From the USA Today bestselling author of Know You by Heart comes a spirited romance set in the Heart Resort universe—a love story about fate, family, and second chances.
I never thought I’d see her again. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? But five years later, my casino fling is my new next-door neighbor.
A lot’s happened since we got acquainted in that hotel room. I finished out my military career, took a job with my estranged father, moved to the beach…the only thing that hasn’t changed is that Beatrice has always been on my mind. I can’t let her get away again. Lucky for me, she feels the same way.
Not so lucky, though, is our families’ business rivalry—and our resorts’ competition for the same property.
As much as I want to ride off into the sunset with Beatrice on the back of my bike, we want to make this work. And that means smoothing things out between our families.
If we thought finding each other after our night in Vegas was a long shot, this feud is about to give impossible a whole new meaning.
Tif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in Nursing and a Master’s in public administration. She believes and writes about the strength of families, the endurance of friendship, heartfelt romances, and is inspired daily by her own military hero husband and four children. She hosts The Stories to Love Podcast, and is the USA Today bestselling author of In a Book Club Far Away, Once Upon a Sunset, The Key to Happily Ever After, which was a Target Diverse Book Club pick, The Holiday Switch, and the Heart Resort and Journey to the Heart series. She and her books have been featured in The Today Show, Shondaland, Real Simple Magazine, The Asian Journal and more! Her website, which includes a link to her newsletter, is www.TifMarcelo.com
I love this lavender cover and @tifmarcelo’s books! Lucky Streak is her newest, now available, set in the Heart Resort universe of complementary stories that stand well on their own.
Jackson and Beatrice meet each other in Vegas, and that was that, until Beatrice moves in next door to Jackson five years later. He’s not the same guy and has experienced changes, including a new career and moving… But over all those years, he never stopped thinking about Beatrice, so her moving next door is a great thing, right?
Well, their families have rival businesses, so their relationship won’t be so simple.
Beatrice and Jackson are such lovable main characters. I loved all the family drama, especially Beatrice’s brothers. I also have to mention the Nags Head, North Carolina setting, where I have vacationed a few times. Also, love the Filipino culture included. Overall, a fun story with endearing characters, and I loved watching them find their happily ever after together!
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the advanced copy
A second chance romance, with a strong independent woman, strong family relationships, a motorcycle riding hero, and a cute dog named Roxy.
5 years ago Beatrice and Jackson met by chance at a blackjack table in Vegas. They proceeded to have a night together where the chemistry was off the charts. Circumstances were against them and they never saw or spoke again. Until in present day the happen to be neighbours, but also working for family companies that are rivals. Will their work keep them from picking up where they left off? Will their family's approve?
I really enjoyed the family relationships and the complexity of what family means. I loved seeing characters working to stay true to themselves, and not losing themselves in pursuit of success.
I enjoyed this second chance, dual POV, interracial forbidden romance between Jackson, an ex-army officer and Beatrice, a young Filipino woman trying to branch out on her own and break away from her family's business. These two have a hot one night stand in Vegas and don't meet again until five years later only to discover their families are competing over the same commercial property. A relationship between the two seems impossible but they can't resist their growing chemistry. Good on audio with lots of steamy open door scenes. Recommended for fans of authors like Julie Tieu or Sarah Echavarre Smith. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
What happens in Vegas doesn’t always have to stay in Vegas, as fate proves for Bea and Jackson in this second chance, business rivals Romance from Tif Marcelo.
Family ties and a strong familial presence ran deep between these pages, and the Filipino culture and pride ingrained through the Puso family was something I loved to see. The infusion of these cultural elements and family dynamics brought an additional depth to these characters and, paired with the positive affirmations at the beginning of each chapter, it made for a wholesome read as we followed Bea and Jackson into their second chance.
I admired Bea and Jackson’s resilience, consistent in their battles to remain true to themselves and their values, despite the external forces imposed upon them. These were genuinely good characters who knew what they wanted, and stood by that, which is always a win for me.
