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More Than Luck Required: A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Love
“Morgan's writing is clean and crisp, catching her readers unprepared for the emotional roller coaster of finding love again, only to ponder the risk of heartbreak.” –Barbara Conrey, USA Today's best-selling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye
If Lora Hamilton was ever going to live a normal life and love again, she will have to follow through on her father’s dying request to put her tragic past behind her. For four years, Lora used work to isolate herself from others, to hide the guilt and shame she’s carried. Now she’s trapped in a lonely, meaningless life.
Though it feels like an impossible task, Lora heads to the Pacific Northwest beach of her childhood to create a plan for moving forward. There she meets a closed-hearted widower and an artistically talented teen from a troubled family. Though both capture her heart, Lora returns home, knowing she must face the events of her past in order to heal and change how she lives her life. After all, luck alone most likely won’t provide the second chance she hopes for.
If Lora Hamilton was ever going to live a normal life and love again, she will have to follow through on her father’s dying request to put her tragic past behind her. For four years, Lora used work to isolate herself from others, to hide the guilt and shame she’s carried. Now she’s trapped in a lonely, meaningless life.
Though it feels like an impossible task, Lora heads to the Pacific Northwest beach of her childhood to create a plan for moving forward. There she meets a closed-hearted widower and an artistically talented teen from a troubled family. Though both capture her heart, Lora returns home, knowing she must face the events of her past in order to heal and change how she lives her life. After all, luck alone most likely won’t provide the second chance she hopes for.
305 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2025
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1106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 27, 2025
More Than Luck Required is a heartfelt journey through grief, redemption, and rediscovery, wrapped up in a slow-burning romance that sneaks up on you just like real love sometimes does. The story follows Lora Hamilton, a woman burdened by the traumatic loss of her daughter and the emotional wreckage left behind by an abusive marriage. When her father dies, she reluctantly returns to Orca Park in Washington—a place filled with both painful and peaceful memories—to fulfill a final promise to him: start living again. What begins as a soul-searching trip with her mother soon unravels into something far more transformative when she gets lost and is rescued by Cooper Martin and his spirited teenage daughter, Emma.
I wasn’t prepared for how deeply this book would hit. Right out of the gate, Morgan doesn’t ease us in—she drops us into Lora’s storm of guilt, pain, and emotional paralysis. The writing is raw in a way that doesn’t try too hard. It just lands. That moment when Lora finds a single daisy in a flower bed and smiles for the first time in what feels like years? That hit me. It was so subtle and beautiful—a soft nudge from life, saying, Hey, I’m still here if you want me. That tiny moment carried so much weight, and I found myself hoping she’d hang onto it.
Morgan’s dialogue is refreshingly authentic. The conversations between Lora and her mom felt like eavesdropping on something private. Their exchanges are laced with grief, unsaid things, love, and all the awkward clumsiness that comes with trying to help someone heal when you’re broken too. And the way Morgan peels back Lora’s layers through little things—hesitations, tiny smiles, anxious inner monologues—she doesn’t rush her. The healing feels earned, not handed over with a bow.
The love story between Lora and Cooper doesn’t try to be slick. And thank God for that. It’s hesitant. Awkward. Kind. Full of missteps and warmth. Cooper’s gruff charm and Emma’s playful sass ground the story in a way that makes their household feel like a soft place to land. When Lora wears Emma’s too-small sweatshirt, covered in a faded boy band, and feels ridiculous but cared for? I loved that scene. It was such a gentle, honest glimpse at a woman remembering how to let people in. And while some romantic tropes are here—single dad, handsome rescuer, cozy dinners—they never feel cheap. They feel earned, like everything in Lora’s journey.
The book sometimes leans into its symbolism. The sea glass, the daisy, the storm—at times, I felt like I was being nudged too obviously. But even then, I couldn’t help but appreciate how consistent Morgan is in weaving these elements throughout Lora’s evolution. It's clear they mean something to her as a writer, and by the end, they meant something to me, too.
