Susan's Review of The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis--Sunrise Cove #5

Review of The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming story about the choices we make and the love we let into our lives.

Luna Wright is a lot of things, but sweet and trusting isn’t on the list. However, she’s a sucker for the underdog and a hard-luck story. Adopted at birth, with scant knowledge of her biological family, she’s created her own inner circle, a motley crew which includes her bestie Willow, to help her run the struggling but charming Apple Ridge Farm. 

With a farm-to-table café as well as a menagerie of rescued animals (complete with a baby goat who keeps escaping to the pantry to eat the secret stash of decidedly not organic potato chips), it’s the best home she’s ever known. But when the owner Silas, who they secretly call The Grinch, passes away, Luna discovers the farm is now under control of his investment manager, the enigmatic Jameson Hayes….and her. And that Silas had many, many secrets. 

Now Luna’s carefully controlled corner of the world is threatened and she—along with some help from her friends—has to dig deep to find true strength and the real meaning of love and family.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis. The novel is filled with quirky characters, a barn full of rescue animals, family secrets and the perfect slow burn romance!

The meet cute between Luna Wright and Suit aka Jameson Hayes wowed me—great banter mixed with lots of humor! Suit charmed Luna and their chemistry sizzled as they shared Hawaiian margaritas and sliders at the local bar.

Luna is surprised to discover that investment manager Jameson has been hired by Silas, the farm’s late owner, to work with her in an effort to get Apple Ridge Farm solvent. Luna is shocked to discover that Silas had many secrets—both personal and financial—and these secrets affected the farm and herself.

Although she might not be a numbers person, Luna understands how the farm runs, her community and her family members who are dedicated to preserving the farm. Jameson ditches his expensive suits for jeans and flannels and sets up an office—to work through piles of paperwork scattered all over Luna’s office. I loved that he understood that Apple Ridge was a working farm but, most importantly it was Luna’s home and the home to her family, friends and the rescue animals.

Luna and Jameson have issues to resolve. Jill Shalvis writes this piece of the couple’s journey with compassion, humor and adds the perfect amount of romance. I adored the romance between the couple, their conversations and late night meals. Loved that Jameson became a part of the Apple Ridge community and that Luna’s family of friends embraced him.

The Bright Spot is filled with fabulous secondary characters; Willow &Shayne, Stella, Chef, Milo and Ziggy the scene stealing goat AND had a entertaining secondary romance!

The Bright Spot is has all of the story elements that I adore: complex family relationships, fabulous secondary characters and a swoon worthy, feel good romance. Fans of Kristan Higgins, Robyn Carr and RaeAnne Thayne will adore this fantastic novel!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE BRIGHT SPOT, is out now, and THE SUMMER ESCAPE comes out in June!

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:

http://instagram.com/jillshalvis

http://facebook.com/JillShalvis

http://twitter.com/jillshalvis

The Good Luck Sister by Jill Shalvis - Audio review

The Good Luck Sister

by Jill Shalvis

☆☆☆☆☆

 

Dylan was the kid no one had any hope for.

Everyone knew he was nothing but trouble.

Including his father of, course.

Except Tilly Adams.

She knew. She was sure he had it in him.

To do anything great. She was his rock.

But then, he had to go.

 Tilly had never gotten over it really.

The way he just bailed.

But now he is back.

He has done great things.

He wants to have Tilly back in his life.

 

But what does she want??

She has questions. And all of their history.

Can she get past it all? Does she want to

take the chance??

 It's Karen White doing the narration.

She has done a lot of Jill Shalvis books.

Karen always does a good job!

 

Review by Lisa Hutson 



Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis - Audible Version

Nobody But You

by Jill Shalvis

☆☆☆☆☆

Audible Version

 

Jacob Kincaid has found his way back home. It has taken a long

 time. But sometimes, these things do. He did the right thing with

his mom. Keeping up with her. But he did not with the rest of

his family. And they are not one bit happy about that.

