I had the privilege of reading an Advanced copy of Pepper Basham’s third book in the Skymar series, Loyally Luke! Squeal! I have loved every single one of these books, but Loyally Luke is my favorite! I was so excited to get the chance to listen to the audiobook!
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I love the book Loyally Luke, by Pepper Basham! I already reviewed the physical book, but I could not wait to listen to the audiobook and was very excited when Netgalley approved my request for an early listeners copy. There are three books in the collection of the Skymar stories and they center around a group of siblings. The first two books have the same three narrators for the siblings, but the third book, Loyally Luke has two different narrators for the sisters. I was grateful that @pepperbasham gave her readers the heads up. It took a few chapters to adjust and thankfully Luke is the same wonderful narration of @christooherashman. Once I adjusted the narration was wonderful and the audiobook was every bit as delightful as the previous audiobooks have been.
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This book is so delightful in it’s witty banter and beautiful chemistry between a woman in Skymar and a country boy from the Appalachian mountains of the USA. Luke is a totally lovable humble and sexy country boy and the woman is, will you need to read the book to find out! I was gushing at the end of this book! Pepper Basham is a phenomenal author! She has such clever dialogue, she just pulls me into the story and makes it so believable! There is a good deal of wisdom in her writing and some of her sentences just left me in awe!
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This is a 5 star feel good book that will have you laughing along and loving the story. If it were a physical book you’d hug it at the end. The audiobook will be several hours of pure enjoyment! I highly recommend.
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Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinschristian for the ALC. The book was published a couple of weeks ago and I recommend you grab a copy immediately. Frankly, I’d recommend reading the trilogy!

This was such a fun and lighthearted read! Everything about it was so charming and it was a great escape from reality. Obsessed.

This was a really sweet rom-com where a Southern American guy, Luke, falls for a European princess, Ellie. Luke is a solid, stand up class act guy. Ellie is a princess who is working on repairing her reputation. This Hallmark-esque love story was a very easy and enjoyable listen.

I absolutely loved this book! It's easily my favorite in the entire Skymar series.

I've always enjoyed Luke's character in the other books, finding his humor and dry wit so fun (my favorite!). It was such a treat to read about him finding love. The banter, the tropes—everything you want in a love story is here. Plus, this book can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone.

This was less email-y as the other two, which I personally prefer! And it had WAY more faith intertwined with Luke’s character, which I LOVED. Pepper Basham did an incredible job creating such compelling characters.

If you have the chance, I highly recommend the audiobook version. It’s hands down the best in the series, with around five different voices that make for an incredibly fun listening experience.

Thank you, Pepper Basham, for another wonderful book!

So what is a guy to do when the some of the most important people are women? His sisters and his cousins

Like is a wholesome man who reads his bible and wears flannel. When he meets Penelope his Grave Kelly, he is smitten almost from the get go

I love how this book is wholesome and clean. Hard to get some days.

When the American contractor comes to Skymar a small country to do some rehab on an orphanage and meets the interior designer as Luke would say Lord have Mercy…

They are put into a series of perfect list ticking moments

DNF @14%

I love a good light-hearted book but I was drowning in cheese🧀.

Listening to the audiobook and actually hearing the dialogue out loud was making me grimace. 😬

This book was not for me, but if you’re in the mood for a cheesy, hallmark-esque royal book then give it a try!

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Christian Publishing for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a sweet story! I really liked the characters. I enjoyed how they met and then got to know each other. I liked Eliana’s journey to overcome her past and how supportive Luke was of that. I enjoyed his relationships with his sisters.

I had a hard time settling into the story. It took me a minute to get used to the perspective the story was told in but I still enjoyed the story.

I liked the narrators and thought they were perfect for the characters. My only complaint was that the pauses were SO long between chapters. I kept thinking it had stopped playing.

This was a four out of five stars. Super cute and clean romance. Luke finally gets his own story full of tropes he doesn’t want. Especially when his sisters get carried away easily when it comes to him finding someone. Forced proximity, forbidden love, forgiveness, grace from a darker past, and flannel. Luke owns his own construction company in North Carolina. An offer for a job comes in; and the next things he knows, he’s on his way to Skymar (a small European country). It doesn’t start off too smooth when the very woman who was rude to him at the airport is also the interior designer for the project. Ellie has the beauty of Grace Kelly but her past has been hard to recover from. Their goal is to keep the historical integrity of the orphanage. Soon, it becomes easy for them to work together and not ignore the chemistry that is very evident. Jealously induced Luke to throw punches at Cameron who turns out to be Ellie’s bodyguard(?). Oh yeah. Ellie is a princess. One with a past that is less than flattering for a royal reputation. Over time, Luke starts to show Ellie that people are more than their past self and redemption can be found. But will that be enough to keep them together? Or will the king and queen not approve? And will her past creep in too much? Will Luke be able to leave his company, family, and all he knows for Ellie and be okay in the public eye? This book is out now and be sure to check out Pepper Basham’s other books about Luke’s sisters: Authentically, Izzy (Loved!!) and Positively, Penelope (on the list and can’t wait!) Thanks so much to @pepperbasham, @netgalley, and @harpercollinschristian for the advanced audiobook copy. It was a thrill to read Luke’s story having read Izzy’s not long ago. Excited for Penelope’s story next. #netgalley #loyallyluke

