Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2)

by Jill Shalvis (Goodreads Author)

4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 · rating details · 6,923 ratings · 540 reviews

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under c...more

Paperback, 348 pages

Published April 1st 2011 by Forever

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean

Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

2011 Romance

8th out of 394 books — 770 voters

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 16, 2012 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, humorous, jill-shalvis, 5-star, angsty-emotional, delightful, fabulous-characters, fabulous-hero, fabulous-heroine, family-dynamic, favorite-books, feel-good-read, read-series-in-order, second-chances, steamy, strong-willed-heroine, sweet-romance, witty-and-clever

Charming 4 1/2 to 5 stars

The Sweetest Thing was such a treat to read and I can easily say I ended up falling in love this book.

I honestly didn't believe I'd like this story as much as I did the first book in the series, Simply Irresistible. I wasn't Tara's biggest fan, and I was on the fence regarding Ford.

How wrong I was!

Not only did I end up loving Tara and Ford individually, but as I mentioned before, I found myself liking this book a tad bit more than the first. The deeply enriched charact...more

like 32 likes · see review

Dec 21, 2011 Jae rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-star, contemporary, favorites, studly-sports-man, hot-shagging-action, 2011, lovvit, silly-lol

Ford was such a HOT wicked mess!!! Bless his heart. And the secrets were totally out. I've had my suspicions regarding Tara and Ford thing and I am glad that it was all true.

Tara the ever Steel Magnolia was very uptight and proper and pretty much clashed with Ford. I didn't like Ford's loose and easy attitude at first. I just thought that he was too laid back for Tara. But apparently a hot body and even wetter kisses was what Tara wanted after all. Aww.....

And I can't wait for Chloe and Sawyer's...more

like 14 likes · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Tam Herra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: april-11, considering-buying, family-series, favorites, fun-lifestyle-reads, lifestyles-of-the-rich-famous, small-town, sports-romance, texas, secret-baby

Will I read this book again? Yes. Will I buy a hard copy so I can mark my favourite part for quick access? Probably and that's a rare feat, precious few books are given that honour. I only reread books that suck me into a happy place. I feel like I can't fully express the extent to which this book completely sucked me into the setting. I have such a clear mental picture of Lucky Harbor. I feel like I just came back from vacation having read this book. What an amazing experience it is to read a b...more Will I read this book again? Yes. Will I buy a hard copy so I can mark my favourite part for quick access? Probably and that's a rare feat, precious few books are given that honour. I only reread books that suck me into a happy place. I feel like I can't fully express the extent to which this book completely sucked me into the setting. I have such a clear mental picture of Lucky Harbor. I feel like I just came back from vacation having read this book. What an amazing experience it is to read a book that resonates so well and completely pulls me out of my surroundings (especially so close to thesis defense time).

Frankly, I didn't think I would like this book. Book 1 and I didn't agree (I am just indifferent towards Maddie) and I didn't see Tara's potential in Book 1. But wow. She was great in this story. Holy Cow! I can hardly believe it. I think that Tara is one of those people you really have to get to know in order to understand. As a reader, I actually experienced those biases rather than being a reader who knows she's misunderstood but totally understands her from the get go. Nope. When I read Book 1 I didn't understand Tara and I didn't like her, she very nearly offended me by simply being. As the book started, I wasn't expecting her to grow on me, in fact I was expecting to get fed up with her, word search "Chleo" and just read the bits of the story that included her (yes I do that sometimes). But now I'm wondering whether Chleo's story can stand up to this one and I've been waiting for Chleo's book since I first encountered her on the pages of Book 1.

The synopsis for this story reads as if the story revolves around a competition between two potential lovers for Tara. Shalvis put a great spin on this theme. I love that from the outside (and two the towns people) it seems like a competition but to Tara it never was. I didn't expect that. I didn't expect Tara to be dealing with seperate issues and for most of the other accessory characters to get the wrong idea completely in a way that added to the story. That was great. And hilarious.

