So this was a great book from beginning to end. I loved Maddie and Jax. I also loved how Maddie and her two half sisters, Chloe and Tara get closer despite of how they were raised (or not raised) by their hippie mother who has recently passed. I plan on reading the rest of the series this year, so definitely looking forward to see how Tara and Chloe's stories end up.

"Simply Irresistible" follows Maddie Moore. Maddie has been fired from her job and is trying to figure out what to do next. When her mother passes and leaves her and her half sister's her resort in the town of Lucky Harbor, Maddie decides to pack up and head there. Maddie also has left her long-term boyfriend and is hesitant to trust another men again after that. She literally runs into Jax Cullen (on his motorcycle) and starts to contemplate that not trusting or getting involved with another man again. The book follows Maddie becoming more decisive and forceful about what she wants and doesn't want. She wants to try to make her mother's resort a success and is determined to do it even though her sisters want to sell and move on. And she wants to get to know them more and goes about making sure that she doesn't do what she used to do which was flee the first time they raised their voices. I loved the lead up to Maddie and Jax finally having sex and both of them realizing that there is something more between them. I loved Jax's backstory, but wanted even more of it. I don't want to reveal too much in my review, but I wanted to know where the heck was Jax's mother in all of this (was she mentioned?) and I love his friendships too. And I loved Jax not revealing a secret that wasn't his to tell.

I don't have much else to say except yeah for a solid romance book that has me wanting to read more!

This was my first time reading both a Shalvis book and one from the Lucky Harbor series. I liked it well enough to read more from this series and from Shalvis. It's a small town contemporary romance with a smart, capable heroine (Becca) and protective, caring to a fault at times hero (Sam). Sam came off as a omega - some moments he was more beta, some moments he was a bit alpha. The reveal of Becca's story includes rape, so warning - what I really liked is that she worked through her traumatic experience via a therapist and not the hero's magical penis. Becca does still have PTSD as well as some other mental health conditions stemming from a prior job, but she handles herself well and when she needs help she reaches out to the people close to her. 

So this one was fun. I liked that Ali was from the "wrong side of the tracks." I liked that her mom and sister were portrayed as loving (but ditsy). Luke had a case that blew up in San Fran. He came back to Lucky Harbor for a break. Luke and Ali's first meeting was hilarious - and different. I enjoyed the mystery aspect too. Now, will Ted have something bad happen to him in a future book I wonder?

Lucky in Love

by Jill Shalvis
Book 4 of Lucky Harbor

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Jill Shalvis has always been a hit or miss with me when it comes to her books, although I will admit that there was a mediocre semi-hit at least two years ago. Lucky in Love is an enjoyable romance with the same humor and wit that embodies a Jill Shalvis contemporary romance. However, I can’t say that I was a hundred percent in like with this book even though it was fun to read from beginning until the end.

Certainly, there were a few things here and there that didn’t really sit well with me, least of all some of the annoying antics of certain characters.

Nonetheless, I’d give Lucky in Love an average rating, anyway.


The Story:
Mallory Quinn has always been the Good Girl of Lucky Harbor and everyone knows this. She’s the stable rock keeping her crazy family from falling apart. She’s the girl next door who’s willing to keep an eye on your home when you’re away. She gives her all, with passion and spirit, to helping people all around her.

But deep down, Mallory is tired of trying to live up to everyone’s expectations, especially her own.

With a little help from her new found friends, Amy and Grace, she is encouraged to “take a walk on the wild side”. And who best to do that with than sexy and hot Mysterious Cute Guy--a man who settled in Lucky Harbor temporarily to nurse some physical wounds?

Ty Garrison has lived his life for adrenaline and action and can’t see himself settling with anyone, anywhere--least of all in the small town of Lucky Harbor where everyone knows everyone’s business. He’s ready to go back to his job as a contract warrior, ready to jump back into the fray of action.

But his plans change when he meets Mallory the Good Girl. And while he’s showing Mallory how to play like a bad girl, Mallory might be showing him a thing or two about life as well.


My Thoughts:
It’s a cute little romance, when you think about it. And it’s not like I don’t like how the romance continues to develop. But underneath all that wit and banter and steamy sex, there’s a very thinly veiled “meant to be” factor that doesn’t escape my notice. On top of that, the whole “Good Girl” vs. “Bad Girl” ordeal is a little dated anyway--the terms are relative, after all.

And I can’t seem to help but notice that for all the “backbone” and “meanness” everyone claims Mallory has developed, she STILL felt like a pushover to me. It was frustrating in some ways, but in other ways was actually quite realistic. Nobody goes from being the meek kitten to a bold bitch overnight. And even if Mallory lets her inner snark out to play every so often, that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s gotten to be a mean person. It just means that she DOES have a personality underneath all that Nurse Nightingale persona, after all. And this isn’t a bad thing, if only Mallory could be a little more consistent with it.

I don’t have much to say about Ty, because he’s no different than most of the broody, alpha, commitment-phobic main male heroes in every other romance book. He’s a good man despite his bad boy reputation… and that’s really all there is to him.


Final Thoughts:
I was a huge fan of the first three Lucky Harbor books. Maddie, Tara, and Chloe made a wonderful set of dysfunctional half-sisters learning to get along with each other, and finding themselves along the way.

I’m not entirely sure I can say the same of this new trio of friends, self-named The Chocoholics. While they embody the same kind of snark and wit that typical Jill Shalvis characters tend to have, their friendship seems strained and not as… well, not as fun as that of the three half-sisters from the first three books. And I was even quite frustrated with the three of them for some time.

Then again, who am I to judge how most friends interact with each other.

Also, for some reason, a lot of the other Lucky Harbor residents got on my nerves as well. I’m not sure why, but what seemed to have been written in as supposedly funny background character antics just felt annoying to me. Maybe it’s just me.

Nevertheless, Lucky in Love was still a fun and enjoyable book, and I hope I enjoy the next one a little bit more.

***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge