Synopsis:

They have a second chance at love, but there are some rough seas ahead in the new contemporary romance from the acclaimed author of Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships

Commitment-phobe Nina Lejeune lives by two rules: 
1. Always have fun. 
2. Don’t rely on anyone but yourself.
The first rule is easy; the second, she’s only broken once.ou won’t ever forget.

Ten years after fleeing home, Nina is the chief stewardess on the super yacht Serendipity, single by choice, and perfectly content with how life has turned out.

But Nina’s ex-coworker and old flame, Irish chef Ollie Dunne, isn’t so happy with the status quo. One year after leaving yachting, he’s returned as the Serendipity’s chef with an ultimatum: if Nina continues to deny she’s in love with him by the end of this charter season, he’ll go back to Ireland for good.

Nina and Ollie’s shared secret from their past threatens to shipwreck not only their relationship, but the entire boat. But as their connection grows amidst chaotic guests and crew drama, could there be smooth sailing in their future?

Very rarely do I want to read a book because of the cover alone, but Luck & Last Resorts by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, was one of those occasions. When I was invited to read her sophomore novel, I immediately wanted to accept, falling in love with the charming cover. But I quickly realized Luck & Last Resorts is the second novel in her romance series following the popular Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships, which I have not read yet. After reading some early reviews from fellow bloggers, I felt reassured that it wasn’t necessary to read the previous novel, and I accepted that invitation. 

Let me assure you, my fellow bloggers were not wrong, and I adored this romance about the staff on the Serendipity, a super yacht, sending Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships sailing up my TBR.

“Sometimes the possibility of having something is more terrifying than the thought of never having it at all.”

Sarah Grunder Ruiz, Luck & Last Resorts

In Luck & Last Resorts, we follow Nina, Jo’s best friend from Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships. I was very impressed with Ruiz’ ability to make Luck & Last Resorts not feel like a follow-up. Typically when I read a subsequent book within a series without reading the first book, there will be a few holes within the plot that have me feeling like I missed something, but not with Luck & Last Resorts. It felt like a wholly complete book on its own, that happened to feature side characters I’d like to know more about.

Now about the story… Luck & Last Resorts frustrated me in the best angsty way. I didn’t want to set this one down, reading into the wee hours of the night to finish. Despite it only being from Nina’s point of view, I fell hard for Ollie, Nina’s on-again-off-again-best-friend-with-benefits love interest. Ruiz’ talent for perfectly capturing a character only viewed through another character’s point of view, reminded me so much of Emily Henry’s style. I felt like I knew Ollie, the Serendipity’s sometimes grumpy chef, in the end only wanting what was best for him, even if that meant it wasn’t Nina.