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 … 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.
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What a great read! Molly and Lucas were all sorts of fun and I just loved the mystery surrounding “Bad Santa.” There was plenty of chemistry between these two and I loved the snark and banter that added some laughter throughout.
I really loved both Lucas and Molly. Even though they both have issues from their past that they have let shape their lives, once these two got a taste of one another it was hard for either of them to deny that what they had was more than something casual. I loved watching their relationship develop as they worked together on the bad Santa case and found themselves sharing more of their personal lives with each, especially when they got to visit with each other’s family. Molly is so smart, capable, and strong, and I loved that Lucas respected that and let her take the lead on the case they were working. I also loved that Molly knew when she needed to call for backup and wasn’t afraid to let Lucas know when she needed him. What I probably loved most was the banter between the two – some of their conversations were so much fun and Molly very rarely let a conversation go by that she didn’t try to interject some humor into.
One of the best things about this book is the family that has been formed from all of the friends that are brought together in this series and offer up a supporting role, and we are treated to not just learning more about the main characters in the book, but we often get to learn more about many of the supporting characters to keep the series arc fresh as well. There is such a unique setting in the series – taking place in San Francisco, but focusing, for the most part, on the apartment building with its magical fountain where most of the characters either work or live – and it works so well bringing a small town feel to the book and series.
This is book 6 in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. There are so many great characters in this series it would be a shame not to start at the beginning though!
Hot Winter Nights is another wonderful read from Jill Shalvis and definitely worth checking out!
I received an advance reader copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
When Lucas Night wakes up with a woman in his bed, his first reaction is to get out of there fast! He has no idea who’s in his bed and when he finds out, he’s in for a whole mess of emotions.
Molly has had a crush on Lucas for a while, but her heart is protected by a good size wall. Her previous relationships haven’t gone well and some of that is related to an injury she suffered as a young girl.
But the spark between them won’t go out, and Molly and Lucas engage in what they both kid themselves to be no-strings attached nights together. Yeah, right. They end up falling for each other.
I really liked Lucas and Molly together. They really needed each other for reasons I’m not going to spill in this review. There’s a really nice mystery going on too, with Molly wanting to have her own case at Archer’s investigations. Personally, I think she needed to be a lot more harsh with Archer and her brother when the truth comes out! I did love the nosy co-worker scenes when everything comes to a head near the end of the story.
Lucas’s family also has a nice spot in this story, and I wish there had been more of them, especially after the events at the end of the story. Their absence was noticeable.
Overall, Hot Winter Nights is another nice installment in the Heartbreaker Bay series, which I love, and I was happy to see that a few more characters were introduced for the series. Looking forward to more!
An ARC was provided for review.
With lots of heat, heart, and humor the Hot Winter Nights is just perfect escape reading in a cold autumn night. The touch of suspense with the Santa Village is written with such a delightfully witty way, at the most intense moments, you could have seen me cracking up.
Lucas’s reputation as a man whore got the same reaction from me as they always do, but as he opens up to Molly, and gives glimpses to his heart and mind, the losses in his past and the pain of broken heart is not only tangible, it also gives an insight into the way why he has avoided any serious relationships or feelings. Lucas turned out to be a refreshingly honest and open as he fumbles with his feelings with Molly.
Molly is a firecracker, she is fiery, sassy, sweet, and kindhearted. I loved her spunk, her determination, her way of dealing with the overpowering men in her life.
The connection and attraction between Lucas and Molly are tangible. I loved the banter, the teasing, and sizzle between them. Both of them acted a bit immaturely at times, yet I could not hold it against them, as they made me laugh.
