FRIDAY READS #10 | HOT WINTER NIGHTS (HEARTBREAKER BAY, #6) BY JILL SHALVIS

Book Beginnings is a book meme hosted by Rose City Reader where participants share the first sentence (or so) of the book, along with initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice, and the rules are quite simple: Grab a book, any book, turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader. Find any non-spoilery sentence(s) and post.

This week’s book: 

Goodreads Summary: 

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. 

BOOK BEGINNINGS:

#NaughtyOrNice 

It took Lucas Knight longer than it should have to realize he had a woman in his bed, but to be fair, he had a bitch of a hangover. Even worse than that, last night was a blur, prompting him to take quick stock. One, there was a bundle of sweet, soft curves against him.

FRIDAY 56:

“I love the mountains and especially snow,” she admitted softly, staring out the window. “It’s calm and quiet and . . .”
“And . . .” She didn’t answer. Romantic. He’d bet that’s what she’d been about to say and he agreed. The snow was deceptively romantic. All of which added up to nothing but trouble. 

MY THOUGHTS:

I just finished reading this book and absolutely loved it! If you are looking for a festive romance read with some mystery involving a bad Santa, this is the book you should go for!

Which book features in your Friday Reads below? Comment the links below, I would love to visit your blog!

BOOK REVIEW | Season of Wonder (Haven Point, #9) by RaeAnne Thayne

Goodreads Summary: 

He’s giving her children a season of wonder…

Dani Capelli seized a chance to start over in a small town with her daughters. Now, facing her first Christmas in Haven Point, she wonders if leaving New York was a mistake. Dani loves working alongside veterinarian Dr. Morales, but her two children aren’t adjusting to small-town life. And then there’s Dr. Morales’s son, Ruben—Dani’s next-door neighbor. Gorgeous, muscled and dependable, the deputy sheriff is everything she secretly craves and can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.

Ruben never pictured himself falling for a big-city woman like Dani. But beneath her prickly facade, she’s caring and softhearted and she needs all the love and protection he can give. When Dani’s teenage daughter starts acting out, Ruben draws on family traditions to show the girls just how magical a Haven Point Christmas can be. But can he convince Dani that she’s found a home for the holidays—and forever—in his arms?

My Rating - 4 stars!

My Review:

Season of Wonder is the 9th installment of Haven Point series, Haven Point is a small town in Idaho. It is a Christmas time story, so it's a great book to get into the holiday spirit. This book can be read as a standalone too.

Dani Capelli is an intern as a veterinarian at Dr. Morales's clinic. She with her two daughters has moved to the small town of Haven Point from Boston. Even though its worlds apart from the city life, Dani is looking forward to this new life she is going to start in this small town.  Her oldest daughter, Silver is probably not. Her daughters, Silver and Mia, play very important parts in the story. Silver is going through a rough patch and as mentioned in the synopsis, she starts acting out.

Enter Ruben, Dr. Morales' son and Dani's neighbour. He is a deputy sheriff of the town. He is very intrigued by his next-door neighbour and his father's new intern. I liked his character a lot. He really is a nice guy and a great cop. He soon becomes slowly involved with the Capelli's when he catches Silver trespassing his backyard. I loved his relationship with Dani's daughters as well.

From the start, Dani and Ruben feel a certain connection and Dani is very certain she doesn't want to get involved as she has a very dark past. She is afraid of her past choices ruining her future. Dani had a lot of self-doubt and Ruben was a great help with that to her. As Ruben helps when Silver gets into trouble, Ruben's and Dani's lives get more and more entangled with each other. Ruben makes Capelli females feel at home and enjoy the Christmas time by introducing family traditions. Mia who was the sweetest, I loved her, opens up to Ruben fast and it's only the matter to make the other two like him. Honestly, I didn't like Silver in the beginning but her character brought the most drama in this story and you end up liking her as well. 

This story was about Dani's journey with her daughters and adjusting to the small town life and finding a new life. I liked Ruben and Dani and even if the genre says contemporary romance, I felt like the romance wasn't the main part of the story. Having said that, the romance that we do get is really sweet and lovely, hence the four stars. I actually finished reading this one quite fast, even though I was in a slump and I loved it so this one gets a special recommendation from me. If you're looking for a light, small town, holiday story, this is the one to go for!

*Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.*