Once In A Lifetime (Lucky Harbor #9) by Jill Shalvis

Contemporary Romance

From Goodreads:

After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniel tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he's back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she's not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.

Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben - even though he has absolutely no idea what she's done . . .

Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor.

This time Jill Shalvis wrote about the Mean Girl in town.  Aubrey Wellington is trying to make changes.  I loved Aubrey.  She has had a tough life but is trying to put it all behind her.  She is strong and very honest about who she is now, who she was in the past and who she wants to be. 

Ben McDaniel on the other hand is back to town to stay after running away five years ago when his wife was killed in an auto accident.  He like’s Aubrey, enjoys spending time with her but is very busy protecting himself from pain.  He is still hiding and is not very honest about his feelings or where he is right now.  You can tell that he is a very caring person from the way he reacts to the five-year-old twins that cross his path.  He just needs to learn how to show that care to Aubrey.

I enjoyed watching Ben and Aubrey make the journey to their HEA.  I did not know all of the back-story from some of the side characters but  I could tell they had a book of their own.  I did love how they supported both Ben and Aubrey.  It was fun seeing them take both to task. 

Once in a Lifetime can stand-alone.  However, if you enjoyed Ben and Aubrey you have eight previous books to pick up and read.

Grand Central Publishing published Once in a Lifetime by Jill Shalvis in 2014.

I received an ARC of Once in a Lifetime from Netgalley.