However, while I did love these characters as individuals and the idea of fighting for their right to love who they choose to love in spite of rivalries that ran deep, I did find this conflict was downplayed and I craved more of that enemies / lovers tension. The romance was also a little too instant love following an almost spark five years previously, and I never really got the chance to fall in love as they did, nor did I get to see the origins of that spark. Things seemed to move quickly as the simmer died down, and I missed the potential I saw when I picked this up.
Lucky Streak is a cute, fun, novel that proves what can happen when fate takes your what ifs and grants you that second chance to fall in love. Perfect for those looking for a new cosy read.
I received an advanced copy of this read thanks to NetGalley and Montlake.
What happens in Vegas... shows back up after five years. lol! I mean, come on friends who doesn’t like a bit of the past coming back into your life when the memories have lingered in the best possible way? Especially in the form of a new neighbor who’s not so new.
I gotta say, I feel as if Tiff Marcelo is really hitting her groove when it comes to writing romance. She is firmly a one-click author for me. Her couple dynamics and writing flow is at peak perfection. Lucky Streak encompasses everything wonderful about her as an author. It’s fun sexy angsty and heartwarming. All the things that make a great read. Order your copy today book friends! ~Tanja
*Thank you to @TifMarcelo and @Montlake for sharing this title with me!
Lucky Streak is that rare read--a perfect blend of thoughtful and fun! Set in a charming resort town with competing families and big dreams on the line, there is just so much to love about Beatrice and Jackson's journey. The couple has an electric chemistry that makes you root for their second chance like they are old friends, and by the end, you'll wish you could visit Heart Resort just to hang out with everyone.
Cute love story with a serendipity back story. Bea and Jackson met 5 years ago. Had an amazing moment where they had something special. Fast forward 5 years and they are now neighbors in a place they had never discussed and their families are in a feud. See... serendipity!
Love the main characters and you can never go wrong with an amazing ending.
I've listened to a few of Ms. Marcelo's books and this one is my favorite. I love the family interactions. The give and take. The ability to fight or disagree but still be there for each other. And I really loved the ending.
We all know nothing that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. And even though Jackson and Beatrice didn't get as far as either of them would have liked while they were in Vegas, doesn't mean the emotions didn't follow them. An instant attraction like the one between them clearly wasn't one to be stopped. Or forgotten about. Even if she did give him a fake name and felt pretty confident that she would never see him again. Beatrice should have known that with an attraction and connection like that between herself and Jackson, their encounter in Vegas was not going to be the last time she saw him. And the way she struggled to walk away from him even after knowing him for only a few hours should have been a pretty good indication of that.
The reunion between Bea and Jack after Vegas could have happened slowly. It could have been a huge drawn-out buildup. But instead, it was something that was dealt with quickly and in a realistic way. There was happiness and surprise. But an immediate attempt to pick up where they left off in Vegas. And that was exactly how I needed it to go. Jackson was understanding why Beatrice didn't give him her real name and Beatrice was understanding when Jackson told her he was unable to read her number on the paper she slid under his door. There were no drawn-out misunderstandings or arguments about things. Well, at least not when it came to their meetup in Vegas and not seeing each other for five years.
Jackson may not have believed in fate but even he had to admit that it was pretty strange to end up right next door to Beatrice after five years of thinking about her. And wishing he had been able to take her on a date. But of course, something always has to get in the way of that smooth sailing. And it was Beatrice's family. But more than that, it was her family business. Or, more specifically, the fact that her family business was in direct competition and in contrast with Jackson's family business. Though in Beatrice's defense, it was her idea to buy the resort with her brothers and she had been working there with them since that moment. When it came to Jackson, he only got involved with his family's business to have a relationship with his father and for a job after retiring from the military.
But there was also a bit more to the rivalry than just business. Jackson's father didn't always play nicely with others and has done some shady things. So it's understandable why Bea's family is a little wary when it comes to dealing with them. But Bea's family also hasn't exactly been welcoming to their competition. Though they haven't resolved to any shady tactics, they haven't made the situation any less volatile. The two families not being fans of one another really makes the relationship between Bea and Jack a difficult one to navigate. But their feelings for one another are strong and they just have to decide if they are going to let their families stop them from being happy with one another.
