Playing for Keeps

November 5, 2018
Shalvis’s seventh Heartbreaker Bay contemporary (after Hot Winter Nights), set in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, is a perfectly acceptable but formulaic romance. Sadie’s a woman of many talents: tattoo artist, dog whisperer, and survivor of a difficult childhood. One stormy night, a three-legged dog appears and she rescues the pup with help of the man she calls Suits, aka Caleb, a young, wildly successful entrepreneur with a passion for taking care of his loved ones. They’re oil and water, yet irresistibly drawn together. Sadie wants to see what’s under Caleb’s designer threads, while Caleb is fascinated by the pierced, aloof, tough artist. Lollipop, the rescue (who’s more likable than any of the human characters), keeps them in contact, and soon a slow-burning romantic and sexual connection develops. From the adorable meet-cute through interfering families and misunderstandings, the novel delivers sweet fun with warmth and joy, but no surprises. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House.

February 1, 2019

When tattoo artist Sadie Lane and venture capitalist Caleb Parker rescue a starving, shivering dog one cold rainy night, they end up "co-petting" the dog (apparently the latest craze). Now, they both want to adopt Lollipop, so sharing the responsibility is the only option. With Sadie's fierce independence and distrust of gorgeous "gazillionaire suits" and Caleb's outward confidence and flirty charm, sparks fly from the start--only to turn incendiary despite Sadie's best intentions. Familiar characters reappear and the famous fountain once again does its matchmaking job in a story that brings two perfect-for-each-other people together. VERDICT Total opposites bond over a three-legged dog and find they have much more in common. A heart-melting, laugh-out-loud sexy romp that adds another delightful chapter to Shalvis's San Francisco-set series. Shalvis (Hot Winter Nights) lives in the Sierras near Lake Tahoe.

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