I also didn't expect Mia to turn up so soon in the story. Although I didn't agree with how the reunion with Mia was written in some aspects (would her parents really not have a problem? would she so quickly become a part of their lives? I don't know) Mia added a great complexity to the story. I liked that Tara and Ford had to deal with hypocrisy and that Mia acted like a normal teen (I appreciated her lying so easily and convincingly about certain things because that's one of those normal behaviours that you rarely see in stories or tv shows).

What a pleasant surprise this story turned out to be. I like Jill Shalvis. She has a great online presence and I think she should be commended for that. She's so easy to find and get info on (as in her website is always up to date) but more than that she is always posting interesting little blurbs about her life, really staying in contact with her fans. However, as much as I like Jill Shalvis, I don't find that I've overwhelmingly liked the majority of the books I've read. Which is strange, being a fan but not rating the books particularly high.

In this book I discovered that I really like Shalvis' writing style and because her writing style has such deep imagery for the setting and really good characterization. In the past when I haven't been as excited about some of her books I think it's because I haven't related to the characters or setting in some way - and since Shalvis literally brings the characters and settings to life for me (there is no distance) if I don't resonate I take it more personally: like not relating to a person you know rather than not relating to a book character but reading on anyway.

I find I am having trouble holding my shit together in anticipation of Chleo's book. What cruel torture it is that book 3 isn't released until next winter. I find when I have to wait a long period of time for an addition to a series I am almost always let down by it when it does come out. Hopefully that won't happen with this book because there has been such a sweet build up. I can't wait to get to know Chleo better. I think I would literally cry (with joy) if this book gets and earlier release (does that ever happen) or if I happen upon a arc. I just cannot wait!

If you have yet to go to Lucky Harbour and meet some of its residents (particularly the new half sisters) I suggest you move your rump over to your nearest bookstore and get a copy. I doubt you'll regret it.
(less)

like 11 likes · see review

Dec 06, 2011 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-jill-shalvis, series-lucky-harbor, starts-with-q-thru-t, format-paperback, genre-contemporary-romance, 5-stars, 2011-reads, reviewed-by-me

The Sweetest Thing is the second book in the Lucky Harbor series, and once again I’m sitting here with a silly grin on my face, unable to stop thinking about Ford and Tara, and the other crazy friends and family who made this story so fun! And let me just tell you, this is one incredibly romantic and sexy story that had me fanning myself, laughing out loud and sighing often. With honest, believable characters that I couldn't help but care about and cheer for, it’s a tale of first love, lost lov...more

like 21 likes · see review

Jun 02, 2012 Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any Romance Reader! Esp. of Humorous CR.

Recommended to Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* by: Having loved Simply Irresistible

Shelves: romance-contemporary, favourites, owned-read

(FINALLY wrote my review for this!)

5 of 5 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Jill Shalvis’ first book in the Lucky Harbor series was certainly Simply Irresistible and was my first introduction to her work. This one was only my second “date” with Ms Shalvis but it was The Sweetest Thing , and she better be careful, or very soon, I’ll be Head Over Heels . Ooookay…enough with the puns! Haha!

In the first installment of the series, I loved meeting Maddie “The Mouse”, and her two sis...more

like 18 likes · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Kelly22 rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of steamy contemporary romance

Shelves: hero-makes-good-girls-go-bad, heroine-beautiful-pretty-covetted, beta-hero, contemporary-romance, dirty-talker, enemy-to-lover, gorgeous-handsome-attractive-hero, hero-accomplished-lover, hero-smitten-in-love-in-pursuit, beloved-favorites, opposites-attract, silver-tongued-sweet-talker-hero, sweet-reunions-second-chances, hero-merchnt-indstrialist-uber-rich, witty-humerous-funny-comedy, favorite-hero, favorite-heroine, favorite-couple, bad-boy-rake-rogue-casanova, 1st-marriage-or-lover-was-disaster, overtly-possessive-jealous-hero, jill-shalvis, notorious-playboy-commitment-phobic, family-moments, hero-i-am-crazy-abt, hh-iconic-celeb-bigshot, hero-gods-gift-to-woman, hero-flirt-playful-skilled-charmer, small-town-setup, sports-romance, hero-athlete-jock, pirate-sea-navigator-sailor-captain, favorite-series

4.00 Stars - Contemporary Romance.

I just loved it! Loved it! Loved it! Ford was a superb hero. Everything I read by this amazing author is incredible. I still did not pick up one of her books and not fall in love with it.

