I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Always on My Mind
by
Jill Shalvis
cozy romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Grand Central Publishing on September 24, 2013 and has 352 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Beach Blanket Bad Boys, Instant Attraction, Instant Gratification, Instant Temptation, The Night Before Christmas, "Under the Mistletoe", Animal Magnetism, It Had to Be You, Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, Animal Attraction, Rumor Has It, Rescue My Heart, It’s in His Kiss, Head Over Heels, Lucky in Love, , He's So Fine, At Last, One in a Million, Forever and a Day, Second Chance Summer, My Kind of Wonderful, "Wrapped in You", Get A Clue, The Trouble with Mistletoe, Chasing Christmas Eve, “One Snowy Night”, Rainy Day Friends, Merry and Bright
Eighth in the Lucky Harbor cozy romance series and revolving around a core group of townspeople. The couple focus is on Leah Sullivan and Jack Harper.
My Take
Aww, it starts with the annual Firefighter’s Charity Breakfast, a benefit for senior citizens, and talking about men, about secrets related to that baking show, and how Leah has always been there for the sexy Jack. Who also reflects on Leah’s passion for life but runs from her demons.
Shalvis uses third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Leah’s and Jack’s perspectives. It’s how we know how clueless Leah and Jack are about the other’s feelings. Of course it doesn’t help that Leah has the urge to flee anything that impacts her world.
There are conflicts a’plenty from the core one of Leah versus Jack and their memories of the past; the property developer who’s fussing about assorted buildings he’s buying — which include the WAY out-of-date shops that Leah, Aubrey, and Ali are in; sidebars of other relationships; and, Dee’s and Elsie’s health issues.
It’s fun to read of the changes Leah is making at the bakery. And much too yummy to read. Have some croissants, cannoli, cheesecake, and donuts on hand when you read. You’ll “need” them.
Sadly, her father’s words keep cropping up in Leah’s head and steal away her confidence. I wonder if that feeds Leah’s need for perfection in her goods. I ain’t sayin’ it’s not a good attitude, ‘cause Leah’s right. Each order does matter.
Oh, man, I’m with Elsie and Leah about a Kindle. “A lover who can never leave you”, lol. Nor is that Kindle Grandma Elsie’s only “friend” *hubba-hubba*.
All this sweetness and light contrasts with the secret Leah harbors about Sweet Wars and the show’s conclusion that she can’t reveal.
ROFL, I had forgotten that bit about Lucky Harbor being such a conduit for gossip. Facebook has a lot to answer for. I don’t think, however, that Facebook did any reveals on that strip poker game Grandma participated in, *more laughter*. That Facebook keeps things a’rolling.
Jack’s got his own issues, and I’m not sure which is the more intense, his need for adrenaline rushes or his worries about his mom. Fortunately, he does have his friends, who know way too much about him, lol.
Because of the bakery and the fire station, we get behind-the-scenes of both. Some of which will have you laughing. Oh, man, that Facebook page is getting Jack “cut off from sex from every female within gossip distance”, lol.
Aww, that Kevin is one big emotional support boy, must be because “he’s a lover, not a fighter”, lol. Ben, now, Ben seems to have a split personality — he can’t decide what his last name is.
I like Grandma Elsie’s philosophy: “Don’t ever wait around for your life. Go get what you want.”
Always on My Mind is a cozy with great characters you want to hang out with. It’s also a romance, which means hiccups in love, some of which will drive you mad.
I like that idea: Choose to be happy. And I gotta say, I’ll be happy to re-read the Lucky Harbor series.
The Story
Leah Sullivan wants world peace, for her grandmother to live forever, and being sweet-talked out of her clothes sometime this year, even as she takes over for Grandma to keep the bakery going.
She sort’a gets one wish when she lies, er, tells a fib to Jack’s mom, one intended to make her feel better. Oops.
Meanwhile, Leah is walking on eggshells, for the whole town is rooting for her to win Sweet Wars and use the prize money to open her own bakery. And she’s plotting to get out of Lucky Harbor before everyone learns the truth — that snake even offers her an out.
The Characters
The contrary Leah Sullivan, a pastry chef, is smarting over that TV show Sweet Wars. Leah’s grandmother, Elsie, runs a bakery, when she’s not recovering from knee surgery. Leah’s dickish father, a dentist, demanded too much of Leah.
Ali Winters is Leah’s friend who has the floral shop. She’s with Luke Hanover (It Had to Be You, 7), who had spent summers in Lucky Harbor. Aubrey lost her job with the Town Hall and is talking about taking over a neglected bookstore that’s next door to Ali and Elsie.
Riley Taylor, a runaway then and a part-time college student now, was taken in by Amy Michaels, another friend of Leah’s, in At Last, 5. Amy is with Forest Ranger Matt Bowers (At Last). Sawyer Thompson, the sheriff, is married to Chloe (Head Over Heels, 3). Tara runs the B&B along with her sisters and is with Ford Walker (The Sweetest Thing, 2). Dr Josh Scott (Forever and a Day, 6) has his own ideas about what Mrs Burland can eat. Mallory is an ER nurse married to Ty Garrison (Lucky in Love, 4).
The Lucky Harbor Fire Department, Station #24 is . . .
. . . the fire station, a.k.a. Gossip Central, run by that adrenaline junkie, Lieutenant Jack Harper II, once the terror of mothers of teenage daughters and a former Hotshot until the accident. Kevin is Jack’s rambunctious Great Dane. Ian O’Mallery is a senior firefighter; Sam and Emily are five-year veterans; Tim Denison, a young rookie, has an eye out; and, Cindy and Hunter are paramedics. Ronald McVane is the deputy chief and fire marshal. Washington State Fire shares the site with Station #24.
Ben McDaniel/Kincaid, Jack’s cousin and partner in youthful “crime”, designs water systems for war-torn lands for the Army Corps of Engineers. When he’s home, he builds great furniture. Dee had raised him along with Jack. Hannah had been Ben’s wife who died five years ago. Dee Harper is Jack’s mother and struggling with breast cancer. She knits scarves and blankets which get sold at craft fairs. Jack’s dad had been a hero firefighter, dying on the hob.It’s a hard role to fill. Carrie is the nurse Jack hired to be there for his mom.
Maxwell Fitzgerald runs the historical society whose building is in serious need of help. The ancient Mr Lyons is selling a building to Vince Rinaldi, a property developer out of LA. Older than dirt” Lucille keeps Facebook current on all the gossip. Edward is another senior citizen. The Love Shack is the local bar and grill run by Ford Walker. Eat Me is the local café. Lenny Shapiro owns the auto shop. “Baby Al” is an idiot smoker. Mrs Burland, Jack’s second grade teacher, had been making soup. Killer is the cantankerous old guy’s poodle.
Kayla is the waitress Jack had been having plans for. Danica is a local flight nurse. Brandi Metcalf did not help Leah’s feelings back then. Rachel Moore is a pretty brunette from the gym.
Sweet Wars is . . .
. . . the television show about a baking competition. Rafe Vogel, the snake, is the producer. Suzie is another contestant.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a white background with a feathered shot of a red-painted bakery window in the lower right corner. To the left of the window is the long-haired Leah wearing a turquoise tank top getting up close and personal with Jack who is wearing a black T-shirt. At the very top is an info blurb in black with the author’s name BIG and in red below it. Below that is the title in a lighter turquoise. Below, and slightly to the right of Leah’s and Jack’s heads, is the series info in blue. Below that (and just above the window) is a testimonial in red.
The title is too true for Jack and Leah, each is Always on My Mind.
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