Interview with Jill Shalvis { Summer with Jill Shalvis Blog Tour }

If you spend much time around this blog, you probably know that I discovered Jill Shalvis early this year, and she has quickly established herself a place among my absolute favorite contemporary romance authors. Well, today, I have the privilege of interviewing her, as part of the Summer with Jill Shalvis blog tour! Everyone give a warm welcome to Jill Shalvis.

How on earth do you write such amazing heroes in every book? I'd love to spend a day in your imagination. Well it’s a busy place in my imagination. J As for the heroes, I read a romance for the hero so it’s important to me that I write a romance for the hero as well. I’m glad you think they’re amazing, thank you! How do you name your characters? Do they just come to you, or do you have a list or website you go to when naming? The heroes sort of name themselves. But whenever I hear a great name, I jot it down and save it. I have a whole drawer filled with little bits of paper that I occasionally sort through when I need inspiration. Chocolate: Dark, milk, or white? ALL. Thank you so much for interviewing with me, Jill! (And I'm in total agreement about the chocolate. :D)

Don't forget to check out Jill's upcoming release, Forever and a Day, the latest in the Lucky Harbor series, to be released on July 31. You can also read my thoughts about it here. (Preview: I loved it! Amazing hero, smoldering chemistry, beautiful romance, super cute kid. My favorite in the second set of Lucky Harbor books.) Don't want to wait? Lucky Harbor #5, At Last is already out, and it's a great one.

Also, in case you missed the news, Jill announced yesterday that three more Lucky Harbor books will be coming in the future! If everyone had similar reactions to me, I know that this news probably generated a small earthquake due to the thousands of happy!dances going on across the world.

Review: Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

Title: Forever and a Day (Lucky Harbor, #6)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: July 31, 2012 (Grand Central)
Format: Temporary egalley provided by Netgalley, physical finished copy provided by Grand Central Publishing. (Thanks!)
Summary: Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad… With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

My Review: My feelings for Forever and a Day could probably be conveyed in a 200-character long capslock keymash. But as that would be of no help to anyone else, I'll attempt to be coherent in my love for this book. Okay, mainly Josh. But this book as a whole was great. It started off with Josh contacting Grace - by accident - to come be a dog-walker for his son's new dog. Grace, being strapped for cash as she was, agreed, even though she had little-to-no experience with dogs. The result was hilarious, and the book only got better from there.

I had such a wonderful time watching the relationship between Josh and Grace build. They had smoldering chemistry from page one - in fact, it started in small increments in the previous books - and it only grew steadily more intense until it finally exploded. Their romance was as heart-meltingly beautiful as it was hot, and their interactions felt very real to me. They could be serious, but they had some of the most entertaining exchanges ever. Exhibit A)

This stopped her cold. “You have more spiders?” “No,” he said without missing a beat. “No spiders.” “You said spiders,” she said. “And I saw a big one in the side yard, in the sprinkler well.” “That spider went south for the winter.” “It’s summer.” “He wanted to be the first to get out of town.”

What made this book even better, though, was that it was not just about Grace's relationship with Josh. It was about Grace and her own journey to happiness, developing her ability to make her own choices. It was about Josh and his struggle to balance work, family, and the wishes of his dead father. It was about Josh's son, Toby, and Josh's - and Grace's - relationship with the young boy. It was about Anna, Josh's younger, wheelchair-confined sister, her interactions with the two older adults, and her journey to finally coming to terms with what her life could be with her disability.

Now, I will devote a paragraph to Josh, because a review of this book would not be complete without it. Because seriously. I'm quite convinced that Shalvis just jumped into my head, pulled out every single thing that's a turn-on for me, and created Josh. Responsible. Single father. Fantastic, near eidetic memory. He was also just a little bit tortured, but with a great sense of humor and a huge heart to make up for it. Add in a whole heap of the sexy!pants factor, and my heart was going pitter-patter. Plus, he was a total nerd at heart, and just a little awkward with women - at least internally. He truly had a little bit of something for everyone, but he never seemed incomplete or scattered as a character. Probably my favorite hero in the entire Lucky Harbor series, which is saying something.

