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Lucky
Not yet published
Expected 4 Mar 26Fame chewed me up and spat me out.
A stalker nearly destroyed what was left.
So I ran to Cedar Lake Falls, the last place anyone would look.
I’m Lucky Vale.
Once a rising star.
Now, a ghost hiding behind locked doors, sleepless nights, and music I can’t bear to touch.
Then I meet him.
Ethan Maddox—my quiet, disciplined next-door neighbor with a daughter who sings my songs and a past he refuses to talk about.
Ex-military.
Controlled.
Much too observant.
And somehow, impossibly, safe.
I tell myself not to fall.
But Ethan looks at me like he sees every broken piece I’ve tried to outrun.
And just when Cedar Lake Falls starts feeling like a place I could breathe again…my past finds me.
Danger doesn’t knock this time, it walks right in.
Ethan warned me he wasn’t a hero.
He never told me he was something far more dangerous.
A slow-burn, high-heat small-town romance with dark undercurrents, hidden pasts, and a love fierce enough to fight the shadows.
A stalker nearly destroyed what was left.
So I ran to Cedar Lake Falls, the last place anyone would look.
I’m Lucky Vale.
Once a rising star.
Now, a ghost hiding behind locked doors, sleepless nights, and music I can’t bear to touch.
Then I meet him.
Ethan Maddox—my quiet, disciplined next-door neighbor with a daughter who sings my songs and a past he refuses to talk about.
Ex-military.
Controlled.
Much too observant.
And somehow, impossibly, safe.
I tell myself not to fall.
But Ethan looks at me like he sees every broken piece I’ve tried to outrun.
And just when Cedar Lake Falls starts feeling like a place I could breathe again…my past finds me.
Danger doesn’t knock this time, it walks right in.
Ethan warned me he wasn’t a hero.
He never told me he was something far more dangerous.
A slow-burn, high-heat small-town romance with dark undercurrents, hidden pasts, and a love fierce enough to fight the shadows.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 4, 2026
6 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
A.D. Drew
1 book20 followersI write romance with heat, heart, messy emotions, and a touch of darkness. I’m an American anglophile with a quiet obsession for British accents and stories that hurt just enough before they heal.
Known for hoarding playlists, drinking too much tea, and giving British characters far too much page time. My weaknesses include slow burns, emotional chaos, and second chances.
Known for hoarding playlists, drinking too much tea, and giving British characters far too much page time. My weaknesses include slow burns, emotional chaos, and second chances.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow. Wow. Wow. I can hardly believe this is a debut novel.
Ratings
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 5/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 5/5
Lucky is on the run and ends up in a house next to Ethan and his daughter Lily. Lucky stole my heart almost instantly. She’s playful, kind, and a walking disaster in the best possible way. But honestly? I was completely over the moon for Ethan from the start. He’s steady, helpful, calm… and so incredibly protective (a girl can dream.. sigh)
“You go near her again, call her, follow her, breathe in her direction, and I won’t bother with warnings. I won’t bother with law. I’ll end the problem at the root, and no one will find what’s left of you.”
SWOON. Absolute swoon.
Ethan has his own demons to fight, and that part of the story really touched me. He’s clearly a strong character, someone who will go to extreme lengths to protect the people he loves, even when it costs him dearly.
The story itself reads smoothly and kept pulling me in. What stood out most to me was the plot, which felt fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. It kept me reading all night long, because I just needed to know what would happen next. That alone made it incredibly refreshing. Some scenes are tough to get through emotionally, but in a way that makes the story feel raw, honest, and real.
I unfortunately have personal experience with trauma, and because of that, I know how accurately it’s portrayed here. It was very clear to me that the author truly took the time to understand how trauma works and how it manifests in someone’s life. One of the quotes I underlined was:
“Trauma does that. It teaches you to doubt the ground under your feet, to expect the knife before the touch. It rewires instinct until every shadow looks like a threat, every kindness feels like bait.”
All in all, this was an easy five stars for me. A beautiful, powerful debut that I will absolutely reread. I can’t wait to see what this author does next. (Hopefully a book about Sam?) (Pretty pleaseee)
Ratings
Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5/5
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 5/5
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 5/5
Lucky is on the run and ends up in a house next to Ethan and his daughter Lily. Lucky stole my heart almost instantly. She’s playful, kind, and a walking disaster in the best possible way. But honestly? I was completely over the moon for Ethan from the start. He’s steady, helpful, calm… and so incredibly protective (a girl can dream.. sigh)
“You go near her again, call her, follow her, breathe in her direction, and I won’t bother with warnings. I won’t bother with law. I’ll end the problem at the root, and no one will find what’s left of you.”
SWOON. Absolute swoon.
Ethan has his own demons to fight, and that part of the story really touched me. He’s clearly a strong character, someone who will go to extreme lengths to protect the people he loves, even when it costs him dearly.
