Once in a Lifetime (Lucky Harbor #9) in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Jan 19, 2017 Connie N. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, 9th-in-series

#9 in the Lucky Harbor romance series

I've been looking forward to Ben's story, and it didn't disappoint. Ben is the quiet, keeps-to-himself friend of the outgoing Jack and Luke. He was raised by his aunt (Jack's mom) when his mother abandoned him, which has made him the strong and silent type. Aubrey is his exact opposite--feisty and loud. She was a mean girl in school and is trying to overcome her demons and become a better person. She has a list of people that she wants to make amends to, and ...more

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Mar 24, 2015 Debbie (Doc) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, audible, romance, series-reads, favorite, dusty-bookshelf-challenge, chic-lit, fiction, read-in-2015, serial-killer-challenge

This is book #9 in the Lucky Harbor series. Bad girl Aubrey is attempting to right her wrongs from high school. Ben has just returned to Lucky Harbor after spending five years in war torn areas of the world. Ben’s wife died five years ago, and he has vowed to never have another relationship. Aubrey had a major crush on Ben years ago but now wants nothing to do with him. However, Ben was hired by Aubrey’s uncle to help with the opening of her new bookstore.

The majority of the book centers on Aub ...more

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Apr 03, 2014 Pheonix Fanfiction rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a29-lucky-harbor-jill-shalvis, 0-books-read-in-2014

My thoughts and feelings while reading:

0.0% SO EXCITED!! :D

8.0% Being closed up in that bookstore with the beautiful, bitchy Aubrey for days and days? The reality of that didn’t escape him. If he did this, surely one of them would kill the other before the work was done.
I don't think it's going be killing you two get up to :) haha

10.0% “What do you like to read?” “Oh,” she said, “a little of everything…” Aubrey knew this also meant the romance section, so she again pointed the way.
Haha I'd My thoughts and feelings while reading:

0.0% SO EXCITED!! :D

8.0% Being closed up in that bookstore with the beautiful, bitchy Aubrey for days and days? The reality of that didn’t escape him. If he did this, surely one of them would kill the other before the work was done.
I don't think it's going be killing you two get up to :) haha

10.0% “What do you like to read?” “Oh,” she said, “a little of everything…” Aubrey knew this also meant the romance section, so she again pointed the way.
Haha I'd just say romance books! Why try to hide it?? :) :)

15.0% Between the three of them, they’d taught Ben love. And he’d had it with Hannah—a solid, soul-deep, comfortable love. But it was long gone now, and while he missed it, he didn’t want to risk it again.
Aww! Poor Ben! :'(

17.0% “The girls,” he said tightly. “Can you drive them to school or not?” “If you’re so worried about them, do it yourself.” “I don’t have—” The door slammed. “—car seats.” Well, hell. Ben looked down at the two rug rats.
I hate her! But Ben is soo cute making sure they are okay!!! <3 <3 my heart just melts at that picture! <3

20.0% spa’s owner and sheriff’s wife—a very lovely, very pregnant Chloe Thompson—
CHLOE!! <3 <3

21.0% Breathing hard, she slowly opened her eyes and stared directly into his. They’d heated. Darkened. And something else. He wasn’t looking so relaxed now. In fact, he was looking the opposite of relaxed. He looked…feral. And she was his prey. It made her quiver in arousal, which was crazy, but she couldn’t look away.
Not crazy Aubrey! I'm with you on that <3

23.0% “Are we going to do it today?” she asked. He turned to her, but she appeared to be utterly unconcerned over the long look he gave her, the one that would’ve had a grown man cowering in his boots. She just met his gaze straight on and smiled.
Aww I LOVE Pink!! <3

24.0% “Your dog,” Ben said. “You let it terrify any more little kids, especially redheaded ones, and I’ll introduce you to my dog
Aww I love the bit about red headed ones!! SO CUTE! <3

26.0% “Why are you starting your day without stopping in?” Leah and Ali had a morning ritual that involved Leah feeding Ali breakfast and Ali putting up a fresh bouquet in Leah’s bakery. “I didn’t know I was part of the equation,” Aubrey said. “Well, you are. So get your skinny ass over here
<3 these girls! Sad that Aubrey thinks she's not needed there when she is!

30.0% “But if I did, it’d be someone…sweet,” she said pointedly. “Sweet and…beta.” “Beta,” he repeated. “That’s right,” she said. “I’m over alpha men. And you, Ben McDaniel, are as alpha as they come.”
That he is! But why go for beta when you can have alpha - they are so much better! :) <3

34.0% “If you’re looking for an argument,” came his disembodied voice in the low light, “forget it. I’m not in the mood.” But that was a lie. He was absolutely in the mood for a fight, and that suited her just fine. Because she was in the mood, too.
I'm hoping this is going to end in fireworks - the right kind ;)

35.0% “You didn’t say why you’ve been crying.” “Does it really matter?” “You wouldn’t think so,” he said softly, coming close. He stroked a strand of hair from her temple, tucking it behind her ear. “And I’m not all that thrilled to tell you, but it does. Matter.”
<3