I loved the times from Beatrice's point of view. She is such a relatable character and being inside her head was such a fun ride. Her inner thoughts had me laughing out loud so much of the time. Beatrice is such an honest and loving character. It was easy to see why Jackson fell so hard and fast for her. But the way Beatrice's emotions were written was palpable. I experienced everything she was feeling. It felt like I went on this journey of love with her. The ups and the downs. And when it was from Jackson's point of view, talk about swooning! Such a great male character. I wasn't just reading words on a page, I was experiencing everything in real-time as I was reading it. And it takes a pretty talented author to be able to take it to that level.
Five years ago, Beatrice and Jackson met in Las Vegas, shared a romantic moment while in Jackson’s hotel room, and that moment would stay with Jackson for as long as he could remember. Beatrice also couldn’t help, but reminisce of the handsome man with blue eyes, and amazing short time they shared together. Years later, seemed like fate found a way to bring Beatrice and Jackson back together.
Seemed like a big coincidence that Jackson and Beatrice found their way back to each other. With Jackson now working with his father, he temporarily moved and guess where his new house was?… that’s right, right next door to Beatrice’s house! When Beatrice and Jackson realized they were neighbors and it was their first time seeing each other after five years, it was like jumping back into where they left over, and Jackson didn’t waste any time by asking Beatrice out on a date. Right away the story started off cute, and I liked how Beatrice and Jackson were open and honest, especially after reuniting, it was sweet how Jackson and Beatrice still felt a connection with each other. With all the cuteness in the beginning it seemed like nothing could go wrong… guess again. With Jackson’s father and Beatrice’s family being rivals with their resorts, Jackson found himself in the middle of big situation.
If you think about it, Beatrice and Jackson were kind of in a “Romeo and Juliet” situation since their families didn’t like each other, and were secretly seeing each other. Both Beatrice and Jackson were finally back together, and the sparks were still there, but due to their families businesses being enemies, they couldn’t necessarily be out in open about their relationship. I felt bad for Jackson because, you could tell he was so happy to have found Beatrice again, and wanted the whole world to know how much he liked her, but Beatrice wanted to keep things on the down low. In some ways, I could see Beatrice’s point in wanting to just enjoy her time with Jackson without their families getting involved, but at some point they had to come clean about it.
Beatrice and Jackson’s love was instant, even after time apart they still couldn’t stop thinking about one another. I guess in a way, it was insta love, but not really in the sense that there was already a strong connection between them since they met prior a few years ago in Vegas. I liked how Beatrice and Jackson were when they were together. Acting like love sick teenagers, sneaking around, meeting up, and going off on cute dates was exciting, but also reality was bond to catch up with them.
I think a big thing that Beatrice struggled with through out the story was putting her needs and wants first. At the “mom” of the family, she was use to putting others needs before her own, and trying to solve others problems. Beatrice was great at problem solving, but when it came to her own life, ahem her and Jackson getting together, her business expanding, it seemed like she struggled in putting herself first or just being open with her brothers. I admired the dedication that Beatrice had to her family, but at some point she also deserved to be fully happy with Jackson. I felt like her older brothers were at times a bit unfair towards Beatrice, expecting her to be fully committed to Heart Resort. Beatrice had her fair share of things she needed to work on, but she found herself catch in the middle between her growing love for Jackson and the love of her family.
Jackson and Beatrice’s love came about in an unexpected yet sweet way. Through their families not liking each other to trying to navigate their own relationship, they had their obstacles to overcome, but managed to get their happily ever after in the end.
