Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis

Ms. Shalvis delivers romance with charming characters, fun humor and real life emotions.
Lucky in Love (A Lucky Harbor Novel)

by Jill Shalvis 

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forever (May 22, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 145550372X
• ISBN-13: 978-1455503728

Available in ebook and soon in Audio.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2012 | Series: A Lucky Harbor Novel (Book 4)

Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine. Besides, his lean, hard body and sexy smile will give her plenty to remember once he's gone . . .

For the first time in his life, Ty can't bear to leave. Helping this sexy seductress-in-training walk on the wild side is making him desire things he shouldn?t?including leaving the military for good. As their just-for-fun fling becomes something more, Mallory and Ty wonder if they could really be this lucky in love. After all . . . anything can happen in a town called Lucky Harbor.

Review:
Mallory has always been the “good girl.”  Even more so since she was 16 and her 18 year old sister went off track and died of an overdose. Mallory sees failure to save as her fault as she continues to try to save everyone around her.  Her “chocoholic”  friends, Amy and Grace, encourage Mallory to break out and take a walk on the wild side. They begin with a list of Mr. Wrongs and end up with a prime candidate in the“mysterious cute guy” as identified on the town’s facebook page.

Ty Garrison is a former Seal, private sector, dangerous missions guy. Of course no one in town knows that background except for the Doctor who is monitoring his recovery from the injuries that have Ty out of action. The town folks see him as mysterious and a seriously fine auto mechanic.

Mallory wheedles a date out of Ty while he is suffering a concussion from a storm. Mallory is in charge of the hospital auction designed to raise money for a community clinic that she is set on getting funding and approval for. She figures Ty has stood her up until he shows up and realizes he is late for a date he didn’t remember. That’s okay... he is willing to help out as long as Mallory is willing to accept it’s a one night deal with “no regrets.”  Mallory agrees but they soon find that a one night fling isn’t enough for either of them.

Mallory knows she shouldn’t fall for the guy who is just waiting to leave town. Ty doesn’t want to hurt her but he can’t seem to pull himself away, even when he finally gets cleared to return to work. By then Ty is invested in Mallory and the town. But that isn’t his thing...he needs to get back to the adrenaline of his dangerous job. Or is that where he really belongs now that Mallory has broken through his shell and shown him changes that could be?

These two are really great characters. Everyone in town, including her mom, her bosses and the angry, elderly, sour biddy (albeit secretly), loves Mallory. They are all concerned about her feelings and “relationship” with the “mysterious cute guy.” And of course there are few secrets in a town like Lucky Harbor.  Ty is actually a very nice guy hiding in a “bad boy” persona. It is part of his sexy, mysterious aura.

The romance plot isn't exactly new but it is delivered with charm, lots of humor and plenty of anticipation waiting to discover when and how the couple will get together. The cheerful writing flows quickly and I loved the chocolate quotes at the beginning of each chapter. This is a warm, fun start to a new trilogy by Ms. Shalvis and can easily be read as a standalone if you have not read the first trilogy. I admit that I was a bit disappointed that the earlier characters were only mere mentions as I would have liked to see more of them. It seems to me if you want a charming, fun and sexy (but not graphic) read you can’t go wrong with a Lucky Harbor Novel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some fine, fun quotes to ponder:

    Somehow in spite of himself and his reclusiveness, he'd managed to find celebrity status in this crazy-ass, one-horse town, and even worse, there was Mallory, wanting him to take her for a walk on the wild side. Page 89.

    At some point, when he'd been busy resenting like hell this slow-paced, sleepy little town and everyone in it, something had happened.

    He'd made ties, strings on the heart he wasn't even sure he had. Page 261.

Thank you to Forever Romance at Hachette for providing this book for fun reading and review.

This is set in Washington State for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my ARC challenge list.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Copy:
1. Tell me what you like about romances set it small towns. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Two total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 1, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 2. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.