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The Coxwells #1
Third Time Lucky
First time in trade: the USA Today bestselling author's "cross between a Julia Roberts romp and an episode of Seinfeld.
Philippa Coxwell always gets the math wrong. After two maddening experiences with Nick Sullivan, she has to decide if the third time's the charm-or if she's finally old enough to know better.
Philippa Coxwell always gets the math wrong. After two maddening experiences with Nick Sullivan, she has to decide if the third time's the charm-or if she's finally old enough to know better.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Claire Cross
25 books56 followersDeborah Cooke also writes under the names Claire Delacroix and Claire Cross.
Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn't writing, she can be found knitting, sewing or hunting for vintage patterns. Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated with dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honors degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels, and has written over thirty romance novels under the names Claire Cross and Claire Delacroix.
Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn't writing, she can be found knitting, sewing or hunting for vintage patterns. Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated with dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honors degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels, and has written over thirty romance novels under the names Claire Cross and Claire Delacroix.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
January 21, 2020
Well. It's a good thing I didn't start with this book because I would have never continued with the series. I previously read Zach's book and was interesting in reading the stories and perspectives of his siblings. This book had a completely different tone to it. I'm not sure how to describe the writing exactly, but there were times the author just rambled and included inserts that I have no idea if they were supposed to be related to the story or what the heck I was reading. Just... bizarre.
July 9, 2011
"Third Time Lucky" is Phil, short for Philippa, Coxwell's story. She's the only daughter in the Coxwell family and the only one so far who hasn't gone on to become a lawyer. She's the odd one out of her family and the only one who has followed her heart. Enter Nick Sullivan, who disappeared over 15 years ago and took Phil's heart with him. He doesn't know that and mistakenly thinks her heart beats for his brother Sean. He's come back at the behest of his grandmother Lucia, whom he finds murdered in her greenhouse. He panics and runs to the only person he knows will trust him, Phil.
I love how this book started off with a mystery and slowly unfurled to give glimpses of what had happened in the past. The past was very, very important in the development of this story. Not just with Nick and Phil, but also with Lucia, Nick, and Sean's story, as well as the little side stories of Elaine and Jeff and Phil's parents. I loved reading about Nick and Phil and how their love story developed. I am also now intrigued to read about the other Coxwell siblings and will definitely be picking them up to read!
I love how this book started off with a mystery and slowly unfurled to give glimpses of what had happened in the past. The past was very, very important in the development of this story. Not just with Nick and Phil, but also with Lucia, Nick, and Sean's story, as well as the little side stories of Elaine and Jeff and Phil's parents. I loved reading about Nick and Phil and how their love story developed. I am also now intrigued to read about the other Coxwell siblings and will definitely be picking them up to read!
January 5, 2013
I am glad I read these out of order by accident. I'd read book 2 first because it was free on Barnes and Noble. If I had read this first, I probably would not have read another one of her books. I liked Phil...Nick was pretty cool. But to get to the heart of them and the other characters (like James and Elaine and even Lucia and Sean), you had to wade through the endless point of view changes without knowing it. I love to get point of view from both main characters, but usually you know the character is switching because it changes by chapter and tells you. This does not. It was just difficult to get through. I will read book 3 because I am a bit curious since book 2 was so much better.
July 1, 2011
it was k... it wasnt a wow book.. more like.. yeah i read it once and never again...but it was not bad
January 25, 2020
I was pretty ambivalent about this novel in the opening chapters. Philippa’s inner monologue was too hyper and trying to be funny, and the opening chain of events in Nick’s life were too extreme and farcical. But once the characters were established and Phil and Nick reconnected and the focus became their history and their relationship, it was a good read, by turns moving and funny. The actions of Nick’s grandmother never did make sense, and the Coxwells did not come off well, each an island and most appallingly cold. It seemed an odd starting point for a series about four siblings who have so little emotional connection to each other, but I will read on to find out. In the end what made the novel were Nick and Phil working through their baggage to take hold of hope and each other.
November 13, 2017
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Both were very likable and realistic and I was definitely rooting for them. The family dramas were relatable and the general storyline was good even though it was obviously meant as a backdrop to the romance. My problem with the book however, is that there was so much unimportant information that carried on forever. The main female character is a garden designer and while I understand she has to talk about trees and plants at least a little since her career is so important to her character, the details went on and on...and on and on...I found myself skipping entire pages because it was just unnecessary.
April 22, 2020
A decent enough “Chick Lit” book; I may try the author again (or her books under Claire Delacroix). Not too much of a real plot - it had some bizarre plot elements where the grandmother pretends she’s murdered that doesn’t quite ever answer for itself, plus the past events still felt scattered and not pieced together enough. Also, the switching from 1st person female protagonist narrative, to 3rd person mostly made the protagonist’s point of view feel fragmented.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2023
Stars
The stars shine bright for Phil and Nick. Finally making progress after 15 years apart, a wiley grandmother,'s plot brings chaos to the event, Nick admits his wandering alone is done.
