About That Kiss (Heartbreaker Bay, #5)

by Jill Shalvis

[Sam@WLABB]

I am never disappointed when I read a Jill Shalvis book, and once again, she has delighted me.

It is no secret that I am a Shalvis fan-girl. Her romances are always fun and flirty with a little heat, a touch of drama, and a lot of heart. With each new Heartbreaker Bay novel, I become even more and more entrenched in this world, and my fondness for this group of friends multiplies.

Who?
• Kylie, a furniture maker, who was leery, that she had inherited her mother’s romantic shortcomings, and was harboring an unrequited crush on her childhood friend and current boss.

• Joe, a special ops-turned-PI best known for his no-strings relationships and lack of attachments.

What?
The two shared one drunken, yet phenomenal kiss, but Joe failed to followup, and Kylie decided to label him a frenemy. When her beloved woodcarving was stolen, much to Joe’s surprise, she sought his expertise in retrieving the item. As they searched for the stolen penguin, the sparks flew, and Kylie and Joe needed to decide if they would extinguish the fire or fan the flames.

Why?
It was so wonderful being back in Cow’s Hollow! I was so excited to get to know Joe better, and Shalvis did not disappoint. His backstory was filled with a lot of heartbreak and some stuff that was a little shocking too. We got to meet his sister and his father, and I loved seeing them interact. All of this really made me admire what Joe made of himself, and I was cheering for him to unpack his baggage so he could find his HEA.

Kylie was also lugging around some heavy bags. She was harboring a ton of guilt associated with her grandfather’s death, as well as a crush which was keeping her from exploring other possibilities. I really liked that Kylie wanted to be her own hero. She may have needed help, but she was going to sit on the sidelines as someone did all the work for her. She was a signature Shalvis heroine. Strong minded and willing to make the best choices for herself, even if they are difficult choices. She knew she deserved more and was not willing to compromise. She had a lot of tenacity, and that is a quality I admire.

It was so fun watching this romance blossom as they got closer to solving the mystery of the missing wood carving. Each new suspect came with a reveal about both Kylie and Joe, and by the end of this caper, I had a rather complete picture of both these lovable characters.

As always, we are treated to many interactions with the other denizens of Cow’s Hollow and their furry friends. This colorful cast never fails to make me smile or make me jealous that I am not part of their squad (seriously, is the room for rent in the building?). We got some major updates on a certain pairing, which put a stupid grin on my face. Speaking of couples, they are starting to outnumber the singles, so I am keeping my eyes wide open for new friends to join this group, since I am not yet ready to leave this place.

Overall: Another fabulous Shalvis romance, which delighted me and left me looking forward to the next Heartbreaker Bay book.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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