The Sweetest Thing, is the second book in the Lucky Harbor Series, which features three estranged half sisters Maddie, the mouse… Tara, the steel magnolia…and Chloe, the wild child - who have been reunited after they inherited an inn located at Lucky Harbor following their moth...more 4.00 Stars - Contemporary Romance.

I just loved it! Loved it! Loved it! Ford was a superb hero. Everything I read by this amazing author is incredible. I still did not pick up one of her books and not fall in love with it.

The Sweetest Thing, is the second book in the Lucky Harbor Series, which features three estranged half sisters Maddie, the mouse… Tara, the steel magnolia…and Chloe, the wild child - who have been reunited after they inherited an inn located at Lucky Harbor following their mother’s death. Maddie’s story was visited in the first book of the series with the town mayor hottie, Jax, in Simply Irresistible.

Tara is edgy, organized with arrays of principles and rules to live her life. Seventeen years ago she came in Lucky Harbor for a summer vacation and rapidly fell head over hills in love with another carefree teenage Ford Walker who gave her the much required emotional and physical attention. But alas she gets pregnant and gives the baby away for adoption to move on to start a new life in Texas leaving everything behind.

Now the story leaps 17 years in which Tara features as a divorcee and a struggler who fights to gain momentum back in her life and her relationship with her two new half-sisters while running an inn she inherited back at Lucky Harbor. The super hottie Ford comes along yet again and ignites intense memories of past and passion. They feel and share an instant attraction and physical overwhelming and find it thoroughly hard to keep their hands of each other.

Ford is a laid-back successful athlete who always scores quite a mark with the ladies. He is a nice guy with amazing good looks and a well-known commitment phobia. Tara knows these all about Ford and decides to keep a good distance from him since she doesn’t want to make the same mistake of falling in love with him all over again and broke her heart. But Ford has other plans. He understands Tara’s dilemma and agrees with their complicated past and decides to start anew by keeping things physical only while locking the emotional stuff outside the bedroom. They seem to have conflicting interest with each other yet finding themselves in wanting the same fascination.

At one point they are compel to face their past and hence bound to explore their impending present inference when things get a tad out of order. They find themselves in crossroads about choosing a difficult path of giving their relationship a second chance or heading towards opposite direction and get the easy way out.

This is a story of finding true love which could be passionate, romantic and heartbreaking at times. Overall, it is a beautiful love story with two characters sharing AMAZING chemistry. The love scenes depicted in the book are extremely hot, passionate and remarkably romantic. The dialogues, the emotions and the passions shared by the two protagonists in the book make it impossible for you not to fall in love with them.

‘The Sweetest Thing’, which also was funny at times, is once again another remarkable story from a remarkable writer. I highly recommend it.

Just can’t wait to read the next in the series ‘Head Over Hills’.
(less)

like 6 likes · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Steffi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, part-of-series, favourites, laughed-my-head-off

For all who haven't read this book yet: GO, read it, NOW!

The Sweetest Thing is a beautiful book about recovering a long-lost love, learning to trust again, facing your past and just letting loose sometime. Jill Shalvis has truly outdone herself!

After Maddie and Jax, this is now Tara and Ford's story. Tara decided to stay in Lucky Harbor for a while to help out her sisters. After six months of being ignored by Tara, Ford finally gets the chance to get close to her again but does he really want...more For all who haven't read this book yet: GO, read it, NOW!

The Sweetest Thing is a beautiful book about recovering a long-lost love, learning to trust again, facing your past and just letting loose sometime. Jill Shalvis has truly outdone herself!

After Maddie and Jax, this is now Tara and Ford's story. Tara decided to stay in Lucky Harbor for a while to help out her sisters. After six months of being ignored by Tara, Ford finally gets the chance to get close to her again but does he really want to dig up the past once more? One thing he knows for sure: He wants Tara in his bed but can that ever be enough for both of them or do they deserve a second chance, even if that means letting their guard down and being vulnerable, facing old hurt?
Not only that, but Tara's ex suddenly turns up in Lucky Harbor, claiming to want her back after two years of seperation and the new girl working at the inn looks like she is searching for something, or rather someone?