More Than Luck Required is for anyone who’s had their heart broken and wondered if it was possible to piece it back together. It’s for people stuck in their grief, who’ve forgotten what warmth feels like. It’s not flashy or overly clever, and that’s exactly why it works. If you're into books that make you cry a little, smile a lot, and maybe call your mom afterward, then you'll enjoy this book.
I wasn’t prepared for how deeply this book would hit. Right out of the gate, Morgan doesn’t ease us in—she drops us into Lora’s storm of guilt, pain, and emotional paralysis. The writing is raw in a way that doesn’t try too hard. It just lands. That moment when Lora finds a single daisy in a flower bed and smiles for the first time in what feels like years? That hit me. It was so subtle and beautiful—a soft nudge from life, saying, Hey, I’m still here if you want me. That tiny moment carried so much weight, and I found myself hoping she’d hang onto it.
Morgan’s dialogue is refreshingly authentic. The conversations between Lora and her mom felt like eavesdropping on something private. Their exchanges are laced with grief, unsaid things, love, and all the awkward clumsiness that comes with trying to help someone heal when you’re broken too. And the way Morgan peels back Lora’s layers through little things—hesitations, tiny smiles, anxious inner monologues—she doesn’t rush her. The healing feels earned, not handed over with a bow.
The love story between Lora and Cooper doesn’t try to be slick. And thank God for that. It’s hesitant. Awkward. Kind. Full of missteps and warmth. Cooper’s gruff charm and Emma’s playful sass ground the story in a way that makes their household feel like a soft place to land. When Lora wears Emma’s too-small sweatshirt, covered in a faded boy band, and feels ridiculous but cared for? I loved that scene. It was such a gentle, honest glimpse at a woman remembering how to let people in. And while some romantic tropes are here—single dad, handsome rescuer, cozy dinners—they never feel cheap. They feel earned, like everything in Lora’s journey.
The book sometimes leans into its symbolism. The sea glass, the daisy, the storm—at times, I felt like I was being nudged too obviously. But even then, I couldn’t help but appreciate how consistent Morgan is in weaving these elements throughout Lora’s evolution. It's clear they mean something to her as a writer, and by the end, they meant something to me, too.
More Than Luck Required is for anyone who’s had their heart broken and wondered if it was possible to piece it back together. It’s for people stuck in their grief, who’ve forgotten what warmth feels like. It’s not flashy or overly clever, and that’s exactly why it works. If you're into books that make you cry a little, smile a lot, and maybe call your mom afterward, then you'll enjoy this book.
May 20, 2025
Fans of Colleen Hoover’s Hopeless series will love Connie Morgan’s novel of three scarred souls taking the ultimate risk.
In More Than Luck Required: A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Love, new women’s fiction by Connie Morgan, there’s no escaping heartbreak. Three wounded characters are each grieving in differing circumstances, and each has a new chance at love—if they can accept it. Will they break through their shells of resistance and fear to find love, and even romance?
LORA is grieving, guilt-ridden, and can’t forgive herself. She’s haunted by an unfulfilled deathbed promise when she encounters COOPER, who’s angry with buried grief and regrets. Teenaged IVY, in a powerful portrayal of child endangerment, is defiant and subsumed by shame. Even as they are drawn to one another, each one fears commitment.
Author Connie Morgan, a retired mental health counselor, brings her therapeutic wisdom to each damaged character in a series of harrowing and heart-rending episodes. While the romantic tension between LORA and COOPER rises, the stakes get higher for the at-risk teen. But the most damaged of hearts can be mended, and perhaps one day healed, with self-understanding, love, and grace.
In More Than Luck Required: A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Love, new women’s fiction by Connie Morgan, there’s no escaping heartbreak. Three wounded characters are each grieving in differing circumstances, and each has a new chance at love—if they can accept it. Will they break through their shells of resistance and fear to find love, and even romance?
LORA is grieving, guilt-ridden, and can’t forgive herself. She’s haunted by an unfulfilled deathbed promise when she encounters COOPER, who’s angry with buried grief and regrets. Teenaged IVY, in a powerful portrayal of child endangerment, is defiant and subsumed by shame. Even as they are drawn to one another, each one fears commitment.
