Genres: Contemporary Romance
Published by Avon
Released on January 23, 2018
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
The Delight
What isn’t delightful about another Jill Shalvis story? I love everything about her Heartbreaker Bay series and I binged on a few of her other series last year. Vinnie is my favorite character, being the cute, but unpredictable dog of the this story. We jump back into a world of friends, love, and family. I couldn’t have asked for more…oh, wait, laughs – and there were plenty of those.
Review
But ever since Kissgate, she’d gone back to pretending he was a bug on her windshield, which, he had to admit, rankled. “Morning,” he said easily. “Let me guess. You’re here for another kiss.” He smiled. “They always come back for more.”
Shalvis, Jill. About That Kiss: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel (pp. 36-37). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
We pick up with this story as if no time had passed. Kylie is a woodwork, creating wonderful master pieces in the local shop. She was raised by her grandfather after her mother flaked out on raising her. The mother isn’t a bad person, just kind of flighty and never grew up. Oh, and Vinnie, my favorite character, is the pet comic relief every story should have. Kylie has some hang ups that come from her upbringing and some guilt over something traumatic in her life.
Joe is a piece of work. He works for Archer at the security company taking down bad guys, tailing people and so much more. Shy about love, he still can’t deny his attraction to Kylie. An alley way kiss with her has kept her in his mind even when he isn’t near her. With his sister’s birthday coming up, Joe has a list and the top thing she wants is a gift only Kylie can make.
Breaking free, Kylie started to smile, so proud. “Yes! You’ve finally learned to fetch—” She broke off in horror as Joe burst out laughing.
Vinnie had “fetched” her vibrator.
Face flaming, she bent and scooped it up and shoved it beneath a couch cushion. “I have no idea how he got ahold of that . . . light saber.”
At that, Joe only laughed harder. He had to bend over and put his hands on his knees, and by the time he’d finished and straightened back up, swiping at his eyes, she was hands on hips, definitely cooled off . . . and so embarrassed she could hardly talk. “You have to go now,” she managed.
“Because you don’t need me since you have a vibrator?”
“Light saber!” She opened the front door.
When Kylie realizes her wooden carved penguin is gone, she goes to Joe to hire him. It’s the only thing left of her grandfather’s carvings that she owns, so it has a lot of sentimental value. But does she let Joe do his job? Yep, but with one caveat, she is going with him to check everyone out on the list.
The tension between the two is the main thread of the story. While the side story of hunting down who stole her penguin is integrated into their encounters, it takes a backstage to all the shenanigans Kylie gets into.
While Kylie’s mother is part of the story, her part is a little flighty and money hungry. Joe’s sister is a rock and part of the core group of friends. Joe’s father on the other hand is a handful of both delight and angst. He puts in his fair share of time between the pages, showing us who Joe really is at the core and not the surface.
“Well, no matter what happens, pizza will always be there for you,” Tina said. “Through thick and thin, in crust we trust.”
Shalvis, Jill. About That Kiss: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel (p. 246). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
The core group of friends is still around and I love catching up on what’s going on between them all. Grab a muffin and don’t tell Tina you didn’t get it from her shop and enjoy this wonderful story of friends, lovers and family.
Challenges
Bad Boys of Romance #2
Review Writing Challenge #6
Literary Pickers #4 – Specialty Tea or Coffee
Books ‘N Tunes #3 – If This is Love by Ruth B
Recommendations
Preview
About Jill Shalvis
New York Times 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 bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Bad Boys of Romance Challenge - 2018
- Books 'N Tunes Challenge - 2018
- Literary Pickers - 2018
- Review Writing Challenge - 2018
Shari
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