Lucky Streak by Tif Marcelo is a novel set in her Heart Resort series, which I have never read, but I really enjoyed this book. The story starts 5 years ago, when Jackson and Tricia meet at the Blackjack table in Vegas; and they spent a sizzling night together. Jackson has never forgotten the woman of his dreams, and then 5 years later, to his shock, he discovers she is his neighbor. Jackson, who just ended his military career, is in town working for his estranged father, and brothers who are planning to buy out property for their own resort. But Jackson doesn’t know at this time, that Heart Resort has been around for a while, and is the competition his father wants to take over.
Beatrice Puso (her real name), works for Heart Resort, with her brothers, but she is also working with a friend on a new project that she loves, Beachy. She buys a house in town, and together with her friend, their store is becoming successful, with them looking to expand. But Bea has kept this a secret from her brothers, as she is the coordinator for Heart Resort. When Bea runs into Jackson, who is staying with his mom, they are both shocked, and immediately the chemistry between them has not been forgotten.
In a short time, they both realize that Jackson’s father (who is not a nice man) plans to destroy Heart Resort, and together they try to find ways to stop his father. Bea and Jackson were in a difficult situation, especially with their families unaware of their relationship. Bea was determined to build up her new project, which made her happy. Jackson wanted to show his father he was a good worker, but he was determined to get him to leave Heart Resort alone. I loved Bea and Jackson together, as they made a great couple. It was nice to get to know both families (not Jackson’s father), as there were some very nice secondary characters. I adored Bea’s dog, Roxy.
Their relationship was centered on them trying to stay together, knowing the situation with each of the families. Will they succeed or will they breakup?
Lucky Streak was a nice second chance romance, with a great heroine, in Bea; as well as Jackson. To say too much more would be spoilers, and it was a wonderful story line. Tif Marcelo did a great job writing this story. Lucky Streak was a fun sweet read, centered on rival families. I suggest you read this book.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Lucky Streak is a sweet romance, billed as a “set in the Heart Resort universe,” although not connected to the series proper. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, I did feel like it took some time to really come to grips with who the other characters were, even though I did recently read one of the Heart Resort books, and can’t really think of any reason why a book about another Puso family member would be marketed in such a strange way.
One thing I liked about the premise is that it didn’t go in the direction I was expecting. Despite the presence of Vegas in their backstory, it’s not a “we got quickie married and didn’t realize till later,” and as much as I can respect the emphasis on sexuality when relevant, I liked that the main goal here was developing the emotional connection that Jackson and Beatrice felt in their brief first meeting.
And while their initial meeting resulted in a few misunderstandings, I appreciate how quickly those are resolved, instead of being allowed to fester. The focus on their reunion is centered instead on the issue of how they can be together, given their respective standings with their families, who run rival businesses, and their deeply personal reasons that are mixed in with their professional goals. Both of them have been party to some of the messy actions on their family company’s part towards the other (although Jackson’s father has admittedly played much dirtier).
I also love how each character’s relationship with fate is explored. Beatrice is a big believer in luck and fate, and her chapters are headed by affirmations, which highlight her positive outlook on speaking things into existence. Jackson is somewhat more cynical about it, although his experience meeting Beatrice again helped to further shape his worldview.
This is a sweet read with a focus on family, fate, and Filipino culture. If you enjoy stories with equally well-drawn romantic and familial relationships, I recommend picking this one up.
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? Beatrice Puso has been the one her brothers and their families turn to for everything since they lost their parents. She was the driving force behind the Heart Resort, but lately feels herself pulling away, wanting to focus more on Beachy, her business that makes her happy. She even has her own house she can retreat to, away from the resort. She’s more than a little shocked to find out she’s already met her new neighbor: Five years ago, she spent an amazing evening in Las Vegas with him and she was disappointed he never called. She always wondered if he could have been the one. Jackson is starting a new chapter in his life after the military. He’s connecting with the father he never knew, working for him with his half-brother, and he finally found the woman he’s been wishing for the past five years. Next door. There is only one small problem: his father and the Pusos are sworn enemies. Beatrice has some choices to make, and her family won’t make it easy. Will she and Jackson be able to overcome their families’ feud? Will her family understand and accept that her future may not lie with the Heart Resort? Can Jackson find his place, and will his future be at his father’s side? So many questions, and it was such fun reading and following Beatrice and Jackson’s individual journeys as well as their navigation of their future together. I love the way Tif Marcelo writes, and LUCKY STREAK is another winner with characters you will root for from beginning to end. The story will captivate you from the first page. Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read an early copy. All opinions are my own and are freely given. #LuckyStreak #TifMarcelo #PusoFamily #BloomReads #TallPoppyWriter #TallPoppyBlogger #Montlake
Thanks to Montlake and Netgalley for this advanced copy!
