ARC review: Rescue My Heart by Jill Shalvis

Rescue My Heart

(Animal Magnetism #3)

by Jill Shalvis

Adam Connelly returns from a successful S&R where he is finally able to get some much needed rest. However, upon his return, Adam is bombarded by all the things that need to be done at the animal shelter that he and his brothers own. Exhausted from lack of sleep and in a bad mood because of injury he acquired, Adam pushes everyone who wants to help him back, telling others not to bother with him. He can handle himself. But when an unexpected visitor comes back from his past, Adam is caught off guard.

Holly, his teenage love, is in his room, asking for a very big favor. Her father has gone missing in the Bitterroot Mountains and there is only one person able to track him down. Unfortunately for Holly, Adam Connelly is the last person she wants to see again. Laying eyes on him could very well break her heart...again.

Jill Shalvis is having a stellar year! With her fantastic Lucky Harbor series, she is able to transfer readers into a whole new world. I used to say that her Lucky Harbor series was my favorite of her work, but with RESCUE MY HEART, she completely blew my mind. Adam is definitely my favorite of the Animal Magnetism series so far.

The thing about Adam is that he is content with himself. He never lets his true emotions show. He experiences some panic attacks that are normal for someone who has spent time in Afghanistan. Small triggers can set him off, causing him to spiral out uncontrollably. Yet he never asks for help. I loved his stoicism because Holly does a fantastic job of slowly chipping away at that icy exterior, revealing a man worthy of love underneath. Adam Connelly is hands down my favorite hero of the series so far.

Similarly, Holly was the perfect blend of cute and feisty. I loved her attitude towards life and that even though Adam pushed her away, she never let that deter her from what she truly wanted. Shalvis has a true talent of creating dialogue between characters that is sure to make you laugh out loud and warm your hearts. It takes a talented author to set a book in the icy mountains and still have warmth and love infused throughout. RESCUE MY HEART is filled to the brim with laughter and good times. It’s the perfect feel-good read!

But despite the humor and the lightness of the book, Shalvis is still able to bring substance to her books. She addresses real-life conditions that can burden a person’s life, yet she looks at it positively, bringing hope for the readers and the characters. With her words, Jill Shalvis is able to bring forth happiness with all of her books. RESCUE MY HEART is no exception. I love it!

*ARC provided by publisher

Review: Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis

(more like 4.5 feathers!)

Instant Attraction

(Wilder Adventures #1)

by Jill Shalvis

It is no secret that I adore Jill Shalvis and her work. So I decided to pursue her backlist when I needed something to cheer me up. I stumbled upon the Wilder series and knew right off the bat that it had all that I desired in a comfort read - Charm, snark, outrageous circumstances and last, but not least, a quirky heroine and a smoking hot hero.

Cameron Wilder used to be the golden boy. As co-owner to Wilder Adventures and Expeditions and an accomplished athlete, he has the means to live life to its fullest. Yet, one gut-wrenching accident on the slopes causes him to land in the hospital and end his dreams of tearing through the powder again. Added to that is the betrayal he experiences with his ex. So for one year, Cam leaves Wilder Adventures to escape his lost future and brood. When he returns, he finds an endearing woman with glasses sleeping in his bed. He isn’t too happy about this, yet despite the haze of exhaustion, he cannot deny that this little woman is a firecracker inside.

Accountant Katie Kramer survived a freak accident where her life could have easily been taken from her. As the sole survivor, Katie is still experiencing panic attacks and nightmares as a result of the accident, but she isn’t letting that stand in her way. With a renewed sense of purpose and zest for life, Katie is looking to experience adventure and freedom in the most liberating of ways. She becomes a temporary employee at Wilder Adventures and definitely reaps the benefits of working there.

INSTANT ATTRACTION is a great start to the series. I loved the way Shalvis is able to blend humor and heart in an enticing mix. There’s a good balance of it here and with both the hero and heroine experiencing traumatic events, it was nice to see how the both of them working together to keep this relationship going. It would have been easy to give up when times got hard, yet neither one was a quitter in times of uncertainty.

