Series: Lucky Harbor #1
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: October 1, 2010
Source/Format: Bought || Kindle e-book
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. (from Goodreads)
The thing about Simply Irresistible is that the title pretty much explains it all – the book is simply irresistible. That has a lot to do with its small town setting, great sibling dynamics and the sweet romance.
The siblings – Maddie, Tara, and Chloe – are one of my favorite parts of this book. I enjoyed seeing them learn to get along, and work together, in spite of their different personalities. Their relationship resonated with me, as it reminded me of my relationship with my own sisters too.
And then there’s Jax – charming, wonderful Jax. He’s just such a sweetheart. Even with his past, his desire to be better is genuine. Plus, the chemistry between him and Maddie is totally undeniable!
Diving into the Lucky Harbor series was an excellent idea! The book leaves you with a good vibe, even while wanting more of these characters and this town.
Series: The Rarest Blooms #3
Publisher: Jove
Publication Date: September 28, 2010
Source/Format: Borrowed from my mom || Paperback
Celia's quiet life ends when her mother, a famed London courtesan, dies, leaving her a small house in town-and a darkly handsome, reputedly dangerous tenant. (from Goodreads)
Sinful in Satin was a refreshing departure from the world of lords and ladies when it comes to historical romances, as the main character happened to be the daughter of a courtesan.
Celia is a great romance heroine – smart, stubborn and sassy. She knew what she wanted out of life, and went for it. Her passion for gardening and determination to make her own way definitely made me like her a whole lot more.
Jonathan is her perfect match, honestly, as he too is smart and stubborn. He’s the one who encourages Celia to ask for more out of life, and it warmed my heart to see how supportive and protective he was. Their chemistry was pretty much spot on from their first meeting!
Though I enjoyed Sinful in Satin, I feel no need to rush headlong into reading the series. It’s a great novel for an afternoon diversion!
Ooh, the daughter of a courtesan? Interesting! I might have to check that one out.
ReplyDeleteAnd YAYYYY LUCKY HARBOR. ♥
I love the sound of the character relationships in Simply Irresistible. The small-town setting sounds pretty appealing too. And I haven't come across The Rarest Blooms series before, but Sinful in Satin sounds like a pretty enjoyable read overall. Lovely reviews, Alexa! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually felt the way you felt about Sinful in Satin about Simply Irrestible. I wasn't in a hurry to read any more of the Lucky Harbor books. I haven't read Sinful in Satin, but I'm curious about it. I love all the pink on the cover :)
ReplyDeleteI really love the concept behind this post, Alexa! The idea of limiting yourself to 150 words is an interesting one, and would likely be an impossible task for me since I have a tendency to drone on for 2,000+ words in any given review. It would be interesting to challenge myself to a similar goal and see how successful I am, although I don't think I would be able to sum up my feelings half as well as you've managed to in these two reviews!
ReplyDeleteI was extremely excited to see the Lucky Harbour series featured in this post as I read the first few novels in that series last year and fell utterly in love. I enjoyed the interplay between the three sisters and Shalvis' work reminded me a little of Nora Roberts, who I also adore, with an emphasis on family, friendship, and a small town locale.