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Animal Magnetism #1
Animal Magnetism
Sunshine, Idaho, is a small and 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. But, she doesn’t find it hard to focus on the sexy, gorgeous stranger she’s collided with.
Lilah has lived in Sunshine all her life, and though Brady is just passing through, he has her 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—both animal and human—that keeps him coming back for more…
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. But, she doesn’t find it hard to focus on the sexy, gorgeous stranger she’s collided with.
Lilah has lived in Sunshine all her life, and though Brady is just passing through, he has her 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—both animal and human—that keeps him coming back for more…
295 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
710 people are currently reading
9547 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shalvis
386 books13.8k followersJill Shalvis is a NYT, USA Today, and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of small-town romance and romcoms, known for big feels, found family, and plenty of shenanigans.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,127 reviews
July 21, 2021
Animal Magnetism was a very cute and laid back read. I really liked both Brady and Lilah. They had a strong connection and tons of sexual tension. I really liked Dell, Adam and Jade. I liked that this book didn't have a ton of over the top unbelievable drama. Sometimes in contemporary romances authors will add a ton of drama, twist and out of the blue shake-ups to carry the plot and keep it from getting boring. Most of the time what happens is it makes the story feel fake and forced. I love that this book didn't do that. The story spoke for itself. The plot was good because the character and relationship development was good. As a reader I felt connected not only too Brady and Lilah but their friends and neighbors too. Overall a really enjoyable read and I can't wait to see if Adam and Dell get a book.
dnf
December 24, 2017DNF @ around 30%
Cocky hero + Annoying heroine = Thanks, but no thanks.
I finally came to realize that this author’s writing style didn’t work for me whatsoever. And this book was not to my taste either. I honestly couldn’t warm up to the heroine, Lilah. There was something about her that really got on my nerves. It seemed like she tried to be funny but it came out weird, forced, and fake instead.
The final straw that made me decide to quit reading this one was that Lilah deliberately pretended not to know that Twinkles wasn't Brady's dog. It’s unacceptable and very disgusting to use an animal as a pawn in someone’s game. Wasn’t she the least bit concerned about this little dog? Oh please, and this was a woman who owned and operated a kennel! To tell you the truth, I was under the impression that she was an animal lover. But after seeing what she did, all I can say is HELL TO THE NO! Argh!
I’m out!!
Cocky hero + Annoying heroine = Thanks, but no thanks.
I finally came to realize that this author’s writing style didn’t work for me whatsoever. And this book was not to my taste either. I honestly couldn’t warm up to the heroine, Lilah. There was something about her that really got on my nerves. It seemed like she tried to be funny but it came out weird, forced, and fake instead.
The final straw that made me decide to quit reading this one was that Lilah deliberately pretended not to know that Twinkles wasn't Brady's dog. It’s unacceptable and very disgusting to use an animal as a pawn in someone’s game. Wasn’t she the least bit concerned about this little dog? Oh please, and this was a woman who owned and operated a kennel! To tell you the truth, I was under the impression that she was an animal lover. But after seeing what she did, all I can say is HELL TO THE NO! Argh!
I’m out!!
September 5, 2016
A fun read full of hot steamy lovin' and a hero that is pure sin on a stick!
I love fierce and protective alpha heroes and Jill Shalvis has created one of my favorites! Brady Miller, Ex-Army Ranger, pilot and kisser extraordinaire!
Lilah Young is adorable. Independent, smart, loyal, fun, and very compassionate. Not only does she have a deep love of animals, she also loves her junk food:)
This story had all the elements needed to make it work for me and was such a fun read. What makes this a favorite were the characters. Brady and Lilah are perfect for each other. He was someone who always kept his emotions in check, yet Lilah seemed to make him crazy and was always messing with his mind.
He made her yearn and burn as well as want. And Brady Miller is an easy man to desire. Tall, gorgeous, with a body of pure muscle. It's easy to see why Lilah wanted to "strip him naked and lick him like a lollipop." But there's much more to Brady than mere eye candy.
I found this to be a little gem filled with laugh out loud moments, tenderness, hot smexing and a fabulous cast of secondary characters.
A great beginning to another promising series!
I love fierce and protective alpha heroes and Jill Shalvis has created one of my favorites! Brady Miller, Ex-Army Ranger, pilot and kisser extraordinaire!
Lilah Young is adorable. Independent, smart, loyal, fun, and very compassionate. Not only does she have a deep love of animals, she also loves her junk food:)
This story had all the elements needed to make it work for me and was such a fun read. What makes this a favorite were the characters. Brady and Lilah are perfect for each other. He was someone who always kept his emotions in check, yet Lilah seemed to make him crazy and was always messing with his mind.
He made her yearn and burn as well as want. And Brady Miller is an easy man to desire. Tall, gorgeous, with a body of pure muscle. It's easy to see why Lilah wanted to "strip him naked and lick him like a lollipop." But there's much more to Brady than mere eye candy.
I found this to be a little gem filled with laugh out loud moments, tenderness, hot smexing and a fabulous cast of secondary characters.
A great beginning to another promising series!
June 30, 2024
Second time around I liked it much more.
August 24, 2015
Disclaimer
The rating for this book is based solely on personal preference and not on any shortcomings in the writing or the author.
Jill Shalvis is an author many adore and have encouraged me to read. This was my first attempt and I'm afraid I may have picked up the wrong book to start with. The synopsis sounded perfect - right up my alley... small town love story between the owner of the local kennel and an ex-military pilot with lots of animals and humor added in. What's not to like, right? The problem for me was in the fact that I couldn't find an actual story.
The book starts with Lilah (h) accidentally rear-ending a total stranger's truck. He offers to give her a ride home, she accepts and they end up in a long and heated make-out session within minutes (reality check here... what intelligent woman would jump into a stranger's truck then immediately start making out with them... OK, without it being her profession?!?!) At this point, Lilah decides it's been awhile since her libido has had any fun so why not enter a no-strings-attached month long fling with said stranger. What follows is 275 pages (of a 295 page book) of sex. Now, for those who are looking for and enjoy reading about nothing but sex, this is undoubtably the perfect book and would rate a rousing 5 stars. For those - like me - who are story driven readers and require some kind any kind of feelings or emotion before diving into the sexcapades, this book shouldn't even be considered. There just isn't much else there - well until the last 20 pages where, of course, they realize it hasn't all just been fun and games.
Again, let me reiterate, I have absolutely nothing against those who bow at the alter of Shalvis. I totally understand. I even admire her for keeping her characters honest to their natures, she never suggested her heroine was anything other than what she was. She didn't yammer on about the heroine being a "strong, independent woman who would never consider anything but a deep, meaningful relationship", then strip her brains and toss her into bed the minute she sees a hot guy. What she writes, she writes well. This particular premise just isn't my cuppa. I have one more book of hers waiting to be read so I may give it one more try.
The rating for this book is based solely on personal preference and not on any shortcomings in the writing or the author.
Jill Shalvis is an author many adore and have encouraged me to read. This was my first attempt and I'm afraid I may have picked up the wrong book to start with. The synopsis sounded perfect - right up my alley... small town love story between the owner of the local kennel and an ex-military pilot with lots of animals and humor added in. What's not to like, right? The problem for me was in the fact that I couldn't find an actual story.
The book starts with Lilah (h) accidentally rear-ending a total stranger's truck. He offers to give her a ride home, she accepts and they end up in a long and heated make-out session within minutes (reality check here... what intelligent woman would jump into a stranger's truck then immediately start making out with them... OK, without it being her profession?!?!) At this point, Lilah decides it's been awhile since her libido has had any fun so why not enter a no-strings-attached month long fling with said stranger. What follows is 275 pages (of a 295 page book) of sex. Now, for those who are looking for and enjoy reading about nothing but sex, this is undoubtably the perfect book and would rate a rousing 5 stars. For those - like me - who are story driven readers and require some kind any kind of feelings or emotion before diving into the sexcapades, this book shouldn't even be considered. There just isn't much else there - well until the last 20 pages where, of course, they realize it hasn't all just been fun and games.
Again, let me reiterate, I have absolutely nothing against those who bow at the alter of Shalvis. I totally understand. I even admire her for keeping her characters honest to their natures, she never suggested her heroine was anything other than what she was. She didn't yammer on about the heroine being a "strong, independent woman who would never consider anything but a deep, meaningful relationship", then strip her brains and toss her into bed the minute she sees a hot guy. What she writes, she writes well. This particular premise just isn't my cuppa. I have one more book of hers waiting to be read so I may give it one more try.
May 26, 2020
Hilarious Animal Sidekicks
Low Angst
Quirky Tough Animal Advocate Heroine
Quiet Sultry Lone-Wolf Pilot Hero
Well Written Dialogue
Small Town Setting
Character Driven
Supportive Friends
Steamy
July 16, 2013
I really liked this. It was so cute and charming. That's really the only way I can describe it.
Then the sex started .... And it's like it's all the same. It's all about her. He pleasures her with his mouth before they do it. The only times she's even touched his penis was during first sex scene when she rolled a condom on him. Then they do it in same position. Boring. And the scenes always from her pov. Maybe because the target audience is women?
As a gay man I found it too simple and repetitive to be interesting and I want some details about the guy. Not all about the guy I just expect the scenes to be equal guy and girl. Is that too much? And omg the term "wet folds" please stop using that, it seriously grosses me out.
Anyway the first forty percent was great but now that the sex is going I'm losing interest and it feels like it's just dragging along now.
And the timeline is really jumpy. That's distracting. It jumps days and sometimes it skips three days ahead a short random scene and skips four more days and its just Like huh? WTF? Really?
And sex in the old couples small guest bathroom? Again, really? Why? WTF? Gross! Not sexy at all.
Everyone's a model in this town! All the guys are super sexy studs with smooth tongues that make girls wet their panties so much the fabric disintegrates. And the girls are all curvy and dress like they should be in designer magazines. I have never been in a small town like that and it's hard to like a story when no one seems real. I get it the MCs have to be stunningly perfect but can't there be a few side characters that are just normal?
Eh the cliché "you almost died and now I know I love you." Dull.
The good old pull out method, a favorite by teen moms everywhere. But it's okay because she likes being reckless. Uh there are other things you can get from a slut (the manslut) besides just pregnant ya know?
By the time it got to the big "emotional" ending I didn't care if Brady left or not. The sex had ruined my enjoyment of the story, completely. I was just read for it to be over.
The ending sucked.
So first 40% was so cute and charming but the sex started and it was crap Rollin' down a hill from there.
Then the sex started .... And it's like it's all the same. It's all about her. He pleasures her with his mouth before they do it. The only times she's even touched his penis was during first sex scene when she rolled a condom on him. Then they do it in same position. Boring. And the scenes always from her pov. Maybe because the target audience is women?
As a gay man I found it too simple and repetitive to be interesting and I want some details about the guy. Not all about the guy I just expect the scenes to be equal guy and girl. Is that too much? And omg the term "wet folds" please stop using that, it seriously grosses me out.
Anyway the first forty percent was great but now that the sex is going I'm losing interest and it feels like it's just dragging along now.
And the timeline is really jumpy. That's distracting. It jumps days and sometimes it skips three days ahead a short random scene and skips four more days and its just Like huh? WTF? Really?
And sex in the old couples small guest bathroom? Again, really? Why? WTF? Gross! Not sexy at all.
Everyone's a model in this town! All the guys are super sexy studs with smooth tongues that make girls wet their panties so much the fabric disintegrates. And the girls are all curvy and dress like they should be in designer magazines. I have never been in a small town like that and it's hard to like a story when no one seems real. I get it the MCs have to be stunningly perfect but can't there be a few side characters that are just normal?
Eh the cliché "you almost died and now I know I love you." Dull.
The good old pull out method, a favorite by teen moms everywhere. But it's okay because she likes being reckless. Uh there are other things you can get from a slut (the manslut) besides just pregnant ya know?
By the time it got to the big "emotional" ending I didn't care if Brady left or not. The sex had ruined my enjoyment of the story, completely. I was just read for it to be over.
The ending sucked.
So first 40% was so cute and charming but the sex started and it was crap Rollin' down a hill from there.
July 20, 2014
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 "QUACK, MEW, ARF" STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was my first Jill Shalvis' book and I loved it!
She had me at "Quack", page 3. This was one of the funniest and charming read I had in a long time! I definitely missed out for so long, but the good news is that I have lots of good times reading all her books, ahead of me!
It was my first Jill Shalvis' book and I loved it!
She had me at "Quack", page 3. This was one of the funniest and charming read I had in a long time! I definitely missed out for so long, but the good news is that I have lots of good times reading all her books, ahead of me!
March 18, 2011
Sexy (pilot-for-hire - aka doesn't stay anywhere for very long) hero, Brady, goes to the small town of Sunshine to visit his foster brothers and meets the spunky, sensitive (she cries, for weeks, when she places pets in new homes) heroine with a heart of gold. Will he stick around this time? Will she finally get a break and overcome the ghosts of her past? (Actually that sounds more interesting than it is.) Will anything EVER happen in this book?
Well, the answer to the last question is...No. There is no plot here, this book is all character driven. Which is fine when the characters are interesting and unfortunately both the hero and heroine fell flat for me. I could say that the issue is with me and that I just don't like contemporary romance or small town romance but that's not the only problem. I just didn't care about the characters and whether they hooked up or not.
There were parts that really irritated me and unfortunately it turned out that I couldn't get past them. The first kiss, instead of being hot, came off to me as slutty. I hate using that word especially when it's just about a kiss but I can't think of anything else. I get it that it's a small town and prospects are slim but really? Practically dry humping a guy you just met because he's hot and offers you a ride and a Snickers bar? At least talk to him for a couple of hours first. I just kept thinking...Wait, did I accidentally skip a few pages? Are pages missing? Did they just go through a time warp? Yeah, for me it just felt completely out of place.
Then there is our heroine, Lilah. We learn that she still misses her dead G-Ma and some boy in college did a number on her and she's still reeling from that too. She has two friends that act as older brothers, or gatekeepers, to her social life making it difficult for her to just have smexy fun but she still managed to have a brief fling with her business partner Cruz. But that's ok 'cuz they are still friends. She's looking for 'something' but she can't quite put her finger on it. Oh, wait. She can.
Yeah. Ache. Well with the kiss and the ache, followed by the crying 'cuz she gets so attached the animals she rescues when she places them in a good home, followed by the repetition of devastation over G-Ma's death and that college boy and now I'm completely out of the story and looking at my watch wondering if I should dust or vacuum or do the dishes.
Then there are the cute animal interactions. Unfortunately, that might have worked in a movie format, but while reading, these scenes became too cutesy and were repeated ad nauseam to the point that I was really looking forward to duck soup and bacon.
Which brings me to the point that, to me, this whole story came off as a mediocre Lifetime Movie Channel romance that I'm supposed to like just because I'm a female who enjoys romances. Sorry. Unlike the heroine, apparently I'm not that desperate.