This book is amazing, I don't even really know how to put it into words but I'll try anyway. The Sweetest Thing gave me every emotion I needed, right now I am a little stunned, sad because I want this story to go on forever and just a kind of wholesome happy. I absorbed every word and read many wonderful scenes more than once because I always wanted to go back to that one perfect moment, that one hot scene or that one funny bantering. The Sweetest Thing has it all.

Everyone who knows Tara's story from Simply Irresistible will be happy when she finally gets to meet a special someone, which made me shed a tear or two...or three.
This book definitely addresses more serious issues than the first one in the series but at the same time it's also a light funny book that cracked me up a lot. Especially that shows a certain uniqueness, I think.
This will be one of my books with a lot of dog ears and cracks in the spine, because I'll definitely re-read it many many times.

Next up in the series is Head Over Heels with Sawyer and Chloe.

Thank you, Jill Shalvis for this wonderful, perfect book!

Original review at www.bookworldtravels.blogspot.com (less)

like 10 likes · see review

Jun 10, 2011 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reunions-or-together-again, contemporary-romance, secret-baby, dreamy-heroes, own, chefs-cooks-bakers-etc, my-5-star-romances

The second book in Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series. Wonderfully sweet story. I got a problem with the "southern belle" part, though. Tara's from Texas. Being a fellow Texan, we don't think of ourselves as southern belles. We don't even have the same accent. So I kept thinking she was from Georgia or Alabama or Mississippi or something. Kept getting confused when it was mentioned that she is a Texan. But the story was great and I loved Ford. I think I loved the first book, Simply Irresistible,...more

like 6 likes · see review

Aug 24, 2012 Dija rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, awww, cotton-candy-fluff, cr, my-reviews, read-in-2012, second-chances, surprisingly-good

3.5/5 stars

The Sweetest Thing is fun and light without being frivolous or silly. I loved Ford and Tara because they were both messed-up enough to be just perfect, unlike the MCs in Simply Irresistible. I also enjoyed watching the romance between Mia and Carlos. Hope to see more of them in the upcoming books!

Now, onto the youngest sister~

like 6 likes · see review

Dec 02, 2011 Vidya-BooksAreMagic rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Romance readers

Shelves: based-on-good-reviews, series, contemporary-romance, family, favourite-romance

Excellent!

The Lucky Harbor's second book - "The Sweetest Thing" - is as sweet as its title. Its about Tara, the Steel Magnolia. Tara is very stubborn, bossy and caring at the same time. She keeps worrying about her sisters, her past and everything that's around her.

Tara's past mistakes never allows her to trust again. But everything changes when she meets Ford (**sighs**), the sexy and talented Lucky Harbor medal-winning sailor, who is the center of everything in her haunting past and for whom...more

like 4 likes · see review

Aug 23, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Julie by: Goodreads Book Club Buddies

Shelves: contemporary-romance, favorites

From the outside, it would appear that Tara Daniels has the perfect life. She is the epitomy of control and elegance. The oldest of three sisters, Tara is the one who always makes sound decisions, followed by direct action. No one would suspect all that Tara hides, even her two sisters. Upholding her image has never been a problem no matter what she feels on the inside. Until, she was forced to return to Lucky Harbor and the origin of all skeletons of her closet. Her biggest skeleton has decide...more From the outside, it would appear that Tara Daniels has the perfect life. She is the epitomy of control and elegance. The oldest of three sisters, Tara is the one who always makes sound decisions, followed by direct action. No one would suspect all that Tara hides, even her two sisters. Upholding her image has never been a problem no matter what she feels on the inside. Until, she was forced to return to Lucky Harbor and the origin of all skeletons of her closet. Her biggest skeleton has decided to haunt her days and nights. Ford is part of her past. A past she has made a life goal of sweeping under the rug. A past that has driven her to escape Lucky Harbor and never look back. However, now that she IS back and has shockingly decided to give Lucky Harbor another chance, Ford wants another chance as well. Just when Tara has found a future for her life that might be filled with enjoyment, success, and family, her deep, dark secrets beg for another chance too. Oh, and just for fun, stir in a little of the recently divorced "ex." Can she hold it all together? Will she make a decision which will make her happy this time around?
As the second book in the Lucky Harbor series, Jill Shalvis has produced another wonderfully sweet and funny read. Not only this, but she has written a book which delves into the psychology of family. So, too, does she wade into some of the most controversial and tragic issues faced by young men and women today who are faced with decisions and consequences of sexual relations. Such serious subjects, but done with such taste and in a way that is still so entertaining. I must say though that I rather preferred the heroine's character in this book compared to the first book while liking the hero in the first compared to this hero. Probably just my own personal preference since I can't really complain about anything too substantial. I just so enjoyed this read, and will recommend to any romance reader out there regardless of your specific subgenre preferences. Afterall, everyone deserves a smile now and then. :-)(less)