Author Connie Morgan, a retired mental health counselor, brings her therapeutic wisdom to each damaged character in a series of harrowing and heart-rending episodes. While the romantic tension between LORA and COOPER rises, the stakes get higher for the at-risk teen. But the most damaged of hearts can be mended, and perhaps one day healed, with self-understanding, love, and grace.
May 22, 2025
Connie Morgan’s More Than Luck Required is a beautifully written novel that dives deep into the emotional complexities of grief, healing, and the pursuit of second chances. This story is full of characters who are not only lovable but wonderfully flawed, vulnerable, and relatable.
The story centers on Lora Hamilton, a woman weighed down by the guilt and loss that has defined the past few years of her life following a series of horribly traumatic events. Fulfilling a promise to her dying father, Lora begins a quest to bring about some positive changes in her life–which unexpectedly brings her into contact with Cooper, a guarded widower, and a pair of teenage girls. Strangely, they seem to need her as much as she needs them–each carrying their own burdens and each lending something essential to Lora’s path forward.
Morgan doesn't shy away from the dark reality of Lora and Cooper’s traumatic pasts; she confronts them head-on with sensitivity, allowing readers to learn alongside them as they come to terms with things they have kept buried for too long.
What makes More Than Luck Required special is its hopeful message, its acknowledgment that trauma can linger, and the clear story that healing is rarely linear—but it also affirms that progress is possible. Morgan’s empathetic prose and pure honesty reiterates that it’s ultimately our choices, our courage, and our openness–far more than luck–that create the connections that make transformation possible.
The story centers on Lora Hamilton, a woman weighed down by the guilt and loss that has defined the past few years of her life following a series of horribly traumatic events. Fulfilling a promise to her dying father, Lora begins a quest to bring about some positive changes in her life–which unexpectedly brings her into contact with Cooper, a guarded widower, and a pair of teenage girls. Strangely, they seem to need her as much as she needs them–each carrying their own burdens and each lending something essential to Lora’s path forward.
Morgan doesn't shy away from the dark reality of Lora and Cooper’s traumatic pasts; she confronts them head-on with sensitivity, allowing readers to learn alongside them as they come to terms with things they have kept buried for too long.
What makes More Than Luck Required special is its hopeful message, its acknowledgment that trauma can linger, and the clear story that healing is rarely linear—but it also affirms that progress is possible. Morgan’s empathetic prose and pure honesty reiterates that it’s ultimately our choices, our courage, and our openness–far more than luck–that create the connections that make transformation possible.
June 22, 2025
More Than Luck Required by Connie Morgan is a contemporary romance. The novel focused on two people who lost and maybe found love. One of the strongest points of the books is the absolute positiveness and willingness of people to help! The book is well written.
Nora lost her daughter in an accident and then left her husband because of his inability to deal with her death without violence. So she threw herself into work and turned off her personal life.
Cooper Martin lost his wife to cancer years ago. With help from his mother, he raised his daughter Emma. He also was the safe spot for Emma’s best friend Ivy. Together, through bumps, fits and starts they find each other on more than a superficial level. Nora helps Ivy with her art. Cooper gives Ivy a safe place to live.
The book is a happily ever after with all the characters able to speak articulately with each other about what they are going through. Even when they become angry or upset, the most they do is stop speaking until they can say what is on their mind. Everything seems to go as it should and there are many symbols to connect with. Lora also seemed to know what to say after a short time of therapy. We are also left wondering why her boss stopped speaking with her. If you can let go of these issues the book is a wonderful thoughtful romantic story. More Than Luck Required by Connie Morgan has a nice storyline with nice characters.
Nora lost her daughter in an accident and then left her husband because of his inability to deal with her death without violence. So she threw herself into work and turned off her personal life.
Cooper Martin lost his wife to cancer years ago. With help from his mother, he raised his daughter Emma. He also was the safe spot for Emma’s best friend Ivy. Together, through bumps, fits and starts they find each other on more than a superficial level. Nora helps Ivy with her art. Cooper gives Ivy a safe place to live.
