Book Review: Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis

Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis is the third book in the Lucky Harbor series. In this story, we see Chloe and her two soon-to-be-married sisters doing well with their inn. However, Chloe is still living close to the edge, and that does not go unnoticed by the town's sexy sheriff, Sawyer. As a reformed bad boy, Sawyer understands some of Chloe's actions, but his desire to make good for the town that help him straighten out his life give him more to contend with than his desire for Chloe. While Chloe's fear of rejection, need to be loved, and severe asthma each offer up their own obstacles as the two circle each other in alternating frustration and desire.

Jill Shalvis writes romance that is consistently fantastic; she has yet to satisfy me with a read. Head Over Heels is no exception. Chloe and Sawyer are fantastic, multidimensional characters. Chloe might seem like a light hearted wild child on the surface, and that is the image she wants people to have of her, because that will leave her free to run when she feels the need. But running the inn with her sisters and getting to know the people in town have started to break through her defenses. Her wild behavior is not as frivolous as it seems. Most of her stunts are related to helping others, cheering her best friend Lance, or other more thoughtful purposes. Her friendship with Lance, who is seriously ill with cystic fibrosis and understands her breathing difficulties in a way no one else does, is well done and heartwarming. Sawyer still feel guilt over his less than stellar past, and is determined to be the best man, the perfect sheriff, in order to repay the members of the community that believed in him and gave him a second chance. The two are repeatedly thrown together as Sawyer's duties and Chloe's actions collide. Under the conflict the two are very attracted to each other and need to face their own issues before they can find their way to happily ever after. Sawyer is the many man with a heart of gold, and the caring and gentleness he shows throughout the book makes him one of my favorite romance heroes ever.

Head Over Heels is a great contemporary romance, with completely engaging plot and characters. Sawyer is strong and stern when the occasion calls for it, but is compassionate and sweet with Chloe. The couple has conversations about their pasts and dreams; they do not simply jump from one hot and steamy encounter to the next, although there was some of that as well. This was much more than a typical romance, there are multiple layers to the characters and their emotions giving Head Over Heels depth brings readers deep into the story and makes them feel like they belong there. My favorite part of the book was when I read the teaser at the end letting me know that there will be more books to the series, featuring Chloe's friend Amy and some of the other women in town as the heroines. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book, and the next, and so on. I am sad that I will have to wait until May of 2012 to read Lucky in Love.