Lucky Streak is a warm, lovely romance about two people who meet briefly in Vegas and five years later live next door to each other, recognizing right away that the heat between them never died. I really liked this novel, it felt inviting and just a little steamy and I could see it being the perfect book to curl up with when in the Outer Banks. Jackson and Beatrice are adorable together and the supporting cast comes in and out at just the right amount, helping to move the plot forward without bogging it down.
I didn't realize that this was connected to Marcelo's other series about Heart Resort and the Puso family and I wish I had read the other books before diving into this one. You can definitely read it as a stand-alone, but I also felt like I was missing an understanding of the family characters, who are clearly important to Beatrice. Also maybe the other books have more about the rivalry between Beatrice and Jackson's families? Either way, this book was so good that I'll go back and read those stories for sure.
Part of me wanted a litte more angst and a little more steam from this book, but I also really loved how it centered family and personal relationships. The conflict can't completely be resolved by the two lovers getting together, but it feels like that's not really the point of the book and I love that. Not every story needs to solve larger problems, you just need to resolve the ones that really keep the lovers apart and Marcelo did that well.
Overall, this is a great comfort read for a comfy day.
Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake for sending me an ARC of Lucky Streak in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I wish I could say that I loved this book, but sadly it felt a little flat for me. I didn't really see myself connecting with the characters much, or even believing the things they said or did. However, I loved the overall theme and setting of the novel. This was the first Tif Marcelo book that I have ever read, but I'm not sure if her writing really calls to me.
I also didn't know that this was in a series, so maybe if I read the others, I would have understood this one a little more? I'm not sure, but I do know that I really enjoyed what I expected this novel to be. I felt like the drama in the novel was a bit too much at times, but that could be chalked up to me not understanding some of the backstories behind the characters because I haven't read the series in order.
The insights into Filipino culture were really interesting to me, though I wish it was referenced just a tad bit more because I am someone who loves to learn about different cultures, especially through books.
As a reader who reads a lot of open-door romances, this was a nice break as it was mostly closed-door with vague descriptions that were nuanced. The forbidden love aspect was something I hadn't expected after reading the synopsis because I guess I interpreted it as more of an enemies-to-lovers romance? Though that could be my fault entirely.
Overall, I would give this novel a solid 3/5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucky Streak by Tif Marcelo is a fast-paced romance about Beatrice Puso and Jackson Hill who met in Vegas five years ago and had an almost one-night-stand. Fast forward to five years later, and it turns out they're next door neighbours. They get reacquainted and later on they find out that Jackson is a McCauley, the Puso's rival.
I want to start this review off with how happy I was that the main character is Filipino. I also love the few Filipino things here and there, like calling her siblings and their wives Kuya and Ate. I guess it's just the Filipino in me that was delighted to read about another Filipino. Aside from that I really like the whole "Today's affirmation: ..." thing going on for every start of a chapter, made me excited to see what would go down for that chapter.
I have to say, though, that despite all the things I liked about it, I'd have to give this book 3.5 stars only. Mostly because I didn't really feel the connection between Jackson and Beatrice, almost felt forced in a way. I only got to feel that strong connection and "love" towards the end which I didn't particularly like because I wanted to like them as a couple from the beginning or at the very least towards the 50% mark.
I liked the whole family rivalry going on and was hoping for that to be delved into deeper because I felt like it was missing a lot and wanted to read more about it.
