About That Kiss (Heartbreaker Bay, #5)

by Jill Shalvis

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

Wow! Jill Shalvis has done it again. The Heartbreaker series gets better
with each installment. I am yet to read a book from the series I did not enjoy and About That Kiss did not disappoint. Jill Shalvis created a swoony, slow burn romance with a dash of mystery, which kept me turning the pages and had me smiling to the end.





Prior to its release, I had the pleasure of reading an excerpt, which clued me into the fun I would have with this title. You know you are bound to have a fun and exciting journey when the main characters in the story can barely tolerate each other but their chemistry is off the charts.


Joe and Kylie intrigued me from the moment I first met them, so I was happy to discover they would be the focus of this installment. Learning about these two was indeed a treat. The possibility of them becoming a couple seemed unlikely, that was until the search for a wood penguin, Kylie’s most treasured possession, threw them together forcing them to acknowledge the chemistry which existed between them. The more time they spent together solving the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Kylie’s penguin, the more their attraction to each other grew. I enjoyed interacting with them as a couple. You should know though Kylie was no pushover. She wanted all of Joe and was not willing to settle for less. I admired her stance, which proved she knew her worth as a woman.


The story of Joe’s past was surprising. This was due to how he presented himself. He always seems to have everything together, but I came to realise he showed the side he wanted persons to see. His childhood was not a pleasant one, and he had to deal with tragedy from an early age. Added to that, he found himself in dangerous situations. He allowed his past to determine how he now lived his life, which had a negative and positive impact. Professionally, it made him a better soldier, fighter and protector, but personally, it prevented him from maintaining long-lasting relationships.


It was a pleasure reconnecting with the characters from the previous instalments. The bonds of friendship were as strong as ever. I enjoyed the humorous rapport between the gang and loved the way they had each other backs.


Besides the romance, which had me turning the pages, the mystery element had me hooked. My curiosity about who was behind the missing wooden penguin was on high alert. I could not wait to find out who was taunting Kylie. Trying to figure out the person behind the missing penguin placed them both in precarious and at times humorous situations. However, no matter how dangerous things became they were determined to solve the mystery.


Conclusion and Recommendation

About That Kiss is another of my favourite reads for 2018. It combined all the ingredients to make for a fantastic story. Mystery, romance and suspense it delivered them all. I can’t wait to see which couple’s story will be next.