Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

***1/2

From Avon:  

Meet cute...

Run for the hills—temporarily. That's Colbie Albright's plan when she flees New York for San Francisco. Wrangling her crazy family by day and writing a bestselling YA fantasy series by night has taken its toll. In short, Colbie's so over it that she's under it. She's also under the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain within an hour of arrival. Fortunately, the guy who fishes Colbie out has her looking forward to Christmas among strangers. But she's pretty sure Spencer Baldwin won't be a stranger for long.

Make merry...

Spence's commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn't have to worry about the powerful—okay, crazy hot chemistry—he's got with Colbie. Just because she can laugh at anything, especially herself... just because she's gorgeous and a great listener just because she gets Spence immediately doesn't mean he won't be able to let Colbie go. Does it?

and hope for a miracle.

Now the clock's ticking for Colbie and Spence: Two weeks to cut loose. Two weeks to fall hard. Two weeks to figure out how to make this Christmas last a lifetime. 

Source:  Electronic advance copy in exchange for an honest review.  

The holiday romance reading frenzy has begun!  I kicked off mine with Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis.  A favorite of mine, Shalvis is known for her awkward and hilarious characters.  I read all her books, but the last few, to me, have been lacking some of her usual hilarity.  While I wouldn't really call Chasing Christmas Eve a holiday romance - it's really a romance that just happens to take place in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  The holiday itself doesn't play much of a role, more just a timing device.... the clock runs out on Christmas Eve, but hey, we will go with it anyway.  

Jill Shalvis is back with her trademark funny in Chasing Christmas Eve!  Colbie is awkward as all hell and the Heartbreaker Bay gang is out in full force making Spence's life more interesting.  Colbie is overwhelmed by her success as a writer and her responsibilities and she runs away from home to find herself in San Francisco.  Specifically at the legendary fountain featured in this series.  Here she runs into Spencer and Elle.  Before she knows it, she's spending her vacation renting out an apartment in the building owned by Spence.  And of course, falling in love.  Colbie felt a little off, but she was Shalvis' trademark hot mess.  And her notes while she was waitressing at Finn's were killing me!  

Spence has always been one of my favorite characters in this series, so I was happy to watch him fall.  :-)  Spencer is the enigmatic geeky millionaire.  He added humor and mystery to the series.  I liked that he wasn't angry about his past.  He was a little defeated about it, but not mopey and angry.  He was surprisingly open to falling for Colbie.  

My only peeve about Chasing Christmas Eve is one that's pretty common in romance novels - it is heavy on the insta-love.  Within three weeks they are changing their lives (and I mean in a cross-country kind of move way) for one another.  Colbie is portrayed as an overly cautious kind of person, so this is pretty out of character for her.  But, like I said, this is a common pet peeve of mine when reading romance.

If you are a Shalvis fan, looking for a holiday themed book, or just a fan of fun, you should definitely check out Chasing Christmas Eve.  I'm always looking for holiday recs, so what's your favorite?

~ Shel

Accidentally on Purpose by Jill Shalvis Sale!

   

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes the sexy, standalone novel, ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, on sale for $1.99 in the eBook format for a limited time only! Grab your copy today at this amazing price!

You know Jill Shalvis is a favorite over here at BiblioJunkies HQ!  We adore her quirky heroines and awkwardly hilarious couples, so if you haven't read Jill Shalvis (and really, why haven't you?!) then you can get this Heartbreaker Bay book for only $1.99!  Check out Shel's review here.


 

About ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE:

There’s no such thing as a little in love . . .

Elle Wheaton’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .

There’s no such thing as a little in lust . . .

Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco earthquake and he craves her 24/7, but Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .

There is such a thing as . . .

As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along . . .

   

ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE in ebook or paperback! ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE is on sale in eBook format for just $1.99 for a limited time only!

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo| Barnes & Noble

       

Add to your Goodreads

EXCERPT:

His hand caught her, long fingers wrapping around her elbow and causing all sorts of unwelcome sensations as he pulled her back around.

                “What?” she asked.

                “Waiting for my apology.”

                “Sure,” she said agreeably. “When hell freezes over.” She lifted her chin, grateful for her four-inch heels so that she could almost, kind of, not quite look him in the eyes. “I’m in charge of this building, Archer, which means I’m in charge of everything that happens in it. I’m also in charge of everyone who works for this building.”

                He cocked his head, looking amused again. “You want to be the boss of me, Elle?” he asked softly.

                I am the boss of you.”

                Now he outright smiled and her breath caught. Damn, stupid, sexy smile. And then there was The Body. Yes, she thought of it in capital letters, it deserved the respect. “If you don’t want to be walking funny tomorrow,” she said, “you’ll stop invading my personal-space bubble.”

                Complete bravado and they both knew it. She’d only been at this job for a year and it’d come as a surprise to her that he’d been in the building at all. An unfortunate coincidence. Before that it’d been years since they’d had any contact, but she still knew enough to get that no one got the better of him.

                He was quick, light on his feet, and physically strong. But that wasn’t what made him so dangerous to her. No, it was his sharp intelligence, his quick wit, how he was willing to go as dark as he needed to in order to do what he thought was right.

                And then there was the biggie—the way he had of making her feel shockingly alive.

                He did as she asked and stepped back but not before pausing to make sure they both knew who was in control here, and it most definitely wasn’t her.

                No one did intimidation like Archer, and in his line of work he could be in a coma and still intimidate everyone in the room. He had muscles on top of muscles but didn’t look beefed up like a body builder might. Instead his body seemed lean and seriously badass, with caramel skin that strayed from light to golden to mocha latte depending on what the season was, giving him a look of indeterminable origin.

                And sexiness.

                It worked for him, allowing him to fit in to just about any situation. Handy on the job, she imagined. But with her he was careful. Distant. And yet she’d seen the way he sometimes looked at her, and on the rare occasion when he’d touched her, like when he guided her through a door with his hand low on her back, he let himself linger. There was always a shocking and baffling yearning beyond both the glances and the touches.

                That, or it was all just wishful thinking.

                Not that it mattered since he still held back with her. The problem was she yearned too. Yearned for him to see her as a woman, strong and capable enough to stand at his side.

                But after what they’d been through, she knew that would never happen. She turned away, annoyed by how her entire body had gone on high alert as always, every inch of her seeming to hum beneath the surface.

                She should have just emailed him.


 

And don’t miss the previous books in Jill Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE and ONE SNOWY NIGHT, now available! Grab your copies HERE!

    About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.      

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

       

Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis Cover Reveal

   

The BiblioJunkies love Jill Shalvis and she has a standing offer to join us on BFF Island to eat cookies and be silly with us.  But until then, we have another Heartbreaker Bay book to show you!  This cover is so gorgeous I want to climb in and hang out at the Bay.  I hope you enjoy it too!  If you haven't started the Heartbreaker Bay Series, there are links below.  If you like your romance smokin' hot and hilariously awkward, Shalvis is the author for you!

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes the next sexy, standalone novel in the Heartbreaker Bay series...

   

About CHASING CHRISTMAS EVE:

Meet cute...

Run for the hills—temporarily. That’s Colbie Albright’s plan when she flees New York for San Francisco. Wrangling her crazy family by day and writing a bestselling YA fantasy series by night has taken its toll. In short, Colbie’s so over it that she’s under it. She’s also under the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain within an hour of arrival. Fortunately, the guy who fishes Colbie out has her looking forward to Christmas among strangers. But she’s pretty sure Spencer Baldwin won’t be a stranger for long.

Make merry...

Spence’s commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn’t have to worry about the powerful—okay, crazy hot—chemistry he’s got with Colbie. Just because she can laugh at anything, especially herself... just because she’s gorgeous and a great listener…just because she “gets” Spencer immediately doesn’t mean he won’t be able to let Colbie go. Does it?

…and hope for a miracle.

Now the clock’s ticking for Colbie and Spence: Two weeks to cut loose. Two weeks to fall hard. Two weeks to figure out how to make this Christmas last a lifetime.

Pre-Order CHASING CHRISTMAS EVE in ebook or paperback, releasing 9/26/17

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo| Barnes & Noble

Add to your Goodreads

EXCERPT: 

The bathroom door opened, and even better than his fantasy, Colbie emerged from a cloud of steam, her willowy body wrapped in one of his towels, her exposed skin gleaming and dewy damp. Her hair had been piled on top of her head, but wavy strands had escaped, clinging to her neck and shoulders. 