“Lucky Streak”, part of the “Heart Resort” series, is a romance novel centering around Beatrice Puso, a member of a Filipino-American family that owns a couples’ resort on a heart shaped peninsula on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The novel begins in Las Vegas at the wedding of the oldest Puso brother, Chris, where Beatrice meets Jackson, who is on a trip to Las Vegas with his Army buddies. She goes back to his room, but is soon called away to attend to a wedding emergency. Beatrice immediately falls for Jackson, although she doesn’t intend to see him again. At the last minute, she returns to his hotel room and slips a receipt with her phone number on the back under his door. Unknown to Beatrice, the receipt is partially destroyed when one of Jackson’s buddies steps on it, so Jackson can’t contact her since he doesn’t know her name.
Five years later, Beatrice discovers that Jackson is renting a bungalow next to hers in Nags Head, North Carolina. They reconnect, but then shortly afterwards, she discovers that he is the illegitimate son of the owner of a rival business, with whom her family competes to acquire properties for resort development. He has come to North Carolina to work in his father’s business, and establish a relationship with him and Jackson’s half brother Lonnie.
What ensues is a push pull, where the two of them feel conflicted between their growing love for each other and their dedication to their respective families and businesses. To complicate matters further, Beatrice is feeling pulled away from the Heart Resort business as she grows her own clothing and home goods company, spinning off the online business into a retail store. She has been keeping the extent of her business growth from her brothers, as well as keeping her relationship with Jackson a secret.
Although I am not generally a fan of romance novels, I requested an ARC copy of this novel after reading and enjoying Tif Marcelo’s earlier book, “In a Book Club Faraway” and her previous novel in this series, “It Takes Heart.” As in her earlier works, “Lucky Streak” has engaging, well-drawn characters with strong personalities. I particularly enjoy the family dynamics among Beatrice and her brothers and their wives, and her strong relationship with her brothers. The picturesque setting on the beach in Nags Head adds to its appeal. However, this novel did feel a bit too long at times, and seemed to drag a bit towards the middle. Despite these drawbacks, it’s still an enjoyable read and I look forward to further installments in this series.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Personal rating: 2.5/5
Put fate, love and family drama in one book, you got this one for you. While the story grounded on real life situations, the dramas could be a bit overwhelming at times and it makes me suffocate with anger at some characters that I thought should grovel more. I actually how the story went, but it was too draggy and slow-paced which us not to my liking. I got the impression that Beatrice and Jackson would be a relatable character and I was right. They were both immensely flawed, they made bad choices most of the times, but that's the truth about living your life; you have to stumble upon some misdeeds and wrong choices in order for you to learn and grow.
However, I was not in the right mood when I read this book, hence the rating. While I like the plot, the characters, and so forth, I also want to point out that there are certain characters just made my blood boils for some reason, and when they apologised for it, I just couldnt accept it. I feel like they had wronged a lot of times but somehow they simply apologized once and all is well.... I find it a bit irritating but nevertheless, this is just my opinion.
To conclude it all, this book would be great for readers who enjoys contemporary, slow paced, with a lot of details and monologue in a book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC of Lucky Streak in exchange for my honest review. 2.5/5 stars, I really wanted to love this, but unfortunately the characters, storylines, conflict and resolution just didn't come together for me. We meet Jackson Hill and Bea Puso as they are mid one nightstand in Vegas. She has to suddenly leave mid stand and through mishaps they do not get each others information. Fate steps in and 5 years later they end up neighbors in The Ozarks. Fate, instalove, company rivalary, family dynamics all converge to make being together something they desperately want, but can't have. This is my first Tif Marcelo book and the whole time I was reading it, I felt like I was missing information. Found out afterwards, that this is a book in a series and it made my confusion during reading make more sense. Still don't know what happened in Vegas to make them have this instant love connection. I do think I may have felt more of a connection to the characters if I had read the other book first. The writing was good, and there is definite potential to fall in love with the Puso family, so I am going to give the first book a try and I may comeback and update my review.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, until she moves in next door to you. I love it! Beatrice is a successful businesswoman with a growing company, a large close family, and amazing friends. Her love life is nonexistence, and no one can compare to that one night in Vegas. Then she moves in next to The Cathy Hill and meets her son. The son is the man, Jackson, from Vegas. You would think it would be easy, just pick up where you left off and let the sparks fly. The issue is that Jackson’s dad and Beatrice’s family are in a feud. Neither family will be happy with this match.
