Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
Helpful Score: 1
Maddie Moore lost her boyfriend and her job almost simutaneously. She didn't realize before things escalated that her boyfriend had a violent streak. When things turned ugly, she poured her steaming hot coffee in his lap. Unfortunately, he was the high-powered lawyer for the agency she worked at, and they fired her.
Same week, her mom dies. She leaves to Maddie a third of an inn in Lucky Harbor. She shares the inheritance with her two half sisters. None of them have the same father and they all grew up separately, so they don't really know one another really well.
Homeless, broke, and wanting to reinvent her life, Maddie is determined that at Lucky Harbor she will create a new life for herself. The problem is her sisters want to sell, and sell quickly, so they can get back to their lives. Maddie insists on taking a shot at it, and so she hires master contracter Jax to make over the inn. But Jax and Maddie create an instant spark between them. Maddie has sworn off men, and Jax is not looking for a relationship. Can the two work through the past and the present so they can have a future?
Simply Irresistible is a charming romance. Jill Shavis has a way with the pen, creating humor and complex yet likable and diverse characters. The love scenes are steamy, yet brimming with promise. A fun romp!
Same week, her mom dies. She leaves to Maddie a third of an inn in Lucky Harbor. She shares the inheritance with her two half sisters. None of them have the same father and they all grew up separately, so they don't really know one another really well.
Homeless, broke, and wanting to reinvent her life, Maddie is determined that at Lucky Harbor she will create a new life for herself. The problem is her sisters want to sell, and sell quickly, so they can get back to their lives. Maddie insists on taking a shot at it, and so she hires master contracter Jax to make over the inn. But Jax and Maddie create an instant spark between them. Maddie has sworn off men, and Jax is not looking for a relationship. Can the two work through the past and the present so they can have a future?
Simply Irresistible is a charming romance. Jill Shavis has a way with the pen, creating humor and complex yet likable and diverse characters. The love scenes are steamy, yet brimming with promise. A fun romp!
Helpful Score: 1
(3.5 stars) This book is my first Jill Shalvis novel and one I would definitely recommend, though I'm glad I got it from the library. I will say that Jax is such a delicious and wonderful hero, that I might end up caving and ordering it from PBS for that reason alone ... no self-control, it's ridiculous.
The story is a cute one, with no real heavy issues. There were some that could have been further developed or explored, like Jax's relationship with his father and his old way of life, though it seems like he resolved things enough internally before the book started that you don't feel like it being unexplored left something missing - just think it could have added more depth.
I didn't like the sisters very much, which definitely drew from my enjoyment of the book. Maddie's relationships with her sister is an integral part of the story, so to have both of them get on my nerves in almost every scene they're in did not really work out well.
Maddie is cute and sweet; she's insecure and carries a lot of shame from having previously been in an abusive relationship. This rounds out her character and the author does a good job of incorporating it into her character and then showing how she's trying to change and be "stronger" and not The Mouse. Maybe I wasn't in an easily satisfiable mood when I read this book, because again I felt like even more could have been done with this. What was there felt authentic, but could have gone deeper.
Finally, Maddie and Jax's relationship begins instantaneously, and I'm really not a huge fan of that. It was fun to read and often humorous, but started out so strong a little too early in the book for me and seemed mostly physical. Maddie's family and insecurity issues gave their relationship more emotional depth, but looking back it seemed pretty hormonally driven.
BOTTOM LINE:
Check it out from the library - if nothing else, Jax alone makes it worth reading this book. ... Where can I get one of him??
RECOMMENDATIONS:
As I said, the sisters did not endear themselves to me, so while they will be having their own romances (Tara with Ford, Chloe with Sawyer one can assume), I'll probably skip them. For a contemporary romance sister-trilogy where all three books were fabulous, pick up Kathy Love's Stepp Sisters Trilogy:
Book 1 --- GETTING WHAT YOU WANT (4.5 stars)
Book 2 --- WANTING WHAT YOU GET (5 stars, one of my all-time favorite CRs)
Book 3 --- WANTING SOMETHING MORE (4 stars)
(Written on February 12, 2011)
The story is a cute one, with no real heavy issues. There were some that could have been further developed or explored, like Jax's relationship with his father and his old way of life, though it seems like he resolved things enough internally before the book started that you don't feel like it being unexplored left something missing - just think it could have added more depth.
I didn't like the sisters very much, which definitely drew from my enjoyment of the book. Maddie's relationships with her sister is an integral part of the story, so to have both of them get on my nerves in almost every scene they're in did not really work out well.
Maddie is cute and sweet; she's insecure and carries a lot of shame from having previously been in an abusive relationship. This rounds out her character and the author does a good job of incorporating it into her character and then showing how she's trying to change and be "stronger" and not The Mouse. Maybe I wasn't in an easily satisfiable mood when I read this book, because again I felt like even more could have been done with this. What was there felt authentic, but could have gone deeper.