The story itself reads smoothly and kept pulling me in. What stood out most to me was the plot, which felt fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. It kept me reading all night long, because I just needed to know what would happen next. That alone made it incredibly refreshing. Some scenes are tough to get through emotionally, but in a way that makes the story feel raw, honest, and real.
I unfortunately have personal experience with trauma, and because of that, I know how accurately it’s portrayed here. It was very clear to me that the author truly took the time to understand how trauma works and how it manifests in someone’s life. One of the quotes I underlined was:
“Trauma does that. It teaches you to doubt the ground under your feet, to expect the knife before the touch. It rewires instinct until every shadow looks like a threat, every kindness feels like bait.”
All in all, this was an easy five stars for me. A beautiful, powerful debut that I will absolutely reread. I can’t wait to see what this author does next. (Hopefully a book about Sam?) (Pretty pleaseee)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this debut by A.D. Drew! Lucky hit a lot of my favorite romance suspense tropes, especially the “woman on the run/in hiding” storyline where the MMC becomes her unexpected safe place. That part of the plot was done so well, and I was immediately pulled in by Lucky’s need to disappear and start over.
Ethan being ex-military drew me in right away. But what really sold me was how grounded and steady he was, especially as a dad. Lily was absolutely adorable and added so much heart to the story. Seeing Ethan as both a protector and a parent made him incredibly attractive and added depth. His chemistry with Lucky felt so natural and palpable, and I loved how he made her feel safe without trying to fix her; he truly saw her for the real person she is. Watching Lucky slowly heal, often in ways she didn’t even realize she needed, was really touching. She deserved someone solid and good, and Ethan was exactly that.
The suspense element was really intriguing. There was real danger, mystery, and tension throughout, and I genuinely couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded. What I appreciated most was how balanced the book felt, because the plot was just as strong and cohesive as the romance, which isn’t always easy to pull off.
One of my favorite aspects was the writing style itself. The prose uses shorter sentences and fewer long paragraphs, and I thought it worked perfectly for the tone of the story. It gave everything a sharper, more urgent feel and kept the pacing tight, which I always appreciate. Stylistically, this reminded me of a darker Catherine Cowles vibe, with hints of A.L. Jackson or Corinne Michaels.
Lucky was such a strong, engaging debut with great chemistry, emotional depth, and suspense I devoured! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what A.D. Drew writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, A.D. Drew, and Afterglow Books for the eARC of this book.
Ethan being ex-military drew me in right away. But what really sold me was how grounded and steady he was, especially as a dad. Lily was absolutely adorable and added so much heart to the story. Seeing Ethan as both a protector and a parent made him incredibly attractive and added depth. His chemistry with Lucky felt so natural and palpable, and I loved how he made her feel safe without trying to fix her; he truly saw her for the real person she is. Watching Lucky slowly heal, often in ways she didn’t even realize she needed, was really touching. She deserved someone solid and good, and Ethan was exactly that.
The suspense element was really intriguing. There was real danger, mystery, and tension throughout, and I genuinely couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded. What I appreciated most was how balanced the book felt, because the plot was just as strong and cohesive as the romance, which isn’t always easy to pull off.
One of my favorite aspects was the writing style itself. The prose uses shorter sentences and fewer long paragraphs, and I thought it worked perfectly for the tone of the story. It gave everything a sharper, more urgent feel and kept the pacing tight, which I always appreciate. Stylistically, this reminded me of a darker Catherine Cowles vibe, with hints of A.L. Jackson or Corinne Michaels.
Lucky was such a strong, engaging debut with great chemistry, emotional depth, and suspense I devoured! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on what A.D. Drew writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, A.D. Drew, and Afterglow Books for the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lucky by A.D. Drew absolutely wrecked me in the best way.
This story is quiet and haunting at first, like holding your breath without realizing it. Lucky is raw and bruised from fame, fear, and a past that refuses to loosen its grip. Watching her try to exist again, not as a star but as a woman who just wants peace, felt painfully real.
And then there is Ethan. Steady. Observant. Protective in that calm, lethal way that makes you feel safe without ever raising his voice. The kind of man who does not make promises lightly, but once he’s in, he’s all in. His relationship with his daughter added so much heart to this story, and the way she connects to Lucky through music was beautiful and bittersweet.
The slow burn here is delicious. Every look, every small moment, every almost confession builds tension until it’s impossible not to ache for them. When the heat finally hits, it feels earned and intense, charged with emotion rather than rushed passion.
What really stood out was the balance between tenderness and danger. Just when Cedar Lake Falls starts to feel like a sanctuary, the darkness creeps back in, reminding you that healing is never simple and love sometimes means standing in the line of fire.
