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aquariandancer's review against another edition
4.0
Heartbreaker Bay Book Five
Kylie Masters can't stand Joe Malone, especially after he completely ignores their shared kiss. When Joe shows up in her shop to buy a hand-carved mirror for his sister, Kylie decides she will ignore it, as well. Joe is determined to keep her at arm's length, but when her grandfather's gift to Kylie is stolen and used to leverage her into authenticating his work, Joe cannot ignore her. Kylie and Joe track down all of her grandfather's former contacts to determine which one is taunting her.
If you've been interested in the hard-working wood carver and the mysterious second in command security specialist, this is the book you've been waiting for!
Kylie Masters can't stand Joe Malone, especially after he completely ignores their shared kiss. When Joe shows up in her shop to buy a hand-carved mirror for his sister, Kylie decides she will ignore it, as well. Joe is determined to keep her at arm's length, but when her grandfather's gift to Kylie is stolen and used to leverage her into authenticating his work, Joe cannot ignore her. Kylie and Joe track down all of her grandfather's former contacts to determine which one is taunting her.
If you've been interested in the hard-working wood carver and the mysterious second in command security specialist, this is the book you've been waiting for!
saschadarlington's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars.
Recently I referred to a novel as romance comfort food, which it was. However, About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis is romance comfort food for an entirely different reason. When I pick up a Shalvis novel, I know that I am going to be treated to a combustible couple, comprised of a sexy man and a strong, confident woman who find each other at the end with a few laughs and adventure (of various types) along the way.
About That Kiss did not disappoint. As the 5th entry in the Heartbreaker Bay series, this reader has come to know and enjoy the characters, so much so that I am anticipating rereading the whole series when it's completed just because I want to go back and see how the characters have evolved. On the flipside, I do believe that you can read this as a standalone because it's a complete story, but would suggest for maximum enjoyment reading the other novels--because you won't be disappointed. Unless sexy humorous romances are not your thing.
While I was reading about Joe, the ex-military man, and Kylie, the woodworker, I thought Shalvis should write a mystery because About That Kiss was in part a mystery, which she completely pulled off. And, she could write about military men because she drew Joe as ever-so-sexy and competent. In fact, I'm wondering if Shalvis takes requests.
Another element that sets Shalvis above many other romance writers is that her women are strong. I like that they take a step back from a situation, evaluate it, and realize: no, I deserve more than that. These are not damsels in distress or victims. Kylie knows what she wants and goes after it, not aggressively, but pointedly. They are human. They have vulnerabilities. But these are most definitely not women to be dragged around by their hair. Thank you!
The only thing I waffled about with regard to About That Kiss was the eventual rating. I admit that I don't compare Shalvis to any other romance writer any more with regard to ratings because it wouldn't be fair...to the other writers. Now, I just compare Shalvis to herself. I had such affection for Chasing Christmas Eve, which I reviewed here back in September 2017 that it might be hard for any of her other novels to compete, except this one nearly did. I adored Joe and Kylie and loved the mystery and adventure, but I counted only one laugh-out-loud moment (another Shalvis trademark).
If you've never read a Jill Shalvis novel, but adore romantic comedies, give this series a try. I promise you won't regret it. Romantic comedy comfort food. Yum.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Recently I referred to a novel as romance comfort food, which it was. However, About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis is romance comfort food for an entirely different reason. When I pick up a Shalvis novel, I know that I am going to be treated to a combustible couple, comprised of a sexy man and a strong, confident woman who find each other at the end with a few laughs and adventure (of various types) along the way.
About That Kiss did not disappoint. As the 5th entry in the Heartbreaker Bay series, this reader has come to know and enjoy the characters, so much so that I am anticipating rereading the whole series when it's completed just because I want to go back and see how the characters have evolved. On the flipside, I do believe that you can read this as a standalone because it's a complete story, but would suggest for maximum enjoyment reading the other novels--because you won't be disappointed. Unless sexy humorous romances are not your thing.
While I was reading about Joe, the ex-military man, and Kylie, the woodworker, I thought Shalvis should write a mystery because About That Kiss was in part a mystery, which she completely pulled off. And, she could write about military men because she drew Joe as ever-so-sexy and competent. In fact, I'm wondering if Shalvis takes requests.
Another element that sets Shalvis above many other romance writers is that her women are strong. I like that they take a step back from a situation, evaluate it, and realize: no, I deserve more than that. These are not damsels in distress or victims. Kylie knows what she wants and goes after it, not aggressively, but pointedly. They are human. They have vulnerabilities. But these are most definitely not women to be dragged around by their hair. Thank you!
The only thing I waffled about with regard to About That Kiss was the eventual rating. I admit that I don't compare Shalvis to any other romance writer any more with regard to ratings because it wouldn't be fair...to the other writers. Now, I just compare Shalvis to herself. I had such affection for Chasing Christmas Eve, which I reviewed here back in September 2017 that it might be hard for any of her other novels to compete, except this one nearly did. I adored Joe and Kylie and loved the mystery and adventure, but I counted only one laugh-out-loud moment (another Shalvis trademark).
If you've never read a Jill Shalvis novel, but adore romantic comedies, give this series a try. I promise you won't regret it. Romantic comedy comfort food. Yum.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
lilyelement's review against another edition
4.0
About That Kiss is book 5 in the Heartbreaker Bay series. I'm really loving this group of friends that the series revolves around. This novel focuses on Kylie and Joe and I found myself hooked from the first chapter. If you're wanting a Contemporary Romance series to try you have to grab this series!
Kylie Masters is a bit different from our usual leading lady, she makes custom wood pieces at Reclaimed Woods and is quite talented. She's frantic when she loses the only thing she has left from her Grandfather that raised her and turns to Joe Malone to help track down who stole it. Our duo strikes a bargain, Kylie makes Joe's sister a wood framed mirror and he'll track down the person that stole her carved penguin. Joe's the perfect guy for the job since he works with Archer at his security business. They go through their suspects but the tension between the two grows until they decide to have a fling. Neither is looking for something serious but as the novel progressed I wondered how they'd make it work. Joe has some major commitment issues and Kylie has seen her mom go from guy to guy and it's left some insecurities on her part too.
About That Kiss is a great addition to a series I adore. I enjoyed seeing their romance unfold along with the mystery. I'm hoping we see some more of the guys in the security companies as future lead characters, because I can't get enough of them! If you're a fan of Contemporary Romance with a touch of whodunit mixed in you'll love this book.
Kylie Masters is a bit different from our usual leading lady, she makes custom wood pieces at Reclaimed Woods and is quite talented. She's frantic when she loses the only thing she has left from her Grandfather that raised her and turns to Joe Malone to help track down who stole it. Our duo strikes a bargain, Kylie makes Joe's sister a wood framed mirror and he'll track down the person that stole her carved penguin. Joe's the perfect guy for the job since he works with Archer at his security business. They go through their suspects but the tension between the two grows until they decide to have a fling. Neither is looking for something serious but as the novel progressed I wondered how they'd make it work. Joe has some major commitment issues and Kylie has seen her mom go from guy to guy and it's left some insecurities on her part too.
About That Kiss is a great addition to a series I adore. I enjoyed seeing their romance unfold along with the mystery. I'm hoping we see some more of the guys in the security companies as future lead characters, because I can't get enough of them! If you're a fan of Contemporary Romance with a touch of whodunit mixed in you'll love this book.
itsme_lori's review against another edition
3.0
Probably 3.5 stars.
I'm going to hide the review because it's both spoilery and a little too early to share it openly.
I'm going to hide the review because it's both spoilery and a little too early to share it openly.
Spoiler
Honestly, this wasn't my favorite in the series. I still enjoyed it and I still love Jill Shalvis' books but this one didn't feel nearly as original as the others in the series. Kylie doesn't do relationships for a variety of reasons but one big one is that her mom goes through guys like crazy and always put them ahead of Kylie. She doesn't want to repeat those mistakes but also never lets a guy close. The only guys she's liked has never shown an interest in all the years she's crushed on him. Until the other guys shows up. Of course. And Joe doesn't do relationships because he thinks he just ends up hurting those who get close to him, so he doesn't let anyone get close to him. Until, of course, Kylie demands he help her with a case. Of course they have crazy chemistry and they end up having sex. A lot. But she promises it can just be a physical relationship, until she starts acknowledging her feelings for him. He gets scared. Then she gets in trouble and realizes his feelings. It's a little more complicated than that but again, it just didn't feel very original. I felt liked I'd read about these characters before. Shalvis does a great job with strong women and emotionally closed off guys but I'm getting to the point where I'd really like to see something different. This is one of my favorite series of hers but I don't want to just keep reading the same story over and over again. And I want my favorite characters in the book I'm reading to be the main ones, not the fantastic and fun supporting characters. I don't know if I just wasn't in the right mood for this or what but I just didn't love it like the others. I still flew through it and am hoping we can maybe get a Molly and Lucas story soon? So I'll keep reading the books but I'll still hope that the next one has some more original character types.quinn_0611's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free from Edelweiss/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The first time I read a Jill Shalvis book, I didn't love it. I didn't hate it by any means, but it was just okay for me. It might have been because I hadn't been super into adult romance at the time. Or because I think Jill Shalvis's series tend to get better as they progress. Whatever the reason, I'm so glad I kept reading her books, because she is an all-time favorite author of mine now. About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis was everything I've come to expect from the best of her books. Basically I loved just about everything about About That Kiss.
About That Kiss is about Kylie, a woodworker who works in the Cows Hollow District of San Francisco, and Joe Malone who works with Archer at his security business. Joe and Kylie kissed not too long ago, but then Joe never called her, and so Kylie is a little annoyed with him. But then something important to Kylie goes missing, and she asks Joe for help. Whlie they search for Kylie's possession, they of course fall for each other. Seriously, I fell for them, too.
Kylie was just so adorable, and I loved her so much. She is sweet, and loves her job as a woodworker. She learned her skills from her grandfather, and it is touching how much she loved and respected him. Kylie can be a bit shy, and she definitely crushed on people, which I loved. But I also loved when that crush (not Joe) disappointed her, she told him that she wasn't interested anymore. Kylie also owns Vinnie, the cutest little dog ever!
Joe was fantastic, too. He's a lot like Archer in some ways. He's quiet, calm and super capable. Joe is my kind of guy, in a lot of ways. I loved how much Joe loves his sister, and although he shouldn't feel guilty, I understood why he felt responsible for what happened to his sister when they were teens. As wonderful as he is, Joe, isn't into relationships. But he can't fight his attraction to Kylie.
Kylie and Joe were just perfect together. Shalvis created these characters that I just fell in love with, but I also tell how much they belonged together. That is the best kind of romance! I was a little nervous that there would be a love triangle, but there really wasn't, which made me oh so happy. I also loved seeing the rest of the Heartbreaker Bay gang. Seeing them hang out and support and also pick on each other is just the best. About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis is amazing. If you're a fan of contemporary romance you have to read Jill Shalvis!This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
About That Kiss is about Kylie, a woodworker who works in the Cows Hollow District of San Francisco, and Joe Malone who works with Archer at his security business. Joe and Kylie kissed not too long ago, but then Joe never called her, and so Kylie is a little annoyed with him. But then something important to Kylie goes missing, and she asks Joe for help. Whlie they search for Kylie's possession, they of course fall for each other. Seriously, I fell for them, too.
