About That Kiss: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel

Ever since Joe Malone and Kylie Masters shared that earth shattering kiss outside of the bar, they avoid each other like the plague. Neither of them ever expected a kiss would make them feel all those feelings. Kylie couldn't understand why Joe wouldn't talk to her. Joe Malone is a loner. He was in the Army's special forces, did a stint in the MMA and now works for Archer at his security/investigation company. Joe also is Molly's brother. When Joe needs to get Molly a birthday present, a mirror that Kylie made at her woodworking shop, Joe must finally talk to Kylie. I just loved the smart aleck banter between these two! When something important to Kylie goes missing, she makes a deal with Joe....he helps her find her penguin and she will make Molly a mirror. Kylie insists on being with Joe every step of the investigation. This of course causes a lot of great moments between the two of them. As they spend more time together, their feelings start to come out. This was such a fun, sexy story. I loved these two characters. They were both stubborn but so great together. The added mystery with the penguin was fun. Overall, another great story by Jill Shalvis!

Kylie is the singleton (and decidedly so) in our little group of friends. She’s gone the opposite route of her mother – avoiding romantic entanglements as she struggles with a massive childhood-long crush on her boss, and missing her beloved grandfather. She’s poured all of her love into Vinnie – a little mixed breed, totally clumsy dog who once ran into a glass door, and now ‘tests’ every doorway he meets with an upraised paw. A bit more than unconventional, wood shavings and sawdust are never far from her – and while she is truly happy for her friends in love – she’s decided she’ll never have that feeling or security because no one will want her enough. Plenty of emotional trauma – she feels not enough after her mother dumping her with her grandfather, and his death in a fire in the workshop she grew up in. Joe was a kid who grew up too fast and had to take on the responsibility of feeding and housing his father and sister after his mother’s death. His father is suffering from extreme PTSD – and as a kid Joe did everything to keep them fed and his little sister Molly safe. When everything went pear shaped – he had two choices: military or jail. The military brought Joe some control of his temper – and he was a very good soldier – now working as the number two man in Archer’s security company – he’s a point man on most of the difficult assignments, and completely able to keep his mind on his job. But his sister’s injuries are riding him hard – his guilt over that, and the worries that anyone close to him is in danger keeps him at arm’s length from anything real with a woman. Until Kylie. When after a kiss – he can’t get her out of his mind. With Molly’s birthday coming up, and her wanting a mirror that Kylie made – Joe agrees to ‘help’ Kylie find a token, the only piece of her grandfather she has left, now being held for ransom – ransom paid with her authentication of a formerly ‘lost’ piece from her famous grandfather and a lower-quality piece of work – both set to be sold at auction in a few weeks. Oh these two are so stubborn – Joe has never met anyone more determined, more headstrong or even more intrusive in his work or life. He can’t stop thinking about her, and trying to protect her – even when she refuses to follow instructions or let him quietly find the little penguin carving and the miscreant who stole it. He’s intrigued and entranced by her: her look, her humor – even the crazy wigs she drags out for ‘disguises – and she asks questions that hit right at his heart – questions he’s not always ready to answer. The two are so closed off and busy denying the connection between them – they are pieces that fit together – the last in the puzzle that is their lives – and it takes almost losing one another and strong words from Joe’s team-members and sister, as well as careful and considered levels of fear of the women in this little Cow Town community of friends and manufactured family that has them finally finding the truth. Again, Shalvis has led us to yet another connection brought together by proximity and circumstance, tempered with friends, family and love, and perhaps a bit of magic from the fountain. I love this series and story – while the other couples are making small cameo appearances and moments that show support – this book fits perfectly into the series and gives us yet another ‘couple’ in this building full of people – once strangers, now family. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

This is the story of Joe Malone, an ex-special ops who is currently working at an investigation and security firm, and Kylie Masters, a brilliant woodworker. Kylie was raised by her grandfather who was a famous woodworker. He died in a fire when Kylie was a teenager. Kylie has only one thing left of her grandfather, a special carving he'd made for her when she was young. One day as she was leaving work, she realizes the carving is gone. Joe has had the hots for Kylie for awhile, but he's not a relationship kind of guy, and so he's tried to steer clear of her. Until she comes barging into his office one day needing his help to find a carving that means a lot to her. Joe needs a special mirror that Kylie had made for his sisters birthday, but the original one had been sold. They work a deal out. Joe would help find Kylie's carving in exchange for an identical mirror to be made before his sisters birthday. What happens next had me laughing and feeling all hot and bothered! There is such strong chemistry between Joe and Kylie, yet they try so hard to fight it. Their kisses are enough to melt my kindle! Let alone what happens when they finally give in! I loved how strong and sassy Kylie is, and how protective and loving Joe is when it comes to those that matter to him. I highly recommend this book! I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.