I love the heat and sparks that fly between them. I almost expected the book to catch on fire. Yet the book has such a sweet side. Jackson and Beatrice had respect and love for each other but they both also did not want to hurt their families. Family is important to them both and they must weigh the risks before they can declare their love for each other. I hated to see them struggle but I knew that they had to figure out how important they were to each other before they could move on and become the couple they were destined to be.
Tif Marcelo is phenomenal. She has quickly become a must-read author for me. Her books stay on my bookshelf and I recommend them often.
I received an advanced reading copy of Lucky Streak, receipt of which does not impact my review.
“I wish it were easier between us,” she ventured, feeling brave because he wasn’t looking right at her. “Same.” His voice was a whisper. “Because I think . . . I think it could be forever.”
I adore this series from Tif Marcelo! Lucky Streak has cemented her as an auto-buy author for me. This second chance romance between Beatrice Puso and her Vegas almost-fling from five years ago, Jackson Hill, was just so genuine and heartfelt, though it pulsed with some stress and drama throughout. As a bonus, Beatrice and Jackson are slightly older than your usual romance novel hero & heroine (he’s 40), which is always a win in my mind.
Both characters are working on ‘what’s next’ for them professionally and personally, and dealing with family pressure and expectations. The only thing that might make sense is each other - but since they are working for opposing resorts, they have to wonder if they are doomed rom the start. I thought the conflicts were realistic and their chemistry was leaping off the page. I only hope there’s another book in this series!
I enjoyed Beatrice and Jackson's story, though a few personal irks made this my least favorite of this fabulous series. The Puso family is strong, and the author does a great job including human flaws in an otherwise close family. Beatrice's POV was just as sweet and quirky as I expected based on my impression of her from the other books. Jackson was a great addition. He was so open and sincere, and I loved how much he tried. Which is why I think he may not have gotten a fair shake.
The Puso family is a huge presence on page, and we've been with them for 3 books now ... of which I read back-to-back, within 3 days ... so our loyalty to them is well established. However, Jackson was just trying to get to know the father he just met, and I really wish the Puso family was more understanding of that. Jackson bent over backwards in almost every instance, and I wish he would have challenged the assumption that the "right thing to do" was to defer to whatever the Pusos wanted, personally or in business.
I'm glad things worked out, because they really were perfect for each other most of the time.
Las Vegas has a tendency to show back up five years after you moved away. I mean, come on, friends, you don't want to see your past come back into your life, especially when it lingers in the best possible manner, like with a new neighbor.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how Tif Marcelo is finally hitting her stride when it comes to writing romance. Her writing flow and couple dynamics are at their peak. Her latest book, "Lucky Streak," is full of sex, angst, and humor. It's a delightful read that I'm sure will keep readers engaged.
The "Lucky Streak" series by @tifmarcelo has cemented her place as an auto-buy author. Beatrice Puso and Jackson Hill's second chance romance was so genuine and heartfelt, and it had some drama and stress throughout. Beatrice and Jackson are both older than their typical romance novel characters, which is a win for me.
The main characters in the "Lucky Streak" series are dealing with different issues, such as dealing with family expectations and pressure and working on what's next for themselves. Although they have conflicting schedules, their chemistry is so strong that I hope there's another book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Tif Marcelo, and Montlake for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What a fun, very fast-paced romance! A chance meeting 5-years ago in Vegas, fast forward and you are neighbors! What are the odds of that?! This is very Romeo and Juliet-esque. Choosing to fight for each other or to be loyal to their families.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, but I am glad I continued until the end. It was really about learning more about the characters and their pasts that got me more invested in the story. Going right from meeting for the first time in the first chapter to 5 years later in the next didn’t offer a lot of context to the story, so you really had to keep going to get into it.