I have never read a book that felt so much like I was watching a Hallmark movie. This is a very light-hearted read with little to no spice. Ellie had past struggles that she was trying to overcome throughout the story. Meanwhile, Luke struggled with not feeling good enough after a failed past relationship. Overall, this was a well-written book that would be good for anyone who likes a cozy read with minimal spice.

| Story Review |

Ellie St. Claire may be trying to change her ways, but one run-in with Luke Edgewood brings out a cattiness in her that she can’t tame in the moment. Luke was stopped in his tracks at how beautiful she was, but all Ellie saw was someone studying a misbehaving princess and looking for a scoop. While their first meeting may have them butting heads, their second meeting determines they’re on exactly the same page. Luke flew in from the states to work on restoring parts of an orphanage in the European country of Skymar. He never thought the woman he had a semi-hostile (on her part) introduction to would be the one overseeing the project, that she would be a princess, or that he would have to fight a fierce attraction to her.

One of the best parts of this book were Luke’s texts with his family. This is how the story kicks off, and it’s a continuous thread throughout. Though Luke insists he’s not looking for love, they read through his evasiveness right away, and when they find out that it’s Ellie, Princess of Skymar, that he’s falling for, they have his romantic royal story written before it’s even begun. But Luke knows he’s not built for the spotlight that royal life brings, and with Ellie returning to work as a full-time royal, moving to this new country is not a sacrifice he’s willing to make. Not with his parents back in the states. But the more he gets to know Ellie, the less sure he is of his life’s direction - something he thought was set in stone. I loved the way Luke turned to God when he was unsure about things, and the way he guided Ellie in the same way. While he was pretty decisive, he was willing to be flexible as things progressed, and they moved forward at a slow burn pace that I appreciated. There was really time for Luke and Ellie to get to know each other in this story. This was a Hallmark movie come to life (though Luke would argue otherwise,) and that brand played a big part in the texts going on with Luke's family.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this story. The orphans steal the reader’s heart right away, along with Luke’s and Ellie’s, and the meddling townsfolk were such a wonderful addition. They added a ‘Notting Hill’ element that made reading it so much fun. And, of course, Luke’s family that I mentioned earlier. Though they weren’t there, the conversations really let us in on who Luke was and how much he loved his family. Ellie had a text thread with one of her friends, as well, and it filled us in on her past and what she was trying to overcome in the eyes of her country.

My only criticism was that this did seem to drag on a bit with the ‘oh, there are too many reasons to stay apart’ to ‘but how can we live without each other?’ scenarios that we went back and forth with a few too many times. I would have liked to see them really stick to this, and then have them reunite that final time. But even with that, I enjoyed this story.

Loyally, Luke ends the Skymar series, but getting to know Luke’s family from their texts really makes me want to get to know them better. I will definitely be going back to read the previous books, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for what Pepper Basham releases next!

| Narration Review |

Loyally, Luke was narrated by Christopher Ashman, K.C Sheridan, Kathleen McInerney, Natalie Duke, Gary Furlong, Caitlin Davies, and Mhairi Morrison. I’m not familiar enough with these narrators to know who narrated what character(s), but I can say that this was a wonderful cast. They brought even more life to a wonderfully written story, and I’m so glad I read this via audio. I think the texts, especially, were highlighted with this method of reading. It really captured the squee element his family clearly had while Luke was falling for Ellie. If you have the chance, I would recommend reading this via audio.

Loyally, Luke is the third book in the Skymar series by Pepper Basham, and another impactful, entertaining, feel-good story. This series is really best read in sequence to truly understand the background of the characters and inner-dynamics of the family members and their histories. In this story, we obviously get Luke’s story, the “grumpy”, but lovable, devoted brother of Izzy and Penelope who previously had their own books. He will definitely win you over in this story, if he hasn’t already!

These are love stories that are filled with joy, hope, humor, and just enough reality to make them feel believable. They have light faith elements that are uplifting and they are all quick reads. This novel is mostly written in a narrative format, whereas the previous two books were in more of an email-correspondence format. I highly recommend this unique, cozy, delightful story and series!

This story also comes in audio-format, courtesy of Harper Collins Christian Pub, and is narrated by seven different voice actors who add truly bring the story to life.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the complimentary audion copy of Loyally Luke by Pepper Basham

3.5 Stars! Loyally Luke was charming and the characters were likable! The text messages back and forth between Luke and his sisters and Ellie and her friend were funny and a little cheesy!

Luke Edgewood accepts a job in the small European country of Skymar to work on renovations at a castle and a small cottage. Upon landing in the country, he has an unfortunate encounter with a snotty European woman over a coffee mix-up.