Like the first "trilogy" of the series, these three books also grew increasingly better with each installment. Forever and a Day was definitely my favorite of this second set of Lucky Harbor books. I would, without any reservations, recommend it if you have previously enjoyed the Lucky Harbor novels. I was going to end this review with a lament over the end of the Lucky Harbor, but today I received some fantastic news! According to Jill's post on her blog, there are three new Lucky Harbor novels in the works! Therefore, a lament is no longer in order. However, in the mean time until the next book comes out, Forever and a Day will be here to keep you company on July 31, and I would highly recommend going out and getting a copy.

Bonus! Included in Forever and a Day is the recipe for the Chocoholics' Cupcakes-Worth-the-Fat-Grams. I, of course, baking and chocolate enthusiast that I am, made these immediately after finishing the book. Whether it was because it was an egalley, or simply the digital formatting, I don't know, but some of the ingredient amounts did not display correctly, so I had to guess for some of it. The mixture wound up too runny, then I added way too much flour in my attempt to make it normal cupcake-batter-y. And I baked them a few minutes too long. Thus, the cupcakes wound up quite dry. But the taste was fantastic, and I can't wait to make more of these and improve them to perfection...by actually following the recipe.

P.S. Stop by for my interview with Jill Shalvis tomorrow, part of the Summer with Jill Shalvis Blog Tour!

He turned to say something and caught her staring. She quickly pretended to be watching her own feet. Look at that, her heels were looking a little worn. “Pretty hardwood floors,” she said. “You weren’t looking at the floor. You were looking at my ass.” Giving up, she sighed. “Okay, yes,” she said as primly as she could. “But it’s impolite of you to point it out.” Okay, so maybe chocolate doesn’t make the world go around, but it sure makes the trip worthwhile. There was just something about her that made him feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Like he couldn’t wait to see beyond the packaging, couldn’t wait to touch. And not just physically, which was what really disconcerted him. He wanted to touch her from the inside out, which made no fucking sense at all. So wake up and smell the damn cupcakes. “It’s because love is one of those really bossy bitches,” Amy said. “There’s no telling it what to do.” And on the Eighth day, God created chocolate.

Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: At Last by Jill Shalvis

Title: At Last (Lucky Harbor, #5)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: June 2012 (Forever)
Disclosure: Received for review from Netgalley. (Thanks!)
Summary: Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she's looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she's tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won't make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob. A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn't let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can't deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it's up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

My Review: Oh, Lucky Harbor. I truly think I could regularly read books from this series/in this setting for the next twenty years and never, ever get tired of it. Shalvis has created such a beautiful, enchanting place that I never want to leave! The fifth in the Lucky Harbor series was, of course, no exception. After getting to know Amy a little bit in Lucky in Love, I really wanted to know her story. I wanted to know her better as a character, and I especially wanted to see how her story with Matt (otherwise known, much to my snort-inducing laughter, around Lucky Harbor as "Ranger Hot Buns" - thanks, Lucille!) played out! There was a bit of hinting about them in Lucky in Love, and I, of course, was hooked on them merely from this. There was a mystery surrounding them that I could not wait to solve.

The chemistry in At Last was absolutely incredible! I was ready for the screen of my Nook to start melting, or something equally melodramatic. Holy cow! I loved the progression of Amy and Matt's whole relationship. The whole "don't-WANT-to-want-you (but totally do anyway)" device is absolutely one of my favorites. They definitely had that going on at first, but deeper things came into play in the conflict that kept them from their HEA for a wile.

Amy was a fascinating character. She had a particularly rough past, and it was an issue that had to be faced over the course of At Last. It was a factor in the possibility of things developing seriously with Matt, and it also came into play in her interactions with Riley, a teenage runaway who appeared in Lucky Harbor in the book. And really, it was necessary for Amy herself to come to terms with some things.

One thing I really enjoyed about At Last was the continuity with the rest of the series. Shalvis did a great job with this. At Last could be read as a standalone, and nothing would seem amiss. But there were plenty of little references and offhand comments here and there for fans of Lucky Harbor to pick up. And maybe I'm only speaking for myself here, but I love spotting something that's an obscure (or even not-so-obscure) reference to something that happened in a previous book. It makes me want to take off my glasses and spiffily polish them on my shirt before replacing them in a haughty fashion. That is, if I wore glasses. In reality, I just make this open-mouthed, crinkled-nose grin that I've never actually seen myself make, but I imagine it looks something like an imitation of a crazed pig. You can see why I'd prefer the glasses scenario.

