Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay, #2)

by Jill Shalvis

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

After reading ‘Sweet Little Lies’ by Jill Shalvis, I could not wait to read ‘The Trouble with Mistletoe’. This is the second book in the Heartbreaker Bay series, however, it can be read as a stand-alone. This Willa’s story, whom I had the pleasure to have met in Sweet Little Lies.This book provided the perfect blend of humour and romance. It was a light and fun read which addressed some serious issues. It was a story of friendships and finding love when you least expected it. The characters were fun and I could not help but laugh at their antics. However, for me, the star of this show was Petunia, the cat that the male protagonist was forced to care for on his great-aunt’s behalf.Keane found himself saddled with a cat he considered to be from hell. Despite the fact that the cat hated him, he was willing to help out his great-aunt. This demonstrated the kind of man that he was. He was compassionate and cared deeply for his family, despite his miserable childhood. Due to his hectic work schedule, he was unable to take care of Petunia during the days, so he sought the assistance of Willa. Now Willa knew who he was, but Keane had no idea that there was history between them. Willa had been carrying a grudge all these years, but the fact that he did not remember her added insult to injury. But then things took a direction that she never expected, especially since she was on a hiatus from men.Willa and Keane were great together. However, there were times when their actions were frustrating. Willa more so than Keane. It was evident that Willa was confused as it relates to her feelings for Keane. Initially, she failed to see that the crux of the problem laid with her. I understood her need to be cautious given her past. However, I hated that she was allowing the past to dictate her future in a negative way. As a result, the relationship between her and Keane was an emotional tug of war. My respect for her grew a notch when she finally recognized the real problem and tried to make amends.The romance was well developed, believable and well-paced. Another highlight of this novel was the camaraderie between friends. They had each other’s back no matter what. VERDICT:
If you enjoy stories with a Christmas theme, then you will love this story. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.