Luck of the Draw

I fell in love with Shamrock Falls in Lucky Break and was really excited to go back there again while reading Luck of the Draw, especially when I found out it was Rowan's story. While in Las Vegas for a conference, Rowan is feeling kind of sorry for herself after her brother doesn't show up to spend time with her. While sitting at the bar, Breck Wilder enters the scene, introducing himself as "Wilder." Rowan immediately shoots him down, which is something Breck isn't used to, but that doesn't deter him one bit, especially since flirting is kind of a second nature to him. They end up laughing and having a great time together. One thing leads to another and they have a wild night of passion together. Rowan sneaks off before Breck wakes show more up, and heads back home to Sharmock Falls to her Bed and Breakfast. When her friend Jace arranges for one of his college buddies to stay there for 6 weeks, Rowan is elated to have a guest, that is until she opens the door and sees Breck standing there. She is so shocked she passes out, resulting in a visit to the hospital. The next six weeks prove to be one of the most interesting, enlightening, aggravating, enjoyable, and heartbreaking times in both Breck and Rowan's life. The question is, what happens when it's over and all is said and done?

Kelley Vitollo has written yet another fabulous romance. I loved Luck of the Draw, and I especially loved getting to know Rowan and Breck. We first met Rowan in Lucky Break. She is Kade and Sidney's best friend, who we also get to see in this installment, which I really enjoyed. I loved Rowan. She is independent, fun loving, and has a fiery temper, but she is also very vulnerable, though she tries to hide it. Breck is just awesome, and sometimes a little aggravating, but that just adds to his charm. He's totally hot, cocky, has a great since of humor, a killer smile, and is the life of the party. Breck is a professional poker player and has a history with the ladies, but never gets serious with them because he was burned so badly by someone he loved a long time ago, a fact that he doesn't share with anyone. He makes it clear he isn't interested in a relationship or settling down, but the more time he spends around Rowan, the more the lines begin to blur. Rowan is really attracted to Breck, but she is determined to keep her distance emotionally and not let him get too close, especially since he has made it clear he's not interested in a serious relationship, but no matter how hard she tries, the heart wants what the heart wants.

I loved watching Rowan and Breck's relationship develop as they skate around their feelings, but unable to deny the sparks they feel when they're around each other. When Rowan loses someone she loves, her walls come down and they finally give into their feelings for one another. Rowan has a big secret she has been keeping from Breck, and is planning to finally tell him, only he finds out about it before she is able to. Breck also has a secret he's kept from Rowan. Hurt and heartache drive them apart, but will their love be enough to bring them back together again?

I was sucked in from the beginning until the end of this story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot was great, I loved all the characters, and the romance was fabulous. If you are a contemporary romance lover, then Luck of the Draw is one book you should definitely check out. show less

Rowan is in Las Vegas for a convention before she goes home to Shamrock Falls to open her bed and breakfast. She is feeling a little lost and lonely since she was supposed to meet her brother and her stood her up. When Breck Wilder, a professional poker player, tries to pick her up, she is very uninterested but strangely charmed by this handsome guy who can make her laugh. One thing lead to another and they end up in bed together. Rowan sneaks out after they make love planning never to see him again and wondering what she was thinking.

As is the case in romance novels, Breck shows up at her B & B when he needs to get away from it all. Seems he went to college with one of Rowan's friends from town and get a recommendation from him about a show more place to stay. The first thing Rowan does when she sees him is faint. He is very much the gentleman and insists she see a doctor.

Rowan is surprised to learn that she is going to have a baby and just doesn't know how she will tell Breck. When she feels him out, she quickly learns that he has no interest in settling down, having a relationship or ever having kids. This leaves Rowan with quite a dilemma which becomes even more complicated when they spend time together and begin to fall in love. Falling in love makes Rowan feel guilty and makes Breck confused. He isn't about to take a chance on love since he was betrayed by the woman he married when he was nineteen.

