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Lucky Harbor #1-2
Christmas in Lucky Harbor
Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .
Simply Irresistible
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.
If the sisters are lucky, they might just find that everything their hearts desire is right here in Lucky Harbor.
Simply Irresistible
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.
If the sisters are lucky, they might just find that everything their hearts desire is right here in Lucky Harbor.
688 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
101 people are currently reading
1543 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shalvis
386 books13.8k followersJill Shalvis is a NYT, USA Today, and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of small-town romance and romcoms, known for big feels, found family, and plenty of shenanigans.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
October 16, 2012
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is actually the first two books in the Lucky Harbor series; Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing, and if you've ever thought about visiting Lucky Harbor, now's the time when you can get two great stories for the price of one! And honestly, I loved them so much that I read both stories in less than two days, and yet I'm finding it nearly impossible to review them now because there is just so much to tell, so many funny quotes, so many sigh-worthy moments... I just can't decide where to start or what to share, so I'll just keep it simple.
1. Simply Irresistible is the first book in the Lucky Harbor series and such a great story. I'm sitting here with this silly grin on my face because it's been a long time since I've read a book, any book, that had me smiling, giggling, sighing and fanning myself as much as this one did. Simply put, Simply Irresistible is a wonderful, funny, sexy, romantic, feel good story! I went to sleep thinking about this book and woke up thinking about it. The hero, Jax, is the kind of man that you really could find in Anytown, USA, and the heroine, Maddie, is a real woman. The kind with curves, flaws and insecurities... someone we can all relate to. 5 stars!
2. The Sweetest Thing is the second book in the Lucky Harbor series, and once again I’m sitting here with a silly grin on my face, unable to stop thinking about Ford and Tara, and the other crazy friends and family who made this story so fun! With honest, believable characters that I couldn't help but care about and cheer for, it’s a tale of first love, lost love, and love renewed – and a story you definitely do not want to miss! 5 stars!
I f you’ve ever read some of my reviews you know I’m not joking when I say that I could go on and on, paragraph upon paragraph, listing all reasons you need to read this book, but I’ll just cut to the chase: Do yourself a favor and just go buy the book, because the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll discover for yourself the amazing people and the magic that is waiting to be found during Christmas in Lucky Harbor.
My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy of this ebook through netgalley.com
December 31, 2021
Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor 1) 4 stars
The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor 2) 5 stars
Kissing Santa Claus (Lucky Harbor 2.5) 3 stars
Under The Mistletoe (Lucky Harbor 6.5) still to read
The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor 2) 5 stars
Kissing Santa Claus (Lucky Harbor 2.5) 3 stars
Under The Mistletoe (Lucky Harbor 6.5) still to read
December 31, 2015
31/12 - I've already read both full length novels in this book, Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing, so I'm not reviewing either of those, but my overall rating does reflect my love for them - they really are fantastic stories - plus what I think of the two new novellas. To be continued...
The first novella was Logan's story (Tara's ex-husband) and he was paired with Sandy, a week-long fling he can't stop thinking about. I had some LOL moments at the beginning of the story, picturing Sandy dressed as a particularly rotund Santa in heels who finds herself stuck in the Santa suit thanks to one of those zips that trap you in the most embarrassing costume imaginable. Logan didn't really resemble the Logan I remember from The Sweetest Thing, but five years have passed, so maybe we're supposed to assume that he's grown since he was a dreadful husband to Tara. Logan and Sandy could have filled out an entire novel, sometimes I don't understand the reasoning behind choosing to write a novella rather than a novel.
The second novella was Mia's story (Tara and Ford's now-adult daughter) and she was paired with Nick, a guy she met after leaving for university in New York. I really liked Mia and Nick, although it was a bit weird to be reading about Mia in sex scenes hot enough to rival her parents'. In my head she was still a teenager, until we were finally told that it had been five years since the end of Sawyer and Chloe's book and she was now old enough to star in her own sex scenes. I will definitely keep reading this series, despite being way too short, both of these novellas had all the right elements and reignited my love for the series (which I haven't read any of for quite a while).
Happy New Year to everyone!! I finished this just before our fireworks started and reviewed with one eye on the telecast of them, so this was simultaneously the final book of 2015 and the first review of 2016.
The first novella was Logan's story (Tara's ex-husband) and he was paired with Sandy, a week-long fling he can't stop thinking about. I had some LOL moments at the beginning of the story, picturing Sandy dressed as a particularly rotund Santa in heels who finds herself stuck in the Santa suit thanks to one of those zips that trap you in the most embarrassing costume imaginable. Logan didn't really resemble the Logan I remember from The Sweetest Thing, but five years have passed, so maybe we're supposed to assume that he's grown since he was a dreadful husband to Tara. Logan and Sandy could have filled out an entire novel, sometimes I don't understand the reasoning behind choosing to write a novella rather than a novel.
The second novella was Mia's story (Tara and Ford's now-adult daughter) and she was paired with Nick, a guy she met after leaving for university in New York. I really liked Mia and Nick, although it was a bit weird to be reading about Mia in sex scenes hot enough to rival her parents'. In my head she was still a teenager, until we were finally told that it had been five years since the end of Sawyer and Chloe's book and she was now old enough to star in her own sex scenes. I will definitely keep reading this series, despite being way too short, both of these novellas had all the right elements and reignited my love for the series (which I haven't read any of for quite a while).
Happy New Year to everyone!! I finished this just before our fireworks started and reviewed with one eye on the telecast of them, so this was simultaneously the final book of 2015 and the first review of 2016.
October 21, 2011
This was my first swaree into Jill Shalvis, and I can honestly say that I will be taking a look at her back list. She is an author that has been on my TBR list for a long time, but never seemed to get around to her books, Something else would grab me, and then something else, and so on, so when I saw this available on NetGalley, I immediately snapped it up!
Simply Irresistible, is Maddie and Jax's story. and I am giving it Three Stars.
Why Three and not Four? Simple. I personally have issues with lying, and lying by omission, and the storyline surrounding Jax and Maddie was rife with omissions. However, I did enjoy the couple, and the sisters and friends. All the side characters are fascinating and compelling to read. I especially liked the small tidbits we receive about Tara and Ford having a past. You can also see some sparks between Chloe and Sawyer.
I think it would be completely awesome to own and run and Bed and Breakfast, and I admire Maddie for her determination to do so.
Simply Irresistible has some spousal abuse memories, and if you have a problem reading about things like that, I just want you to be aware. It's peripheral, and in the past, but it's there nonetheless. Maddie is working on herself, and getting stronger.
Jax and Maddie together, were great. When they weren't keeping the distance, and lying by omission. I also liked seeing them in the next novel...
**********************
The Sweetest Thing 4 Stars
The Sweetest Thing features Tara the Stubbornly Selfish and Ford the Easy-Going-let-her-get-away.
I wanted to know more about their pasts together when I read Simply Irresistible, and learned they had a past :P
It was a heartbreaking kind of past, let me tell you. But I had issues with them both. Not so much from when they were seventeen, because, really, at seventeen, you are young -- and mistakes are made and more readily acceptable. But NOW, 17 years later, they really needed to sit down, and talk. They didn't. I really wanted them to open up more to each other. They slipped back into lust and love quick enough, but I really wanted some deeper emotional showings. When Mia shows up, I admit, I teared up and my heart broke for Tara when Mia was friendly with Ford, and not so much with her.
The Sweetest Thing is a rekindled love story, and does have a love triangle. Sort of. You see, along with way, Tara had gotten married, and subsequently--divorced--two years ago. But Logan wants her back. So the book is about Logan vs. Ford. Of course, my vote goes to the dirty talking, sailor, Ford. I really liked Ford--in the bedroom. Hot Damn the man is smokin hot! {I liked him as a person too, just wish he opened up more, or faster, or something!}
I loved the town antics, it was pretty funny to see, or rather, hear about the polls on Facebook. The entire town is involved in who Tara will choose :P
One thing that felt thrown in there, was the drama between Mia and Carlos, it felt too much like a paradox, and I was irritated a bit. I found it not necessary to the story per say, but was just used to cause both Ford and Tara to reflect on THEIR past selves.
At any rate, Christmas at Lucky Harbor, was a fast, enjoyable read, and good overall Contemporary Romance.
One of the things that I liked, was that it felt REAL. These people, make real life mistakes. I appreciate that in my Contemporary Romance.
Simply Irresistible, is Maddie and Jax's story. and I am giving it Three Stars.
Why Three and not Four? Simple. I personally have issues with lying, and lying by omission, and the storyline surrounding Jax and Maddie was rife with omissions. However, I did enjoy the couple, and the sisters and friends. All the side characters are fascinating and compelling to read. I especially liked the small tidbits we receive about Tara and Ford having a past. You can also see some sparks between Chloe and Sawyer.
I think it would be completely awesome to own and run and Bed and Breakfast, and I admire Maddie for her determination to do so.
Simply Irresistible has some spousal abuse memories, and if you have a problem reading about things like that, I just want you to be aware. It's peripheral, and in the past, but it's there nonetheless. Maddie is working on herself, and getting stronger.
Jax and Maddie together, were great. When they weren't keeping the distance, and lying by omission. I also liked seeing them in the next novel...
**********************
The Sweetest Thing 4 Stars
The Sweetest Thing features Tara the Stubbornly Selfish and Ford the Easy-Going-let-her-get-away.
I wanted to know more about their pasts together when I read Simply Irresistible, and learned they had a past :P
It was a heartbreaking kind of past, let me tell you. But I had issues with them both. Not so much from when they were seventeen, because, really, at seventeen, you are young -- and mistakes are made and more readily acceptable. But NOW, 17 years later, they really needed to sit down, and talk. They didn't. I really wanted them to open up more to each other. They slipped back into lust and love quick enough, but I really wanted some deeper emotional showings. When Mia shows up, I admit, I teared up and my heart broke for Tara when Mia was friendly with Ford, and not so much with her.
The Sweetest Thing is a rekindled love story, and does have a love triangle. Sort of. You see, along with way, Tara had gotten married, and subsequently--divorced--two years ago. But Logan wants her back. So the book is about Logan vs. Ford. Of course, my vote goes to the dirty talking, sailor, Ford. I really liked Ford--in the bedroom. Hot Damn the man is smokin hot! {I liked him as a person too, just wish he opened up more, or faster, or something!}
I loved the town antics, it was pretty funny to see, or rather, hear about the polls on Facebook. The entire town is involved in who Tara will choose :P
One thing that felt thrown in there, was the drama between Mia and Carlos, it felt too much like a paradox, and I was irritated a bit. I found it not necessary to the story per say, but was just used to cause both Ford and Tara to reflect on THEIR past selves.
At any rate, Christmas at Lucky Harbor, was a fast, enjoyable read, and good overall Contemporary Romance.
One of the things that I liked, was that it felt REAL. These people, make real life mistakes. I appreciate that in my Contemporary Romance.
Read
October 12, 2012Well dang! I just realized I bought this book last Christmas thinking I was getting two Christmas novellas involving the characters from Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing. What I just found out is this book includes both full length books of Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing combined together for one great price. My problem? I already bought both books at the same time I bought this one, and now I have two copies of each book. I guess that's what I get for not paying attention to what I'm buying. Lol.
December 9, 2014
This anthology contains the first 2 books in the Lucky Harbor series. I have reviewed each book separately below but this is a series I'd highly recommend.
5 stars for Simply Irresistible
I've really been on a contemporary romance kick recently so when I saw all my friends on Goodreads start raving about the 3 latest books in the Lucky Harbor series I decided I'd have to give it a try. I just want to say a massive thanks to everyone who has mentioned these books because I absolutely loved Simply Irresistible. This may be the first book I've read by Jill Shalvis but I'm already looking forward to diving into the rest of this series and I'm sure I'll be checking out the rest of her back list too.
