Hot Winter Nights
by Jill Shalvis
Series: Heartbreaker Bay, #6
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Who needs mistletoe?
Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . .
Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas . . .
What a great read! Molly and Lucas were all sorts of fun and I just loved the mystery surrounding “Bad Santa.” There was plenty of chemistry between these two and I loved the snark and banter that added some laughter throughout.
I really loved both Lucas and Molly. Even though they both have issues from their past that they have let shape their lives, once these two got a taste of one another it was hard for either of them to deny that what they had was more than something casual. I loved watching their relationship develop as they worked together on the bad Santa case and found themselves sharing more of their personal lives with each, especially when they got to visit with each other’s family. Molly is so smart, capable, and strong, and I loved that Lucas respected that and let her take the lead on the case they were working. I also loved that Molly knew when she needed to call for backup and wasn’t afraid to let Lucas know when she needed him. What I probably loved most was the banter between the two – some of their conversations were so much fun and Molly very rarely let a conversation go by that she didn’t try to interject some humor into.
“I don’t know if I should say. You look ready to have a mantrum.”
He scowled. “What the hell is a mantrum?”
“It’s like a tantrum, only worse because a grown ass man is having it.” She smiled.
He did not. The muscles in his jaw ticked. “I don’t have mantrums. I want to know exactly what I said.” He paused. “And did.”
One of the best things about this book is the family that has been formed from all of the friends that are brought together in this series and offer up a supporting role, and we are treated to not just learning more about the main characters in the book, but we often get to learn more about many of the supporting characters to keep the series arc fresh as well. There is such a unique setting in the series – taking place in San Francisco, but focusing, for the most part, on the apartment building with its magical fountain where most of the characters either work or live – and it works so well bringing a small town feel to the book and series.“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said very seriously.
“I’m not going to rate your performance last night.”
“That’s not—” He paused, his eyes sharpened. “Wait. What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“So you’re saying I did suck.”
She had to laugh. “Well, if you can’t remember it, how good could it really have been, right?”
This is book 6 in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. There are so many great characters in this series it would be a shame not to start at the beginning though!
Hot Winter Nights is another wonderful read from Jill Shalvis and definitely worth checking out!
I received an advance reader copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
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