Lucky is emotional, suspenseful, romantic, and deeply human. If you love small town romances with broken characters, protective heroes, and a love that feels like shelter and war all at once, this one is an absolute must read. 💔🔥✨
Lucky by A.D. Drew absolutely wrecked me in the best way.
This story is quiet and haunting at first, like holding your breath without realizing it. Lucky is raw and bruised from fame, fear, and a past that refuses to loosen its grip. Watching her try to exist again, not as a star but as a woman who just wants peace, felt painfully real.
And then there is Ethan. Steady. Observant. Protective in that calm, lethal way that makes you feel safe without ever raising his voice. The kind of man who does not make promises lightly, but once he’s in, he’s all in. His relationship with his daughter added so much heart to this story, and the way she connects to Lucky through music was beautiful and bittersweet.
The slow burn here is delicious. Every look, every small moment, every almost confession builds tension until it’s impossible not to ache for them. When the heat finally hits, it feels earned and intense, charged with emotion rather than rushed passion.
What really stood out was the balance between tenderness and danger. Just when Cedar Lake Falls starts to feel like a sanctuary, the darkness creeps back in, reminding you that healing is never simple and love sometimes means standing in the line of fire.
Lucky is emotional, suspenseful, romantic, and deeply human. If you love small town romances with broken characters, protective heroes, and a love that feels like shelter and war all at once, this one is an absolute must read. 💔🔥✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a fantastic gem of a debut! I loved this sweet, romantic small town romance filled with thrilling moments. Lucky Pink goes to Cedar Lake Falls to escape lots of things, stardom, a dangerous Stalker, worn out, anxiety filled she just wants some sort of normality, where she can find some solace. What she finds is so much more. A sweet young girl, Lily lives door with her 'Lumberjack' dad Ethan Maddox.
Being British I loved that the author A.D. Drew made references of Ethans British quirks, loving his accent, his loud, loving family who embrace Lucky as one of their own.
There were many moments i felt Lucky's pain, what trauma she had gone through to leave her with debilitating anxiety, but slowly she gained strength due to Ethan being her protector.
When her past comes running to Cedar Lake Falls she feels her world has ended, violated. Ethan becomes so much more , dangerous, ex military he exels in what he knows best.
Lucky finds herself in Cedar Lake Falls, she becomes just Lucky, no expectations, just joyous times she tteasures and cannot wait to explore with her new family.
Totally recommend this, hopefully more side characters will get their own books as I want more happy times at Cedar Lake Falls. Thanks to the Author for sending me an ARC, I devoured it!
Being British I loved that the author A.D. Drew made references of Ethans British quirks, loving his accent, his loud, loving family who embrace Lucky as one of their own.
There were many moments i felt Lucky's pain, what trauma she had gone through to leave her with debilitating anxiety, but slowly she gained strength due to Ethan being her protector.
When her past comes running to Cedar Lake Falls she feels her world has ended, violated. Ethan becomes so much more , dangerous, ex military he exels in what he knows best.
Lucky finds herself in Cedar Lake Falls, she becomes just Lucky, no expectations, just joyous times she tteasures and cannot wait to explore with her new family.
Totally recommend this, hopefully more side characters will get their own books as I want more happy times at Cedar Lake Falls. Thanks to the Author for sending me an ARC, I devoured it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC.
This didn’t feel like a debut novel. It took me two days only because I had to work, otherwise this would have been a one day read. Lucky is star who needs to escape her chaotic life and decides to hide out in a small town where she meets her neighbor Ethan and his little girl. He’s slightly British(was raised in the states since his teen years) and he tries hard to stay away from Lucky but he just can’t. He has his own demons that he is battling but she breaks through all his walls as he does hers. Her life has been so hard, and you feel the pain she's been through.
Their love story wasn’t easy, it was messy, but the best ones always are. When her demons come knocking, he’s there to help her conquer them.
The book is written like a song, and the writing is almost lyrical. Its descriptive in a way that makes you feel like you are there experiencing it. I can’t wait for the release and for more people to read Lucky.
This didn’t feel like a debut novel. It took me two days only because I had to work, otherwise this would have been a one day read. Lucky is star who needs to escape her chaotic life and decides to hide out in a small town where she meets her neighbor Ethan and his little girl. He’s slightly British(was raised in the states since his teen years) and he tries hard to stay away from Lucky but he just can’t. He has his own demons that he is battling but she breaks through all his walls as he does hers. Her life has been so hard, and you feel the pain she's been through.
Their love story wasn’t easy, it was messy, but the best ones always are. When her demons come knocking, he’s there to help her conquer them.
The book is written like a song, and the writing is almost lyrical. Its descriptive in a way that makes you feel like you are there experiencing it. I can’t wait for the release and for more people to read Lucky.