like 4 likes · see review

May 06, 2011 Carrie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary, humorous, read-2011, small-town, second-chances

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like 3 likes · see review

Dec 06, 2011 Guilty Pleasures rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, paperback, kindle-amazon, top-of-the-top-favorites

LOVED The Sweetest Thing. Thinking about moving to Lucky Harbor ;-)

This book is sweet, touching and FUNNY!!! Ford and Logan's interactions are hilarious.

I know the books are about the three sisters. BUT I am hoping there are more. I would love to see Logan get a story, I think he is a work in progress. I can actually see him ending up friends with the Lucky Harbor residents. I would love to see a story for Mia down the road.

I love the heat factor in Jill's books, lots of steam but with an actu...more

like 4 likes · see review

Apr 04, 2012 Marran rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-feel-good-books, favorites

awwww...I don´t know what to say so I just say aawww Ford ♥ oh hell aawwe ♥ to all of them

Over the years I´ve usually been reading mostly criminal and mystery novels and sometimes some dual time romance thats about it

BUT I decided to force myself to read something new so I´ve tried some YA books which I loved and some steaming erotica which got me all hot and bothered ;-) and then there is this kind of books the sweet and funny ones that makes me happy inside and Im so glad I told my self to rea...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Audrey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

Overall, a 3.5. This book was a good follow up to the first in the Lucky Harbor series, Simply Irresistible. I really liked the Steel Magnolia aka Tara. She was tough as nails, but it stemmed from a need to protect herself, which I could well understand. Tara and Ford have quite a history that stems back to when they were teenagers in love one magical summer in Lucky Harbor that ended in a bitter(sweet?) parting. They have rekindled their acquaintance...and flaming hot chemistry...now, seventeen...more

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 27, 2011 ~Megan~ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, small-town-lovin

Gosh I love this series! After finishing the epic Game of Thrones yesterday, I just needed something sweet and funny, and this book hit the spot.

Before this series, my previous Jill Shalvis experience was sorta blah, but I am really loving her style here. I like that she can make me cry and smile through my tears. I like that she can make me fall in love with the hero and the heroine. Mostly, I like that she can make me want to be the fourth sister and help them run the inn.

I really wasn't the...more

like 7 likes · see review

Jun 15, 2012 Quinn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

SQUEEE! I just won this one in the fabulous Lady Jayne's giveaway on her blog

Thank you soooo much, Jayne!

--------------------------------------------------------

4.5 stars

Jill Shalvis has cemented her place as my go-to author for contemporary romance!

Another wonderful entry in the most excellent Lucky Harbor series. Shalvis has a gift for writing. I was going somewhere with that sentence, but then I realised that it didn't need anything else.

She writes stories where the reader invests in the char...more

like 5 likes · see review

May 17, 2012 Stella rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, for-review, romance

The Sweetest Thing is the second book in Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series and Tara's, the eldest sister's story. Though I loved Simply Irresistible the first book in the series and added Jill Shalvis to my autobuy authors' list I wasn't looking forward to Tara's book that much since she wasn't a character I grew to love in the previous book. She remained one of those a bit irritating a bit annoying know-it-all stubborn busybody characters and I wasn't too excited to read a novel where she was t...more

like 1 like · see review

Nov 23, 2011 Jenny E rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: it-s-not-you-it-s-me, own-book-form, romance

*SIGH* I started a new "shelf" ... the "It's not you, it's me" shelf...for those books that I really *should've* liked and really didn't.