Maddie's life has gone down the toilet, she finally found the courage to dump her abusive ex-boyfriend but an incident at work has left her unemployed and completely broke. So finding out she has inherited a third share of a resort in the tiny coastal town of Lucky Harbor has come at the perfect time. Maddie has never spent much time with her half sisters Tara and Chloe but if she can convince them to help her run the inn then perhaps she can finally have the family she has always wanted. Her sisters have other ideas though and both of them are determined to sell up as quickly as possible and get back to their lives. To get the best possible price they are going to need to give the run down inn a makeover and Maddie hopes that will give her time to convince her sisters to make a go of things. Jax, the contractor they have hired to help fix the inn, only has eyes for Maddie but she has sworn of men for good. But can she resist the hunky, leather clad, motorbike riding Jax when they are spending almost every waking moment working together?
I loved the characters in Simply Irresistible, they are so real it's like they could walk out of the pages and you can't help but feel like you've become friends with Maddie and her sisters by the end of the story. Maddie is such an easy character to relate to, she is struggling to rebuild the confidence that her ex knocked out of her and needs to find herself again. She has insecurities that I'm sure most women will be able to relate to but she wants to do something to change her life and is determined not to be a victim any more. She finds it hard to trust Jax and open up to him but he slowly chips away at her defences and she can't deny the chemistry between them.
Jax is one of the best heroes I've come across recently and I can certainly see where the book got it's title. I'd dare any woman to resist his charms - I know I wouldn't be able to! When he first steps onto the page you would be forgiven for thinking he is going to be a bad boy but he is actually a complete sweetheart. He is sexy as sin, charming, funny, smart, caring and so much more. He is a man who knows what he wants and sets out to claim it. He is protective and loving and I would love to see him get his hands on Maddie's ex! I loved the way the author doesn't gloss over Maddie's past and Jax has to work at building her trust. If you've ever seen the effects of domestic abuse you'll know that there is no instant fix and it takes time for the victim to trust again. Even though Maddie knows deep down that Jax would never hurt her she can't stop her automatic reaction to flinch if he surprises her. The romance between this couple is fantastic, it may be a slow build emotionally but the chemistry is there from the very first time they meet and they can scorch the pages with just a look between them.
As much as I loved the interaction between Maddie and Jax (and boy did I love every second that this couple spent together) I also loved the scenes with Maddie, Tara and Chloe. The three sisters couldn't be more different from each other, they are practically strangers and they constantly bicker when they're in the same room. Their antics had me laughing out loud as I was reading and I enjoyed watching them bond as they got to know each other better. Anyone with siblings will recognise the way they interact and although they can't agree on anything and are always fighting they are also very protective of each other. Simply Irresistible was a fabulous read and one I'd highly recommend to anyone. I can't wait to get started on The Sweetest ThingHarbor to see what the sisters get up to next!
4 stars for The Sweetest Thing
In the second book of Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series it is Maddy's older sister Tara's turn to find love. I'm sure anyone who liked Simply Irresistible will enjoy The Sweetest Thing just as much. This series is full of humour, fantastic family dynamics, heroines who feel like your friends, heroes you're guaranteed to fall for and steamy romance. Perfect for when you want something light hearted and fun to read these are books I'd highly recommend and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
The last place in the world that Tara ever wanted to end up living was Lucky Harbor, it brings back too many difficult memories from a bad time in her life. Memories of broken heart that took her years to recover from and events that she will never forget. But getting to know her sisters has given her the sense of family that she has longed for and with nothing to return to Texas for she has decided to take a chance on building the Inn into a business they can all be proud of. If she can just keep her ex Ford at a distance everything will be fine. But Ford doesn't want to keep away from Tara, he let her get away from him once and has always regretted it so this is the perfect opportunity to win her back - especially when the chemistry between them has only grown during the years since they saw each other last.
Tara is the bossy older sister who takes everything too seriously and has the weight of the world on her shoulders. I didn't like her that much at the beginning of the first book but as we discovered her secrets towards the end I started to connect with her more and was looking forward to her story. The more we get to know her the more I liked her, she is a lot more vulnerable than I was expecting her to be and she never got over the end of her relationship with Ford and the adoption of their daughter. Although she still believes that she did the right thing for her daughter that doesn't mean she hasn't missed her ever since.
I really loved the relationship between Ford and Tara. Ford is almost her complete opposite, he is very laid back and in general is happy to let good things come to him rather than take the effort to chase after them. But he made that mistake once where Tara is concerned and this time he is prepared to fight for what he wants. He isn't above playing dirty too - he knows Tara is attracted to him and he is more than happy to use that chemistry to pull her back into his life. I totally fell for Ford and thought he was perfect for Tara, they just worked so well together that I couldn't imagine them with anyone else. Although Tara's ex-husband Logan is also on the scene trying to win her back I didn't feel he loved her in the same unconditional way that Ford did. Logan was a nice guy but he didn't win me over and I was definitely voting for Ford.
Mia's return added a nice element to the story and it was interesting to watch the dynamics between her, Tara and Ford. I did find it was a little too predictable at times though - it seemed a bit too easy that she suddenly turned up at just the right time and I was annoyed that the fact her adoptive parents were separating was used almost as an excuse for her to want to connect to her biological parents. In spite of that it was very amusing to watch Tara trying to deal with a younger version of herself - it can't be easy to suddenly find yourself trying to act like a mother to a 17 year old!
I still love the relationship between the three sisters Tara, Maddy and Chloe. They are growing closer all the time as they get to know each other properly but can still bicker with the best of them. It was fantastic to catch up with Maddy and Jax - there were some adorable scenes between the two of them - and I can't wait to read Chloe's story. I have a feeling we are in for some real fireworks between her and Sawyer in the next book!
5 stars for Simply Irresistible
I've really been on a contemporary romance kick recently so when I saw all my friends on Goodreads start raving about the 3 latest books in the Lucky Harbor series I decided I'd have to give it a try. I just want to say a massive thanks to everyone who has mentioned these books because I absolutely loved Simply Irresistible. This may be the first book I've read by Jill Shalvis but I'm already looking forward to diving into the rest of this series and I'm sure I'll be checking out the rest of her back list too.
Maddie's life has gone down the toilet, she finally found the courage to dump her abusive ex-boyfriend but an incident at work has left her unemployed and completely broke. So finding out she has inherited a third share of a resort in the tiny coastal town of Lucky Harbor has come at the perfect time. Maddie has never spent much time with her half sisters Tara and Chloe but if she can convince them to help her run the inn then perhaps she can finally have the family she has always wanted. Her sisters have other ideas though and both of them are determined to sell up as quickly as possible and get back to their lives. To get the best possible price they are going to need to give the run down inn a makeover and Maddie hopes that will give her time to convince her sisters to make a go of things. Jax, the contractor they have hired to help fix the inn, only has eyes for Maddie but she has sworn of men for good. But can she resist the hunky, leather clad, motorbike riding Jax when they are spending almost every waking moment working together?
I loved the characters in Simply Irresistible, they are so real it's like they could walk out of the pages and you can't help but feel like you've become friends with Maddie and her sisters by the end of the story. Maddie is such an easy character to relate to, she is struggling to rebuild the confidence that her ex knocked out of her and needs to find herself again. She has insecurities that I'm sure most women will be able to relate to but she wants to do something to change her life and is determined not to be a victim any more. She finds it hard to trust Jax and open up to him but he slowly chips away at her defences and she can't deny the chemistry between them.
Jax is one of the best heroes I've come across recently and I can certainly see where the book got it's title. I'd dare any woman to resist his charms - I know I wouldn't be able to! When he first steps onto the page you would be forgiven for thinking he is going to be a bad boy but he is actually a complete sweetheart. He is sexy as sin, charming, funny, smart, caring and so much more. He is a man who knows what he wants and sets out to claim it. He is protective and loving and I would love to see him get his hands on Maddie's ex! I loved the way the author doesn't gloss over Maddie's past and Jax has to work at building her trust. If you've ever seen the effects of domestic abuse you'll know that there is no instant fix and it takes time for the victim to trust again. Even though Maddie knows deep down that Jax would never hurt her she can't stop her automatic reaction to flinch if he surprises her. The romance between this couple is fantastic, it may be a slow build emotionally but the chemistry is there from the very first time they meet and they can scorch the pages with just a look between them.
As much as I loved the interaction between Maddie and Jax (and boy did I love every second that this couple spent together) I also loved the scenes with Maddie, Tara and Chloe. The three sisters couldn't be more different from each other, they are practically strangers and they constantly bicker when they're in the same room. Their antics had me laughing out loud as I was reading and I enjoyed watching them bond as they got to know each other better. Anyone with siblings will recognise the way they interact and although they can't agree on anything and are always fighting they are also very protective of each other. Simply Irresistible was a fabulous read and one I'd highly recommend to anyone. I can't wait to get started on The Sweetest ThingHarbor to see what the sisters get up to next!
4 stars for The Sweetest Thing
In the second book of Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series it is Maddy's older sister Tara's turn to find love. I'm sure anyone who liked Simply Irresistible will enjoy The Sweetest Thing just as much. This series is full of humour, fantastic family dynamics, heroines who feel like your friends, heroes you're guaranteed to fall for and steamy romance. Perfect for when you want something light hearted and fun to read these are books I'd highly recommend and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
The last place in the world that Tara ever wanted to end up living was Lucky Harbor, it brings back too many difficult memories from a bad time in her life. Memories of broken heart that took her years to recover from and events that she will never forget. But getting to know her sisters has given her the sense of family that she has longed for and with nothing to return to Texas for she has decided to take a chance on building the Inn into a business they can all be proud of. If she can just keep her ex Ford at a distance everything will be fine. But Ford doesn't want to keep away from Tara, he let her get away from him once and has always regretted it so this is the perfect opportunity to win her back - especially when the chemistry between them has only grown during the years since they saw each other last.
Tara is the bossy older sister who takes everything too seriously and has the weight of the world on her shoulders. I didn't like her that much at the beginning of the first book but as we discovered her secrets towards the end I started to connect with her more and was looking forward to her story. The more we get to know her the more I liked her, she is a lot more vulnerable than I was expecting her to be and she never got over the end of her relationship with Ford and the adoption of their daughter. Although she still believes that she did the right thing for her daughter that doesn't mean she hasn't missed her ever since.
I really loved the relationship between Ford and Tara. Ford is almost her complete opposite, he is very laid back and in general is happy to let good things come to him rather than take the effort to chase after them. But he made that mistake once where Tara is concerned and this time he is prepared to fight for what he wants. He isn't above playing dirty too - he knows Tara is attracted to him and he is more than happy to use that chemistry to pull her back into his life. I totally fell for Ford and thought he was perfect for Tara, they just worked so well together that I couldn't imagine them with anyone else. Although Tara's ex-husband Logan is also on the scene trying to win her back I didn't feel he loved her in the same unconditional way that Ford did. Logan was a nice guy but he didn't win me over and I was definitely voting for Ford.
Mia's return added a nice element to the story and it was interesting to watch the dynamics between her, Tara and Ford. I did find it was a little too predictable at times though - it seemed a bit too easy that she suddenly turned up at just the right time and I was annoyed that the fact her adoptive parents were separating was used almost as an excuse for her to want to connect to her biological parents. In spite of that it was very amusing to watch Tara trying to deal with a younger version of herself - it can't be easy to suddenly find yourself trying to act like a mother to a 17 year old!
