The constant sexual innuendos and the foul language really took away from this story for me. The story itself was really good. I thought the father / daughter relationship was an amazing one.

I liked Bodie's big family and their acceptance of each other and "outside" people. They felt like they put their arms around everyone. I also liked the strong women in this book.

I know this is a romance, but there was too much steam too quickly for me. I am a closed door romance reader.

I totally loved The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis. It is a fun, hopeful romance.

After Harper Shaw decides to start over, she and her dog Hambone move to Lake Tahoe and open the Sugar Pine Bakery. There she meets grumpy bartender and landlord Bodie Campbell, who has just moved back to town after traumatic events as an ATF officer, and teen runaway Ivy.

I loved this book— especially its setting, its whole cast of characters, and the warmth and love just oozing from the pages.

I recently read Katherine Center’s latest novel which includes in the author’s note her ideas that good romance stories should create anticipation and hope; The Sweetheart List certainly does! I totally recommend this novel.

Thank you to the author, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

The Sweetheart List
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Jill Shalvis

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Avon and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: What makes life sweet?

-Freshly baked bread
-A cool lake on a hot summer day
-The comfort of a cozy bookstore
-Second chances and new beginnings

When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.

With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since…well, forever.. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets…

When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.

My Thoughts: This is book no. 4 in the Sunrise Cove series. Even though this is part of a series, the series focuses on the town, so they can be read out of order. This was a perfect beach day read, or even sitting at home on the weekend. Harper wants a fresh start to her life. She moves to a small town, Sunrise Cove, and opens a bakery. She then meets her landlord, Bodie, who also owns the business next door, and Ivy, teen runway. Even her fresh start is fresh with bumps and navigation. This follows the tropes of meet cute and small town romance.

Harper was compassionate, caring, and kind. Bodie, whose father just unexpectedly passed away was just home to help with the family business. The characters were complex, had an aspect of realism, witty banter, compassionate, and graceful, among being likable and relatable. While the characters have flaws, this is what makes them so likable, they feel like it could be you. The supporting characters were spot on and really enriched the story. The author’s ability to interweave so many aspects into a story is heartwarming. The author’s writing style was filled with multifaceted depth, humorous, swoony, and engaging.

If I could describe this story in one word it would be hug, it wraps you around like a warm hug would and makes you just feel good. This is a perfect light-hearted read for a beach day, a rainy day, or a just because day. Shalvis has an amazing knack at writing truly heartfelt stories that warms you from the inside out. I highly recommend picking up the book or audiobook. I have read that the narrator for the audiobook really brought the characters to life, as if you were watching a movie.

The Sweetheart List was a cute read. I liked that Harper picked up and moved to start a new life and follow her dream of opening a bakery after a rough time in her life. Bodie and his whole family were awesome. I really liked Shay and Ham too. I enjoyed following along with Ivy’s story as well. I saw the plot twist and the problems coming, but still enjoyed the ride!

Bottom Line: Read it!

**I received a copy of The Sweetheart List from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

If you are looking for a warm and fuzzy, feel good book to curl up with on a summer afternoon, this is your book! I hadn't read anything by Jill Shalvis previously, but have now added her to my list of author's that's worth remembering, The Sweetheart List is an enjoyable, fun, and quick read book, with engaging and likable characters. Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this sweet treat, and enjoy a few hours of a fun escape to Lake Tahoe with Harper, as she open her bakery and her heart to new experiences and adventures!

The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis takes place in Lake Tahoe, my most favorite place in the world. The book is also the fourth in the Sunrise Cove series, of which I have only read this one and it did not matter, the story stands on its own. It is the story of Harper Shaw leaving her fallen apart life to move to Lake Tahoe to open a bakery and begin sparking some joy in the life. Right at the beginning she meets Bodie Campbell who turns out to not only be quite attractive, but also her new landlord. This same night, Ivy, a runaway, shows up and Harper decides to help her in her time of need. The whole story is sweet with characters that are loving and quite real.

‘The Sweetheart List’, by Jill Shalvis is a wonderful feel good story. Set in Lake Tahoe, this book combines, family, romance and starting over to make quite an enjoyable read. I am definitely a Jill Shalvis fan. Thank you!

