You know there are authors who should be enjoyed in private. Not those with extraordinary, detailed bed activities. Those that make you laugh aloud, and not necessarily a cute, muted giggle, but a loud guffaw. And let’s not lose sight of those masterfully written moments when you actually become part of a wondrous moment. Sharing tears with this marvelous group of characters. That is what reading Jill Shalvis provokes. Her character creations and dialog are second to none. I often shake my head wondering just how she thought of a situation, a bit of angst, a marvelously designed relationship. Well, you get the picture. Jill Shalvis is like a fine wine with a bit of laughter added just for the heck of it. She is to be savored and enjoyed. Candidly read with the understanding that you just may attract some attention when you can’t hold in that laugh.

So in THE SUMMER ESCAPE, we have some folks who will melt your heart, make you smile and hope for the elusive happy ending. Anna is a private investigator who gets the goods on folks who are cheating on their partners. Her older sister Wendy is presently on bed rest awaiting the birth of her triplets, loved, and taken care of by her sister and devoted husband Hayden. And then there is Owen who has planted himself by Anna’s side to officially marshal while she looks into his Aunt Ruby’s stolen property.

For all practical purposes, Anna and Owen are polar opposites. Lots of heartbreak on each side so trust is a major challenge. There’s also the possibility that the person responsible for the missing property is Anna and Wendy’s now-deceased father. Gets complicated. But the more essential element is that these two get each other.

Add to the who dun it aspect is a delicious look into the sister relationship. Here’s where the loud laughs come into play. Imagine having your very pregnant sister in your ear and hearing what you are saying and listening to the other person as well. Needless to say, not heeding the warning to be quiet. The situations just get quirkier. Dialog gets outlandish. And the comedy level increases exponentially with every scene. Owen begins to acclimate himself to the fact that being with Anna means having a three-way conversation with Wendy ever present in her ear. It is just plain hysterical. Trust me on that.

Be prepared to just fall in love with all of them. You just can’t help it. When the group talks about the impending triplets they randomly assign them names. All part of the joyous repartee between the two sisters and the men in their lives.

If you are looking for an entertaining read look no further than THE SUMMER ESCAPE by Jill Shalvis. Then be prepared to put this talented author on the top of your must-read list. She tops my list.