Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor, #1) by Jill Shalvis

Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor, #1) by Jill Shalvis
Published: October 1, 2010 by Forever
Received: Purchased e-book via B&N

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. [goodreads]

I have been on a quest to find the perfect Adult Romance for myself. Nothing too cheesy, and nothing too embarrassing (let's be real -- Ginger covers her eyes and gets red cheeks when certain body parts are given silly names).  Thanks to my good friend Jess for recommending this book to me, I've found just the right mix of passion and depth within this contemporary adult romance.  She knows my tastes all too well.

The first thing that captured my attention with this particular story was the setting.  I could totally visualize the small beach side town of Lucky Harbor.  It reminded me of such places that I see in movies.  With the fall/winter season approaching quickly, I welcomed the change of season in my reading material as well.  Though Texas never sees snow like the Pacific Northwest, I still enjoy experiencing it through vividly told stories such as this one.

The other dynamic of this story which really won me over is the story line.  I love the idea of starting over when you feel as though you've hit rock bottom.  I mean, what could possibly go wrong?  Well, lots of things in Maddie's case.  But there's always that silver lining somewhere and I really connected with Maddie, her sisters, and the various people in Lucky Harbor who continuously searched for it.

And then there was the passion.  Oh my.  Maddie meets Jax within the first few pages; however, their tension builds for quite some time after that.  It's not just about the physical connection though, there's something richer, deeper there, and as the reader you instantly feel it.  Experiencing their encounters one after the other was a treat for me to read about.  Yes, there were moments when I blushed like crazy, but there were also more sweet, mature moments that I could identify with.

I know that there are several books in this series, and have been told they follow various characters and their stories.  I've already picked up the second book and plan to make my way through all of them, eventually.  I have a desire to read more contemporary romance novels, but they have to be the perfect fit for me.  The Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis definitely captured my interest!