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. 

 

 

Uniforms add a certain something to a romantic lead as does a profession whose mission it is to protect and serve.

 

Enjoy these love stories featuring Sheriffs in Contemporary Romance.

 

My lists are never in any particular order. 

 

1. Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis 

 

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?

 

2. Angels Landing by Rochelle Alers 

 

Kara Newell has a big-city life that needs a major shake-up. Her dedication as a social worker is unwavering, yet her heart tells her that there is more to life than just work. Kara gets the push she needs when she shockingly inherits a large estate on an island off the South Carolina coast. Now the charming town of Angels Landing awaits her . . . along with a secret family she never knew she had.

After surviving war, loss, and heartbreak, ex-marine Jeffrey Hamilton takes his position as sheriff of idyllic Cavanaugh Island very seriously. So he is the perfect person to watch over the beautiful, confident woman who has turned her new family's expectations upside down-and stepped into the crosshairs of angry local residents. 

But soon Kara becomes more than just a job to him, and he begins to need her in ways he never expected. As Kara and Jeffrey confront the town gossips together, they'll learn to face their fears and forgive their pasts in order to find a future filled with happiness in Angels Landing.

 

3. I Want Candy by Susan Donovan 

 

Candace Carmichael was just getting used to the lavish life when everything went sour. Now the down-on-her-luck real estate agent is back in Bigler, North Carolina, jobless and illegally rooming with her her mother in a swank retirement community. All this makes her wonder why she ever considered her BFF Cheri's invitation to move back home. Life in this small mountain town may not be as glamorous as the one she had in Tampa, but she knows a girl can't be too choosy in this market. Besides, everyone's happy to welcome Candy back—especially one handsome widower named Turner…

 

Turner has grown up to be one fine-looking piece of man candy—and looks even tastier in his sheriff's uniform. Maybe that's why she couldn't resist kissing him when he pulled her over for a traffic violation. Even if a relationship was part of Candy's business plan, Turner would be off limits—he still wears his wedding ring, four years after his wife died. If falling in love too fast is a crime, Candy is soon guilty as charged and ready to be fingerprinted. But is she ready to lock away her dreams and hand Turner the keys to her heart?

 

3. Addicted to Love by Lori Wilde 

 

Growing up in Valentine, Texas, can make anyone believe in happily ever after. But newly declared recovering romantic Rachael Henderson has decided that love stinks. After having not one but two grooms ditch her at the altar, she announces her disenchantment in an uncharacteristic act of rebellion. She feels liberated...until she's arrested by Sheriff Brody Carlton.

 

4. Crazy on You by Rachel Gibson 

 

Lily Darlington's been called crazy in her day—and, yeah, driving her car into her ex-husband's living room probably wasn't the smartest move ever made—but the louse deserved it. Now Lily is happily single, and she's turned it all around. She knows she's a good mom, a homeowner, and a businesswoman, all wrapped up in one good-looking package. 

 

A package that police officer Tucker Matthews is dying to unwrap. This ex-military man sure doesn't need another woman in his life. His last girlfriend left him with nothing but memories and a cat named Pinky! But living next door to Lily has been driving him nuts. He dreams about her long blonde hair and even longer legs. And maybe it's time to go a little crazy . . . and fall in love.

 

5. Heartbreak Cove by Lily Everett 

 

Sheriff Andie Shepard may be new to Sanctuary Island but, like everyone else who comes here, she's already fallen under its healing spell. Andie is determined to leave her mistakes behind her and make this scenic haven her home. But she just might have to change her plans—as well as open her heart—when an unexpected visitor shows up on her doorstep…

Caitlin is the ten-year-old niece Andie never knew she had. Silent, wary, and shy as can be, Caitlin only responds to the horses that run wild across the island. Andie has no idea how to deal with Caitlin—until Sam Brennan enters the picture. A tall, handsome loner who rehabilitates abused horses, Sam is able to help Caitlin break out of her shell. But that's not all: He finds a way to touch something deep in Andie's heart, opening her up to the healing power of love. Together, these three lost souls must face the darkness in their past to build a brighter future. Because here, on Sanctuary Island, anything is possible…