Another reviewer but it nicely...This is a small town romance with a larger than life hero that will find twue wuv with the spunky local heroine and they live HEA. Unfortunately, the characters just fell flat and this whole story just didn't work for me. The good news is that it's a cute cover and I got some house cleaning done. Now if I could just stop thinking of a thick, juicy BLT.
Well, the answer to the last question is...No. There is no plot here, this book is all character driven. Which is fine when the characters are interesting and unfortunately both the hero and heroine fell flat for me. I could say that the issue is with me and that I just don't like contemporary romance or small town romance but that's not the only problem. I just didn't care about the characters and whether they hooked up or not.
There were parts that really irritated me and unfortunately it turned out that I couldn't get past them. The first kiss, instead of being hot, came off to me as slutty. I hate using that word especially when it's just about a kiss but I can't think of anything else. I get it that it's a small town and prospects are slim but really? Practically dry humping a guy you just met because he's hot and offers you a ride and a Snickers bar? At least talk to him for a couple of hours first. I just kept thinking...Wait, did I accidentally skip a few pages? Are pages missing? Did they just go through a time warp? Yeah, for me it just felt completely out of place.
Then there is our heroine, Lilah. We learn that she still misses her dead G-Ma and some boy in college did a number on her and she's still reeling from that too. She has two friends that act as older brothers, or gatekeepers, to her social life making it difficult for her to just have smexy fun but she still managed to have a brief fling with her business partner Cruz. But that's ok 'cuz they are still friends. She's looking for 'something' but she can't quite put her finger on it. Oh, wait. She can.
But she didn't count Cruz because she didn't ache for him.
She wanted to ache, dammit.
Yeah. Ache. Well with the kiss and the ache, followed by the crying 'cuz she gets so attached the animals she rescues when she places them in a good home, followed by the repetition of devastation over G-Ma's death and that college boy and now I'm completely out of the story and looking at my watch wondering if I should dust or vacuum or do the dishes.
Then there are the cute animal interactions. Unfortunately, that might have worked in a movie format, but while reading, these scenes became too cutesy and were repeated ad nauseam to the point that I was really looking forward to duck soup and bacon.
Which brings me to the point that, to me, this whole story came off as a mediocre Lifetime Movie Channel romance that I'm supposed to like just because I'm a female who enjoys romances. Sorry. Unlike the heroine, apparently I'm not that desperate.
Another reviewer but it nicely...This is a small town romance with a larger than life hero that will find twue wuv with the spunky local heroine and they live HEA. Unfortunately, the characters just fell flat and this whole story just didn't work for me. The good news is that it's a cute cover and I got some house cleaning done. Now if I could just stop thinking of a thick, juicy BLT.
January 14, 2012
A light contemporary read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and a good dose of steam. It started a bit slow, and overall the story was quite predictable, but once the story got rolling and the clothes started falling, I was hooked. I may have had higher hopes for this story as I love the author's other series a bit more (Lucky Harbor), but while it didn't 'wow' me as much I still highly recommend it for a nice beach type read. So if you're in the mood for steamy fluff and a hot romance, this one could be a winner.
January 19, 2012
Very sweet, fun romance. Yummy men and cute animals, how can you go wrong?! Brady and Lilah were such an adorable couple, and wow, those two could burn up the sheets. A wonderful cast of secondary characters, a little bit of drama, lot's a sweet lovin', great setting and you have a typical Jill Shalvis romance, she never disappoints. I can't wait to get back to Sunshine, Idaho and read Dr. Dell and Jade's story
December 29, 2020
4 Animal Magnetism Stars
I have read this book before but I haven’t listened to the audio and I gotta say I loved it more the second time.
I was in the mood for a sweet but smexy romance and this was right up my alley. I didn’t want anything too emotional because I know my next book is going to break my heart.
So Lilah and Brady’s was exactly what I needed. She is so guarded with her emotions and she doesn’t let people in because she is afraid they are going to leave once she loves them.
And Brady hasn’t really had roots. He thinks of the guys as his brothers but he never really had the itch to say in one place until he meets Lilah and everything he thought he knew gets turned on its head.
Like I said this is a sweet romance. I love the animal touch it’s pretty adorable to say the very least.
Also I enjoyed the narrator I think she does a great job. Though sometimes I think her voice was a little old for some of the voice but you get over that pretty fast.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
I have read this book before but I haven’t listened to the audio and I gotta say I loved it more the second time.
I was in the mood for a sweet but smexy romance and this was right up my alley. I didn’t want anything too emotional because I know my next book is going to break my heart.
So Lilah and Brady’s was exactly what I needed. She is so guarded with her emotions and she doesn’t let people in because she is afraid they are going to leave once she loves them.
And Brady hasn’t really had roots. He thinks of the guys as his brothers but he never really had the itch to say in one place until he meets Lilah and everything he thought he knew gets turned on its head.
Like I said this is a sweet romance. I love the animal touch it’s pretty adorable to say the very least.
Also I enjoyed the narrator I think she does a great job. Though sometimes I think her voice was a little old for some of the voice but you get over that pretty fast.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
August 10, 2019
This book was very typical of Jill Shalvis's work in both good ways and not very good ways :) We get absolutely adorable animals (I've decided that I think she's better at writing four-legged characters than two-legged ones!), prose that's easy to read but just above mediocre at best and disappointingly amateurish at worst, more punctuation errors than a geek like I am would like, more warmth and humor than angst (thankfully!), a fairly fast pace yet very little actual plot, a heroine who's not layered or unique but is somewhat likable and relatable, and a one-dimensional "alpha" hero who is totally identical to almost every other hero she's ever written. (Don't even get me started on how cookie cutter generic and dully similar her heroes are!) So if you love Jill Shalvis, I'm sure you'll this enjoy one a lot. If you've never been a Shalvis fan, though, this one is so typical of her usual work that I doubt it will convert you!
March 19, 2013
This is a sweet, fun, light entertaining book, with lots of nice heat. Brady Miller is guaranteed to have your undies on fire in no time. He’s wickedly delicious, ex-Special Forces, military pilot who loves animals. *sigh* Enjoy!
Want to read
April 9, 2017Only $0.99 at Amazon US today! 4/9/17
December 28, 2018
Here are some of my thoughts:
• Sweet, sweet, sweet.
• Relatable heroine who loves junk food, animals, and is a little klutzy.
• A hero who is loyal, hardworking, and kind. He seems tough and thorny on the exterior, but he so easily gave in to the cuteness of an abandoned dog. Aw.
• All the animal cuteness killed me.
• The conflict is pretty straightforward. Brady stays in town for a month for his brothers, and insists that he must leave because he doesn’t like to get tied down to one place or to people. He gradually changes his mind as the story goes on. This conflict is a point of concern of the main characters throughout, but it’s never overdone.
• I appreciate that this book is a perfect mixture of light-hearted and serious. There are a few good emotional scenes, but not too depressing, and there are some sweet, funny scenes.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It is a simple romcom, and it’s filled with sweet romantic moments and cute and funny animal scenes. 3.5 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
• Sweet, sweet, sweet.
• Relatable heroine who loves junk food, animals, and is a little klutzy.
• A hero who is loyal, hardworking, and kind. He seems tough and thorny on the exterior, but he so easily gave in to the cuteness of an abandoned dog. Aw.
• All the animal cuteness killed me.
