Love at First Light (Lost Harbor, Alaska #6) by Jennifer Bernard
#OppositesAttract
5 STARS
Book 6 in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series tells the story of Ethan (a facts and common-sense grumpy PI) and Jessica (the fun, optimistic, crystal carrying bakery owner.) Their story is written in third person from dual POV.
Ethan is not sure what to make of Jessica when they have their first awkward meeting, and he jumps to a few incorrect conclusions. It doesn’t take long for Jessica to start unraveling those incorrect conclusions one by one. The more time they spend together, the more Ethan must reevaluate not only his beliefs about her, but also his beliefs about himself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this opposites-attract love story. There are moments that are funny, steamy, emotional, and suspenseful. I love Jessica learning that she has more substance than she has even given herself credit for once she sees herself through Ethan’s eyes. I love Ethan admitting that he made wrong judgements as he gains appreciation for all that Jessica is. They have an adventure filled with danger and risk and that forces them to trust each other in a way that would not come from normal interactions. They have plenty of chemistry and an intense attraction that leads to some hot times together. I love that they share memories and feelings with each other, and that it opens an intimacy between them. I love that they work well together on their adventure. I love their HEA, fast by some standards but no less real. The town of Lost Harbor and the Wilderness offer a dramatic setting as the ongoing mysteries from the series unfold a little bit more. The last chapter sets up the next book perfectly for Maya Badger’s story, which I am dying to read. It also gives us a look at Ethan and Jessica at the beginning of their new life together.
Travis is a jaded star at the ripe old age of 25. He takes a break by buying a farmhouse and is blown away when he walks in and finds an angel singing at the grand piano. I love that he falls immediately and extremely hard, even though he doesn’t realize that is what has happened to him. I love his mixed emotions as he muddles through the next few days but can’t get his rattled mind put back together because of her. I love how protective and alpha-possessive he quickly becomes of her. I love that he is all-in from the very beginning.
Ruby is only 18, and she has been sheltered in a way that would be hard to believe if she were any older, so it works for the story. She is incredibly naive and innocent, and she is experiencing the awakening of her own sexuality when she meets Travis. He become her first everything. But Ruby is also driven by the dream she has, and the ambition to see the success she just knows is waiting for her.
The chemistry between the two characters is hot and the scenes as they come together could melt your Kindle. I love the way this becomes a first and final love for both of them as they pursue their relationship and Ruby’s dream. I am definitely looking forward to more books in this series.
Guilty as Charged by Harlow James
Javi and Sydney literally run into each other at a honkytonk and begin a journey that forces them to recognize that preconceived notions about a person can be wrong. I really enjoyed their relationship as they get to know each other and allow each other to see their real personalities, drives, and flaws. As they give in to their physical attraction, they generate enough heat to burn the fingers holding my E-reader. I love that they have more in common than they first realize. I love Sydney’s journey as she gains confidence in what she wants in her life, in herself, and gains the courage to demand that her needs be respected. I love how she goes from kind of weak to fully empowered through the course of the book. I really enjoyed Javi’s growth as he realizes that he does deserve the love that Sydney can give him and really embraces his fresh start. I admired the courage they both have as they proceed with their relationship, knowing there will be some difficult obstacles to overcome. Their HEA is completely heartwarming, and worth the struggles they have to overcome. This is written in first person from a dual POV.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advanced review copy form the author.
Trigger Warning: (This book contains the memory of a rape of a secondary character and two physical attacks against the heroine not by the Hero.)
Minka has to overcome a lot of insecurity, self-doubt, and sibling rivalry to get to a place where she can honestly love Jason and really understand what love means. Jason has his own baggage that he has to overcome, and part of that is dealing with Minka's insecurities. The physical presence of the scale in the bathroom is the barometer throughout the story of Minka's self-hatred and finally- growth. I really appreciated the rivalry in Minka's mind between twins and the inferiority Minka felt. My personal experience with sibling relationships made their story feel very real, though very sad. I hated that Minka doubted her own beauty but loved the fact that Jason did not see her flaws. I really loved the growth that Minka has over the course of the story as she learns to love herself. I will admit to wishing she had pulled herself together a little faster, but a lot of growth had to occur and that takes time. The chemistry between Minka and Jason is hot and powerful. Jason is a solid hero that doesn't realize how far he has fallen or how fast. That is always one of my favorite things. He has some family history that has influenced his perception of love, and those perceptions are corrected during his growth through the book. The secondary characters are a likable group that I want to read more of right away. The plot and story move at an excellent pace. Overall, I really loved the story and the setting and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
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