The Trouble with Mistletoe - A Heartbreaker Bay Novel

Another classic! This story was more detailed and kept you wanting more! I seriously can never put any of her books down and Kindle has now timed me to be able to read one of her entire novels in about 2 hours. Needless to say, her stories get better with each sequel/new story.

I love Jill Shalvis. I have been reading her books for a long time. Her characters are the kind you would want to have as your friends. No matter what the plot of the book, Jill makes it fun and heartwarming at the same time. I would read any book she writes and you will greatly enjoy this one.

It Jill! So the characters are going to be awesome and funny
I didn't love the last 10 percent of the book I'd say just because the conflict felt a bit forced and lacked a bit of believability. But overall I enjoyed it!

4.5 Stars!

Romance novels set around Christmas-time are some of my favorite romances to read and The Trouble with Mistletoe was no exception.

Willa is such a wonderful and caring person who is wary about letting people in due to her background. Enter Keane who is equally way of people but has a heart of gold when it comes to the people he cares about. Willa disliked Keane on sight due to his standing her up back in high school and then not remembering her on top of it. So obviously, I enjoyed their romance right from the start. Their initial banter was fantastic and I enjoyed watching their relationship build from this rocky first meeting. The two were very supportive of each other and helped each other immensely in terms of learning to love and trust again. The two also had insane chemistry which made their every interaction highly enjoyable.

Once again, the side characters are what really sold this story. Jill Shalvis writes some of the best side characters around and it was wonderful to see characters from Sweet Little Lies again as well as meeting some new characters. One of the best parts of this book were the gazillion animals we meet due to Willa owning a pet business. I'm a huge animal lover, so all of the parts at her store were fantastic.

I am now eagerly anticipating the next book, Accidentally on Purpose, and can't wait to read more about all of the characters I've come to love in this series. I highly recommend this book to fans of Christmas-time romances and the series to anyone looking for great contemporary romance books.

Willa and Keane are two people that are thrown together by a cat, and Petunia seems to love Willa. Keane is one of those men that turns heads, and Willa recognizes him immediately, but Keane acts like he has never seen her before.
You will love the chemistry between these two, and the banter that goes on will put a smile on your face. While these two sure have past baggage, and as youngsters no one could understand what the other was going through.
Keane has a thriving business as property flipper, and Willa is in her glory with her Pet Shop, we get to go to a doggy wedding, smile!
Can these two get past their own pasts, and find a life together, maybe the mistletoe will help, as these two struggle to get beyond their beginning.
I received this book through the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

Take a cutesy heroine who had a very difficult childhood, worked hard and somehow, in extraordinarily expensive San Francisco managed to buy a building, open an even cutesier business filled with numerous cutesy decorations and animals, wears cutesy clothes, meets a hunk whom she went to school years ago and ( how many times have we read this?) holds a grudge with him for an incident that occurred at that time. Lots of very protective close friends, males and females, because she's special. Sparks fly, it is, after all, a romance, the hero's great aunt is a nice touch as is her cat. Unlike some others I wasn't annoyed with the sexual relationship and didn't think it was at all excessive for a romance novel. BUT, this story just seemed to go on forever and the story didn't support the length. There was little tension. I found myself skipping ahead to the expected ending, which could have wrapped up, as someone said, a hundred pages earlier. This author is competent and I have no doubt could write a more than decent novel if she can take the time to do so without the pressure of churning out nonsense. Then again, there are always lazy readers who look for nothing more complicated.

Despite being the second in a series, The Trouble with Mistletoe is a standalone that can be enjoyed without reading the first.

I have never read from this author before, but I enjoyed her easy light hearted style. From page one, I knew I was going to enjoy the author’s humor as well as characters. From the beginning, it was hard not to like Willa. She is sweet, kind-hearted, and funny at no one’s expense. Keane was just as likable. Despite their troubles and pasts, there was a delightful lack of angst and self-loathing. A definite win in my opinion.

Just in time for the beginning of the holiday season, The Trouble with Mistletoe is lovely read for those wanting a sweet, not too complicated romance.

Liked everything but the romance. The characters are fine, the friendships are great. The animals are funny and interesting. The romance...is kind of stupid. She keeps saying no about this guy to herself, her friends, and him, but keeps getting with him because apparently she in incapable of resisting oral sex. He keeps saying he doesn't get attached, even though he clearly is. So they keep having sex and pretending that they aren't going to do it again.

The story takes place around Christmas, and there are references to decorations, santa etc, but it doesn't have a holiday feel or festive mood to it at all. I have no idea where the title comes from. I didn't like how vapid the female lead gets around the male lead. And how does this guy just know how to give her four orgasms the first time they get together?

Come one..give me something I can work with here!

4.5 Stars

“It’s the {darn} mistletoe,” she whispered.
He let out a low laugh. “Babe, it’s not the mistletoe.”

Willa Davis is elbow deep in a bathtub of messy little puppies and wearing questionable headwear the first time Keane Winters shows up at her specialty pet care shop looking frazzled and carrying a bedazzled pink cat carrier. Despite the fact that Keane left her brokenhearted the last time their paths crossed, only made worse by the fact that he doesn’t seem to remember that, she ultimately takes pity on his situation and offers to help him with his great-aunt’s cat, Petunia. Keane is eternally grateful for this beautiful woman saving the day, but he just can’t figure out why she seems to hate him. When taking care of Petunia becomes a more regular arrangement, Willa can’t help but notice how much Keane has changed since high school and she’s surprised to discover that she’s actually starting to like him. But will a woman who’s afraid of being hurt and a man who claims he doesn’t form any attachments be able to make a relationship work? It’s a good thing that it’s Christmas, where magic is in the air and wishes really do come true!

