Review: Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, Book 6
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 31, 2012
ISBN: 9781455503698
Blue Ribbon Rating: 5 out of 5
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It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single doctor in possession of a five-year-old son, a potentially evil pug, a belligerent younger sister and the schedule from Hell must be in want of a wife. Okay, perhaps not, but Dr. Josh Scott is in need of a dog walker for his son’s rambunctious puppy. A misdial of the phone lands Grace Brooks — a brainy, out-of-work beauty new to Lucky Harbor — the job. And when Josh’s nanny quits without notice, Grace takes over babysitting his son as well. For Josh, who runs his father’s medical practice as well as working in the local ER and volunteering at the town’s new clinic, having someone dependable to help out should make his life run more smoothly. Instead, being around Grace turns Josh’s world upside down. Grace isn’t going to be in Lucky Harbor much longer, but she makes Josh want things he knows he shouldn’t yearn for, not with so many people depending on him. However, each day together brings Josh and Grace closer and soon it’s impossible for them to resist their mutual attraction. Neither Grace nor Josh is looking for a forever kind of love, but is it possible they’ve found it nonetheless?

Author Jill Shalvis has made it nearly impossible to pick favorites among her LUCKY HARBOR books – every single story in this series is fantastically entertaining. That being said, FOREVER AND A DAY definitely ranks up there as one of my favorites in this fabulous series! The chemistry between Grace and Josh is off-the-charts hot, and man, does Ms. Shalvis make the most of the sexual tension between them. Yet while I enjoy the sensuality of FOREVER AND A DAY, it’s the love story interwoven with that heat which truly makes the book memorable.

Josh is a sexy as hell doctor; one who is swiftly being buried alive by his numerous responsibilities. It’s easy to see why Grace falls for him. Besides his drool-worthy good looks, Josh gives all of himself to everybody. He has a generous heart and though that’s a good thing, he’s given so much of his away that he has little left for his family and none for himself. He needs to let go and accept help in carrying the load so that he can truly live and love as he and his family deserve. Grace is his perfect match. She’s a hard worker who has spent her life trying to please her adoptive parents by being as brilliant and successful as she can possibly be. Losing her job and winding up in Lucky Harbor is the best thing that could have happened to Grace. It’s a joy watching her find herself in FOREVER AND A DAY, for she truly discovers what it is she loves to do. One of the delights of FOREVER AND A DAY is seeing Grace and Josh fully come into their own when they stop living their lives for others and start living it for themselves and their loved ones. And speaking of loved ones, Josh’s family is every bit as important to FOREVER AND A DAY as Grace and Josh are. Josh’s son Toby is too cute for words and even his pug Tank will grow on you. As for Josh’s bitter, paralyzed sister, Anna, the young woman starts off a bit abrasive but grows up enough over the course of the book that I’m hoping Ms. Shalvis plans on giving Anna her own book one day.

FOREVER AND A DAY is the sixth LUCKY HARBOR book, but it can be read as a standalone. Of course, Grace’s fellow Chocoholics and Josh’s best friends — Mallory and Ty from LUCKY IN LOVE and Amy and Matt from AT LAST — help these two along on their road to happily ever after. As does everybody’s favorite town gossip, Lucille. Fans of the LUCKY HARBOR series will undoubtedly be entertained revisiting these characters and, of course, there are a couple of cameos made by the heroes and heroines of the first three LUCKY HARBOR books, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, THE SWEETEST THING and HEAD OVER HEELS.

The LUCKY HARBOR books are sweet, funny and utterly addictive, and FOREVER AND A DAY is no exception. Grace and Josh’s romance will make you smile and want to re-read FOREVER AND A DAY over and over again. I absolutely loved FOREVER AND A DAY and I sincerely hope that this book does not mark the end of the LUCKY HARBOR series, for Ms. Shalvis has created a town so filled with warmth and welcome that I never want to leave it!


Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here with permission from Romance Junkies.