Once In A Lifetime-Jill Shalvis

Once In A Lifetime Jill Shalvis Grand Central, Feb 18 2014, $6.00 ISBN: 9781455521135 Five years ago, Ben McDaniel’s wife died. Grieving his loss, he fled their hometown Lucky Harbor, Washington to work on water systems after disasters struck dangerous third world nations. When a suicide bomber destroyed his latest project, Ben knew it was time to return to the serene Pacific Northwest and design systems from his home as a consultant for others to build. The townsfolk consider Aubrey Wellington a bitchy bad girl. She feels bad about hurting people and wants to make amends while also reopening her late aunt’s Book & Bean bookstore. Aubrey enlists Ben to renovate the place. A confused Ben is unsure why he said yes to work Aubrey’s project even as his attraction to the wild tough chick amazes him more. Meanwhile family and friends warn him that she is not good for him. She also cannot comprehend why she wants Ben while also wondering how to keep with her abstinence pledge. At the same time, former town clerk and her ex-lover Ted Marshall plans a tell-all book. The ninth Lucky Harbor small town romance (see Always On My Mind and It Had To Be You) is a wonderful second chance (at love for him and at redemption for her) contemporary due to the strong protagonists who make their changing relationship come across as genuine. The townsfolk reaction to their coming together adds depth to this tender tale of love between seemingly opposites. Harriet Klausner