He couldn’t tear his gaze off of her. There was just something so uncalculated about her, so . . . natural and easy. She was like a beacon to him, which was both crazy and more than a little terrifying. 

Clearly not seeing him against the wall, she moved with an effortless grace to the suitcase she’d left at the door. Bending low enough to give him a near heart attack, she rifled through her things, mumbling to herself that she should’ve researched more about how to be a normal person instead of how to kill someone with an everyday object.  

“Do you kill a lot of people, then?” Spence asked. 

“Motherforker!” she said with a startled squeak of surprise, whirling to face him, almost losing her grip on the towel. 

Five days a week, Spence worked out hard in this gym. Mostly to outrun his demons, but the upside was he could run miles without losing his breath. But he lost his breath now. 

And that wasn’t his body’s only reaction.    

And don’t miss the previous books in Jill Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE, ONE SNOWY NIGHT and ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, now available! Grab your copies HERE!

About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.      

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

 

Accidentally on Purpose by Jill Shalvis

From Publisher:

There’s no such thing as a little in love . . .

Elle Wheaten’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . . 

There’s no such thing as a little in lust . . .

Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco Earthquake and he wants her 24/7, but Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .


There is such a thing as . . .

As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along. . .

Source:  Advance Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Elle and Archer are ridiculous.  They are ridiculously funny, ridiculously hot, and ridiculously clueless!  While combustible, the couple is completely out of their minds.  Their entire antagonistic relationship is based upon misunderstandings and miscommunications.    

Also, Archer has some serious boundaries issues.  Dude is a stalker.  He may have good intentions, but he's still a stalker and I'm a little disturbed.  Not enough to put down the book, mind you, but if you have issues with controlling puppet masters, Archer may not be your guy.  

Elle.  Well, Elle has more issues than the New York Times.  And for good reasons, but still.  Girl needs to seek some professional help.  

But really, who wants a perfect hero and heroine?  That would be all kinds of boring.  And Jill Shalvis is never boring.  Somehow, these two messed up people fall in love and make a hilarious spectacle for us to enjoy.  Accidentally on Purpose has skinny-dipping, smoking hot chemistry, a little mystery, and a whole lot of dysfunction!  You should definitely pick it up.  I can't wait to see what Jill has in store for Heartbreaker Bay next!  

~Shel

One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis

From Publisher:

It's Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to the family she hasn't seen in years. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, and his big, goofy, lovable dog Carl. 

Hours stuck in a truck with the dead sexy Max sounds like a fate worse than death (not), but Rory's out of options. She's had a crush on Max since high school and she knows he's attracted to her, too. But they have history… and Max is the only one who knows why it went south. 

They've done a good job of ignoring their chemistry so far, but a long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past… and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last

Source:  Advance Copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

We met Rory and Max in The Trouble With Mistletoe.  Rory is the troubled young woman Willa took under her wing.  Max is one of Archer's henchmen with the awesome dog, Carl.  This holiday novella brings Rory and Max into close quarters as Max gives Rory a ride home for the holidays.  An unexpected history, a snowstorm, and Carl are the highlights of One Snowy Night.  Ok, there's also the steamy romance, but Carl, folks, Carl!  

I don't want to give anything away, but you all will want to pick up One Snowy Night as you are settling in for the holiday season.  This novella is perfect!  It's sweet, sexy, and a lot of fun - trademark Jill Shalvis.  

~Shel

A Peek In The BiblioBin #220

Photo source: Bel/Bibliojunkies

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the folks at Tynga's Reviews. It's a way for bloggers to share what books they've won, received for review, purchased, borrowed from the library or friend, received as a gift, grabbed off the bookshelf, etc.

What's in your bin?

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

For Review:

Crazy Pucking Love (Taking Shots #3) by Cindi Madsen

Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay #3) by Jill Shalvis

Wrapped Together (Portland Heat #5) by Annabeth Albert

The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti

And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman


Borrowed:

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis Release Day Blitz

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes a captivating story of love, second chances and new beginnings...

THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE, the second standalone novel in Jill Shalvis's Heartbreaker Bay Series, is out today! Check out the excerpt below and grab your copy of this fantastic new novel today!

