Wrapped Up in You
by Jill Shalvis
Release Date: September 24, 2019
Publisher: Avon
Book #8 in the Heartbreaker Bay series
Number of Pages: 384
Kindle Edition
Source: MCL
Contemporary Romance M/F
Rating: NC-17
Read 10/17/19 to 10/18/19
After a lifetime on the move, Ivy Snow is an expert in all things temporary—schools, friends, and way too many Mr. Wrongs. Now that she owns a successful taco truck in San Francisco and an apartment to call home, Ivy’s reinvented life is on solid ground. And she’s guarded against anything that can rock it. Like the realities of a past she’s worked hard to cover up. And especially Kel O’Donnell. Too hot not to set off alarms, he screams temporary. If only his whispers weren’t so delightfully naughty and irresistible.
Kel, an Idaho sheriff and ranch owner, is on vacay, but Ivy’s a spicy reason to give his short-terms plans a second thought. Best of all, she’s a tonic for his untrusting heart, burned once and still in repair. But when Ivy’s past intrudes on a perfect romance, Kel fears that everything she’s told him has been a perfect lie. Now, if only Ivy’s willing to share, Kel will fight for a true love story.
Ivy and Kel have a beautiful connection and are much more alike than it seems on the surface. I loved watching them slowly come to this realization through the course of this story. Unfortunately, that realization comes after they blow each other’s worlds apart with their mistrust.
While they both tugged at my heartstrings, I really felt for Ivy. Kel had a rough time of it growing up, but he also had a lot of family who loved him. Ivy didn’t have much of anyone. Her mom was never around and moved them all around the country and her brother was always getting into trouble. She really had to learn independence at a young age and has worked hard for all she has.
There are many reasons Kel doesn’t trust easily, all of them legitimate. But Ivy’s life to this point does not lend itself to being fully truthful. Therein lies the problem that will weave its way throughout this story. The author does a wonderful job with the push/pull this couple has with their trust issues. The tone she sets really helped me immerse myself in the feelings they both had swirling around.
When the climax happens, and that trust is inevitably broken, Ivy had me in tears. Not only with the confrontation between her and Kel, but also the cleansing chat she has with her girlfriends. Everyone needs a group of friends like those at Cow’s Hollow.
I always look forward to this author’s books. Be it women’s fiction or contemporary romance, she brings the emotions to the page in a spectacular fashion.
All In Good Time 