• The conflict is pretty straightforward. Brady stays in town for a month for his brothers, and insists that he must leave because he doesn’t like to get tied down to one place or to people. He gradually changes his mind as the story goes on. This conflict is a point of concern of the main characters throughout, but it’s never overdone.
• I appreciate that this book is a perfect mixture of light-hearted and serious. There are a few good emotional scenes, but not too depressing, and there are some sweet, funny scenes.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It is a simple romcom, and it’s filled with sweet romantic moments and cute and funny animal scenes. 3.5 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
March 8, 2020
3.5 stars. (◠ᴥ◕ʋ)
Okay, I kind of lied. I still haven't had enough of Jill Shalvis. Is this lady for real though? How the heck has she managed to write so many freaking good books?
“That’s not one teeny tiny dog,” Brady said, staring at Twinkles. “That’s the devil in disguise. And besides, I’m way more afraid of you.”
She smiled. “You are not.”
“Terrified. You’d better hold me.”
Okay, I kind of lied. I still haven't had enough of Jill Shalvis. Is this lady for real though? How the heck has she managed to write so many freaking good books?
March 1, 2015
I've read two books before by Jill Shalvis, Double Play and Slow Heat, and both were mind-numbingly boring. Those two had put me in a scary book slump I had trouble getting out of.
So when GR recommended Animal Magnetism I was wary to say the least. But one look at that cover and I was sold. Screw the hunk (hehe), that puppy is a cheap shot! No one can say no to puppy eyes. So yeah, the puppy got to me and I started reading. But surprise, surprise, Animal Magnetism was nothing like Shalvis' previous works. In no time I got hooked and I couldn't stop reading.
There were some things, mainly in the beginning that I could've gone without , but as the story progressed it took a different turn from what I was expecting and I enjoyed it ever so more for that. Still, the thing I liked most were the characters. I liked how strong and smart and confident Lilah was, but she still had a compassionate side that made me adore her even more. Brady, even though a bit too stubborn for his own good, was the perfect example of an awesome alpha male hero who won't hesitate to show he cares about the heroine, but who still lets her have her own space and respects her enough not to bully her into obedience or impose his opinion on her.
The side characters were awesome, and I'm super excited about the sequel, as we are hinted here and there about the next couple. The writing is beautiful. I had never stoped reading so many times to mark this and that quote with notes like awww and that's sooo sweet. The pacing is fast enough, so you won't be bored you out of your mind.
In the end, I'd say let the puppy on the cover lure you into a fantastic love story that'll melt your heart, have you grinning like a fool or catching yourself letting out dreamy sighs and just enjoy a great contemporary romance. A rarity these days.
So when GR recommended Animal Magnetism I was wary to say the least. But one look at that cover and I was sold. Screw the hunk (hehe), that puppy is a cheap shot! No one can say no to puppy eyes. So yeah, the puppy got to me and I started reading. But surprise, surprise, Animal Magnetism was nothing like Shalvis' previous works. In no time I got hooked and I couldn't stop reading.
There were some things, mainly in the beginning that I could've gone without , but as the story progressed it took a different turn from what I was expecting and I enjoyed it ever so more for that. Still, the thing I liked most were the characters. I liked how strong and smart and confident Lilah was, but she still had a compassionate side that made me adore her even more. Brady, even though a bit too stubborn for his own good, was the perfect example of an awesome alpha male hero who won't hesitate to show he cares about the heroine, but who still lets her have her own space and respects her enough not to bully her into obedience or impose his opinion on her.
The side characters were awesome, and I'm super excited about the sequel, as we are hinted here and there about the next couple. The writing is beautiful. I had never stoped reading so many times to mark this and that quote with notes like awww and that's sooo sweet. The pacing is fast enough, so you won't be bored you out of your mind.
In the end, I'd say let the puppy on the cover lure you into a fantastic love story that'll melt your heart, have you grinning like a fool or catching yourself letting out dreamy sighs and just enjoy a great contemporary romance. A rarity these days.
February 6, 2011
Sometimes all the stars align, and the right book comes along when you're in exactly the mood for it. I needed a warm, character-driven story full of charm and people you can care about, so I was delighted to pick up Animal Magnetism and find that it fit the bill. After a stressful week, spending time curled up with a hot cup of tea and this book was the perfect therapy.
I enjoyed Brady and Lilah, and I appreciate that Ms. Shalvis doesn't resort to the "big misunderstandings" or a contrived crisis that could be resolved with 10 minutes of honest communication. The secondary characters are interesting as well, and I hope to see future books with Dell and Adam.
ETA: There were a few distracting editing problems, mainly quote marks missing at strategic places that made the reader stop and figure out when a quote started, or who was speaking. Also, one obvious discrepancy at the end of Chapter 7 and beginning of Chapter 8. Near the end of 7, Lilah puts Twinkles on his blanket, and the other dog, Lucy joins him. Then at the beginning of 8, Brady is described as taking Twinkles from Lilah, putting him on the blanket and then getting Lucy to follow. This is suppose to be the same scene, no time elapses. Problems like this distract from the story somewhat, and the editor should have caught it.
I enjoyed Brady and Lilah, and I appreciate that Ms. Shalvis doesn't resort to the "big misunderstandings" or a contrived crisis that could be resolved with 10 minutes of honest communication. The secondary characters are interesting as well, and I hope to see future books with Dell and Adam.
ETA: There were a few distracting editing problems, mainly quote marks missing at strategic places that made the reader stop and figure out when a quote started, or who was speaking. Also, one obvious discrepancy at the end of Chapter 7 and beginning of Chapter 8. Near the end of 7, Lilah puts Twinkles on his blanket, and the other dog, Lucy joins him. Then at the beginning of 8, Brady is described as taking Twinkles from Lilah, putting him on the blanket and then getting Lucy to follow. This is suppose to be the same scene, no time elapses. Problems like this distract from the story somewhat, and the editor should have caught it.
May 8, 2011
Animal Magnetism is a sweet romance and the best part it has got animals and I adore them . Brady is someone who was sent from foster home to foster home and it hurt him so he became angry at the world, and he was tiny so he was picked on a lot. Finally, he made his way to Sol, in Idaho where he stayed until he joined the army along with two other "lost boys" Adam and Dell. Sol, gave Brady the freedom he needed and taught him how to take care of himself. Brady through hard-work became a pilot and now he is a pilot who flies to South America etc. He prefers his life un-complicated, with no roots and no chance of being abandoned and left behind.
His two foster brothers dangle "a plane" as bait to get him to come visit them. Brady is a partner in the vet business they started even though he wanted no part of it. And he goes to see them there, when Brady's truck is hit by Lilah.
Lilah was born poor but she was happy with her grandmother and wanted to see the world outside Sunshine, Idaho and become the first to get a college degree, so she went to Vegas on full-scholarship but her grandmother's ill health and a bad romance brought her back home, afraid. She has re-built her life and is even trying to get her degree. She is good friends with Adam and Dell and everyone in town. People love her and she helps everyone, preferring not to let others help her financially or otherwise. She loves animals and rescues them, finding them new homes but she gets attached to them crying every time she lets them go.
Lilah knows that Brady is not going to stay and she prefers that since she is not looking for permanence right now and just needs fun. Brady is offended surprisingly when Lilah refuses to spend the night with him, even though it is his MO. Even though he says that he won't stay, he is starting to fall for Lilah and wants more than what she is giving. Seeing them both and Adam and Dell was nice. And how Brady bitches about the dog he finds and still takes care of him, refusing to leave him behind was sweet. Imagine a dog giving sleepless nights to a full-grown man?
The story is sweet with good characters. Brady tells Lilah that she is even more close-mouthed than him and Lilah realizes that in her need for self-preservation she is not really living her life. People are afraid to put their feelings on the line for fear of being rejected and getting hurt and so are Lilah and Brady, they both agree to keep it casual but the best intentions tend to back-fire. I really liked both the characters and seeing them grow and their emotional barriers falling.
I am looking forward to Dell and Jade's book.
His two foster brothers dangle "a plane" as bait to get him to come visit them. Brady is a partner in the vet business they started even though he wanted no part of it. And he goes to see them there, when Brady's truck is hit by Lilah.
Lilah was born poor but she was happy with her grandmother and wanted to see the world outside Sunshine, Idaho and become the first to get a college degree, so she went to Vegas on full-scholarship but her grandmother's ill health and a bad romance brought her back home, afraid. She has re-built her life and is even trying to get her degree. She is good friends with Adam and Dell and everyone in town. People love her and she helps everyone, preferring not to let others help her financially or otherwise. She loves animals and rescues them, finding them new homes but she gets attached to them crying every time she lets them go.
Lilah knows that Brady is not going to stay and she prefers that since she is not looking for permanence right now and just needs fun. Brady is offended surprisingly when Lilah refuses to spend the night with him, even though it is his MO. Even though he says that he won't stay, he is starting to fall for Lilah and wants more than what she is giving. Seeing them both and Adam and Dell was nice. And how Brady bitches about the dog he finds and still takes care of him, refusing to leave him behind was sweet. Imagine a dog giving sleepless nights to a full-grown man?
The story is sweet with good characters. Brady tells Lilah that she is even more close-mouthed than him and Lilah realizes that in her need for self-preservation she is not really living her life. People are afraid to put their feelings on the line for fear of being rejected and getting hurt and so are Lilah and Brady, they both agree to keep it casual but the best intentions tend to back-fire. I really liked both the characters and seeing them grow and their emotional barriers falling.
I am looking forward to Dell and Jade's book.
February 23, 2015
Absolutely adorable! Brady was just passing through and then he met Lilah! When she rear ended his vehicle, along with her menagerie. Both have past issues they have to overcome before they can commit to any kind of future together. Looking forward to future additions to this series.
August 21, 2018
RECENSIONE COMPLETA QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...
Animali, risate e romanticismo si mescolano nel libro di Jill Shalvis ‘Tu sei per me’. Lilah Young ha pensato tutta la vita di scappare da quel paesino piccolo dov’è cresciuta e quando spiega le ali, gliele spezzano. Ci mette poco tempo a tornare nel suo paesino a leccarsi le ferite di una delusione d’amore e dalla morte della sua amata nonna. Le mura di quel paese le sono familiari ed i suoi amici Dell e Adam, come fratello per lei, sono un toccasana per Lilah. Cura gli animali, studia sodo per diventare veterinaria e passa le sue giornate in modo monotono. Brady Miller ha un passato difficile, tra famiglie affidatarie e un carattere che si fortifica fin da giovane. Dell e Adam sono i suoi fratelli adottivi e per loro darebbe la vita. Brady si è arruolato giovane ma non ha mai perso i contatti con i suoi fratelli, che ora gli chiedono aiuto. Arrivato a Sunshine, una ragazzina tampona il suo pick up. Un buon inizio. E casualmente questa ragazzina non trova la patente né l'assicurazione, ma in compenso ha il furgone pieno di cani, un’anatra e un maialino. Una scena divertente e frizzante. L’autrice mescola il divertimento con scene forti e sentimentali. Lilah cerca di non cacciarsi nei guai e di salvare animali. Ma non può andare sempre tutto liscio, soprattutto se tampona il pick up di un ex militare.
Tra i due l'attrazione è immediata. Non solo si completano, ma creano un vero e proprio mondo dove il lettore si perde. Il libro è ben scritto ed è composto da un pizzico di ironia e romanticismo. La presenza degli animali mi è piaciuta molto, crea scene divertenti che avvicinano i due personaggi e li allontanano. Brady è sexy, muscoloso e con un carattere forte. Finalmente un uomo per Lilah che ha avuto solo tante esperienze negative. Brady resterà dai fratelli per un tempo limitato ma per Lilah non è un problema, un breve flirt con un ex militare. Per dimenticare. Per cambiare. Ma tutto questo cambia la loro vita, non sapete fino a che punto. Un flirt che si trasforma in qualcosa di più, ma ognuno ha la sua vita da seguire. Ci saranno degli ostacoli che dovranno affrontare per volere ciò che desiderano. Brady è forte e determinato, un animo duro. Lilah è morbida, rovista ma dolce, cerca un lieto fine, una nuova strada da intraprendere. Due persone diverse, che si incontrano per colmare i loro cuori. Un libro che mi è piaciuto molto, diverso dal solito ed una lettura leggera. Lo consiglio vivamente, da leggere sulla spiaggia in questa estate calda…
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Animali, risate e romanticismo si mescolano nel libro di Jill Shalvis ‘Tu sei per me’. Lilah Young ha pensato tutta la vita di scappare da quel paesino piccolo dov’è cresciuta e quando spiega le ali, gliele spezzano. Ci mette poco tempo a tornare nel suo paesino a leccarsi le ferite di una delusione d’amore e dalla morte della sua amata nonna. Le mura di quel paese le sono familiari ed i suoi amici Dell e Adam, come fratello per lei, sono un toccasana per Lilah. Cura gli animali, studia sodo per diventare veterinaria e passa le sue giornate in modo monotono. Brady Miller ha un passato difficile, tra famiglie affidatarie e un carattere che si fortifica fin da giovane. Dell e Adam sono i suoi fratelli adottivi e per loro darebbe la vita. Brady si è arruolato giovane ma non ha mai perso i contatti con i suoi fratelli, che ora gli chiedono aiuto. Arrivato a Sunshine, una ragazzina tampona il suo pick up. Un buon inizio. E casualmente questa ragazzina non trova la patente né l'assicurazione, ma in compenso ha il furgone pieno di cani, un’anatra e un maialino. Una scena divertente e frizzante. L’autrice mescola il divertimento con scene forti e sentimentali. Lilah cerca di non cacciarsi nei guai e di salvare animali. Ma non può andare sempre tutto liscio, soprattutto se tampona il pick up di un ex militare.
Tra i due l'attrazione è immediata. Non solo si completano, ma creano un vero e proprio mondo dove il lettore si perde. Il libro è ben scritto ed è composto da un pizzico di ironia e romanticismo. La presenza degli animali mi è piaciuta molto, crea scene divertenti che avvicinano i due personaggi e li allontanano. Brady è sexy, muscoloso e con un carattere forte. Finalmente un uomo per Lilah che ha avuto solo tante esperienze negative. Brady resterà dai fratelli per un tempo limitato ma per Lilah non è un problema, un breve flirt con un ex militare. Per dimenticare. Per cambiare. Ma tutto questo cambia la loro vita, non sapete fino a che punto. Un flirt che si trasforma in qualcosa di più, ma ognuno ha la sua vita da seguire. Ci saranno degli ostacoli che dovranno affrontare per volere ciò che desiderano. Brady è forte e determinato, un animo duro. Lilah è morbida, rovista ma dolce, cerca un lieto fine, una nuova strada da intraprendere. Due persone diverse, che si incontrano per colmare i loro cuori. Un libro che mi è piaciuto molto, diverso dal solito ed una lettura leggera. Lo consiglio vivamente, da leggere sulla spiaggia in questa estate calda…
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
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September 29, 2014
So I'm totally late to the party on Jill Shalvis, but I have to thank my BFF for opening my eyes to contemporary romance books and how lovely they can be. Especially this author's writing.