The book is a happily ever after with all the characters able to speak articulately with each other about what they are going through. Even when they become angry or upset, the most they do is stop speaking until they can say what is on their mind. Everything seems to go as it should and there are many symbols to connect with. Lora also seemed to know what to say after a short time of therapy. We are also left wondering why her boss stopped speaking with her. If you can let go of these issues the book is a wonderful thoughtful romantic story. More Than Luck Required by Connie Morgan has a nice storyline with nice characters.
July 21, 2025
Book Review: More Than Luck Required by Connie Morgan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had a total right-place-right-time moment when I stumbled upon Connie Morgan at a book signing in Olympia. I was having one of those days—cranky, tired, and just running errands when I made a last-minute stop into Barnes & Noble. And there she was.
As Connie shared what her book was about, something in me just clicked. I wasn’t even sure the storyline was my usual type—I typically lean heavy into romantasy—but something told me this book was meant for me. And I am so glad I trusted that feeling.
More Than Luck Required is more than just a romance—it’s a beautifully written, soul-soothing journey with characters I fell head-over-heels in love with. I don’t think I’ve connected with fictional people like this in a long time. Connie has such a powerful way of weaving emotion, growth, and hope into her storytelling.
This book found me at a time when I was unsure of what was next in my own life, and it reminded me that sometimes, all you need is a little faith—and a lot of heart. It was inspiring, healing, and exactly what I needed. It made me believe that you can chase what lights you up. You can start again. You can create the life you want.
Thank you, Connie, for being in that bookstore that day. Your words were exactly what I didn’t know I needed. I absolutely adored this book! It's one I will carry with me for a long time. ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I had a total right-place-right-time moment when I stumbled upon Connie Morgan at a book signing in Olympia. I was having one of those days—cranky, tired, and just running errands when I made a last-minute stop into Barnes & Noble. And there she was.
As Connie shared what her book was about, something in me just clicked. I wasn’t even sure the storyline was my usual type—I typically lean heavy into romantasy—but something told me this book was meant for me. And I am so glad I trusted that feeling.
More Than Luck Required is more than just a romance—it’s a beautifully written, soul-soothing journey with characters I fell head-over-heels in love with. I don’t think I’ve connected with fictional people like this in a long time. Connie has such a powerful way of weaving emotion, growth, and hope into her storytelling.
This book found me at a time when I was unsure of what was next in my own life, and it reminded me that sometimes, all you need is a little faith—and a lot of heart. It was inspiring, healing, and exactly what I needed. It made me believe that you can chase what lights you up. You can start again. You can create the life you want.
Thank you, Connie, for being in that bookstore that day. Your words were exactly what I didn’t know I needed. I absolutely adored this book! It's one I will carry with me for a long time. ❤️
September 28, 2025
Traumatized by loss and guilt Lora and Cooper meet accidentally when Lora honors her father’s deathbed wish to get on with her life, to move beyond the tragedy that has plagued her. She take a trip with her mother Rebecca and while on a walk by herself down by the beach the tide rises blocking her return path, but the new path leads her to Cooper and his daughter Emma in an old beat up truck. She’s a muddy mess and he’s resentful his evening plans had been interrupted, but attitudes begin to dissolve when he brings her to his house so she can contact her mother. He invites Lora and Rebecca to have dinner at his place the next night with his mother and Emma and Emma’s friend Ivy. There’s definitely interest, but past trauma is too close to the surface preventing the love floodgates from opening for Lora and Cooper. But then there is also Ivy with her struggles included in the storyline. What’s it going to take to move beyond trauma, to safely love again? Finding out is the overall theme of the story with that fundamental question playing throughout the beautifully written passages. Poignantly and authentically portrayed this is a delightful read in these troubling times, not one to skirt difficult issues but rather tacking them lightly and with grace making for a wonderful read I thoroughly enjoyed.
May 4, 2025
"More Luck Than Required" by Connie Morgan is a charming and heartwarming tale of how a group of people can reclaim happiness after insurmountable challenges. Lora is reeling from the tragic loss of her preschool-aged daughter and her husband’s ensuing blame for that accident. Cooper is still mourning the death of his wife to pancreatic cancer and raising his teenage daughter, Emma, the best way he can. Emma’s friend, Ivy, struggles, trying to survive in an abusive home.
