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Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
It's beginning to look a lot like, well technically Thanksgiving, but Christmas IS right around the corner, and let's face it, who DOESN'T like a holiday romance? Exactly, so while I'll be celebrating turkey day with the rest of you, my reading is trending towards the next NEXT holiday and today's little beauty is a definite winner! It's the latest in the Heartbreaker Bay series from author Jill Shalvis and while not a full length novel (it's a novella, think baby sized novel with a decent size story), it doesn't hold anything back...just as it should be. So, if you're ready to break out the mistletoe, or even if you're trying valiantly not to (just give in, you won't win this battle), get ready to feast your eyes on today's ebook of choice...
Heartbreaker Bay series, Book 4.5
by
Jill Shalvis
About the book...
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.
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.
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I've already expressed my love for this series (if you missed it SOMEHOW, I LOVE THIS SERIES!), but the addition of this holiday novella is the icing on the Christmas cookie!
Sean and Lotti's story has all the sweet feelings (that can't be denied), the friendly banter (mostly friendly with a dash of snark), and the sassy sizzle (*wink wink*) readers have come to love in Jill Shalvis' work...add to that a dose of holiday spirit and I'm telling you, we've got a winner! It's amazing what can happen in a few days time, but the heart wants what it wants, and sometimes seemingly fleeting desire can be oh so much more! Even though their histories are all a jumble, it doesn't mean it can't be sorted for the better....just think of those balls of Christmas lights you've untangled over the years, and how beautiful they were once finally freed. The same goes for feelings trapped by years lost...but finally found and unwilling to be shut away once again.
All in all, a definite must read to put a little holiday spirit in your step this season as well as a welcome return to the Heartbreaker Bay series between releases. Both our leads have a little luggage with them from years gone by (and current heart breaks) not to mentioned their shared history, but it doesn't mean they have to end the same way their untimely reunion had begun. The holidays have a way of bringing people together as do weddings (and this one definitely encountered some "for better or worse" in the planning department!), and sometimes it is those deviance's from our plans that bring us the greatest rewards. Recommended for adult Contemporary Fiction fans as the yuletide log isn't the only thing going up in flames this holiday season.
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~~~ 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.”
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About the author...
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-
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Special thanks to Julie at HarperCollins Publishers for the ebook for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you. (THANK YOU!) For more information on this title, the author, the series, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title just celebrated its book birthday this week (*throws confetti*) via Avon Impulse, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing. Be sure to seek out the other sites participating in this release celebration throughout the blogosphere for more bookish fun!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