I would 10/10 recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance story with family drama. Can’t wait to read it again!
This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Amazon accounts immediately and to my instagram account @ginganinja333 upon publication on 9/27/2022.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Lucky Streak has so many of the tropes and characteristics that I love, and yet I just didn’t connect with it. Family feuds, second chance romance, complex family dynamics? Check, check, check. And yet, I didn’t connect with the characters.
It was a slow paced story and I think one of my biggest issues was that I didn’t feel the characters were fully developed. There is little description of the characters or the setting, something I have only now come to realise helps me engage with a story and makes it feel alive.
I love a second chance romance but the history of the characters and their interactions in the past, the five years in between, the family dynamics are not really explained - it feels assumed that the reader will know, or knows that this will come out later.
I loved the use of Filipino culture throughout as I felt this is something that added to the family environment of Beatrice’s family.
Jackson has recently retired from the military. It has not been easy to find a job. So, he takes an offer from his very distant father. This takes him to Nags Head. Little does he know, this puts him right into the path of a long, lost acquaintance, Beatrice. Then the sparks fly…in more ways than one!
I fell in love with this author when I read North To You. I have been a fan ever since. Some have been better than others, but this book is one of my favorites! I absolutely fell in love with both of the main characters, Beatrice and Jackson. Plus..give me a book with family drama and I am a fan..I mean who doesn’t have that one person!
This book ticked a lot of boxes. I have already mentioned the family drama, but you also have a hot guy, Jackson. There is also a smart, hard working woman, Beatrice. Plus she has some very protective brothers. This adds to the tension! Add in the location of Nags Head and you have a pretty dang good read!
Need a romance you won’t soon forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
This is an enjoyable romance but I especially loved how the characters had realistic and complex challenges that were well portrayed. For example, Jackson has retired from the military after a 22 year career, and at age 40 is now feeling adrift figuring out not only his next career move but also how to structure his time without the structure of the military. He is also struggling with his feeling surrounding his birth father who has been absent in his life until now. Beatrice is struggling with her family dynamics as she feels responsible for filling her mother’s role now that her parents have passed. I did think it was hypocritical of Beatrice to get upset with Jackson about how he handled a pivotal moment in not disclosing their relationship since Beatrice had asked him to keep it a secret previously. But I guess we are often hypocritical in how we judge others. I also enjoyed the glimpses into Pilipino culture and the diversity in the characters ethnicities.
I wasn't expecting this book to be so sweet and sentimental, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not usually a fan of insta-love, but Beatrice and Jackson had what often seemed like the entire world working against them which resulted in enough drama to keep me clinging onto hope for their happy ending.
I really liked the difference between Bea and Jackson's families, and how both caused their own issues. Bea's family was very close-knit but also smothering and not always understanding of Bea's need to be her own person, outside of the family business. Jackson's mum was great (I would've loved more of her but I'll take what I can get), his brother came through in the end and his dad was...well, a businessman and not a father.
Bea and Jackson had to fight for themselves and for each other, ultimately realising that fate exists for a reason, and it always wins. Lucky Streak is a perfect Sunday afternoon read.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. So first off, I rated it as 3.5 stars. The writing is good but it was hard to get into it until around the last 20%. Maybe it’s because it’s part of a series and there wasn’t much intro to make me invested. I didn’t know beforehand that it’s part of a series and I didn’t read the previous books. I would say that it can stand as a standalone but of course there are some parts that you do feel left out of. The sex scenes in the book is fade to black so it’s a pretty clean romance book. I do love the inclusion of Filipino culture especially after finding out that the author is Filipino. I’m not a Filipino but I’m always here to support a POC author. The story is pretty much very star crossed lovers and there were moments where I don’t see how they could fix it. Overall it’s a nice read but it’s not an amazing read for me. Maybe you’ll enjoy it who knows.