ARC Review | Lucky by Garrett Leigh

Lucky by Garrett Leigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: September 18th, 2018
ARC from the author

| Book Review |

Why, yes. There is a formula to my writing a review for a Garrett Leigh book – cue the gushy slash sappy intro. Every time I pick up a book from this author, I know I’m in for something special. Just seeing the cover of the book on my Kindle makes my heart skip a beat, and seeing Lucky sitting there waiting for me definitely did that. Lucky and Dom’s story won me over immediately. Desperate for money, Lucky agrees to a Grindr for cash hookup, and that’s how his relationship with Dom kicks off. Though these two had chemistry right off the bat, and it wasn’t just sexual. Their interlude was steamy and sexy, but as with all Garrett Leigh love scenes, there’s an undercurrent of tenderness and depth that makes it feel as precious to the reader as it obviously is to the characters. Contrary to his name, Lucky was down on his luck and in dire straits when he set up his ‘meeting’ with Dom, a professional football player with nothing to offer. Because of his career as a professional football player, he was firmly in the closet with no plans to change that. But Lucky and Dom can’t seem to stay away from each other, and no matter what the stakes are, Dom just can’t seem to stay away. Lucky’s life was devastating and it broke my heart. He was trying so hard just to get by. Thankfully he had a great friend in Jamila who was there for him when she could be and worried like crazy when she couldn’t be. She was so good to him and always had his best interests at heart. In contrast, Dom’s life seems so much better. And outwardly, material-wise, there’s no arguing it was. But for Dom, the only thing that meant anything to him was football. He didn’t even live his life – it was football, and then early to bed unless a teammate could manage to drag him out for some fun. Even his home had a clinical feel to it; there was nothing that meant anything to him there. And it’s not until Dom sees just how dire of straits Lucky is in that he can even contemplate living a different life.

Sex off the bat, yes. Wanting more and more from each other? Yes to that, too. But there was a slow burn to this book as Lucky and Dom came to genuinely care for each other, and you could tell from the way they tried to stay away from each other that fate just wasn’t going to be denied. It’s like Lucky and Dom were made for each other, and I love that this book didn’t take a turn to where Dom was changing his life for Lucky; Dom was changing his life so he could finally live it. Garrett Leigh’s characters always have so many layers, and you get to see them slowly peeled back throughout the story. Her books give me such hope that just for a few hours, I want to be broken so I can be put back together again. (I mean, I come out of it quickly enough when I’m done reading; trust me. No one wants to be put through that wringer.)

As you can see, I loved Dom and Lucky’s story, and I’m just not ready to let this world go yet. Luckily Cash’s book is in store for us. Though we only caught a glimpse of him in Lucky, I already like the man and want to see him get his happy ever after. And yeah – I’m hoping for an Isha book, too. Suffice it to say, my wish list includes all the books from all the characters. But whatever is next from Garrett Leigh, you know I’ll be reading it. I always do.

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