Kylie was just so adorable, and I loved her so much. She is sweet, and loves her job as a woodworker. She learned her skills from her grandfather, and it is touching how much she loved and respected him. Kylie can be a bit shy, and she definitely crushed on people, which I loved. But I also loved when that crush (not Joe) disappointed her, she told him that she wasn't interested anymore. Kylie also owns Vinnie, the cutest little dog ever!
Joe was fantastic, too. He's a lot like Archer in some ways. He's quiet, calm and super capable. Joe is my kind of guy, in a lot of ways. I loved how much Joe loves his sister, and although he shouldn't feel guilty, I understood why he felt responsible for what happened to his sister when they were teens. As wonderful as he is, Joe, isn't into relationships. But he can't fight his attraction to Kylie.
Kylie and Joe were just perfect together. Shalvis created these characters that I just fell in love with, but I also tell how much they belonged together. That is the best kind of romance! I was a little nervous that there would be a love triangle, but there really wasn't, which made me oh so happy. I also loved seeing the rest of the Heartbreaker Bay gang. Seeing them hang out and support and also pick on each other is just the best. About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis is amazing. If you're a fan of contemporary romance you have to read Jill Shalvis!This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
mlcarl's review against another edition
4.0
“Do you realize that every time I’ve tried to protect you, you’ve managed to hold your own? And damn if that’s not sexy as hell, Kylie.”
After kissing Joe Malone and then having him never call her, Kylie’s ready to be done with the smoldering solider-turned-private investigator. Until she discovers she needs his professional services. As a woodworker, Kylie has a lot of carved pieces, but none as important to her as the tiny penguin her grandfather gave her before he died. So when her penguin goes missing and she starts getting ransom notes for it, it’s time to ask the most infuriating man on the planet for some help. Yeah, Joe didn’t call Kylie after that kiss. But that’s not because he wasn’t into it. It’s just because he’s not a long term kind of guy and doesn’t want her to get hurt. But the more Kylie shoves her way into his investigating and the more he sees her strength and courage, even through her ridiculousness, the more he’s finding himself unable to stop himself from loving her.
There’s so many things I loved about this book and so many reasons I’ve recently fallen so in love with Jill Shalvis as an author. She knows how to perfectly balance romance with plot and About That Kiss is no exception. I was so hooked on the plot and the intrigue of the missing penguin that the romance aspect and the development of feelings between Joe and Kylie just felt like perfect icing on an already delicious cake. There was enough romance to keep the plot from getting too heavy, but also just enough mystery to keep things exciting even between the scenes with Joe and Kylie.
Because there was more to the plot than just the romance and because Joe and Kylie each had their own issues they were dealing with, I found both of them to be so much more interesting. Shalvis knows how to write complex characters, especially when it comes to her heroines, and I found this especially true when it came to Kylie. Her career and the way that played into her appearance and attitude was really interesting. Former military turned private investigator/security/professional badass isn’t an uncommon career for a romance novel hero, but Shalvis did an amazing job of making it fresh and exciting. Joe wasn’t just out there protecting and being a hero for Kylie- she absolutely held her own in situations and wasn’t just the damsel in distress. Instead Joe’s skills were used in conjunction with Kylie’s brain and together they made a great and equal team.
The one thing I was less than thrilled with was a sort of love triangle where Kylie couldn’t seem to settle on Joe or her long time boss/friend, Gib. I felt like we were told rather than shown that Kylie was interested in both of them, so I had a lot of moments where I just wanted to shout “pick one already!” at Kylie. But as the friendship and working relationship between Kylie and Joe grew, the plot developed, and Gib sort of fell away to the background, I found it all working so much more for me.
I also loved the side characters and that they were introduced in a way that if you’d read the other books in the series, it was nice to come back and visit them, but if you were new to them, you didn’t feel utterly lost and confused. They filled out the story, but I never felt overwhelmed by the number of them or felt like I’d clearly made a mistake by jumping into a series with the most recent book rather than the first. But now that I’ve discovered how fabulous this series is, I have a feeling I’ll be picking up the books from the very beginning of it…
After kissing Joe Malone and then having him never call her, Kylie’s ready to be done with the smoldering solider-turned-private investigator. Until she discovers she needs his professional services. As a woodworker, Kylie has a lot of carved pieces, but none as important to her as the tiny penguin her grandfather gave her before he died. So when her penguin goes missing and she starts getting ransom notes for it, it’s time to ask the most infuriating man on the planet for some help. Yeah, Joe didn’t call Kylie after that kiss. But that’s not because he wasn’t into it. It’s just because he’s not a long term kind of guy and doesn’t want her to get hurt. But the more Kylie shoves her way into his investigating and the more he sees her strength and courage, even through her ridiculousness, the more he’s finding himself unable to stop himself from loving her.
There’s so many things I loved about this book and so many reasons I’ve recently fallen so in love with Jill Shalvis as an author. She knows how to perfectly balance romance with plot and About That Kiss is no exception. I was so hooked on the plot and the intrigue of the missing penguin that the romance aspect and the development of feelings between Joe and Kylie just felt like perfect icing on an already delicious cake. There was enough romance to keep the plot from getting too heavy, but also just enough mystery to keep things exciting even between the scenes with Joe and Kylie.
Because there was more to the plot than just the romance and because Joe and Kylie each had their own issues they were dealing with, I found both of them to be so much more interesting. Shalvis knows how to write complex characters, especially when it comes to her heroines, and I found this especially true when it came to Kylie. Her career and the way that played into her appearance and attitude was really interesting. Former military turned private investigator/security/professional badass isn’t an uncommon career for a romance novel hero, but Shalvis did an amazing job of making it fresh and exciting. Joe wasn’t just out there protecting and being a hero for Kylie- she absolutely held her own in situations and wasn’t just the damsel in distress. Instead Joe’s skills were used in conjunction with Kylie’s brain and together they made a great and equal team.
The one thing I was less than thrilled with was a sort of love triangle where Kylie couldn’t seem to settle on Joe or her long time boss/friend, Gib. I felt like we were told rather than shown that Kylie was interested in both of them, so I had a lot of moments where I just wanted to shout “pick one already!” at Kylie. But as the friendship and working relationship between Kylie and Joe grew, the plot developed, and Gib sort of fell away to the background, I found it all working so much more for me.
I also loved the side characters and that they were introduced in a way that if you’d read the other books in the series, it was nice to come back and visit them, but if you were new to them, you didn’t feel utterly lost and confused. They filled out the story, but I never felt overwhelmed by the number of them or felt like I’d clearly made a mistake by jumping into a series with the most recent book rather than the first. But now that I’ve discovered how fabulous this series is, I have a feeling I’ll be picking up the books from the very beginning of it…
jcmbank's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
courtofbingereading's review against another edition
4.0
Classis Jill Shalvis. A fun, sweet contemporary romance. This is a great read if you're looking for a light, fun story! About That Kiss is full of humor, romance, friendship, and a bit of action thrown in.
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tangledinwordsandyarn's review against another edition
3.0
It was exactly what I wanted in a book, fun if not a bit predictable.
leanner's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series and the quirky little town and its characters.
Kylie is a master craftswoman with her woodworking skills and Joe is a local expert at finding people and things. She's on the hunt for a stolen possession and he's determined to help her. The chemistry between these two is explosive...and funny as they are kind of in denial.
A mystery, a budding romance, crazy family members, interfering friends in a loving way, small town atmosphere, what more do you need? Great story, I loved it.
Kylie is a master craftswoman with her woodworking skills and Joe is a local expert at finding people and things. She's on the hunt for a stolen possession and he's determined to help her. The chemistry between these two is explosive...and funny as they are kind of in denial.
A mystery, a budding romance, crazy family members, interfering friends in a loving way, small town atmosphere, what more do you need? Great story, I loved it.