I don't know how she does it, but I fall a little more in lust with each one of her characters than the last.
In Animal Magnetism, (yes, the cover is a bit cheesy and honestly probably why I stayed a way so long) We meet Lilah Young, the co-owner of the town of Sunshine's kennel and a bit scattered. The first time we meet her she's escorting animals to the kennel (a duck and a pig lol). A minor accident occurs and brings *sigh* Brady into the picture. This man... good lord in heaven, he's swoony and sexy and just damn wonderful. (now go ahead and picture the big, tough, sexy man with a little tiny puppy... do it... *SIGH*)
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, Yes Brady... lol, but also Lilah. Which isn't typical for me, I usually have a really hard time liking the female leads in some of these books but Lilah was easy to identify with. She was sweet, sassy and incredibly stubborn, but underneath all that, her love of her friends and her job were apparent and I could totally identify with the love of her job (I'd love to have her job!). I saw her struggle but refuse to give up or beg for help - she was incredibly strong and I love that!
The book itself flowed wonderfully, was paced really well, and kept me reading. This author doesn't gross me out with icky words but she also doesn't overdo her citrus and I'm totally ok with that. She gives us just enough to use those incredible imaginations we have.
Between this book and the Lucky Harbor series, I think I found my fave contemporary romance writer and I can't wait for more in this series.
If you're looking for something wonderfully written and a bit steamy with a swoony, sexy guy - Brady and Lilah are perfect - Go give Animal Behavior a read! I promise you'll thank me later!
I don't know how she does it, but I fall a little more in lust with each one of her characters than the last.
In Animal Magnetism, (yes, the cover is a bit cheesy and honestly probably why I stayed a way so long) We meet Lilah Young, the co-owner of the town of Sunshine's kennel and a bit scattered. The first time we meet her she's escorting animals to the kennel (a duck and a pig lol). A minor accident occurs and brings *sigh* Brady into the picture. This man... good lord in heaven, he's swoony and sexy and just damn wonderful. (now go ahead and picture the big, tough, sexy man with a little tiny puppy... do it... *SIGH*)
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, Yes Brady... lol, but also Lilah. Which isn't typical for me, I usually have a really hard time liking the female leads in some of these books but Lilah was easy to identify with. She was sweet, sassy and incredibly stubborn, but underneath all that, her love of her friends and her job were apparent and I could totally identify with the love of her job (I'd love to have her job!). I saw her struggle but refuse to give up or beg for help - she was incredibly strong and I love that!
The book itself flowed wonderfully, was paced really well, and kept me reading. This author doesn't gross me out with icky words but she also doesn't overdo her citrus and I'm totally ok with that. She gives us just enough to use those incredible imaginations we have.
Between this book and the Lucky Harbor series, I think I found my fave contemporary romance writer and I can't wait for more in this series.
If you're looking for something wonderfully written and a bit steamy with a swoony, sexy guy - Brady and Lilah are perfect - Go give Animal Behavior a read! I promise you'll thank me later!
April 10, 2011
Lilah is one of the owners of the town's kennel. She was called "white trash" while she was growing up. That made her leave Sunshine, Idaho to go to college in Las Vegas. Bad decision. Now she has a full-time job and is studying for a degree, while barely keeping her head above the water financially. But now, she is one of the most loved people in Sunshine, which Brady, our hero finds out the hard way. :-)
Brady grew up in foster system and as a result he is a loner who doesn't let anyone get close to him. He is a pilot and a photographer who came to Sunshine at his foster brothers insistence. He was planning to leave immediately, but Adam, Dell an ultimately Lilah changed his mind.
I love their relationship, from the funny first meeting, to the some rather painful confessions. The animals were great and sometimes threatened to steal the show, especially Twinkles.
I love the cover. The image of a manly man cuddling with a puppy is irresistible. :-) Check out the cover for the next book, it's just as good as this one:
Adam and Dell were great as well, and I'm looking forward to reading their stories. Dell is next by the way.
Rating:
4.5 stars
Brady grew up in foster system and as a result he is a loner who doesn't let anyone get close to him. He is a pilot and a photographer who came to Sunshine at his foster brothers insistence. He was planning to leave immediately, but Adam, Dell an ultimately Lilah changed his mind.
I love their relationship, from the funny first meeting, to the some rather painful confessions. The animals were great and sometimes threatened to steal the show, especially Twinkles.
I love the cover. The image of a manly man cuddling with a puppy is irresistible. :-) Check out the cover for the next book, it's just as good as this one:
Adam and Dell were great as well, and I'm looking forward to reading their stories. Dell is next by the way.
Rating:
4.5 stars
April 1, 2012
A light and fun romance. Typically Jill Shalvis in that it was extremely well written that flowed well and was easy to read. In the beginning we could feel the sexual tension between the characters and could completely understand why Lilah's panties always seemed to be damp when she thought of Brady ;) As soon as I had finished this I went to straight on to the next one and am also looking forward to reading the 3rd installment.
Ms Shalvis is one of the authors I consider to be an automatic buy/read and would happily read any of her works.
Ms Shalvis is one of the authors I consider to be an automatic buy/read and would happily read any of her works.
February 15, 2011
Lilah Young who runs Sunshine Kennels in Sunshine, Idaho has a Jeep full of animals. A duck, some puppies and a pot bellied pig. She accidentally rear ends the truck in front of her because her hands are a bit full. Lilah is currently going to school to become a vet and is very low on funds. Her worthless Jeep won’t even start after the minor accident. The owner of the truck she hits is Brady Miller. Brady is back in Sunshine only for a brief visit. He is ex-Army and currently an independent pilot for special missions. His foster brothers Dell and Adam have asked him to come home for a visit.
When Brady sees Lilah with all her pets and her broken down car, he offers to drive her home. They even share a brief kiss, unable to deny the attraction between them. What they both don’t realize is Brady’s foster brothers are very good friends with Lilah. They run into each other again, and go for the casual fling.
Animal Magnetism has a cute start – the first chapter or so is really strong. Brady and Lilah have nice chemistry to begin with – I even believed in their shared kiss on their first meeting. But unfortunately, the chemistry doesn’t grow from here. Part of the problem is Lilah. She is so perfect. Actually, all the characters in the book are too perfect. Lilah never gets angry, or ticked off. Even at the end when it is time for Brady to leave, she says, “I hate that you are going, but I’d rather have the pain of that than not having had you in my life at all.” This is a fine attitude to have if there had been any other conflict in this book. But there isn’t. Nothing happens. Lilah also repeatedly says that she is not looking for a serious relationship or a white picket fence. But her character screams white picket fence. She is very content in her small town and her morals and the way she presents herself point directly toward relationship material. So I never bought into that attitude. I enjoyed watching them fall for each other, but I felt like something is missing. Dell and Adam are wonderful people, everyone in the small town is a wonderful person. Bottom line – I needed some kind of conflict. Not just the threat of Brady leaving, and then Lilah not being completely heartbroken when he does leave.
Lilah also has numerous single men hovering around her. Adam and Dell, ex boyfriends, and a few other male characters. Not once does she hang out with a girlfriend. The only other female character that is prominent in the book is the receptionist at the Vet practice and she comes off as very gorgeous, sarcastic woman. To me, her character doesn’t make sense to be friends with all these single men, and no girls.
