Friday, June 22, 2012

At Last by Jill Shalvis *ARC Revew*

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.
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If you haven't picked up a Jill Shalvis novel yet (which really after all the glowing reviews that exist out there on the internet I don't understand how that's possible) you're missing out on a great set of characters. Characters that stick with you long after you're done reading - it took me a day or so to put my finger on that, because it sounds really simplistic to point it out, but it's important. The good feeling that you're left with when you finish is due in part to the fact that you've come to care about these people and their HEA. I like Lucky Harbor and each time I get to go back and visit I still like it. 

Readers have seen the sparks between Amy and Matt for a while but it's in this book that we finally learn about their pasts and why they're (essentially) perfect for each other. It's like the perfect romantic comedy without the self-deprecating or embarrassing humor that makes me want to close my eyes and turn away (yes I have been known to hide in people's shoulders when things get especially bad for a character - I just can't take it). Shalvis keeps things up to date and fun with the inclusion of Facebook not only as a stalking tool but a law enforcement one, and the supporting cast successfully rides that edge of annoying (nosiness can in fact be a bad thing, lol), to result in a nice installment of a wonderful series.

Overall Feeling - B+/A-

Series -1) Simply Irresistible 2) The Sweetest Thing 3) Head Over Heels 4) Lucky in Love 5) At Last (6/26/12) 6) Forever and a Day (7/31/12)

**Title requested from NetGalley**