 

Sophie is free. And boy did her freedom have a high cost.

But of course, stubbornness added to that cost. Sophie has

decided to stick with it anyway. No matter what the cost.

Both Sophie and Jacob are in highly stressful times.

Their lives are in need of some direction.

There is a saying....

Every person comes into your life for a reason.

Either for you to learn something from them.

Or for them to learn something from you.

That is ever so true for both Jacob and Sophie.

They both manage to help the other to figure it all out.

So in the end, Sophie is happier. So is Jacob.

Now what? Do they go on their separate ways now?

After all, Jacob has to finish his time with the military.

Sophie is just beginning to find some peace.

Would it be possible for them to make a life together?

Jill Shalvis is one of the queens of fun romantic writing.
It is a true love story. I saw a review in which someone

recommended speeding up the listening time to 1.25.

That might have been just what was needed to make

the listening just right. But all in all, it was a good listen.

 

I got this copy from my library.

Review by Lisa Hutson





Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis - Audio version

Rainy Day Friends

by Jill Shalvis

☆☆☆☆☆

And now we have another Jill Shalvis story.

Because I have never had a moment in one

of her stories, that I even considered sitting it

aside. There are very few writers I can say that

about. There are always tears and laughs. Always

real life challenges. Along with real life feelings.

 Rainy Day Friends is filled with the Capriotti family.

If your life is lucky at all, you have surely come across

a family like this. People that are generous and nosy

and loving and hard working and dependable. They

will share anything with anybody. They hold no

judgment to anyone.

This is where Lanie and River find themselves landing

while in the middle of the worst moments of their lives.

Of course it couldn't be a better place to land. 

River is pregnant and so very alone. She is young and

used to living in a car. Lanie is a young widow and she

has been granted surprise after surprise since her

husbands passing. Strangely, the two of them find

themselves connected. In so many ways. 

Jill Shalvis can write a story, people and places that

burrow right into your heart. Into your real life. You

might find yourself looking out your front door to see

if the world outside has changed. Karen White is the

narrator for a lot of Jill Shalvis books. She does

a nice job. I hope you will enjoy Rainy Day Friends.

 

I borrowed this audio book from my library.

Review by Lisa Hutson

 



Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis

Holiday Wishes

by Jill Shalvis

☆☆☆☆☆

It's Christmas time in Heartbreaker Bay.

Lotti Hartford. Yes, that Lotti Hartford.

The one from way back when. When

Sean O'Riley was a pitiful punk. He did

not know how to handle life, love or

least of all, a woman. It was so long ago.

When no one knows what the future holds.

And a broken heart feels like it might as

well be the end of life.

Sean wants to know, is it possible to

get a do over? Another chance?

Will Lotti be able to try?

Holiday Wishes is another sweet, fun

roller coaster of a love story by Jill Shalvis.

You can always count on some laughs and

a happy ending.

Review by Lisa Hutson 



lost and found sisters by Jill Shalvis

lost and found sisters

by Jill Shalvis

 

Wildstone - Book One

 

I have been a big fan of Jill Shalvis for a long time.

I expect certain things from her stories. Much of

which is delivered in lost and found sisters.

Then there is new stuff. The lead character,

Quinn Weller, has a much deeper background

that comes to light in this story. There are the 

chuckles that you look forward to with Jill Shalvis.
There are always fun towns, interesting atmospheres
 and great side characters. But I felt like this story was much

deeper and even has a darker side.

The secrets just kept on coming. The whole story 

was a wonderful surprise. I don't know what

is coming up next in this series. But I do know I am

looking forward to it.

 

I can't explain the title without exposing spoilers.

I believe it will be a much more enjoyable and

interesting read with as little as possible

advance information. I will say this much,

Quinn is a chef in a fancy restaurant

in LA but she cant make a pancake.

And the folks in Wildstone, they dig their

pancakes. With chocolate chips.

 

 "So you're saying you don't feel excited or aroused, Ever."

