BOOK REVIEW- The Heat Is On by Jill Shalvis *

   

Includes Bonus: Blame It On the Bikini

Catching Fire. Bella Manchelli didn't stick, not to places, or to people. Even though she liked the coastal town of Santa Rey, California, and her job as a pastry chef, she never made promises and she never got hurt. So when she signed up for Eight Dates in Eight Days, it was just for fun. And when she went home with Date Eight, she crept out of his room in the morning and never expected to see him again. Until she found a body on her doorstop. The detective on the case? None other than Mr. Date Eight-Jacob Madden. Bella was glad to see him, because there was definitely chemistry between them. She felt safe and protected with Jacob, and for the first time Bella felt at home. But he wasn't looking for forever...and they both knew the killer wasn't finished.    AMAZON LINK

4 STARS

 Bella was quite the interesting character just like the book information promised.   She came from chaos.   Although she loved her family, she needed peace and organization.  That mainly keeps her on the road with all of her travels.  In all of her travels she never found any place that was like home until she was there in Santa Rey.  And that really scared her.  She still hasn't unpacked any of her bags though because she kind of has one foot out the door. 

What's not to like about Jacob?   I liked how it was explained that he told her what was on his mind and expected her to be mature enough to deal with it.     Things were sizzling between them even when they were supposed to stay apart during the murder investigation. 

 Eight Dates in Eight Day was an intriguing idea.  It's interesting how things developed from there.  I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil it for other readers. 

Willow is probably the first BFF that Bella has had.  Because she let her boss/ friend in closer than she's ever let others.  Willow also brings in some humor but there is also other times that things made me smile. 

There is a definite danger and it took me quite a while to suspect a specific person and a possible motive.    But when it's revealed I went, "Aha, it was who I thought and why."  The story has a really good ending too.

Now onto-
BLAME IT ON THE BIKINI by Natalie Anderson 

This is another 4 STARS for me on this story.  Great main characters, plenty of emotions and dysfunction and some humor too. 

Mya and Brad do have a history "of sorts."  Lauren is Mya's BFF and Brad's sister.  Now that's where the "history" really is.  Those two girls  who were so different in financial backgrounds were friends of the heart.  Over the years they helped each other so much.  They survived and thrived to a certain extent. 

Brad was a horn-dog and was the first to admit it.   Mya was well aware of just how much of a playboy he was.  She tried to stay off his radar because she was attracted to him almost against her will.  He was gorgeous and charming.  Still, she didn't have to try too hard to stay hidden.  He just didn't see her.  Well, that was true until that fateful picture sent to him by mistake.  As he spends time with her, he has an opportunity to grow up.  It was interesting to watch him open up and see so much more of who he was.

Things stay interesting, intense, emotional throughout the story.  It's amazing that Mya didn't fall down from the schedule she was keeping.  

I liked how the story ended and with the followup information 2 years later.