It Had to Be You by Jill Shalvis (Lucky Harbor #7)
May 28, 2013
Contemporary
Hachette

Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: “I really want to hit him,” she said.

“Bloodthirsty,” he murmured, taking her hand, running his thumb over the pulse racing at her wrist. “I like it.”

Ali’s bad day starts when her boyfriend breaks up with her by text. It only gets worse when he tells her he has given up the lease on their house so she must move and she finds out he has been cheating on her. Ali works in the local florist shop in Lucky Harbor. A small town that is now all a titter that Ali and Teddy have broken up. Ali decides to put her chin up and move forward in her life, but first she sneaks into his office to leave Teddy a few choice words about his behavior. This action of hers will cost her, when the next day Teddy realizes his $50,000 he had in his desk drawer is now gone, and Ali becomes the main suspect.

Detective Lieutenant Luke Hanover just went through a really bad case in San Francisco and the negative media attention will not let go. He decides to go back to Lucky Harbor where his grandfather and his good friends live for a three week vacation. He carries much guilt over his past case and needs distance to sort things out. When he walks into the house he owns (and used to lease out) there is a naked Ali. Communication got messed up when Teddy handed the lease back to Luke. Oopsie! When Luke learns this sexy lady is having legal problems due to the missing money, for as much as he doesn’t want to be involved in the drama, he can’t let Teddy blame Ali for something he is pretty sure she didn’t do.

Of course Ali stays in the house with Luke, which makes their fun sexual tension simmer for a lot of this book. They are very attracted to each other but Luke doesn’t want to take advantage of a vulnerable Ali, and Ali is not sure she can trust men at the moment. But Luke becomes a friend she can lean on, and when she leans on him and realizes he has a sexy body, well..things escalate from there.

Lucky Harbor books are always fun, quick, comfort reads for me. I love this town and the people in it. This time Jill writes a very broody, guilt-ridden hero. He is rigid and stern. He not only has guilt from his last case, but he still carries guilt over his grandmother’s death years ago. Ali grew up with a mom constantly in trouble for petty theft and other crazy things, yet she has grown into a responsible adult. It’s ironic that she is now blamed for stealing money. She also has a hard time trusting men, but soon Luke gives her lots of reasons to trust him.

Luke and Ali have many quiet, intense scenes in the book. Like this one:

“Don’t be nice to me right now. I’ll lose it.”

With surprising gentleness, he pushed the hair from her face, then clicked open her seatbelt.

It was all the invitation she was going to get, and all the invitation she needed. Turning to him, she burrowed in as steady, strong arms closed around her. He stroked a hand down her back, and she pressed her face into the crook of his neck, soaking in the warm comfort he offered.

It was the safest and most secure she’d felt in far too long, and she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to let go.

“Ali.”

Afraid he was going t pull away before she was done soaking him in, she squirmed a little closer.

“Please, not yet.”

A rough sound escaped him, and he tightened his grip.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Oh Luke.

Best of all, we meet Jack, a hot firefighter who is best friends with Luke and a charmer. Oh I liked him a lot.

“Jack Harper. I’ve seen you around, but we’ve never been introduced,” he said, holding out his hand to Ali, smiling his “reassuring” smile, It was number three in his arsenal, behind “you can’t resist me” and “I want you.”

He is full of wit and sarcasm and he is going to be a fun hero. We also get hints to their other friend, Ben, who is all mysterious and secretive.

Cute summer read.

Rating: B

Recent Reviews:
Dear Author – B
Fiction Vixen – B
Goodreads

Author Website l Series Listing

Amazon l B&N