37.0% As if he felt the same, he let out one low, mirthless laugh and whispered, “Damn, you drive me insane” against her mouth. There was a note of dazed frustration to his tone
I totally LOVE that! <3

38.0% “I wish you could see yourself the way I’m seeing you,” he said hoarsely. Her heart clenched because she caught something in his gaze she didn’t often find when people looked at her. Raw desire. This worked for her, but there was something else as well, possibly affection—not that she wanted to acknowledge it
Why is Ben sooo fucking perfect!!!! <3

40.0% He wanted to know what she was up to, what was wrong, and he’d meant it when he’d said he wanted to know if she was okay. And yeah, after last night, he was more curious than ever. There was no better way to figure her out than to drive her around.
:O he is sneaky!! I love him but damn if I was Aubrey I'd be furious when I found out!

42.0% Cathy smiled. “Yeah. You were that.” She cocked her head and studied Aubrey’s reflection. “I was going to overcharge you for this scarf, you know. Because I’m a bitch, too.” She smiled. “But you know? We didn’t turn out so bad after all.”
Aww! I really really love that Aubrey is trying to make amends for things in her past!<3

43.0% He caught her arm. At the touch, she went still as if prodded with an electrical current. He knew exactly, because he felt it as well. And it told him something, something he hadn’t been prepared for. They weren’t done with each other. Not by a long shot.
I'm glad you realise that Ben however you probably still going to fight it aren't you?!

44.0% His being on her list. Not to mention his reaction when he found out. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him, not yet. He’d walk away, and even knowing that’s what she deserved, she wasn’t ready for it.
I wonder what the hell it could be?! I hope it doesn't cause too much drama :/

47.0% “Ben McDaniel. I live in Lucky Harbor, where your girls live in a foster home. A shitty foster home,” Ben added harshly. “And I wanted to see why they aren’t with you.”
I love that Ben cares that much about two little girls he barley knows to do this for them! <3

49.0% “You drive me crazy,” he said against her mouth. “You taste so fucking good. You always taste so fucking good.”
I LOVE THESE TWO SOOO MUCH!! <3

51.0% She was still mad at him, really mad, but some of that anger faded without her permission at the sight of him standing there with a little girl clinging to each of his hands.
Aww! My anger would have faded too! :) <3

54.0% She shuddered and tightened her hold on him. Something deep in his chest squeezed. It was never easy to watch a woman cry, but when a really strong woman like Aubrey let go, it was even harder
How is Ben so fucking perfect?!

56.0% Melding them together, the kiss went on and on until she was moaning, helplessly rocking, making him swear and lose some of his tight control. Bunching the hem of her dress in his big palms, he pulled it over her head and tossed it aside.
<3 I swear these books have got hotter as the series has gone on! <3 I LOVE IT! <3

57.0% She wasn’t all the way back to Earth when he growled out, “You are so hot when you let go,” and, staggeringly, she came again. Groaning, he dropped his head to her shoulder, sinking his teeth into her as he tensed and followed her over.
<3 So Hot!! <3

58.0% He’d done a lot of that in his life—letting go. He didn’t feel like doing it this time.
Why do I think that's going to change later, when Aubrey tells you what she's hiding ( I really really want to know!)

59.0% But now…now he wasn’t sure whether quiet and calm would do it for him. Since that was a path he didn’t want to go down—wondering if he and Hannah would be happy today with the man he’d become—he shrugged off the unsettled feelings the question brought
Oh Ben! :( sometimes change is good! I hope whatever Aubrey's hiding won't hurt you too bad! (Either of you)

62.0% Oh, listen to him, all alpha and furious with it. The man who’d made sure she knew that he didn’t want a committed relationship with her. She was beginning to suspect he was full of shit about that, but who was she to tell him so?
I really love how smart Aubrey is! I hope when shit hits the fan she is smart enough to fight for Ben!!! <3

64.0% “I saw the dollhouse in the garage,” Jack said. Well, hell. “So?” “So you haven’t built anything like that since Hannah.”
Awwww! Ben why are you so fucking cute!!!!! <3 <3

69.0% “I need to know, Ben. I need to know because I can’t be in this all by myself. I can’t. I—” God, she was such a hypocrite. She wanted him, like this, just like this. But there was the secret between them, one he didn’t even know about. She covered her face.
Aww poor Aubrey! I really love her, more than I thought I would and I thought I'd love her a lot :)

76.0% “I don’t understand. What did you ever do to me?”
Here we go. Shits going to hit the fan!

77.0% When he was gone, Aubrey’s legs gave way, and she slid down the wall. Hugging her knees, she dropped her head to her chest and fought the tears.
:'(

79.0% Ten minutes later each and every one of them was panting in exertion and…smiling. Except for Ben. He drove Pink and Kendra home and finally found something that did make him smile. Dan was sitting on the front steps of the house, waiting for his kids.
Aww! I love that Ben did this for the girls! I hope he let's go of his anger soon n talks to Aubrey!

