*I received a free copy of Nobody But You from Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis Series: Cedar Ridge #3
Published by Grand Central Publishing on 29 March 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN…
After an overseas mission goes wrong, Army Special Forces officer Jacob Kincaid knows where he must go to make things right: back home to the tiny town of Cedar Ridge, Colorado. All he needs to scrub away his painful past is fresh mountain air, a lakeside cabin, and quiet solitude. But what he discovers is a gorgeous woman living on a boat at his dock.
Sophie Marren has nowhere else to go. She’s broke, intermittently seasick, and fighting a serious attraction to the brooding, dishy, I’m-too-sexy-for-myself guy who’s now claiming her dock. Something about Jacob’s dark intensity makes her want to tease—and tempt—him beyond measure. Neither one wants to give any ground . . . until they realize the only true home they have is with each other.
WOW – Shalvis has outdone herself with Nobody But You! Jacob and Sophie are such great characters, even if they were both pretty closed off to the world at the beginning of the story. Sweet, tender, sexy, humourous and sometimes a little sad, I couldn’t stop reading, and I loved every moment.
I really didn’t think any of the Kincaid siblings would appeal to me more than Hud did, but Jacob managed to steal the first place in my reading heart! Because he was a little bit broken from the war, but also because he was very sensitive and straight-forward, I fell for him even faster than Sophie did! Nobody But You is a beautiful love story, and I have to say the romance Gods must have been with Shalvis while she wrote this. The two main characters are flawed, but they are also strong and wonderful in many ways. I loved Sophie’s sassiness, and the way that made Jacob laugh, especially because he could hardly remember what it was like to laugh anymore.
While Nobody But You is part of the Cedar Ridge series, it can be read as a stand-alone, because Sophie and Jacob manage to keep the story moving forward on their own, even if there is plenty of interactions with other characters as well. Sophie impressed me in many ways, but most of all because she was stubborn. About making it after her ugly divorce, about living on a boat even though it made her sea-sick. About finding her way when it came to her profession, and also because while she kept telling herself she wasn’t made for love, she realized that having a fling with Jacob might very well involve her heart. Jacob touched me deeply as well, between being on leave because he lost the soldier who was closest to him to coming home and dealing with Hud’s hostility, I felt so bad for him! And at the same time, it was very easy to see where Hud was coming from as well.
Written in third person point of view, past tense, but with dialogues that are both witty and hot, Nobody But You is the kind of contemporary romance I love to find myself reading. And one of the very few I am likely to re-read as well. If you haven’t read Shalvis yet, this just might be the perfect book to start with, and if you have, you will fall into step with Sophie and Jacob as if you already know them, and they will take you on a tender and romantic ride.
“Fan-fricking-tastic. Only way today could get better is if I were scheduled for an appendectomy. Without drugs. In a third-world country.”
Snark and a bad ‘tude, like she wouldn’t hesitate to kick someone’s ass if needed to. Didn’t get hotter than that.
Not that she’d run here from the lake. Nope, the only time Sophie did any running was if a bear was chasing her, and that hardly ever happened.
When he’d walked away all those years ago, he’d been a self-righteous, selfish prick. He didn’t want to be that guy anymore. He had no idea what kind of a man he’d be instead, but it was past time to find out.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
I know!!!! I need to read a book by this author! soon! which one should I buy?
I love almost all of the books by her I’ve read, Melliane! Her Lucky Harbor series, Animal Magnetism series and Cedar Ridge series are mostly 5 star reads in my opinion, so pick and choose 🙂
Oh Lexxie, I can tell Shalvis did something a little extra special in Nobody But You. You always love her books but this one seems to have touched you just a little bit more. I, of course, like the sound of Sophie and her stubbornness. That might be something I can relate to. 😉 And I can’t wait to meet Jacob and watch as Sophie teaches him to laugh again. *sigh* Wow, it seems like there’s a lot of emotion in this one. I’m making a promise to you today – I will read Shalvis THIS year. 😀
Happy Friday, my friend. Not quite sure where this week went, but I’m kinda happy the weekend is here. No competitions tomorrow. Yay! **BIG HUGS**
You’re absolutely right, Brandee, this story really touched me very deeply, and I loved both Sophie and Jacob so much!! The way their story unfolded was so well done, and I just felt happy and fulfilled when I finished reading. I am happy it’s the weekend, too! It was a tiring week in many ways 🙂 I’m glad you’ll get to rest this weekend! *BIG HUGS*
So I did skim your review, because I have this book but haven’t read it yet. But I am SOOOOO glad that you loved it so much! I cannot wait to dig into this one.
I totally understand, Quinn, I’m the same way. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!
Twitter: kbaby81
I have a couple of her books on my TBR, so I’ll get to them soon. I don’t think this series is one of them, but I’m sure I’ll read them in the future. Great review!
Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors for contemporary romances, Lekeisha. I hope you’ll enjoy her books as much as I do.
Witty and hot dialogue sounds great. So glad you liked this book!
Witty and hot is a great combination, I agree 😉
I actually found this one my least favourite book in the series, although I did really enjoy it, I just enjoyed the first two books a bit more. I did like Jacob and how he was so straight forward and sensitive. And yes they are both flawed and a little broken, but they are great for each other and they made for a great couple. This was a great series, the first series I read by this author, but I am eager to read some of her other books soon! Great review Lexxie!
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed your first Shalvis series, Lola! I know some other bloggers who didn’t enjoy this as much as the first two books either, so you’re not alone 🙂
Woo Hoo! I am so happy to see you giving this one 5 stars. I should be starting it very soon and I am really needing one of those romances that you can get lost in. Great review!
I think I get more or less lost in all of Shalvis’ romances, Carole, and this was no exception 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did!