Ava Grace Fairchild never expected to find herself on the back of a hockey player’s motorcycle. Until now, her life in Laurel Springs, Alabama, has been everything you’d expect for a Southern old money, silver spoons and a perfectly planned future. But you can’t plan for the kind of public humiliation that has her running away from her well-ordered life to spend one perfect night with a stranger.
Russian enforcer Luka Zadorov is no fan of the South. Being traded to Alabama has meant swapping the glory of northern hockey for playing second fiddle to college football, but his plan to get traded back hits an interesting snag when he crosses paths with Ava Grace. Maybe the South has something to offer after all…
Together, Luka and Ava Grace are finally enjoying the present instead of worrying about the future. But when their no-strings fling suddenly develops the kind of strings you can’t ignore, it’s time for them both to confront what their hearts truly need.
As Alicia Hunter Pace, Stephanie Jones and Jean Hovey write contemporary romantic comedy and light fantasy with a distinct southern voice.
Stephanie lives in Jasper, AL, where she teaches third grade and wishes for a bigger bookstore. She is a native Alabamian who likes football, civil war history, and people who follow the rules. She is happy to provide a list of said rules to anyone who needs them.
Jean, a former public librarian, lives in Decatur, AL, with her husband in a hundred-year-old house that always wants something from her. She likes to cook but has discovered the joy of Mrs. Paul's fish fillets since becoming a writer.
This is a Southern Romance, and this is the third book in the Good Southern Women series. I have read and reviewed the first book in this series before picking this book, but I think this can be read as a standalone without any problems. This book took me a little bit to really get into, and the characters had to grow on me. I did love the growth that Ava's character did during this book. I also really loved the ending of this book. I found the ending so cute. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Carina Press) or author (Alicia Hunter Pace) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
📚 Hello Book Friends! SHINE LIKE SILVER by Alicia Hunter Pace is the third book in the Good Southern Women Series and it is a good romance novel. The story is about Ava Grace Fairchild, owner of the antique shop in Laurel Springs, Alabama. Ava Grace has her life planned, but her long-time boyfriend, Skip, throws her a curved ball that changes everything. This is when she meets Luka Zadorov, a hockey player on the Yellowhammer team. It is lust at first sight, but is Ava Grace ready to move to another relationship, especially with someone who is looking to be traded to another hockey team? This story is emotional and sexy. I love the intensity between Ava Grace and Luka. I recommend this warmed romance novel. The books in the series can be read as stand-alone but for continuity, I recommend you read them in order.
This is an adorable little small town romance. Ava Grace is a traditional southern belle who always does as she is told. Until the day her life gets thrown upside down.
I loved the development of Ava Grace throughout this story. She empowerment, her sexuality, understanding herself and finding her passion in life.
After her upheaval, her knight in shining hockey gear, Luka, came to her rescue. Luka himself is very cautious to show any emotion and is extremely career driven. Not planning on sticking around in a little Alabama town town for long, where football takes the spotlight over hockey.
Luka's character is very also well developed where at first you can imagine why he is closed off and unhappy, but also needs to develop as a person and open his eyes to the world around him.
These two opposite main characters mesh so well together and also provide that conflict and drama that makes you want to devour this book.
Although this is the third book in the series, I read it as a standalone and had no problems. I am excited to now read the first two books!
Thank you to @HarlequinPublicityTeam and @HarlequinBooks for the opportunity to participate in this Carina Press book tour!
Shine Like Silver is the third book in the Good Southern Women series by Alicia Hunter Pace. I absolutely loved the first two stories in the series and was excited when Ava Grace's story was posted. Even after reading about this group of three friends for two books, I didn't really have a good grip on who Ava Grace was. It ended up that Ava Grace and the reader went on a journey together to learn about herself.
Ava Grace is a people pleaser. She spends her entire life waiting for life to happen to her. She's dating the person she thinks she supposed to. Waiting for the proposal on the night she is told to expect. Preparing to wear the wedding dress that is expected of her. All that turns upside down when Skip backs out of the proposal while he's giving it at a charity gala. Ava Grace needs to escape from the chaos surrounding her. When Jackhammer hockey star, Luka, offers to take her away from pandemonium she hops on his motorcycle and rides away without a second thought. Ava Grace has never done anything spontaneous in her life. What would happen if she starts to live life by her rules and opens her heart to a sweet but sometimes overbearing hockey player?
I really loved seeing all the friends and their partners together. We get to see the continuation of their stories throughout the book. Robbie designing Hyacinth's ring had me laughing out loud. This ended up being a little instalove but I liked it none the less. I really enjoyed seeing Ava Grace become more confident. I loved how they spent their time together cooking and playing scrabble to practice his English. The way Luka interacted with Alex was so endearing.