80.0% I paid my way through college with those pictures,” she said, vibrating with frustration, heartbreak, and now anger. And actually, the anger felt good—damn good. “You were a little busy at the time with the new family, but I paid my own way, without asking you for a cent. So I’m sorry if I didn’t turn out the way you wanted me to, but you know what, Dad? You didn’t turn out the way I wanted you to
Go Aubrey!<3

81.0% “I like to do my research, especially when it involves nearly naked women.” “That’s my woman,” Ben said, and both Luke’s and Jack’s brows went up.
Aww even now he still calls her his! Stop being stubborn n talk to her!!

82.0% “Yeah,” Jack said. “And that sucks. Sucks hard. But think about this, Ben. So Aubrey was a bitch in high school. We were dicks. For that matter, Hannah was no angel, either. Whatever. It’s old history. Don’t let that be an excuse to—” “If you say not be happy, I swear to God—” “—not be happy,” Jack said, the dare in his eyes.
You tell him Jack!!!! <3

“I’m not telling him shit,” Luke said, and met Ben’s gaze, too. “Because he already knows he’s being stupid.”
<3 Luke too! <3

84.0% "So I love him. Damn it. But he doesn’t love me.” “Does so,” Leah said, refilling her drink. “You just need to fight for him.” Aubrey stared at her. “What?” “You’re a fighter, Aubrey. And I don’t mean like this…” Leah put up her own fists and nearly punched herself. “I mean you’re not someone who gives up. You go after what you want. Yeah, you screwed up, but you know what? He did, too.
<3 LOVE THESE GIRLS! <3

85.0% The back door opened, and he strolled in, phone still to his ear. He grinned as he walked up behind Leah, sank his fingers into her hair, and bent over her for a hot kiss.
Awwww love Jack and Leah!! <3

86.0% “You can pretend this is about the past, but it isn’t,” she said. “I think you fell for me, too. And I think it scared you. I get that you’ve been hurt. But that’s life, Ben. Life is one big fat gamble, and the odds are never in your favor. So you either go for it anyway and toss the dice or you don’t play. But not playing?” She jabbed him in the bare chest with her finger. “That’s the coward’s way out.
<3 <3

88.0% “I made flyers to help bring people in for the party.” Lucille held them up. It was a cartoon of a blond Wonder Woman. Her hair was drawn to resemble Aubrey’s own smooth mane and was held back by a gold crown with a star in the middle. She was standing among stacks and stacks of books, hands on hips, looking pretty kick-ass
I <3 Lucille!

89.0% And then there was Hannah herself. Ben had loved her—he’d loved her with everything he had, and she’d loved him. But she’d never have come to his house in the middle of the night and thrown rocks at his window to demand his attention. She’d never have yelled at him or made a scene. And she sure as hell wouldn’t have fought for him. She hadn’t fought for him, when it had come right down to it.
Come on - Fight!!

90.0% She hadn’t fallen apart. She’d picked herself up and carried on. He loved that about her. He loved her.
I LOVE THESE TWO!!! <3

91.0% Where are you going with this, Ben?” “I want you,” he said. “I’ve wanted you every single minute of this entire winter. I also need you. From the bottom of my flawed heart
<3 <3

Lucille leaned over the counter toward Ben and stage-whispered, “I don’t think you need a book recommendation at all. You’re doing pretty darn good.”
Yes he is! He's doing perfectly fine all on his own!! <3

Yeah, you did,” he said. “And then I went on to make the most of those two years. It’s over and done, Aubrey,” he promised. “And anyway, I’m hoping if I play my cards right, you’re going to give me a lifetime.”
:O ahhhhhh yayayayayayayayay!!!!!

92.0% their audience broke out in applause. “Shh!” Lucille snapped above them. “I can’t hear; I want to hear!”
I seriously love Lucille! <3

100.0% This book was amazing! I Couldn't put it down despite having loads to do so glad it was the weekend and not during the week! <3 I love Ben and Aubrey! I love that Aubrey wasn't a normal heroine so to speak, she fought for Ben! She made mistakes owned up to them n fought to put them right and I LOVE that! And Ben he was amazing, he was so scared of taking a risk but he couldn't walk away from Aubrey, she wouldn't let him! I just love this book n I can't wait for more from lucky harbour! <3 ...more

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Feb 15, 2017 Brindi Michele rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series, personal-interest-adult, favorites, romance, guilty-pleasure, librarian-booklover-mc

That last 1/4 of the book....what the heck?! I liked that the drama/relationship built up through the entire book, but then the "problem" and the resolution took a mere few chapters. This was definitely one story line I would liked to have seen work itself out. I wanted to see them trying to avoid each other, working through emotions, gossip in the town, and eventually work their way to the HEA. I was so disappointed all of this happened in a handful of pages. This was a solid 5 stars all the wa ...more

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Feb 12, 2014 Bev(baglady) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I really liked this book. It was funny and entertaining with a great cast of characters. This is the first book I have read but I will go back and read others in the series.

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