I still love the relationship between the three sisters Tara, Maddy and Chloe. They are growing closer all the time as they get to know each other properly but can still bicker with the best of them. It was fantastic to catch up with Maddy and Jax - there were some adorable scenes between the two of them - and I can't wait to read Chloe's story. I have a feeling we are in for some real fireworks between her and Sawyer in the next book!
January 19, 2020
Read this review on my blog! --> Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis
I was really in the mood for a holiday read, so when I stumbled upon the Christmas in Lucky Harbor cover, I was instantly sold. This is actually two books in one, which was even better!
Right off the bat, Jill Shalvis had me cracking up in Simply Irresistible. Maddie is one very funny lady. Could any one person run into any more embarrassing bad luck in a new town?! Luckily, our boy Jax found her endearing. Maddie and Jax had a very strong attraction to each other very quickly. I loved how tender Jax was with her. He definitely made me swoon with his chivalry.
I really enjoyed getting to know the town of Lucky Harbor. From the pier, to the inn, it all seemed like a place I’d love to visit. The residents of Lucky Harbor were very colorful. It’s always fun when they all get involved in your personal business...ok, maybe not always convenient, but sometimes they see what’s best for you better than you can. Maddie’s sisters, Tara and Chloe, were a little harder to love from the get go. It took some warming up, not so much with Chloe, but with Tara. I thought she was too harsh sometimes, but by the end of the book I was wishing all three were my sisters. We also get to meet Jax’s best friends, funny guy Ford and the sexy, stern sheriff, Sawyer. If all small towns have dudes like these three, I’m moving out of the big city! :)
After finishing Simply Irresistible I was ready to see what the deal was with Ford and Tara in The Sweetest Thing. I kind of figured it out in the first book, but I wanted the juicy details. This story takes place six months after the ending of the first book, and we see how far along the inn renovations are, which was very exciting! In those six months, Ford has given Tara some space, but he’s now done. Only problem is that Tara’s ex also wants her back. It was really fun seeing these two guys try to outdo each other, but I did like that Tara wasn’t with both of them. She knew all along who her heart wanted to be with.
Mia was certainly a surprise! I definitely wasn’t expecting her character to show up. I am glad she did though because I think it’s what solidified the feelings between Tara and Ford.
I ended up liking Ford more than Jax. Ford was just...more, in everything. He was the perfect counterpart for Tara. And I loved getting into Tara’s head and heart. I really thought I wouldn’t like her because of her tough exterior, but I ended up really caring about her.
I found the the quotes at the beginning of each chapter very fun. Some were sweet, some inspirational, and some just plain funny. Let me show you some!
Both books were a great example of what I love in Contemporary Romance novels, they were funny, mostly light, and sexy. Although only the first takes place around Christmas time, I still enjoyed the atmosphere and Lucky Harbor is a place I hope to revisit very soon. Actually, I look forward to reading a lot more than just Lucky Harbor books from Jill Shalvis. I’m already looking into her other books!
I was really in the mood for a holiday read, so when I stumbled upon the Christmas in Lucky Harbor cover, I was instantly sold. This is actually two books in one, which was even better!
Right off the bat, Jill Shalvis had me cracking up in Simply Irresistible. Maddie is one very funny lady. Could any one person run into any more embarrassing bad luck in a new town?! Luckily, our boy Jax found her endearing. Maddie and Jax had a very strong attraction to each other very quickly. I loved how tender Jax was with her. He definitely made me swoon with his chivalry.
I really enjoyed getting to know the town of Lucky Harbor. From the pier, to the inn, it all seemed like a place I’d love to visit. The residents of Lucky Harbor were very colorful. It’s always fun when they all get involved in your personal business...ok, maybe not always convenient, but sometimes they see what’s best for you better than you can. Maddie’s sisters, Tara and Chloe, were a little harder to love from the get go. It took some warming up, not so much with Chloe, but with Tara. I thought she was too harsh sometimes, but by the end of the book I was wishing all three were my sisters. We also get to meet Jax’s best friends, funny guy Ford and the sexy, stern sheriff, Sawyer. If all small towns have dudes like these three, I’m moving out of the big city! :)
After finishing Simply Irresistible I was ready to see what the deal was with Ford and Tara in The Sweetest Thing. I kind of figured it out in the first book, but I wanted the juicy details. This story takes place six months after the ending of the first book, and we see how far along the inn renovations are, which was very exciting! In those six months, Ford has given Tara some space, but he’s now done. Only problem is that Tara’s ex also wants her back. It was really fun seeing these two guys try to outdo each other, but I did like that Tara wasn’t with both of them. She knew all along who her heart wanted to be with.
Mia was certainly a surprise! I definitely wasn’t expecting her character to show up. I am glad she did though because I think it’s what solidified the feelings between Tara and Ford.
I ended up liking Ford more than Jax. Ford was just...more, in everything. He was the perfect counterpart for Tara. And I loved getting into Tara’s head and heart. I really thought I wouldn’t like her because of her tough exterior, but I ended up really caring about her.
I found the the quotes at the beginning of each chapter very fun. Some were sweet, some inspirational, and some just plain funny. Let me show you some!
From Phoebe Traeger in Simply Irresistible:
“Learn from others’ mistakes. You don’t have enough time to make them all yourself.”
“Remember, it’s always better to be the smartass rather than the dumbass.”
From Tara Daniels in The Sweetest Thing:
“Good judgment comes from bad experience. Unfortunately, most of that comes from bad judgment.”
“Never do anything that you don’t want to have to explain to 9-1-1 personnel.”
Both books were a great example of what I love in Contemporary Romance novels, they were funny, mostly light, and sexy. Although only the first takes place around Christmas time, I still enjoyed the atmosphere and Lucky Harbor is a place I hope to revisit very soon. Actually, I look forward to reading a lot more than just Lucky Harbor books from Jill Shalvis. I’m already looking into her other books!
Want to read
December 17, 201517 December 2015: $2.99 on Kindle
April 1, 2016
Read this for the two bonus stories: Kissing Santa Claus (Lucky Harbor 2.5) - 3 stars
Under The Mistletoe (Lucky Harbor 6.5) - 3 stars
Under The Mistletoe (Lucky Harbor 6.5) - 3 stars
June 29, 2016
Hot, Hot, Hot
Herzlich Willkommen in Lucky Harbor! Einem fiktiven, kleinen Städtchen unmittelbar vor den Toren Seattles im wunderschönen Bundesstaat North Washington, wo Jill Shalvis ihre neue Serie spielen lässt. Ich persönlich habe mich vom ersten Moment an zuhause gefühlt an diesem Ort, wo die Menschen unglaublich herzlich sind und der Klatsch und Tratsch von den Bäumen zu fallen scheint.
Zugeben, der Plot ist weder herausragend noch innovativ: Drei Schwestern; ein Hand voll familiärer Probleme; ein tragisches Ereignis, das sie alle zusammenbringt – und natürlich das obligatorische Set von umwerfenden Männern.
Aber um ehrlich zu sein, der Plot ist sowieso nur die Hintergrundgeschichte zu großartigen zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen, und dafür ist er vollkommen ausreichend.
Darf ich vorstellen: Maddie – mittleres Kind und graue Maus. Sie ist die Protagonistin von Simple Irresistible und wirkt anfänglich wie das typische Mauerblümchen. Maddie’s bisheriges Leben war nicht gerad angenehm oder traumhaft, Lucky Harbor ist ihre Chance für einen Neuanfang – mit ihren Schwestern und ohne Männer. Auftritt Jax – heiß, charmant, schlau und so unglaublich herzensgut. Und schon sieht Maggie ihre Pläne für ein neues, keusches Leben davon schwimmen …
Darf ich vorstellen: Tara – älteste Schwester und Magnolie aus Stahl. Sie ist die Protagonistin des zweiten Romans in Shalvis‘ Lucky-Harbor-Reihe, The Sweetest Thing. Genau wie Maddie hat auch Tara ihr altes Leben zurückgelassen, aber im Gegensatz zu ihrer Schwester ist sie nicht besonders scharf auf Lucky Harbor. Tara scheint von ihrer Vergangenheit verfolgt zu werden, und diese ist eng verbunden mit einem gewissen Mann. Auftritt Ford, Jax‘ verdammt heißer Segelkumpel. Und wie schon Maddie vor ihr, sieht auch Tara sich mit einer unerwarteten Änderung ihrer Pläne konfrontiert …
Jill Shalvis hat eine Reihe sehr leicht zugänglicher Charaktere geschaffen. Schnell identifiziert man sich mit den Frauen und noch schneller verfällt man den Männern. Auch ich muss zugeben, dass sowohl Jax als auch Ford meinen Wunschvorstellungen kompromisslos entsprechen … *lol*
Es ist pures Vergnügen mitzuerleben, wie die Schwester sich auf Lucky Harbor – und ihre jeweiligen Männern – einlassen.
Shalvis Schreibstil ist nicht nur leicht und sexy sondern auch verdammt humorvoll. Während des Lesens habe ich mehr als nur einmal Tränen gelacht. Die Autorin schreibt unglaublich detailreich und hat keinerlei Probleme, die Fantasy ihrer Leser anzuregen.
Shalvis hat eine Welt geschaffen, die sofort süchtig macht und einen mit dem starken Verlangen nach mehr zurücklässt. Ich stimme komplett mit Robyn Carr überein, die Simple Irresistible wie folgt beschreibt: „[h]ot, sweet, fun and romantic! Pure pleasure!“.
Wenn ihr nach einen Buch sucht, dass euch für eine Weile auf Wolke 7 entführt, dann besorgt euch Christmas in Lucky Harbor. Ihr bekommt zwei Bücher zum Preis von einem und werdet definitiv viel Spaß haben!
Ich kann es kaum erwarten, Head over Heels und die drei Folgebände, die 2012 veröffentlicht werden, in die Hände zu bekommen. In diesem Sinne, viel Spaß beim Lesen!
Originally posted at Living in a Fairy World
Herzlich Willkommen in Lucky Harbor! Einem fiktiven, kleinen Städtchen unmittelbar vor den Toren Seattles im wunderschönen Bundesstaat North Washington, wo Jill Shalvis ihre neue Serie spielen lässt. Ich persönlich habe mich vom ersten Moment an zuhause gefühlt an diesem Ort, wo die Menschen unglaublich herzlich sind und der Klatsch und Tratsch von den Bäumen zu fallen scheint.
Zugeben, der Plot ist weder herausragend noch innovativ: Drei Schwestern; ein Hand voll familiärer Probleme; ein tragisches Ereignis, das sie alle zusammenbringt – und natürlich das obligatorische Set von umwerfenden Männern.
Aber um ehrlich zu sein, der Plot ist sowieso nur die Hintergrundgeschichte zu großartigen zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen, und dafür ist er vollkommen ausreichend.
Darf ich vorstellen: Maddie – mittleres Kind und graue Maus. Sie ist die Protagonistin von Simple Irresistible und wirkt anfänglich wie das typische Mauerblümchen. Maddie’s bisheriges Leben war nicht gerad angenehm oder traumhaft, Lucky Harbor ist ihre Chance für einen Neuanfang – mit ihren Schwestern und ohne Männer. Auftritt Jax – heiß, charmant, schlau und so unglaublich herzensgut. Und schon sieht Maggie ihre Pläne für ein neues, keusches Leben davon schwimmen …
Darf ich vorstellen: Tara – älteste Schwester und Magnolie aus Stahl. Sie ist die Protagonistin des zweiten Romans in Shalvis‘ Lucky-Harbor-Reihe, The Sweetest Thing. Genau wie Maddie hat auch Tara ihr altes Leben zurückgelassen, aber im Gegensatz zu ihrer Schwester ist sie nicht besonders scharf auf Lucky Harbor. Tara scheint von ihrer Vergangenheit verfolgt zu werden, und diese ist eng verbunden mit einem gewissen Mann. Auftritt Ford, Jax‘ verdammt heißer Segelkumpel. Und wie schon Maddie vor ihr, sieht auch Tara sich mit einer unerwarteten Änderung ihrer Pläne konfrontiert …
Jill Shalvis hat eine Reihe sehr leicht zugänglicher Charaktere geschaffen. Schnell identifiziert man sich mit den Frauen und noch schneller verfällt man den Männern. Auch ich muss zugeben, dass sowohl Jax als auch Ford meinen Wunschvorstellungen kompromisslos entsprechen … *lol*
Es ist pures Vergnügen mitzuerleben, wie die Schwester sich auf Lucky Harbor – und ihre jeweiligen Männern – einlassen.
Shalvis Schreibstil ist nicht nur leicht und sexy sondern auch verdammt humorvoll. Während des Lesens habe ich mehr als nur einmal Tränen gelacht. Die Autorin schreibt unglaublich detailreich und hat keinerlei Probleme, die Fantasy ihrer Leser anzuregen.
Shalvis hat eine Welt geschaffen, die sofort süchtig macht und einen mit dem starken Verlangen nach mehr zurücklässt. Ich stimme komplett mit Robyn Carr überein, die Simple Irresistible wie folgt beschreibt: „[h]ot, sweet, fun and romantic! Pure pleasure!“.
Wenn ihr nach einen Buch sucht, dass euch für eine Weile auf Wolke 7 entführt, dann besorgt euch Christmas in Lucky Harbor. Ihr bekommt zwei Bücher zum Preis von einem und werdet definitiv viel Spaß haben!
Ich kann es kaum erwarten, Head over Heels und die drei Folgebände, die 2012 veröffentlicht werden, in die Hände zu bekommen. In diesem Sinne, viel Spaß beim Lesen!
Originally posted at Living in a Fairy World
December 9, 2011
I received this anthology of the first two books in the series from netgalley, and they made a wonderfully entertaining, sweet Christmas read (even though one of them actually is set in the summer).
I'm not going to go over all the other points in some of the reviews below or give a plot synopsis, but I'll just emphasize a few points, and why I couldn't give it 5 stars.
I really love the way this author writes contemporary romance. It's incredibly witty, with a realistic bite in every paragraph, but is also comforting in that I can completely relate to how this author sees the world. This is the world in which a lot of people live, but she still manages to give it a twist and make it fun and interesting. It's also not too down-homey, or hokey, or just plain irritating. This author doesn't talk down to her readers - sadly, I've noticed that some contemporary romance authors can't seem to help themselves, and seem to be writing directly for the archetypal Walmart shopper, without really understanding who buys their books (wherever they happen to buy them).
I really like the small town setting and cast of characters in this series. Normally, it would REALLY annoy me - like the author was painting some prettily perfect world that no one could possibly aspire too, and there is some element of Lucky Harbor being some kind of picture book town, strewn with gingerbread houses, but it works OK for me. I used to live for a time in such a town (which was also a harbor and had cottages the color of marshmallows), but, believe me, it had it's share of idiots and drunken kids, just like everywhere else, so I'm incredibly skeptical if authors paint their small-down hokey settings as too frikkin' perfect. I think it also helps that the author doesn't really spend much time on secondary characters, except to tell us that they exist. I'm fine with that.
The romance is hot. Not scorching, but still nicely warming for a cool evening.
So, why didn't I give it 5 stars? Well, the heroes are gorgeous, tall, hard, built like gods and the heroines come in all shapes and sizes, between them have enough hang-ups/issues to make a decent-sized Walmart Thanksgiving sale crush, and are "brought around", generally, to the heroes' way of thinking by the end of the story. As I was reading the second book, I couldn't help wishing that there was just one hero who wasn't so perfect, and that there was just one heroine who wasn't quite so screwed up, and that, just for once, the hero and heroine could both come to some sort of equal acceptance of what their future might be, with real compromise from both parties. There was just too much of the old heroine-as-victim-but-I'm-courageously-working-on-it-in-a-suitably-attractive-fragile-way for me to give it 5 stars, no matter how well it was written.
So, 3.5 stars, bump it up to 4 because it's Christmas, and I'm sure I'll read the others in the series.
I'm not going to go over all the other points in some of the reviews below or give a plot synopsis, but I'll just emphasize a few points, and why I couldn't give it 5 stars.
I really love the way this author writes contemporary romance. It's incredibly witty, with a realistic bite in every paragraph, but is also comforting in that I can completely relate to how this author sees the world. This is the world in which a lot of people live, but she still manages to give it a twist and make it fun and interesting. It's also not too down-homey, or hokey, or just plain irritating. This author doesn't talk down to her readers - sadly, I've noticed that some contemporary romance authors can't seem to help themselves, and seem to be writing directly for the archetypal Walmart shopper, without really understanding who buys their books (wherever they happen to buy them).
I really like the small town setting and cast of characters in this series. Normally, it would REALLY annoy me - like the author was painting some prettily perfect world that no one could possibly aspire too, and there is some element of Lucky Harbor being some kind of picture book town, strewn with gingerbread houses, but it works OK for me. I used to live for a time in such a town (which was also a harbor and had cottages the color of marshmallows), but, believe me, it had it's share of idiots and drunken kids, just like everywhere else, so I'm incredibly skeptical if authors paint their small-down hokey settings as too frikkin' perfect. I think it also helps that the author doesn't really spend much time on secondary characters, except to tell us that they exist. I'm fine with that.
The romance is hot. Not scorching, but still nicely warming for a cool evening.
So, why didn't I give it 5 stars? Well, the heroes are gorgeous, tall, hard, built like gods and the heroines come in all shapes and sizes, between them have enough hang-ups/issues to make a decent-sized Walmart Thanksgiving sale crush, and are "brought around", generally, to the heroes' way of thinking by the end of the story. As I was reading the second book, I couldn't help wishing that there was just one hero who wasn't so perfect, and that there was just one heroine who wasn't quite so screwed up, and that, just for once, the hero and heroine could both come to some sort of equal acceptance of what their future might be, with real compromise from both parties. There was just too much of the old heroine-as-victim-but-I'm-courageously-working-on-it-in-a-suitably-attractive-fragile-way for me to give it 5 stars, no matter how well it was written.
So, 3.5 stars, bump it up to 4 because it's Christmas, and I'm sure I'll read the others in the series.
November 17, 2011
Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is an omnibus containing the first two “Lucky Harbor” stories Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing. These books tell the story of three estranged half-sisters that are brought together after their mothers’ death to figure out what to do with the inn that she has left to the three of them.
Simply Irresistible is the story of the middle sister Maddie aka the Mouse. Maddie comes to Lucky Harbor after being fired for spilling hot coffee in the lap of her abusive ex. She hopes to make a new start in Lucky Harbor and with her sisters Tara aka the Steel Magnolia and Chloe aka the Wild Child. She meets and falls for Jax the town mayor and master renovation contractor.
The Sweetest Thing is Tara aka the Steel Magnolia and oldest sisters story. Once upon a time about seventeen years earlier Tara had visited her mother at the Lucky Harbor Inn. She met and fell in lust with a bad boy named Ford. She lost her virginity and got pregnant. She had the child but gave it up for adoption. Coming back to Lucky Harbor she is a very different person and so is Ford. Tara is now divorced from a NASCAR driver and Ford has made a name for himself in the boat racing world. Tara and Ford get to meet the daughter they created together and have to come to terms with what they feel for each other now.
I liked these stories. They were funny and poignant and sweet. Jax in Simply Irresistible is too perfect. Smart, sexy, sweet, patient, kind, and oh comfortably well off. I loved how Ford and Tara grew in The Sweetest Thing and that Ford could be as big an ass as the next guy (testosterone wise) but he too is smart, sexy, sweet, patient, kind, and oh comfortably well off.
Fans of Susan Mallery will love these books too.
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is an omnibus containing the first two “Lucky Harbor” stories Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing. These books tell the story of three estranged half-sisters that are brought together after their mothers’ death to figure out what to do with the inn that she has left to the three of them.
Simply Irresistible is the story of the middle sister Maddie aka the Mouse. Maddie comes to Lucky Harbor after being fired for spilling hot coffee in the lap of her abusive ex. She hopes to make a new start in Lucky Harbor and with her sisters Tara aka the Steel Magnolia and Chloe aka the Wild Child. She meets and falls for Jax the town mayor and master renovation contractor.
The Sweetest Thing is Tara aka the Steel Magnolia and oldest sisters story. Once upon a time about seventeen years earlier Tara had visited her mother at the Lucky Harbor Inn. She met and fell in lust with a bad boy named Ford. She lost her virginity and got pregnant. She had the child but gave it up for adoption. Coming back to Lucky Harbor she is a very different person and so is Ford. Tara is now divorced from a NASCAR driver and Ford has made a name for himself in the boat racing world. Tara and Ford get to meet the daughter they created together and have to come to terms with what they feel for each other now.
I liked these stories. They were funny and poignant and sweet. Jax in Simply Irresistible is too perfect. Smart, sexy, sweet, patient, kind, and oh comfortably well off. I loved how Ford and Tara grew in The Sweetest Thing and that Ford could be as big an ass as the next guy (testosterone wise) but he too is smart, sexy, sweet, patient, kind, and oh comfortably well off.
Fans of Susan Mallery will love these books too.
January 9, 2012
This is the summary off the back of the book
Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .
Simply Irresistible
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.
If the sisters are lucky, they might just find that everything their hearts desire is right here in Lucky Harbor
This is what I think of the book.
Simply Irresistible.
This was a re-read for me and I still loved it. There were so many laugh out loud moments that my family were looking at me as if I had finally lost the plot. This is a truly wonderful story about love and getting to know family. Watching Maddie and Jax opening up to each other was a treat and I am thrilled that book 2 is in with this one so I don't have to wait to find out what happens next.
The Sweetest Thing.
This was a tender tale that was a little frustrating because I wanted to shake Tara and Ford, lock them in a room and say sort your selves out. The addition of Logan into the mix I think was not necessary as the chemistry between Ford and Tara is so hot a third wheel is superfluous. Having said all of that this was a fantastic read and gave me so many laugh out loud moments that I would forgive this book almost anything.
Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .
Simply Irresistible
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.
If the sisters are lucky, they might just find that everything their hearts desire is right here in Lucky Harbor
This is what I think of the book.
Simply Irresistible.
This was a re-read for me and I still loved it. There were so many laugh out loud moments that my family were looking at me as if I had finally lost the plot. This is a truly wonderful story about love and getting to know family. Watching Maddie and Jax opening up to each other was a treat and I am thrilled that book 2 is in with this one so I don't have to wait to find out what happens next.
The Sweetest Thing.
This was a tender tale that was a little frustrating because I wanted to shake Tara and Ford, lock them in a room and say sort your selves out. The addition of Logan into the mix I think was not necessary as the chemistry between Ford and Tara is so hot a third wheel is superfluous. Having said all of that this was a fantastic read and gave me so many laugh out loud moments that I would forgive this book almost anything.
May 15, 2014
Got this for $2.99 months ago, and so glad I caught the sale. On the fence with the novellas, but enjoyed the first two novels. Can't honestly choose between the two heroes:
Simply Irresistible
's Jax, who is ohmigosh sweet, and
The Sweetest Thing
's Ford, whose character has more depth.
Fell in love with Simply Irresistible easily enough despite the wishy-washy character development, but had a bit of a hard time getting into The Sweetest Thing. I wanted more of the friction Ford and Tara displayed in the first book, and it was painfully obvious Logan wasn't in the running at all for Tara's affections. I liked that he and Tara had maintained an easy friendship after their divorce, though.
The premise is interesting—three estranged half-sisters attempt to be a family and run the inn their mother left them in a picturesque town. Jill Shalvis writes the kind of light-hearted but not without emotional depth stories I like to read, so I'm hoping to get my hands on the third book, The Wild Child Chloe and Sheriff Sawyer's story, soon to wrap the sisters' saga up and continue with the rest of the series.
The two novellas are mostly a miss. Kissing Santa Claus is sweet, and I'm glad Logan has found his HEA, but I'm not fond of the progression of the story at all and feel the dialogue doesn't stick. Under the Mistletoe, set five years after The Sweetest Thing, is enjoyable, but Mia is too speshul, Nick is the one who gets the short end of the stick, and I definitely could've used more development for him.
Fell in love with Simply Irresistible easily enough despite the wishy-washy character development, but had a bit of a hard time getting into The Sweetest Thing. I wanted more of the friction Ford and Tara displayed in the first book, and it was painfully obvious Logan wasn't in the running at all for Tara's affections. I liked that he and Tara had maintained an easy friendship after their divorce, though.
The premise is interesting—three estranged half-sisters attempt to be a family and run the inn their mother left them in a picturesque town. Jill Shalvis writes the kind of light-hearted but not without emotional depth stories I like to read, so I'm hoping to get my hands on the third book, The Wild Child Chloe and Sheriff Sawyer's story, soon to wrap the sisters' saga up and continue with the rest of the series.
The two novellas are mostly a miss. Kissing Santa Claus is sweet, and I'm glad Logan has found his HEA, but I'm not fond of the progression of the story at all and feel the dialogue doesn't stick. Under the Mistletoe, set five years after The Sweetest Thing, is enjoyable, but Mia is too speshul, Nick is the one who gets the short end of the stick, and I definitely could've used more development for him.
November 14, 2011
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is a funny and sweet anthology featuring Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis.
The first story in the series is Simply Irresistible. After the death of their mother, Maddie and her two estranged sisters find themselves in Lucky Harbor, trying to figure out the next step in their lives and what to do with the inn that their mother left them. Maddie, aka the mouse, finds herself wanting to stay in Lucky Harbor and run the inn. Sure, there is a lot of work to be done with the old place but Maddie is up to the challenge and Jax is just the man to help her. Not only is Jax a contractor but he is the town mayor.
I became completely caught up in the story. I love the town and the people. There is some laugh out loud moments. What I really came to appreciate is how “real” Maddie was. Her insecurities made her vulnerable but they made her human. Jax is just a great male character and he really was into Maddie.
The second story is The Sweetest Thing which featured the oldest sister, Tara. I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like Tara’s story but I enjoyed it a lot more than expected. At a young age Tara came to Lucky Harbor to visit her mother. One wild and crazy summer she fell for Ford (Jax’s friend) and conceived a child. She eventually gave the child up for adoption and moved forward with her life. Now that she is back in Lucky Harbor with her sisters, it is hard to keep those old feelings for Ford at bay. Not to mention, she receives a small surprise when their daughter shows up.
Fans of feel good stories will love this book. The characters developed nicely, the story flow and there were some funny moments. I can’t wait to read the third book.
The first story in the series is Simply Irresistible. After the death of their mother, Maddie and her two estranged sisters find themselves in Lucky Harbor, trying to figure out the next step in their lives and what to do with the inn that their mother left them. Maddie, aka the mouse, finds herself wanting to stay in Lucky Harbor and run the inn. Sure, there is a lot of work to be done with the old place but Maddie is up to the challenge and Jax is just the man to help her. Not only is Jax a contractor but he is the town mayor.
I became completely caught up in the story. I love the town and the people. There is some laugh out loud moments. What I really came to appreciate is how “real” Maddie was. Her insecurities made her vulnerable but they made her human. Jax is just a great male character and he really was into Maddie.
The second story is The Sweetest Thing which featured the oldest sister, Tara. I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like Tara’s story but I enjoyed it a lot more than expected. At a young age Tara came to Lucky Harbor to visit her mother. One wild and crazy summer she fell for Ford (Jax’s friend) and conceived a child. She eventually gave the child up for adoption and moved forward with her life. Now that she is back in Lucky Harbor with her sisters, it is hard to keep those old feelings for Ford at bay. Not to mention, she receives a small surprise when their daughter shows up.
Fans of feel good stories will love this book. The characters developed nicely, the story flow and there were some funny moments. I can’t wait to read the third book.
December 24, 2013
Simply Irresistible
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.
Kissing Santa Claus
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?
Under the Mistletoe
There's no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than merry and bright. Her recent break-up with her boyfriend Nick has made her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows her to town bearing gifts - and asking for forgiveness.
I believe my favorite book was 'Simply Irrisistable'. I loved Maddie. I felt she had the most guts
and took the biggest chances to get what she wanted. She was always alone. Even when her father was there, he wasn't. She was more an employee than a daughter. Her two step sisters, she knew,
but not well. But she was about to embark on a project that needed all three of them to come together. 5 stars.
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...
The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.
Kissing Santa Claus
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?
Under the Mistletoe
There's no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than merry and bright. Her recent break-up with her boyfriend Nick has made her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows her to town bearing gifts - and asking for forgiveness.
I believe my favorite book was 'Simply Irrisistable'. I loved Maddie. I felt she had the most guts
and took the biggest chances to get what she wanted. She was always alone. Even when her father was there, he wasn't. She was more an employee than a daughter. Her two step sisters, she knew,
but not well. But she was about to embark on a project that needed all three of them to come together. 5 stars.
June 23, 2015
I picked this up for the two novellas, more so than the actual books, as I had already read and reviewed them, so I'm just going to review the two Novellas.
Kissing Santa Claus: This story felt largely unnecessary, but was cute nevertheless. I enjoyed reading about how Logan was tied all up in knots about Sandy and how much she missed him, even though there’s really not much of their romance seen in the preceding books or in this novella. It is an enjoyable thread in the tapestry that is Lucky Harbor and worth reading if you enjoy the series! I give this story 3 stars, finishing it on 5/15/15.
Under the Mistletoe I had always wondered what happened to Mia from Ford and Tara's story The Sweetest Thing, and this story tells that tale. Sadly, I wasn't that impressed with it. Nick is a complete jerk, and Mia let him off way too easily, all in the name of love. However, I did like checking in with the original "trilogy" of couples to see where they all were in their lives, though it did feel like the check in was more the focus of the story than Nick and Mia's romance. I would have loved to see what Lucille did with that picture she took though! I rounded this one up to 3 stars, finishing it on 6/13/15.
Kissing Santa Claus: This story felt largely unnecessary, but was cute nevertheless. I enjoyed reading about how Logan was tied all up in knots about Sandy and how much she missed him, even though there’s really not much of their romance seen in the preceding books or in this novella. It is an enjoyable thread in the tapestry that is Lucky Harbor and worth reading if you enjoy the series! I give this story 3 stars, finishing it on 5/15/15.
Under the Mistletoe I had always wondered what happened to Mia from Ford and Tara's story The Sweetest Thing, and this story tells that tale. Sadly, I wasn't that impressed with it. Nick is a complete jerk, and Mia let him off way too easily, all in the name of love. However, I did like checking in with the original "trilogy" of couples to see where they all were in their lives, though it did feel like the check in was more the focus of the story than Nick and Mia's romance. I would have loved to see what Lucille did with that picture she took though! I rounded this one up to 3 stars, finishing it on 6/13/15.
September 7, 2015
Well, I listened to the audiobooks of Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing... so I just bought this ebook for the two "bonus" novellas at the end. So, I'll just say I really LOVED the first two books, but I'm just going to review the novellas...
"Kissing Santa Claus" — Lucky Harbor #2.5
This story was cute. I was excited to read about Logan and Sandy! Of course, it was too short. I always feel that way about novellas... but it was cute!
"Under the Mistletoe" — Lucky Harbor #6.5
This book was about Tara and Ford's daughter, Mia, down the road a few years, when she's almost 23. I was a BIT sad that it didn't work out with her and Carlos, but Nick seems like a really nice guy! :) Again, too short, but that's typical.
"Kissing Santa Claus" — Lucky Harbor #2.5
This story was cute. I was excited to read about Logan and Sandy! Of course, it was too short. I always feel that way about novellas... but it was cute!
"Under the Mistletoe" — Lucky Harbor #6.5
This book was about Tara and Ford's daughter, Mia, down the road a few years, when she's almost 23. I was a BIT sad that it didn't work out with her and Carlos, but Nick seems like a really nice guy! :) Again, too short, but that's typical.
October 29, 2011
Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis is a compilation of two previously published novels, Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing. It is due to be released on November 1 2011. Both stories revolve around three half-sisters coming together after the death of their mother to take charge of the inn left to them in the will. Tara, Maggie, and Chloe barely know each other, and come to town bearing secrets and wounded hearts and very different goals. The town residents already feel like they know the girls through their mother's stories. Maggie is the sweet one, the mouse. Tara is the tough one, a steel magnolia. Chloe, the youngest, is a wild child that takes after their mother's free spirited ways the most.
See my complete review here on Associated Content.
See my complete review here on Associated Content.
March 17, 2015
I will continue to state the only thing that comes to mind EVERY single time I read a book Jill Shalvis has written:
HOLY .... pee your pants laugh out loud cry your eyes out romance novel! And frikkin cute, witty and a little smutty to boot. GOTTA LOVE IT!
Obviously, the only story in this copulation that I have not read is Under the Mistletoe because I read all series in order, but I've already met Mia (love her) and Tara (bless her heart) and Ford (total package) so I KNOW they will make me laugh again and love them even tho it's just a short story.
This town is FULL of smart-ass, in your face and business and live life and EVERYTHING people who are HILARIOUS ... I was sold on this series the minute Lucille was introduced! ;)
I hope the series NEVER ends LOL
HOLY .... pee your pants laugh out loud cry your eyes out romance novel! And frikkin cute, witty and a little smutty to boot. GOTTA LOVE IT!
Obviously, the only story in this copulation that I have not read is Under the Mistletoe because I read all series in order, but I've already met Mia (love her) and Tara (bless her heart) and Ford (total package) so I KNOW they will make me laugh again and love them even tho it's just a short story.
This town is FULL of smart-ass, in your face and business and live life and EVERYTHING people who are HILARIOUS ... I was sold on this series the minute Lucille was introduced! ;)
I hope the series NEVER ends LOL
November 23, 2021
Upgraded to 4 stars. Trashy, sexy funny fluff.
3.5 stars! So here's the thing: Jill Shalvis and her 12 funny, sexy, steamy Lucky Harbor series has kept me sane in an insane time. As we "shelter in place" during this worldwide pandemic, it's been so nice to escape to a place with lots of hunky men, snarky conversation, and a wealth of HEAs! Thank you, Jill Shalvis!!!!
Graphic sex and profanity.
3.5 stars! So here's the thing: Jill Shalvis and her 12 funny, sexy, steamy Lucky Harbor series has kept me sane in an insane time. As we "shelter in place" during this worldwide pandemic, it's been so nice to escape to a place with lots of hunky men, snarky conversation, and a wealth of HEAs! Thank you, Jill Shalvis!!!!
Graphic sex and profanity.
January 19, 2014
4.5 STARS~
Wonderful collection of Lucky Harbor's first two characters~ It was enjoyable, and a great bargain to test out a new author.
Why the 0.5 stars off? Because the first book wasn't my favorite. A 4.0 stars. It suffers the septum so many first books of the series does. No worries thought, the series just keeps on getting better and better. ENJOY~!
Wonderful collection of Lucky Harbor's first two characters~ It was enjoyable, and a great bargain to test out a new author.
Why the 0.5 stars off? Because the first book wasn't my favorite. A 4.0 stars. It suffers the septum so many first books of the series does. No worries thought, the series just keeps on getting better and better. ENJOY~!
June 20, 2011
5 stars – Contemporary Romance
I read each book featured individually.
Simply Irresistible
The Sweetest Thing
I read each book featured individually.
Simply Irresistible
The Sweetest Thing
January 18, 2012
Loved this book!!! My review will appear at Romancing the Book - so please be sure to check it out!
The link to my review: http://www.romancing-the-book.com/201...
The link to my review: http://www.romancing-the-book.com/201...
November 28, 2011
First books that I have read by Jill Shalvis, but now I can't wait to read Head Over Hills... I loved both of these books and the sisters as they grow closer together.
December 9, 2013
A little lame
October 30, 2014
See my separate reviews of the two individual stories. An awesome start to an awesome series.
January 3, 2015
Borrowed from a friend and was hooked!!
July 28, 2012
Here is my review of the 1st story in the book, Simply Irresistible:
I first heard of Simply Irresistible when it came out, it was all over the book blogs with its unique white cover. It sounded like a nice story and I put it on my to-read-one-day-when-I-get-the-time list and mostly forgot about it. Then being the Christmas-aholic that I am I requested the Christmas in Lucky Harbor book at NetGalley I was happy to discover it was actually a reissue of Book #1 and #2 of the Lucky Harbor series, nothing better than to start the series at the beginning and I can’t understand why I waited so long to read it!
Simply Irresistible is wonderful. It is heartwarming, cute, funny and sexy. The perfect small town holiday romance. If you haven’t yet read the Lucky Harbor series, I urge you to do it! Basically it tells the story of three half-sisters who after the death of their hippy mom get together in the small town of Lucky Harbor (where they haven’t been since their childhood) to decide what to do with their mom’s run-down inn and their lives.
Simply Irresistible is Maddie’s (the middle sister) story. Maddie has been nicknamed as the “Mouse” because she is compliant, shy and rather self-effacing. As the middle child she is the mediator between her older and younger sister who are constantly at each others’ throat. Maddie is a nice, relatable heroine: she considers herself average and ordinary, but her kind heart, generosity, vulnerability and compassion make her one of a kind. Maddie is adorable, see for yourself:
After they see the sad state in which the inn is, Maddie and her sisters get drunk and Maddie drunk dials a contractor (who will turn out to be, yep, you guessed it right, the hero of the story):
“Hi,” she said at the beep. “Potential new client here, looking for a master—er, renovation expert. We’re at Lucky Harbor Resort, at the end of Lucky Harbor Road, you can’t miss us. Oh, and we’re in desperate need of mastering. You’re probably busy, seeing as you’re the only master in town, but we’re short on time. Like really short on time. In fact, we’re sort of desperate—” She broke off and covered the mouthpiece because Tara was in her face, waving wildly.
“What?”
“You said desperate twice. You can’t tell him that— he’ll raise his price! And what the hell is your fixation on being mastered?” Maddie rolled her eyes—which made her dizzy—and uncovered the mouthpiece.
“Okay, forget the desperate thing. We’re not desperate. Hell, we could do the work ourselves, if we wanted. So come or don’t come, no worries.” She paused, turned her back on her sisters, and lowered her voice to speak extra softly. “ But please come first thing in the morning!” And then she quickly ended the conversation and smiled innocently at Tara.
Maddie just got out of an abusive relationship and tries to get herself together. I found it stunning how despite being such a shy and peaceful person she had this inner strength and drive to build herself and her self-respect back all alone, without the help or knowledge of anyone else, just on her own.
Jax, our hero, is simply put dreamy. In Maddie’s words:
"he had a voice that went down like smooth whiskey, a way of looking at her that tended to get her to say more than she should, and oh, yeah, he kissed like heaven on earth."
He is considerate, warm-hearted, and droolworthy handsome *dreamy sighs* The attraction and then later sweet and sizzling love story that develops between Maddie and Jax gave me both heart palpitations and delicious shivers, my favourite combination when reading a romance novel
For me one of the highlights of the novel were the one-liner recipe cards the girls’ mom left them with advice on life, love and everything in between. They were all completely unique and made me chuckle without exception:
“The easy road is always under construction, so have an alternate route planned.”
“If you’re going through hell . . . keep moving.”
“Smile . . . it makes people wonder what you’re up to.”
“Remember, it’s always better to be the smartass rather than the dumbass.”
“Men are like roses. You have to watch out for the pricks.”
“Men are like parking spots. All the good ones are taken, and those that aren’t are inaccessible.”
“I chose the path less traveled, but only because I was lost. Carry a map.”
And the chuckle out loud humour permeated the novel, be it dialogues between Jax and his friend:
He was still struggling with his own temper when Ford strode into the office and kicked Jax’s feet off his desk.
“Get up. Water’s calm. Wind’s kicking. We’re going sailing.”
“Not in the mood.”
“I’m looking for a first mate, not a sex partner.”
ROFL!
or Jax and Maddie:
“Yesterday you said you wouldn’t be my escape.”
“That was a stupid statement by a very stupid man who wasn’t thinking clearly.” “And you’re thinking clearly now?” “Yes. This isn’t just sex between us. So if you want escape, and you want to use my body to do it, then I’m your willing victim.”
“Magnanimous of you.”
or the sisters:
“I want sympathy!”
“Are you kidding me? You have the sexiest man on the planet wanting you. You’re getting laid regularly. No sympathy for you!”
The relationship between the sisters was fantastic: it was explosive, with lots of screaming and hair-pulling, but deep down the love and sense of belonging was what mattered.
I loved how the holidays were incorporated in the story. It didn’t feel forced and added something to the basic story of love and family. I’m sure you’ll have a blast reading about the sisters’ holiday decorations and Christmas tree (I know I had), here is just a teaser so you get a first taste:
"She couldn’t help it. The top of her head was bumping up against the scrawny trunk of the tree, and she was breathing in the scent of pine. Above her, she could see a set of barbecue tongs dangling off the branches next to a picture of Jon Bon Jovi, a whisk, a Tupperware lid, and a near-naked shot of a very young Johnny Depp. “I’ve never had a more beautiful tree,” she whispered reverently."
My only minor complaint about the book was that Jill Shalvis ended chapters at the most interesting scenes and the next chapter picked up at a later place, leaving the reader out of anything that happened between.
Verdict: Simply Irresistible was the first book I read for the Book Lovers Inc's Holiday Reading Challenge (if you'd like to join the fun, CLICKIE ), and loved it to pieces! Jill Shalvis’ narrative flows freely, the story is engaging, the characters are entertaining and the dialogue is the best! I just loved all the chuckle out loud funny quips between the sisters and then there is the melt-you-on-the-spot love story between Maddie and Jax *dreamy sigh*
Simply Irresistible is the perfect cute and light romance for the holidays to savour with a mug of hot cocoa curled up on the sofa, I’m sure you’ll love it!
I give Simply Irresistible 4.5 stars and can’t wait to read more of the series!
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
My review of The Sweetest Thing:
The Sweetest Thing is the second book in Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series and Tara's, the eldest sister's story. Though I loved Simply Irresistible the first book in the series and added Jill Shalvis to my autobuy authors' list I wasn't looking forward to Tara's book that much since she wasn't a character I grew to love in the previous book. She remained one of those a bit irritating a bit annoying know-it-all stubborn busybody characters and I wasn't too excited to read a novel where she was the heroine. Well it is testament to Jill Shalvis' writing and is her much deserved success that not only did I enjoy The Sweetest Thing and grew to love Tara, I will even say that I might even prefer this second book to Simply Irresistible!
In the first book we got to know the three sisters and as I already mentioned my impression of Tara was that she was a strong opinionated, stubborn and quite determined know-it-all big sister. (To be completely honest as a big sister myself that is not a rare combination *looks around innocently*) But in this book we got to discover the many hidden layers of Tara and what makes her the way she is. It was very surprising for me to see how hurt and vulnerable she is under her 'steel magnolia' façade, and these details, insecurities and guilt-ridden moments not only made her a more human and likable character but also one the reader and I could sympathize with and feel for.
The hero, Ford is dream-worthy. He is an ex-Olympic medal winner sailor and he retained his casual elegance and calm. That is until Tara gets under his skin and gets him all riled up :-D And well these two certainly know how to generate sparks! They have history and quite a lot of baggage, but the attraction they have between themselves can't and shouldn't be ignored. I loved how they constantly had this cat and mouse tug of war of repartee and wills, how Ford tried to be all nice and friendly and Tara froze him with her icy politeness. But once they give into the sizzling chemistry they turn up the heat:
She was in mid- heavenly sigh when she felt Ford shift close behind her, his mouth brushing her ear. “Moan through one more sample,” he warned in a thick husky whisper, “and I’m dragging you to the closest dark corner on the pier. And Tara?” His breath was warm against her skin, making her shiver. “By the time I’m done with you, you won’t remember your own name.”
After an eventful boyhood and youth, Ford has grown up to be a responsible and reliable man. The past experiences have shaped him and I loved the steady support he became:
“What I’m trying to say is that I’ll always be there for you, Tara. You need someone to help you, I’m your guy. You need a couple or three orgasms? I’m your personal toy. You need to let off some steam, someone to yell at, I’ll be your doormat."
*sighs*
The chuckle out humour in The Sweetest Thing was just as phenomenal and entertaining as in Simply Irresistible (if you haven't read any Jill Shalvis books yet you don't know what you are missing but here's a little taste):
“A conclusion is the place you get to when you’re tired of thinking.” Tara Daniels
“There's no snooze button on life.” Tara Daniels
Chloe came up behind them. “Hey, thought we were doing yoga this morning.”
“I get enough exercise just pushing my luck,” Tara said.
“Families are like fudge— mostly sweet with a few nuts.”
Despite being all big city girl and business woman, Tara is working as a cook in the diner and her sense of humour and character shone through the creative and funny recipes she created like the You're My Bun Muffins, Bottom of the Barrel Waffles, I Don't Give a Flip Blueberry Wheat Pancakes, etc.
Verdict: What really set The Sweetest Thing apart from the first story for me was the emotional depth and exploration of some darker and more serious matters, while peppering the story with the heroine's sarcastic humour. Besides making me laugh The Sweetest Thing also made my heart ache, but with the wonderful love story and the story of how three quite stranger young women grew to love each other and behave as true sisters, it is a story I wouldn't have missed for the world! The Sweetest Thing is a wonderful, funny and sexy story, a book and a series I can't recommend enough!
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
I give The Sweetest Thing 4.5 stars!
I first heard of Simply Irresistible when it came out, it was all over the book blogs with its unique white cover. It sounded like a nice story and I put it on my to-read-one-day-when-I-get-the-time list and mostly forgot about it. Then being the Christmas-aholic that I am I requested the Christmas in Lucky Harbor book at NetGalley I was happy to discover it was actually a reissue of Book #1 and #2 of the Lucky Harbor series, nothing better than to start the series at the beginning and I can’t understand why I waited so long to read it!
Simply Irresistible is wonderful. It is heartwarming, cute, funny and sexy. The perfect small town holiday romance. If you haven’t yet read the Lucky Harbor series, I urge you to do it! Basically it tells the story of three half-sisters who after the death of their hippy mom get together in the small town of Lucky Harbor (where they haven’t been since their childhood) to decide what to do with their mom’s run-down inn and their lives.
Simply Irresistible is Maddie’s (the middle sister) story. Maddie has been nicknamed as the “Mouse” because she is compliant, shy and rather self-effacing. As the middle child she is the mediator between her older and younger sister who are constantly at each others’ throat. Maddie is a nice, relatable heroine: she considers herself average and ordinary, but her kind heart, generosity, vulnerability and compassion make her one of a kind. Maddie is adorable, see for yourself:
After they see the sad state in which the inn is, Maddie and her sisters get drunk and Maddie drunk dials a contractor (who will turn out to be, yep, you guessed it right, the hero of the story):
“Hi,” she said at the beep. “Potential new client here, looking for a master—er, renovation expert. We’re at Lucky Harbor Resort, at the end of Lucky Harbor Road, you can’t miss us. Oh, and we’re in desperate need of mastering. You’re probably busy, seeing as you’re the only master in town, but we’re short on time. Like really short on time. In fact, we’re sort of desperate—” She broke off and covered the mouthpiece because Tara was in her face, waving wildly.
“What?”
“You said desperate twice. You can’t tell him that— he’ll raise his price! And what the hell is your fixation on being mastered?” Maddie rolled her eyes—which made her dizzy—and uncovered the mouthpiece.
“Okay, forget the desperate thing. We’re not desperate. Hell, we could do the work ourselves, if we wanted. So come or don’t come, no worries.” She paused, turned her back on her sisters, and lowered her voice to speak extra softly. “ But please come first thing in the morning!” And then she quickly ended the conversation and smiled innocently at Tara.
Maddie just got out of an abusive relationship and tries to get herself together. I found it stunning how despite being such a shy and peaceful person she had this inner strength and drive to build herself and her self-respect back all alone, without the help or knowledge of anyone else, just on her own.
Jax, our hero, is simply put dreamy. In Maddie’s words:
"he had a voice that went down like smooth whiskey, a way of looking at her that tended to get her to say more than she should, and oh, yeah, he kissed like heaven on earth."
He is considerate, warm-hearted, and droolworthy handsome *dreamy sighs* The attraction and then later sweet and sizzling love story that develops between Maddie and Jax gave me both heart palpitations and delicious shivers, my favourite combination when reading a romance novel
For me one of the highlights of the novel were the one-liner recipe cards the girls’ mom left them with advice on life, love and everything in between. They were all completely unique and made me chuckle without exception:
“The easy road is always under construction, so have an alternate route planned.”
“If you’re going through hell . . . keep moving.”
“Smile . . . it makes people wonder what you’re up to.”
“Remember, it’s always better to be the smartass rather than the dumbass.”
“Men are like roses. You have to watch out for the pricks.”
“Men are like parking spots. All the good ones are taken, and those that aren’t are inaccessible.”
“I chose the path less traveled, but only because I was lost. Carry a map.”
And the chuckle out loud humour permeated the novel, be it dialogues between Jax and his friend:
He was still struggling with his own temper when Ford strode into the office and kicked Jax’s feet off his desk.
“Get up. Water’s calm. Wind’s kicking. We’re going sailing.”
“Not in the mood.”
“I’m looking for a first mate, not a sex partner.”
ROFL!
or Jax and Maddie:
“Yesterday you said you wouldn’t be my escape.”
“That was a stupid statement by a very stupid man who wasn’t thinking clearly.” “And you’re thinking clearly now?” “Yes. This isn’t just sex between us. So if you want escape, and you want to use my body to do it, then I’m your willing victim.”
“Magnanimous of you.”
or the sisters:
“I want sympathy!”
“Are you kidding me? You have the sexiest man on the planet wanting you. You’re getting laid regularly. No sympathy for you!”
The relationship between the sisters was fantastic: it was explosive, with lots of screaming and hair-pulling, but deep down the love and sense of belonging was what mattered.
I loved how the holidays were incorporated in the story. It didn’t feel forced and added something to the basic story of love and family. I’m sure you’ll have a blast reading about the sisters’ holiday decorations and Christmas tree (I know I had), here is just a teaser so you get a first taste:
"She couldn’t help it. The top of her head was bumping up against the scrawny trunk of the tree, and she was breathing in the scent of pine. Above her, she could see a set of barbecue tongs dangling off the branches next to a picture of Jon Bon Jovi, a whisk, a Tupperware lid, and a near-naked shot of a very young Johnny Depp. “I’ve never had a more beautiful tree,” she whispered reverently."
My only minor complaint about the book was that Jill Shalvis ended chapters at the most interesting scenes and the next chapter picked up at a later place, leaving the reader out of anything that happened between.
Verdict: Simply Irresistible was the first book I read for the Book Lovers Inc's Holiday Reading Challenge (if you'd like to join the fun, CLICKIE ), and loved it to pieces! Jill Shalvis’ narrative flows freely, the story is engaging, the characters are entertaining and the dialogue is the best! I just loved all the chuckle out loud funny quips between the sisters and then there is the melt-you-on-the-spot love story between Maddie and Jax *dreamy sigh*
Simply Irresistible is the perfect cute and light romance for the holidays to savour with a mug of hot cocoa curled up on the sofa, I’m sure you’ll love it!
I give Simply Irresistible 4.5 stars and can’t wait to read more of the series!
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
My review of The Sweetest Thing:
The Sweetest Thing is the second book in Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series and Tara's, the eldest sister's story. Though I loved Simply Irresistible the first book in the series and added Jill Shalvis to my autobuy authors' list I wasn't looking forward to Tara's book that much since she wasn't a character I grew to love in the previous book. She remained one of those a bit irritating a bit annoying know-it-all stubborn busybody characters and I wasn't too excited to read a novel where she was the heroine. Well it is testament to Jill Shalvis' writing and is her much deserved success that not only did I enjoy The Sweetest Thing and grew to love Tara, I will even say that I might even prefer this second book to Simply Irresistible!
In the first book we got to know the three sisters and as I already mentioned my impression of Tara was that she was a strong opinionated, stubborn and quite determined know-it-all big sister. (To be completely honest as a big sister myself that is not a rare combination *looks around innocently*) But in this book we got to discover the many hidden layers of Tara and what makes her the way she is. It was very surprising for me to see how hurt and vulnerable she is under her 'steel magnolia' façade, and these details, insecurities and guilt-ridden moments not only made her a more human and likable character but also one the reader and I could sympathize with and feel for.
The hero, Ford is dream-worthy. He is an ex-Olympic medal winner sailor and he retained his casual elegance and calm. That is until Tara gets under his skin and gets him all riled up :-D And well these two certainly know how to generate sparks! They have history and quite a lot of baggage, but the attraction they have between themselves can't and shouldn't be ignored. I loved how they constantly had this cat and mouse tug of war of repartee and wills, how Ford tried to be all nice and friendly and Tara froze him with her icy politeness. But once they give into the sizzling chemistry they turn up the heat:
She was in mid- heavenly sigh when she felt Ford shift close behind her, his mouth brushing her ear. “Moan through one more sample,” he warned in a thick husky whisper, “and I’m dragging you to the closest dark corner on the pier. And Tara?” His breath was warm against her skin, making her shiver. “By the time I’m done with you, you won’t remember your own name.”
After an eventful boyhood and youth, Ford has grown up to be a responsible and reliable man. The past experiences have shaped him and I loved the steady support he became:
“What I’m trying to say is that I’ll always be there for you, Tara. You need someone to help you, I’m your guy. You need a couple or three orgasms? I’m your personal toy. You need to let off some steam, someone to yell at, I’ll be your doormat."
*sighs*
The chuckle out humour in The Sweetest Thing was just as phenomenal and entertaining as in Simply Irresistible (if you haven't read any Jill Shalvis books yet you don't know what you are missing but here's a little taste):
“A conclusion is the place you get to when you’re tired of thinking.” Tara Daniels
“There's no snooze button on life.” Tara Daniels
Chloe came up behind them. “Hey, thought we were doing yoga this morning.”
“I get enough exercise just pushing my luck,” Tara said.
“Families are like fudge— mostly sweet with a few nuts.”
Despite being all big city girl and business woman, Tara is working as a cook in the diner and her sense of humour and character shone through the creative and funny recipes she created like the You're My Bun Muffins, Bottom of the Barrel Waffles, I Don't Give a Flip Blueberry Wheat Pancakes, etc.
Verdict: What really set The Sweetest Thing apart from the first story for me was the emotional depth and exploration of some darker and more serious matters, while peppering the story with the heroine's sarcastic humour. Besides making me laugh The Sweetest Thing also made my heart ache, but with the wonderful love story and the story of how three quite stranger young women grew to love each other and behave as true sisters, it is a story I wouldn't have missed for the world! The Sweetest Thing is a wonderful, funny and sexy story, a book and a series I can't recommend enough!
Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 9/10
Ending: 8/10
Cover: 8/10
I give The Sweetest Thing 4.5 stars!
September 24, 2013
My reviews cross-posted from Wit and Sin.
Simply Irresistible
Maddie Moore is at a crossroads in her life. She’s lost her job, ditched her jerk of a boyfriend, and isn’t in the best financial condition. With nothing left for her in L.A., Maddie heads to the small town of Lucky Harbor, Washington, to check out an inheritance left to her and her two half-sisters by their mother. What she finds is a run-down inn and two siblings who are nearly strangers to her. Maddie, the middle sister, has always been known as “the Mouse.” But Maddie wants to make a go of restoring and running the inn, which means she has to find her voice and convince her sisters to at least consider a trial period. It also means that the inn needs some serious work done on it. Maddie gets more than she bargains for when she hires contractor Jax Cullen. Jax turns Maddie on like no other man has, but with her life in chaos and her decision to stay in Lucky Harbor in peril, is Maddie really ready to take a chance on falling in love with Jax?
There are some stories that make you smile and give you a warm, cozy feeling reading them. Simply Irresistible is that kind of book. Jill Shalvis has delivered one of the most delightful books I’ve read in a long time. I loved everything about the aptly-titled Simply Irresistible.
Maddie, Tara, and Chloe are three half-sisters who seem to have nothing in common except one free-spirited, now-deceased mother. They’re virtual strangers at the beginning of Simply Irresistible, and part of the charm of the story is watching them start to become a family. I adored Maddie’s kindness and humor, Tara’s surliness and veiled caring, and Chloe’s zest for life and outrageous comments. In Simply Irresistible, Maddie also finds herself and her personal journey could have made the book fantastic on its own. However, what sends Simply Irresistible over the top into favorite book material is the romance. I loved Jax and Maddie together. Jax is the kind of guy I curse Ms. Shalvis for creating because I want one of him to show up on my doorstep (tool belt optional). Maddie and Jax hit it off from the start – almost literally since Maddie nearly runs Jax over – and the two of them make Simply Irresistible sparkle.
Simply Irresistible is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year and it’s got an honored spot on my keeper shelf. I finished Simply Irresistible one happy reader and I dove right into the second Lucky Harbor novel, The Sweetest Thing.
****
The Sweetest Thing
On the surface, Tara Daniels may have it all together, but being back in Lucky Harbor – the place where she made one hell of a mistake as a teenager – keeps her frequently on edge. As does sexy sailor Ford Walker. All Tara wants to do is get the inn she co-owns with her sisters up and running while she puts her life back together. She doesn’t have time for Ford or the feelings he evokes within her. Too bad her body and heart have no interest in following Tara’s plan. To make matters even more complicated, Tara’s sexy ex-husband shows up in Lucky Harbor, determined to win her back. The past is catching up with Tara and with two gorgeous men also in pursuit, life in the small town of Lucky Harbor is about to get very, very interesting.
Love lost and found is the name of the game in The Sweetest Thing. The second installment in Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor alternately sizzles with sexual tension and tugs on your heartstrings. Tara and Ford have each been through things in life that have marked them forever. Though I won’t spoil what those events were, there are times that The Sweetest Thing brought tears to my eyes – tears of both joy and sadness. Tara and Ford both show only parts of themselves to the world and as I read The Sweetest Thing, I delighted in uncovering the layers of their personalities. Ms. Shalvis had me rooting for these two to get together, but she didn’t make the journey easy on Tara and Ford. Their road to happily ever after was filled with bumps, but the obstacles that had to be overcome made the end result that much sweeter.
A brilliant supporting cast of characters rounds out The Sweetest Thing, further bringing Ms. Shalvis’s world of Lucky Harbor, Washington to life. I can’t express how much I adored everyone in The Sweetest Thing, but the fact that I began reading the third Lucky Harbor novel, Head Over Heels, as soon as I finished Ford and Tara’s book should indicate how much I love this series.
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is an omnibus containing the first two Lucky Harbor books. While both books can be read as standalone stories, the Lucky Harbor series is simply too good for readers to miss out on a single novel. I practically devoured Christmas in Lucky Harbor and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romance.
Now, when can I move to Lucky Harbor?
****
Kissing Santa Claus
I’ll admit right off the bat that I’m in love with Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. So when I saw that Logan Perrish – who failed to win his ex-wife’s heart back in The Sweetest Thing – was getting a story of his own, I had to read it.
“Kissing Santa Claus” is a wonderful holiday treat. Logan fell hard and fast for Sandy without even knowing it. It’s only after spending five months away from her that he realizes he can’t live without her, so he returns to Lucky Harbor, intent on proving his love to Sandy. Who can resist a sexy man willing to pull out all the stops for the woman he loves? Not me. I do wish that “Kissing Santa Claus” were a bit longer, especially since I’d have liked to read about Sandy and Logan’s initial fling. Nevertheless, “Kissing Santa Claus” is an entertaining story with a dash of Christmas cheer and a healthy dose of sensuality that will likely please Lucky Harbor fans.
****
Under the Mistletoe
Mia’s plan for a bright and joyful Christmas comes screeching to a halt when her boyfriend, Nick, refuses to come to Lucky Harbor and meet her family. Heartbroken, Mia travels to Lucky Harbor to lick her wounds and celebrate her aunt’s wedding. What she doesn’t expect is Nick to follow hot on her heels, begging for forgiveness.
Like Mia, Nick was given up for adoption at birth. Unlike Mia, he wasn’t adopted by loving parents and never connected with equally loving birth parents. Family, acceptance, and love are foreign to him, but he learns they’re things he wants. Now he just has to convince Mia to give him a second chance. Because for this Christmas and every holiday after, her heart, her love, is the only gift he’ll ever need.
Everyone deserves a second chance, and Nick gets his in this sweet, romantic Lucky Harbor story. Mia and Nick are young, smart, likeable protagonists who fit each other like lock and key. The similar issues they have because of their pasts might have been what initially drew them together, but Jill Shalvis clearly shows it’s not the sole reason they make such a powerful couple. Whenever Nick and Mia share a scene the chemistry between them is easy to see. I loved them together, and because I did I practically devoured Under the Mistletoe.
Under the Mistletoe can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading the first three Lucky Harbor books. Mia’s birth parents, aunts, and uncles are the heroines and heroes of Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, and Head Over Heels and they all play strong supporting roles in Under the Mistletoe. In addition, fans of The Sweetest Thing will recognize Carlos, Mia’s first love, as a supporting character and Ms. Shalvis gives a brief update on his love life that made me smile and want to know a bit more about the woman who captured his heart.
The only niggle I had when reading Under the Mistletoe was Mia’s wish to be “picked.” I understood her desire to be picked by someone instead of her always doing the chasing and choosing, but given that this need stems from her being given up for adoption, it bothered me a bit that she never addressed the fact that she was picked, by her adoptive parents, who clearly love her. Given that Under the Mistletoe is a Lucky Harbor story, I understand the focus on Mia’s birth family. I just wish there had been a bit more acknowledgment for Mia’s adoptive parents.
Overall, Under the Mistletoe was a delightful read that made me smile and fall in love with some of my favorite Lucky Harbor characters all over again. Under the Mistletoe is the perfect story to curl up with this winter, for Mia and Nick’s romance is simply lovely.
Simply Irresistible
Maddie Moore is at a crossroads in her life. She’s lost her job, ditched her jerk of a boyfriend, and isn’t in the best financial condition. With nothing left for her in L.A., Maddie heads to the small town of Lucky Harbor, Washington, to check out an inheritance left to her and her two half-sisters by their mother. What she finds is a run-down inn and two siblings who are nearly strangers to her. Maddie, the middle sister, has always been known as “the Mouse.” But Maddie wants to make a go of restoring and running the inn, which means she has to find her voice and convince her sisters to at least consider a trial period. It also means that the inn needs some serious work done on it. Maddie gets more than she bargains for when she hires contractor Jax Cullen. Jax turns Maddie on like no other man has, but with her life in chaos and her decision to stay in Lucky Harbor in peril, is Maddie really ready to take a chance on falling in love with Jax?
There are some stories that make you smile and give you a warm, cozy feeling reading them. Simply Irresistible is that kind of book. Jill Shalvis has delivered one of the most delightful books I’ve read in a long time. I loved everything about the aptly-titled Simply Irresistible.
Maddie, Tara, and Chloe are three half-sisters who seem to have nothing in common except one free-spirited, now-deceased mother. They’re virtual strangers at the beginning of Simply Irresistible, and part of the charm of the story is watching them start to become a family. I adored Maddie’s kindness and humor, Tara’s surliness and veiled caring, and Chloe’s zest for life and outrageous comments. In Simply Irresistible, Maddie also finds herself and her personal journey could have made the book fantastic on its own. However, what sends Simply Irresistible over the top into favorite book material is the romance. I loved Jax and Maddie together. Jax is the kind of guy I curse Ms. Shalvis for creating because I want one of him to show up on my doorstep (tool belt optional). Maddie and Jax hit it off from the start – almost literally since Maddie nearly runs Jax over – and the two of them make Simply Irresistible sparkle.
Simply Irresistible is one of the most entertaining books I’ve read this year and it’s got an honored spot on my keeper shelf. I finished Simply Irresistible one happy reader and I dove right into the second Lucky Harbor novel, The Sweetest Thing.
****
The Sweetest Thing
On the surface, Tara Daniels may have it all together, but being back in Lucky Harbor – the place where she made one hell of a mistake as a teenager – keeps her frequently on edge. As does sexy sailor Ford Walker. All Tara wants to do is get the inn she co-owns with her sisters up and running while she puts her life back together. She doesn’t have time for Ford or the feelings he evokes within her. Too bad her body and heart have no interest in following Tara’s plan. To make matters even more complicated, Tara’s sexy ex-husband shows up in Lucky Harbor, determined to win her back. The past is catching up with Tara and with two gorgeous men also in pursuit, life in the small town of Lucky Harbor is about to get very, very interesting.
Love lost and found is the name of the game in The Sweetest Thing. The second installment in Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor alternately sizzles with sexual tension and tugs on your heartstrings. Tara and Ford have each been through things in life that have marked them forever. Though I won’t spoil what those events were, there are times that The Sweetest Thing brought tears to my eyes – tears of both joy and sadness. Tara and Ford both show only parts of themselves to the world and as I read The Sweetest Thing, I delighted in uncovering the layers of their personalities. Ms. Shalvis had me rooting for these two to get together, but she didn’t make the journey easy on Tara and Ford. Their road to happily ever after was filled with bumps, but the obstacles that had to be overcome made the end result that much sweeter.
A brilliant supporting cast of characters rounds out The Sweetest Thing, further bringing Ms. Shalvis’s world of Lucky Harbor, Washington to life. I can’t express how much I adored everyone in The Sweetest Thing, but the fact that I began reading the third Lucky Harbor novel, Head Over Heels, as soon as I finished Ford and Tara’s book should indicate how much I love this series.
Christmas in Lucky Harbor is an omnibus containing the first two Lucky Harbor books. While both books can be read as standalone stories, the Lucky Harbor series is simply too good for readers to miss out on a single novel. I practically devoured Christmas in Lucky Harbor and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary romance.
Now, when can I move to Lucky Harbor?
****
Kissing Santa Claus
I’ll admit right off the bat that I’m in love with Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. So when I saw that Logan Perrish – who failed to win his ex-wife’s heart back in The Sweetest Thing – was getting a story of his own, I had to read it.
“Kissing Santa Claus” is a wonderful holiday treat. Logan fell hard and fast for Sandy without even knowing it. It’s only after spending five months away from her that he realizes he can’t live without her, so he returns to Lucky Harbor, intent on proving his love to Sandy. Who can resist a sexy man willing to pull out all the stops for the woman he loves? Not me. I do wish that “Kissing Santa Claus” were a bit longer, especially since I’d have liked to read about Sandy and Logan’s initial fling. Nevertheless, “Kissing Santa Claus” is an entertaining story with a dash of Christmas cheer and a healthy dose of sensuality that will likely please Lucky Harbor fans.
****
Under the Mistletoe
Mia’s plan for a bright and joyful Christmas comes screeching to a halt when her boyfriend, Nick, refuses to come to Lucky Harbor and meet her family. Heartbroken, Mia travels to Lucky Harbor to lick her wounds and celebrate her aunt’s wedding. What she doesn’t expect is Nick to follow hot on her heels, begging for forgiveness.
Like Mia, Nick was given up for adoption at birth. Unlike Mia, he wasn’t adopted by loving parents and never connected with equally loving birth parents. Family, acceptance, and love are foreign to him, but he learns they’re things he wants. Now he just has to convince Mia to give him a second chance. Because for this Christmas and every holiday after, her heart, her love, is the only gift he’ll ever need.
Everyone deserves a second chance, and Nick gets his in this sweet, romantic Lucky Harbor story. Mia and Nick are young, smart, likeable protagonists who fit each other like lock and key. The similar issues they have because of their pasts might have been what initially drew them together, but Jill Shalvis clearly shows it’s not the sole reason they make such a powerful couple. Whenever Nick and Mia share a scene the chemistry between them is easy to see. I loved them together, and because I did I practically devoured Under the Mistletoe.
Under the Mistletoe can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment I recommend reading the first three Lucky Harbor books. Mia’s birth parents, aunts, and uncles are the heroines and heroes of Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, and Head Over Heels and they all play strong supporting roles in Under the Mistletoe. In addition, fans of The Sweetest Thing will recognize Carlos, Mia’s first love, as a supporting character and Ms. Shalvis gives a brief update on his love life that made me smile and want to know a bit more about the woman who captured his heart.
The only niggle I had when reading Under the Mistletoe was Mia’s wish to be “picked.” I understood her desire to be picked by someone instead of her always doing the chasing and choosing, but given that this need stems from her being given up for adoption, it bothered me a bit that she never addressed the fact that she was picked, by her adoptive parents, who clearly love her. Given that Under the Mistletoe is a Lucky Harbor story, I understand the focus on Mia’s birth family. I just wish there had been a bit more acknowledgment for Mia’s adoptive parents.
Overall, Under the Mistletoe was a delightful read that made me smile and fall in love with some of my favorite Lucky Harbor characters all over again. Under the Mistletoe is the perfect story to curl up with this winter, for Mia and Nick’s romance is simply lovely.
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