Simply Irresistible ( Lucky Harbor 1) by Jill Shalvis

Hello to all,

                     After a too short night ( Carnaval and a "Pub" two streets far away that put techno at 5AM-_- probably non stop until Wednesday) and a birthday disaster ( nothing too serious but still i did nothing in the end) i'm still there. And Yes i'm still positive, the month is only at his half so a lot of good things can still happens. * ZEN power*

Anyway, as long as the music hasn't put me down totally i will read a max. Today, i continue with the contemporary romance challenge and a book that was recommended to me. So here it's " Simply Irresistible" by Jill Shalvis.

Editor : Grand Central Publishing

Title:  Simply Irresistible in the omnibus Christmas in Lucky Harbor

Publication : 2010

ISBN:  044657161X

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodread :

 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.

My opinion:

          Really good, like always Stella recommendations never disappoint me.  The writing style is clear, fresh and funny. Jill Shalvis makes us smile in front of adversity, looking for the positive in the rest. I spent a really good time with this book and even if I’ve guessed the big secret too easily I was immersed in the story and not bored.

Maddie is heroine quite normal in a way so we can identify ourselves to her easily. Even with her past, faults and all she is caring, giving and stronger that she thinks to be. I’m not sure I would have had her courage to say no and to leave, to start over. I would like to say “of course!” but being honest, it’s not so easy and when we have never lived the situation you can’t know what your reaction will be.
Jax is a good man that chooses to change his life style. He doesn’t expect to fall in love but he falls hard. Cute but understanding, he tries to help Maddie to overcome her fears forgetting he should take care of his own too.

Also the quotes from the late Phoebe are funny and some really can speak to us. We learn about her character via theses that she wrote on small card for her daughters and by their memories of her. None really knew her and in a way while trying to discover themselves they discover who was their mother. They want closure but learn than to move forward you need to make peace with your past. Secrets too heavy, regret, guilt, fear or anger are just obstacles that you must overcome in your own time and in your own way.

The book is written in a way that you feel that Jill Shalvis knew what she wanted for her series from the start . It’s a not stand alone and thanks to the success she could wrote more books, no you know there is more and you want to discover it.

I’m impatient to start book 2 and to find a way to obtain book 3 but I will be patient just to savour it even more. I really recommend this book to the lovers of good romances with a bit of humour and a lot of sensitivity. On a side note, there is an omnibus “Christmas in Lucky Harbor” that’s a compilation of book 1 and 2, interesting for discovering this author at an advantageous price.

Score:  4,5 /5

Challenge:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge