Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #4.5
Audience: +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Release Date: November 7th 2017
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Publisher
Blurb (from Goodreads):
It’s Christmastime again in Heartbreaker Bay!
When Sean O’Riley shows up at the Hartford Bed & Breakfast for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, he’s just hoping to make it through the weekend. What he’s not expecting is to come face to face with the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago—a woman he’s never really forgotten.
The last time Lotti Hartford saw Sean, she told him she loved him while he said nothing. Now, ten years later, she’s just looking for a good time. For once, she wants to be the wild and free one, and Sean – the good time guy – is the perfect candidate.
But as the weekend continues, Sean realizes that after a lifetime of being the hook-up king, he’s ready to find happily-ever-after, and he wants it with Lotti. But will she open her heart to him again? As Christmas sweeps through the little B&B, he can only hope love and magic are in the air.
*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.
My journey into the Heartbreaker Bay continues with this cute holiday story of second-chance love. I really enjoyed this story, and it was the perfect kind of love story for the winter season.
Lotti has been through a lot ever since the last time she saw Sean, so when he comes into her B&B, she's determined to ignore his charms and her attraction to him. But I liked that she eventually took advantage of the opportunity to get some sort of closure for herself and for her young heart who got broken all those years ago. I also loved how brave she was when she agreed to help Sean. It was also really heartbreaking once I realized how exactly she was helping him, and I liked that Sean realized and acknowledged that.
Sean was a really great guy. I loved the fact that we get to explore his reasons for doing the things he was doing, because I was able to understand him a lot more. It was also a little bit funny seeing him struggle with Lotti's indifference in the beginning. I like that he got to redeem himself to Lotti. I feel like he received not only a second chance at the love of his life, but also a chance to make up for a lot of things in the past, as he is so willing to admit. Which I enjoyed reading about, because what better time for a story about giving back and giving thanks than Christmas?
It was also fun seeing the other couples, friends of Sean and his brother, and it kinda made me even more curious to read the other books. The pace was great and I read this book pretty fast.
As I said, this story was awesome, perfect for the holiday season, and it strengthened my desire to read the entire series from the beginning. If you're in the mood for a cozy winter read, this book is for you.
EXCERPT
At the empathetic tone in Sean’s voice, Lotti’s heart and stomach and head all clenched in unison. “What do you mean you can’t give me what I want?” she asked. “All you have to do is walk away.”
“Tried that already,” he said. “And it was the biggest mistake of my life.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and met her gaze over their entwined hands.
He was looking at her like . . . well, she wasn’t sure what was going on in his head, but her thoughts were racing along with her pulse.
“You’re incredible, Lotti. I hope you know that.” Very slowly, clearly giving her time to object, he pulled her into him.
Her breath caught at the connection and his eyes heated in response as he slid a hand up her spine and then back down again, pressing her in tight to him from chest to thighs and everywhere in between. His nose was cold at the crook of her neck, but his breath was warm against her skin. She felt his lips press against the sensitive spot just behind her ear and she shivered. “You’re trembling,” he said, his voice low. “Are you cold?”
“No,” she whispered. Try the opposite of cold . . .
“Nervous?”
“No.” Not even close. The way his mouth moved across her skin was making her warm all over. Not that she could articulate that with his body pressed to hers and his fingers dancing over her skin. She was literally quivering as the memories of what it felt like to be touched by him washed over her, as if no time at all had gone by.
Yes, she’d let him think that their time together had sucked for her. But it hadn’t. Not even close. That long-ago night he’d evoked feelings and a hunger in her that she’d never forgotten. “I’ve just had a long day,” she said.
“I know. I’m going to make it better.” He pressed a kiss at the juncture of her jaw and ear before he made his way to her lips for a slow, hot kiss, his mouth both familiar and yet somehow brand-new. She was so far gone that when he pulled back she protested with a moan, but he held her tight, staring down at her with heated eyes. “Just checking,” he murmured.
“Checking what?”
“That you want this as badly as I do.”
Author: Jill Shalvis
