Review: Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis

Christmas in Lucky Harbor: Simply Irresistible/the Sweetest Thing
(Lucky Harbor #1-2)
by Jill Shalvis
5 out of 5 Stars!

MMP, 684 pages
Published: November 1, 2011
by Forever

From publisher through NetGalley.com for Review

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.

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!

• Tags: Forever, Grand Central Publishing, Jill Shalvis, Lucky Harbor•