It’s love. Trust me.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 … 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-term 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.
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This was another wonderful story in this series by Jill Shalvis that I simply can’t get enough of. I love that in each book we get bits and pieces of what is happening with the previous couples we’ve met as well as another epic love story with our main characters. And that fountain, what a great story that ties everyone together. In this book we have Ivy and Kel. Ivy is a great female lead character and has been through a lot so she has some secrets she keeps as a survival instinct. She is an independent woman but some times to a fault. Kel is strong and true and has his own baggage. He is a rancher and sheriff in Idaho so he is also only there on a temporary basis. They have some chemistry that’s as spicy as Ivy’s tacos! Ivy needs to guard her heart but she is having a hard time with that. I love this couple so much, Kel is swoony as all get out! And their story has some of everything good in a romance book, including some suspense. I hope this series goes on for a long time because each time I feel like I’ve come home.
I want friends like those that live and work in Heartbreaker Bay! In this book, we learn more about Ivy. She and Sadie are good friends but this is a new experience for her. Ivy had a difficult childhood, pretty much raising herself and dealing with setbacks often caused by her brother. Kel is visiting Caleb while off of work recuperating. He too had a difficult childhood and is distrustful after being set up by his partner on the job. The two had chemistry from the first meeting. To describe the book in a single word, it’s FUN. The bantering is fabulous. The emotions run the full gamut of laughing out loud to shedding a few tears.
Whenever I come across a story written by this talented author , I know it will be another exquisite treasure that I am unwrapping. Think of a Faberge egg: delicate , complex, and with multiple layers and depth.
If you read the Animal Magnetism series (if you haven’t , it’s a must read series), you met Kel O’Donnell. This is his story .
When he takes a leave from his work as a sheriff and rancher in Idaho, he goes to San Francisco to visit his cousin Caleb. This is the place where he spend the first few years of his life, before his world imploded.
Ivy Snow is new in town and the owner of a taco truck. She has befriended the Cow Hallow’s gang, though still keeping herself on the outside.
These two are attracted from the moment they meet, but both have issues of trust, and not feeling they are worthy of love.
A reminder that our childhood and the actions of our parents, will indeed affect the child and even more when the individual becomes an adult. Holding in emotions, trusting issues, keeping the guard up, and feeling that no one has their back are just some of the issues they face.
Can they finally find out that having someone have their back in good times and bad times is worth the risk?
As Ivy’s aunt always told her :
“Be smart, be brave, be vulnerable.”
Another extraordinary book you’ll will keep close to your hearts.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
I love returning to the Heartbreaker Bay Series! Eight books in and it’s always a pleasure to read! Ivy and Kel’s story was a great addition to the series.
Both of these characters have family and trust issues that go back to their childhood. They have put up walls to protect themselves, but they can’t deny the attraction and chemistry between them right from the beginning.
Kel, a sheriff and ranch owner living in Idaho is only back in San Francisco for a short time to help his cousin out with some security work on his new condo complex, but after meeting Ivy, he’s rethinking where his life is going and if SF could be his home once again.
But this isn’t an easy journey for these two. Secrets and family drama come into play and both will have to decide if they can learn to trust again, let love in and break down those walls they’ve put up to protect themselves.
I loved this book and Jill creates such great characters! She always brings on the fun, sexy, romantic, and heartfelt stories and Wrapped Up in You is no exception!
While this is the eighth book in the series, it can be read a standalone.
Wrapped Up In You by Jill Shalvis
Heartbreaker Bay #8
Ivy Snow and Kel O’Donnell are an unlikely couple with Kel valuing honesty above just about anything while Ivy willingly hides her past behind some whopping fibs. The way they meet is spicier than Kel’s tastebuds would usually prefer as Ivy offers him a taco from her taco truck…but what a delightful way to meet! As book eight in the series one might think there are no more stories to be told but that is definitely NOT true as I still need to hear how more than one character meets their match through a coin tossed in the magic fountain!
What I liked:
* Ivy – what a strong, independent and caring woman she is! To have gone through all she did and come out so well is a major statement about her character and coping skills
* Kel – a book boyfriend worthy of Ivy with his calm, steady and ability to slow things down and get to the bottom of things.
* Family – there is so much of it in this series whether truly related by blood or chosen by the group. They are thre for one another no matter what.
* Learning what Kel learned when he finally talked to his mother
* The ability of people to make changes, grow and become better
* Heartbreaker Bay – what a wonderful place it would be to live
* The smile it put on my face while reading, at the end and now a day later
What I didn’t like:
* Hmm…there were some criminals that were dislike-worthy and one person I was angry with but he sort of redeemed himself so…in fact…there wasn’t really anything I disliked about this book because the bad had to happen for the good to take place.
Did I like this book? Definitely!
Will I read more in this series and by this author? Without a doubt!
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Ivy Snow runs the taco truck in Cow Hollow. She had led a transient life from the time she was a child and has finally found a place to settle down and grow roots with her new friends, business, and is working towards a new apartment. But her past has made her put up walls and she is used to looking over her shoulder and practicing self-preservation. And sometimes she uses little white lies to hide uncomfortable parts of her past and family dynamics. She is afraid of being vulnerable and of commitment.
