A Christmas to Remember by Jill Shalvis, Kristen Ashley, Hope Ramsay, Molly Cannon & Marilyn Pappano - Review

A Christmas to Remember
by Jill Shalvis, Kristen Ashley, Hope Ramsay, Molly Cannon & Marilyn Pappano
Published: December 2013 by Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

Curl up with this heartwarming Christmas collection!

Jill Shalvis, Dream a Little Dream: Melissa has kept every man at a safe distance-especially firefighter Ian, a sexy friend with sexy benefits. But Ian secretly longs for more. Luckily, 'tis the season for giving love a chance . . .

Kristen Ashley, Every Year: Holidays don't come easy for Shy and his brother, Landon. But with the magic of Christmas, along with a little help from Tabby and her family, the Cage brothers are about to get the gift of a lifetime . . .

Hope Ramsay, Silent Night: Down on her luck and evicted from her apartment, single mother Maryanne hopes to start over in Last Chance. When the snow begins to fall, it looks like her baby might literally spend Christmas Eve in a manger. And Maryanne might celebrate the holiday with a handsome stranger.

Molly Cannon, Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas: Lincoln is a bachelor who's set in his ways-until a professional organizer dressed up as Mrs. Claus changes his life, one tip at a time. . .

Marilyn Pappano, A Family for Christmas: War widow Ilena doesn't mind spending Christmas alone. But when a new doctor blows into town with the winter wind, will she get her secret Christmas wish?

Plus: Excerpts from upcoming novels!

(40,000 words)

Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

Great collection of love stories to get you in the holiday spirit. These romances range from sweet to steamy, so there is something for everyone if you have a preference.

It's hard to say too much about these without giving huge spoilers, so I'm just going to give a little short and sweet "review" of each one.

Dream a Little Dream - I always love reading the Lucky Harbor novels by Jill Shalvis, and this first story takes you back to that great, quirky little town. Melissa thinks Ian is the perfect man, but she broke up with him because she was scared of getting too serious. After a stay at the hospital, Melissa realizes what she is missing.

Every Year - A great little story of acceptance, family and friends. What really impressed me about this one is Kristen Ashley's mastery of the "motorcycle babe's" lingo and ability to write the character. I seriously fell into this story as if it could have been told to me straight from the main character, Tabby.

Silent Night - Amazing and heartbreaking, all at the same time. This one really brought a few tears to my eyes. I've only read a few of the Last Chance novels, which I think came out before this one, but I'd be interested in reading more of them just to follow up with Maryanne.

Have Yourself a Messy Little Christmas - This great little story shows how you can find love in the most unexpected places when you aren't even looking for it. Lincoln didn't think he needed the professional organizer his mother hired. Dinah tried to keep things strictly professional. They both found something they needed along the way.

A Family for Christmas - I loved Ilena as a character, and I really enjoyed Ilena's and Jared's love story. Ilena is just the sweetest thing. This wonderful little story is a tale of how sometimes "home" and the place you belong has more to do with the people who are there than the location.  

I really enjoyed this set of Christmas love stories. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I would definitely recommend picking this up to read here at the holidays.

A copy was provided for an honest review.

About the authors:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and 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.

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better. Find out more at KristenAshley.net. 

Hope Ramsay was born in New York and grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, but every summer Momma would pack her off under the care of Aunt Annie to go visiting with relatives in the midlands of South Carolina. Her extended family includes its share of colorful aunts and uncles, as well as cousins by the dozens, who provide the fodder for the characters you’ll find in Last Chance, South Carolina. Hope earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Buffalo, and has had various jobs working as a Congressional aide, a lobbyist, a public relations consultant, and a meeting planner. She’s a two-time finalist in the Golden Heart, and is married to a good ol’ Georgia boy who resembles every single one of her heroes. She has two grown children and a couple of demanding lap cats. She lives in Fairfax, Virginia where you can often find her on the back deck, picking on her thirty-five-year-old Martin guitar. Find out more at HopeRamsay.com.

Molly Cannon lives a charmed life in Texas with her husband, Mr. Wonderful and her extremely large cat Nelson. When she's not writing, she spends her days reading, taking dance classes with MW, and watching every kind of sporting event imaginable. Molly has three grown children, all married to terrific people and two wonderful grandchildren. Life is good! Find out more at MollyCannon.com.