Oh, and I have a question. It's not specific to At Last because it comes up ALL the time, but I just final made a note about it. HOW, exactly, does every secondary character in romances have the I Can Totally Tell You Had Sex Superpower? I mean, really. I know some people are perceptive, but sheesh. But anyway. All things - even totally unrealistic superpowers - considered, At Last was absolutely a solid addition to the Lucky Harbor world! I recommend it to new and old Shalvis readers.
*If some of these seem familiar, that's because I failed in my quote organization and accidentally included a couple of them in my review of Lucky in Love. The review has been corrected now (with even more Lucky in Love quotes replacing the accidental At Last ones!), but I thought I would clear that up just in case there was any confusion.

❝Life’s short. Dessert first.❞

❝When in doubt, eat chocolate. When stressed, eat chocolate. When in doubt and stressed, eat chocolate. Especially when that doubt and stress were related to a man and her feelings for said man.❞

❝And good Lord, the way he looks at you is contributing to global warming.❞

❝The calories in chocolate don’t count because chocolate comes from the cocoa bean, and everyone knows that beans are good for you.❞

❝I have panty x-ray vision. God-given talent.❞

Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

Title: Lucky in Love (Lucky Harbor #4)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: May 2012 (Grand Central Publishing)
Disclosure: Received for review from Netgalley.
Summary: Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone... For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn't -- including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all...anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

My Review: If you are a regular around this blog at all, you know that Jill Shalvis is a favorite of mine. I discovered the Lucky Harbor series (that I thought was just a trilogy, but lo and behold, THERE ARE MORE!) this past January on a whim, and I am SO GLAD I did! It is, without a doubt, one of the best contemporary series I've read. Lucky Harbor is a fantastic place; I'd love to visit, or even live there. If, you know, it weren't just a figment of a brilliant author's imagination.

I was somewhat afraid that after Head Over Heels, my favorite of the series so far and the last of the three sisters, the next installments might not quite measure up. Oh, how wrong I was! I adored the three new ladies to whom we were introduced - collectively known as the Chocoholics (obviously, I can relate). This meant that the quotes starting each chapter were all about chocolate, and what a fantastic opportunity this provided for Shalvis. Some of them made me laugh out loud! This one was probably my favorite; it's just perfect:

❝It’s not that chocolate is a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is far more reliable than a man.❞

The Chocoholics meetings were hilarious, and I loved watching the friendship between these wonderful women bloom. Mallory Quinn, the quintessential Town Good Girl, was the first of the Chocoholics to have her story told. And boy, what a story! Ty Garrison - formerly known to us Lucky Harbor fans as Mysterious Cute Guy - played opposite her lead, and the story of the Good Girl and Not-Quite-So-Bad Boy never felt so good. They had a uniquely perfect Meet Cute, and lots of things ensued that were not exactly as expected. They set the pages aflame several times, and their story overall was just wonderful. They were so great for each other, and the end left me with a giant smile on my face.

When reading a Shalvis book, you can be pretty much guaranteed a laugh or two or twenty. Lucky in Love definitely did not disappoint on this front! Even when I was reading while working out on the elliptical at the gym, I just kept cracking up. There were so many fun characters and one-liners. Lucky Harbor was still magnificent, and although none of the former leads were heavily featured, there were still several mentions and cameos. Lucille, the Facebook-addicted town gossip, was as hilarious as always. Along with the humor, the book still had plenty of substance and lots of heart. Lucky in Love could easily be read as a standalone, but Lucky Harbor fans absolutely will not be disappointed.

❝But her secret inner bad girl was screaming oh please, can’t we have him? Just once?❞

❝Some secrets are toxic if you try to keep them inside. You know that, right? Some secrets are meant to be told, before they eat you up.❞

❝He knew he had no right to touch her, crave her like air, but he did both. And when he put his mouth on hers, he recognized the taste of her, like she'd been made just for him.❞

Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis

Title: Slow Heat
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: February 2010 (Berkley)
Format: Physical Book
Summary: After a woman claims she's pregnant with Wade O'Riley's love child, Major League Baseball's most celebrated catcher and ladies' man is slapped on the wrist by management and ordered to improve his image. His enforcer is the team's publicist, the tough and sexy Samantha McNead. When Wade needs a date for a celebrity wedding, Sam steps up to the plate as his "girlfriend". But given her secret crush on him and that one awkward night a year ago in a stalled elevator with too much Scotch, the whole thing is an exercise in sexual tension. Wade is thrilled when the pretense turns into an unexpected night of hot passion. But the next day Sam is back to her cool self. As a catcher, Wade's used to giving the signals, not struggling to read them. Now, to win the love of his "pretend" girlfriend, he needs a home run--even if it involves stealing a few bases...

My Review: I am and always will be a football girl at heart. I find watching baseball games on television boring, but I do love the fun and atmosphere of actually attending a game. In Slow Heat, Shalvis was able to capture that magic and hold it through the entire book. I was enthralled by the world of professional baseball, the team, and everything that happened behind the scenes. Everything that's never really shown in real life to those of us not involved in it.

I loved this book! The chemistry between Wade and Sam was absolutely SPECTACULAR. It was practically tangible. Yet, there was so much more than just chemistry there. There was a romance that was beautiful enough to melt your heart. Wade and Sam had one night of steamy, slightly drunken history, and that was it. When it came to interaction, they were still anything but close.

❝But it was lust. Nothing more. Because Wade didn’t do more. And she didn’t do less.❞

This quote just took my breath away. It was, essentially, the reason they couldn't be together, in Sam's mind, for the majority of the book. He was a playboy, and she wanted commitment. Therefore, she didn't even see the point in trying. The way it was stated, so stark and straightforward, almost made me cry. A brilliantly composed quote, truly. Watching the two of them interact and get to know each other for real, even through false pretenses, was so touching. I was rooting for them the entire time, and when the eventual HEA came about, I heaved a sigh of deep, contented bliss.

Oh, and Shalvis began each of the chapters with quotes again. I love how she does that! I don't even want to know how much time goes into that process. I know how difficult it can be to select the perfect quote for things. I used to use quotes for the titles of the entries in my old personal blog, and I was pretty picky about it a lot of the time. You can tell that she carefully selects them. The quotes have to be relevant to the main topic - baseball, in this case - and they have to somehow allude to the events in the upcoming chapter. BUT they can't be SO spoilery as to give anything away. Finding the quote with that perfect balance for each chapter has got to take a killer amount of work, but as a quote enthusiast, I appreciate it so much. I think it adds a lot to the book.

One negative: There were quite a few comma splices in the book, apparently. I don't remember this, so it didn't make a particularly lasting impression. But it was in my notes, so I figured I would at least mention it.

I also have in my notes that this book has a great example of the fact that realism in love scenes doesn't need to be a mood killer. In fact, this really applies to all Shalvis books. I've read articles where people harp on romance novels for romanticizing sex by not being realistic about it (STDs, condoms, whatnot). While I have read books where this is the case (mostly historicals and less recent contemporaries), this does not apply to Shalvis one bit. She's always upfront about these things, like many contemporary authors, and she manages to not tear you out of the book!world with the awkwardness. It's a delicate balance, I think, and Shalvis accomplishes the balance of realism and romanticism wonderfully.

One interesting fact about Slow Heat was that it was one of those rare books where I had a clear visual in my head for both main characters. Not even just one, but both! Specifically, Wade (Wilson Bethel) from Hart of Dixie and Sam (Poppy Montgomery) from Without a Trace (which I haven't seen in years). Random, I know, but there you have it.



Overall, Slow Heat was a delightful read! If you love sports romances, I would absolutely recommend it to you. If you don't know if you like sports romances, I would recommend it to you, too! I could totally see handing this book to someone to show them the awesomeness that is good sports romance.

