C2’s review of Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis (Heartbreaker Bay series, book 1)
Contemporary romance released by Avon, 28 June 2016
Greetings Faithful Reader! It has been a while since I started a new series, but I’m always glad to see Jill Shalvis pop up in my to-be-reviewed box – and she knows how to do series! With this book, we move from small towns to the big city – San Francisco to be exact. Of course, the city itself is a supporting character, especially to those who have been there (if you haven’t, go if you get the chance…it’s lovely). Intrigued? You know you are…
Our heroine is Pru Harris – a tourist boat captain! Pru recently moved out of her boss’s warehouse and into an old Pacific Heights building that has both apartments and businesses (and a possibly-magic fountain). A lot of the residents have known each other for ages and are like family (beginning of a series, yo!). Pru is also the owner of Thor – a nearsighted mutt with a lot of personality – and a giant crush on…
Our hero, Finn O’Riley, who (along with his younger brother, Sean) owns a pub in the building. They opened the pub so they could have a good future. The brothers were abandoned by their mom when they were little and their dad was killed by a drunk driver when Sean was fourteen and Finn was twenty-one.
The twist – unbeknownst to the O’Riley brothers, the drunk driver who killed their dad was Pru’s dad. She has major guilt because her folks were on their way to pick her up when the accident happened. Ever since, she has worked behind the scenes to help the families affected by the accident. Pru didn’t expect to fall for Finn, though. She just wants to fix things.
Pru decides Finn needs more fun in his life – he’s been raising a kid since he was a kid himself and is much too serious. So Pru sets out to be his “Fun Whisperer”…but somewhere along the way, things get serious. And what will happen when Finn finds out who Pru actually is?
This is a story of two people who have taken on more than their fair share of responsibilities, way too early. Both end up realizing they can’t really fix other people or every situation.
I enjoyed this book. The overall subject matter was a little more serious than some of Ms. Shalvis’s previous books, but there are light moments, too. And we see just enough of the supporting characters to get some hints of future pairings.
My grade: B
Summary:
Choose the one guy you can’t have . . .As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.
Fall for him—hard . . .
Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.
And then tell him the truth.
Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . .
Read an excerpt.
