This RITA® Reader Challenge 2013 review was written by Lyla. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Contemporary Single Title Romance category.

The summary:     

Grace never thought she'd be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh's lovable mutt to caring for his rambunctious son. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad….

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family-until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.”

Josh and Grace don't know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day . . .

And here is Lyla's review:

The Summary:

Grace moves across the country from NYC to Seattle for a promising work opportunity which dematerializes once she gets there. Too proud to go home or to call her parents for help Grace takes on odd jobs to keep herself afloat. One of those jobs is for Josh a handsome doctor, single father and brother. Grace moves in and begins organizing his hectic life and dating Josh as well.

The Review:

This is the sixth book in the Lucky Harbor Series. I have not read the previous 5 nor have I ever read Jill Shalvis before. I think that had me at a bit of a disadvantage. This book had a very light chick lit feel and I haven't read that genre in a very long time. Yes, Grace is a willowy blonde beauty and Josh is irresistible and everyone in town is panting over him and calling him Dr. McHottie but I thought the relationship between Josh and Grace came on fast with little support. I didn't buy the whole first kiss set up and that may be because I haven't read the others. There may have been flirting or some preamble in the previous books that I missed out on. I felt like I was dropped into this world without it being set up well. There were a bunch of references to chocolate and cupcakes and I knew this must have been something important that I was missing. The three friends must have cemented their relationship in previous books. I felt their relationships were also central in those books. That may be the reason, it took me a while to get into the story.

All that being said, this book started for me in the middle after Grace goes to work full time for Josh and moves in. She gets involved in his life and family and all of their layers begin to peel back. Then it had me. I enjoyed the relationship between Grace and Josh's sister Anna and also enjoyed seeing Grace with Josh's son Toby and all of the townsfolk…. they seemed to be a very close knit “family” of strangers. I loved their camaraderie and enjoyed their pluck.

This is a light story and a quick read. If it's your first in the series give it a little time to grow on you. It will! Lucky Harbor is a charmed place and this was a lovely story.

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