❝Unfortunately for her more womanly parts, all she’d tackled lately was the job.❞

❝Wade smiled. It was his professional smile, the one that could melt a woman’s panties at fifty paces and make men wish that they had half his athletic prowess, and it was a charmer. She knew its potency, braced herself for it, and still felt her panties melt.❞

❝I need a steak. Or a plate of burgers. Hell, I don’t care what it is as long as it’s red meat and no longer mooing. ❞

❝French fries and sunsets were God’s gift, he decided.❞

Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis

Title: The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: April 2011 (Grand Central Publishing)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life. But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.


The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis was a fantastic continuation of the Lucky Harbor series. As the second book, it had a lot of pressure to uphold the standard set by the first, and it absolutely lived up to the challenge. I loved The Sweetest Thing even more than Simply Irresistible. I was thoroughly intrigued by Tara as a character in the first book, and I could not wait to learn more about her in this book. I very much enjoyed reading her story.

I had SO many emotions as I read this book! I was surprised, I was happy, I was sad. I felt my heart wrench with angst and conflict, and I laughed and smiled until my cheeks ached. It was quite the journey. I absolutely loved getting to know Tara better; I really related to Tara most out of all the sisters. Don't know what that says about me, but it's true. I also adored Ford, whom I did not really know until he showed up in this book. I was interested in learning about Tara and Ford's history, which had been hinted at but not confirmed. The way they grew and learned from their past experiences made for a fascinating story. Oh, and there's also Tara's ex-husband to contend with. But I really don't think anyone was fooled by that one for even a second.

The small town feel was fantastic! I almost died laughing several times. The "small town gossips" (one in particular) were active on Facebook and Twitter, doing things such as keeping a poll of which guy Tara should pick - Ford or the ex. I also loved the recurrence of Jax and Maddie. They were hilarious with just the right amount of cuteness - enough to know they were still thoroughly in love, but not so much as to sickeningly corny.


Have I mentioned how in love with the Lucky Harbor covers I am? They're just so adorable! I love the simplistic, happy brightness of them. Now, for the quotes.

❝She gave a brief thought to lying, but she didn't want to be struck dead by lightning -- it would ruin her good hair day.❞

❝Sweet baby Jesus, that smile should come with a label: WARNING: Prolonged exposure will cause yearning, lust, and stupidity.❞

❝I've seen the way you look at him. It's how I look at junk food.❞

❝This was going to require a lot of obsessing, and maybe some more chips. Certainly a bottle of wine, and in all likelihood her sisters as well.❞

The Sweetest Thing is another winner by Shalvis! I would definitely encourage you to pick it up. And the whole series along with it, really.


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Title: Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor #1)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: October 2010 (Forever)
Rating: 4/5
Summary: 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 inn 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.


Simply Irresistible is the first in the Lucky Harbor series, one of my favorite discoveries of the year. It is not technically finished, as there are still books to be released (for which I'm super excited), but the books for the three sisters are all complete and released. Ergo, I feel like it's complete in the sense that the others will probably be more able to be read as standalones whereas the first three highlight the sisters' developing relationship and should be read in order (in my opinion). Simply Irresistible was just that: irresistible. I fell into the world of Maddie and her sisters, and I could not stop until I read the stories of all three sisters, each even better than the last.

Simply Irresistible is the story of Maddie. She is beginning a whole new life and moving to Lucky Harbor, escaping her abusive ex. Toward the beginning of the book, the attitude portrayed when mentioning that factor occasionally hovered on the brink of victim blaming, which set my teeth on edge. However, a lot of it was the character's own biases, and by the end, she had made enough progress to see the reality. It also was not a huge angst-generator, nor did it play a huge part in the plot, although it was never ignored. Shalvis achieved a nice balance with this.

I loved reading about Maddie and her sisters. All three of them are vastly different, and it was so interesting to get to know all of them. That much diversity, plus stress, obviously equals lots of tension and disagreements. I enjoyed reading about how the sisters learned to work together to achieve their goals. I also adored getting to know Jax and his long-time friends; they had such a fantastic relationship. I feel like I don't get enough true male friendship in the majority of the books I read, and it's nice to have it on occasion.

So many references I loved in this book! From Friends (my all-time favorite television show) to The Sound of Music (one of my Top 10 movies of all time), I enjoyed them all.

