It’s in His Kiss

This is the first book in the final trilogy of Lucky Harbor books, and I am going to miss the whole crew. In this book, Becca is a newcomer to Lucky Harbor. In need of a change in her life, she packed up everything and drove until she stopped in Lucky Harbor. She'd always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean, and finally doing so soothes her soul. Something that isn't so soothing, but is equally intriguing, is the sexy surfer she meets on the beach. Between the two she decides to stay in Lucky Harbor for awhile and see where it takes her.

Sam is co-owner of Lucky Harbor Charters, a business he owns with his two best friends. He's the money guy in the business, with a knack for increasing their income. The cute and sexy brunette he meets on show more the beach is a complication he doesn't need in his life, but he can't seem to stay away from her.

I loved Becca. She's smart and feisty and determined to get her life back. She grew up as part of a very musical family and is talented on the piano. She also suffers from terrible stage fright, and after years of fighting it in order to help her younger brother and meet parental expectations, she's had enough. She quit touring with him and took a job writing jingles for an ad agency. That went well until she lost her "muse" and now she's struggling, and hopes that a fresh start will help her. I loved her upbeat personality that has her making the best of her crappy living quarters, and her attempt at waitressing was great. She finally finds the perfect job as the office manager for Sam's company, a job that creates some trouble for the relationship that is growing between them.

Sam is a man who keeps his emotions locked up pretty tight. His childhood was rocky with no mother and a father who was irresponsible. Sam grew up quickly, learned how to manage what money his dad did bring home, but still ended up in foster care on a regular basis. Fortunately for him, the foster mother he ended up with was wonderful, and her son became like a brother to him. But his father's easy use of "love ya" without any action to back it up gave Sam a distrust of the words, preferring to judge people by their actions.

Sam and Becca are attracted to each other from the moment they meet. The chemistry between them is hot. Becca is ready to seize the moment with him, but Sam is a little more wary. He senses that she could get past his walls and is soon proved right. I loved the way that their relationship develops. There's a great deal of teasing between them, with his nickname of "Peeper" for her because of the way he catches her watching him, and her calling him "sexy grumpy surfer" because he is. Sam is protective of Becca (loved the spider scene!) and wants to help her get past the things that have been dragging her down. I loved the way that he sees that she hasn't had much fun in her life and is determined to bring it to her now. At the same time Becca is drawn to Sam's confidence, but also sees the neglected boy underneath. In spite of the issues she has with her own parents, she tries to help Sam deal with his own father issues. The feelings they have for each other deepen and grow, but their ways of expressing those feelings are so different that it nearly drives them apart. I loved Sam's big moment at the Summer Bash, when he comes through for Becca in so many ways. I look forward to seeing more of them in the next books.

I also loved the secondary characters. Sam's two friends and partners are terrific. They know Sam and all his foibles and love him anyway. I also liked the way they had no trouble giving him a hard time about anything from Becca to answering the phones. They are also always ready to support him, and are there when he needs help with Becca or his father or anything else. I enjoyed the stories they told from when they were all kids, and also their time on the rigs and when they started their business. It gave a good insight into what made them all the way they were. Sam's dad was an interesting guy, and though I didn't like him much at the beginning, by the end I could see that he really was trying to change. Becca's family members were harder to like. Her brother Jase was selfish and immature and made me very glad that Becca had gotten away from his life. It said a lot about her that she didn't give up on him, but she also developed the strength to stand up to him, thanks to Sam. I didn't like her parents at all. Their appearance at the end, all contrite about the way they had treated her, didn't feel real. I had the feeling that they were just playing her a different way. Her new friend and neighbor Olivia seems really nice, and I liked seeing the friendship that developed between them, something that Becca hadn't ever had before. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in the next book. show less

This installment was okay. Now okay doesnt mean bad but, well, this story felt like your favorite slippers.

You know? Those slippers you like to wear because you've broken them in. They're comfy. Warm. Fuzzy. You don't wear them around company but Lord knows they're always next to your bed. They've seen better days but you know you aren't throwing them out any time soon. If you have no idea what I mean, you are a total caveman/woman. A bare-footed one.

I know Jill Shalvis is consistent in her genre, not that means in anyway boring or mediocre. When you grab one of her books, you know what youre getting. Contemporary romance, maybe some hiccup or bump in the road, a physical attraction, a Happily Ever After in the end, with secondary and show more tertiary characters poised for the next in the series.