Wow Jill Shalvis delivers another heart warming story that truly warms our hearts. Jill Shalvis is one of my go to authors and always will be. I love this author and her books so much!!!!!!

I really loved the characters in this book. Right away I was drawn to Harper and her independence. The flirtation between her and Bodie was so good. I loved that fun writing. Then adding in the plot about a teenage runaway coming into their lives made it more interesting. The book did a good balance between a love story and a secondary drama.

One of my favorite Shalvis books! Harper is starting over in Sunrise Cove. She ends up befriending the Campbell crew, including Bodie, home after an injury on the job as an ATF agent. Romance and comedy abound in this heartwarming romance. In the middle of this, they take in a teen runaway with a big secret. Everything combines into one fantastic story!

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Changing direction to make a new life is never easy, but Harper is determined. Tahoe is beckoning, the only place where she’s ever truly happy. In Tahoe, Harper has leased space where she plans to open a bakery. Complicating matters is her moody landlord, Bodie, and a runaway teenage girl, Ivy. Ivy has her own secret reasons for coming to Tahoe. Harper ends up inviting Ivy to stay with her and invited Ivy to help in the bakery. As Harper gets her bakery ready to open and meets more of her neighbors, she realizes that she’s beginning to fit in and is happier than she’s been in a very long time. And then, of course, there’s Bodie. Handsome, kind, caring. Harper’s last relationship ended badly, and she’s reluctant to let her guard down about the possibility of a new relationship.

I loved Harper’s spunk and determination to succeed, and her empathy and trust in Ivy. But, secrets have a way of exploding open, and Harper is left to wonder if things will ever be right again.

💭Thoughts:
This is a sweet, clean, small town romance. It’s the fourth book in the Sunrise Cove series. I really enjoyed the first two books, so I was excited to read this one too. It can be read as a stand-alone.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The budding romance between Harper and Bodie was sweet. I enjoyed the additions of runaway Ivy and Ham the dog. The dog definitely added some comic relief to the story.

My one real issue with this book was the third act breakup. I really dislike third act breakups. I feel like they never add anything to the story and in this case it definitely didn’t.

Overall, it’s another solid small town romance from Jill Shalvis. I recommend to readers who enjoy small town and grumpy/sunshine romances.

Harper needs a new start in the last place that brought her happiness. Bodie needs a fresh start in his small hometown.

This book is full of secret pasts, hurdles to climb, laugh out loud banter, steam scenes, and sweet- heartfelt screens. Everything I was looking for in a summer read.

This book is definitely one you can sit down and read right through to the end.

This is a very quick easy read that’s full of fresh starts and second chances. The plot was very interesting and it was full of great characters. This book is perfect for people who like the found family trope as well as the grumpy/sunshine trope.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This book… oh my goodness! I could hardly wait to see what happened next! It hooks you right off the bat!

Book 4 of the Sunrise Cove series.
This is a series about finding yourself, second chances and discovering the true way you want to live your life. In this turn Harper knows it’s time for a second chance. She’s starting over, getting rid of whatever doesn’t bring her joy and is finally ready to open her bakery. There’s also a grumpy, handsome tavern owner, a runaway teen, secrets and friendships like family. This series is full of so much heart.

Huge thank you #avon and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis is very entertaining. It's fun to see Harper make her way in a new place as she achieves her goals and meets people who become her family.

An adorable summer read. Took me 2 days to read, the relationships and the characters were almost “too good to be true”. I loved the banter between the Campbell brothers. Loved Shay and her abuela. It’s a feel good book and I found it an enjoyable read.

Sweet small-town romance. After reading the first 3 books in this series, i was looking forward to this book, the fourth in the series. It didn’t disappoint. Main characters Harper and Bodie find their way to their HEA. Jill Shalvis writes well-rounded, likable characters. Loved the town and the Epilogue.

Jill Shalvis continues to write fresh and new stories while keeping her superstar style excelling with humor, romance, and unforgettable characters. Sunrise Cove is a place I’d love to visit. Harper, Bodie, and Ivy stole my heart.

Love, new beginnings, and family are at the heart of The Sweetheart List. I’d add it to the list among her best-to-date.