Finally, Maddie and Jax's relationship begins instantaneously, and I'm really not a huge fan of that. It was fun to read and often humorous, but started out so strong a little too early in the book for me and seemed mostly physical. Maddie's family and insecurity issues gave their relationship more emotional depth, but looking back it seemed pretty hormonally driven.
BOTTOM LINE:
Check it out from the library - if nothing else, Jax alone makes it worth reading this book. ... Where can I get one of him??
RECOMMENDATIONS:
As I said, the sisters did not endear themselves to me, so while they will be having their own romances (Tara with Ford, Chloe with Sawyer one can assume), I'll probably skip them. For a contemporary romance sister-trilogy where all three books were fabulous, pick up Kathy Love's Stepp Sisters Trilogy:
Book 1 --- GETTING WHAT YOU WANT (4.5 stars)
Book 2 --- WANTING WHAT YOU GET (5 stars, one of my all-time favorite CRs)
Book 3 --- WANTING SOMETHING MORE (4 stars)
(Written on February 12, 2011)
Rebecca D. (floridagirl) reviewed Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor, Bk 1) on + 103 more book reviews
Great fast read and good story line. Cant wait for the other two.
Very cute romance and great start with the first book in series. The chemistry was sizzling, the hero was perfect, and look forward to reading the next in series.
Jax is the perfect man, & perfect for Maddie! The
chemistry between the two is off the charts. They will
make a wonderful life together in a small town that they
never expected to live in. They both provide each other
w. things they need most (love,family,home & financial
stability).
chemistry between the two is off the charts. They will
make a wonderful life together in a small town that they
never expected to live in. They both provide each other
w. things they need most (love,family,home & financial
stability).
This book is great! I read it in one night. I love it! This book is so funny and I can't wait fo the other two.
The was a great contemporary romance. The chemistry between Jax and Maddie was sizzling off the page. Numerous times while reading the book I had a goofing smile on my face because Jax and Maddie were such likable characters. Maddie is an adorable klutz and Jax is her perfect hero. I can not wait for the next book in this series.
This was my first Jill Shalvis read. I loved it. Terrific characters. Writing style. The story, dialogue....Such a fun, compelling book. I read right thru it and didnt want it to end. I have ordered the next one. And cant wait to get it. The third in the series comes out soon as well. Jill Shalvis will be on my keep/read shelves.
Kristin D. (kdurham2813) reviewed Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor, Bk 1) on + 753 more book reviews
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The first in a series that takes place in Lucky Harbor in Washington State. Three half sisters move into town to renovate a resort that their mother left them, but the property is definitely in need of some of TLC. A small town and three half sisters who are known to create their own drama is a recipe for a great book.
The first in a series that takes place in Lucky Harbor in Washington State. Three half sisters move into town to renovate a resort that their mother left them, but the property is definitely in need of some of TLC. A small town and three half sisters who are known to create their own drama is a recipe for a great book.
I read the "Sweetest Thing" first (Tara and Ford's story) and this one is way better. It's funnier and there is just more sexy action. I like Maddie a lot. She is insecure but has the strength to leave an abusive relationship and start over (although that part wasn't her choice). I like seeing her find herself again and trying to reach a balance. The interaction between the boys is better here as well (Jax, Ford, and Saywer). Here you really get a sense of how close they are. Jax is just one big sexy alpha male.
Great fun, book. Read it very quickly.
I don't want to give the impression "The Sweetest Thing" was a bad book. It wasn't. This one is just slightly is better.
Great fun, book. Read it very quickly.
I don't want to give the impression "The Sweetest Thing" was a bad book. It wasn't. This one is just slightly is better.
Great read. Had a few nice twists in the plot to keep it from being a standard romance novel. I can't wait for the next in the series to come out!
Totally loved it, except, the end was rushed, and not really satisfying to me.
Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.. In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddies leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother - a ramshackle inn nestled in the 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 Thoughts:
This is a fun, quick-witted read. I enjoyed how Maddie becomes a self-sufficient, empowered woman after having dealt with the insecurities that come from finding yourself in an abusive situation that you have allowed, even if unintentionally. Maddie sees herself as an entire failure when she goes to try to find a new start after having been left a share in a resort with her 2 sisters (whom she doesn't know since they each have another father). She is longing to find a true family and feels like an outcast after seeing her sisters who seem to have it all together. After nearly running over a HOT fella on a motorcycle, she is amazed to find him later while she is trying to clear her mind after dealing with her sisters. In spite of having sworn off men, Maddie can't help watching and yearning for what she can't have. In spite of dealing with her past, her sisters and her rioting emotions, Maddie finds herself falling in love with the Inn, the Town and her sisters. I give this book a 4/5. It's an amusing, quick read that leaves you smiling!
