Review: It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis

It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, Book 7
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 28, 2013
ISBN: 9781455521128
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Jill Shalvis Reading Order

There’s bad luck and then there’s the kind of luck Ali Winters has been having. In just one day she finds out her boyfriend’s been cheating on her, she’s about to be kicked out of her home, and almost the entire town thinks she’s stolen fifty thousand dollars. Ali’s at her wit’s end and has no idea how to go about either clearing her name or finding a new place to live. She gets the surprise of her life when she receives a helping hand from a sexy San Francisco police officer.

Detective Lieutenant Luke Hanover has come to Lucky Harbor for some peace and quiet in the wake of a tragedy. What he finds is a gorgeous B&E perp in the middle of his kitchen. Luke doesn’t want a houseguest, but there’s just something about Ali he can’t resist. And even though he’s on vacation from the force, he soon finds himself neck-deep in Ali’s case. Luke only plans on staying in Lucky Harbor for three weeks, but the longer he’s around Ali, the stronger the pull to stay becomes.

The Lucky Harbor series is pure magic! With every book I know that Jill Shalvis is going to make me smile, even before I crack open the cover. It Had to Be You is no exception; it’s a wildly entertaining story filled with characters I adored and a romance that hits all the right notes.

Ali’s a bright, cheerful heroine anyone would love to have as a friend, which makes her a fabulous heroine. She’s had a string of bad luck and I spent much of It Had to Be You hoping she’d catch a break. Luke hasn’t had it easy either. He’s a man who needs to make peace with his past in order to have the future he deserves. As a pair, Luke and Ali are dynamic and the sparks they strike off one another are red-hot and lots of fun.

It Had to Be You is the seventh book in the Lucky Harbor series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. A few past heroes and heroines appear in the story, most notably Sheriff Sawyer Thompson of Head Over Heels. The Lucky Harbor series has primarily been groups of trilogies and It Had to Be You kicks off the newest trio of romances. While Luke and Ali are the heart of It Had to Be You, their best friends Jack and Leah did steal a few scenes and have me on the edge of my seat as I wait for the next Lucky Harbor book, Always On My Mind.

Ms. Shalvis has created something truly special with her Lucky Harbor series and It Had to Be You showcases exactly why I find these books irresistible. It Had to Be You is warm, funny, and quite simply a joy to read.