There’s plenty to laugh about with this book. Annie, the boy’s aunt and cook to Wilder Adventures is a trip! With her snark and larger-than-life attitude, she lit up the pages of this book. I loved reading about her struggles with her own relationship with Nick. But it’s always a little disconcerting when a character shares the same name as you AND her love interest shares the name of your ex. Whoa. Major coincidence there!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading about Stone next! Shalvis has had a spectacular year. Whether it’s a new release or a rerelease, her books always seem to make me smile, providing the perfect outlet to escape a little bit. This book was no exception.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Covers to Covet

My favorite author of the moment, Jill Shalvis has great news! With the success of her last three books in the Lucky Harbor series, Shalvis is contracted for three more books! Wheee!!! The next book will be called...drumroll, please!.. IT HAD TO BE YOU!! Such a great title!

IT HAD TO BE YOU is Luke's book and will release on May 28, 2013 (*whines*). Check out the cover!

*Annie makes grabby hands* WANNNNT!

Here's a fantastic teaser excerpt to further torture  indulge readers....

Lieutenant Detective Luke Hanover had been away from the San Francisco Police Department for exactly one day of his three week leave and already he’d lost his edge, walking into his grandma’s Lucky Harbor beach house to find a B&E perp standing in the kitchen. 

She sure as hell was the prettiest petty thief he’d ever come across, at least from the back since she was wearing nothing but a white lace bra and a tiny scrap of matching white lace panties. 

“You have some nerve you… you ratfink bastard,” she snapped into her cell phone, waving her free hand for emphasis, her long, wildly wavy brown hair flying around her head as she moved. 

And that wasn’t all that moved. She was a bombshell, all sweet, womanly curves, barely contained in her undies. 

“I want you to know,” she went on furiously, still not seeing Luke, “there’s no way in hell I’m accepting your break-up message. You hear me, Teddy? I’m not accepting it because I’m breaking up with you. And while we’re at it, who even does that? Who breaks up with someone by text? I’ll tell you who, Teddy, a real jerk, that’s who– Hello? Dammit!” 

 Pulling the phone from her ear, she stared at the screen and then punched a few keys before whipping it back up to her ear. “Your voice mail cut me off before I finished,” she said. “You having sex in your office while I was in the building? Totally cliché. But not telling me that you weren’t planning to resign the lease? That’s just rotten to the core, Teddy. And don’t bother calling me back on this. Oh, wait, that’s right, you don’t call – you text!” She punched the “off” button on her phone and tossed it to the counter, hands on hips, steam coming out her ears. Then she thunked her forehead against the refrigerator a few times before going stock still, her head pressed to the cool, steel door.

Had she knocked herself out? Luke wondered. 

“It’s just one bad day,” she whispered, still in the perfect position for him to pat her down for weapons. 

Not that she was carrying – well, except for that lethal bod. 

“Just one really rotten, badass day,” she repeated softly, and Luke had to disagree. 

“Not from where I’m standing,” he said.

*Excerpt courtesy of Jill Shalvis's blog.

If you haven't read this series, then I highly suggest you do. You are seriously missing out! Since I have my pimp hand out, I might as well point you in the direction of this....SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, book 1 in the Lucky Harbor series is currently 99 cents!!!! You can purchase your copy now.

Simply Irresistible (A Lucky Harbor Novel)

In other great news, Sarah MacLean recently released the cover of book 2 in The Second Rule of Scoundrels series, ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER. What do you think of the cover?

I think it's very elegant and pretty! I'm very much looking forward to this book! According to MacLean's website, ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER is set to release on January 29, 2013.

Kitty Rocks the House is the 11th book in the Kitty Norville series, set to release March 26, 2013!  This might be my favorite "picture" of Kitty.  Can't wait to read what troubles Kitty will get into next.

And in HOT AS HELL cover news.... NIGHT RESURRECTED by Joss Ware will release February 26, 2013.6th book in her Envy Chronicles series and a "must-have-on-my-shelf" book because that guy is ...PERFECTION. *Francesca needs a moment*


And last but not least, Larissa Ione has revealed the NEW cover of ROGUE RIDER! This is Reseph's book set to release this November! What do you think of the brand new cover?

