Thursday, December 15, 2011

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis















Maddie and Jax's book




Simply Irresistible


by Jill Shalvis


Book Blurb:
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. 

Jill Shalvis is a new to me author. The Lucky Harbor series was recommended by a dear friend who obviously knows what I love and I loved this series. 

Simply Irresistible is book 1 in the Lucky Harbor series. Maddie is the middle of three sisters who's nicknamed "the mouse". Fresh from an abusive relationship, Maddie ends up in Lucky Harbor, Washington State because her estranged mother willed her daughters a run down B&B on the shores of a small marina which is in need some major TLC. 

Although Simply Irresistible is a romance, there are a lot of varying emotions playing in this book. Trust and sister relationships are a core to the story. These sisters barely know each other as they were all raised in different circumstances without much contact to one another.  Simply Irresistible begins their journey of becoming reacquainted with one another. Each of the sisters have completely different personalities which makes for a great read. 


Maddie reminded me so much of the book character Stephanie Plum or a few of the movie characters the actress Sandra Bullock has played. Pretty, klutzy, warm and loving but afraid to trust or believe she is worthy of allowing good things to happen to her. Maddie is an easily likable woman and you really want everything to turn out for her. 


Jax. Oh Jax. MMM Jax. He comes onto the scene with Maddie almost running him off the road while he is riding his motorcycle. Their first encounter plastered a huge smile on my face and that smile remained there the entire book.  What can I can say about Jax? He gives off the image as a bad boy but is a true softy. He wears a tool belt like no other and is as smart as they come. It turns out that Jax is the mayor of Lucky Harbor, owns numerous businesses and is a master carpenter. He is the entire package ladies. 


Jax and Maddie have immediate chemistry and they know it. Due to Maddie's disastrous previous relationship she has sworn off men but even she can't resist Jax's charms. What a joy to read the romance bloom while Maddie struggles to keep her sisters together and to turn their B&B into a success. 


Sometimes when books are humourous they can come off as trying to hard. Simply Irresistible has just the right amount of humour with a perfect balance of real human emotions. It pulls at your heart strings and you want to become a resident. I want to know if you end up searching Facebook for Lucky Harbor like I did. 


Teasers: Love of chips, best drunken phone call ever, wielding an ax, The Steel Magnolia, The Mouse and The Wild Child





2 comments:

Laurie said...

I'll let you know what I think once I read them. Santa is putting the series under the tree for me. Good thing he has a clever elf. Thanks for the rec.

Jill Shalvis said...

Thanks for a lovely review!!