February 6, 2026
Ethan and his daughter Lily live in a quiet lakeside town, and it’s here that Lucky ends up for her retreat. Lucky is a pop princess with a long list of issues, including crippling panic attacks that have taken over her life. Ethan is gorgeous, strong like a lumberjack, and comes with the sexiest British accent imaginable—yes please.
Ethan has his own demons to battle, but somehow, together, they just work. It turns out Lucky has a stalker, and he’d terrorized her in the past. Things take a terrifying turn—made even more intense by the fact that Ethan is a former three-letter, hush-hush serviceman.
This book is a full-on thriller, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I wanted to scream, that’s how tense it got. The journey these two take is scary, emotional, and incredibly well done. I really, really enjoyed this book and I’m giving it four stars. Highly recommend if you love suspense, danger, and romance woven together flawlessly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ethan has his own demons to battle, but somehow, together, they just work. It turns out Lucky has a stalker, and he’d terrorized her in the past. Things take a terrifying turn—made even more intense by the fact that Ethan is a former three-letter, hush-hush serviceman.
This book is a full-on thriller, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I wanted to scream, that’s how tense it got. The journey these two take is scary, emotional, and incredibly well done. I really, really enjoyed this book and I’m giving it four stars. Highly recommend if you love suspense, danger, and romance woven together flawlessly. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
Took me a bit to get into it, but really picked up about half way for me, other than possibly a few too many repetitive type spice scenes. I like spice, a lot 😎, it just felt like that was all that happened without much variety for a bit midway. However I did enjoy the emotional journey, and the level of acceptance and understanding Ethan demonstrated towards Lucky and her trauma responses. There wasn’t the misunderstanding trope creating angst, just the working through life’s challenges and difficult pasts with respect and little hiccups. The thriller feel of the stalker and the outcome was very satisfying, as was the career path issues - no spoilers, read it and see what I mean 😉. Small town romance but with the celebrity twist, particularly child star now adult, and the stalker from Hell. A solid 4 star for me, and a fantastic effort for a debut novel in the highly competitive romance genre.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a refreshing romance!! I absolutely loved Lucky and Ethan’s story. I immediately felt a connection with the characters. I feel like l could be right there with them, having a cup of coffee, listening to lucky and lily play the guitar and sing, Ethan doing lumberjack stuff, all while staring out over the beautiful lake.
AD Drew made sure the plot was nice and juicy and left me chasing each chapter well into the night!!
I would also like to add that Sam may have a small role, but I feel he has loads of secrets that I’d love to unravel in his own story. 🤭😉
Thank you so much for the opportunity to support your work as an ARC reader! I’m looking forward to many more from you.
AD Drew made sure the plot was nice and juicy and left me chasing each chapter well into the night!!
I would also like to add that Sam may have a small role, but I feel he has loads of secrets that I’d love to unravel in his own story. 🤭😉
Thank you so much for the opportunity to support your work as an ARC reader! I’m looking forward to many more from you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was very unique and I loved every page of it. You have the small town setting with a new neighbor moving it. The broody neighborhood sets Lucky’s heart into feeling mode after all the years of trauma. Ethan thinks his new neighbor is too pretty, aloof, loud, and definitely makes his quiet and calm life feel like it might be shifting. When things start to happen will his past skills help save his family or will things crumble along with his newly beating heart. I was given an ARC for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the chance to read this advanced!
I devoured Lucky. Lucky’s story really tugged on my heart. I felt really connected to her, in a way I can’t explain. This story gave us, I feel, a little bit of a ““behind the scenes” of the upsetting events that can, and often do, happen to young people who come into fame. In trying to find peace she also started to discover herself outside of fame, she found her voice, her smile, her safety, her home.
I devoured Lucky. Lucky’s story really tugged on my heart. I felt really connected to her, in a way I can’t explain. This story gave us, I feel, a little bit of a ““behind the scenes” of the upsetting events that can, and often do, happen to young people who come into fame. In trying to find peace she also started to discover herself outside of fame, she found her voice, her smile, her safety, her home.
Review of advance copy received from Author
New author 😉 new story 😉
Lucky Pink is famous, but what is she running from???
Ethan Maddox, single dad with hard exterior, doesn’t ‘like’ his ‘new’ neighbour……..but…………
This is a slow burn romance, with a British guy that knows how to use his ‘package’ well 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 AND will protect what is his until there’s no breath left in him…..will Lucky fall into that category????
A brilliant read!!!!!!!!!
Lucky Pink is famous, but what is she running from???
Ethan Maddox, single dad with hard exterior, doesn’t ‘like’ his ‘new’ neighbour……..but…………
This is a slow burn romance, with a British guy that knows how to use his ‘package’ well 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 AND will protect what is his until there’s no breath left in him…..will Lucky fall into that category????
A brilliant read!!!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews