Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis | Book Review

Animal Magnetism  by Jill Shalvis

Animal Magnetism #1
First Published: 2011
Kindle
Adult, contemporary
Rating:

Sunshine, Idaho, is a small, sunny town - the perfect home for man and beast. Well, maybe not for man, as pilot-for-hire Brady Miller discovers when his truck is rear-ended by what appears to be Noah's Ark. As the co-owner of the town's only kennel, Lilah Young has good reason to be distracted behind the wheel - there are puppies, a piglet and a duck in her Jeep. Still, she doesn't find it hard to focus on the sexy, gorgeous stranger she's collided with. Brady is just passing through, but there's something about Lilah and her menagerie that makes the temptation of staying in Sunshine one that's difficult to resist...

When it comes to romance, Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite authors out there. So it came as no surprise to anyone that I loved this novel. What all her stories have in common is a strong, fierce heroine (and not necessarily in the I-can-kick-your-butt way), charming and sweet heroes and quaint and picturesque settings. No one does small-town and the closeness of it quite like her.

And this first book in her Animal Magnetism checks all those boxes in just the right way. 

Meet Brady Miller. Brady is new to town. Or maybe that's not the right way to put it as he has no intention of staying in town for long. A couple of days, tops. On second thought, after a chance encounter with Lilah young and his brothers' enticing him with a plane to fix, maybe a month. But nothing more.

Of course, a lot can happen in a month, as Brady finds out as the undeniable chemistry between him and Lilah explodes and sends them reeling. But is a no-string-attached relationship gonna cut it for these two?

Honestly, they were just so great together. They felt like they fit, like two pieces of a puzzle. This is one of those couples that from their first meeting on page, felt right. They brought each other up, they supported each other, they were a source of strength for each other... for me, these types of relationships are the best.

And of course, the characters surrounding them were fantastic. I adored Brady's adoptive siblings, and I can already tell which direction the next books are going to take, at least with one of the couples. And let me tell you; I am looking forward to it so much!

And of course, we can't forget THE ANIMALS. So many cute, adorable or darn right wacky animals in this book, and I loved every single one of them!

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas | Book Review

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

The Hathaways #5

First Published: 2010

Kindle Bundle

Adult, Historical Romance

Rating:

She harbors a secret yearning.
As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted... and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man—just to avoid spinsterhood?

He is a world-weary cynic.
Captain Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix's friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he returns from fighting abroad. But, as he explains in his letters to Pru, life on the battlefield has darkened his soul—and it's becoming clear that Christopher won't come back as the same man. When Beatrix learns of Pru's disappointment, she decides to help by concocting Pru's letters to Christopher for her. Soon the correspondence between Beatrix and Christopher develops into something fulfilling and deep... and when Christopher comes home, he's determined to claim the woman he loves. What began as Beatrix's innocent deception has resulted in the agony of unfulfilled love—and a passion that can't be denied.

If I am completely honest - and I always thrive to be - I was surprised by how much I liked this novel. Beatrix has always been my second favorite Hathaway sibling (right after Leo) so I knew I had nothing to worry on that front, but we had very little build up toward her story in the other novels, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

What I got? Captain Christopher Phelan. I loved this guy. He returns from war a changed man, a man who no longer fits into the rule he used to occupy before, and he doesn't know what to do about it. Atop this feeling of isolation, he suffers from PTSD, which of course was a term that didn't exist at the time period of this book. So, he fears he's half mad.

The only thing keeping him going? Pru, the girl who wrote him all those honest letters while he was employed. But of course, Pru didn't write them, but Beatrix. Wonderfully free spirited, outdoorsy, compassionate and intelligent Beatrix Hathaway. 

Animals and humans alike are attracted to the unique way she looks at the world. And both cannot help but be soothed by her, which Phelan desperately needs.

The romance between them is very sweet. Beatrix is completely sure of herself and her love to Phelan. She doesn't let anything stand in the way of her showing him affection, of convincing him to take her on. To take himself on. 

And the way Phelan dotted on her was nothing short of delightful. He never spared an opportunity to show her how much he loved her once he realized who she was. Was never afraid to tell her that he did. Was never afraid to let the whole world know about it, too. 

I'm going to take myself to the corner to swoon in peace, thank you very much.

But this wonderful novel was filled with a bittersweet feeling - because I am not nearly ready to say goodbye to the Hathaways! I have binge this entire series in a week. I have become attached to this family, like they were close friends of mine. I have rejoiced in their victories and felt sorrow at their losses.

I don't want this to be the end!

Please, Kleypas, write more novels featuring this peculiar family. I will settle for stories with them as supporting characters only, anything you'd like, but give me something. I am not okay!