With one of the best definitions of what it means to be in love, with the moments of holiday magic, unexpected twists, and laugh out loud moments Hot Winter Nights is wildly entertaining, adorably touching, delightfully charming, and merrily sizzling story.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side
Loved this read! Lucas & Molly are perfect for each other. Both are damaged physically & emotionally. Molly was injured when she was 14, is scarred from surgeries & still walks with a limp. Her two boyfriends looked on her with pity after seeing the scars & it caused Molly to pull deeper into her self. Lucas has been injuries on the job several times & it’s affected him both physically & mentally. He has lost both his girlfriend & his brother to death & is determined not to put himself or his heart on the line again. The characters in this story are well thought out & grab your attention from the start. The interactions with Lucas & Molly’s brother Joe are hilarious but the interactions with Molly’s father really showed Lucas’s heart & emotion. I can’t wait for the next one!
Favorite Quotes:
“I just got a text from Louise… It says, ‘Don’t be late for work tonight, Santa’s turned into Grinch. SMH.’” She blinked. “What does S-M-H mean?” “Shaking my head,” “Oh thank goodness… I thought it meant Sex Might Help.”
Welcome to adulthood, where having Home Advil and Purse Advil is everything.
I do miss cuddling. Sometimes I just need to be kissed and spooned, you know? I deserve that, I’m a decent person, I recycle.
“I thought you had more game than that.” “Game?” Virginia asked on a laugh. “Honey, last night you kissed me and farted at the same time.”
“I’m not sure what it says about me that a sixty-year-old Santa is getting more than I am,” she said. “Money or sex?” “Probably both.”
“How about when I pretended to be Santa Claus for Sami?” He pointed to his cousin. “I climbed onto your roof and made reindeer noises and everything. You bought it hook, line, and sinker.” “Yep, right up until you fell off and past my window, breaking your arm. For years I thought I’d killed Santa. It was traumatizing.”
They really should put prizes in our tampon boxes, like ‘hey, your period sucks, but here’s a fifty percent off ice cream coupon, you cranky bitch.’
My Review:
Jill Shalvis is a guaranteed fun read. I am addicted to her clever humor and special brand of witty character banter. In addition to the secret romance that wasn’t supposed to be happening between co-workers who were investigating a case, that wasn’t supposed to be a case, involving a Christmas Village/Bingo parlor run by a felonious and licentious sixty-year-old Santa and his geriatric elves. The premise was original and ingeniously giggle-snort worthy. The storylines were highly amusing, continuously engaging, and cunningly crafted. But the treasure, as usual, was Ms. Shalvis’s compelling and captivating characters, who tend to be quick on the draw with sassy quips, highly capable and endearing yet deeply flawed, and good-hearted yet scarred and irreparably damaged. I enjoyed this book and this couple from beginning to end.
Another great Heartbreaker Bay book.
Lucas closed himself off years ago. Molly has scars she doesn’t show people.
After what Lucas thinks is a one night stand, he sees Molly in a new light. A case no one wants her to take leads Archer and Joe to have Lucas be there to make sure she isn’t in danger.
These two broken people find that sometimes you have to open yourself up to the possibility
I loved “Hot Winter Nights” by Jill Shalvis. I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I would gladly pay full price for this book. I am a huge fan of this author… I often wonder if I will ever read something by her that I don’t love… hopefully, I won’t find out.
This series just keeps getting better and better. The characters are engaging and well written and I find myself laughing at the dialogue between all the reoccurring characters that I’ve come to love.
Can’t wait to see what happens next with this close knit group of friends… but you can bet I’ll be first in line to find out.
If you haven’t added this author, book or series to your collection – fix that now! Must have for any fan of contemporary romance.
Happy Reading…enjoy!
What a cute holiday book! At the same time it’s strange for me to read Winter books during the Spring/Summer, I love to read these holiday books with all the family vibe and cute scenes. Hot Winter Nights was no exception. Lucas e Molly were hot together and it was a blast to see they falling in love. I loved how Lucas believed in her skills and helped her in everything. If you want to read a classic romance, with elderly crazy elfs and a lot of friends and family, this book is a great option.