Born in Oklahoma, Marilyn Pappano followed her career-Navy husband across the southern United States for fifteen years, living in California, the Carolinas, Alabama and Georgia -- all locations she's used regularly in her novels. Her first book, WITHIN REACH, was published by Silhouette Books in 1987, and she's gone on to sell about eighty books to Silhouette, Harlequin, Warner, Bantam, Dell and Forever Romance. She's made bestseller lists, won every major award in the romance genre, and seen a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie made from her novel, SEASON FOR MIRACLES. Marilyn writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense and is best known for her richly-textured characterization. Her current publishers are Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Forever Romance, where she's using her experience as a military spouse and mother in her new Tallgrass books, a series about a group of best friends and military widows who help each other grieve, live and learn to love again. Find out more at MarilynPappano.blogspot.com.         

Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis - Giveaway & Excerpt - Launch Day Blitz

Check out my review of Merry Christmas, Baby.

Excerpt

“It’s only a week,” he said, and Chloe jumped.

He was at her side again, all lethal stealth. He set her fast-acting asthma inhaler on the nightstand for easy reach and then her cell phone, which he’d no doubt charged for her since she’d forgotten. His bag hung from his shoulder, and he watched her from those fathomless eyes. If she looked closely she could see the gold flecks in them. Sometimes, when he laughed, those flecks danced.

But they were still now.

As still as the man watching her.

“I know,” she murmured. “Just a week. You’ll be back for the town Christmas party. You promised to take me.”

His jaw went a little tight. Parties weren’t exactly Mr. Social’s thing. “We talked about this,” he said.

“Yes, and you agreed to take me.”

He shook his head. “I said it wasn’t a great idea, you exerting the energy to dress up and go to a crowded event.”

“I’m not a piece of china,” she said.

“No one would ever mistake you for one,” he responded, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t a compliment.

“But,” he went on in that voice of steel, “you’re eight months pregnant and suffer debilitating asthma. Give yourself a damn break.”

“I’ve had one,” she said. “Maddie and Tara won’t even let me work at my own spa. I need to get out, Sawyer. I need to see people.” Before her life changed forever… “I’m going.”

“I’ll be back,” was all he said.

“And the party?”

“We’ll see.”

Not exactly a promise, but then again he was careful never to promise anything he couldn’t deliver. His word, when he gave it, was good as gold.

He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes for a long beat. “Dr. Tyler is only a call away,” he said. “Your sisters are close by. Jax and Ford are in your speed dials and are on standby for anything.”

Chloe’s obstetrician was wonderful, and so were her sisters Maddie and Tara and their husbands—Sawyer’s BFFs Jax and Ford. But if there was an emergency, it wasn’t any of them that Chloe wanted.

It was the tall testosterone and attitude-ridden man standing in front of her, already long gone given the look on his face.

“I want you to take care,” he said.

“You heard what Dr. Tyler said the last time we were in her office for false labor.” She patted her belly. “The Bean’s in for the long haul.”

“I meant you,” Sawyer said. “Take care of you.”

Coming from him, the words were tantamount to a shouted vow of love, and they moved her as only Sawyer could. “Always,” she promised, softening. “And what about you?”

“I haven’t had any labor pains, false or otherwise,” he deadpanned.

That got a laugh out of her.

He smiled but it faded quickly. “You know you can text or email me, and that I’ll call when I can,” he said. “And if anything happens—anything at all, Chloe—I can be back here in two hours.”

“Anything?” she asked playfully, trying to lighten the mood, using a voice that once upon a time would’ve made him kick off his shoes and strip and crawl back into bed with her, the hell with obligation and responsibility.

“I’ll be here.” He met her gaze, his own serious. “Always.”

An alarm on his watch beeped. He turned it off without taking his eyes from her.

She blew out a breath. “You’ve gotta go.”

He touched her face. “Chloe—”

She closed her eyes and turned her jaw into his touch. “I know,” she said. “And it’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.”

