Jill ShalvisHot Winter Nights: A Heartbreaker Bay Novel (Heartbreaker Bay, 6)

As much as I liked the story, this book was my least favorite. The characters were both mostly likeable, they had decent chemistry and the story was engaging. It wasn't a bad book but it had a flaw that I couldn't get past. I thought it was great that Molly had an ambition to be a field investigator and I was all for her achieving that goal. However, she expected to be put on a case solo with pretty much no training outside of boxing with Caleb, knowing her way around a background check and growing up on the rough side of town. I found that pretty hard to swallow. The rest of the team were former police/agents/soldiers before working with Archer. She was way out of her depth. Sure she had some skills but she had no idea when to use them and when to wait. She was always full speed ahead, danger be damned. If she had been receiving some actual field agent training or was going to receive some training, it would be easier to believe that giving her field assignments would be a good idea. But nope. On top of her lack of training, she wasn't exactly a team player. How many times did she completely ignore Lucas and Archer simply because she didn't like to be told what to do? (I didn't include Joe because he really was just too overprotective.) Ultimately, her lack of training and stubborn attitude led to serious injuries and yet she was still raved a hero and got her way. That just annoyed me so much.

My Review:This installment into the Heartbreaker series definitely falls as one of my favorite books in the series. I loved Lucas and Molly together so much. Lucas is serious and staid and very poker-faced in every circumstance...until he's faced with Molly. Molly is sweet and fun and enthusiastic about everything. She's a go-getter which is why she wants a place on Archer's investigative team.But Lucas is teamed up with her to keep her under control. What he doesn't expect is to come to respect Molly's true ability to get the job done and done well. Lucas never saw that coming...or the fact that he wouldn't be able to resist Molly's immeasurable charms.The curmudgeon and the optimist...this pairing worked for me on so many levels. Lucas needed Molly in his life in the worst way.And honestly, my favorite thing about this book...simply the best meet-cute/start to a story ever. I LOVED that about it. Because it really just set the tone for the whole book.It was interesting to follow the story of what exactly the two of them are investigating...this book almost had a bit of a romantic suspense element to it because of that Bad Santa investigation. It was really fun and entertaining.Overall it was just a fun book to read...and gah...HOT!!! There is so much scorching chemistry between the two main characters...something that Jill Shalvis has MASTERED.I definitely loved this book. I had to go order it in print so I could reread it again later.I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest and voluntary review.

This is the sixth novel in the Heartbreaker Bay series, or if you are including the two novellas it is the eighth in the series. These books are light steamy reads with likable couples, set around a historic building in San Francisco where the characters either live or work or both.This one is a Christmas story and in my opinion the concept was cute and fun. The main characters, Lucas and Molly, are involved in investigating corruption at the Christmas Village, so as you can imagine there are all kinds of wacky hijinx taking place between the Santa and the elves and the H and h. During the course of solving this case Lucas and Molly succumb to their attraction to each other and fall in love.Lucas and Molly are more likable and sympathetic than the average couple. Lucas has suffered hurts in the past and has been guarding his heart of late, so you can't help but feel for the guy. But Molly—Molly is really special. She's a fabulous heroine. Her physical imperfections and her determination to rise above them earns her the admiration of everyone around her, including the reader. Her courage, perseverance and resilience are impressive, but she's also stubborn and averse to relationships. The way these two soften each other's hard edges and whittle away at their mutual resistance is the journey we take with them.This isn't the most believable story I've ever read and the technique isn't perfect, but with holiday themes I generally try to just enjoy the fantasy. This one was fun and seasonal and ended with an HEA so I was happy with it. If you are looking for a cute little holiday read that's whimsical yet adventurous and ultimately satisfying, then this is a good one to try.

Molly Malone is great at managing the Hunt Investigations office, but she wants more. More in that she wants to investigate issues brought to the company. But her brother, Joe, isn't about to put her in danger. Nor are the other alpha males making up the investigative unit. When some blue-haired seniors approach her, Molly says 'yes.' But when her boss finds out, he tells Joe to handle it and tell her 'no.' Joe tries, and then turns it over to Lucas to follow Molly around and keep her safe.Trouble with that plan is that Lucas knows he can't dissuade Molly from wanting to help the old ladies, so he convinces her that he'll be her partner in finding out about the man she calls Bad Santa. It soon becomes clear that this Santa is really bad and that Lucas has designs on Molly that he knows his boss and her brother will kill him if they find out.Yet another complication is Molly's increasing feelings for Lucas that she refuses to share because she is certain he doesn't feel the same. Too bad she's wrong about that. But what if she's wrong? And what if, when she finds herself in danger, he can't get to her in time?

I've read a lot of Jill Shalvis' books over the years but my tastes changed and I moved on but as this was a free read, I decided to give it a go. It was an easy read but I was bored by the Santa investigation and would have preferred more of the romance between Molly and Lucas as yes they slept together a few times but there was barely any romantic dialogue or them actually dating so when they're declaring their love for one another, it felt a bit rushed but they did make a good couple.

Molly and Lucas’ pasts have defined them. She is his co worker, his best friends sister and a temptation he should resist. Unfortunately she is also the woman he wakes up to, with no knowledge of what happened the night before. When he finds himself helping her with an investigation, will they remain professional or will they smash through each others walls to unlock the passion sizzling between them? I loved this story. Its a passionate, suspenseful tale of trust, acceptance and love.

I've never met a Jill Shalvis book I didn't love, whether paperback, ebook or audiobook. This was no exception. It's the kind of romance that makes you feel as if you've just fallen in love yourself.

It’s Jill Shalvis. Personally I love her books and this one was no exception.