Ravishing Romances: Forever and a Day (by Jill Shalvis)

Forever and a Day rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Lucky Harbor series rating: N/A (haven't read them all)

"At Last" is book 6 and the last full length novel in this series. It can be read in order or as a stand alone novel. Jill Shalvis will publish one Christmas novella, completing the Lucky Harbor series.

How are the sex scenes?

Yearning, filled with tension and semi-hot. Dr. Scott's a doctor - and they don't always have a lot of time. Shalvis works with that.

How are the story lines?

Humorous and enjoyable. Grace is "non-truth-telling" to her parents about her current state of employment, it takes a village to run Josh's life and the "...village is in mutiny" and, of course, there's always Lucille with her intrusive Lucky Harbor Facebook page.

Would you read it again?

Yes.

Summary

While interviewing for jobs in her field, Grace has taken up delivering flowers and hand modeling to pay the rent. When Dr. Josh Scott accidentally calls the wrong number to hire a dog sitter Grace accepts the job despite her lack of experience.

Grace's first day is atrocious, but Josh really needs a dog walker...and now a nanny. With his only requirement being that everyone survives, Grace agrees to help with his son, his sister and his dog until a more appropriate nanny can be found. Grace and Josh begin a "fun" relationship, but Grace gets a job offer too soon and no one's decided whether "fun" isn't just "fun" anymore.

Review

Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis is a contemporary romance novel set in fictional Lucky Harbor, Washington.

The heroes and heroines of the last two novels (Lucky in Love and At Last) are still forefront and present while Sheriff Sawyer Thompson and Chloe (from Head Over Heels) make guest star appearances.

Grace and Josh move in the same circles, giving their "relationship" a head start with Josh already knowing Grace needs money and Grace knowing Josh as a successful doctor with a hectic, crazy schedule.

Their initial meeting is hilarious. Josh has an adorable dog (a/k/a Antichrist) who, in fact, acts like the Antichrist if the Antichrist was a pooch - and he causes a scene you will never forget.

Shalvis creates intense character conflict between Josh's family members. They seem like a normal modern day family until Shalvis throws in the complication that Josh - as an ER doctor, owner of his father's practice, dad and caretaker of his sister - has no time to solve any of it. In return, Josh tries to micro-manage everything with his family (and sleep) paying the price.

Grace's life isn't as busy, but it's more than interesting with her being the adopted child of a rocket scientist and research biologist. She has a CPA, yet no accounting job and an almost non-existent bank account. Not quite what mommy and daddy planned.

Forever screams "romance for the white collar overworked class" and it screams it well. This book made me laugh out loud with antics of a family at the busiest time of its life. Featuring a grumpy paraplegic, young Jedi warrior, sleazy boyfriend and hungry-for-doctor housewives Forever is guaranteed to entertain romance readers of all ages.

You liked it, why didn't it get 5 stars?

The circumstances surrounding Josh and Grace's first kiss seems very juvenile and is out of character with the rest of the story. Also, at one point Grace asks Josh, "Has it really been a whole year for you since you [had sex]?" The scene where Josh informs Grace about his year of abstinence must have hit the cutting room floor because Josh never tells her in the copy I read. (I did get an ARC from Netgalley so perhaps it's in the version to be sold? Someone who reads it let me know.)

Comment About It

How do you feel about "family" romances? Too old, too distracting or just right? Should children be included? Please share!

Learn more about Jill Shalvis and her upcoming titles on her webpage and Facebook.