There was a lot of sex in this book. A lot. More than any of the next three in the series. I enjoyed them all, of course, but I will say that I felt there were probably about two too many. There were a couple that seemed like they were only there for the sake of being there, where a fade-to-black or even eliminating the scene altogether would really have been sufficient. On the other hand, there were several particularly well-written and super steamy scenes, too. And I picked up a new tip which I personally will probably never use but is an interesting idea to ponder. I will leave you wondering, though. You'll have to pick up the book to find out. ;) Or, you know, you can just ask; I'm happy to spread the joy.

I laughed a ton at this book! Shalvis just writes the perfect quips at just the right time, whether in the dialogue or the inner monologues of the characters. One of my favorite things about the book was that every chapter started out with a piece of wisdom the girls' mother left for them. They were often pretty hilarious.

I also made a note that I liked Shalvis's "witty clothes fixation." I do not remember what this means, exactly, but if you have any idea, shoot me a comment. I would like to remember this. Oh! Actually, I think I may have been referencing t-shirts with "witty" sayings on them and such. She did that with the aprons in Instant Attraction, and if I remember correctly, she did it in Simply Irresistible, too. Mystery solved!

Quotes of Awesomeness:

❝It looks like Laura Ingalls Wilder threw up in here.❞

❝Not a bad way to go, she figured - death by lust.❞

❝Look at that, she sounded cool, even smart-ass like. She'd always wanted to be a smart-ass.❞

❝Note to self: always choose sex over physical labor.❞

❝Being the strong female lead star of my own life is harder than I thought.❞

I enjoyed every moment of this book. Jax and Maddie had some serious singe-the-pages chemistry. It was great! If you are a fan of contemporary romance, I would definitely pick up this one (and the following two)!


Purchase this book at: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || The Book Depository

Review: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

Title: Instant Attraction
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: February 2009 (Kensington Publishing Corp.)
Rating: 3/5
Summary: Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl—working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn't fit in anywhere. That's all she wants. Well, that—and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she's crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed—that part defies explanation...

After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he'll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie's killer smile triggers something deep in his gut...among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he's ever felt—and an adventure Katie's wishing would never end. . .

My Review: This was my first Jill Shalvis. I had heard good things about this series from a fellow romance-loving friend of mine, and I was in the mood for a "small northern town" contemporary romance. Ergo, I thought of this series immediately. It was a good read. The very first scene had me laughing out loud! Cam and Katie had some great banter throughout the book. They also had some insane chemistry and really great almost-moments. And holy cow, can Shalvis write a sex scene! I felt the need for a cold shower a couple times.

I really loved Katie. She was feisty and witty without being obnoxious about it. She had a habit of talking to herself, which was endearing, and she had some real things to work on with herself. I enjoyed reading her journey. Cam was sexy and awesome, but he came with his share of issues that got old fast. The supporting characters were intriguing, and I really enjoyed the subplot. In fact, I was rooting for that couple just as much as I was rooting for Cam and Katie.

Now, for some quotes. Because Shalvis just writes some immensely quotable lines, I will say.

❝Like the newly brave woman she was, she threw the covers over her head and hoped he hadn't seen her.❞

❝You ever have a day that's just a complete waste of mascara?❞

❝"Do you exercise?"
"It's on my to-do list." At the bottom, but still...❞

❝On the one hand, it sounded like a great adventure. On the other, it sounded like an unusual obituary.❞

This was my first Jill Shalvis. It was an enjoyable read, but in my opinion, it does not showcase her best work. I have since read 3 more by Shalvis, and I'm in the middle of another. All of these have been substantially better than Instant Attraction, and she is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. This is funny because it is exactly what happened with Julia Quinn. I had heard great things about her, so I picked up The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. I was less than impressed. But then I gave her another shot, and I discovered her brilliance. I think it's good that I am reminded of that now and again. An author might just be okay or good in one book, but their next book might be utterly stupendous. I think I am going to challenge myself to read at least one more book this year by an author of whom I did not have the best first impression.

Review: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

Title: Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor, #3)
Author: Jill Shalvis
Published: December 2011 (Forever)
Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: 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?

My Review: Jill Shalvis is easily my favorite recent discovery. Her Lucky Harbor series is exactly what I needed in my life right now. I will review the first two soon, but I just finished this one. Since I actually have time to write a review, am inclined to do so, and am seriously feeling the need to gush about this book, though, you are getting the reviews for this series out of order. Sorry!

Last night, I was at a leadership overnight, and everyone went to bed at 4 AM. Despite having been exhausted half an hour earlier, I was wide awake. I decided to relax by reading for a few minutes, then go to bed. I finally went to bed just after 5, having finished reading The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2) and the first chapter of Head Over Heels. And let me tell you: If I had had Head Over Heels at that moment, I absolutely would have stayed up the rest of the night. No doubt in my mind. That is how invested I was in Chloe and Sawyer. From the first time they appeared in the first book of the series, I wanted to know more about them, both as separate characters and together. The dynamic between the two of them fascinated me, and by the end of the second book, their chemistry was practically sparking off the pages of my book. I have been impatiently waiting for their book since I first met them less than a week ago, and after reading the sneak preview last night (this morning?), I was absolutely rabid in my desire for this book. Let me put it this way: Hallowed FINALLY came into the library today. I read Head Over Heels first without even a second thought.

As excited as I was for this book, though, I was equally nervous. Sometimes, an amazing couple is built up in the background of a series. Then they finally get their own book, but it's disappointing because even if the book itself is fine, it just doesn't live up to the build-up. This has happened to be twice in my recent reading history. I didn't want that to happen in Head Over Heels, or I would be heartbroken. Thankfully, this was absolutely not the case. I loved this book! I loved everything about it. Every character, every argument, every so-much-sexual-tension-it-will-curl-your-toes-and-they-haven't-even-had-sex-yet interaction, every scorching kiss, every family bonding moment, every joke, every revelation, every piece of advice, every romantic moment. Here, have a list. Lists are always the answer.

Things I loved in/about Head Over Heels:

    • Chloe. Oh, Chloe. She is one of those characters that you start out the series thinking she's just another free spirited character. Then, as you learn more and more about her, you understand all these layers and complexities that make her unique and fun and wonderful. I usually despise the "I can't say 'I love you,'" hang-up. But she had legitimate reasons, and Shalvis made me believe it. I also like how she used it, but I won't go into that.
    • Sawyer. His confusion about Chloe and how he felt about her in the beginning was just so adorable. He was so stoic and straight arrow, and she disturbed his world. Always one of my favorite tropes. He was just such a legitimately good guy.
    • Chloe and Sawyer's relationship! I don't frequently read law enforcer/trouble maker romances, but this one was wonderful. Even though the relationships are quite different, they reminded me of Stephanie and Ranger (my OTP) from the Stephanie Plum series a couple times, which was a definite plus for me. But they were completely unique, and their relationship just had such an endearing quality. I loved the progression of it, from the confusion and the fighting against their feelings and the arguing and cautious stand-offs to the moment they finally cave to the HEA. I believed it every second of the way.
    • Lance's background story, even though it made me happy and broke my heart all at the same time
    • Severe asthma is not generally an issue addressed in books. I know practically nothing about asthma, but I thought it was handled well. Chloe's asthma was also something different about the book that made it memorable.
    • It dealt with everyday things like morning breath in a cute and realistic fashion.
    • Maddie, Tara, Jax, and Ford all stayed the same. They were friends and family and cracked jokes and picked on each other and interacted like people really do. They didn't become sickeningly sweet or corny or unrealistically wise. They just were.
    • They referenced Friends! ♥
    • Shalvis continued starting each chapter with a little bit of wisdom, and the wisdom selections she chooses somehow really fit the main character of the book. Chloe's cracked me up, of course. Exhibit A)
❝Always remember, you're unique. Just like everyone else.❞    • While I do, of course, enjoy the sexy!times, I like that this one was a little lighter on them than the first two. It worked better with the story that way, although I can't talk about why without going into spoilers. Let me say, though, the sexy!times that were there? I definitely needed a cold shower a couple times!
    • Chloe's continuing obsession with the Magic 8 Ball app.