Review -- Forever and a Day

Forever and a Day

Lucky Harbor—Book 6

By Jill Shalvis

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Since I discovered Jill Shalvis’s books back in 2010 with Slow Heat and her RITA award winning Simply Irresistible, she has quickly become one of my go-to authors of contemporary romance. Her writing is smart, fun, and sexy, and her books never fail to leave a smile on my face long after I’ve closed the last page. J 

Forever and a Day is the sixth book in Shalvis’s popular Lucky Harbor series and the third book featuring three ladies—Mallory, Amy, and Grace—who call themselves the Chocoholics. In the beginning of the first book (Lucky in Love, ER nurse Mallory’s story), the trio are trapped in the local diner (where Amy works) during a freak snowstorm and bond over chocolate cake. Mallory is a life-long resident of Lucky Harbor, while Amy came there within the past year. Grace Brooks, however, had only arrived that very day. She was from New York and came to Seattle for an illustrious banking job that didn’t work out...especially after she discovered that the job included performing special favors for her boss. She left Seattle and drove as far as the gas lasted in her car, which landed her in Lucky Harbor. Because of the fast friendship she made with Mallory and Amy that eventful night, Grace decided to stay long enough to put in résumés in Seattle and Portland. While waiting to hear back, she gets offered a dog-walking job for ER doctor Josh Scott. Hilarity ensues after she arrives to walk the little “monster”. It is one of the funniest beginnings I’ve ever read! When Josh’s five year old son’s nanny moves earlier than expected, he offers the position temporarily to Grace as he knows she needs the money and gets along well with Toby. Grace agrees and during the brief stint, she will help him find a permanent replacement.  

Dr. Josh Scott is relieved when Grace takes the position. He quickly finds the beautiful blond hard to resist, despite her tendency for throwing a wrench in his busy life...or maybe because of it. She gets along well with Toby, but has a slightly harder time with Josh’s twenty-one year old sister, Anna, a highly functioning paraplegic. Anna has lived with Josh since the accident that took their parents and landed her in a wheelchair. She has had a bitter attitude since then and oftentimes feels like the world is against her. Not only is Josh sensing pressure at home, but he feels it at work as he is overworked trying to keep his father’s practice thriving. The hospital has offered to buy the practice several times which would give Josh a break as they would bring in another doctor. Nevertheless, Josh refuses out of a sense of loyalty to his late father; despite the fact that he prefers the fast-paced energy of the ER. Ever the workaholic, Josh is always taking care of everyone else. But who will take care of him? 

As you can guess, I loved this story! Grace was an interesting character as she is the adopted daughter of a rocket scientist and a research biologist and felt like she had a lot to live up to. Achieve, and achieve high! is her parents’ motto and Grace doesn’t want to let them down. And speaking of her parents, a comical phone conversation involving Grace, her mother, and Josh is a memorable scene that had me laughing out loud! It was like something straight out of I Love Lucy. Grace’s harried responses and Josh’s dry humor is spot-on. I love the relationship Grace shares with Mallory and Amy. Even though she hasn’t known them long, her friends have been a constant source of comfort for someone who hasn’t really experienced that emotion before. Their connection was extremely well-written.  

And Josh. Sigh. Josh is a character that made his appearance in the previous books and has had me anxious for his story. I knew he would be a sexy hero and I was right. I find a hero who is constantly taking care of others extremely sexy. And he couldn’t help being drawn to the sweet, caring Grace. 

He sped up while mentally thumbing through the contacts on his phone, slowing at Grace’s name. 

Stopping. 

Moving on. 

Backing up. 

Don’t do it, man. She was smart as hell but she was also a really, really bad dog walker. No way should he burden her with his kid too. Except she’d already handled Toby yesterday for an hour, and everyone had lived to tell the tale. 

She’d come through for him, twice now. Which really begged the question—exactly who was helping who here? 

The truth was, she’d already proven more reliable than half the people in his life. And damn if there wasn’t something in her eyes that pulled him in like the tide, something extremely unforgettable. He knew she was a little lost, searching for something. He had no idea what but he wanted to help. Which was a very bad idea. He needed another person on his plate like he needed a hole in his head, but he couldn’t turn back now. He was drawn to her. 

Josh truly understands Grace and this little snippet shows just how well he reads her: 

“I love your sundresses,” he said against her mouth. “You always look so cool and calm, except for your eyes. Your eyes show it all.”

“My panic?” 

“Your passion”, he breathed. “For everything.” 

Is it any wonder why I love Josh?  Several past characters make an appearance and add flavor and charm to what is one of my very favorite series of all-time—Lucky Harbor. If you haven’t read these books and are a fan of small-town romances, I highly recommend that you do! Jill Shalvis is an author not to be missed!

~Andrea