LauraC’s Duckies Do Series review of the Chocoholics Trilogy of the Lucky Harbor Series by Jill Shalvis
Contemporary Romance published by Forever

This is the second trilogy in Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series. In the first book, Lucky in Love, we meet all three of the “chocoholics,” Mallory, Amy and Grace, who bond with each other over deep, rich chocolate cake during a ferocious storm and all agree to change their lives.

Lucky in Love
22 May 12

This is the first of the three chocoholics books, and I wrote a full review when I first read it. As a quick reminder, I really liked the pacing, tone and characters. Mallory Quinn is trying to be wild and crazy for once in her “good girl” life, and Ty Garrison is only too happy to help. But as much as he likes her wildness, it’s the basic goodness in Mallory that keeps Ty coming back for more.

For me, this is the most exciting of the three chocoholics books.

Grade: A

Summary:

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.

Read an excerpt.

At Last
26 Jun 12

This is Amy’s book. Amy, who works at the diner, is extremely private and very reluctant to get involved with anyone. But she can’t seem to resist Matt Bowers aka “Ranger Hot Buns.” Though he’s definitely hot, and definitely attracted to Amy, Matt doesn’t make it easy to get to know him, either:

Matt knew he had a reputation for being laid- back and easygoing. He wasn’t sure that either of those things was exactly true, but part of the appearance came from being prepared for anything at any time. This ability had been honed in the military and then on the streets of Chicago. If a guy could survive warfare and SWAT, he could survive anything. Certainly one willowy, enigmatic, tough-nut-to-crack brunette named Amy Michaels.

The one thing Matt—with his law enforcement background and his wildly protective instincts—can’t handle is lying or secrets. And, of course, Amy has secrets aplenty. And she accumulates more out of necessity, which puts her budding relationship with Matt at risk. While I enjoyed this book a lot, it didn’t measure up to the first, in my opinion, because I got frustrated with the relationship and all the big secrets and determination to stay unencumbered. While I enjoyed it, I find a bit unrealistic.

Grade: B+

Summary:

Her love has come along…

Amy Michaels loves her new life in Lucky Harbor. A waitress in the local diner, she’s looking forward to her first weekend hike through the mountains. But when a wrong turn takes her off the trail, she finds herself up close and personal with forest ranger Matt Bowers. And even though she’s tempted to kiss that sexy smile right off his face, she won’t make the mistake of getting involved with the town heartthrob.

A former cop whose life went south, Matt doesn’t let anyone get too close. But something about the feisty beauty caught his eye the moment he first saw her in the diner. After a hot night under a starry sky, Matt can’t deny their attraction-or the fact that for the first time in a long time, he feels the stirrings of something more. Now it’s up to Matt to help Amy see that, no matter what is in their past, together they can build a future in Lucky Harbor.

Read an excerpt.

Forever and a Day
31 Jul 12

Forever and a Day is the story of Grace, who has lost everything and landed in Lucky Harbor temporarily while searching for a new job and a better life. Willing to take on just about anything in her desperation, she agrees to be a dog-walker for the hot and handsome doctor, Josh Scott. But Josh needs more than a dog walker. He’s got more than he can handle with the fact that he can’t bear to sell his father’s practice or give up his true love, ER work. And then there’s his problem-child younger sister for whom he has assumed responsibility and his own son. Pretty soon, Grace is up to her ears in Josh’s personal business, gently guiding his family onto the right track.

Josh is the kind of hero you just can’t help but love—always there for everyone else, while royally messing up his own life.

Okay, so now on top of assuming he only wanted her out of some sense of responsibility, she’d also lumped him into the same category with all the other mistakes she felt she’d made. And hell if that didn’t piss him off. She didn’t want him to care. He got that, loud and clear. He didn’t want to care either. But he did.

“Look, Grace, no matter what you call this thing between us—fun, a pain in the ass, nothing at all—it doesn’t matter. Just don’t judge me by the assholes in your past. I deserve more than that, but more importantly, you deserve more than that.”

She stared up at him, then slowly nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Of the three books, this is probably the sweetest as the relationship develops slowly with both humor and angst.

Grade: A

Summary:

Love can happen in a heartbeat…

Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s lovable mutt to caring for his rambunctious son. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family-until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day…

Read an excerpt.

All in all, the chocoholics women make a nice second trilogy in the Lucky Harbor series. The stories are filled with trademark Jill Shalvis “normal people having real lives” characters and the great humor and strong character development she always displays.

Overall series grade: A

Other books in this series (Lucky Harbor, but not the chocoholics):