There are some cute lines in this book. Brady is more of a quiet, alpha hero. I liked him a lot more than I liked Lilah. Their romance scenes are very hot and I have no complaints there. I thought I wouldn’t like the animal aspect, but that was my favorite part. Abigail the duck, and the many dogs and cats are very endearing in this book.
I assume this is the start to a series that will feature Brady’s foster brothers Adam and Dell or so I hope. I’ve read Jill Shalvis in the past and have enjoyed her work. Animal Magnetism is a cute book, just too much cuteness for me.
Rating: C+
When Brady sees Lilah with all her pets and her broken down car, he offers to drive her home. They even share a brief kiss, unable to deny the attraction between them. What they both don’t realize is Brady’s foster brothers are very good friends with Lilah. They run into each other again, and go for the casual fling.
Animal Magnetism has a cute start – the first chapter or so is really strong. Brady and Lilah have nice chemistry to begin with – I even believed in their shared kiss on their first meeting. But unfortunately, the chemistry doesn’t grow from here. Part of the problem is Lilah. She is so perfect. Actually, all the characters in the book are too perfect. Lilah never gets angry, or ticked off. Even at the end when it is time for Brady to leave, she says, “I hate that you are going, but I’d rather have the pain of that than not having had you in my life at all.” This is a fine attitude to have if there had been any other conflict in this book. But there isn’t. Nothing happens. Lilah also repeatedly says that she is not looking for a serious relationship or a white picket fence. But her character screams white picket fence. She is very content in her small town and her morals and the way she presents herself point directly toward relationship material. So I never bought into that attitude. I enjoyed watching them fall for each other, but I felt like something is missing. Dell and Adam are wonderful people, everyone in the small town is a wonderful person. Bottom line – I needed some kind of conflict. Not just the threat of Brady leaving, and then Lilah not being completely heartbroken when he does leave.
Lilah also has numerous single men hovering around her. Adam and Dell, ex boyfriends, and a few other male characters. Not once does she hang out with a girlfriend. The only other female character that is prominent in the book is the receptionist at the Vet practice and she comes off as very gorgeous, sarcastic woman. To me, her character doesn’t make sense to be friends with all these single men, and no girls.
There are some cute lines in this book. Brady is more of a quiet, alpha hero. I liked him a lot more than I liked Lilah. Their romance scenes are very hot and I have no complaints there. I thought I wouldn’t like the animal aspect, but that was my favorite part. Abigail the duck, and the many dogs and cats are very endearing in this book.
I assume this is the start to a series that will feature Brady’s foster brothers Adam and Dell or so I hope. I’ve read Jill Shalvis in the past and have enjoyed her work. Animal Magnetism is a cute book, just too much cuteness for me.
Rating: C+
February 6, 2011
Not much plot which can be ok. Small town girl is dating a hot guy who’s hard to get. Lots of loving interaction with pets.
STORY BRIEF:
Lilah left college to care for her grandmother until she died. Lilah has no other relatives. She turned her grandmother’s property into a kennel/animal shelter. Her neighbors are Dell and Adam, two attractive Native American guys who were brothers in the foster care system. Dell is a veterinarian. Adam trains search and rescue dogs. Adam also trains people with their pets. Brady spent two years as a teen with Dell, Adam, and foster dad Sol. Sol later died. The three guys consider themselves family. Brady has been in the Army and Special Forces for many years. He is now a pilot for hire – somehow still working with the military. He takes a month off to visit his brothers. They have a used helicopter they want him to repair and fly. They also want Brady to live there and work with them. Brady is handsome and generates a lot of interest from women in the area. He and Lilah meet. They are lustfully attracted to each other. He tells her he doesn’t do relationships and he never “stays��� in one place. She tells him he doesn’t need “to stay.” She just wants to have some fun sex for a while, and she won’t be hurt when he leaves.
A sample of their conversation page 132: After their first night of sex, Brady feels guilty. Lilah says “Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to go steady. This is light and easy remember? You’re in the clear, so you can breathe now.” She was right, he wasn’t breathing. He drew in some air. “You really are different, you know that?”
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The story brief above is what we learn in the beginning of the book. But by the end not much else seems to have happened – other than answering the big question of will he stay or will he go. What fills the book is ordinary, everyday events like buying donuts for breakfast, having Brady take care of a puppy for a while, Brady and Lilah going on a dinner date, and having a lengthy discussion about their pasts. It’s like dating someone in a small town with a variety of animals interrupting you.
The story is character driven rather than plot driven which is ok, but I would want something different, unusual, quirky, weird, or “something” about one or more of the characters. All these characters were normal regular likeable people with good motivations, which is nice but doesn’t take it to four stars for me.
Something minor bothered me. Lilah’s arm was hurt requiring 18 stitches. A few days later she goes swimming in the lake. I’m shaking my head. Irresponsible! Infections! No doctor would allow this.
The first sex scene was not passionate enough. There was too much conversation taking me out of the moment. Other sex scenes were ok, somewhat hot.
DATA:
Story length: 295 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes:10. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 21. Copyright: 2011. Genre: contemporary romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Lilah left college to care for her grandmother until she died. Lilah has no other relatives. She turned her grandmother’s property into a kennel/animal shelter. Her neighbors are Dell and Adam, two attractive Native American guys who were brothers in the foster care system. Dell is a veterinarian. Adam trains search and rescue dogs. Adam also trains people with their pets. Brady spent two years as a teen with Dell, Adam, and foster dad Sol. Sol later died. The three guys consider themselves family. Brady has been in the Army and Special Forces for many years. He is now a pilot for hire – somehow still working with the military. He takes a month off to visit his brothers. They have a used helicopter they want him to repair and fly. They also want Brady to live there and work with them. Brady is handsome and generates a lot of interest from women in the area. He and Lilah meet. They are lustfully attracted to each other. He tells her he doesn’t do relationships and he never “stays��� in one place. She tells him he doesn’t need “to stay.” She just wants to have some fun sex for a while, and she won’t be hurt when he leaves.
A sample of their conversation page 132: After their first night of sex, Brady feels guilty. Lilah says “Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask you to go steady. This is light and easy remember? You’re in the clear, so you can breathe now.” She was right, he wasn’t breathing. He drew in some air. “You really are different, you know that?”
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The story brief above is what we learn in the beginning of the book. But by the end not much else seems to have happened – other than answering the big question of will he stay or will he go. What fills the book is ordinary, everyday events like buying donuts for breakfast, having Brady take care of a puppy for a while, Brady and Lilah going on a dinner date, and having a lengthy discussion about their pasts. It’s like dating someone in a small town with a variety of animals interrupting you.
The story is character driven rather than plot driven which is ok, but I would want something different, unusual, quirky, weird, or “something” about one or more of the characters. All these characters were normal regular likeable people with good motivations, which is nice but doesn’t take it to four stars for me.
Something minor bothered me. Lilah’s arm was hurt requiring 18 stitches. A few days later she goes swimming in the lake. I’m shaking my head. Irresponsible! Infections! No doctor would allow this.
The first sex scene was not passionate enough. There was too much conversation taking me out of the moment. Other sex scenes were ok, somewhat hot.
DATA:
Story length: 295 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes:10. Estimated number of sex scene pages: 21. Copyright: 2011. Genre: contemporary romance.
September 5, 2011
4.00 Stars - Contemporary Romance
The first in this new series, Animal Magnetism , is a great start and is definitely a winner like any other Jill Shalvis book. Now this is the author who knows what she is doing and hence gifting us yet again another emotional and action-packed read of a novel. No surprise there!
