Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis Pages: 384
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #6
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Setting: San Francisco
Source: ARC, Edelweiss
Also in this series: About That Kiss, Playing for Keeps, Wrapped Up in You, Twist of Fate
Also by this author: My Kind of Wonderful, Nobody But You, Accidentally on Purpose, About That Kiss, Playing for Keeps, Wrapped Up in You, Twist of Fate, Love for Beginners
Goodreads
Who needs mistletoe?
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.
Hot Winter Nights is a combination of brother’s best friend and office romance! Lucas has known Molly for years-she is his best friend’s sister and the office manager for Hunt Investigations, where he works as well. He would NEVER let his man whore ways swing her way. He knows her brother would kill him. So, when he wakes up naked, in bed with Molly, he is certain his days on earth are numbered.
Molly engages in a bit of a lie by omission to force Lucas to help her and keep his mouth shut. I liked Molly! She has been smothered by over protective men for too long. Her brother Joe feels responsible for the injury that cost her dreams of a track and field scholarship and has been a bit of a helicopter brother ever since. Molly is very bright and resourceful so I enjoyed seeing her stand on her own and help her neighbors solve this bad Santa case. The elderly elves add some fun to the story and I enjoyed them a great deal.
I wasn’t a big fan of Lucas right away. I’m over the man whore trope, so that was strike one. Also, I hate the whole “I’m too damaged to tarnish her” martyr routine. If Lucas wanted to be serious about Molly, he could have gone to her brother like a man and talked to him. I found Lucas’ handling of the whole thing super immature and annoying. However, Molly’s behavior regarding their relationship wasn’t always mature either, so I couldn’t really hold a grudge. I liked their banter and that Lucas respected Molly’s talents.
The mystery of the story is around what the heck is going on at this Santa Village. Molly and Lucas realize pretty quickly that Santa is stealing money, but it turns out its much deeper than that. The climax of the book finds Molly and Lucas in real danger and I thought it was an engaging plot. Hot Winter Nights is perfect to get you into a touch of Christmas spirit, get some hot banter, and catch up with the previous couples from Heartbreakers Bay!
You can read Chapter 1 on Jill’s Website!
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: no
- Trope: Brother’s Best Friend, office romance
- Triggers: no
- Series/Standalone: stand alone within an interconnected series
- Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
- HEA: View Spoiler »
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Contemporary romance series like Hope series by Jaci Burton, Bayside Summers by Melissa Foster, Montana Heat by Jennifer Ryan…then you will probably like Hot Winter Nights!
Hot Winter Nights
I love that Molly is getting her HEAl I have been a Shalvis fan for years, and this series owns a piece of my heart. I didn’t think I could love any place more than Lucky Harbor, but Heartbreaker Bay may have usurped it.
I absolutely adored Molly too! I kept hoping she would get her own book and I loved her story, especially with Lucas. I’m a sucker for Shalvis’ alpha males lol. Here’s hoping we both enjoy the next book in the series…..I wanna know why there’s tension between them and why she calls him suits! 😉