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Member Reviews

I've read books by Jill Shalvis before and they're usually hit or miss. This one was a hit!

I didn't realize this was book 4 in a series but I don't think it hindered by enjoyment of the series. Perhaps I wouldn't known some more of the backstory and maybe missed some inside jokes but it was fine and makes me want to go make and read the other books.

This particular story's characters stand out on their own and were a delight! I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the resolution in this story!

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A sweet, clean romance that’s part of a bigger series ? Sign me up . I’m a sucker for all things romance . I love these characters and the universe they live in - I love this author and everything she writes .. highly recommended .

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So many great aspects of this comforting romance!
I loved the quaint community setting, the flawed but loving characters, the touching back stories, the chemistry, the hope for fresh starts, and the beautiful themes of forgiveness and grace. The descriptions of yummy baked goods were a plus as well.

Harper leaves behind her life as she’s known it and returns to the last place that she was truly happy - a small mountain town by Lake Tahoe called Sunrise Cove. There is some work to be done on the apartment she’s renting and to get her new bakery up and running, but she finds helpful support from the hot bartender/property owner Bodie and her new bestie who has a bookstore next door. Then she takes in a runaway named Ivy. They all seem to have some hurts from their pasts and some secrets they’re holding close, but as trust is gained and truth is revealed there might be some healing and connection with the beginning of something new.

The small town support is a fun vibe, along with Bodie’s extended family. The relationship between Harper and Bodie is fun (and unexpectedly spicy.) And the unique situation of Ivy and some of her friends adds a little mystery and intrigue into to the story. I wasn’t always sure how things would all work out, but I held out hope for a HEA and was thankful to get it.

This book is in a series, but I completely enjoyed it even though it’s the first that I’ve read from the series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone.

* Thankful to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This review was written on my own accord with my own honest opinions.

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such a cute story, I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for this review copy.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️ Harper moves to Lake Tahoe looking for a fresh start and a place to open her bakery. She happens to be renting the place from Bodie and his brothers. The first night she’s in her new place (which needs a ton to help since it hasn’t been touched since Bodies’s brother passed away), she meets Ivy. A runaway teen with an agenda.

The three become entangled and work through the ups and downs that come with the revelation Ivy shares.

Overall, this was a good read. A little heavy on the emotional drama. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.

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The Sweetheart List is Sunrise Cove #4 in the series. I love Jill Shalvis for her heartwarming romances and endearing characters. This one was a lovely story with relationships at the center.

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Jill Shalvis's "The Sweetheart List" was a captivating five-star read for me! It’s perfect for beach days or vacation. Shalvis has masterfully combined heartwarming romance, endearing characters, and a few surprising twists that made this read so enjoyable. A core narrative of love and connection, especially between Harper & Bodie, is both comforting and profound, while the portrayal of lovable characters and self-discovery for many adds depth. Shalvis's writing creates an immersive experience from start to finish. As a devoted Jill Shalvis & romance fan, I wholeheartedly recommend this gem.
Thank you #TheSweetheartList, #NetGalley & Jill Shalvis for this advanced reader’s copy. All opinions are my own & are strictly voluntary.

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Another lovely heartwarming story from the master, Jill Shalvis. Harper moves across the country to the last place she remembered being truly happy, because, when you’re starting over, why not? Bodie is recovering from being wounded by a DEA op that went terribly wrong and cost the life of his friend. He also is harboring a secret from his family which is keeping them at arm’s length. Ivy is a runaway from Chicago with a secret of her own that will change everyone’s life. It’s a sweet, well crafted story that Jill tells so well. My only qualm was the phrase “spark joy” was a bit overused.
**Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an early edition of this story.**

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I really like Jill's writing and I usually enjoy her books. Although this title was not my favorite, I stilled the characters and plot.

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I haven't once been disappointed by a Jill Shalvis book, and I wasn't this time either. This was a great addition to the series! Harper was Brodie were a great couple, and watching them find their way together was very satisfying. I loved their stories, very real and emotional! The friendships and family bonds were a good addition as well. And the setting. How can you go wrong?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

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If anyone deserves a HEA, it’s Harper and Ivy. Both have lived through more than they should have and are chasing a new life, so when Harper discovers runaway, Ivy, in the building she has rented for her new bakery, she knows that she needs someone on her side and a friend. Harper needs a fresh start, and Lake Tahoe was the last place she was happy. So, she takes a leap, packs up her dog, and heads there to chart the path she knows will make her happy. A runaway and a grumpy tavern owner weren’t in her plans, but neither was becoming best friends with the prickly bookstore owner next door. Harper is one of those people who is a sweetheart, despite the curves her life has thrown at her.
Jill Shalvis continues to write stories and characters that are quirky, loveable, and real. You will find yourself laughing and cheering them on. Though it’s part of the Sunrise Cove series, THE SWEETHEART LIST can be read as a standalone, but be warned: if you are new to Shalvis’s novels, you will find yourself going through her backlist and enjoying every minute!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheSweetheartList #JillShalvis #SunriseCove #Avonbooks

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I think what grabs me about this book is that it’s as heartwarming and sweet as it is romantic and fun. In this novel, we meet Harper (a true sweetheart). She’s relocating to Lake Tahoe to open her own bakery after things in her life just fall apart and she needs a fresh start. It’s here she meets Brody, a handsome and brooding bar owner and Ivy, a teenage runaway. We learn a lot of things about Ivy and what brings her to Lake Tahoe (no spoilers!) and it will keep you hooked. What’s enchanting about this novel are the relationships - parents and children, friends, and romantic relationships. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.**

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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!

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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.

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‘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!

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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!!!!!!

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