The first book in this series was perfection. I loved EVERY.SINGLE.PAGE. I knew that I could not possibly love the next book in the series as much, so I waited to read it, hoping that the perfection and glow of the first book would fade and I wouldn't be disappointed by the second... it didn't work. I was totally disappointed and bored and bleh. I just could n...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jul 06, 2011 Lady Valee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cont-romance, favorites

P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.

Oh wow, what an amazing read. I just can't believe I enjoyed a book in this genre this much, I mean, it has happened to me before but it has been so long that I had started to believe I may have rated some of my previous cont-romance books too high. But then a book like this one ended up on my hands and it got way too easy to understand how I could have a book in this genre as a fav of mine. Sigh, I remember it too clear now ... for a book in this genre to end up on my fav sh...more

like 9 likes · see review

Apr 07, 2011 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, review, read-in-2011

Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2011/03/29/...

Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: March 29, 2011
How I got this book: ARC from Mandi – Smexybooks

I just want to start by saying that Mandi from SmexyBooks is my blogging hero. She writes amazing reviews, is so fun to chat with, and always sends me fun books! When she offered to send me a preview of Ford, I jumped up and down, checked my mail twenty times a day, and gobbled it up the night it arrived. The second installment in th...more

like 5 likes · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, set-series, reviewed

I started reading The Sweetest Thing with two thoughts the first being something had happened between these two people being Tara and Ford for sure, and the second being I know how this is going to read. I was Correct on the first but I didn't expect what I found and was genuinely shocked, and second man was I wrong. You would think based on what the synopsis reads like on the back of the book that this was going to be a love competition between Ford and her ex-husband. Yet, Jill Shalvis's brill...more

like 1 like · see review

Jan 05, 2012 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, adult, with-review, amazing-romance, series, cont-romance, favorite-heroes, read-more-than-once, favorite-heroines, favorite-series, favorites, favs-rereads, cheer-me-up, family

You know that feeling when you start reading the second book in a series with high expectations because the first book was amazing but then you read it and the book's not as good as the first? I do and thankfully I didn't get that feeling with the second book in the 'Lucky Harbor' series. *happy dance*

'The Sweetest Thing' is the perfect continuation to 'Simply Irresistible'. You won't want to miss on this one. Tara and Ford are indeed the sweetest thing ever! And you get to know what's going on...more

like 1 like · see review

May 11, 2013 Ning rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jill Shalvis is now my favorite contemporary romance author. This book had me laughing, crying, and just overall sighing dreamily over Ford and the myriad other males of Lucky Harbor (cough Jax cough).

“Oh my dear,” Lucille said. “Every woman needs a man. Why even your momma – God rest her sould – used to say it was a shame you couldn’t buy sex on eBay.”

In the first book, the three sisters, Maddie, Tara, and Chloe came back to Lucky Harbor after their mother passed away. Tara is known as the S...more

like · see review

Dec 30, 2012 Booklover, Indianapolis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, read-in-2012

(Dec) 3.5* **Warning...Spoilery**

Not sure why I liked this, since there was so much about this book that annoyed me. But like the first in the series, it is immensely readable. I liked Tara better in this book, but she is still not a favorite of mine (and I still can't stand Chloe - she is so obnoxious and abrasive). JS does write some yummy heros though - both Jax and Ford (and guessing Sawyer will be too) are quite excellent!

Issues with this book include:

1) The whole town participating on Face...more (Dec) 3.5* **Warning...Spoilery**

Not sure why I liked this, since there was so much about this book that annoyed me. But like the first in the series, it is immensely readable. I liked Tara better in this book, but she is still not a favorite of mine (and I still can't stand Chloe - she is so obnoxious and abrasive). JS does write some yummy heros though - both Jax and Ford (and guessing Sawyer will be too) are quite excellent!