 

6. Confessions Of A Wicked Woman by Susanna Carr

 

his is the reason Stephanie Monroe ran away from small-town America in the first place - this insane sense of buttoned-up propriety that's managed to get her thrown in jail. It's not her fault people can't tell the difference between her haute couture and lady-of-the-evening wear! But now, after several citizen complaints, Stephanie finds herself booked by one of Mayfield's finest...and finest is definitely the word. Everything about Jack Logan, from his strong jaw to the way he wears his holster, is irresistibly appealing. And now, the biggest temptation in town - a man in uniform - is resurrecting Stephanie's longburied, apple-pie good girl...and she needs to do something about it fast...It took a lot of hard work for Sheriff Jack Logan to turn away from his bad boy past and become the voice of authority and integrity in this town. So far, he's managed to keep that devilish wild streak buried beneath his badge and his duty. But the minute he looks into Stephanie's eyes, he knows he's in trouble. The big-city lady fights back with a style he admires, even if he suspects that bad-girl come-hither walk is nothing but an act. More and more, Jack can't decide whether to drag her across the city limits or into his bed. One thing's for sure - the longer she stays in town, the more ready this reformed bad boy is to shed his uniform and show Stephanie a whole new side to serve and protect...

 

7. Return to Homecoming Ranch by Julia London

 

Curly-haired Libby Tyler never stops smiling…until her beloved boyfriend suddenly forces her out of their home and away from his adoring kids. When she learns he dumped her for his flighty ex-wife, Libby’s sadness turns to fury—and she very publicly smashes his truck with a golf club, earning herself a trip to a mental health center for some “rest.”

Handsome, hazel-eyed deputy Sam Winters has been sober for two years. Afraid of backsliding, he lives in the mountains and keeps his distance from people. Yet he never forgot Libby, his former colleague at the sheriff’s office whose charm and cheerfulness always warmed his days.

Now Libby’s back, ignoring the townspeople’s whispers (and her ex’s restraining order) while desperately trying to make Homecoming Ranch a successful event destination. She keeps causing trouble for Sam, but he finds her smile more beautiful than ever…and his touch gives her thrills she’s never felt. Could these two lost souls mend each other’s broken hearts?

 

8. The Loner by Lindsay McKenna

 

n all her years as deputy sheriff, Shelby Kincaid never met a man as stubborn as Dakota Carson. Practically eaten by a grizzly bear and still that man insists on returning, alone, to his isolated cabin in the Tetons. Shelby's not even sure why it ruffles her—but she suspects it has a lot to do with the instant, powerful connection she feels with Dakota. If only he'd let down his guard with her….

Ten years as a Navy SEAL took its toll on Dakota's body, his mind and his heart. Since being released, he's endured months of painful physical therapy…and brutal nightmares. Dakota wants nothing more than to hide from the world, so why does Shelby's gentle presence suddenly make him question his seclusion? But when Shelby's life is threatened, Dakota knows his warrior spirit won't hide any longer. He just hopes it's not too late….

 

9. Deep Freeze by Lisa Jackson

 

Her Biggest Fan. . .

When she wakes up, she's very cold. Colder than she's ever been in her life. She can't move or speak. And then she sees him. The one who took her. And before she dies, she wishes she could scream. . .  

Is About To Become. . .

Former movie star Jenna Hughes left Hollywood for an isolated farm in Oregon to get away from fame. But someone has followed her--an obsessed fan whose letters are personal and deeply disturbing. And while Jenna's already shaken up by what she's seen on paper, she'd be terrified if she knew what Sheriff Shane Carter is investigating. It's a shocking case that started with the discovery of a dead woman in the woods. Now two more women are missing, one of whom bears a striking resemblance to Jenna. . .

Her Worst Nightmare. . 

