Thursday, April 7, 2011

Review: The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis


The Sweetest Thing
~Jill Shalvis


Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: March 29, 2011

ISBN-10: 0446571628
ISBN-13: 978-0446571623
ASIN: B00495ZE4O

From Goodreads:
Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

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 is the 2nd book in Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series but can be read as a stand-alone. I read the first book in the series, Simply Irresistible (my review here), and while I liked the hero/heroine, I didn't really warm up to to the secondary characters so I wasn't sure how I was going to like this book. I love it when I'm surprised; The Sweetest Thing was fabulous - I tore through it in a day!

Tara Daniels is one of three sisters getting ready to open a Bed & Breakfast in Lucky Harbor, Washington. Although each sister grew up with a different father, they inherited the house together from their mother. Tara is the serious sister, prim, anal retentive organized, and likes to cook. She's got a secret in her past, her sisters know she had a baby when she was still a teenager and that she gave the baby up for adoption, but they didn't know her then and don't know who the father was.

Ford Walker is the past Tara wants to forget. She spent one summer with Ford in Lucky Harbor as a teen, and when she left, pregnant, she never looked back. Ford let her go and channeled his energy into becoming a world-class sailor. He's back in Lucky Harbor, taking it easy, working in his bar and on his boats... and pursuing Tara.

Tara isn't going to give in, no matter how sexy Ford is. It doesn't matter that he makes her girly bits tingle and she can't stop thinking about him...she's not going to get her heart broken again. In a moment of weakness she gives in, and it's incredible - and then her ex-husband the race car driver shows up, wanting to woo her back!

There's another unexpected summer resident who knocks Tara and Ford for a loop; she knocks their teenage handyman for a loop too *winks* I didn't think I'd like this part of the story but I was won over.

My thoughts: What a fabulous read! As soon as I finished the last page of the book I wanted to open it up and start reading all over again. I needed oven mitts to read The Sweetest Thing; the heat between Tara and Ford rolled off the pages!!! I like that we didn't have to wait until the end of the book for the sexy stuff...These two were smoldering, the sexual tension was so well written I felt like I was holding my breath through most of the book. It's a good thing I read most of it at home as I'm pretty sure I was drooling over Ford through most of it ;)

It was also pretty damn funny - the old biddies conspiring to get Tara and Ford together via Twitter and Facebook by posting all the drama in Tara's love life was hysterical. There was also Ford's drunk dial, the fight between Ford and Logan in the apple tree, the jokes about race car driving not being a real sport...I could go on and on about all the things I loved about this book; this one's going on my keeper shelf.

Ms. Shalvis also worked my curiosity about the third sister, Chloe, and the Sheriff, Sawyer - I absolutely cannot wait for their book; Sawyer is pulling at my heart strings already!


My Rating:

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

13 comments:

  1. Oh Patti, I've been hearing quite a few things about this book but this is the first review I've read about The Sweetest Thing. I love the vibe you're describing, the themes and oh oh the drama of a past pregnancy is always a goodie to me! BTW, I read more and more books which incorporate twitter, Facebook and such. Me likes it ;)

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  2. I have yet to see a bad review for this book. Which means only one thing: I need it! You are usually bang on with your contemporary reads and I trust your judgment. :)

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  3. So the kid knocked on her door, my oh my, drama! Anyway I really wanna read a book by her

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  4. I loved it too!!! Great review!

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  5. I just got this one and can't wait to read it. Thanks for the great review.

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  6. Great review! I really like the way that you wrote it. I loved this one too!!!

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  7. Hot and funny seems to be this author's trade mark! I like her sense of humor. I'm definitely adding this book to my must-read shelf too.

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  8. Ack! This sounds amazing!
    Fantastic review, as always, Patti!

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  9. Oh I didn't realize this was the second book from Simply Irresistible. I must haz it!!!

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  10. Oh awesome review. I want to read this ASAP!

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  11. Leontine: I hope you read and enjoy it as much as I did!

    Julie: Yes you do need this book! (and thanks!)

    Blodeuedd: Yes, drama (but good drama).

    Julie: Thanks ;)

    Tracy: Hope you like it as much as I did!

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  12. Christie: Thanks; wasn't it a great read?!

    Janna: Hot and funny - exactly!

    Danielle: Thanks, it's mostly *squee!* lol

    Smokinhotbooks: Yes, you must! (Welcome back and congrats!)

    FV: I'm so glad I read it - I loved it!

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  13. I adore this series too. I think Chloe & Sawyer’s story will be even more fun :)

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