Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis Release Date: September 25, 2018 Publisher: Avon Book #6 in the Heartbreaker Bay series Number of Pages: 384 Kindle Edition Source: MCL Contemporary Romance M/F Rating: NC-17 Read 12/2/18 to 12/4/18
Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once.
Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas.
Excellent chemistry. I mean really, coming off the pages. Molly and Lucas are not only dripping in sexual chemistry, they also have emotional chemistry and are so much fun together. I loved this story.
If you read the last story in this series, About That Kiss, you know most of Molly’s story. You just don’t know it from her point of view. And we, as readers, haven’t gotten to know Lucas on too deep of a level until this book. Lucas has a wonderful family and had a great childhood, but he also has had to deal with loss and heartbreak. Although Lucas and Molly had completely different upbringings, they can relate to each other in so many ways. Sometimes people who seem so opposite actually have the same issues.
Lucas is the perfect guy for Molly. He sees her strengths and, although he’s a protector by nature, can’t help but want to see Molly explore her strengths. And Molly quickly sees past Lucas’ tough guy Romeo façade to realize he would be easy to fall in love with.
This story is amazing. I love everything about it. One of my favorite things is Lucas’ mom’s explanation of what love really is. So true and so insightful.
This group of friends and, in some cases, coworkers keeps growing and growing. I love reading about them all and learning how that magic fountain has done its work on every couple in this series.