 

10. Part Time Cowboy by Maisey Yates

 

Sadie Miller isn't expecting any welcome-home parades on her return to Copper Ridge. Least of all from part-time rancher, full-time lawman Eli Garrett. The straitlaced, impossibly hot deputy sheriff glares at her as if she's the same teenage hoodlum who fled town ten years ago. But running from her demons has brought Sadie full circle, ready to make a commitment at last. Not to a man, but to a bed-and-breakfast. On Garrett land. Okay, so her plan has a tiny flaw… 

 

Eli works too hard to let a blonde ball of trouble mess up his town. But keeping an eye on Sadie makes it tough to keep his hands off her. And if she's so wrong for him, why does being with her feel so right?

 

 

Got more Sheriff goodness? Gimme!

 

Vote on my Goodreads list: Sheriffs in Contemporary Romance. 

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

Julie: Once in a Lifetime is the ninth book in Jill Shalvis’ hugely popular Lucky Harbor contemporary romance series. The series is pretty much divided into three sets of three. This latest trio focuses on three “best” girlfriends and how they each fall in love with one of three guy best friends. I place the word best in ” ” for the girls because the gals in this trio didn’t really start being close until later in the seventh book, if that.

This latest book is about Aubrey and Ben. Ben is a mysterious character that comes back to town in the last book and Aubrey…well, she’s the bitch. When you meet her in It Had to be You, she is cranky and has an overall bad attitude but you could tell, there was something about her attitude that didn’t quite click. It’s almost like when someone’s smile doesn’t quite reach their eyes. Aubrey is being bitchy but is that really who she is or is it just a façade that she has built up over the years?…

I can’t say I was a fan of Aubrey after reading books seven and eight but I knew that if someone could make me like a rather unlikable character, it was Jill Shalvis. And I was right. Aubrey ended up being endearing and awkward and completely charming. And by the end of Once in a Lifetime, I actually considered her one of my favorite heroines in this series to date.

Anne: I always felt Aubrey was hiding. And with everything life threw at her, she just sucked it up and did the best she could. That’s why she’s my hero. She isn’t any better or worse than anyone else. She’s made mistakes like everyone does. Her mistakes have just been highlighted, all the time, in the worst possible ways. She doesn’t just curl up and die; she works to find ways to make things better. I can totally relate to her, especially on the holding in true feelings. She is also much harder on herself than she is on others.

Julie: She totally is. She has trouble understanding why people enjoy her company. She really is stronger than she gives herself credit for. And Ben was such a good match for Aubrey because he could see through her bullsh*t. He was also very good at helping her see she is not really the horrible person she thinks she is.

Ben has a sad story but not as much of a sob story as I was expecting – which was good. I find too many heroes now a days have a story that is almost over the top. Jill does a great job with her heroes. They have just enough baggage to give them room to grow or mature. Ben’s back in Lucky Harbor to face his past and to start a future. He is honestly curious about Aubrey and you can tell immediately that he cares for her even though she’s not the easiest person to like. And day-um is he sexy! He’s sexy in that understated strong and smouldery way.

Anne: I fell in love with Ben in the last book because he was so funny. I adore funny. Oddly, it took longer for me to warm up to him in this book. I mean, really, I don’t want a relationship. I don’t really want you unless someone else does or someone hurts you. *Eyeroll* I came around as he did. He got me with his interest and support for Aubrey, also his stepping up in the community plus his heart-melting way with Pink and Kendra. He went out of his way to help them. I enjoy the well rounded parts of the story, where there is more than just a romance here.

Julie: Ben’s scenes with Pink and Kendra were so sweet! I love how Jill writes. Like you say, it’s a whole story and not just a romance.

As for Ben, you make a good point. I guess I knew he’d come around so I was not as bothered by his reluctance. But his being more cautious did suit his character. It showed his loss affected him deeply and if it hadn’t, then he’d be an asshat in my book and I would not be drooling over him as I am now. *wipes drool* But if he’d been in denial longer than he was, I would have not enjoyed the book as much.

However you feel about Ben, you can’t deny he is sexy and that his chemistry with Aubrey is really well written. The two of them just being in the same room together, doing nothing but talking, smolders up the pages!

Anne: oh yes, Ben may not want a relationship but he certainly wants Aubrey. And more than that, he treats her better than many relationships would, spending his time with her, supporting and encouraging her, as well as making her feel beautiful. That’s sexy! His messy hair may be having an effect on me as well.

Julie: Oh that messy hair… Speaking of messy hair, let’s chat about the animals in this series. Jill often chooses to add dogs to her stories – I’m not even a dog person but I love how she writes them into her stories – but this time around, we have a cat. A cranky cat that has sort of adopted Aubrey and the bookstore she is fixing up as his home. This cat had such a personality! All of the animals have great personalities in this series. They manage to really add to the story without overwhelming it.

Anne: Well, I’m more a dog person, since I’m deathly allergic to cats. It is funny how the cat chooses Ben over Aubrey, but as in everything, Aubrey keeps trying. But my favorite is still Kevin! – as long as he lives with Jack. My favorite giggle worthy quote includes him. Something about this quote just cracks me up every time.

Jack rose and snapped his fingers at Kevin.

Kevin squeezed his eyes tight and pretended to be asleep.

Ben found a laugh after all. “Leave him.”

“He ate chili at the firehouse tonight.”

“Take him.” Ben said.

I have to mention Aubrey working so hard in an “My Name is Earl” way to try to improve her karma. It’s not easy to say you made mistakes and try to improve things with people who mostly don’t like you. It’s even harder when it is someone you like, who HAS been good to you.

Julie: Just another reason why I loved Aubrey so much in this book!

Let’s talk a bit about Lucille. She has been in each and every book in this series. She is the ‘nose in everybody’s business little old lady’ of Lucky Harbor. I liked her a lot in the first books but then I found she was becoming a bit too much of a ‘nosy-betty’. In this book, I liked her role. She went back to being the hilarious old lady with tons of very insightful things to say.

Anne: Lucille was wonderful in this book. She really made a difference in putting things right. I also loved the support Ali and Leah gave to Aubrey, as well as the support for Ben from Jack and Luke. That is one of the best things about stories set in small towns. One gets to know the people and their friends. The “town” continues to play a role in every story.

Julie: You are right about the support. Aubrey had not always been the friendliest to Ali and Leah but to see them understand and want to help Aubrey in making things right was very nice.

And the town of Lucky Harbor really does play a role in these books. It’s a place I would definitely want to visit.

All in all, I really liked Once in a Lifetime. Aubrey blew me away, Ben was yummy and there were plenty of scenes that either warmed the heart or made you giggle out loud. I am thinking especially the scenes with Ben and the kids at the center and Aubrey with, well, herself. Jill always does a wonderful job bringing her characters to life and making them feel as though they could be your next door neighbor. I was really pleased with this latest installment.

Anne: I more than really liked this book; I loved it! It is one of my favorites in the series. Are we going to agree on the rating?

5 stars for me!

Julie: Absolutely! 5 stars for me too :)

Here is my full review of Forever and a Day (Lucky Harbor) - Jill Shalvis . I fear I am going to come off as too fangirly. I should also disclaim that at least a small part of my love for this book comes from relief that the series is back on track after At Last.  

 

There are elements in this book that could have wrecked it - a kid, a puppy and an angry young woman in a wheelchair all of whom could have individually or in combination overtaken the main couple.  I found Josh and Grace and their growing romance so engaging that there was never any chance they'd lose my attention.  I was captivated from the beginning. It's the first book I've read in a while that I didn't want to put down and most of my difficulty choosing my next book is because I didn't want Forever and a Day to be over.

 

Spoiler-filled details behind the pagebreak.

“Didn’t see that coming.”

“Didn’t see what coming?”

“You.”


It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis was yet another sweet, tender, funny and light-hearted addition to this wonderful contemporary romance series. This book made me laugh out loud, had me swooning over sexy Luke and definitely left me happily sighing when I finished. Once again this author made me fall deeply in love with her characters and this series. <3 <3 <3








No, she wasn’t okay, not even a little bit. She’d been unceremoniously dumped, made homeless, and could be arrested at any moment. It’d been a craptastic week.