She just hoped that was true.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY by Jill Shalvis (December 2, 2014; Grand Central Publishing E-Novella; $1.99)

Wild child Chloe Thompson can't believe how much things have changed. She still can't get enough of her sexy husband Sawyer, but he seems to prefer working to impending fatherhood. So tonight, a very pregnant Chloe is escaping her troubles at the town Christmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson hopes surprising Chloe at the  party will give him a chance to set things right. But as the snow begins to fall and the wind rages, he wonders whether he can make it back in time. While mother nature conspires to keep Sawyer and Chloe apart,  an unexpected arrival will require them to kiss and make up . . . and ring in the happiest holiday Lucky Harbor has ever seen.

Buy Links:

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About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Social Media Links:

Website

Facebook

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Goodreads

Giveaway

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Merry Christmas, Baby by Jill Shalvis - Review

Merry Christmas, Baby
(Lucky Harbor #12.5)
by Jill Shalvis
Expected publication: December 2, 2014 by Grand Central Publishing

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis brings you a heartwarming tale that could only happen in Lucky Harbor . . .

SEASON'S KISSES

Wild child Chloe Thompson can't believe how much things have changed. She still can't get enough of her sexy husband Sawyer, but he seems to prefer working to thinking about impending fatherhood. So tonight, a very pregnant Chloe is escaping her troubles at the town Christmas party.

Sheriff Sawyer Thompson hopes surprising Chloe at the party will give him a chance to set things right. But as the snow begins to fall and the wind rages, he wonders whether he can make it back in time. While mother nature conspires to keep Sawyer and Chloe apart, an unexpected arrival will require them to kiss and make up . . . and ring in the happiest holiday Lucky Harbor has ever seen. (13,000 words)

Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

I always love visiting Lucky Harbor, and this short story didn't disappoint. I was very sad that the Lucky Harbor series has come to an end, so I was delighted to see this little extra surprise. In Merry Christmas, Baby, we get to revisit Chloe and Sawyer, whose love story was in the third Lucky Harbor book, Head Over Heels.

Chloe and Sawyer have now been married several years and are expecting a baby. Chloe's childhood wasn't the best. Her mother was absent most of the time, and Chloe grew up living on the spur of the moment, marching to the beat of her own drummer. Sawyer didn't have a very good childhood either and had been very rebellious in his teen years as a result. Chloe is very worried about how the two of them are going to be good parents with their background. Chloe is also worried because she has become more irritable as she has become more worried about impending motherhood and dealt with the aches and pains of pregnancy, and it seems that Sawyer is becoming emotionally distant and taking jobs out of town to be physically distant.

Some of the key players in the other Lucky Harbor novels come back into play as Chloe's baby makes an unforgettable entrance into the world. I loved getting to "see" some of the familiar faces and really enjoyed getting to read a follow-up of two of my favorite characters, Chloe and Sawyer. 

If you enjoy reading contemporary romance, I would recommend this sweet Christmas story and would definitely recommend the entire Lucky Harbor series.

An ARC was provided for an honest review.

Read my review of Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis, the book where it all started with Chloe and Sawyer.

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.

Visit Jill's website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.  

Find out more at JillShalvis.com.     

Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis - "Throwback Thursday Review"

A "Throwback Thursday Review" is either a book I read way back when but didn't write a review for whatever reason (usually, probably forgot ... oops...) or it is a review on a book I got but then didn't get around to reading until now (again, usually, probably just forgot).

Up first is Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis. I could have sworn I reviewed this book when I first read it in July 2012, but for some reason, I didn't. (See above about my tendency of forgetting...)

Forever and a Day
Lucky Harbor #6
by Jill Shalvis
Published 2012 by Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing

LOVE CAN HAPPEN IN A HEARTBEAT.

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

Goodreads * Amazon

My review:

Grace is getting a little desperate for money. After a new job didn't pan out because she refused to perform special favors, Grace got in her car and ended up in Lucky Harbor. She is performing a variety of odd jobs, such as modeling for an art class and making deliveries. When hot Dr. Josh Scott accidentally dials her number after seeing a flyer for a dog walker, she takes the job because she needs the money. This soon leads to her being a temporary nanny for Josh's son when his suddenly quits. The whole time, her plans are to find a prestigious job that her parents will be proud of and leave lucky harbor. She doesn't want to pursue a relationship with a way-too-busy doctor, but she has made a pact with her two best friends, Amy and Mallory, to have a little fun, and Dr. Scott is too hot to resist.