 

If she has her way…

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her…

…He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him…

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice…

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but he doesn’t even remember her. How can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish–and let the mistletoe do its work…

Order THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE in ebook or paperback

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

Add to your Goodreads

 

And don’t miss the first novel in Jill Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, now available! Grab your copy HERE!

   

Willa sighed and headed to the door.

              Again Keane held the pink bedazzled cat carrier, which should have made him look ridiculous. Instead it somehow upped his testosterone levels. His sharp eyes were on her but they turned warm in a way that melted her right through her center as she moved toward him. She stopped with the glass door between them, hands on hips, hoping she looked irritated even if that wasn’t quite what she was feeling.

              His gaze lowered from her face to run over her body, which gave her another unwelcome rush of heat. Dammit. Now she was irritated and aroused—not a good combo.

              His mouth quirked at the saying on her apron that read Dear Santa, I Can Explain.

              Drawing a deep breath, she opened the door. “You’ve got Petunia again. I hope that means your great-aunt Sally isn’t still sick.”

              He looked surprised that she’d remembered his aunt’s name, or that she’d care. “I don’t know,” he said a little gruffly. “She left me a message saying that I was in charge for the rest of the week but for two days now Pita’s been happily destroying my jobsite. I’m throwing myself on your mercy here. Can you help?”

              Wow. He must be really desperate since he was actually asking and not assuming. But since Petunia was a sweetheart, she knew she’d do it.

              “I’ll even tell you where I went to high school,” he said, adding a smile that was shockingly charming.

              Wow. He hadn’t lost his touch when it came to turning it on. “Not necessary,” she said, painfully aware of their audience.

              Keane’s attention was suddenly directed upward, just above her head. She followed his line of sight and found a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the overhead display of small portable doggy pools. Mistletoe? What the hell? She glanced behind her and what do you know, suddenly Rory and Cara were a flurry of movement racing around looking very, very busy. “When did the mistletoe go up?” she asked them. “And why?”

              “FOMO,” Cara said from behind the counter.

              “Fear of missing out,” Rory translated. “She was hoping a hot guy would come in and the mistletoe would give her an excuse.”

              Willa narrowed her eyes and her two soon-to-be-dead employees scattered again.

              “Interesting,” Keane said, looking amused.

              “I’m not kissing you.”

              His mouth curved. “If you take Pita for the day, I’ll kiss you.”

              “Not necessary,” she said, gratified no one could see her heart during the two-step in her ears. “I’ll take Petunia for the day. No kiss required or wanted.”

              Liar, liar…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.    

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

   

The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis - Excerpt Reveal

From New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis comes a captivating story of love, second chances and new beginnings...

We are thrilled to bring you this excerpt from Jill Shalvis's upcoming release, THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE! This second standalone novel in The Heartbreaker Bay Series is releasing September 27th! Don't miss the excerpt below, and make sure to preorder your copy today!

 

About THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE:

If she has her way…

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her…

…He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him…

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice…

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but he doesn’t even remember her. How can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish–and let the mistletoe do its work…

Pre-Order THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE in ebook or paperback, releasing 9/27/16

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo| Barnes & Noble

Add to your Goodreads

Excerpt:

She watched Keane take in the two newest Christmas trees, one in front of O’Riley’s Pub, the other in front of Reclaimed Woods, both decorated in simple red and gold balls. The only sound around them was the soft trickle of the water flowing from the fountain and some lovelorn crickets mourning the dawn’s lack of warmth.

              “Legend states that if you make a wish with a true heart, true love will find you,” she said.

              He met her gaze. “Legend also states that if you put your tooth under your pillow the Tooth Fairy will leave you cash.”

              She slowed, as always the fountain calling to her to make a wish. Keane slowed too, looking at her with a question.

              She searched her pockets for change, but could only come up with a dog treat. “Damn.” It was the swear jar’s fault, all her spare change always ended up in there.

              “What?”

              “I wanted to make a wish,” she said.

              A small smile crossed his face. “You want to make a wish? You’ve lived here for how long and you’ve never made one?”

              “Oh, I have.” She paused. “I like to.”

              This garnered her a raised brow. “How many times have you wished?”

              She bit her lower lip.