The stars shine bright for Phil and Nick. Finally making progress after 15 years apart, a wiley grandmother,'s plot brings chaos to the event, Nick admits his wandering alone is done.
August 2, 2017
Rating 3.5 stars
November 2, 2017
Starts out slow. There is at least 5 chapters that the man characters inter monologue rambles. It’s rough. Though it does improve. I love the way it ends very sentimental and sweet.
January 23, 2019
This is a very cute book but predictable. I enjoyed it as a nice light read.
February 2, 2016
"Third Time Lucky" by Deborah Cooke. Book 1 in The Coxwells series.
A contemporary romance written when cell phones were just starting to be invented. Yes, that's important. At the beginning of this book is a note from the author since this is a second release for this book (in fact the whole series). Ms. Cooke states that she decided not to change anything in the book or update it to make it more modern because the story stands on it's own in that time period.
Now saying all that, I would give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars. I'm kind of stuck in the middle with this book. The main characters are Nick (Nicholas) Sullivan and Philippa (Phil) Coxwell. It's written very differently than anything else I've read. I'm splitting my review into 4 sections: Dislikes, Likes, Not Sure About, and Overall Impressions.
Phil is the youngest of four and only daughter in the Coxwell family. Her father and three older brothers are all lawyers and she was expected to become one too. But Phil decided to become a gardener/landscaper. On the verge of her business becoming a success, Nick Sullivan walks back into her life. He left 15 years ago and now is back and possibly wanted for murder!
Dislikes
1 - I found some things way to descriptive. I didn't need to know so much in depth info about what kind of flowers grow where and how, the botanical names for them and such.
2 - There were quite a few grammatical errors, at least enough for me to notice. I know the author said she left the book the way it was first published but I would have liked the grammar to be fixed.
3 - I found the story kind of dragged a bit at the beginning and I found myself thinking "why am I reading this part? Is it really important to the story?" Again, to my first point, a little too descriptive.
Likes
1 - I really liked both characters of Nick and Phil. They have a history together which makes their interactions very realistic. They each seem very "real" and enough of a background was given to make me want to know what was going to happen to them.
2 - The Coxwell family drama. Excellently done! You really end up hating Phil's family but at the same time, you're intrigued to figure out why they act the way they do.
3 - The overall story line. Nick coming back from Phil's past and needing her help but things are not as they seem. The story has some good twists and a good plot.
4 - The ending of all plot lines. Everything is tied up in a "neat little bow," leaving no plot lines hanging.
Not Sure About
1 - POV (point of view) the book is written in. The book is written in more than one person's POV but when it's Phil's POV, it's first person. For example, when it's a scene describing what's happening to Nick, it's "he did this" and "Nick did that", but when it's Phil, you get "I did this" and "I did that." Changing from third person POV to first person POV was a little weird but it actually works. It was just different from what I usually read.
2 - The humour. Not laugh out loud funny like I was kind of expecting but there were moments of...I'm going to say side-smile or smirking humour. I read some reviews from this book and they made it sound a lot more funny than I thought it was.
3 - At one point, the story switches to a dream-like monologue. It works with the story and does have revealing information at the end but it's very abrupt in it's placement in the book.
Overall Impressions
This book is a very light romance. It's not a hot and heavy sex romp, if that's what you're looking for. The overall emotional story between Phil and Nick is really good. Both characters are dealing with issues from their past and you can see how their past's have affected their characters as adults. With the exception of the story dragging a bit at the beginning, the story starts to take off more quickly as the plot progresses. The Coxwell brothers are intriguing enough for me to want to find out what happens to them.
Overall, I'm saying this book was good enough for me to want to give the next book "Double Trouble" a try now that I know what to expect. NOTE: I bought all four books at the same time when I got a great sale on them, so I'm going to read the whole series anyway because I've never bought a book and not read it! I'm hoping the next ones will be as good (or better) than this one.
Thank you for reading my review!
A contemporary romance written when cell phones were just starting to be invented. Yes, that's important. At the beginning of this book is a note from the author since this is a second release for this book (in fact the whole series). Ms. Cooke states that she decided not to change anything in the book or update it to make it more modern because the story stands on it's own in that time period.
Now saying all that, I would give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars. I'm kind of stuck in the middle with this book. The main characters are Nick (Nicholas) Sullivan and Philippa (Phil) Coxwell. It's written very differently than anything else I've read. I'm splitting my review into 4 sections: Dislikes, Likes, Not Sure About, and Overall Impressions.