Thank you to Hatchett for providing a copy of this book for me to review. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
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 Thoughts:
This is a fun, quick-witted read. I enjoyed how Maddie becomes a self-sufficient, empowered woman after having dealt with the insecurities that come from finding yourself in an abusive situation that you have allowed, even if unintentionally. Maddie sees herself as an entire failure when she goes to try to find a new start after having been left a share in a resort with her 2 sisters (whom she doesn't know since they each have another father). She is longing to find a true family and feels like an outcast after seeing her sisters who seem to have it all together. After nearly running over a HOT fella on a motorcycle, she is amazed to find him later while she is trying to clear her mind after dealing with her sisters. In spite of having sworn off men, Maddie can't help watching and yearning for what she can't have. In spite of dealing with her past, her sisters and her rioting emotions, Maddie finds herself falling in love with the Inn, the Town and her sisters. I give this book a 4/5. It's an amusing, quick read that leaves you smiling!
Thank you to Hatchett for providing a copy of this book for me to review. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
What a great start to the series - Loved it as I have all the others I have read by Jill Shalvis. Loved Maddie and Jax. Didn't really care for the sisters, but hopefully they will grow on me as the series continues.
Loved the chemistry with Maddie and Jax - can't wait to see what is in store in #2...
Loved the chemistry with Maddie and Jax - can't wait to see what is in store in #2...
This was a light read that I enjoyed but not enough to be anxiously waiting for the next one in this series.
Book was really good. Had me laughing through it
Cheryl C. (moondance120) reviewed Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor, Bk 1) on + 422 more book reviews
Three sisters bond over the renovation of an old inn left to them by their mother. Maddie, the middle sister, has self esteem issues that Jax, a former attorney turned carpenter, helps her overcome. Funny, sweet and an easy afternoon read. 4 stars
thanks cosmo for a hot read!
I found myself smiling and laughing out loud several times. I will never think of shoes in the washing machine in the same way again (go there). Maddie was likeable. And Jax; could he have been more perfect?
My only issue: In the beginning of the book it says Chloe is 24, Maddie is 29, and Tara is 34. Close to the end it mentions Tara being 8 years older. That should have been caught in editing (IMO).
My only issue: In the beginning of the book it says Chloe is 24, Maddie is 29, and Tara is 34. Close to the end it mentions Tara being 8 years older. That should have been caught in editing (IMO).
Absolutely loved this book. It has the typical romance style characteristics but is also a thinker. Sweet!
Sarah I. (onecurvyblogger) -
Simply Irresistible is the first book in the Lucky Harbor series. I've read the entire series, but decided to reread and collect paperback versions when it got closer to Christmas, as the first two are holiday romances.
Simply Irresistible is about three very different women who find themselves back in the town their mother fell in love with and lived out the rest of her life, Lucky Harbor. They each have different fathers, and but in a lot of ways, resembled their hippie mother. Maddie "the Mouse" is Phoebe's middle child, and the child who spent the less amount of time with their mother. When she comes to Lucky Harbor to claim her inheritance with her other siblings, she's the only one who wants to stay and make the best of the shambling inn.
What I heart about Simply Irresistible
Maddie is an easy main character to connect with, because a lot of readers can see a small part of themselves in her. She breaks off an abusive relationship with her lawyer boyfriend, and decides to give her life a makeover, starting with her pushover attitude.
Lucky Harbor is a small town we'd all love to visit! It has unique characters, faithful friends, and a few hotties to make life more enjoyable!
Shalvis reads like a Macomber romance novel, but it's steamy like Foster, and has her own unique flair that makes me want to visit Lucky Harbor over and over!
This was a thrilling read that many readers would come to love if they gave it a chance!
Simply Irresistible is about three very different women who find themselves back in the town their mother fell in love with and lived out the rest of her life, Lucky Harbor. They each have different fathers, and but in a lot of ways, resembled their hippie mother. Maddie "the Mouse" is Phoebe's middle child, and the child who spent the less amount of time with their mother. When she comes to Lucky Harbor to claim her inheritance with her other siblings, she's the only one who wants to stay and make the best of the shambling inn.
What I heart about Simply Irresistible
Maddie is an easy main character to connect with, because a lot of readers can see a small part of themselves in her. She breaks off an abusive relationship with her lawyer boyfriend, and decides to give her life a makeover, starting with her pushover attitude.
Lucky Harbor is a small town we'd all love to visit! It has unique characters, faithful friends, and a few hotties to make life more enjoyable!
Shalvis reads like a Macomber romance novel, but it's steamy like Foster, and has her own unique flair that makes me want to visit Lucky Harbor over and over!
This was a thrilling read that many readers would come to love if they gave it a chance!