*New cover first revealed at Happy Ever After blog.

ARC Review: Forever and A Day by Jill Shalvis

 

Forever and A Day

(Lucky Harbor #6)

by Jill Shalvis

Dear Sawyer,

You had me head over heels in love with you but there is a new hottie that has caught my eye.
He’s a doctor, you know. That’s a checkmark in his favor.
He’s also got a hot bod. Another checkmark.
Let’s not forget the sexy things he likes to say. Check. Mark.
Sorry, but I think I’m going to stay with Dr. Scott for a little bit. Please don’t shoot me.

Love, Ann 

Yep, I’m a hussy, but you can’t blame a girl when Dr. Josh Scott is the sexiest thing to grace one of Jill Shalvis’s pages! All the heroes of this series have been downright delicious. Shalvis writes the best contemporary heroes out there, but Josh has topped them all in my eyes.

I was hesitant to start this book because readers don’t really know much about Josh. We got glimpses of his personality in the other books but he seemed like an overworked doctor most of the time. It wasn’t until this book, FOREVER AND A DAY, that we really see Josh’s life.

Josh lives with his adorable son, Toby and his twenty-one year old sister named Anna. Anna is a high functioning paraplegic who has a slight um, anger management problem? She is bitter and likes to feel sorry for herself. She underachieves and even after several years have passed, she still grieves for her parents who died in the car crash that left her without her own legs. Add a hellion dog named Tank and you’ve got the busy life of Dr. Scott.

Josh is feeling like he is being drowned. Life just keeps on going and he is just trying to keep up. The same goes for Grace who came to Lucky Harbor to escape the life she had. Her bank account is dwindling and she is just keeping herself afloat by taking on small jobs here and there to support her. Sooner or later, her savings will dry up and she needs a steady job that will support her. But in the meantime, she is looking for anything to keep her head up.

When Josh accidentally calls Grace to be his dog walker, things get out of hand pretty quickly. This book has the most fun! Shalvis has never failed to make me smile or laugh in one of her books, but this one just seemed to brighten up my day. Hell, my entire weekend! Josh and Grace sizzle off the pages! The chemistry is front and center in this book and doesn’t let up until you flip that last page.

FOREVER AND A DAY is a perfect 10, and the Lucky Harbor series is a tantalizing dessert – a delicious and decadent read that readers will devour!

*ARC provided by publisher

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: At Last by Jill Shalvis

 

At Last

(Lucky Harbor #5)

by Jill Shalvis

At last we get Matt Bowers’ story. I have been waiting for his book for a long time. And when I’m eagerly anticipating a book, my expectations begin to rise. Fortunately, Jill Shalvis continues to write stories that touch reader’s hearts and create laughter in the most unexpected times. The Lucky Harbor series has been a complete thrill to read!

Amy Michaels is on the hunt. Prepared with hiking gear, her grandmother’s journal and her kickass boots, Amy sets foot in Matt’s territory searching for her heart and the answers to her long unanswered questions.

I have to say that I loved the slightly darker tone to this book. It was a nice change of pace in the Lucky Harbor series, but I liked that the additional drama didn’t weigh the rest of the story down. Amy has her grandmother’s journal and as she tries to decipher bits and pieces of her grandmother’s words, she is on a search to find happiness for herself. Her dark past has required her to toughen up a bit, so in this book, readers see a much more serious side to Amy.

Glimpses of that past are exposed through the presence of Riley, a runaway teen whose own life is troubled. As Amy and Matt try to veer her life onto the right path, their share a journey that brings them closer and closer.

I loved the fact that Shalvis made the story come full circle. In the beginning, Amy needs rescuing from Matt as she gets lost, but in the end, Matt requires a helping hand to get out of the mess he is in. It just shows how well this relationship works because both sides are able to count on the other in times of distress.

Ty and Mallory, as well as Grace and Dr. Josh Scott are very involved in this book! It’s always nice to read about familiar characters and Shalvis has a way of making you adore her characters to bits. There’s even a little bit of Sawyer! Yay!

