson gives a lucky charm to Stone and in a twist of fate, their lives get completely turned around. A few years later, Stone is a successful football player in the NFL and Emerson is a struggling musician. The book picks up speed when they run into each other, still very much attracted to each other, and they decide to help her get her music career off the ground by getting into a fake relationship.

What could possibly go wrong? Will they fall in love? What ever happened to the lucky charm? Guess you’ll have to read Lucky Charm to find out. 🍀

I liked the book and I enjoyed the relationship between the 2 main characters and their development. However I just felt like the end before the epilogue- everything just got magically tied up into a neat finish. When it ended I was surprised- I had thought that the stalker wouldn’t have gone away so easy - that he would have gone to the media and caused problems that needed to be resolved before they could get their happily ever after. Also I thought there would have been a showdown conversation with them and her parents and brother about how they had manipulated the situation and the heartache they caused and formally cutting off ties with them. I assume those things happened and we weren’t privy to it so I still loved the story - I just think there could be more.

Lucky Charm by Anne - Marie Meyer
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ No spice, some minimal descriptive kissing
Tropes: fake dating, friends-to rivals-to lovers, Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift vibes, singer/NFL romance, slow burn

I first wanted to say thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending the book 🫶🏻 We are following Stone( NFL running back) and Emerson (aspiring singer). I found this book to be entertaining and a pretty quick read! I enjoyed the slow burn fake dating, I do wish we had a little bit more character development I felt like I didn’t experience them going from rivals to lovers but other than that I had a really fun time reading this !

I just finished reading Lucky Charm.

I enjoyed Emerson and Stone's romance. They may have started out as a fake romance, but you wrote it so well that the reader knew that both of them were crazy about one another. Brett was a creeper, and I would love to see Tilly make a love connection. Maybe even see Emerson's brother turn his life around.

Lucky Charm is a short romance novel, which has a fake dating trope! Firstly, I absolutely adore a fake dating trope and I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Stone and Emerson fall into the classic ‘don’t fall for your ex- best friends little sister’. Stone’s living conditions were not safe, so he often sought safety with his best friend and his parents. That is until Emerson’s parents accuse Stone for stealing the football scholarship that they had planted for their son to get.

Fast forward, Stone is a NFL football player, with everything he thought he could have dreamed of. Emerson is a struggling artist, with dreams of becoming a singer. Emerson lets out an apartment for 6 months, and discovers that Stone is actually living across the hall from her. She thinks she will be able to just stay civil, until her best friend comes up with a plan. Her best friend pushes the idea for Emerson and Stone to fake-date to help boost Emerson’s publicity.

Stone and Emerson struggle their way through fake dating one another. They both are thinking the same things but don’t tell one another the truth until further down the line! At times I was screaming at them to just tell each other that they were falling in love!!!

I won’t include too many spoilers, but this was such a cute, fast paced book for me. You can really see from the start of the book that Stone was totally there for Emerson the whole way. He treats her with some much love and is so pure.

As I read this I immediately thought of T swift and Kelce. A love story with the odds against them, a messy history, and ploy in hopes of success. This was such a cute and easy read.