I have read several Lucky Harbor novels, and I am never disappointed. Forever and a Day (along with all the other Lucky Harbor novels I have read) has the perfect amount of humor, friendships, spiciness and heat. Jill Shalvis has a gift for creating perfectly rounded heroines that readers can relate to, and her "alpha man" heroes are just the right combination of sexiness, confidence, caring, and flaws.

I would recommend Forever and a Day (as well as the other Lucky Harbor novels) to anyone who is looking for a great contemporary romance.

*Recommended only for 18+.

A copy was provided, but 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.

Visit Jill's website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. 

Find out more at JillShalvis.com.   

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  

Always on My Mind by Jill Shalvis - Excerpt - Win 100 Dollars and Full Set of Books!

Always on My Mind
(A Lucky Harbor Novel)
by Jill Shalvis
Publication date: September 24, 2013

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack's ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib - that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle . . .

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine - perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their "just friends" rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * IndieBound 

Excerpt:

He stared at her. “That’s quite a list of shortcomings,” he eventually said. “Is that all?”

“No.” She shoved her wet hair from her face, though she managed to keep her regal stance, nose firmly in the air at nose-bleed height. “I held back because I didn’t want to be overly rude.”

He laughed softly. “Don’t hold back, Leah. Let’s hear all of it.”

“Well, your truck has more sporting goods than a store, you never say you’re sorry, and your girlfriends look like supermodels. I mean, what is that? There’s nothing wrong with real boobs, you know!”

“I fail to see the problem.”

She snorted again, and he was starting to feel greatly insulted. “You’re not exactly a walk in the park, Leah.”

“No?”

“No. You’re flighty, you live for your every whim, you downplay any real emotion you feel.”

She hugged herself tight. “Good thing this is all pretend then, isn’t it,” she said softly.

“Yeah.”

She was freezing. And hauntingly gorgeous, so damn gorgeous standing there wet and silvery by the moon’s glow, like a goddess. It’s Leah, he had to keep reminding himself. Leah, who’d once beaten him in a marshmallow-eating contest, only to puke all over him. Leah, whose dark-green eyes had a way of telling the world to bite her. Leah, who’d run off on him and left him heartbroken. He took a step into her—for what exactly, he had no idea—and she poked a finger into his chest.

“God,” she said. “You’re so…” Words apparently failed her, but she let out a sound that managed to perfectly convey how annoying he was.

“Ditto,” he said, and then grabbed the finger drilling a hole between his pecs and tugged her hard enough that she lost her balance and fell against him.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, entangling a hand in her wet hair.

She went still as stone and stared into his eyes. And then lowered her gaze to his mouth.

Yeah, they were in sync there. Suddenly he couldn’t breathe. Hers caught audibly in her throat, a good sign, he decided. Maybe she wouldn’t knee him in the balls. Testing the waters, he grazed her jawline with his teeth.

She shivered.

Then he slid his mouth to the very corner of hers and was rewarded by the clutch of her hands on his shirt. Having her hold on to him like this, like he was her only anchor, sent a bolt of lust straight through him. “Leah,” he murmured, hearing the surprise in his own voice, feeling the heat course through him as he finally—God, finally—covered her mouth with his.

Her lips parted for him eagerly, and he groaned, drowning in the erotic collision of her hot tongue and chilled, wet body.

Serious trouble. He was in serious trouble.

About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and 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. 

Giveaway:

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At Last by Jill Shalvis - Review

At Last by Jill Shalvis
Lucky Harbor Novel, #5
Published: June 26, 2012 by Forever, 
an imprint of Grand Central Publishing

HER LOVE HAS COME ALONG . . . 

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor. 

Add on Goodreads, and buy from Barnes & Noble or an independent bookstore near you. 

My Review:
Amy has had a hard life. She has finally settled in Lucky Harbor and has her own place, a job at the diner, and new best friends. Amy's grandmother once visited Lucky Harbor as well. Amy has her diary, which says that her grandmother found hope, peace, and heart in the large national park near Lucky Harbor. Amy intends to follow her grandmother's path in the hope that she can find the same things. Amy, however, is a city girl and not used to the dangers of the forest. In comes the sexy forest ranger, Matt. Amy and Matt have been dancing around each other for months. They have an obvious attraction to each other, but neither one has acted upon it until now. But a complication comes up. A young runaway, Riley, is sleeping in the forest, which is against the law without a permit. Because Amy had a similar upbringing as Riley, she understands her and wants to help. When Riley asks Amy to keep a secret, she is torn between being a person Riley can trust and being honest with Matt.