But for me, the best part of this book is Ranger Hot Buns! Matt Bowers packs some serious heat and he sizzled off the pages for me! Ranger Hot Buns is giving Sawyer a run for his money! I loved his determination and his possessiveness. He was caring and kind but also kind of grumpy too. Shalvis always writes the best heroes and Matt Bowers is definitely in my hottie harem now!

I cannot wait to see what’s in store for Josh and Grace. We don’t really know much about them, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out!

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Jill Shalvis Blog Tour

If you're a fan of Contemporary Romance, then you MUST read Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series. They are so sweet and funny and full of heart. I can't recommend this series enough. I just adore it. But I hope that when you do read the series that you remember that Sawyer is mine, thank you very much.UTC got the chance to ask Jill Shalvis a couple of quick questions. See how that went down here!

 1. Who is Jill Shalvis? Tell us three quirky things that would surprise your readers.

 Jill Shalvis is a (one) book lovin, (two) cookie lovin, (three) ski bum at heart who’s gotten lucky enough to publish her favorite kind of stories – fun and sexy contemporary romance fiction. :)

 2. If you could go on a date with Cute Guy, the forest ranger, or the hot doctor, who would you pick and why?

You mean I can’t have all three in a sandwich to go please?

3. If you could collaborate with any other author, who would you pick and why?

 Robyn Carr because she’s a dear friend and because she writes faster than I do.

 

(more like 4.5 feathers)

Lucky in Love

(Lucky Harbor #4)

by Jill Shalvis

Ah, welcome back to Lucky Harbor. I have to say how much I enjoy Jill’s writing. It’s fresh, it’s fun and it’s just the perfect read to lift your spirits and make you smile.

This time when Shalvis returns to Lucky Harbor, readers finally get to discover the man behind the moniker Mysterious Cute Guy. As a walk on character that caught reader’s interests, Shalvis did a great job of creating a persona that was larger than life and certainly...larger than what the small town of Lucky Harbor was used to. Ty Garrison is taking some time off to heal old wounds, both physical and the emotional. After losing his team in a plane crash, the usually tough as stone military man is now off kilter. He is plagued with nightmares and often keeps to himself. He doesn’t make an effort to fit into the friendly town of Lucky Harbor, hence everyone’s avid interest in the man who remains a mystery.

Mallory Quinn and Ty Garrison could not be any more different than each other. Mallory is a nurse, someone kind-hearted and helpful while Ty likes his solitary. However, when a freak storm caused by Mother Nature brings them together, sparks fly and the chemistry sizzles. Mallory and Ty were a great fit and while both were initially hesitant about their relationship, it is clear from the beginning that they belong together.

Recently, I have noticed the increase in sexiness in Shalvis’s book and I am NOT complaining! Mallory and Ty get freaky in this one and I have to say, I enjoyed it immensely. For once in Mallory’s straight arrow life, she is taking the wheel and doing something she has always wanted to do. Ty and Mallory’s relationship was supposed to be just a walk on the wild side. A one time thing. Instead, it became something unnerving. Something unexpected and both are really thrown by this because neither expected it to become something more than just sex. Somehow Mr. Wrong turned into Mr. Right.

I was really impressed by Shalvis’s ability to make me love these new characters when I so desperately loved the previous characters of this series too. The scene that stands out for me is in the beginning during the storm where Mallory, Amy and Grace are scared like rabbits in the darkened Eat Me diner. Mother Nature and chocolate cake bring them together and I thought that Shalvis did a fantastic job of creating a strong bond between three new characters quickly. It set up the next books in the series well and forged a bond that makes me love this book even more. For readers hoping to get a glimpse of the past characters, there is some mention of Jax and a couple good scenes with my personal favorite hero, Sawyer. But hopefully there will be more walk on scenes with the others in the next few books.

Speaking of the next book, Matt Bowers, sexy forest ranger and Amy have their story set up well in this one. There is some sparks, some sexual tension and already I can see some of Matt’s possessive side. Me likey. Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. Like a fat kid who loves cake, I devoured this book in one afternoon. But when something is this good, I’m bound to devour it quickly. I’m already looking for seconds. More please?

*ARC provided by publisher

 

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon

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