Becca is running away from family problems and ends up in Lucky Harbor. She's a musician needing aforementioned space from family and to get back her commercial-music, jingle-writing mojo.

Enter our bachelor, Sam. He's no commitment phobe but has his own Daddy issues he's working out. Sam and Becca meet and while they help each other conquer their demons and maybe love. (oh, who am I kidding, its a HEA story).

This is a romance to take to the beach or on vacay. Not too plot driven to be able to put down and/or pick up when the mood hits.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever - Grand Central Publishing for the review copy provided. show less

These Lucky Harbour books are my go-to books when I feel like I need a little romance in my life and Sam and Becca were exactly what I needed. I've been dying to read Sam's story every since he was first mentioned in this series and I think Becca was a perfect fit for him. They were both holding back in life and love until they came together and exploded on the page. I love every character in the Lucky Harbour series, so with each book I read I swear that the couple of that book is my favorite, but I'm really leaning towards Sam and Becca being my favorite...so far. I mean we still have Tanner and Cole to pair off and I'm sure this little town has many more hunky men hiding out somewhere. Looking forward to reading more in this show more series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. show less

I know I enjoyed this but it seems to have been forgettable - even though I only read it last week I think, I'd forgotten all details, so I had to read the description. It's pure "modern romance novel" - well-written, beach setting, characters I enjoyed getting to know.

I realised I hadn't finished it. Becca and Sam's exchanges are more lively than I remembered. Still, Sam's purposeful misinterpretation of the progress of their relationship is unusual in so far as it is more often the woman who is given that part of the plot action.

Sam won't risk love, emotions, due to his past ... of course. He puts his heart and soul into his 'loving' but he won't give the words to his love, disconnecting his brain and his body - it's weird, but show more probably not uncommon among homo sapiens!

However, commitment phobia - saying 'I love you' stage fright - whatever you want to call it - it is such a common plot theme, that is the disappointing thing. It puts a lot on the romance writer to make it zing.

"YOU deserve more from you than that" is the advice Sam receives from his best friend Cole. It's an amazing thing in these romance novels how often people have the kind of friendships that help steer them in the right direction. Personally, I doubt many people have such friendships. The same thing happened in Stranded With A Billionaire (Jessica Clare). The heroine's friend and room mate gave her the kind of advice that changed her perspective, and her life. Someone outside your own head and experience sees the way through the quagmire created, usually by your own insecurities. It's a great concept.

'Sexy, grumpy surfer' guy - the writing is good. show less

Becca is running away from responsibilities thrust upon her, responsibilities she shouldn't have had to bear that ended with disastrous results. Sam "fixes" things. With no shortage of his own personal baggage, he takes on the challenge of discovering what it is Becca is hiding, trying to prove to her that not all men are opportunists. Until he succeeds and his own issues bubble to the surface. Now what is he supposed to do?

Yet another Lucky Harbor book that I couldn't put down. Reading Jill Shalvis is like eating chocolate chip cookies. Once I start, I can't stop. These books should be made into a television serial. They're like one big, long book filled with characters you care about, but each book gives you the opportunity to stop show more for the day and resume another day with the next installment. show less

This series is like potato chips. I can't read just one, but the books don't have a lot of substance. Oddly enough, what keeps me coming back is the male friendships. That's true of this book too. I found myself wanting more Cole, Sam, and Tanner together. The three of them with Becca (the main female character) also worked. The romance between Sam and Becca was believable, but that wasn't the relationship I was interested in.

4.5 Stars

I loved going back to visit Lucky Harbor. I remember glimpses of Sam from Ben's book.. and I was happy to read his story. It started a bit quick for me- as in the character's seemed too close for just meeting, but I could over look it as they worked so well together... Sam was definitely the "Sexy Grumpy Surfer" that Becca dubs him right off in the book. I enjoyed his surliness. Becca was a strong New girl to town. She was a great match for Sam. I did take away half a star as I didn't like how Sam wouldn't stop enabling his father.. and it kinda got tiresome for me to watch. And then Becca to kinda do the same.. just my opinion there.. I am looking forward to the next in this series... can't wait to read about Cole!