Issues with this book include:

1) The whole town participating on Facebook about Tara's love life is so awkward and embarrassing that I was angry over that!

2) The adoption storyline - I had a problem in the first book about Phoebe having found out the child needed surgery and gave the money, and then leaving the child all her money - it is reiterated in this book that it was a closed adoption and Tara said she had no way of finding the child - yet somehow Phoebe was able to - just makes no sense. More than that, though - I didn't like how Mia (who was a bit too snarky and smart mouthed for my taste) just shows up, seems pissed at Tara for giving her up (she was 17, it was the right decision) but not at Ford, then she gets pissed when Tara acts motherly, but then later calls them Mom and Dad (which I think is such an insult to the parents who are her parents, the ones who raised her from day one - hated too when Tara refers to Mia's parents as her "adoptive parents." Makes them seem like not her real parents, like they were just babysitters or place holders.). Also - Mia's known Carlos for all of two mintues and she's a)in bed with him and b) in love with him?!

3) Tara being upset that Ford 'just let her go' when they were 17. 17?!! What was he supposed to do? They were kids. SHE LEFT HIM (why is that ok but he was supposed to run after her?)!! Tara, for a 34 year old woman, was surprisingly immature.

4) There really was not much of a storyline here - Tara ignores Ford, then sleeps with him, then freaks out about that, then sleeps with him, etc. - there was a lot of sex and very little story.

But...but...but...I liked it anyway? Yup, I did. Not sure how that happened, but it did! And yes, I will read Chloe's story (maybe she'll be less grating?). (less)

like 2 likes · see review

Dec 04, 2012 Jacek rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, best-hero

4.5 stars
Great book, recommended.

I enjoyed this adult contemporary romance. A lot.
Things I loved:
1) Not too much explicit sex
2) No Christian Grey-like hero.
3) Smart and witty dialogue.
4) Fun primary and secondary characters.
5) Ford, a great hero (sexy, funny, easygoing, sweet, perfect, etc...).
6) Our heroine Tara's "anal retentive" and uptight personality. Most of the characters in the book were a bit crazy so it was good to have Tara being the responsible adult here. Although half of the...more

like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Blackraven's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Sweetest Thing is comprised of complex, sassy characters who will pull on your heartstrings; steamy, sensual love scenes that will make you swoon; genuine laughter that will brighten your day; and everlasting love that will definitely last a lifetime and then some. The situation and fears that Tara and Ford experience are realistic and I loved that Ms. Shalvis allowed the story to play out instead of rushing the characters into a direction they weren’t ready to take. The dialogue and witty b...more

like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Elodie Diebolt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Le tome 1 m’avait séduite, c’est donc tout naturellement que j’ai eu envie de lire la suite. La couverture est encore une fois magnifique et reflète bien le contenu du roman. La quatrième de couverture m’intriguait beaucoup puisque j’avais hâte d’apprendre à connaître un peu mieux la soeur aînée Tara et comprendre sa façon d’être ainsi que son caractère. Une fois encore l’auteure a su me séduire avec ce second tome!

Cette fois, il est question de Tara et nous allons apprendre les raisons de sa ps...more Le tome 1 m’avait séduite, c’est donc tout naturellement que j’ai eu envie de lire la suite. La couverture est encore une fois magnifique et reflète bien le contenu du roman. La quatrième de couverture m’intriguait beaucoup puisque j’avais hâte d’apprendre à connaître un peu mieux la soeur aînée Tara et comprendre sa façon d’être ainsi que son caractère. Une fois encore l’auteure a su me séduire avec ce second tome!

Cette fois, il est question de Tara et nous allons apprendre les raisons de sa psychorigidité, de sa froideur bref de sa façon d’être. L’intrigue tourne autour de sa relation passé avec Ford et de l’erreur qu’ils ont commise il y a 17 ans. On y retrouve évidemment Jax et Maddie toujours aussi amoureux et avec une surprise mais aussi Chloé toujours aussi déluré et exubérante!