Ali Winters moved to Lucky Harbor to start fresh. Despite having grown up in a rough neighborhood and not always having it easy, Ali is sweet, caring, cheerful and optimistic. She has been dealt a rough hand at times in her life but she has always walked away with a smile. Ali wants to step away from where she grew up and find her own way and therefore decides to move to the picturesque town of Lucky Harbor. She has not been in Lucky Harbor long but she has spent enough time there to be screwed over by a cheating ass-hat of an ex-boyfriend, be left with no place to live and be a suspect in a case of stolen money. This is all in the span of one week. Ali can use a drink…maybe four. She meets the landlord of the place she has to leave while leaving an angry voicemail for her cheating douche ex-boyfriend – while in her underwear. Yes, that is how she meets Detective Luke Hanover.

Luke Hanover is back in Lucky Harbor for a break despite the fact that he has not been back to this small town for ten years. He took a three week leave from his job with the San Francisco PD after dealing with a high-profile case and having things go very wrong. Luke wants some peace, quiet and to simply be left alone. When he enters his home and sees an angry woman yelling at her phone in her underwear, he is a little taken aback. After dodging some ceramic pottery being thrown at home hearing some explanations, Luke agrees to let Ali stay the night. He can’t shake his need to always help and he definitely is unable to let Ali leave with no place to go. Chivalry at its finest, ladies. Lady in distress, meet your shining white knight.

The plot thickens when Ali is accused of the town’s fundraiser money which was in her ex-boyfriend’s office. An office Ali had visited the night of the fundraiser. Things do not look good for Ali. After having spent some time with Ali, Luke knows in his gut that she is not the thief. And so our alpha-male with the hero complex makes the decision to help Ali out and investigate matters to find the stolen funds and determine who the true thief is. Ali continues to stay with Luke in his home and the pair become friends which leads to something more. Cue the sexual tension and constant flirting. Playing with fire, anyone????


He might be standing in darkness, wallowing, weighed down by the things he saw on his job, but she wasn’t like that. She was light.


Luke, our strong and dominant hero, while on his crusade to clear Ali’s name, is also dealing with his past. Being in Lucky Harbor has brought forth many memories and a plethora of demons he is now struggling with. Ali is a beacon of light for him. She is the type of woman who, despite her circumstances, sees the glass as always being full. Luke is not only drawn to Ali as a woman but to her buoyant spirit which calls to him on a deeper level. Luke knows he should leave Ali alone, but he is unable to stay away and keep his hands (and others parts) to himself. This fierce, protective woman who he is supposed to be helping is the one aiding him. Ali is honest about her feelings for Luke but she also understands that he has made no promises to her. He is determined to leave Lucky Harbor and go back to his job. Will Luke be able to leave Lucky Harbor and go back to his job in San Francisco? Will he be able to leave happiness with Ali?


“You’re friends?”

“Not the go out and share sushi kind, but yeah. It’s more the ‘your dress is pretty, where did you get it’ sort.”

Luke shook his head. “Was that in English?”

*

“You look at me like I’m the best thing you’ve seen all day. You make me feel...I don’t know. Pretty. Sexy. And important to you. You make me ‘feel’, Luke.”

*

He smiled. It was an uninhibited smile. A wolf smile. And it made her nipples get very perky. “I think I’m indicated.”

“Intoxicated?”

“Yeah, that.”


I loved the progression of Luke and Ali’s relationship. At first they kind of tiptoe around their unquestionable attraction; however, this does not last long. They definitely steam things up but both understand that more is at work than undeniable chemistry. They have a connection and while Ali is embracing it, Luke is running scared. Jill Shalvis is a master at writing funny and sweet with a mix of hot and sexy. I loved the hilarious banter between Luke and Ali just as much as the swoony moments. Seeing the couple come full circle in this cute romance had me grinning from ear to ear. Seriously, you try reading a Jill Shalvis book without a smile on your face!

All in all, this book was a wonderful read. It Had to Be You is just another reason why I adore this author and her books. I loved the fact that we got to catch up with Lucky Harbor’s senior clan. They are always there to provide some laughs with their antics. This book is funny, romantic and simply one of the reasons why I love reading so much. I am already anticipating the next book in the series about one of the local hottie firefighters. Hell yes...bring it on!





“Me. Us.” He kissed her. “This.”