“Listen to me, Willa, because I want to make something perfectly clear here.” He opened his eyes and held hers prisoner. “You’re the most unforgettable person I’ve ever met.”

Ahhh!! I really loved this story! I’ll admit, this book first came on my radar when I saw that Passionflix was turning it into a movie. The actors and teasers made me really excited to see the film so I decided to actually read the book first and I am so glad I did! This was such a sweet and adorable story with characters that you can’t help but love and swoon over. The story was heartwarming, humorous, and will be sure to put you in the holiday spirit. Willa was so cute, I really loved her character. She hasn’t had the easiest time in life but she’s chosen to turn her past misfortune into positivity and has dedicated her life to helping others who were in similar situations. She had a huge heart and was such a dedicated and loyal friend to the people who were lucky enough to be in her inner circle. She’s definitely someone you’d want as a friend and it made her so relatable and realistic. Then there’s Keane, major swoon alert here!! Keane was all kinds of perfect, he was such a great guy. It tugged at my heart seeing how closed off he kept himself for so long, but it made it all the more special when he chose Willa as the one to finally open up to. I loved these two together, they were so adorable and sexy and funny. I also loved all the secondary characters, this is the first book I’ve read from Jill Shalvis so I haven’t read the others in the series yet, but you can bet that I will be doing so in the near future! This was a great group of friends and I am definitely looking forward to spending more time in this “world”. Also, if you’re an animal lover, you’re in for a treat with this book! There are so many furry friends to keep you entertained, the best of all being Petunia! As a cat owner, I could definitely relate and appreciate what Keane was going through with her and it made me laugh and laugh. This is a great story to read during the holiday season, but it’s also a great story if you’re just looking for a fun, cute, sweet, and sexy read that’ll sweep you up into its fictional world and make you fall in love with its wonderful characters!

“There’s this incredible man I know. He let me watch him learn that being emotionally closed off didn’t work, that it’s worth the risk to let someone in.”
He smiled. “He sounds smart as hell. Probably he’s sexy as hell too, right?”

3.5 stars

I was super excited when The Trouble with Mistletoe showed up in my mail box. I recently fell in love with Shalvis and her writing and was really looking forward to her new series. The fact that this book had the promise of holidays written all over it was a huge bonus, I am a sucker for holiday books.

Jill introduces us to Willa, an owner of a pet shop and Keane Winter’s – a man who stood her up at a high school prom and is not knocking on her door to cat sit.

Willa is butt hurt that Keane does not seem to remember her from high school, but takes in the sassy cat Petunia under her wing.

The two cannot deny the pull of the attraction between them, Keane just needs to climb over the wall that the pet shop owner flung up first before he can ask her out.

It was a cute story. The high school grudge was only a small part of it. Keane has an attachment issue and isn’t looking for anything serious and Willa was looking for something permanent at first.

I liked this one, but I didn’t love it. I couldn’t connect with Willa at all and although I appreciated her spirit and love for animals, her sudden role reversal with Keane was really unrealistic and did not seem justifiable. It didn’t make sense to me when Keane was suddenly okay for more and Willa was running for the hill, not when she for so long wished for true love.

I did not understand Keane’s attachment issues either. I didn’t feel there was enough backstory to make make him who he was. But, I did love Petunia the cat and their interaction, I thought it was funny, cute and heartwarming.

The romance was still cute. There was still a sign of classic Shalvis banter, but I didn’t feel that it was no where near good as her Cedar Ridge series. I totally adored everyone in that series and their connection. it was still a good escape from all the creepy stuff I have been reading, something on a much lighter side.

The next book is Elle’s book and since I was extremely interested in the relationship she shares with Archer I am eagerly looking forward to that one, it promises to be antagonistic and I am holding it up to that promise.

I received a free ARC from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own

The Trouble with Mistletoe by Jill Shalvis is a perfect holiday read. It’s a combination of sassy humor, sexy times, and heartfelt moments.

Willa Davis is shocked when someone from her past walks into her pet store, South Bark Mutt Shop. Keane Winters stood her up years ago, back in high school. That’s bad enough, but what’s even worse is the realization that Keane doesn’t even recognize or remember Willa.

Keane is now a successful real estate developer and he’s also desperate to find someone to watch his great-aunt’s cat, Petunia (who he quickly nicknames Pita, aka Pain in the Ass). At first, Willa gives Keane the cold shoulder, but Keane keeps showing up in need of kitty day care. He’s at Willa’s mercy, and Willa can’t say no to an animal in need...or the sexy guy begging for help.

As Willa continually helps Keane, it soon becomes clear that there’s a definite spark between them. But Keane’s not big on family or relationships, and Willa has been burned by both in the past. A no-strings-attached arrangement seems ideal, but what happens when Willa’s Christmas wish for love starts to come true for them both?

Fans of Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor series will love The Trouble with Mistletoe. Willa and Keane are a fun couple, with an exchange of constant banter when they're not steaming up the page. They also have respective issues that need to be overcome. When they do, their romance becomes that much sweeter. The main characters are bolstered by a strong ensemble of supporting characters who appear throughout the Heartbreaker Bay series. Although this is book #2, it easily reads as a standalone.

Shalvis’s trademark humor, warmth, and swoon are all present, making The Trouble with Mistletoe a feel-good holiday read. Highly recommended.

Luscious, good-humored, and seductive story of friends, lovers, furry nightmares, one Christmas, and events that contribute to several lives changed.
This was a fun story, light and easy to read. It was a very basic romance, with lots of humorous banter, pop-culture references, and popular topics from today's world putting a time-stamp on it. I don't know if there was a too much of a try to be hip, with hashtags, Instagram references, a favorite baker Tina who used to be Tim, a heroine who has tried a lesbian relationship etc. It didn't all feel completely natural, and that made me think there's too much trying.
Keane and Willa were both characters that were not open to, and able to, fall in love- I know, my big pet peeve. Those back and forth games and mixed signals that they were both sending through the tale started to be frustrating. They both had a package they carried, rather heavy in fact and reasons for their behavior, but I grew tired of it, and the excuses Willa was giving.
There was the set up for a much more in-depth story, richer content, and hints of possibilities with side roads the story could have taken, but those detours were cruised by with high speed. And don't get me wrong, it is a good, steamy, humorous tale. If I didn't get emotionally involved, I was engaged enough to read it through, and it did make me smile several times. I am sure I'm in a minority when I say it didn't light up my Christmas lights, and I accept that.
Pita completely stole the show, and I know the cat loving romance readers are going to fall for the adorable, nightmare of a cat, or a queen, as well.
A fun story, with tons of Christmas decorations, loyal friends who always have your back and are ready to banter with you, a homeless person selling pot as mistletoe, and two people learning about love, life, and forever under the Christmas lights
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

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.

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.

4.9 Stars

We're back again in the adorable building in San Francisco, with its adorable residents.
This time we have pet-shop owner Willa. And Keane. The same Keane she had a huge crush on in highschool. The same one who told her he'll be her date to a dance and then never showed. The same Keane who is now asking her to board his aunt's devil-cat for the day.
AND HE DOESN'T EVEN REMEMBER HER!!!!!!
He's still the same sexy guy. And she's still horribly attracted. Only this time he notices her. He's totally charmed by this strange lover of all things animal and christmas. But will she be able to get over her hate for him?
And also, she's on a man-diet. She only ever picks idiots, so why should Keane be different?
But he is. He is so effing amazing.....

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO WILLA & KEANE? WiLL THERE BE A HEA?

✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪

Such a beautiful & funny & adorable story!

After I finished Jill's Lucky Harbor series, I didn't know if anything new could compare to that amazing town. But the beautiful city of San Francisco, this beautiful building with its amazing residents .... yesssss .... I love it!

This was such a cute and adorable and sexy and funny and moving romance!
I could read christmas stories like that every day! The whole holiday atmosphere in this amazing city. Ugh...I wanted to jump into the book and drink hot chocolate with the gang in Finn's bar!

I loved all the funny pet-shop scenes and how poor Keane had to deal with this horrible cat. Too cute.
I could really imagine this book as a made-for-TV-movie! I would SO watch it every year!!!!

►► Set in the amazingly beautiful San Francisco Christmas time ..... THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE is the perfect romance. Funny, sexy - just adorable!! You'll so fall in love with WILLA & KEANE and the rest of the gang!

And now please hurry Madame Shalvis - I need the next story!!!!

If I had to name some things I didn't like?
Hm, maybe that the book was a tiny little bit too long. There was a bit too much back and forth. BUT, I still loved it! ☺

Second in the Heartbreaker Bay cozy romance series set in San Francisco and revolving around a group of friends and a wishing-for-love fountain. The couple focus is on Willa Davis and Keane Winters just before Christmas.

My Take
I enjoyed Shalvis’ approach with The Trouble with Mistletoe with a woman who has made something of herself, despite her background, and who expands her warmth to include others…besides the animals, lol. Besides, ya gotta love a girl who stands by her guns and yet can take in another’s perspective.

It’s a tale of fear with love triumphing with two characters so amazingly full of compassion in spite of their troubled childhoods. That third-person dual point-of-view, using Willa as the primary perspective and Keane for the second, provides us insight into both their thoughts. Shalvis rounds it out with her so-very-supportive core characters. Definitely a book to read when you need a lift.

Shalvis continues with her trademark sense of humor…I mean, how can you not love a line like this one:
”’And speaking of footwear, yours are on the wrong feet.’Keller looked down at his shoes and scratched his head before tipping his head up again. ‘But I don’t have any other feet.’”
Then there’s the fuel diet. I love that one.

I do wish parents would accept each of their children as individuals and not compare them to anyone. Not to another sibling and don't expect them to emulate or want the same things as their parents. And if you don’t want more kids, get fixed! Jesus. Taking out your own mistakes on your children is UNacceptable. That said, Keane’s parents are such screw-ups, and it just burns in their craw that they need to accept his help. *snicker*

The Story
Keane Winters is just plain lucky that Willa is a softy for animals. It does help that Keane seems to have changed from the arrogant kid he was in high school.

Too bad for Keane he doesn’t remember that dazzled girl.

The Characters
The twenty-seven-year-old Willa Davis owns the South Bark Mutt Shop and is on a self-imposed Man Time-Out. Her rescued employees include the tough-but-tender twenty-three-year-old Rory, the new nineteen-year-old feral Lyndie, and Cara.