Kel O’Donnell is Caleb’s cousin who is visiting for a couple of weeks. He is a ranch owner and Sheriff in Idaho and is recovering from an injury, but still willing to help Caleb out in security. He has his own trust issues especially with women and hates lies. He is a bit stoic, guarded, but also protective and thoughtful.
But Ivy is a tempting little surprise he never saw coming. And she cannot seem to get Kel off her mind either. They could both be trouble for the other. They seem to have the ability to see each other more clearly than most and are willing to share more due to their similarly complicated family dynamics.
But Kel is only supposed to be there temporarily. And Ivy has a really hard time being open and honest. And both have trust and relationship issues….and past problems that still seem to be affecting their present. Ivy has never had someone to truly have her back. And Kel has been burned himself.
Can two damaged people truly overcome their pasts? Or are they bound to hurt each other if they get too close?
This is a fun, feisty, and sexy romance with some personal challenges. It is about being brave, vulnerable, finding hope, overcoming past hurts. This brings back many of the characters from this series especially his cousin, Caleb and their friend, Jake. But also many of the girls that have formed Ivy’s girl tribe. It is fun to revisit this world and this group that has formed a family, but it could easily be read as a stand-alone.
This book covers a lot of things that everyone can relate to. A brother who drifts in and out a sister’s life, a man who’s been betrayed in the worst way by a friend, and two people struggling to forge a relationship with all their baggage. I fell into Kel and Ivy’s from the first chapter. Jill Shalvis did phenomenal job with this book and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.
Wrapped Up in You (Heartbreaker Bay, #8) by Jill Shalvis … Give me a break…I want to give this more than 5 stars… Thanks to Jill for letting me preview this book. The Heartbreaker series is one of my favorites of Jill’s. I am in love with all the people there and feel like I am part of the group when I’m reading. This book can be read as a stand alone but I totally recommend the series. Ivy Snow(Taco Truck owner…lots of hangups and trust issues) Kel O’Donnell (small town Idaho Sheriff…also lots of hangups and trust issues) There is plenty of angst, trust issues, laughs, tears(I shed my share of happy ones) deception, mistrust and misunderstandings, and lots of steam all to get us to a very HEA. I can’t wait for the next Heartbreaker Bay.
This was another fun return to Heartbreaker Bay. Kel was introduced in another series and it was great to”see” him again. Ivy has been a bit of a mystery up to now and I have to say she was a treat! Ivy has finally settled down for the first time in her life in San Francisco but she’s still learning how to let people in and trust in friendship. Kel is recovering from being injured on the job in Idaho and from bring betrayed by a fellow cop. All it takes is one spicy taco, a break-in, a few secrets and smoking chemistry to make this one heck of a ride. Enjoy!
What do you get when you combine a hot sheriff from Idaho, a sexy taco truck owner and their family, friends, secrets and a legendary fountain? You get Jill Shalvis’ new Heartbreaker Bay book, Wrapped Up in You. If you haven’t visited San Francisco with this talented author, then you are truly missing out.
I read an advanced copy of the book
Kel O’Donnell will do anything for his friends and family except let them in. When he met Ivy he had no idea they this woman would change his life. Can he learn to trust and forgive? These two complete each other so much perfectly! Love this series!!
Ivy is the owner of the famous Taco Truck in town, and she deserves every little bit of praise and glory she can receive. She hasn’t had the best life, and that is quite the understatement. Ivy and her brother were orphaned pretty early and sent to live with a relative. That aunt doted on them, especially Ivy, until she got sick and passed away, leaving them alone in the world once again. They did what they had to do to survive, though Ivy went more along the legal route than her brother did. She finally feels like she has a home in San Francisco (pun intended) and wants to put down roots. Even though she has gained a great little circle of friends, she still doesn’t feel comfortable enough to be herself. Yet.
Kel has been burned by too many people in his life, some friendly some not so friendly, so he’s built up a wall. He avoids his sister because of their mother and that has kept him away from his hometown for far too long. Being back home now after being placed on administrative leave has him wondering if it’s time to return to his roots? He’s not sure he can ever forgive his mother, or what she did, but maybe he can warm to the idea. At least that way he’d get to see his little niece more than he does now. He doesn’t count on much in life and he certainly never counted on meeting Ivy.
Ivy isn’t sure why she isn’t nervous around Kel, he’s the law after all. He doesn’t make her hair stand on end like it does when she senses trouble. Yep she has her own built in spidey-sense. She is comfortable with him, maybe a little too comfortable for her own good. He starts getting close, getting under her self imposed wall and she isn’t sure how she feels about that.
Kel and Ivy grow closer though both are still holding back and keeping themselves guarded with each other. Old habits die hard, or so they say. When Kel proves himself to Ivy will she finally realize she can trust him 100 percent?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this latest Heartbreaker Bay stop over. I loved catching up with past characters and seeing where they are now in life’s journeys. Another solid read for me, but with this author, I’m hard pressed to find a dud.