              “More than once?”

              Well, crap. How had they gotten on this subject? “Um…”

              “More than…five?”

              “Gee, would you look at the time?” she asked and tried to go but he caught her and brought her back around, his smile now a broad grin.

              “Fine,” she said. “If you must know, I toss a coin in every time I walk by.”

              He lost the battle with his laughter and she stared at him. Seriously, he had the best laugh. “It worked for Pru, I’ll have you know,” she told him. “She wished for true love to find Finn, and then he fell in love with her.”

              And Willa had been wishing ever since, even knowing how ridiculous and silly it was.

              “So…you’ve been wishing for true love for who exactly?” he asked.

              She stared at him in dismay. How had she not thought this through? “Me,” she admitted, slapping her pockets because surely she had even a penny. “But I intend to fix that right now. I’ll just wish for love for someone else.”

              “Who?” he asked warily.

              She narrowed her eyes at his fear. “You. Got any change?”

     

And don’t miss the first novel in Jill Shalvis’ Heartbreaker Bay Series, SWEET LITTLE LIES, now available! Grab your copy HERE!

About Jill Shalvis: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s sexy contemporary and award-winning books wherever romances are sold and click on the blog button above for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

   

Waiting on Wednesday (193)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.



By HelenKay Dimon
Publication Date: September 13, 2016

HelenKay Dimon’s suspenseful, provocative series of double agents and dark desire continues with a novel featuring two men bound by a dangerous job—and by the cravings they feel for each other.

As the son of an international crime lord, Will Rivers only inherited one thing after his father died: trouble. The Pentasus organization deals in kidnapping and murder, and Will wants no part of the power grab that’s tearing leadership apart. But the only way he’ll be able to escape is with some help from his former bodyguard, Hunter Cain, whose sculpted body and brooding looks keep Will awake at night. Somehow, Hunter has resisted the tension between them . . . until, suddenly, he gives in.

As a German intelligence officer working deep undercover, Hunter has a very good reason to keep Will in the dark about his identity and his intentions. Although the sex is hot, Hunter’s true feelings are a growing liability. Now the only way to save Will from his old life is to push him deeper into danger. But when two strong men are each determined to protect the other, the heat isn’t just combustible—it’s a firestorm.

By Jill Shalvis
Publication Date: September 27, 2016

If she has her way . . .

Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her . . .

He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.

Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him . . .

Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice . . .

Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but he doesn’t even remember her.  How can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work . . .



By Tana French
Publication Date: October 4, 2016

Antoinette Conway, the tough, abrasive detective from The Secret Place, is still on the Murder squad, but only just. She's partnered up with Stephen Moran now, and that's going well - but the rest of her working life isn't. Antoinette doesn't play well with others, and there's a vicious running campaign in the squad to get rid of her. She and Stephen pull a case that at first looks like a slam-dunk lovers' tiff, but gradually they realise there's more going on: someone on their own squad is trying to push them towards the obvious solution, away from nagging questions. They have to work out whether this is just an escalation in the drive to get rid of her - or whether there's something deeper and darker going on. 

Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis

***

All it takes is one wish to gain your heart’s desire, but with this wishing well, you better be ready for the fates to throw you a curveball…

Ever the rational one, Finn is the brains behind the bar he runs with his wild brother—but lately it seems like he’s just been going through the motions. The tragedy of his mother’s death all those years ago still feels like yesterday and it’s only when Pru, the feisty new girl, appears that he realizes there’s more to life than hanging on to the past. And with sexy, adventurous Pru, there might even be a future. 

Pru made a wish—but not for herself. New to town, but more familiar with Finn than she’d like to admit, she made a wish for him…that he might fall in love and find the happiness he deserves. But as she helps him find joy in every fun, quirky way possible, Pru realizes she’s in over her head—and her heart. 

Pru’s secret could ruin everything, but will the truth set them free? Or will the pain of the past ruin any chance at new love? 

Set in beautiful San Fransisco, Sweet Little Lies is the perfect read for a snowy winter day.  Shalvis expertly transports you to the Bay, filled with hot alpha males with beautiful souls, making you wish Heartbreaker Bay was real.  