Well, she hadn't. Until yesterday when she'd reacted to his

leanly muscled build like she'd never seen a man before.

And at the thought, she squirmed again.

"Quinn." He ran a work-roughened finger along the palm of

her hand and she got a full-body shiver. "Do you feel that?"

"Um," she said eloquently.

His eyes held her prisoner while her pulse raced and butter-

flies danced in her belly and at that realization, her palms went

sweaty. She thought about lying but knew she couldn't sell it, not

with how closely he was watching her, seeing her. "Okay, so I feel

something," she managed.

"I think maybe you just switched me back on."

 

My oh my my my, you need to meet Mick. He is a

successful business man that has no interest in being

in Wildstone. No interest at all. But there he is.

Fabulous romance. The story continues to expand

all the way through. Terrific ending. But I sure

am looking forward to the next one.

 

I got this copy from my library.

Review by Lisa Hutson

All I Want by Jill Shalvis - audio version

All I Want

by Jill Shalvis

Audio Version

 

All I Want is book 7 of the Animal Magnetism series.

I could make this shortest review ever.

You simply cannot go wrong with a Jill Shalvis story.

There, that's it. No, seriously, her characters are always

fun and easy to read. They are real with flaws and

issues. In this story, Zoe is a pilot. Yes, not

necessarily someone you run into every day.

But she is also an animal lover. She is not afraid

of flying a plane. But she is afraid of trusting

anyone outside her very tiny circle.
Parker is a tough, bossy, determined, good looking

man. He is not afraid of being run over by a truck.

Or having a gun pointed straight at him. But he is

 afraid that his little sister, Amery, will get lost or hurt.

Parker is also afraid that Amery won't have the

fullest life possible. He is afraid that Zoe won't want

him as much as he wants her. 

Which all makes them the perfect couple of course.

 

 

The narration is terrific. Karen White has done a

number of Jills stories. She has a distinct voice.

And fits the stories and characters very well.All I Want is a fun, romantic read.  

 

When you put it all together, it makes a wonderful

audio story. I hope you will give it a try and

enjoy it as much as I did.

 

I bought my audio copy from Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson





The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis

The Trouble with Mistletoe

by Jill Shalvis

 

 

"I certainly didn't plan for an escape clause when I fell

in love with you."
She stilled and stared up at him.

"Wait. What?"

Jesus, had he really just said that?

Just opened a vein here when she had
one foot out the door.

"Keane?"

Yep, he'd said it. Later, he'd think it was like getting

a brain freeze after gulping down a slurpee too fast.

There was nothing but the burn for a long beat as

his mind went into a free fall.

He loved her.

 

 

Keane Winters found himself in charge of a cat.
Petunia. A cat that he could not handle. He heard of

Southpark. A pet shop that he hoped would pet sit

for him. He knocked on the door before the store

even opened. Holding a pink bedazzled pet carrier.

 

Willa Davis recognized Keane Winters immediately.

And he did not recognize her. At all.

If he weren't holding an animal that she was

guessing needed something, she would have turned

and walked away. But Willa couldn't do that to

whatever was inside the carrier.

 

This was the moment. The moment when lives change.

 

 

Jill Shalvis is a wonderful writer. Her stories always

hit you right there. Right where it counts.

And this new story from the Heartbreaker Bay

series does just that. It will hit you right in the

heart and the funny bone.

 

 

I bought my copy from Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson

 



One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis

One Snowy Night

by Jill Shalvis

 

Oh gosh golly gee, its that time of year

again!! Reading Christmas stories. Though

I do it through the rest of the year as well.
Jill Shalvis is a very popular contemporary

romance writer. Because she is terrific.

Her stories always have at least a bit of

comedy. Regular people are reading these

stories after all. We all put off getting

the battery in the car changed. We all make

mistakes and wind up in odd situations.

And we all love reading about people that

do the same silly things we all do.

Then fall in head over heels in love.

 

'He hadn't so much as blinked as she basically

yelled at him but she thought maybe

there was a the slightest softening in his hard

eyes. "Okay," he said.