Wonderful! This is a great continuation of the Heartbreaker Bay series. As is Jill Shalvis’s style, this story is filled with emotion, a marvelous story of second chances, breaking down walls, friendship, family relationships, trust, and love. It was fun to have Kel, originally from the Animal Magnetism series, flow so seamlessly into the Heartbreaker Bay series. Reading the previous books in either series isn’t essential, but I highly recommend all of them as well as this book. Loved it!
In “Wrapped Up in You” (Heartbreaker Bay #8) by Jill Shalvis we are brought back to Cow Hollow and the close knit “family” that call this community home. This time we are thrown into the life of Ivy (Taco Truck chef) and Kel (Celabs cousin visiting for some R&R). Sparks fly between them from the minute they meet but they both have secrets and insecurities that can destroy everything. Even the fountain might not be enough this time.
All the characters from past books in the series are back and the relationship between Caleb and Kel is heartwarming to see. Another Shalvis hit.
I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.
What an emotional and yet fun and sexy story. Both Ivy and Kel have trust issues and a past that makes them both believe true love isn’t really for them. But the sparks between them is undeniable and together they figure out how to turn their chemistry into something lasting. The banter between them was really fun to read. The close knit friends and family they have was really sweet. A great cast of characters that made this story very enjoyable. I’m so glad they were able to work things out to reach their HEA.
*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*
I enjoy the Heartbreaker Bay series for many reasons. It takes place in San Francisco. The demographics is amazing-rich and poor, straight and LGBT, young and old, Friends and family. I will also admit that some of the stories are better than others. But this one is the best. Wrapped Up in You has become my ultimate favorite.
The main characters are newcomers. Ivy has been there about a year selling amazing tacos from a not so legal taco truck. Kel is a by the book sheriff on leave after a dirty deputy tried killing him in Idaho. She is a survivor, one of the few to make it after a terrible childhood. He was raised by his loving grandparents in Idaho since he was dumped off by his mom. She has nothing and he was left everything.
From day one there is chemistry, hot tacos are a conversation starter, dares get the temperatures rising. Him being a cop is a conversation stopper.
Resistance is futile. We have no control over who we love. Thankfully for the reader neither Ivy or Kel realize that they should surrender to love. Their journey is bumpy. Their walls are thick. Family is complicated.
The Heartbreaker Bay series is a community of great characters. Revisiting them is always a pleasure. In Wrapped Up in You they are quite active in trying to influence love. They don’t just give a coin to toss in the fountain. They give love and support. More importantly they give acceptance throughout the story making me love the characters even more but not as much as Ivy and Kel.
Take a trip to San Francisco. Enjoy the sites. Meet the citizens and fall in love with Ivy and Kel.
It’s love. Trust me.
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.
Loved Ivy and Kel’s story. Beautifully written and heartfelt. Ivy’s past was heartbreaking and I loved seeing how her friends and Kel got past her tough exterior. Their relationship wasn’t an easy one and it was so well written.
If I don’t know what to read, anything by Jill Shalvis is a homerun and this is no exception. She has brought together two people who hide their true selves behind a facade of what they want others to see. Both, for different reasons, are outside looking in and wanting to belong. Ivy, for the first time, has found real friends (even though she doesn’t always realize it) who will be there for her. Kel (even though he has family that he cares for) doesn’t really put himself out there emotionally as he’s been hurt by both family and friends. I love connecting stories and catching up with previous couples but you don’t need to read their stories first to read this one but you’ll want to eventually.
*I received a free copy of Wrapped Up in You. This has in no way influenced my review which is honest and unbiased.*
Wrapped Up in You brought me back to the merry gang of Heartbreaker Bay, and it was so good! Ivy had always been in the background when it came to the group of friends. And now, I understand that so very well.
Kel is a new addition, he’s Caleb’s hot cousin, and he started out just as big an enigma as Ivy was. Closed off, a little bit stand-offish, but with a soft, strong heart.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters, and I have several quotes I can use for my TT&HH on the blog, as well as for my Safe & Sexy. I may have to wait a while to use them, though, as it’s still a while until this novel is released.
If you’re looking for a story where there’s hot romance, strong friendships, and a big dilemma that could break everything that had just started to be built, this novel is for you!
Wrapped up in you.
Jill shalvis
Reviews on goodreads. Amazon. Book bub. The book addicts.
I have been a Jill shalvis fan since I first read the Lucky Harbor series !! And I’m telling
You now I’m falling in love with the characters of heartbreaker bay just like I did with Lucky Harbor!! I know everyone is going to think I’m cheesy but I have little people and have been watching frozen a lot. And I read this book. All I could think of is when Olaf said some people are worth melting for .. I know. Cheesy. But I loved it !! I started this book and just could not put it down !! I love the people , the town , just everything about it. And y’all Kel!! Omg !! That man !! I can’t wait for more in this series.!!!! Bring it on!!