The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor, #2)

by Jill Shalvis

[Ing Cruz]

My Synopis:

Tara Daniels has been back living in the town of Lucky Harbor for six months now. She and her two half sisters are trying to make a go at being a family and getting the Inn they inherited from their deceased mother up and running. Tara and Maddie were raised with each of their own fathers, while Chloe, was raised by their mother. No one knows who Chole's father was. Tara had spent one summer in this town visiting her mother at the age of seventeen. Lucky Harbor was where she fell in love and then had to grow up too fast. Tara hasn't been back to Lucky Harbor in seventeen years but now that she's back all the memories from that long ago summer has bombarded the emotional wall she has built. Tara ran far from this town and never looked back. Since Lucky Harbor, Tara went to college, graduated, married a race car driver and divorced. One person Tara has never been able to completely erase from her memories is Ford Walker.

Ford and Tara loved each other and were each others anchor that long ago summer. Two confused teenagers that found solace from one another. Neither were prepared for a pregnancy. Ford had wanted to keep the baby and make a go at raising the child together while Tara wanted to give the child away. In the end Ford let her go and has spent the last seventeen years sailing and building a lifestyle different from his childhood. Now at 34 he's comfortable and happy but not completely satisfied. With Tara back in Lucky Harbor all the strong emotions are back. He knows things between them are complicated and doesn't do complicated but the attraction and pull can't be denied.

Tara and Ford have been circling one another for the last six months. Neither are ready for any big emotional relationship but can't seem to stay away from one another. Once they finally acknowledge what is still between them and try to make a go at something will they discover that the second time around bring the happily ever after they missed or will an ex-husband, the child they gave up or the town put a kink in things?

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Lucky Harbor series and reads very well by itself. This was an excellent book. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the story of Tara and Ford. The humor in this book was constantly making me literally laugh out loud.

Tara is uptight, bossy, a worrier and the anal sister of the three. She comes off distant but actually feels too much. She likes order in her life and doesn’t do well with spontaneity. She’s been working on getting her life balanced and finding that happy medium in life. She just wishes that she didn’t melt in a gooey puddle each time she’s around her childhood lover! You would think that all those descriptions would make Tara an annoying character but she comes off very lovable. It’s those things that make Tara very human and relatable. Her ex comes into the picture in this second book trying to win her back. Tara is very sure where her feelings are at for her ex and doesn’t lead him on. She does secretly enjoy being pursued by both men. Who wouldn’t love two hot men chasing after you!

As for Ford, wow what a hero. This man oozes charm and sexual appeal all over the place! Ford is laid back, sexy as hell, lickable (literally ladies), caring and uncomplicated. He loved Tara when they were younger and now that he’s older he still feels something for her. He’s just not sure yet what it is that he exactly feels but he knows he wants her in his bed again. Ford is slowly working on her when the ex shows back up and forces Ford to step up his game for Tara’s heart. I like that Ford liked all the things that make Tara tick. Her anal and bossiness charms him instead of annoying him. How cute is that to have a guy be charmed by these traits?

Watching Tara and Ford rediscover each other was wonderful. The dialogue and interactions were so sweet. The chemistry between was sweet and sexy. Their different temperament fit together like a great puzzle. I loved watching them fall in love and watching them learn to be together and make it work out not just between them but their daughter that they gave up!

Tara and her sisters’ relationship have grown into something routine and comfortable in book 2 of this series. I liked seeing the camaraderie and banter as they continue to learn the ins and out of one another. It was refreshing to see them get along and able to needle each other. I could relate very well to this relationship and many of the banters had me chuckling and thinking of my sisters.

The book had a wonderful cast of characters that helped balanced out the story of Tara and Ford. I laughed so much with all the towns’ silliness in creating a facebook page and twitter account on the battle between the men fighting for Tara’s heart. Tara and Ford’s daughter seamlessly fit into the story. She was a great addition and I loved watching both parent and child work through and find one another. I can’t wait for the third book in this series. Sawyer and Chloe are the leading couple. Sawyer is best friends with Ford and Chloe is the baby sister of Tara. These two are going to be fun to watch.

This book worked for me in every way. The leading couple was great; the humor was fantastic, the town awesome, the relationship with the sisters and all the secondary character come together seamlessly to create a wonderful contemporary story!

If you are fan of Shalvis and this series you don’t want to miss out on this book. If you are a fan and not a fan of contemporary I highly recommend you give this book a shot. This was a great example of how I like my contemporary reads.