"Okay." She let out a breath and nodded. "Good."

"You ready to go inside now or do you need 

to yell at me some more?" he asked.

She choked out a laugh and 

got out of the truck.'
 

Max and Rory have known each other forever.

Only misunderstandings got in the way.

Now that they find themselves in a car

traveling through a terrible snow storm, can

they sort it all out? Can they leave the past

in the past and grab hold of each other?
Can they sort out the hurt and

misunderstandings?

 

One Snowy Night is a fun romantic story.

It can remind us how easy it is to let the

wrong things matter. We all can sometimes

make things worse in our memory than they

really were.  Forgiveness and the

benefit of doubt can sooth so many hurts.

 

I bought my copy from Amazon.

Review by Lisa Hutson 

 

 





Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis - Audio version

Sweet Little Lies

By Jill Shalvis

Audio Version

 

Sweet Little Lies is a deep emotional story.
What is that old saying....
No good deed goes unpunished.

 

Pru is learning this all too well.
Finn is the latest one to prove it to her.
He isn't at all happy about it.

 

Even her dog, Thor, likes him. And Thor

hates men. So Finn must be a good guy.
All Pru wants for him is to know that

he is happy. That he finds true love and

a good life.
What Pru doesn't know is that all her worry

for him is unnecessary. His life has been

a good one. Better even because of the

particular event that has worried her.

 

 

Jill Shalvis has started another series fantastically.

Sweet Little Lies is the perfect title for this book. 

The characters are great. I cant wait to read more

stories from this group of friends and the others

from the town. Jill Shalvis never fails. Her stories

are always funny, real life and heartwarming.
Karen White does the narration. She has done 

many of the Shalvis stories and always does a 

great job. She is easy to listen to. 

 

I bought my audio copy at Audible.com

Review by Lisa Hutson



Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis - Audio version

Animal Magnetism
Audio Version

by Jill Shalvis

Book One of the Animal Magnetism series.

Released June, 2013.

This is the book where we were introduced to

Sunshine, Idaho. It's a wonderful series. But as

with most Jill Shalvis series books, they can be

read as stand alone stories.

Lilah Young is a tough, determined, stubborn,

animal lover. People lover too. But the well being

of the animals in Sunshine is her passion. Often

times, very passionate people drive themselves too

hard. Spread their time and feelings too thin.

Brady Miller has connections to Sunshine, Idaho.

But he has been hiding out from them for a while.
When he finds himself spending a limited amount of

time in Sunshine, reconnecting with his oldest friends,

he gets up close with Lilah. When she rams into him

on the road. With her car. That happens to filled with

a variety of animals.

This is a story of self discovery. The two of them fight it,

they fight their connection. So how do two very stubborn,

determined people stop holding back? The only way they

have to protect themselves is to keep their hearts well guarded.
Are they brave enough to let the guard down, for just

a minute?

Karen White is the narrator. She does a lot of Jill Shalvis'

books. And she does a terrific job. She is fun and easy

to listen to. I always enjoy her work.

Review by Lisa Hutson

I bought my copy from Audible.com  





Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis- Audio Version

Second Chance Summer

by Jill Shalvis

Cedar Ridge, Book 1

Audio Version

Lily Danville is a hot mess. Her professional life is

a disaster at the moment. She struggles every day

dealing with the loss of her sister and her father.

 Now she has been let go from her job.
She is being pulled to a new job. Tugged kicking and

fighting to her hometown for this job. That she knows

she needs. She knows it. But it doesn't really help

knowing that. It doesn't help when she pulls into town

with almost no money and right off the bat comes

face to face with the guy that her sister had feelings for.

The same guy Lily has been crushing on forever.

Aidan Kincaid is a rescue worker & firefighter. He comes

with a hodge podge family of tough determined people.

They love each other no matter what.
Funny thing is, Aidan has been crushing on Lily forever.

Neither of them knows the other is feeling it.  