The dialog was witty. The relationships were well-written. Rowan is lonely and feels a little jealous that her friends in town are building their own relationships. I liked the friendships between the characters. Rowan had a lot more support than she thought she had as witnessed by the number of people who warned Breck not the break her heart.

This was a quick read. It was fast-paced, filled with emotion, and not at all explicit. Romance readers will enjoy meeting Breck and Rowan and watching them work out their relationship. show less

Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
by: Kim
www.readyourwrites.blogspot.com

I have to be honest, I got this book because first loved the cover and second, I thought the blurb could be good. Then before I started reading the book, I thought, “Oh man, I don’t really want to read this book.” I am SO glad I did. LUCK OF THE DRAW drew me in immediately and had me not wanting to put it down.

Rowan McKinley is from the small town of Shamrock Falls. She’s on the verge of fulfilling her dream of opening up Destiny Knocks, a Bed & Breakfast. She’s in Las Vegas attending a hospitality convention. She’s in her hotel’s bar because she’s lonely since one of her three older brothers doesn’t have time to see her.

In walks Breck show more Wilder, a professional poker player. Breck has sworn off of women, after getting his heartbroken by his former wife and having a crazy cat stealing ex-girlfriend. But Breck who is charm personified has no problem with a little harmless flirting.

After spending hours chatting it up and laughing, enjoying each other’s company, Rowan decides to call it night. Breck agrees and they decide to go to their own separate rooms, which happen to be on the same floor. Something comes over Rowan and she does something she’s never done before, sleep with an unknown man. Afterwards, Rowan sneaks out while Breck is asleep, never to see him again.

A month later, Breck, who happens to be an old college friend of Jace, one of Rowan’s closest friends shows up on the doorstep of the B&B, looking for a place to relax for a couple of weeks. Both are surprised, to say the least, at seeing each other again. Rowan is so surprised in fact, that she faints.

Insisting she sees a doctor, Breck convinces her to have her friends take her to the hospital for a check up. What happens next, throws Rowan for a loop she isn’t going to recover from anytime soon. I loved this story because you can feel the friendship between Rowan and her friends, Sidney and Kade (LUCKY BREAK) and Jace and Betsy (JUST MY LUCK). They’re all willing to welcome Breck into their circle, like he’s been there the whole time. After spending a month with Breck, Rowan realizes he’s everything she has ever wanted, but she’s afraid to tell him and not be loved enough by Breck in return. Tragedy strikes and misunderstandings mount, forcing Breck to question why he always falls in love with women who do nothing but hurt and deceive him.

Breck is a gambling man. He’s an extremely good poker player because he takes risks. However, in his personal life, he errs on the side of caution, so he doesn’t get hurt. In order to find his true love and happiness, Breck has to realize that when you keep secrets, you can’t get upset with someone else for doing the same thing, no matter what those secrets are.

I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series, featuring Jace and Betsy. They were such a cute uncouple in this book.

Source: NetGalley show less

Luck of the Draw was the second book in the Shamrock Falls series. It was the story of Rowan, the third of the best friends we first meet in Lucky Break. It helps a great deal to have read Lucky Break before reading Luck of the Draw.

Rowan and Breck meet in Las Vegas, a chance encounter that rapidly turns into something more. When they accidentally meet again later, both bring their emotional baggage along with them. Though Rowan and Breck were excellent characters in their own right, their journey was less emotional than Sidney's and Kade's. Where in Lucky Break, it seemed like both grew up and dealt with the baggage, this was not as true for Rowan and Breck.

Rowan and Breck just didn't have the same chemistry. It was good to see the show more ensemble cast back and there were excellent scenes where all the friends got together. There was a couple of very emotional scenes that helped the story tremendously but the overall character issues were more glossed over. I did enjoy Luck of the Draw, but it lacked the emotional punch of its predecessor. A strong showing, nonetheless, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Heat Rating:Mild

RATING: 3

REVIEWED BY: Monique Neaves,My Book Addiction Reviews show less