When Lora’s father’s dying wish was for her to get her life back on track and to make happiness for herself, she takes a trip with her mother to a place where they’d made a lot of wonderful memories before. That trip is not only when she meets Cooper, Emma, and Ivy, who will change her life forever, but also a catalyst for her to make big and small changes in her own life. The past still haunts her, but the future is becoming increasingly brighter as she invests herself into the lives of Emma and Ivy, gains a lovely new family, and falls in love.
Readers who enjoy a wholesome and hopeful tale will certainly enjoy this book! I am grateful to have received an ARC, and I highly recommend it.
When Lora’s father’s dying wish was for her to get her life back on track and to make happiness for herself, she takes a trip with her mother to a place where they’d made a lot of wonderful memories before. That trip is not only when she meets Cooper, Emma, and Ivy, who will change her life forever, but also a catalyst for her to make big and small changes in her own life. The past still haunts her, but the future is becoming increasingly brighter as she invests herself into the lives of Emma and Ivy, gains a lovely new family, and falls in love.
Readers who enjoy a wholesome and hopeful tale will certainly enjoy this book! I am grateful to have received an ARC, and I highly recommend it.
July 9, 2025
Connie Morgan’s debut novel, More Than Luck Required: A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Love, is a powerful story of loss, love and transformation. Told in three points of view, each character travels through their own painful life event and finds their way to the other side with the help of each other. Lora’s devastating loss of a child, Cooper’s loss of a wife to cancer and Ivy’s painful loss of her family to mental illness and abuse. Each character learns through community how to heal their wounds and be brave enough to follow their passions and dreams. Family is not necessarily about blood relations but about who we choose to include and how we support one another. Connie Morgan wrote a story that we need in our world right now.
November 7, 2025
Connie Morgan’s debut novel, More Than Luck Required-A Journey Of Healing, Hope, and Love, is an entertaining look at one woman’s journey to find happiness and love after tragedy ends her marriage. Morgan’s writing style is effective at setting the stage for character interactions and she deftly explores not only the main character Lora’s relationship with her mother, but also the development of a burgeoning relationship with Cooper, the man who comes to her rescue in a modern-day knight in shining armor interaction. Lora and Cooper’s undeniable attraction to each other establishes the basis for a heart-warming romance until real life commitments and human frailty cast doubt on the future Lora hoped for. This is a touching story of modern-day romance and the challenges of finding love again. I look forward to reading more from this new author. ~Barbara A. Luker, author of Hiding In Plain Sight, The Right One, and I Carry Your Heart
November 20, 2025
Connie Morgan's More Than Luck Required is a tender and emotionally resonant novel that explores grief, healing, and the unexpected ways love can find us again. Morgan writes with great sensitivity about loss and the courage it takes to open your heart after tragedy.
The story follows Lora Hamilton, a woman frozen in grief after losing her daughter and her marriage, and Cooper, a widower raising his teenage daughter Emma. Their chance meeting on a rainy roadside sparks a connection that unfolds gradually. Morgan doesn't rush their romance. She lets both characters breathe, heal, and find their way back to life at their own pace.
This is a heartfelt story about family. Morgan's writing is warm and engaging and I loved how she wove in the drama of Cooper's teenage daughter and her best friend, Ivy. I highly recommend it for fans of emotional, character-driven contemporary fiction.
The story follows Lora Hamilton, a woman frozen in grief after losing her daughter and her marriage, and Cooper, a widower raising his teenage daughter Emma. Their chance meeting on a rainy roadside sparks a connection that unfolds gradually. Morgan doesn't rush their romance. She lets both characters breathe, heal, and find their way back to life at their own pace.
This is a heartfelt story about family. Morgan's writing is warm and engaging and I loved how she wove in the drama of Cooper's teenage daughter and her best friend, Ivy. I highly recommend it for fans of emotional, character-driven contemporary fiction.
