The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis – a Review

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Description:
What makes life sweet?
When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery. With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since…well, forever.. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets… When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.

Review:

The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis is the 4^th book in her wonderful Sunrise Cove series. Though this is a continuation of the Sunrise Cove series, all four of these books read as standalones. I have noted many times that I love reading any book by Jill Shalvis, as they are always wonderful pure romances

We meet Harper Shaw, our heroine, who wants to start a new life, driving to Sunshine Cove (near Lake Tahoe), where she remembers how much she loved the town when she was a young girl. She plans to open her own bakery, Sugar Pine Bakery, which she is renting, in between a tavern and a book store. Harper is travelling to Sunrise Cove with her 125 lb Bermese dog, Hambone (Ham), and when she loses control of her car, a man shows up to help her; she is defensive, not trusting a stranger, and says she will take care of it herself; her dog is no help, falling all over the handsome stranger.  When Harper arrives, she needs to get the keys for her new place, which has an apartment above the bakery; and to her shock, she goes to the tavern and the man who tried to help her, is the owner of the tavern. 

Bodie Campbell, our hero, returned home to Sunrise Cove, 6 months ago, slowly recovering from wounds at his last job, ATF. Bodie, who runs the bar, gets a kick out of Harper, and finds himself attracted to her, especially her upbeat wonderful personality.  Bodie and his brothers try to help paint and fix up her place, since she came a bit early.  The first night she spends in her apartment, she hears a noise and finds Ivy, a teenage runaway, before the girl could run away, Harper convinces Ivy to stay overnight. The next day, Harper takes Ivy under her wing, to stay in her second room, and also get her to help fix up the place, and teach her how to bake.

Bodie’s family was amazing, and lots of fun and banter along the way; his mother and brothers, including their significant others, bring so much humor. The Campbell family meetings and texts were fun, they were all close and loyal to each other.  Great family.

A slow build romance between Bodie and Harper begins, with wonderful chemistry that sizzles.  I also loved Harper’s dog, Hambone, who loved everyone. Ivy was another great character, who was keeping a secret. It was wonderful meeting all the great characters, finding love, family and second chances.

What follows is an excellent, heartwarming story revolving around family, friends, secrets, love and surprises from the past. The Sweetheart List was so very well written by Jill Shalvis. It had a bit of everything, including wonderful characters, emotional, romance and banter.  I recommend you read The Sweetheart List, as you can never go wrong reading anything by Jill Shalvis.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided  by Publisher