The story sets back to Sunshine, Idaho, a small sunny town, where ex Army-Ranger and freelance war zone pilot Brady Miller is visiting his two foster brothers for a short time, before he hits the highway again. Lilah Young, a local, runs the only animal kennel of the region and is trying to finish her vet degree alongside. She has strong bonds with Brady’s foster brothers after her grandmother dies.
The story begins when these two meet once Lilah’s truck hits Brady’s. Lilah finds herself face-to-face to the insanely handsome stranger with a beautiful face and a somewhat reserve and brooding demeanor and senses attraction that hit her with full force. Brady locates himself in having the sole attention of a busy attractive sexy woman whose hands looked quite full with assortment of animals. Slowly the story kicks in and we see these two people, having a polar opposite life-style, finding and growing a way towards each other only to reach their own hard earned HEA.
It was another beautiful engaging Shalvis story with strong, powerful charming characters full of life. As always I’ll say her dialogues are her assets and the pivotal factor of the story. The characters screamed genuineness and realism with their dynamics and exchanges throughout the book. There were funny laugh out loud moments. We get to meet and know some amazing set of back characters who will definitely make their ways in the front line in the next books of the series. I LOVED Brady. Just reading about him made me glee out of happiness that I wondered what would I do if I had my own Brady in real life *sigh*. The man was so awesome that ending the book almost made me sad that I won’t be reading about him more. However, the heroine I didn’t like much coz I felt she didn’t grow or changed with progressing story and moving situations. She remained the way she used to be from the very first page. May be that was Ms Shalvis’s intent or I didn’t get it since too much occupied with Brady.
Dell’s story is coming up next in Animal Attraction Animal 2. Ms Shalvis has posted a supposedly photo of Dell in her blog. Now can’t wait to read the book :D
The first in this new series, Animal Magnetism , is a great start and is definitely a winner like any other Jill Shalvis book. Now this is the author who knows what she is doing and hence gifting us yet again another emotional and action-packed read of a novel. No surprise there!
The story sets back to Sunshine, Idaho, a small sunny town, where ex Army-Ranger and freelance war zone pilot Brady Miller is visiting his two foster brothers for a short time, before he hits the highway again. Lilah Young, a local, runs the only animal kennel of the region and is trying to finish her vet degree alongside. She has strong bonds with Brady’s foster brothers after her grandmother dies.
The story begins when these two meet once Lilah’s truck hits Brady’s. Lilah finds herself face-to-face to the insanely handsome stranger with a beautiful face and a somewhat reserve and brooding demeanor and senses attraction that hit her with full force. Brady locates himself in having the sole attention of a busy attractive sexy woman whose hands looked quite full with assortment of animals. Slowly the story kicks in and we see these two people, having a polar opposite life-style, finding and growing a way towards each other only to reach their own hard earned HEA.
It was another beautiful engaging Shalvis story with strong, powerful charming characters full of life. As always I’ll say her dialogues are her assets and the pivotal factor of the story. The characters screamed genuineness and realism with their dynamics and exchanges throughout the book. There were funny laugh out loud moments. We get to meet and know some amazing set of back characters who will definitely make their ways in the front line in the next books of the series. I LOVED Brady. Just reading about him made me glee out of happiness that I wondered what would I do if I had my own Brady in real life *sigh*. The man was so awesome that ending the book almost made me sad that I won’t be reading about him more. However, the heroine I didn’t like much coz I felt she didn’t grow or changed with progressing story and moving situations. She remained the way she used to be from the very first page. May be that was Ms Shalvis’s intent or I didn’t get it since too much occupied with Brady.
Dell’s story is coming up next in Animal Attraction Animal 2. Ms Shalvis has posted a supposedly photo of Dell in her blog. Now can’t wait to read the book :D
August 20, 2012
3.5 stars.
I read three novels by Jill Shalvis prior to this one, but Animal Magnetism is the first of her books that I have really enjoyed. After reading Animal Attraction (yes, I read the second book in this series first), I decided that Jill Shalvis was probably not the author for me. I hated the hero in that book, and the heroine got on my nerves too. But now I'll probably give Shalvis another chance, because Animal Magnetism was a fun read. The story didn't bore me, the characters didn't annoy me, and the writing was clever enough to keep me smiling. That's much more than I can say about most m/f romances I have read recently.
Part of my enjoyment in this book came from all the four-legged characters, especially Twinkles the puppy. But the two-legged characters weren't bad either. Brady is probably the first Shalvis hero that I've actually liked (Dell, on the other hand... *reaches for cleaver*). Lilah was great too. Sweet but not too sweet, accident-prone, but not helpless. Her love for all her "babies" was endearing without becoming gag-inducing.
As usual, I wasn't wowed by Shalvis's sex scenes. There is no woman on earth who can orgasm with as little stimulation as Shalvis's heroines seem capable of. It seems like the heroes can just poke at them a little, and they go off like rockets. It's not believable, so it distracts me and kills the mood. Fortunately, Brady and Lilah had so much chemistry outside of the bedroom that I didn't have to rely on the sex as an indicator of their compatibility. My favorite scenes involved the two of them just talking.
It's nice to finally find a book by this author that I really like. I know Jill Shalvis has a lot of fans, but I've never been able to understand the appeal of her writing before now. I might go on to read
Rescue My Heart when it releases.
I read three novels by Jill Shalvis prior to this one, but Animal Magnetism is the first of her books that I have really enjoyed. After reading Animal Attraction (yes, I read the second book in this series first), I decided that Jill Shalvis was probably not the author for me. I hated the hero in that book, and the heroine got on my nerves too. But now I'll probably give Shalvis another chance, because Animal Magnetism was a fun read. The story didn't bore me, the characters didn't annoy me, and the writing was clever enough to keep me smiling. That's much more than I can say about most m/f romances I have read recently.
Part of my enjoyment in this book came from all the four-legged characters, especially Twinkles the puppy. But the two-legged characters weren't bad either. Brady is probably the first Shalvis hero that I've actually liked (Dell, on the other hand... *reaches for cleaver*). Lilah was great too. Sweet but not too sweet, accident-prone, but not helpless. Her love for all her "babies" was endearing without becoming gag-inducing.
As usual, I wasn't wowed by Shalvis's sex scenes. There is no woman on earth who can orgasm with as little stimulation as Shalvis's heroines seem capable of. It seems like the heroes can just poke at them a little, and they go off like rockets. It's not believable, so it distracts me and kills the mood. Fortunately, Brady and Lilah had so much chemistry outside of the bedroom that I didn't have to rely on the sex as an indicator of their compatibility. My favorite scenes involved the two of them just talking.
It's nice to finally find a book by this author that I really like. I know Jill Shalvis has a lot of fans, but I've never been able to understand the appeal of her writing before now. I might go on to read
Rescue My Heart when it releases.
October 7, 2011
Such a cute story and I loved it, but I have read many with a similar plot before; He is a loner with a harsh past, doesn't like to stay in one place, wants a no strings attached relationship; the heroine agrees, but it just isn't her nature and falls in love even though she knows she is going to have a broken heart. This is why I went with a 4 instead of a 5, if it was the first one I ever read with this plot it would have been a 5 star for sure.
Even though it is familiar it still touched me, choked me up a few times, and got my heart beating with the many scorching love scenes. The hero and heroine had so much chemistry and they were so likable. The sex scenes were hot and so was the hero and the heroine was my favorite. I also loved all the adorable pets; who can't love a story with a duck, a lamb, a pig, many cats and dogs with human like personalities. I look forward to the rest of the series.
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