Review - The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

The Sweetest Thing is the second book in the Lucky Harbor trilogy.  This book is oldest sister Tara's story.  Six months after her mother has died and left the sisters an inn, Tara finds herself still in Lucky Harbor.  Helping her sisters renovate and open the inn up, Tara longs to find control and a plan for her life.  Things are far from under control though, when her ex-husband, Logan and her ex-lover, Ford decide to win her love.  Thrown in are town folk with Facebook commentary and polls on the love triangle and a secret from Tara's past making an appearance.

Overall I found this book to be a good read.  Tara, although a Type A personality, had enough vulnerability and humour to balance it out.  While Ford is determined to win Tara back for good this time.  The two together have hot, sizzling chemistry together.  The story was a little slow to begin with but picks up speed by chapter 10.  Although it was refreshing to see that Logan wasn't given the bad guy rap, I'm not totally convinced that he was needed in the story.  At times it just felt like filler.  Jill Shalvis is definitely working her way to being an auto-buy for me.  Her characters have depth and the story lines are filled with romance hot sexual chemistry, and humour.

While the second in a trilogy, I think The Sweetest Thing can stand on it's own, but why would you want to read just this one?  If you haven't read the first book, Simply Irresistible, do it.  I am looking forward to Chloe and Sawyer's story in Head Over Heels, I am sure Chloe will keep him on his toes.

Review - Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

In Simply Irresistible (A Lucky Harbor Novel) Maddie Moore's life is turned upside down when she loses her job and her boyfriend.  When she is left 1/3 of an inn by her mom, Maddie heads to Lucky Harbor, Washington to start over again.  Once there, she needs to convince her half-sisters that a dilapidated inn is worth fixing and to convince herself that it is worth it to start over with one tall, dark-haired contractor.

I have finally found a new author!  This rarely happens to me now, most new authors I will read one book, consider reading another, but lose interest.  But Jill Shalvis has written a book with humour, heat, and believable characters.  Maddie was a sweet, clumsy, and at times vulnerable character.  But not so vulnerable that one felt sorry for her.  It was fun and touching to watch Maddie slowly learn to stand up for herself and believe in herself with the help of Jax Cullen.  Meanwhile, Jax is hot.  Not just because of his looks, but also because he was understanding and was willing (to a certain point) to wait while Maddie worked through her issues.

The book did fall prey to a couple of cliches.  Mainly the stereotypical cast of eccentric small townspeople, but I can overlook it because of my love for the story.  This book is the first in the Lucky Harbor series.  Maddie's sisters Tara and Chloe will get their own books.  I will definitely be watching out for those books.  I am also hunting down Shalivis' back list tomorrow at the used book store.