Sweet Little Lies introduces us to Pru, a young woman whose life was changed when she called her parents to pick her up from a party, resulting in her parents being killed in a car accident.  Making matters worse, her father had been drinking.  Pru carries the guilt of that accident, trying her best to help all those who were hurt and the surviving family of the man who was killed.  She just didn't plan on falling for the son of that man.

Finn thinks meeting Pru was just happenstance and falls hard for her.  He has a very close and small group of friends.  They are the family he and his brother have chosen after a childhood with an abusive father, Finn was forced to come home from college to raise his little brother, Sean, when his dad died in a car accident.  He's spent the last eight years holding everything together and building a life by sheer force of will.  He doesn't let anyone else in, until Pru.  

I love Jill Shalvis, but my problem with her most recent books is that the heroine does something bad to the hero (here, Pru purposefully inserts herself into Finn's life without telling him who she is and why she's doing it), then the hero finds out, after the window of opportunity for the heroine to come clean, and usually because something else has happened to force the heroine's hand.  Hero then gets angry and leaves.  Somehow, hero in considering the circumstances, realizes that despite being the wronged party, it's somehow his fault that heroine lied or omitted material facts.  His friends and/or family all tell him it's his fault.  And finally, hero finds heroine and apologizes to her!  I get that this is fiction and we all want everything to be someone else's fault, but this scenario really gets on my nerves!  I have this crazy sense of fairness and a logical mind and this situation goes against everything in me!  

That being said, Sweet Little Lies is my favorite recent Shalvis read.  Finn and his crew of crazy friends are awesome.  Pru is, well, she carries a massive amount of guilt and desperation.  She's strong in many ways, but terrified of life and living, instead she buries herself in this quest as a means to keep from really putting herself out there.  In the end, Finn and Pru are a great match - he's steadfast and loyal, which is what Pru needs most of all.  I'm interested to see how Shalvis pairs up the remaining friends.  

~ Shel

Waiting on Wednesday (188)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.


By Jill Shalvis
Publication Date: June 28, 2016

Choose the one guy you can’t have . . .

As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.

Fall for him—hard . . .

Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.

And then tell him the truth.

Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . . 


By Garret Leigh
Publication Date: July 4, 2016

Web designer Jodi Peters is a solitary creature. Lunch twice a week with his ex-girlfriend-turned-BFF and the occasional messy venture to a dodgy gay bar is all the company he needs, right? 

Then one night he stumbles across newly divorced firefighter Rupert O’Neil. Rupert is lost and lonely, but just about the sweetest bloke Jodi has ever known. Add in the heady current between them, and Jodi can’t help falling hard in love. He offers Rupert a home within the walls of his cosy Tottenham flat—a sanctuary to nurture their own brand of family—and for four blissful years, life is never sweeter. 

Until a cruel twist of fate snatches it all away. A moment of distraction leaves Jodi fighting for a life he can’t remember and shatters Rupert’s heart. Jodi doesn’t know him—or want to. With little left of the man he adores, Rupert must cling to what remains of his shaky faith and pray that Jodi can learn to love him again.



By Chanel Cleeton
Publication Date: July 5, 2016

From the author of Fly with Me and the Capital Confessions Novels comes the newest in the sexy Wild Aces Romance series.

Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée.

Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.

Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?

Nobody But You by Jill Shalvis

From Forever Romance/Grand Central:

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.

Nobody But You is classic Jill Shalvis, combining hilarious hijinx with heart.  Jacob's journey seeking home, acceptance and forgiveness is set against the beautifully imagined Cedar Ridge, Colorado.  Jacob is the long lost twin of Hudson Kincaid, who we met in My Kind of Wonderful.  Hud and Jacob had a big fight at eighteen and Jacob took off and joined the Army, not to be heard from again for nine years.  The reunion is anything but smooth and in true Kincaid fashion, Jacob is given hell.  The Kincaid family is a hilarious hot mess and I love them so much.  

He's also given hell by Sophie, the crazy heroine of our story, who is recently divorced and living on her ex-husband's boat out of spite.  Their story is sweet and sexy, but it's Jacob's journey that is poignant and inspiring.  It's a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, grief and love that made me laugh and cry.  

You should definitely pick up Nobody But You so that you can love Jacob Kincaid as much as I do.  We can fight over our newest book boyfriend for hours.  :-)

~ Shel