Phil is the youngest of four and only daughter in the Coxwell family. Her father and three older brothers are all lawyers and she was expected to become one too. But Phil decided to become a gardener/landscaper. On the verge of her business becoming a success, Nick Sullivan walks back into her life. He left 15 years ago and now is back and possibly wanted for murder!
Dislikes
1 - I found some things way to descriptive. I didn't need to know so much in depth info about what kind of flowers grow where and how, the botanical names for them and such.
2 - There were quite a few grammatical errors, at least enough for me to notice. I know the author said she left the book the way it was first published but I would have liked the grammar to be fixed.
3 - I found the story kind of dragged a bit at the beginning and I found myself thinking "why am I reading this part? Is it really important to the story?" Again, to my first point, a little too descriptive.
Likes
1 - I really liked both characters of Nick and Phil. They have a history together which makes their interactions very realistic. They each seem very "real" and enough of a background was given to make me want to know what was going to happen to them.
2 - The Coxwell family drama. Excellently done! You really end up hating Phil's family but at the same time, you're intrigued to figure out why they act the way they do.
3 - The overall story line. Nick coming back from Phil's past and needing her help but things are not as they seem. The story has some good twists and a good plot.
4 - The ending of all plot lines. Everything is tied up in a "neat little bow," leaving no plot lines hanging.
Not Sure About
1 - POV (point of view) the book is written in. The book is written in more than one person's POV but when it's Phil's POV, it's first person. For example, when it's a scene describing what's happening to Nick, it's "he did this" and "Nick did that", but when it's Phil, you get "I did this" and "I did that." Changing from third person POV to first person POV was a little weird but it actually works. It was just different from what I usually read.
2 - The humour. Not laugh out loud funny like I was kind of expecting but there were moments of...I'm going to say side-smile or smirking humour. I read some reviews from this book and they made it sound a lot more funny than I thought it was.
3 - At one point, the story switches to a dream-like monologue. It works with the story and does have revealing information at the end but it's very abrupt in it's placement in the book.
Overall Impressions
This book is a very light romance. It's not a hot and heavy sex romp, if that's what you're looking for. The overall emotional story between Phil and Nick is really good. Both characters are dealing with issues from their past and you can see how their past's have affected their characters as adults. With the exception of the story dragging a bit at the beginning, the story starts to take off more quickly as the plot progresses. The Coxwell brothers are intriguing enough for me to want to find out what happens to them.
Overall, I'm saying this book was good enough for me to want to give the next book "Double Trouble" a try now that I know what to expect. NOTE: I bought all four books at the same time when I got a great sale on them, so I'm going to read the whole series anyway because I've never bought a book and not read it! I'm hoping the next ones will be as good (or better) than this one.
Thank you for reading my review!
March 17, 2016
Philippa Coxwell, against the wishes of her family and against all the odds of failure, opened her own garden landscaping business. On the very night when she and her partner were celebrating the business moving into the black, a blast from the past appeared on her front porch in the person of Nicholas Sullivan. He was the town “bad boy” who had stolen her heart and encouraged her to follow her dream 15 years before. The twists and turns of the plot from that point on kept me glued to the story – to see where these increasingly fascinating characters were going to end up. The dialogue was fun, fresh and quirky. “You have got to be the most irritating man I’ve ever known, and I have three brothers to offer serious competition for that honor.” This is the first book I have read from this author – but it certainly won’t be the last! I can’t wait to see what happens to the Coxwell family next.
“Copy gifted by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.”
“Copy gifted by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.”
April 14, 2016
Philippa Coxwell has a thriving gardening business and is enjoying life. In walks Nick Sullivan who she longed for as a teenager. Nick presents a problem as he's been MIA for the last 15 years and drops on her doorstep with a huge problem of possibility being accused of his grandmother's murder. I loved the first person point of view. Phil has the greatest sense of wry humor. The dialogue was witty, smart and fun. Nick and Phil were so well developed with lots of emotional depth and their chemistry was amazing. I found the plot very interesting as kept me turning the pages find out about the character's secrets. The only thing I found lacking was the pacing was a bit slow at the beginning and sometimes the detail was a little lengthy. Overall a very fun read with relatable characters. I will definitely read the next one.
April 30, 2016
I truly like our heroine. She is identifiable. She struggles with her diet, her life choices and parental approval. Just when things seem to be going her way, at least, in her career. That guy, you know the guy the one that you had a crush on growing up but never noticed you in any capacity but for your brother. This is her story and how that guy really helps her to live. It's a great read, and just funny a point. One of those books that I just liked. I like it so much I went looking for another book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2013
Book One in this series by Claire Cross/Deborah Cooke- There are 4 books about the Coxwells Family- 3 boys and 1 girl. I had read out of order but it really didn't affect the story. This was a fun read- Phlillipa & Nick knew each other in high school and 15 years later they reunite with quite a mystery. It is cute he calls her Phil (much better than the tongue twister i feel from reading Phillipa) Characters well written and lots of good background story. The other siblings are brought into the mix but not in a big way. It is a great read.