Thor is Pru’s dog who loves to roll in stuff, the stinkier the better. Janie Sharp is one of Willa’s regulars with three of the devil’s spawn for kids: Dustin, Tanner, and Lizzie. Eric and Frac are their goldfish. Macaroni and Luna are a pit bull and a teacup piglet, respectively, and best friends. Keller's daddies hired Willa to plan their poodles’ wedding. Carl is a huge Doberman who belongs to Max. Buddy is a twelve-year-old cat who hates baths.

Keane Winters owns a construction company, SF Builders; Willa would be fine if he never darkened her door again. Mason is his right-hand man. Sass is his very efficient admin. Petunia, a.k.a., Pita, is his estranged great-aunt Sally’s Persian. Blue is the dog he lost a year before he left home. Vallejo Street is the 1940 Victorian he needs to sell. His cold parents are college professors who had him as a late-in-life unwanted baby. Janine (married to James) and Rachel are his older sisters. It was an uncle who instilled him with a love for carpentry. Betty is the best friend Great-aunt Sally shares with another.

The core characters
Pru is the captain of a tour boat off Pier 39 and engaged to Finn O’Riley, the owner of O'Riley’s, an Irish pub (Sean is his ne’er-do-well younger brother; Sweet Little Lies , 1); Elle Wheaten is the building’s office manager; Haley, with a preference for women, has an internship with an optometrist; Archer Hunt, an ex-cop, is the formidable head of a security company; and, Spence is an IT millionaire genius.

Joe is Archer’s second-in-command. Max works for Archer and keeps trying to ask Rory out.

Old Man Eddie is a homeless guy who lives in the alley; they all take care of him. Tina (used to be Tim) makes the best muffins. Kylie is a woodworker who owns Reclaimed Woods which makes gorgeous furnishings. Somehow she inherits Vinnie. Marco Delgado is a longtime client of Keane’s. Sharon is Keane’s real estate agent.

Ethan had been a jerk of a serial creeper and Willa's ex. Julie Carmen had been Keane’s first real girlfriend. Jenny is a nurse at the hospital who had dated Keane in the past. Andy is Rory’s jerk of an ex-boyfriend.

The Cover and Title
The background for the cover is a cream clapboard siding with a doorway framed in doric columns with a dentil frieze above. It’s a casual yet be-suited Keane Winters standing in front of the doorway with hands in pockets, his eyes covered by a flirtatious, red-haired Willa’s hands. Above the doorway is the author’s name in an embossed metallic red against a dangle of colored Christmas lights with a bunch of mistletoe suspended on a red ribbon. The title is in a thin and smaller embossed metallic green centered to the right of the couple with the series information in black below it.

The Trouble with Mistletoe is that it keeps making Willa kiss Keane. Dang it.

The Trouble with Mistletoe was the second book in the Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis.

Willa Davis was the quirky and funny owner of South Bark Mutt Shop in San Francisco. She grew up in the foster system and although she believed in forever love, she couldn't see it for herself.

Keane Winters was the gorgeous contractor that flipped old properties, restoring them to their natural beauty. He believed he was unemotional and only believed in what lasted for the here and now; everything was temporary so enjoy it while it lasted.

Willa and Keane had history. He stood her up for her freshmen Sadie Hawkins dance back in high school......and he remembered none of it. She didn't trust easy and she wasn't going to trust him again, regardless of the "animal magnetism" that sizzled between them.

The Trouble with Mistletoe was told in a dual POV. The stage was set in the first couple of chapters with strictly Willa's POV. We then began to get Keane's. It was a journey of healing, self discovery, embracing the good in life and accepting permanence.

It was also a fast, light hearted and entertaining read; although at times it dragged slightly. It was humorous with an abundance of fun bantering. I found my self smiling, giggling or belly laughing frequently.

All in all, I found it thoroughly refreshing and enjoyable. I can't wait to read about Rory and Max next in One Snowy Night.

Where to begin! All the heart, humor, and hot coffee make this such a great holiday romance. Willa is sweet, extremely generous, and obsessed with Christmas. She has a dark past, yet she doesn't let it affect her present. Until she meets Keane. He's reserved, unattached from all things, and he scares Willa. This is one of my favorite lines!

"'Don't rush yourself, not for anyone and especially not for me.' That said, he kissed her, a devastatingly perfect kiss.
And then he was gone."

Their relationship is everything. Sexy and cute, fun and serious. The main thing I like about them and this book in general is the honesty between them. They tell each other about their pasts, their fears, and their interests. I didn't have to wait until the end for everything to be out in the open. With that said, there is still mystery between them, which creates some of that suspense I love while characters get to know each other. They aren't always upfront with each other, but the smaller conflicts are resolved more quickly than I expected with a larger conflict building during each scene. This was definitely refreshing for me, and I enjoyed how this played out.

Overall, this is a beautiful, heartwarming Christmas romance and a great way to get into the holiday spirit :)

Jill Shalvis is one of those authors whose books are an auto-read for me. I always start her books with a smile on my face because I know that I will enjoy them and THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE is no different. It's cute, sweet and heartwarming. Plus it's my first Christmas-themed book of the year, so double fun for me.

Willa Davis has created her own little happy place in her thriving pet shop and her friends round out her life in a good way. Until Keane Winters walks into her shop and brings with him memories of his rejection of her in high school and her unhappy past. While this Keane is charming and attractive, can she get past her dislike of him and get to know the adult he has become?

