Review: "Just Let Go" by Courtney Walsh

I've heard about Courtney Walsh's novels for years now. Figured I'd enjoy them. But until yesterday, I'd never read one. And now I'm ready to go back and read all the others that I've been missing!

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For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe fulfills a childhood dream, but also gives her the chance to stick it to her mom, who owned the store before skipping town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also competing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.

Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community-service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press.

Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s uptight and too regimented. Yet as the two begin to hammer and saw, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost along the way. But when a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town—and Quinn’s life—possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn must finally let go or risk missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: June 5, 2018

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Redemption. Romance. New Beginnings. All are present in Courtney Walsh's Just Let Go.

When Quinn and Grady meet, they're both people trapped by their past. A tragedy in Grady's past has led him to focus on a singular goal, winning an Olympic gold medal, yet as the years go by, he becomes more and more reckless. After Quinn was abandoned by someone she loved, she became fearful, regimented, and judgmental. The two are polar opposites in some ways, yet in others they're very much the same, and it's soon obvious to everyone except Quinn that they belong together. But before they can move forward with each other, they must each come to terms with the past and learn to let go of the things holding them back.

I loved so many things about this novel! From the swoony romance (which gets right down to the kissing—no waiting until the 75% mark in this book!) to Quinn's family to Grady's relationship with Quinn's nephew to the slowly-revealed truth about what happened in both Quinn's and Grady's pasts, Just Let Go sparkles.

The setting of Harbor Pointe, a small town where everyone knows everyone and the inhabitants are delightfully quirky, very much reminds me of Melissa Tagg's Maple Valley. As a huge fan of Tagg's series, this discovery made me incredibly happy. If you're looking for a sweet romance full of heart, you'll definitely want to pick up Just Let Go. 5 stars.

Note: This is the second Harbor Pointe novel, but each book stands alone. Book one features Ryan and Lane, two minor characters in this book, and I'm so glad that I have a copy waiting for me on my TBR shelf!

Buy the book.

Follow the blog tour:
By The Book, June 26
Faithfully Bookish, June 26
Luv’N Lambert Life, June 26
Reading Is My SuperPower, June 27
Among the Reads, June 27
Splashes of Joy, June 27
God is Love, June 28
Fiction Aficionado, June 28
Genesis 5020, June 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, June 28
Carpe Diem, June 29
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, June 29
100 Pages per Hour, June 29
The Power of Words, June 30
Lighthouse Academy, June 30
Radiant Light, June 30
Just the Write Escape, June 30
Quiet Quilter, July 1
C Jane Read, July 1
A Baker’s Perspective, July 1
Cordially Barbara, July 2
Baker kella, July 2
The Christian Fiction Girl, July 3
Remembrancy, July 3
amandainpa, July 3
Two Points of Interest, July 4
Daysong Reflections, July 4
SusanLovesBooks, July 4
Vicky Sluiter, July 5
proud to be an autism mom, July 5
Moments Dipped in Ink, July 6
Pause for Tales, July 6
Bibliophile Reviews, July 7
Texas Book-aholic, July 7
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 7
Janices book reviews, July 8
Bigreadersite, July 8
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Godly Book Reviews, July 9
Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 9
Christian Author, J.E.Grace, July 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Courtney Walsh is giving away a grand prize of a library of Courtney Walsh’s books and a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/d0a4/just-let-go-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Her debut novel, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. She has written two more books in the Sweethaven series, as well as two craft books and several full-length musicals. Courtney lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."