Monday, June 25, 2012

Review: At Last by Jill Shalvis

At Last by Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, Book 5
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance At Last Cover
Release Date: June 26, 2012
ISBN: 9781455503742
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

Amy Michaels came to Lucky Harbor, WA looking for the three things her grandmother found in the small town: hope, peace, and heart. One day, Amy takes her grandmother's journal and sets off on a hike in search of those elusive feelings and instead winds up lost in the woods. And it so happens that her rescuer is none other than forest ranger Matt Bowers, aka "Ranger Hot Buns." Sparks have always flown between Amy and Matt, but each has their own reasons for avoiding getting in too deep. But their time on the mountain starts them on the path to falling in love. Both Amy and Matt will have to leave the past behind if their newfound relationship has a chance to survive. With a little help from their friends in Lucky Harbor, Amy and Matt will at last find the three things they need the most: hope, peace, and heart.

At Last sparkles with genuine warmth and humor. Author Jill Shalvis has outdone herself with the Lucky Harbor books and At Last is a strong addition to a consistently fantastic series.

Amy's a tough-as-nails survivor, one whose past issues come to the forefront when she helps a young homeless teenager named Riley. You can't help but love and respect Amy. Her generous heart, good humor, and strength make her a fantastic heroine. Matt, in turn, is so much more than his "Ranger Hot Buns" moniker. He too has been scarred by past events and it makes him wary of getting too close to Amy. I loved watching these two unwittingly break down each other's walls in At Last. It isn't an easy road to happily ever after for Amy and Matt, but it's a journey well worth taking.

Despite the serious issues at play, At Last is a sexy, lighthearted book for the most part. Amy and Matt are a red-hot couple who can steam up the pages like nobody's business. And their fellow Lucky Harbor residents are simply too much fun for any part of the book to be dragged down. I love how Ms. Shalvis skillfully blends the light and dark elements of At Last. It reminds you that there's joy to be found even when dealing with difficult reminders of the past.

At Last is the fifth book in the Lucky Harbor series, but it can be read as a standalone. Of course, Amy and Matt's best friends, Mallory and Ty (from Lucky in Love), and Grace and Josh (from the upcoming Forever and a Day) all play strong supporting roles. Not to mention many of readers' favorite Lucky Harbor characters —including Facebook-loving Lucille — do appear in At Last. I'm sure readers new to the series will be glomming up the first four Lucky Harbor books (Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, Head Over Heels, and Lucky in Love) after reading At Last.

At Last was a joy to read from beginning to end. I absolutely adore Amy and Matt and I cannot wait to revisit their romance over and over and over again!

1 comments:

Unknown said...

This was my favorite book of the series. Though I have to admit, I'm still waiting for Lucille to be completely shamed by some gossip posted about her on that annoying Facebook page.