Luke is surprised to find that the same snotty European woman is over the castle renovations he'll be working on for the orphan children of the community and little does he know, she's also the Princess of Skymar.

What you'll find:
Dual POV
He wears flannel
A found journal in the castle
Scottish accents (audio)
Royalty
Fake dating
Forbidden love
Fun banter
Faith references
Tons of movie quotes and references

It's a darling summer read!

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

I absolutely LOVED this book! The audiobook was fantastic and the narrators were SO GOOD! The storyline in my opinion was a cross between a Hallmark movie and The Princess Diaries movies which are two of my favorite things! Luke Edgewood is a simple guy who loves his flannels, his dogs, and of course black coffee. He ends up going over to a country called Skymar for a short-term construction job at one of their orphanages. He then ends up meeting the princess of Skymar, Ellie who is wonderful. Their two characters fit perfectly together. Also Luke's sisters really want him to end up with Ellie. (I won't spoil if he does or does not). The text messages between Luke and his sisters were some of my favorite parts. I highly recommend this book as it has forced proximity, humor, and of course romance.

I have adored every minute of this Skymarian journey that the Edgewood family has been on! From Authentically, Izzy to Positively, Penelope and now onto Loyally, Luke, these cousins have brought so much delight into my literary world.

Handyman Luke returns to Skymar to work on a remodeling project for one of the countryside orphanages. While there, he meets "Ellie," a beautiful and somewhat uptight young woman—who he has no idea is actually Princess Elliana. Luke sees someone who needs a friend, and is especially happy to meet a woman who has never watched a Hallmark movie.

Princess Elliana is about to reenter royal life after taking a lengthy sabbatical to recover from a string of poor choices. She's determined to do better and serve her country with single-minded determination. Luke is a breath of fresh air—not only because he doesn't know her past, but also because of his straightforward view of the world.

Luke and Ellie's friendship and attraction grows, but the day comes when her identity is revealed. Is there a way they could be together? Luke has a business and loved ones in North Carolina. Ellie is a princess of a European country. How could things ever work out?

If you like Hallmark movies or have an appreciation for warm and rugged heroes, this book is for you! I hope you'll check out this series and come to love Izzy, Penelope, Luke, and company as much as I do. The audiobook is tons of fun as well.

I received a copy of the book from the author and the audiobook from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Oh, what a sweet and heartwarming romance. I haven't read any of the previous books in Pepper Basham's Skymar series, but Loyally, Luke stands alone just fine. Listening to this story did make me want to dig up the previous two books in the series though lol.

These characters are totally adorable, and I enjoyed the way Basham incorporates all the romance movie references into the story, that was very clever.

Opposites attract, royal / commoner, humor, family drama, and a quirky meet-cute, all adds up to Loyally, Luke being quite a charming listen.

And speaking of listening, I do highly recommend doing the audio version of Loyally, Luke because it's beautfully performed by quite the cast! Christopher Ashman, K.C. Sheridan, Kathleen McInerney, Natalie Duke, Gary Furlong, Caitlin Davies, and Mhairi Morrison do a marvelous job narrating this novel.

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

Loyally, Luke is one of my most anticipated books of 2024 and it did not disappoint! It gave me ALL the feels!!! This series (comprised of Authentically, Izzy, Positively, Penelope, and Loyally,Luke) is truly something special. It's the literary equivalent of curling up by a warm fire on a rainy day with your softest blanket and favorite warm beverage. It literally warms your soul.

While I would love to see this series continue...Luke's book was the absolute perfect way to end it. I will be re-reading this series for years to come.

The audiobook for this novel is one of the best I've heard. The voices were well matched to the characters and the cadence and speed of the performance was well done. Christopher Ashman, who narrated all three books in this series, was excellent as Luke. His nuanced performance perfectly captured Luke's gruff exterior while also exposing his heart of gold.

*While you could read this book as a stand alone, I would highly recommend reading the books in order.

Thanks to Net galley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can't listen to this audiobook because the accents are too overdone and distracting. Thanks for the opportunity to listen. It's just not for me.

Nice and refreshing.
Luke is totally against romance and princesses and happily ever afters until he meets all of those at once.
There were nice and laughable moments in the book, which I enjoyed, but there were shallow moments, like falling for a woman only because she has watched rambo or star wars, which actually made me cringe inside.

Loyally, Luke is a fun, clean, royal romance. The story is fun and engaging, "making fun" of itself on the way as Luke wants nothing to do with romance and often gets annoyed at the Hallmarkish scenes that keep happening to him. The story involves a lot of fun tropes including secret identity, enemies to lovers, and forced proximity. The audio version is a lot of fun with multiple narrators for different characters. It took a bit to get used to some of the accents and the changing voices, but after a bit it made it more engaging and interesting. This is my first book by Pepper Basham, and I was excited to find another clean go-to romance author! This audio book ARC was provided by Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I did enjoy listening to this book and I thought the narrators did a fantastic job. It gave me hallmark vibes. It was also clean and sweet.
I guess my only complaint is it was SO long. I think some of the scenes could have been eliminated to make the story slightly shorter.