Keane Winters does not plant roots anywhere by design, but the more time he spends around Willa and her friends, the more he desires some permanence. But can he get over his own past and his own reservations?

Don't you sometimes wish you could talk some sense into your teenage self? May be even your adult self. That's what I thought with this book, that sometimes what we see may not be the whole picture but we get so wrapped up in our issues that we can't see beyond them. Something that's true for both Willa and Keane. They both have similar pasts, growing up without the love of their parents and have both avoided long term commitment, except for friendships. But can Keane stop moving long enough to plant roots and can Willa bring down the walls she built to protect herself?

I enjoyed this book so much, just as expected. Great characters, lighthearted and fun dialogue, enjoyable friendships and explosive chemistry all add to make this a very entertaining read. One thing that stands out for me is that even someone who isn't an animal lover can't help but feel mushy at the ways she makes them an integral part of her stories.

If you want a book to set the right tone for the coming holiday season, I think this is the right one.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Willa was still licking her wounds from a recent failed relationship. She was doubting her instincts after kissing way too many frogs, and had decided to swear off men. Then Keane walked in, and he made Willa rethink her plan.

"I'm starting to think you're a little like that chocolate bar I keep in my fridge for emergencies."
"Irresistible?"
"Bad for me."

There is a lot of push and pull in this book. At first, it seemed that Keane was a proponent of no attachments. From his living situation to his family relations, he had no "strings". As the story progresses, it seemed like Willa also had attachment issues, but of a different nature. With the failed relationships and string of foster homes she was raised in, it appeared that Willa was not accustomed to forevers either.
But her entire life had been one big Temporary Situation

As the story progressed, my love for these two grew and grew. It was beautiful watching Willa and Keane change and grow. It was little things at first, but then the changes were full on declarations.

"He didn't know how and he didn't know when, but the walls guarding his heart had fallen and he'd be conquered."

I love the Heartbreaker Bay friends as much as the TV friends

I loved being back in the world of Heartbreaker Bay. I grew quite fond of this little group of friends where I read Sweet Little Lies, and my love for them just grew and grew over the course of his book. I have read multiple series by Shalvis, and one thing she is overwhelmingly capable of, is assembling these amazing friend groups. Overtime I read one of Shalvis' books, I want to move to that town, and I can say, my love of her worlds continues. This is such a wonderfully diverse group of people, who are each have something that is keeping them from romantic fulfillment. They all work out these issues with support and love from each other, and that is really all you can hope for in life.

"Yes," she said. "Friends stick." She lifted a shoulder, as if a little embarrassed. "I guess I wouldn't mind if you ....stuck."
"I like the sticky part."

Overall: Adorable and heartwarming rom-com from an author who never fails to make me smile.

"The invite. Was that just to the party? Or into your life?"

ating~ 3.75 stars

I enjoyed this one! This makes for a good winter read especially with Christmas and hopeful vibe it has.

I’ll start of by saying that it took me quite a few chapters to warm upto Willia (I actually think this might be the one heroine I didn’t instantly connect to by Jill Shalvis). I just felt what happened with Keane when she was younger was hurtful and painful to Willa but when I found what it was I was bit confused of why she made it seem like it such it was a huge and horrible thing . I didn’t understand this part of her that felt so angry-ish to Keane over him standing her up at freshman year ball when they had barely interacted before the ball and certainly not after? She was kind and sweet to everyone but him at the start. Anyways as chapters went by she grew on me and I ended up really liking her.

Willa Davis is a pet store owner and Keane Winters is a construction company owner . When Keane ends up having to take care of a cat named Petunia that he thinks hates his guts, he enlists Willa’s professional expertise to help him out and take care of the cat for him. From the moment Keane sees Willa, he is attracted to her too bad she seems to really dislike him for some unknown reason to him.

Taking care of Keane’s aunt’s cat and seeing him everyday, their interactions and banter along with the chemistry they have makes Willa start to question her judgement about Keane. While Keane has always been the first to run away from anything resembling a relationship, Willa is making him question his decision to not get involved with anyone.

I loved the pets in the book, I really liked Willa’s friends and I’m excited to read about Archer and Elle’s story and ofcourse Willa and Keane together were great. They slowly opened up their hearts to each other. They came to understand and love each other. Their relationship was sweet and adorable filled with some sexy moments. One thing you can count on in Jill Shalvis books is how developed the characters are, how well written it is and how everything is vividly described. The one had a more holiday/christmasy vibe (which I’m a sucker for really).

All in all a great and enjoying read as is the case with all Jill Shalvis Books!

ARC was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! After reading book 1 I was excited to get Willa her story. This book takes place around Christmas time and that adds some nice Christmas cheer to the story. It's not overdone, but it did make me imagine how festive everything looks. I think this is my favorite book in the series so far. Great characters, a nice group of side characters and even some pets full of personality. I had a lot of fun reading this book and was a bit sad when I finished reading it.

The main characters in this book were both such likeable and awesome characters. Willa didn't have the best time growing up and now she is this person with a lot of love to give, a big heart and smiles for everyone. She helps other animals and people in need. Like Rory who works at her shop. It was fun to see their friendship and dynamic. There's also a few fun scenes with Edie, who is such a fun side characters. It did make a me a bit sad to see how she had this big heart, but at the same time was also so afraid to fall in love. That's the main conflict in this book having her overcome her own fear and reservations. I also liked how she worked in a pet shop, it made for some great scenes and I like how much she cared about all the pets.

And while I liked Willa, I might like Keane even more as a character. He was just such a good guy. Just like Willa he didn't have the best time growing up, but he made a life for himself. He doesn't have a home or many people in his life. Then his aunt dumps her cat Pita with him and he meets Willa and that's all about to change. I loved seeing the change in him, how he thought he was okay without anything or anyone close to him, but then opened his heart. There is a great scene were he overcomes his fear of heights to help Willa, I loved that scene. He was so patient, honest and loving with Willa and I liked seeing that.

I also liked reading about Pita. Pita is the cat of Keane his aunt that he takes in and he can't stand her and the feeling seems mutual, although that does change a bit over the course of the book. I loved seeing that and how Pita wormed a way into his heart. I also felt a bit bit nostalgic and sad while reading this as the name Pita reminded me of one of the pet rats we used to have who was called Pita (she was called after the bread though). And she had just as much personalty as the Pita in this book.

I really liked the romance between Willa and Keane. I wasn't a fan of the bit of conflict at the start where Willa blamed him for something that happened years ago and he didn't even remember. It just felt a bit of unnecessary drama, but luckily it got resolved quite fast and not dragged out too much. Besides that it's just a fun slow building romance, with a bit of instant attraction that they eventually act upon, while they slowly fall in love. These two were just so fun to see together and they were so good for each other. I really enjoyed seeing them fall for each other.

There is something that happened at the end of the book that I wasn't too happy with as I had predicted that would happen from the start and then it did and I was so hoping it wouldn't. But I did like how things got resolved after that and how the conflict didn't get dragged out. I just wish the ending had been a bit longer as I would've liked to see more and it just felt a tad rushed now. Or maybe I just wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to these characters yet.

And ofcourse we get to see the group of friends again. It was fun to See Pru and Finn again, the couple of book 1. And we also see more of Elle and Archer who will be the couple of book 3. I am looking forward to their story. It is just so heartwarming to see how close this group of friends is and how they always have each others back. We get to know Rory a bit in this book, who has her own novella and I hope to read that soon.

To summarize: I really enjoyed this book. The Christmas feel was well done and added a festive feel to the book, without it being overdone. I really liked both Willa and Keane, both were great characters. I really liked each of them as a character and I liked the together. They made for a great couple and I enjoyed reading about them. Keane seems closed off as first and is a bit of a loner and it was wonderful to see that change. Willa has a big heart, but she is afraid to fall in love. I also enjoyed seeing this great group of friends again and how they always have each others back. The new side characters in this book were fun too, I liked getting to know Rory. And the cat Pita was a such a fun addition as well. Overall this was a great read with a bit of holiday cheer sprinkled in, but above all a wonderful romance between two great characters.

I received an ARC of this book from the Publisher, via Edelweiss, this does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

I was hooked with the debut in this series and have not been waiting patiently at all to get my hands on this book after reading the teaser. So I loudly squeed and did the butt wiggle dance in my chair when I got this handed to me. (Don’t judge, the butt wiggle chair dance is a real and valid thing.)

I’ll admit that it is a little odd to read a Christmas book in the summer, but I am giving that a pass because of the whole wanting it immediately thing.

This series so far is pretty fantastic. I am not always down for contemporary, but these characters really work for me. Just a messed up group of mostly adults hanging out, making family of friendships, and often having a ridiculously good time. You really can’t go wrong with hot drunk guys doing karaoke.

Willa is such a mixed up sweetie pie, taking care of pets and people and her friends, but not really taking such great care of herself. And mostly she’s just out there and open and upfront, maybe not so much with herself, but she’s a clear read for almost everyone else including the reader. Keane on the other hand is pretty opaque and who he is, his past, and his motivations dribble out through the story. It takes a little more to get him. And then there’s the cat, I am a fan of the plot pet, and this one is just a delightfully supercilious and vicious cat.

Delight with the secondary characters aside, the focus is clearly on the main characters. The secondary characters make up part of the tapestry of who they are, but the story focuses on their individual character growth and how they develop their relationship…which is hella bumpy at times. But it worked, because their struggles in coming together as a couple made sense in the context of their personal histories. And they were sweet together, and when they hurt, I hurt. And when they finally resolved things all I could do is grin.

As for the relations (as opposed to the relationship) they have mad heat, and are by turns awkward, and hot, and make-up, and hilarious. Cat care indeed?. Plus, we have condom love, and I love that kind of love.

So I am really digging hanging out with these people, and it is probably only psychosis if I actually ADMIT that I refuse to admit they are imaginary. So I am going to be all stoked waiting for the next book to find out what happens next, and to hang out with the gang as the mute friend in the corner. Because that is what it feels like, being there and hanging with the gang. It is really good stuff.

(I have one quibble, one little point of being irked, and this one won’t make a lick of sense unless you have read the previous book, but I simply must get it off my chest. I wanted to see Jake getting enfolded into the group and hanging around so I could feel secure he would be getting his own happily ever after. There, whooo, I got it off my chest.)

The Trouble with Mistletoe is book two in the Heartbreaker Bay series. I enjoyed book one but wound up falling in love with this novel even more. This is a perfect read for around Christmas time since it's set around that time period in the book. Even better, I think that these can be read as standalone books even with the previous novel's couple making appearances in this installment.

We start off with meeting Willa Davis, she runs a successful pet shop that does a little bit of everything. She's a quirky character that I loved instantly, I mean who marries and organizes a dog wedding? Anyway, we quickly meet the potential love interest, Keane Winters, her crush from high school that shattered her heart. Hurt that he doesn't even recognize her, Willa reluctantly accepts looking after his cat and tries not to let on that her grumpy attitude towards Keane is due to their past. The duo winds up becoming friends and I could see their relationship start to blossom with every page turned. There are quite a few miscommunications which lead to bumps in the road for them and it really made the novel feel true to life since that happens in relationships.

The Trouble with Mistletoe was an addicting read I didn't want to put down. I loved the characters and really enjoyed that the pet shop bits weren't just glossed over. We get face time with Willia's close friends and it just made the novel stronger and feel like you were hanging out with your buddies. I was glad to see them again from book one, and can't wait to see who's book is next in the series. I really love this novel and if you're looking for a true to life contemporary romance or one set around Christmas time I'd suggest you grab this one asap!

As usual Jill Shalvis delivers a delightful and enchanting Romance taking place in one of her trademark communities you want to "Twilight Zone" yourself into because that is where all of the deliciously hot, good guys dwell. "The Trouble With Mistletoe" takes place in the San Francisco area around Christmas time in a quaint business locale with residential units above, a courtyard with a fountain, and a friendly neighborhood bar. The Heroine, Willa Davis, owns the upscale yet personable pet store. She rose up from the Foster Care system and created a business that she owns, loves, and thrives at. She believes in giving back by hiring girls that, like her, have come from the system, the streets, or are just having a bad time getting on their feet. Willa loves all of the animals that come through her door and befriends their human pets as well - for the most part. The Hero, Keane Winters, has gotten stuck with his great-aunt's cat while she's ill. Keane believes that someone has put a hit out on him and paid this animal to kill him. Out of desperation and to save what few belongings which have survived the Feline Fiasco he finds himself at Willa's Pet Parlor begging for a kitty-sitter. What Keane doesn't realize is that he and Willa have a past and Willa is not only angry at their history but the fact that he doesn't remember it or her at all infuriates her. Willa, is a strong confident heroine who experienced a childhood with a mother who drank and made poor choices in her relationships with men - then Willa ended up in Foster Care. She never had a secure family life nor a circle of friends. Now Willa is surrounded by female friends as well as male friends that are not only comic relief but are also protective tank-like friends who have a security company in the complex. She embraces the holidays because she never had the luxury of celebrating them as a youth. She also has trouble surrendering her trust to men nor allowing herself to have a happy and lasting relationship with them. The Hero, on the other hand, came from a well off family with the wardrobe, popularity, and houseful of Christmas trappings. However, things were not as they seemed. His parents weren't proud of his athletic accomplishments. His academic accomplishments were never enough. He was never even allowed to touch the Christmas decorations when he was a little boy. The good looking popular golden boy in high school was not as cool as his packaging suggested. With parents like his he learned to rely on himself and his talents. Feelings are not something necessary or shared. And Family, definitely not on his Wish List. The Hero and Heroine are very much similar emotionally though this similarity has them reacting to it in different ways. The Heroine surrounds herself with a family of her own creation and she spreads her heart around with abandon. The Hero is a miser having only two co-workers that he is more friendly with than the others but he isn't exactly fast and loose with how he's feeling - except that he's irritated about that Cat from Hell. The Heartbreaker Bay series gang are all in attendance: Haley, Prudence, Elle, Rory, Finn, Archer, Max, and Spence. As always Jill Shalvis brings some gravitas to even out her very hilarious, very sexy stories.
Willa and Keane basically both need to get their heads out of their asses in "The Trouble with Mistletoe" because it skated that fine line of being really confusingly angsty annoying. But Jill Shalvis tempered the angst with hilarious scenes like the drunken seduction plan, the fire escape climb by the person afraid of heights, and the outraged inspection by the great-aunt convinced that Keane has either sold or killed Petunia. Willa and Keane break out of the mental constraints that their childhoods shackled them with by the end of the novel and they have not only the Happiest of Holidays but the Happiest of Ever Afters.
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Things that make me happy: Jill Shalvis. Jill Shalvis makes me happy. lol

The Trouble with Mistletoe was a laugh out loud, warm the heart, can't wait for Christmas read. I loved the characters, their foibles, the circle of friends and the grumpy cat that tortured the hero. So much fun!

So the quick of it is that Willa owns a pet shop and one day man shows up at the door with a cat from hell in his hands and in desperate need of help dealing with it. She remembers him but he doesn't so much remember her or any of the pain he caused her way back when they were teenagers. He's captivated. Too bad she's still full on ready to hold a grudge!

Willa and Keane were an entertaining pair. Some growls and grumbles and then teasing and swoonage and yummy naughtiness. I really liked both of them. They both have some attachment issues that they had to work though but gah they were good together. Both total softies when it came to animals or people in their lives (even if they didn't realize it)

The cat/hero relationship. Now. Yall. This was probably my favorite part. It was hilarious! His aunt needed a cat sitter and Keane was it. Big ol' sexy hero vs one sassy cat. He grumbled and grouched over it but also made sure she was taken care of. Keeping Pita safe and fretting like a new mom and carrying her around in a jeweled cat carrier. It was so freaking cute!

The Christmas element was light and more a background element than the typical in your face sugary sweet Christmas tale. It worked. Even reading it in July (when I gave it a read) lol

All in all, Shalvis is absolutely hands down one author you can't skip. Grab any of her books. They're fab. The Trouble with Mistletoe was a hoot. I just had a blast with it. Get it, yall. Get it.

The Trouble With a Mistletoe is an such an adorable, feels-y story of two people not looking for love but then surprisingly finds it in the arms of each other.

Willa Davis has a no-men decree and plans to live up to it until a Keane Winters drops off at her pet shop, looking even hotter than he was in high school, with a cat whom he has a love-hate relationship with. Willa remembered everything from that high school night. Too bad, Keane didn’t have a clue. Not even to recognize her as the girl he stood up with that night.

Can I just say that I love almost everything about this book? It’s Christmas-y, surrounded with a set of reliable friends, littered with cute animals, naughty and nice at the same time, vulnerable without being too dramatic and satisfyingly romantic. From the moment Keane turned up in Willa’s South Bark store, sparks fly because not only he was the guy that Willa had a huge crush on during high school but also because she found out she was still attracted to him despite her swearing off men permanently.

I love Willa and her cheerful, positive vibe. She’s kind, loyal, caring and survived the past she’s dealt with. It also goes without saying that she has a huge, compassionate heart for everyone around her. She’s the kind of woman who still tosses a coin in the fountain to wish for things, having faith it’d come true. Also, very important: animal whisperer. Her reluctance to fall in love was believable given she was falling for the same man who didn’t know he hurt her. I was even on her team for being all careful and terrified because love was such a huge deal. But I think at some point, between the tug of war of feelings, I wanted to scream at her “Give Keane a chance okay!!!”. Keane, on the other hand, is the real deal. He’s just so easy to love once I understood how he’s wired. He felt unwanted because of his parents’ attitude towards him and I couldn’t really blame him. And nope, not a d-bag for not remembering Willa because high school was such a hard time for him. (For the record, he apologized and for me, he was forgiven. Hey, he said he never wanted to hurt Willa. And I believed him.) Underneath the I-don’t-get-attached facade is a man who does get attached (but doesn’t notice it). It doesn’t hurt to know he’s pretty good to look at, a nice guy overall and very, very thoughtful I want to kiss him. The chemistry between Keane and Willa was easy and fun and sexy. It definitely helped that Willa’s friends are on Team Keane as well. And their conversations were bordering on sweet and real, it was heartfelt.

I love that the story focused on the characters’ character and how it magnified that despite the differences and all other complications, you can’t escape love even if you tried. I thought the story was immensely enjoyable, cute and satisfying. No dull moments, nothing over the top dramatic whatsoever. Even the secondary characters were friendly and charming. The pacing was fluid and so was the delightful connection of the two characters. It’s definitely lovely and romantic and brings out all the great emotions associated with love that Jill’s known for.

Willa Davis is the successful proprietor of her own pet store, a founding member of a tight posse of friends, and one of the happiest and most full-of-love people around, but that wasn't always the case. Once upon a time, Willa was an outsider, shuffled from one foster home to another, and crushing big time on one Keane Winters. But Keane, like everyone else in Willa's young life, disappointed her and made her feel like she didn't matter. Years later, when life places the two of them in the same space, Willa's the only one that remembers the rejection that she felt way back when. Keane doesn't remember Willa, but he does know that he needs her help, and that she looks pretty darned cute in her aprons with the sassy slogans. Between meddling friends, a diva of a cat, and an aunt worth listening to, Willa and Keane are soon well on the way to healing their rocky past.

"You told me your friends are your family. You told me we're friends. Was any of that a lie?"
"No, but...I'm trying to resist you here, okay? I'm trying to tell myself we have nothing in common except this weird and extremely annoying chemistry that won't go away...But then you show up at my door, clearly exhausted and rumpled, looking...well, hungry, and it makes me want to do things."
"Things like...?"
"Take my clothes off. Okay? You make me want to take my clothes off."
He started to smile but she poked him again. "Don't say it," she warned. "Don't you dare say that me stripping works for you."
"But, Willa, it does work for me. You stripping will always work for me."
"Shock," she said. "But friends don't do that. They don't, Keane," she said when he opened his mouth. "And I was going to be okay with that. But then you went ahead and told me you've read Harry Potter." She hesitated and considered him. "Which one?"
"All of them."
She covered her face and moaned miserably. "All of them," she muttered. "I'm a dead woman. You've just killed me dead."

And, this is why I adore Jill Shalvis. Because her books are fun, because her characters are hysterically quirky, because the dialogue flows like a conversation between me and my friends, because it's just so darned enjoyable. And THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE, the second book in Jill's Heartbreaker Bay series, continues to cement her place as one of my immediate go-to authors, and one that I can recommend without reservation.

I loved SWEET LITTLE LIES, the first book in the series, and this book is just as heartwarming, just as sexy, and just as endearing. Willa and Keane are more alike than they'd like to admit, which makes them perfect for each other, whether they recognize it or not. I am a sucker for a friends to lovers read, and watching their relationship develop is sweet, sexy, and filled with unforgettable moments.

THE TROUBLE WITH MISTLETOE is the perfect read to get in the holiday spirit, and the fact that Jill Shalvis wrote it is more reason to make it a priority and pop it right to the top of you TBR. I loved everything about this 5-star read; if you've not read these books, you're missing out on some seriously sexy, sassy, fun times. ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE (Book 3) is coming in January, so get going with this series now, and get ready for Elle and Archer.