Friday, February 7, 2014

Review: Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis

Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, Book 9
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance Once in a Lifetime Cover
ISBN: 9781455521135
Release Date: February 18, 2014
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

Sometimes wrong is oh-so-right…

After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniels tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he’s back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she’s not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben …even though he has absolutely no idea what she’s done…

Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?

Jill Shalvis has done it again! Once in a Lifetime is an utterly captivating story of love and redemption that will have you tearing up on one page and smiling the next.

Picking a favorite Jill Shalvis heroine is nearly impossible, but Aubrey’s definitely at the top of my list. She’s not universally beloved by the Lucky Harbor residents, women don’t generally tend to jump at the chance to be friends with her, and her reputation is less than sterling. In other words, she’s far from perfect. Aubrey’s got a giving heart that few are willing to see and she’s constantly working toward being a better person, which I absolutely loved about her. She broke my heart more than once over the course of the book, and was a very large part of why I didn’t want to put Once in a Lifetime down.

The other reason I was so in love with Once in a Lifetime? Ben. He’s a sexy, brooding alpha who’s a soft touch with children and animals – how could you not love him? Ben’s also a widower who isn’t looking for love and definitely doesn’t ever see himself falling for someone like Aubrey. Aubrey’s the opposite of his late wife, yet she fits Ben perfectly. The two of them set the pages of Once in a Lifetime a blazin’, and that’s before they ever hit the sheets. When they do…watch out! Ms. Shalvis knows how to bring the heat.

If you haven’t read the Lucky Harbor series, then you’re missing out and should rectify the situation immediately. Once in a Lifetime is a great introduction to the town and it’s wonderfully quirky residents, even though it’s the ninth book in the series and the third story in this particular trilogy subset. Ben and Aubrey’s closest friends (and the protagonists of It Had to Be You and Always On My Mind) play strong supporting roles and bring much of the humor to Once in a Lifetime.

Jill Shalvis is one of my autobuy authors for a reason. Every story she writes has humor, heart, and heat, and Once in a Lifetime is no exception. Just when I think Ms. Shalvis can’t get any better, she delivers as story like Ben and Aubrey’s and I fall in love with her writing all over again. Don’t miss Once in a Lifetime!


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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