3/21/11

Quickie Review: Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis

Format: Mass Market (also available in ebook)
Pub Date: February 2011
Publisher: Berkley
FTC: Purchased myself

If I have a goofy grin on my face, I'm probably reading a Jill Shalvis book. Nothing makes me smile, snort, grin, or laugh out loud like her books.

I have to admit, though, I stalled picking up this book. As much as I love this author's books, this cover just doesn't do it for me. Yeah, yeah. Don't judge a book and all that, but this just seemed a bit too much on the cutesy side for me. Plus, I got a sympathy itch for the dude on the cover. Pet hair on a naked torso? *Scratches absently*

I really loved Lilah's menagerie. And her clumsiness.

The only thing missing was a bit more angst. It's hard to balance humor with drama, but I wish Brady were just a wee bit more troubled/tortured/wounded. There was plenty of opportunity to develop that angle, too, since Brady is the product of the foster system. Sometimes the story tipped the scales into the too cute area, but for the most part, I enjoyed watching Brady reluctantly fall for the hardworking, animal loving Lilah.

My Grade: B+

The Blurb:

Co-owner of the town's only kennel, Lilah Young has lived in Sunshine, Idaho, all her life. Pilot-for-hire Brady Miller is just passing through. But he soon has Lilah abandoning her instincts and giving in to a primal desire. 

It's Brady's nature to resist being tied down, but there's something about Lilah and her menagerie that keeps him coming back for more.

5 comments:

  1. I started this today at lunch time and have had a hard time putting it down. It is a good one so far. Lots of smiles. I suspect I'll totally agree with you when I'm all done.

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  2. @Phyl,

    I hope you like it! It was a fast, easy read for me.

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  3. I like Jill Shalvis a lot, too, but I picked this book up quickly *because* of the cover. The dog looks just like my son's new puppy. (Well, he did when the book came out. He has grown a LOT since then.) Glad you enjoyed it too!

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  4. I'll have to download the Kindle sample for this book. I admit that I'm prejudiced against covers with dogs on them. I don't dislike dogs or anything so I don't know why this is--I think I dread the idea of a cutesy animal story. I've even put off reading a couple of books by Jennifer Crusie and Kristan Higgins because they have dogs on the cover.

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  5. @sonomalass,

    It's funny how we all react differently to covers. I just kept thinking "how itchy!" The puppy is darling, though.

    @Hannah,

    There are some cute animals in here, but other than the first chapter or so, the story focuses on Brady and Lilah. I think one of the JC reissues has a dog on the cover but doesn't actually have a dog in the story! Krisan Higgins books do, however, have a lot of animals.

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