Book review + excerpt: Chasing Christmas Eve ~ Jill Shalvis

Title: Chasing Christmas Eve
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Heartbreaker Bay #4
Release date: September 26, 2017
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Meet cute...

Run for the hills—temporarily. That's Colbie Albright's plan when she flees New York for San Francisco. Wrangling her crazy family by day and writing a bestselling YA fantasy series by night has taken its toll. In short, Colbie's so over it that she's under it. She's also under the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain within an hour of arrival. Fortunately, the guy who fishes Colbie out has her looking forward to Christmas among strangers. But she's pretty sure Spencer Baldwin won't be a stranger for long.

Make merry...

Spence's commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn't have to worry about the powerful—okay, crazy hot chemistry—he's got with Colbie. Just because she can laugh at anything, especially herself... just because she's gorgeous and a great listener just because she gets Spence immediately doesn't mean he won't be able to let Colbie go. Does it?

and hope for a miracle.

Now the clock's ticking for Colbie and Spence: Two weeks to cut loose. Two weeks to fall hard. Two weeks to figure out how to make this Christmas last a lifetime.

Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors for sweet, sexy, romantic books with a hint of humor. Chasing Christmas Eve is the fourth book in the ‘Heartbreaker Bay Series’ and tells the story of hot nerd Spencer and Colbie, the woman he falls for. I love this adorable couple.

“This was exactly what the doctor had ordered—if she’d actually gone to a doctor for her anxiety and crippling writer’s block. Here she would find herself, so that by the time she went back home in three weeks for Christmas Eve, she’d be happy again. She was sure of it.”

Colbie is done with it. Done with her family, her job, everything. Writing is her life and her books are doing better than she could ever imagined, but now she has hit that dreaded thing; the writers-block. Looking for an escape, she books the first possible flight which takes her to San Francisco, and Spencer. Spencer is talented guy who buries himself in his work, to the point of forgetting everything and everyone around him. Colbie and Spencer aren’t looking for love, but they can’t deny what’s between them.

“She had big green eyes. Big, green, smiling eyes. “I’m a mess,” she said. That wasn’t what he was thinking. Her clothes were plastered to her body. Her very nice, curvy body. He forced his gaze back to her face, then stepped out of the fountain and turned back for her, offering a hand.”

Chasing Christmas Eve is a typical Jill Shalvis book; with a heroine you want as your friend, a great hero you want for said heroine, some serious moments and a few laugh-out-loud scenes. The story is told in a double POV, so you know what Colbie and Spencer are thinking. It’s funny to see how they both ‘think’ one thing, but ‘do’ the complete opposite. It only makes them more human, and I love this realness.

Poor Colbie. I felt so sorry for her, I fully understand she was done with all the responsibilities and her annoying family members. She just needs a break, which happens to take her right to Spencer, who also needs a bit of love in his life. We know Spencer from the previous books in the series, and I was excited to finally get his story. I love the ending of the book, how both make an effort to make it work between them.

“She closed her eyes for a beat, savoring the feel of him against her. How long? Was he kidding? Forever and ever would maybe do it. “I guess until you get tired of me.” He gave her a slow, sexy smile. “I determined on day one that I was never going to get tired of you.” “Never ever?” “Never ever.”

I love Colbie and Spencer, I give their story 4 stars.

Excerpt

Spence, still crouched low and easily balanced on the balls of his feet, dropped to his knees and pulled her up to hers. Brushing the hair from her forehead, he eyed the spot where they’d connected. “You okay?”

She started to say yes but his gaze slid to her mouth and she lost her train of thought, instead licking her suddenly dry lips.

Spence, watching the movement avidly, let out a rough breath. “Colbie,” he said quietly, in a very serious, very low octave that sounded like pure sex.

She stood up. “Y-yes?”

Also standing, he slid his hands up her arms, giving her a very slow tug, almost as if expecting resistance.

There was no resistance. Hell, she nearly took a flying leap at him.

He laughed softly, sending a bolt of heat through her. Her knees wobbled and his arm wrapped around her waist, steadying her. Their gazes locked and they both froze in place, she from a sudden rush of emotions, Spence probably from watching them play out across her face. She once again started to say something—still had no idea what—but was silenced by his hot mouth covering hers.

Yes was her only coherent thought and she pressed up against him as he angled his head, taking the kiss even deeper.