I have to admit that I was kind of surprised at the surprise baby! I liked that the third act conflict didn't come from the fact that she becomes pregnant but because of cultural differences related to familial expectations. As soon as Luka finds out she is pregnant all he wants to do is take care of her the only way he knows how; offering to marry her. Unfortunately, his way of taking care of her is a trigger. People in her life always made her feel incompetent. She wants Luka to understand that she doesn't need him to take care of her. She wants them to be partners and take care of each other.
Thank you to NetGalley, Alicia Hunter Pace, Carina Press & Carina Adores (Harlequin) for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
My first time reading this author, but not my last. I love a good small town, southern romance, and this one is filled with southern charm.
I loved Ava, she has layers, and her growth throughout the book was perfect. Luka, what can I say, he may regret rescuing Ava from her worse night ever. They just work as they get to know one another, working through struggles. I plan to go back and read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, and Carina Press and Carina Adores, for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Ava Grace’s life is marching along exactly as you’d expect of the life of a Southern Belle. Until she gets rejected at the Christmas Ball…right in the middle of her engagement proposal… with all her family, friends, and the whole town watching. Local hockey player Luka never wanted to play for a Southern hockey team and is doing his best to get traded back to a team in the north where hockey is revered. He too was rejected by the love of his life a long time ago so he understands when Ava Grace just needs to get away from everyone. And so, on the night of Ava Grace’s public humiliation, Luka comes to her rescue and they begin a romantic fling. Little Vikings, silver spoons, babies and vlogs ensue. But can their fling turn into a real relationship?
This is the third in the Good Southern Women series by the writing team known as Alicia Hunter Pace. I loved Luka in this book, sometimes he is clueless and other times is right there with whatever Ava Grace needs. But throughout hey is a good man. Ava Grace is an appealing heroine- even though she is the quintessential pampered Southern Belle she is trying to think and do for herself. Both of them can be quite vulnerable as they fall in love but above all, they are sweet and this is a sweet read.
This could be read as a stand-alone but you’d miss the rich backstory and characters from the other two books.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Carina Press in exchange for an honest review.
Ava Grace is anxiously waiting for her engagement, the night it is supposed to horn should be the happiest of her life but….not very ending is happy. Her soon to be fiancé backs out as he is on his knee in front of the entire town.
Luka the Russian hockey player for the local hockey team just so happens to be there to rescue her from the humiliation she is facing.
Their story shows the struggle of language miscommunications as well as age and the desire to be different from what you were expected to be.
Shine Like Silver is an adorable small town rom-com novel that defied the normal and regular love-story. It is Luka and Ava Grace’s story to tell. Luka, a Russian professional USA hockey player who was traded from Boston team was downright miserable when he moved to small town Alabama. Alabama, as historically known college football town, couldn’t generate local fans to watch or cheer for the Yellowhammmer. Ava Grace, a jilted Dixie sweetheart, who was waiting all her life to marry her childhood boyfriend crossed path with Luka and had their first one-night stand rendezvous while hammering out her rejection. It’s a cute story of a non-American jockey and a southern sweetheart made this enchanting fairy-tale a page-turner. Definitely an easy-read if you have a knack for many bantering, silly talks, gossips and “what-are-you-saying type of conversation (a Russian comprehending an American and vice-versa), this book is yours to read. The words “nyet and Da” came up quite a few times and it’s definitely a cute addition to the story. There’s also many surprises in between the story but the ending is sweet! This is not an innocent Christian or YA romance novel, and there are some passionate and steamy encounters throughout the book! A Hallmark story type of book with a bit steam!
Thank you Harlequin Books, Harlequin Publicity Team, Carina Press and Alicia Hunter Pace for letting me partake this bookstagram tour in reading and reviewing this charming novel in exchange for my honest review.
Ava Grace Fairchild has been drifting smoothly through her life, wondering when the rest of her life will begin. But when The Big Day finally comes around, it delivers quite a gut punch!. Now she faces a choice: continue to let others manage her life, and hope the next Big Day rolls around, or find out what happens when she utters that little word, “No”. As she realizes that she can get more independence and respect by standing her ground, Ava Grace slowly and steadily grows into a confident and successful woman.
Luka Zadorov is a Russian hockey player who makes no effort to acclimate himself to the South or his new team. Traded by his former team in Boston, his only wish is to get out of the “godforsaken land of football” where he now finds himself. When Ava Grace is dumped in front of what feels like the entire town, he comes to her rescue, and spirits her away to a quiet place. Although his goal is to protect her, he also ends up making her think that she is unable to take care of herself. Because English is not his first language, and Ava Grace speaks no Russian, they often have to explain things to each other in several different ways before understanding is achieved.
I love all of Alicia Hunter Pace’s books, and this one is no exception. If you haven’t read them, give yourself a gift and start today.
(3.75⭐️) Thanks Harlequin Books and Harlequin Publicity Team for the gifted book!