Hot Winter Nights sparkles with its lighthearted ambience, laugh-out-loud humor, sizzling chemistry and compelling romance, and it’s the perfect read to celebrate the transition from summer to fall. Molly has a crush on her alluring, gorgeous co-worker, Lucas, but he’s always kept her at arm’s length. When he’s assigned to work with her during her first foray into investigative work for their security firm, it places them side-by-side and working closely together, and Lucas can no longer deny that he’s attracted to her. Neither has any problem admitting their physical compatibility, but both have reasons to guard their hearts and try to keep things casual. A dangerous turn in their investigation makes them reevaluate their willingness to open up and let the other in. Jill Shalvis always delivers, and Hot Winter Nights is another addition to my keeper shelf.
Recommendation appeared @ USA Today’s Happy Ever After on September 24, 2018
ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.
You know how you wait for that one couple’s book and pray it’s as amazing as you hope? Well, Jill Shalvis did NOT disappoint! Once again she blew it out of the water with another wonderful romance that leaves you on the edge of your seat! Great suspense and a truly warming romance for Lucas and Molly! I loved hearing Molly’s side of her back story not just her brother, Joe’s side in About That Kiss. Molly is tougher than all the other ladies to date in the Heartbreaker Bay series and I love her realness. Lucas, is swoon-worthy. He tries to avoid Molly so as not to die a painful death from Joe, but the connection is undeniable and explosive. Even though he’s protective of Molly he let’s her be her. The two play off each other like two perfectly synchronized
If you’re looking for a steamy holiday romance with a touch of suspense then I highly recommend reading Hot Winter Nights!
This is book six in the Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis and this one had a little bit more suspense in it than all the other ones did. We get to hear more about Hunt Investigations and their jobs and just how dangerous they are…this is definitely a standalone. We get to see some of the characters from the other books in this book but it’s not required to read those books that you read this book. Overall, this book was good but not as good as the previous books in the series. I liked the chemistry of Molly and Lucas and found them to be quite good together but I also found it not to be as electrifying as all her others. The suspenseful parts of the book kept my attention and kept me on the edge of my seat, but during the others times I just felt removed. I did find it funny that Lucas mixed pain meds and alcohol and wound up in bed with Molly – that was kind of funny and the way she handled it. I would still recommend this to people who have read the series and followed along with the characters because it’s a great addition.
Molly and Lucas work together. After a night of drinking, Molly takes Lucas home and sleeps in his bed. But she leads him to believe that they slept together. She’s been crushing on him for awhile and is enjoying messing with him about this. She wants to break down his walls and get a shot with him. But these two have sparks and those sparks ignite! Marcus loses his battle trying to stay away from Molly, but will have to tell his bosses, who are also her brothers. There is suspense throughout this story as Molly attempts her first case, against her brothers directives. And definitely some steam thrown in! Definitely a story you will enjoy.
Hot Winter Nights was so much fun to read. Every time I finish a Jill Shalvis book I have the biggest stupid grin on my face. Her books just make me happy.
Checkout the full REVIEW: https://shahlas-world.blogspot.com/2018/09/i-have-biggest-stupid-grin-on-my-face.html
#arc / #christmasreads / #contemporaryromance / #humor / #lovely / #suspense
Hot Winter Nights is the sixth book in the Heartbreaker Bay series. Oh, how I loved Lucas and Molly’s story. I was hooked from start to finish. The plot, the characters, the chemistry, it all combined to make a fantastic story. I definitely recommend this book.
Love this book by – it’s the perfect combination of romance comedy & suspense! So many interesting characters in this book, from the old lady elves to bad Santa to Mollie and Joe’s Dad. Molly and Lucas are both strong characters. They’ve got sizzling chemistry and I love the witty banter between the two of them.
