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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If your family doesn't make you crazy love certainly will, March 30, 2011
This review is from: The Sweetest Thing (A Lucky Harbor Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)
Tara Daniels has been thrown into the mix with sisters she never knew after her mother passed away. Each of the women had different fathers, personalities and traits that made them strangers to one another but determined to get to know one another and rediscover the magic that was their mother's eclectic lifestyle. What they discover as a continuation in this second book is taking their personalities and figuring out how to turn that into a winning B&B where they can live and work together as one. Sounded good on paper but when all this female chaos tries to mix into one pot it tends to burn more than bake evenly.
Tara is the controlling, bossy and very ordered life. She had a teenage fling with a local boy at 17 and the result of that was a child they had given up for adoption. But now that Tara is back in Lucky Harbor and Ford Walker is standing right there all handsome and enticing can she walk away from him twice in one lifetime and still retain any part of her heart that is still beating. Ford never forgot her and while he did not chase her down to keep her the love he felt for her and the regret at having to release the baby they created still haunts him. Tara made the adult decision but now that she is seeing her life as it was and how it can be again standing in front of her what will she do?
Ford made a career of being a world class, winning sailor who has the time, money and talent to do anything but still wants to be in Lucky Harbor doing everything but sail competitively again. The heat between him and Tara is alive and running through every fiber of his body and his yearning for her is real and over powering. But convincing Tara of this being fact not fiction is easier said than done since she believes he talks a good game and runs when the game is over.
But when Tara's ex-husband shows up in town claiming he wants her back and a ghost from the past also knocks on the door Tara is not sure which one is going to rattle her more. The ex-husband she has long since gotten over or the daughter she gave up that that she wants in her life more than her next breath.
Bringing pieces of your life to a relationship is enough to make it sustain but not thrive. When Tara starts to see that the missing parts are coming together does she have room for one man and one daughter or will she run away again and not make any choice at all? Careful is good but it is not fun, it is not relaxing and some days it makes no sense at all. Taking chances is risky but there are times when rolling the dice and running with the results may just work out and Tara finds Ford to be the winning hand she is hoping for.
Tara is a difficult character to like because I unfortunately see way too much of myself in her. She is bossy, controlling, and a tad pushy and wants everything to be in order. Ford is messy and tends to embrace the day and see how it plays out. But Tara is also like me in that she knows the love is there in her heart she is just afraid to let it go because getting hurt is not easy and Ford has broken her heart once before. But truth be told you have to run the risk of giving everything you can to the relationship, see how it plays out and not blame anyone for the good or bad parts. Ms. Shalvis knows how to write characters that are human which means imperfect and just like the rest of us going with the flow of life and seeing where it takes us.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Sweetest Thing, March 31, 2011
This review is from: The Sweetest Thing (A Lucky Harbor Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)
The Sweetest Thing is the second book of the Lucky Harbor series. In the first book, Simply Irresistible, we are introduced to three estranged sisters: Maddie, Tara and Chloe. And three hot local hunks: Jax, Ford and Sawyer. Throughout Simply Irresistible, there were hints of a steamy past between Ford and Tara. I instantly fell in love with Ford around page 40 of the first book. I knew that book 2, The Sweetest Thing, would not disappoint.
Tara had no intention of staying in Lucky Harbor long. But 6 months later, she's still there, helping her sister Maddie remodel and open The Lucky Harbor Inn. The sisters have gotten closer, thanks to Maddie's insistence and their relationship has blossomed. They still bicker, argue and push each other's buttons but it's done with sisterly love. Tara is known as the Steel Magnolia. She's uptight, bossy and controlling. She doesn't let go easily and it is a bone of contention with her sisters. Nothing ruffles the feathers of the Steel Magnolia except for one thing - person: Ford. Ford and Tara had a steamy summer affair when they were teenagers; an affair that changed both of their lives forever. Ford wants to pick up where they left off 17 years ago. Tara doesn't want to go down that road again even though her attraction to Ford is more intense than ever.
I wasn't sure if I was going to like Tara. She is a type-A personality. She's not as warm and open and fun as her sisters. I liked Tara from beginning to end. It's hard not to like her. Tara is used to being in control; of living her life a certain way. Her sisters and now Ford, have completely turned her world upside down and she's trying to deal with it the best way she knows how. Add in her ex-husband Logan coming to town to win her back and what's a girl to do?
Ford is a man on a mission. His pursuit of Tara is sexy, single-minded and purposeful. When Logan comes to town, it's game on and may the best man win. Ford doesn't appreciate Logan arriving and throwing a wrench in his plans. It becomes a true competition when the townsfolk get involved and there's a Facebook page where you can vote on which guy you want Tara to end up with.
Like Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing is filled with humor, romance and sexual chemistry that is through the rough. Jill Shalvis knows how to write characters that you fall in love with and root for. Logan, Tara's ex, could have easily been portrayed as the bad guy. But he wasn't. I loved Logan, felt sorry for him at times and hope that he'll eventually find his HEA. Baby sister Chloe almost stole the show with her snarky comments and great one-liners. I can't wait for her book; she's going to give Sawyer a run for his money!
The Sweetest Thing did not disappoint. You know a book is good when you have a big, cheesy grin on your face the entire time while reading it. I finished Ford and Tara's story feeling satisfied and happy. A definite read for any romance lover. Every woman should have a Ford in their life. He's just so.....dreamy. *sigh*
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A quick beach read..., June 13, 2011
This review is from: The Sweetest Thing (A Lucky Harbor Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)
Eh, I wasnt impressed with this book. Its just another sex filled contemporary romance. Whats new? Thats what publishers want and thats what people are reading. It was also pointless having Logan in the picture because DUH of course Tara wasnt going to take him back she was OBVIOUSLY head over heels for Ford. The whole thing with their daughter finding and accepting them was way too easy. Well this is just my opinion. Although I do like the premise of the series. 3 estranged sisters coming back together restoring their moms old B&B after their mother dies in a small coastal town.
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