I’ve determined that I’m a big fan of sports romance books, but if you set them in a small town - I’m even happier! SHINE LIKE SILVER by Alicia Pace Hunter is the next installment in the GOOD SOUTHERN WOMAN series. I adored this book, which is surprising because it had a plot line (no spoilers!) that is not one of my favorites. But I loved Ava Grace and Luka so much that I completely overlooked it!
This series follows an Alabama hockey team, and I enjoy seeing characters from previous books pop up - totally not necessary to read them, but fun Easter eggs! Luka is a Russian player who has been traded to the South and has trouble adjusting. It’s an interesting dynamic to see his way of life compared to Ava Grace’s born and raised rich debutante way of life clash then come together. I enjoyed the friction and the sweet moments.
I ended up half-listening and half-reading this book, which was a great choice for me. The narrator, Zura Johnson, was excellent. Her accents for Ava Grace and Luka were perfect, and every side character had a distinct voice.
I enjoy this sweet, closed-door series. It always makes me smile and feels like I’m watching a Hallmark movie. Definitely recommend it if that’s the type of book you’re looking for!
This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I adored this book! Ava Grace is the epitome of a Southern Belle. She does what she is told, how she is told and where she is told. After the party that she was supposed to get engaged at turned into non-engagement chaos, a local hockey player, Luka, offers to take her away from everything and everyone. As they spend more time together, they get to know each other. Luka is Russian and has difficulty understanding English, but they make it work. There are several instances where they both have to explain something to each other several times in order to get the other to understand. I have not read a book by this author before, but I will be keeping my eye out for her books. This one was most definitely a great read! I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Another in the Good Southern Women series, in which Ava Grace Fairchild comes into her own in both the antique store she runs and her love life--but only after her very public engagement becomes a horror when the man she expected to marry admits he's gay and... just can't do it. Oh my!
But along comes Luka Zadorov, pro hockey player to the local team. He knows she's hurting and wants to help, which she does when she climbs onto the back of his Harley and he takes her away from the scene of the, ahem, crime of gayness in her prospective groom.
What follows is a series of cross-cultural misunderstandings and love, though both anticipate it can never be. After all, Luka doesn't agree with football culture and Ava Grace can't imagine leaving her home town. So, how's this all going to evolve? Russian doesn't always compute with Southern American slang, or does it?
I gave up on this book half-way thru on page 208. Boring. It wasn’t going anywhere after the second chapter. It’s just like anybody’s regular life of going to hockey practices and running an antique store: basically a story about two people going to work everyday and then seeing each other occasionally. How is this anything different than normal people’s lives? The thing that was inspired was the first couple chapters when Ava Grace’s boyfriend dumps her on the night he’s supposed to propose to her. But after she met Luka, the whole plot became a no-go for me.
I read this without reading first 2 in the books so please keep this in mind for my review.
This boom was very complicated and full of less popular tropes miscommunication surprise baby and withoit revealing spoilers i will leave it at that. One of my favorite tropes is smal town and synopsis sounded wonderful but based on the above 2 tropes didn't maintiam my attention i did finish it.
Suggest starting with book 1 maybe this book can't be read as a standalone.
I was looking forward to hearing one more hockey romance, however this one didn’t hit the mark for me. I have read books set in the south before, but I’d never picked up on one that was “southern” in every single aspect. The characters spoke in a very southern way, their thoughts and povs were very southern, and I just couldn’t understand what was going on. Also, why does a father call his daughter sister? That threw me for a loop.
This book was awesome. I couldn’t put it down. I loved that Ava Grace was her own person an finally realized Luka did love her. The more books I read of Alicia Hunter Pace., the better they get. You’ve got a big fan Keep the awesome work up. Can’t wait to read the next one you write!
Shine Like Silver is the third book in the Good Southern Women series by Alicia Hunter Pace. A captivating story with well-written characters. Shine Like Silver is a cute hockey-based romance! I can’t wait to read the next book in the Good Southern Women series.
Delightful! I want more from this Alabama town. Love the antique bits, the hockey bits. These friends are so special and I’ve enjoyed every minute! Sorry to see the series end, I hope there will be more!
Ava have her life planned out with her long time boyfriend, Skip. Everyone is expecting him to proposed to her for many years and Ava is confident he will only to find out that he could not complete his proposal on birthday in front of everyone. It was a shock to her and all she want was to disappear. This is at this moment Luke , a hockey player, come to her rescue and they begin a romantic fling.
This story is all about miscommunication and life may not a ouplan no matter how meticulously we ready Love the main characters especially Ava who trying hard to think and do things hee way after what happened and both Ava and Luka is vulnerable. Overall, it is a sweet read to me.
Life doesn't always turn out the way you planned; sometimes it turns out better. Ava Grace and Luka had other plans with other people that didn't work out, left both of them with insecurities that made communication harder than for most couples.