Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

Title: Chasing Christmas Eve
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Heartbreaker Bay
Pages: 384
Genre(s): Contemporary
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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.

Spence's commitment to hiding from the Ghosts of Relationships Past means he doesn't have to worry about the powerful - OK, 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?

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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33783425-chasing-christmas-eve

Jill Shalvis is my spirit animal - she’s just so funny and that completely translates into her books. She writes people you want to know and worlds that you want to jump into and live there. For me, her books are a happy place.

This is the 4th full-length story (5th if you include short stories) in the Heartbreaker Bay series. These have a continuing cast of characters, a group of friends, who find their perfect match thanks to a wish made into a fountain. This story, however, completely stands alone. Having said that - I highly recommend that you read the books in order because you’ll love the characters even more having done so, and you’ll understand the background characters a bit better, too.

Having read the previous books, I was already half in love with Spence. A sexy geek? Yes, please. But from the first, I fell all the way in love and he’s my new book boyfriend. He’s still a sexy geek but he’s also so much more - he’s sweet, kind, damaged and seeing him fall in love was just wonderful.

I also fell in love with Colbie, too. She is a little bit of an introvert, a little bit frazzled but 100% sweet, kind and positive. She was Spence’s other half and they couldn’t have been more perfect for each other if they tried. Perfectly imperfect soulmates.

As I mentioned above, I’m a huge fan of Jill Shalvis’s writing style. It’s funny - I laughed out loud on many an occasion, upbeat and, without sounding cheesy - it was really a inspiring tale of how to be yourself and live for yourself. And it was a great advert for San Francisco, too - I want to go now!

Oh and yes, this has Christmas in the title and yes, there is a slight sprinkling of Christmas in it - but I would never call this a Christmas book. So long as you don’t pick it up thinking that you’re in for snowflakes and Santa and mistletoe, you’ll be alright. And I’m saying all that as someone who loves Christmas.

If you’re looking for love, laughs and positivity then I would recommend that you read this book. And all the other books in the series, too. 5 stars.