Jill Shalvis - Under the Mistletoe

Publisher: Grand Central
 
ISBN:  978-1455544905
 
My rating: 4/5
 



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.

Nick grew up without a family of his own so he's overwhelmed by the love that Mia receives from all her relatives, gathered together to celebrate the season. Under their watchful eyes, Nick finds earning back her trust the hardest thing he's ever had to do. If he succeeds, he will receive the greatest gift of all, Mia's love for a lifetime.  14,000 words (JillShalvis.com)


My thoughts

Short and sweet, but it has everything - the conflict, the love scene, the drama and the whole gang from the first three Lucky Harbor series. Yippeeeeee.

Must read for any Lucky Harbor fan, but also for those loving Jill Shalvis!

PS - Yeah, loved it :-)

Jill Shalvis - Head over Heels

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

ISBN: 978 0 446571630

My rating: 5/5


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? (from the back cover)


My thoughts

L-o-v-e-d    i-t !!!

Can't say it any other way. Okay, this was #3 in the Lucky Harbor (or should it be Lucky Reader?) series and all about Chloe. We've met Maddie in Simply Irresistible (one of my favourite reads this year) and Tara in The Sweetest Thing. I've really enjoyed the Lucky Harbor series so far, in fact since "discovering" Jill Shalvis spot on 12 months ago, it's been definitely "her" year in my household! :-)

I was really looking forward to reading Chloe's story. The wild one! The one with Asthma and lack of sex because of it. The one with issues like saying "I love you" and issues with settling down. And big kudos to Shalvis - SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Throw in a guy like Sawyer, a tough, sexy Sheriff, and complicate it a bit with some past issues for him as well.

With the usual Shalvis wit and humour we read how Chloe and Sawyer get closer. The development of their characters is nicely written and the care they show and give each other makes you keep reading day and night.

So .... bottom line, I could sit here and write about what else I liked, about Maddie and Tara, about Sawyer's friends, Jax and Ford, about Lance, the wonderful Lucille, but as I said, bottom line is, you need to get this one and just read it yourself. I promise you, you will not be disappointed! It's a real treat!

Now go and make 2012 YOUR Jill Shalvis year .... there's more Lucky Harbor to come - thank goodness!

Jill Shalvis - Simply Irresistible

Publisher: Hachette Book Group

ISBN: 978 0 446 57161 6

My rating:    4 / 5

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.
In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother - a ramshackle in nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.
starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career - if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.
The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes - and mouth - are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor. (from the back of the book)

My thoughts

This book arrived during the holidays and for the sake of having nothing better to do I unpacked it and started to read - and literally didn't stop until it was finished.


This was my first book by Jill Shalvis and I’m glad I bought it. It’s the first book in a trilogy about three women inheriting an inn on the Washington coast – inherited from a mother the main character, Maddie, hardly knew.

I liked Maddie straight away – with her little flaws, the love for chips, tick to have her food not touching on the plate and the way she just blurts out what comes to mind. I liked her even more once I found out her history and what had brought her to this place. I liked her the way she slowly fell in love with Jax, though only taking tiny steps and here and there big steps back. Shalvis did a great job with Maddie, she’s real!

Jax ... well who would not like Jax! He is sexy, helpful, literally a man of many trades, yet also dealing with a few issues from the past. I really liked the way he supported and helped Maddie. Though in all fairness, I’ve got to admit, towards the end he did come across as a bit of an “über-guy” ...

I won’t comment on the sisters quite yet. I liked Chloe, but I suppose Jill will tell her story in one of the next books.

Favourite Quote:
 
With a sigh, she picked up her knitting instead of inhaling any more food and continued where she'd left off last night. "In, wrap around," she said to herself. "Pull out."

"You know." Chloe said, licking some batter off her thumb. "The way you knit always sounds a little dirty. I bet if you knitted in earshot of a guy, you'd get laid for sure."