July 22, 2025
More Than Luck Required centers on two lonely people challenged with a second chance at love. Lora is trying to reclaim her life after a devastating tragedy changed it, while the trauma of loss continues to suffocate Cooper. Can their rediscovered love lead to emotional openness? Would they embrace the possibilities? Those were the questions that dominated my thoughts as I turned the pages of this heart-warming story. I found the main and supporting characters believable in their flaws, and readily empathized with their journey toward self-fulfillment. Young Ivy, another character in this story, tugged at my heart and added depth to the book's theme of finding happiness after a life reset. Reading this, I felt hopeful that anyone can heal and begin anew if they truly want to.
May 19, 2025
The subtitle of this book is “A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Love,” and author Connie Morgan delivers. Without revealing any spoilers, I will say this is an immersive, romantic read about characters we are happy to root for. Lora, Cooper, and Ivy have each suffered personal tragedies but are determined to soldier on. The path to a happier future can be a torturous one, which makes the journey all the more compelling. Thanks to the characters’ strong spirits and the help of a lovable supporting cast, I enjoyed the ride from start to finish. -Ruth F. Stevens, award-winning author of My Year of Casual Acquaintances
August 8, 2025
More Than Luck Required is a lovely story about Lora Hamilton, a woman experiencing all the stages of grief after a series of tragic losses. Her past is revealed slowly and the more we learn about what she has gone through, the more we want to cheer her on. Befriending Cooper Martin, a single dad with a teenaged daughter, is the first step she takes in reclaiming her life but complications arise that leave her wondering if a second chance at a happy life is in her future. Never maudlin or overly sentimental, More Than Luck Required will have you believing in the power of positive thinking and taking chances on happiness. Highly recommended!
August 19, 2025
More than Luck Required is a story about two people struggling on their own who meet and give love a second chance. Lora lost her daughter and Cooper his wife, both many years earlier. Neither has been able to move on until after meeting each other, they find the right incentive to do the work required to find happiness again. This is also the story of Ivy, a young woman in search of family and learning to advocate for herself. In this introspective and compelling novel, themes of grief, domestic abuse, found family, and love are explored.
September 16, 2025
MORE THAN LUCK REQUIRED introduces the reader to Lora, who is hiding from a past she can't forgive. Despite her desire to stay withdrawn from the world, she is pulled into the lives of a handsome widower and a troubled teen, but this isn't a typical love story. Instead, the reader is masterfully guided through a psychological deep-dive thanks to the author's history as a mental health counselor. This book is for anyone who appreciates a story that's not just about what happens, but about the deeply human process of putting yourself back together again.
August 21, 2025
Connie Morgan’s MORE THAN LUCK REQUIRED deals with grief, self-discovery, second chances, and so much more. Her characters are well-rounded and true to life. Sometimes people find in each other what they need most and when they need it most, and that’s what we’re rooting for in this multi-dimensional, beautiful story of love and perseverance. Although Morgan explores some heavy topics, she does so with grace and beauty. A must read!
May 31, 2025
This was such a sweet story of grief and healing. Lora was a good example of grief running your life and then getting the help and beginning the healing process. I really enjoyed her relationship with the girls. There was some flowery language that I felt distracted from the storyline instead of adding to it, but overall a good read.
May 19, 2025
A heartwarming story about seizing second chances and the affirming power of family and friends. I rooted for Lora and Cooper and Ivy on their journeys to become whole again. A satisfying, feel-good read.
September 18, 2025
More Than Luck Required beautifully captures the courage it takes to rebuild a life after trauma and embrace the possibility of joy again. This book is for anyone who believes in second chances and the healing power of love. A powerful and uplifting debut.
April 30, 2025
How can you not love a story about second chances at love? Connie Morgan brings it to us on every page with her wonderful characters and crisp prose.
June 16, 2025
Warm and engaging, this book will pull the heartstrings.
July 15, 2025
A wonderful story of finding yourself after a terrible, tragic loss.
Very thought provoking.
Thanks to Goodreads - I really enjoyed reading this book.
Very thought provoking.
Thanks to Goodreads - I really enjoyed reading this book.
November 7, 2025
Morgan's writing is clean and crisp, catching her readers unprepared for the emotional roller coaster of finding love again, only to ponder the risk of heartbreak.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews