Saturday, December 21, 2013

Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis - Review

Christmas in Lucky Harbor
by Jill Shalvis
Published September 24, 2013
by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) 

Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .

Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor #1)
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 (Lucky Harbor #2)
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 (Lucky Harbor #2.5)
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 (Lucky Harbor #6.5)
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.


My review:
I have never been disappointed with a Lucky Harbor novel, and this was no exception. This omnibus, Christmas in Lucky Harbor, includes the first two novels in the Lucky Harbor series, Simply Irresistible and The Sweetest Thing, and also includes two Christmas short stories, Kissing Santa Claus and Under the Mistletoe.

In Simply Irresistible, three sisters have just found out that their recently deceased mother left them a bed and breakfast in Lucky Harbor. Each sister has a different father and each one was mostly raised by their father instead of their irresponsible, free-spirited mother. Maddie, the middle sister, spent the least amount of time with their mother while growing up, but Maddie is at a place in her life where she feels she doesn't belong anywhere and really wants to connect with her sisters and make a success of the bed and breakfast so she will have a place to call home. The other sisters just want to sell it quickly and get on with their lives. While Maddie is trying to convince her sisters that the bed and breakfast can be a great business for all of them, Maddie gets hot and heavy with the contractor hired to fix up the inn, who has a few secrets about the inn and Maddie's mother.

In The Sweetest Thing, the oldest sister, Tara, is trying to get her life back on track after her divorce and is working hard to make a success of the bed and breakfast. Tara used to spend some summers with her mom in Lucky Harbor, and Tara has to face her past with Ford, a long time Lucky Harbor resident who is also best friends with her sister, Maddie's, boyfriend, Jax. Even after all these years, the attraction between Tara and Ford is impossible to deny and hard to resist. Things are further complicated when her ex-husband shows up and wants her back.

In Kissing Santa Claus, we get to see another side of Tara's ex-husband, Logan. In The Sweetest Thing, you are sort of against him and for Ford, so it is nice to get to read about him in another light. Kissing Santa Claus is a sweet short story that gets you in the mood for Christmas.

In Under the Mistletoe, we get to know Tara and Ford's daughter, Mia, a lot more. Mia is coming back to Lucky Harbor for Christmas and for her Aunt Chloe's wedding. This great short story really focuses on the joys of family and makes you believe in true love.

Overall, each story in Christmas in Lucky Harbor, as well as all of the other Lucky Harbor novels I have read, are well-written, excellent romances. They do not have to be read in order for you to enjoy them. Jill Shalvis has the ability to make you laugh and fall in love with the characters, while also heating up the pages. The romance is hot and spicy without being too explicit, and there is still a story that you get drawn into beyond all of the action between the sheets (or in most cases, not between the sheets). I have really enjoyed every book I have read from Jill Shalvis, and she has become one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance. 

A copy was received from the publisher. I was not required to write a review.

About the author:   
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family and far too many assorted quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's latest, RUMOR HAS IT, on shelves and ereaders now, and get all her bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold. Also, visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. 

Find out more at JillShalvis.com. 

Check out these reviews I have written about other Lucky Harbor novels:
Head Over Heels, #3 - Chloe's (the third sister) story 
Lucky in Love, #4 
At Last, #5  

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