About That Kiss: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel

What makes reading fun is watching an author explore new directions. About That Kiss is Jill Shalvis veering into new territory, but reminding readers, she has the talent to back it up. While keeping with tradition and seducing our socks off, Joe and Kylie add some mystery to the lovable canvas of Heartbreaker Bay. What began with a kiss grew in a most intriguing way. From a scene stealing dog, to a curmudgeonly father, a flighty mother and a missing penguin, Ms. Shalvis keeps the charm while adding a hint of suspense. What I enjoy most about the crew from Heartbreaker Bay is that they show how love can build a family. Blood may not bind them but heart does.

Kylie Masters missed her grandfather terribly. He was an extraordinary woodworking artist and a loving guardian. Although Kylie wasn’t as talented as her late grandfather, her woodworking was still remarkable and sought after. Kylie was embarrassed by her mother’s flirtatious and loose behavior. Kylie kept a tight control over her emotions. She didn’t want to become her mother. But after a favorite possession of hers was stolen, and she started, to receive blackmail notes regarding it, Kylie enlisted the help of a handsome investigator, one whom she once shared a kiss with, Joe Malone. Kylie sincerely hoped that she hadn’t inherited her mother’s provocative ways. Keeping her sexual feelings hidden was Kylie’s norm. But, when it came to Joe Malone, control seemed to be the farthest thing from Kylie’s mind. And the more time she spent with Joe, the harder it became to resist the handsome investigator. About That Kiss is an enjoyable read. If you love romance with a bit of mystery, this may be just the book for you. Thank you, Avon Publishing and Edelweiss, for my advanced review copy.

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.