Release Launch and Giveaway: The Trouble with Mistletoe: Jill Shalvis
Expected September 27, 2016
If she has her way . . .
Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her . . .
He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.
Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him . . .
Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice . . .
Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but he doesn’t even remember her. How can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work . . .
Willa Davis never expected to see Keane Winters again, but he shows up on the doorstep of her South Bark Mutt Shop...and he does not remember the Earth shattering high school episode that made her hate him. So he has no idea where her attitude comes from.
He keeps coming back for help with his unwanted new kitty sidekick and ramps up the flirting with the sassy and sweet Willa. He's big, intense, sexy, and charismatic. They've got plenty of sexual tension between them, but just as many underlying issues. They both lacked affection in their young lives, but have grown up with different views. She now has the tendency to easily get attached, but then is not sure she can hold on. She has a hard time controlling emotions, but has a tendency to panic, run scared, and avoid. He does the opposite and believes he does not feel deeply enough to get attached. He buries his emotions and compartmentalizes.
There is a dance of lust, like, and attraction that neither can seem to resist. But she is looking for true love and he does not believe in it. Can they be friends? Friends with benefits? Or do they have it in them to risk their hearts?
Willa and Keane are totally likable and have great chemistry. But they both have emotional baggage to sort through. They guard their hearts, and have fears and insecurities. They have a bit of difficulty being on the same page at the same time. This story is really about having faith in themselves and the other, learning to trust, and risking being hurt. But they definitely have a learning curve when it comes to admitting their feelings.
The gang from the first book is all back offering friendship, love, support, and comic relief. It was easy to fall into more of a rhythm with them this time around since they are more familiar to me. I am looking forward to finally getting Archer and Elle's story in Accidentally on Purpose...talk about sexual tension covered in antagonism. We also get to know Willa's assistant, Rory, who is the heroine in the novella, One Snowy Night. And the cat Petunia aka Pita is a big scene stealer in this one.
He keeps coming back for help with his unwanted new kitty sidekick and ramps up the flirting with the sassy and sweet Willa. He's big, intense, sexy, and charismatic. They've got plenty of sexual tension between them, but just as many underlying issues. They both lacked affection in their young lives, but have grown up with different views. She now has the tendency to easily get attached, but then is not sure she can hold on. She has a hard time controlling emotions, but has a tendency to panic, run scared, and avoid. He does the opposite and believes he does not feel deeply enough to get attached. He buries his emotions and compartmentalizes.
There is a dance of lust, like, and attraction that neither can seem to resist. But she is looking for true love and he does not believe in it. Can they be friends? Friends with benefits? Or do they have it in them to risk their hearts?
Willa and Keane are totally likable and have great chemistry. But they both have emotional baggage to sort through. They guard their hearts, and have fears and insecurities. They have a bit of difficulty being on the same page at the same time. This story is really about having faith in themselves and the other, learning to trust, and risking being hurt. But they definitely have a learning curve when it comes to admitting their feelings.
The gang from the first book is all back offering friendship, love, support, and comic relief. It was easy to fall into more of a rhythm with them this time around since they are more familiar to me. I am looking forward to finally getting Archer and Elle's story in Accidentally on Purpose...talk about sexual tension covered in antagonism. We also get to know Willa's assistant, Rory, who is the heroine in the novella, One Snowy Night. And the cat Petunia aka Pita is a big scene stealer in this one.
This is told in both Willa and Keane's points of view. It is sweet, engaging, passionate, and romantic. It's got cute and crazy animals, a big dose of holiday spirit, a nosy group of best friends, a vibrant heroine, and a hot and hunky hero. Jill Shalvis books tend to be easy reads that touch my heart and make me happy...this was no exception.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Willa sighed and headed to the door.
Again Keane held the pink bedazzled cat carrier, which should have made him look ridiculous. Instead it somehow upped his testosterone levels. His sharp eyes were on her but they turned warm in a way that melted her right through her center as she moved toward him. She stopped with the glass door between them, hands on hips, hoping she looked irritated even if that wasn’t quite what she was feeling.
His gaze lowered from her face to run over her body, which gave her another unwelcome rush of heat. Dammit. Now she was irritated and aroused—not a good combo.
His mouth quirked at the saying on her apron that read Dear Santa, I Can Explain.
Drawing a deep breath, she opened the door. “You’ve got Petunia again. I hope that means your great-aunt Sally isn’t still sick.”
He looked surprised that she’d remembered his aunt’s name, or that she’d care. “I don’t know,” he said a little gruffly. “She left me a message saying that I was in charge for the rest of the week but for two days now Pita’s been happily destroying my jobsite. I’m throwing myself on your mercy here. Can you help?”
Wow. He must be really desperate since he was actually asking and not assuming. But since Petunia was a sweetheart, she knew she’d do it.
“I’ll even tell you where I went to high school,” he said, adding a smile that was shockingly charming.
Wow. He hadn’t lost his touch when it came to turning it on. “Not necessary,” she said, painfully aware of their audience.
Keane’s attention was suddenly directed upward, just above her head. She followed his line of sight and found a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the overhead display of small portable doggy pools. Mistletoe? What the hell? She glanced behind her and what do you know, suddenly Rory and Cara were a flurry of movement racing around looking very, very busy. “When did the mistletoe go up?” she asked them. “And why?”
“FOMO,” Cara said from behind the counter.
“Fear of missing out,” Rory translated. “She was hoping a hot guy would come in and the mistletoe would give her an excuse.”
Willa narrowed her eyes and her two soon-to-be-dead employees scattered again.
“Interesting,” Keane said, looking amused.
“I’m not kissing you.”
His mouth curved. “If you take Pita for the day, I’ll kiss you.”
“Not necessary,” she said, gratified no one could see her heart during the two-step in her ears. “I’ll take Petunia for the day. No kiss required or wanted.”
Liar, liar…
Choose the one guy you can’t have . . .
As captain of a San Francisco Bay tour boat, Pru can handle rough seas—the hard part is life on dry land. Pru loves her new apartment and her neighbors; problem is, she’s in danger of stumbling into love with Mr. Right for Anybody But Her.
Fall for him—hard . . .
Pub owner Finn O’Riley is six-foot-plus of hard-working hottie who always makes time for his friends. When Pru becomes one of them, she discovers how amazing it feels to be on the receiving end of that deep green gaze. But when a freak accident involving darts (don’t ask) leads to shirtless first aid, things rush way past the friend zone. Fast.
And then tell him the truth.
Pru only wants Finn to be happy; it’s what she wishes for at the historic fountain that’s supposed to grant her heart’s desire. But wanting him for herself is a different story—because Pru’s been keeping a secret that could change everything. . . .
It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to the family she hasn’t seen in years. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, and his big, goofy, lovable dog Carl.
Hours stuck in a truck with the dead sexy Max sounds like a fate worse than death (not), but Rory’s out of options. She’s had a crush on Max since high school and she knows he’s attracted to her, too. But they have history… and Max is the only one who knows why it went south.
They’ve done a good job of ignoring their chemistry so far, but a long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past… and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.
There’s no such thing as a little in love…
Elle Wheaten’s priorities: friends, career, and kick-ass shoes. Then there’s the muscular wall of stubbornness that’s security expert Archer Hunt—who comes before everything else. No point in telling Mr. “Feels-Free Zone” that, though. Elle will just see other men until she gets over Archer . . . which should only take a lifetime . . .
There’s no such thing as a little in lust…
Archer’s wanted the best for Elle ever since he sacrificed his law-enforcement career to save her. But now that she’s earned happiness and success, Archer just wants Elle 24/7. Their chemistry could start the next San Francisco Earthquake, and Archer doesn’t want to be responsible for the damage. The alternative? Watch her go out with guys who aren’t him . . .
There is such a thing as…
As far as Archer’s concerned, nobody is good enough for Elle. But when he sets out to prove it by sabotaging her dates, she gets mad—and things get hot as hell. Now Archer has a new mission: prove to Elle that her perfect man has been here all along…
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 for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-
1 comments
Thanks for the post and your thoughts! I love this new series! I do not have any traditions that we follow since our families are so spread out.
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