March 29, 2016
This was a sweet, fun, heartwarming story. I found it hard to put down. Even though it was a quick read, the main characters really communicated in depth, which impressed me. Set in the present, Philippa and Nick knew each other 15 years ago when they were in school. Nick left town and is returning at his grandmother's request. A mystery follows and Nick asks Philippa for help. This is the first book in a series and I am eager to read the next book. Copy gifted by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2013
It took me a while to get used to the writing style of this author, but when I did, I enjoyed it's fast-paced feel. It kind of reminded me of "The Gilmore Girls" fast-talking, which actually drove me nuts, but it was okay in book form. It was kind of confusing at points--like how this was the "third time," but I really liked the characters and the story line, so I chose to overlook those minor annoyances, but that's why it got a 3 instead of a 4.
May 23, 2016
Hilarious! Quirky, funny and a mystery that you think you know what's going to happen but get surprised. A comedic romance that has you laughing and loving not only the main characters of Nick and Phil but others too. Lucia is a blast! It kind of reminds you of a Lucille Ball type of comedy. It is charming, witty and a wild adventure.
I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review. Loved it and cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
I received an ARC of this book from the author for my honest review. Loved it and cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
May 27, 2016
I don't understand why some reviewers said this was boring, I loved it. My usual complaint about contemporary romance is vapid characters jumping into bed and having everything minutely detailed and very little plot holding it together. This story has interesting characters, what the heck moments, and a charming hero (who once he got out of his own way) deserved the heroine. Hoping to have the other characters stories told in future books. Actual story, not just sex.
July 22, 2012
Cutesy romantic yet very modern love story about two childhood friends meeting again fifteen years later. I disliked how easy it was to set the characters off on each other (there was too much anger for it to feel super romantic in my opinion), but the overall story and writing style trumps Sparks' writing. Overall, great summer read.
December 23, 2012
It took me a while to get into and I was quite confused for much of the first part and almost all of the last bit of the book.
One thing that is unusual is the constant switching of 'voice' between the male and female lead. I know some people found it confusing, but I quite liked it. Its nice to be in both people's heads at once and see things from each side.
Overall it was a good fluffy read.
One thing that is unusual is the constant switching of 'voice' between the male and female lead. I know some people found it confusing, but I quite liked it. Its nice to be in both people's heads at once and see things from each side.
Overall it was a good fluffy read.
February 18, 2014
I really enjoyed this story, but I did find the number of errors in it distracting. This is not a first-time self-published story, but an established writer published by a well known publisher - why was it not properly edited?? I don't have the book with me or I'd give an example - I'll try to add one later.
November 1, 2014
Awal2nya kurang bisa "masuk" ke cerita ini, tapi lama-lama fun juga. Yang menarik adalah ngebaca sudut pandang cowonya yang diceritakan dari POV3 (sementara sudut pandang cewe dari POV1). I still don't know if I like it, but I guess it's done on purpose to a little distance from the hero's perspective.
February 14, 2015
Third time lucky I think is a book that you should read when you want to feel better about something that is bothering you. In this book, Nick Sullivan has some conflicts and issues about many things and Philippa Coxwell helps him see that he has done things for a greater purpose and more. I encourage plenty of readers to check out and relate(if you can) to this book
P.S. I love Lucia
P.S. I love Lucia
May 14, 2016
“Copy gifted by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review”
Nick Sullivan is coming home to make peace with his grandmother Lucia, but what he finds is her "murdered".
Philippa Coxwell has fifteen years to get over her crush of Nick. Now he is back and wants Phil to help him.
Funny and romantic.
Nick Sullivan is coming home to make peace with his grandmother Lucia, but what he finds is her "murdered".
Philippa Coxwell has fifteen years to get over her crush of Nick. Now he is back and wants Phil to help him.
Funny and romantic.
September 15, 2013
I love this type of writing. it is interactive. great plot, small plots with other characters. characters have great personalities. emotions and action. never a dull moment. so touching and romantic. loved it.
March 25, 2016
For me the book started slowly. Maybe it was me adjusting to a first person point of view. Anyway, I persevered through the initial few pages, and I'm glad I did. I got hooked into the story. It was a very enjoyable read.
Copy gifted by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Copy gifted by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2016
I LOVE this story! A guy who won't risk his heart again because it was so hard losing his family, a girl who is raised in a perfect family but has never known love. And Philippa is so relatable! An awesome heroine with a perfect hero in Nick. I was given an ARC for an honest review.
October 30, 2008
This was a nice light book to read. Nothing deep here-just fluff-gotta love that sometimes!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews