BOOK REVIEW⎜Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

I feel like there should be Jill Shalvis books in every travel agencies or at least on every airlines counters. Wherever this author decides to set her stories at, like here in the beautiful San Francisco bay, I can be sure it’ll become my next vacation plan and dream like location. She has a knack for setting up and depicting beautiful places I yearn to visit in each new series she releases.

No doubt about it, this Christmas, romance readers are buying themselves a one way ticket for San Francisco. (And let’s all meet there by that magic fountain!)

Jill Shalvis proves once again her talent by delivering a light and heartfelt romance characterized by a solid and pleasant storytelling, her typical quirky brand of humor, and a fulfilling dose of steam.

Chasing Christmas Eve opened with your classic Shalvis comical situation and hooked me from page one! How hilarious! See, the heroine, Colbie Albright— which I had no choice but instantly ADORE— is a writer of a successful YA fantasy series. Typical Shalvis’ heroine, she’s cute and whole lot of nutty.

Feeling pressured by a demanding agent and just as much—if not more— from a suffocating and dependent family, she decides to run and flee her responsibilities for some most needed escape vacation. She thinks a break from everything is what she needs to find back her muse, and —spoiler alert— San Francisco wasn’t her idea!

Spencer Baldwin is the hero of the book and Heartbreaker Bay’s resident hot nerd. Be still my heart. MY favorite kind of hero! I was super excited to finally get his story and SO happy for him to get partnered with someone genuine like Colbie!

As many Shalvis heroes, he’s your alpha-beta male, sexy, confident and unbelievably caring. Only downside regarding Spence, he’s lost faith in his capacity to commit into any kind of durable relationship. Colbie’s visit comes with an expiration date anyway, by Christmas Eve, she’ll be gone.
Unless… for a Christmas miracle!

I’m not interested in any sort of relationship. I’m only going to be here until Christmas Eve.
-So you’re saying that’s it’s a good thing we don’t have time?

The romance between them was pleasantly quiet and mostly bared of any kind of conflict—my only objection about the story— both heroes were effortlessly understanding of each other, their connection feeling natural and unhurried despite an inevitable and fast approaching outcome.

Sexual tension was somehow lacking and I’d loved to get at least some feeling of urgency between them. It was all leisurely… hushed. Not that it was necessary a bad thing but I’ve been used to more chemistry and building tension in past reads by this author.

Colbie and Spence vacation fling settled under a lighthearted and sexy star, hitting the spot but not entirely satisfying.

The anticipation of his touch was enough to galvanize her into reaching up and tearing off his glasses.

Chasing Christmas Eve proved out to be just the ticket I needed, cheery and easy going—maybe too easy in comparison to the previous books in this series— Nonetheless, it didn’t prevent my enjoyment at all, I had real laugh out loud moments provided by Shalvis quirky humor,  I felt enchanted by the beautiful setting and loved reading snippets about all the characters I got to meet in the previous Heartbreaker Bay novels. (Special note about Elle, whom I once again hated for being such a pain in the ass, but still couldn’t help to adore!)

Overall a very rewarding feel good story!

When I started writing this review I told myself I was going to keep this short since by now, I dare hope every romance reader have heard of the awesomeness that is Jill Shalvis? Don’t answer this. It’s purely rhetorical. Oh and mission failed, once again, I let my rambling run wild!