At Last is the fifth novel in the Lucky Harbor series. This is the third one that I have read, and Jill Shalvis has proven to be a consistently good author. She appears to have a knack for creating well-balanced characters. They are not fairy tale perfect but have the right amount of flaws and good attributes to make them realistic and likeable. I've said this before about the characters in this series, but they are just the kind of ladies that you want to make your best friends. Jill Shalvis gives you a great mix of steamy romance, humor, friendship, and heartwarming moments. I would definitely recommend Jill Shalvis and any of her Lucky Harbor novels.

*Not recommended for anyone under 18.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. You can also like her on Facebook at facebook.com/jillshalvis and follow her on Twitter @jillshalvis.  

 

Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis - Review

Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis
A Lucky Harbor novel, #4
Published: May 22, 2012 
by Grand Central Publishing

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone...

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

My Review:

Mallory has always been the good girl. But she's tired of being known as the "good" Quinn, and she is ready to take a walk on the wild side. Ty is the perfect "Mr. All Wrong" to show her the way. Mallory's two best friends more than support her foray into exploring her bad side and even give her bad girl heels. Somewhere along the way, Mallory realizes that maybe Ty has some endearing qualities about him and maybe taking a walk on the wild side without her heart getting involved isn't as easy as she thought.

This is the second Lucky Harbor novel I have read, and I have enjoyed both of them. Jill Shalvis has created an interesting heroine that is easy to like and relate to and a perfect bad boy hero. It's hard to resist a bad boy, especially one that is so caring underneath that tough, outer shell. My only complaint about Ty is that he is very brash, let's just say, "in the heat of the moment" and said things that would have definitely turned me off and almost had me laughing at times that weren't meant to be funny, but to each her own.

I was hoping to see more of the sisters from the first three books in Lucky in Love and was a little disappointed that they didn't play a bigger part. However, Mallory and her chocoholics group made up for it. Jill Shalvis seems to have a knack for creating female characters that you just want to be best friends with, and I am looking forward to reading more about Mallory's friends, Amy and Grace.

I don't read this genre as much as I used, but Jill Shalvis has quickly become one author I will always look for when I am ready to read a sexy contemporary romance.

*Not recommended for anyone under 18.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. You can also like her on Facebook at facebook.com/jillshalvis and follow her on Twitter @jillshalvis.   

You can also read my review of Head Over Heels, Lucky Harbor novel #3.

Review: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis - Blog Tour

Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis
Published: December 2011
Published by: Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing

Breaking rules and breaking hearts

Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to- be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble--and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

My review:
Head Over Heels is the third novel in the Lucky Harbor series, which feature the sassy and funny half-sisters Tara, Maddie, and Chloe. The three of them run a B&B in the quaint town of Lucky Harbor. This time around, it is Chloe's turn to try to find love and to see if Sawyer is "inhaler worthy," since she is very asthmatic. Chloe is the wild child of the family because of her upbringing, and she has a hard time showing her emotions and letting people get close to her. Sawyer, the sheriff of Lucky Harbor, has also had a troubled past and has his own barriers to loving someone. Chloe and Sawyer are opposites, but they cannot deny the attraction to each other any longer.

This is the first Lucky Harbor novel I have read. However, I quickly came to like the characters. Not only Chloe, but the other two sisters and the other residents of the town. The three sisters are written in such a way that you just want to be best friends with them. Each chapter starts off with a quote from Chloe, which makes you feel like you are getting to know her even more. Jill Shalvis has portrayed the characters and their emotions perfectly. Heartwarming, funny and sexy all at the same time. It will keep you turning the page to follow along with Chloe and Sawyer.

The next time I am in the mood for a contemporary romance novel, I will be looking for the rest of the Lucky Harbor series.

*Not recommend for anyone under 18.

About the author:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras also run by quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. You can also like her on Facebook at facebook.com/jillshalvis and follow her on Twitter @jillshalvis.

I received this novel from the publisher to review for this blog tour. I was not required to post a positive review.