Hot Winter Nights: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel

Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis Hearetbreaker Bay #6 Sitting here thinking about what to write about this book I have a smile on my face…and…thinking about the time spent reading this book I remember smiling throughout the story of Molly and Lucas and how they finally end up with their personal happily ever after. This book is a romantic mystery with some suspense but it is also a whole lot more. Shalvis has created a community of people that come alive on the pages and are there for one another. There are friendships and relationships and couples and romances and sharing and caring and…I could go on and on. In this story we find out more about Molly Malone and Lucas Knight. Molly started out as a receptionist at Hunt Investigations where her brother Joe works. As the only female working for the business she knows she wants to be one of the investigators in the field and not stuck in the office doing research only. The team of alpha males she works with sees her more as a little sister in need of protection and yet her goal is to be on the team as an equal member out in the field. Lucas is Joe’s partner in the field and his best friend. He may have had some lustful feelings for Molly but would never act on them because she is who she is and it is just not right to go there…no matter what. And yet when he finds her in his bed one morning and can’t remember anything about the previous night well…what is he supposed to do? When Molly and Lucas end up working on the Naughty Santa investigation together their relationship begins to change. Sure, they have chemistry and know what they want and what should not happen but…one thing leads to another and the story definitely heats up in more ways than one I loved Lucas – oh my did I love him! Charming, gorgeous, fit and a perfect book boyfriend who managed to see the strong Molly that others did not! And Molly was such a strong female lead with her brains, humor, pluck and indomitable will. I loved how much both cared for friends and family and eventually for one another. The way they communicated and trusted and shared…really spoke to what a real relationship should be. I love this author, this series and this wonderful book that still has me smiling as I finish writing my review. Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

Love visiting Heartbreaker Bay and this was no exception. Loved Molly and Lucas. Molly has a very strong personality and and won't let men stand in her way. Lucas is recovering from a gunshot wound and has been hired by Molly's brothers to keep her safe while trying to catch Bad Santa, and not to fall in love with Molly. Loved these characters with banter and one liners, had me laughing out loud many times. Loved watching their relationship grow, they both understood each other so well. With the added element of suspense, it makes for the perfect read. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. I highly recommend this series.

Molly Malone has spent the past two years as Office Manager at Hunt Investigations, first proving she could handle the basics, and quickly becoming indispensable to Archer and the boys: her research is impeccable, organization skills second to none – and she makes the best coffee in the building. Oh – and she does all of this without allowing herself to be over-talked, bullied, pushed or ignored by the boys, even when they are desperate to ignore her. But Molly, despite having solid friendships, a brother who is constantly on the lookout for her, a new sister-in-law and plenty of tasks to keep her busy, is bored. She wants more challenges – to be put in the field and in charge of her own case – despite the near-constant refrains from her boss and his crew that she isn’t ready. Lucas took a bullet while rescuing an innocent in his last assignment, and is feeling more than a bit restless with the ‘doctor mandated’ resting period. That boredom also popped him off his game when after downing his painkillers, he joined the crew at Finn’s pub downstairs, and a glass of whiskey left him waking in the morning to an unknown woman in his bed and no memory of the night before. Lucas has been, for the last few years, unwilling to commit to a relationship, or even more than a second date. He’s also pulled back from his family, keeping them ignorant of his very dangerous job, and the thrill he gets. But this, with a night he doesn’t remember with Molly of all people, his partner’s little sister, he’s sure that nothing but trouble will follow. Far more a story of Lucas and Molly as they find their relationship moving from friends to working operative colleagues to lovers, and all of the individual hang ups that they both have regarding relationships. Oh, and the action – serious action as everyone at Hunt Investigations sees that Molly, despite being mouthier than is strictly necessary, isn’t all talk – she can (and does) back it up with some seriously clever moves that she’s learned and adapted to allow for the lasting effects of her injuries. And when Lucas is first confronted with the business end of a shotgun when meeting Molly’s father, the horrifyingly hysterical realization comes to readers that these two are meant to be – even though they don’t see it themselves. Add in the attraction that leaps off the page, two characters more interested in remaining independent despite their off-the-chains chemistry than they expected, and quickly fall into the ‘no strings’ trap that, of course, ties them both up in knots to rival a macramé hammock, their fate is nearly destined. Nearly only because the operation they are both working on quickly goes pear-shaped, and both their lives are in danger… If you’ve not read the Heartbreaker Bay series – What are you waiting for? Go Get it NOW. What’s not to like? You’ve got friends to lovers, solid friendships, puppies, Alpha males who are little more than putty when it comes to their women, a legendary fountain, issues to work through and plenty of laughs and more than a subtle push from a homeless hippie who misses nothing. And, it’s got the moments from Shalvis that everyone loves: that small-town community feel where everyone has a place and someone to watch their back, chemistry that is off the chain, puppies, snark, laughs and acceptance that all come together with a dash of magic: guaranteed to take you away on an adventure. And, better still, if you’ve read the series – this is yet another wonderful installment in the series - one of my favorites for sure. I received a paperback copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.