Aidan's mother is just as tough as the rest and she wont

let them forget it. She wont let any of them forget

that life is to be lived. Full out, head on. She is nothing

if not determined to get herself some grandchildren.

And so, she is a very busy woman.

It's Jill Shalvis, so you know you are in for lots of feels.

Some laughs. And some great images in your

imagination. I always like a Shalvis story. Even when

they aren't her best, they are always good. That is not true

for very many authors.  

Karen White is the narrator. She has done a lot of Jill's stories.

Review by Lisa Hutson

I bought my audio copy from

Audible.com





Rumor Has It by Jill Shalvis- Audio Version

Rumor Has It
by Jill Shalvis

Audio Version

Ryan looked at her for a long moment.

There was a lot in his gaze.

Affection. A touching amount of concern.

And then, wariness.

Just then, Kate felt a change in her force field.

She didn't have to turn around to know who had come

up behind her and now stood at her back. It was utterly

unnecessary because her happy nipples told her exactly who it was.

She couldn't speak. Not when she realized that she was standing

between the only two men she'd ever slept with.

  

Jill Shalvis reading is always a pleasure. Romance. Sweet,

unpredictable, classic romance. Comedy. Great family and

friends. The towns and characters are so real.

This story is Book 4 in the Animal Magnetism series.

The town, Sunshine, Idaho.

Ryan has recently left the military. Not because he

wanted to. He has been a service member all his adult life.

Ryan is struggling to settle into civilian life.

So he came back to his home town, Sunshine. With no intention of staying.

Ryan just wanted to recover from the military.

Kate has never been out of the state. And she has no intention of leaving.

She is brilliant and a world class multi tasker. She has a younger brother and sister.

Kate is raising them. Raising them, along with their father.

 Life has been a struggle for him.

So Kate has kept things running and the kids taken care of.

Kate has the opportunity of a lifetime. And its about to expire.

In order to answer that opportunity, she has to leave Sunshine.

They are terrific characters with real problems. Just like we all have.

And they fall in love. But how do you work around big problems,

once in a lifetime opportunities, migraines and super heroes??
Anything can happen in Sunshine.

Karen White does the narration in Rumor Has It. She also did

Then Came You by Jill Shalvis. In fact, that was what made me

click ''buy''. Karen does a terrific job with the humor and the

hot & sexy scenes as well.

If you have ever thought you might like to try an audio book,

this might be the one for you. Its about 9 1/2 hours long. And as

of right now, it is on sale.

Its a wonderful story. Full of romance and some laughs.

I enjoyed it very much. And would highly recommend it.

 Review by Lisa Hutson





Then Came You - Audio version review

Then Came You

by Jill Shalvis

Audio version

"We are strangers," she said.

"Yeah. Strangers who know what

each others O-face looks like-"

She covered his mouth but it was too late.

And great, now she was sweating again.

Typical, perfect Jill Shalvis.

Wyatt & Emily. Great character driven

romance reading. If you have read Jill before,

you know what I mean. If you have not and ever

wanted to, this is a perfect starting point.

Jill has a way of getting you to feel every emotion

in her writing. You will laugh. Not just a little but often.

You will cry, in sadness and happiness. She brings it all

about. There is always sizzling physical heat.

Emily and Wyatt work at the animal hospital,
in Sunshine, Idaho. The two of them have an
interesting fleeting past. Now, they are going
to be together in their work.
The attraction that drew them together
in the past is as strong as ever.  

Emily simply cannot help herself.

 And Wyatt does not let her forget it.
Of course, he can't help himself either.

He just hides it better than she can.

I believe you can easily enjoy this series out

of order. This story does well as a stand alone.
Karen White does the narration. She has a sort
of jerky kind of speech pattern. Some times more
noticeable than others throughout the story.
But it did not ruin the story for me.

Lessons learned from this story.
One night stands are not always only one night.

 Do not use bar napkins as stationery.  

Review by Lisa Hutson