I loved this latest installment of Jill Shalvis’ Heartbreaker Bay Series. Molly Malone works in the office at Hunt Investigations where her brother Joe and many of his good friends, including Lucas Knight, work. Molly and Joe had a rough childhood and an unfortunate incident when Molly was 14 makes her weary of relationships. Molly would like to begin working outside of the office and helping the guys with investigations but the guys see her as their little sister. Lucas does not see her that way but he is afraid of what Joe would say if he knew how Lucas felt for his sister. When Molly decides to take on a case on the side involving a bad Santa, the guys ask Lucas to keep an eye on her. While working the case, Lucas and Molly grow close and realize they have feelings for each other, but she doesn’t know that Lucas is watching out for her and Lucas is afraid to tell the guys about his growing feelings for Molly. When the case reaches a breaking point everyone finds out about Lucas and Molly and Molly finds out what Lucas has been up to. She has to learn to trust her feelings for him and trust that his feelings for her are real. This is a great book and I highly recommend it.
5 star
I was pulled right into this story. The story has pain, secrets, second chances, and heartbreak.
Before reading this story please read the below books first
Sweet Little Lies (Heartbreaker Bay #1)
The Trouble with Mistletoe (Heartbreaker Bay #2)
One Snowy Night (Heartbreaker Bay #2.5)
Accidentally on Purpose (Heartbreaker Bay #3)
Chasing Christmas Eve (Heartbreaker Bay #4)
Holiday Wishes (Heartbreaker Bay #4.5)
About That Kiss (Heartbreaker Bay #5)
This is Molly and Lucas’s story. Molly is the office manager but also wants to be in the field solving cases. One night taking care of Lucas that he can’t remember all that well and she has a protector and partner. When some ladies ask for her help and her boss will not take the case she knows she is going to help no matter what. The more time they spend together the more they learn about each other. Molly is used to taking care of herself. Having to rely on a partner is just not her style. Can she handle the case and all the danger it comes with? Or will she trust the wrong person and end up hurt in the end?
I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.
I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next story from this author.
Molly and Lucas, I loved these characters. She’s like forbidden fruit, not only a colleague but another colleague’s sister. Can’t fight chemistry, I enjoyed their denial and fall. This was a suspense, but a light and funny one. “Bad Santa!”, you know it’s going to be a fun ride with crooked Christmas characters running rampant. I adore this location and that cheeky fountain, it wins every time.
My favorite of the series!!
This is the 6th full novel in this series and my favorite so far!!
I love how Jill Shalvis showed how the weaker sides of Lucas and Molly are what also made them extremely strong and brave. She was able to clearly convey the hesitancy of them to fall in love without turning their story into a constant back and forth.
She excels at writing male characters who have flaws and cracks that clearly affect them without destroying their humor, empathy or kindness and strong female characters who know who they are but accept that they can make room for change.
I want to profusely thank her for not writing the cliché brother who is way too overprotective of his sister and any possible relationship she could have with his friend, even though he was too overprotective of her in the rest of her life.
Which brings me to the part where I fell even harder for Lucas for standing up for Molly with his friends who couldn’t see her worth when it came to their business. Yay for supportive men who see woman for the powerhouses that they are!!
Once again Jill Shalvis hit it out of the park with her flawless character and world building. I’m already counting down the days until January when I can get my hands on Caleb and Sadie’s book!!
Jill Shalvis has a gift of writing humor and chemistry in equal parts. It makes each of her books a fun way to spend a day. Each hero in her stories becomes my new favorite. Lucas was no different. He is a tough guy that is a marshmallow on the inside especially when it comes to Molly. Molly was a fun heroine. Both have had some horrible events in their pasts that make them reluctant to get close to anyone. But after a night that Lucas lets his guard down, there is no turning back. Their journey to their happily ever after is a bit of a roller coaster – there is suspense, humor, heat and Elf costumes! how can you not enjoy this story. I love the cameos from the other characters in the Heartbreaker Bay series and the hints at the next story in the series. I can hardly wait to go back! I received an advance copy for an honest review.