Le personnage de Tara m’a beaucoup plu et touché. Sous des airs sévères et durs se cachent en fait une femme blessé et rongé par les regrets et les remords. L’erreur faite dans le passé la hante et la ronge toujours et elle ne veut absolument pas refaire la même bêtise. Elle veut tout contrôler et tout diriger pour ne pas perdre le contrôle de ses sentiments et de sa vie. Ford est quelqu’un de très touchant lui aussi qui gère ses regrets, sa douleurs et ses sentiments de façon totalement différente. Il vit sa vie au jour le jour, sans s’attacher ni se poser, il profite simplement de la vie. Mais sous ses airs insouciants se cache en réalité un homme tendre et rongé par les regrets lui aussi. Chloé et Maddie sont présente aux côtés de Tara et lui. Les trois soeurs sont de plus en plus soudées et proches pour mon plus grand plaisir!! Chaque personnage dispose d’un je ne sais quoi qui les rend tous plus attachant les uns que les autres!

Si le premier tome m’avait touché et fait sourire, celui-ci est encore meilleur! J’ai sourie, rie et même versé des larmes! La plume de l’auteure nous embarque dans son histoire dès les premières pages et donne vie à ses personnages de manières à ce qu’on ai presque l’impression de les connaître depuis toujours! Le style d’écriture est vraiment très fluide et agréable à lire, les pages se tournent très vite! L’histoire est très intéressante et reste toujours très crédible, ne tombe pas dans la guimauve ou encore dans les clichés. J’ai été très touché et les personnages sont réellement très attachants, on ressent énormément de choses pour et avec eux. Jill Shalvis a vraiment la faculté de nous tenir en haleine tout au long du récit et de nous séduire avec ses romances sans que jamais l’on se lasse! Au contraire, cette saga devient une véritable addiction et je n’ai qu’une hâte; lire la suite pour retrouver Chloé!

Pour conclure, j’ai passé un merveilleux moment de lecture avec cette saga coup de coeur que je vous recommande vivement!! Vous cherchez des livres à emporter en vacances? Ne cherchez plus, vous l’avez trouvé!! A lire absolument!!(less)

like · see review

Jun 28, 2012 Katrina Passick Lumsden rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had higher hopes for these books. I've been debating what to write for reviews for the three I've read so far, and honestly, I think I can probably use the same review for each one. Because here's the story in a nutshell:

Girl inherits dilapidated inn, is reunited with her two half-sisters, meets a guy, can't control her raging hormones, has copious amounts of sex with said guy, resists a relationship because she's an infuriatingly simple-minded moron with the emotional maturity of a toilet bru...more

like 4 likes · see review

May 29, 2012 Jen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: yawn-snore

So I didn't read the first book in this series but I'd read somewhere that TST could work as a stand alone so I didn't think it would be a problem. Nope. The book jumps right into (seriously, page FIVE) Ford sexily swaggering towards Tara all predatory and junk: "I'm comin' for you girl!"
Me: Wait, who are these people again?
Tara's body reacts, of course, but then just in case you didn't get how hot this guy is, "Half of the people in Lucky Harbor were in love with him." Lucky Harbor, indeed. A...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Romance Lovers fo...: The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2) by Jill Shalvis, start date November 3	95	43	Nov 07, 2012 01:26pm

combine
Other Editions (7)

More editions...

Genres

Romance > Contemporary Romance

258 users

Contemporary

144 users

Romance

90 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

71 users

Adult

29 users

Humor

15 users

Family

13 users

Humor > Funny

9 users

Food And Drink > Food

4 users

Childrens

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jill Shalvis

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras with her family and far too many assorted quirky animals. Any resemblance to the quirky animals in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website at www.jillshalvis.com for a completely booklist and daily blog detailing her ci...more

More about Jill Shalvis...

Books by Jill Shalvis

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Sweetest Thing

7 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Sweetest Thing

“Never do anything that you don’t want to have to explain to 9-1-1 personnel.” — 59 people liked it

“It’s frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.” — 38 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Sweetest Thing
avg rating	preview: The Sweetest Thing Goodreads rating: 4.14 (6923 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9275067-the-sweetest-thing?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323268445l/9275067.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9275067-the-sweetest-thing?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis[/url]

The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor #2)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website