Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Review -- Animal Attraction

Animal Attraction
Animal Magnetism--Book 2
By Jill Shalvis
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: October 4, 2011





Jade Bennett arrived in rural Sunshine, Idaho eighteen months ago to escape something that happened to her in her hometown of Chicago. Since then, she has worked as the receptionist at Belle Haven, the veterinary clinic nestled in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains and run by sexy Dr. Dell Connolly. Jade is good—better than good—at her job, but doesn’t talk much about herself and is quite adept at changing the subject when Dell, his brothers, Adam and Brady, or their friend Lilah asks.

Dell knows that Jade came to Sunshine seeking refuge from something, but his straightforward, no-nonsense receptionist refuses to spill. But Dell understands because he, too, doesn’t like to volunteer much information about his tough life growing up. His mother, a Native American, left when he was young, and then his father died. He moved from foster home to foster home before finally being adopted by a man named Sol who taught Dell (a smart-alecky kid who didn’t give a crap and thought he was tough until he learned the hard way) how to defend himself. Later, Sol died and left everything to Dell and his brothers. Now, Dell is a successful vet and much of that success is thanks to a super-organized Jade. When she tells him that she’ll be leaving to go back to Chicago in a month, Dell doesn’t want her to leave. But is it because Belle Haven runs so smoothly with her there? Or because he can’t stop thinking about her?

Readers met Dell and Jade in the previous book (Animal Magnetism) and could feel the sexual tension between the two. In Animal Attraction, the tension is even stronger but is combined with serious emotion. Yes, Jade and Dell are hot for each other, but they both have significant personal issues to deal with before making a full commitment. Dell is patient with Jade while helping her conquer her fears, and in turn, she helps him work through his abandonment issues. I love the snappy dialogue and fiery exchanges between Dell and Jade, but one of my favorite parts of the book is a scene between Jade and her father. It was beautifully written and had me tearing up. So, to sum it up—Animal Attraction totally met my expectations. Jill Shalvis has become one of my “go to” authors for contemporary romance. Her stories are fun, sexy, moving, and always put a smile on my face. Pick up Animal Attraction and put a smile on your face!

~Andrea

I love the boss/secretary trope in romance fiction—there’s just something super sexy about it. What are some of your favorite boss/secretary books? One lucky commenter will win a copy of Animal Magnetism, the first book in the Animal Magnetism series by Jill Shalvis! (U.S. or Canadian residents only, please.)



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43 comments:

  1. One of my favorites is Laura Lee Guhrke's "And Then He Kissed Her." It's a historical and I haven't read many with this trope.

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  2. Diana Palmer Case of the Mesmerizing Boss

    I like this theme so I've read several books.

    Harlequin Presents has several with this theme:

    Back In the Bosses Bed Sharon Kendrick

    All Night With the Boss Natalie Anderson

    Bargained Into Her Bosses Bed Emilie Rose

    Between the CEO's Sheets Charlene Sands

    Cathy Williams has several
    The Baby Scandal

    Kim Lawrence Baby and the Boss, Beauty and the Greek

    Gina Wilkens After Hours

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  3. Great review Andrea! :) I definitely want to read this book now, and since you're such a fan of Jill Shalvis, that means I must track down and glom her backlist!

    Off the top of my head, I can't really think of many boss/secretary books right now. Layla worked as Fox's legal secretary in NR's The Hollow, and in Cordina's Crown Jewel, Camilla was Delaney's assisant because she wanted to learn about archelogy and he had a busted arm. And Julia was briefly hired as Aidan's social secretary in LLG's Scandal of the Year. (LOVED!)

    My favorite boss/secretary story of all time would have to Josh and Donna on the West Wing.

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  4. Andrea, great review! I haven't read many boss/secretary books, and I'm sorry to say I'm drawing a blank on the question. Ack!

    The conflicts in this story sound very appealing.

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  5. Jane, I love that book!!! It's probably my favorite of hers. :)

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  6. Thanks, Laurie, for the great recs!

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  7. Thanks, Lisa! Jill's books are awesome. :) One of my favorite historical books with this theme is THE RAVEN PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt. Terrific book!

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  8. Love the review, Andrea! I adored Animal Magnetism, and I have really been looking forward to book 2. :-)

    A big yes on the boss/secretary trope. A really excellent example is Ann and Jasha in Christina Dodd's Scent of Darkness. Very hot!

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  9. Thanks, Nancy! It was so great to see you last weekend. :)

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  10. I hope you love it, Gannon! Must check out that Dodd book... ;-)

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  11. Hmmm... the only one I can think of Double Standards by Judith McNaught. But, based on experience, I could write one :) P.S. Don't do it - very awkward!

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  12. One that I enjoyed was Ruthless Greek Boss, Scretary Mistress by Abby Green.

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  13. It's uncommon to find this theme in historicals, but Laura Lee Guhrke has written books with working women. "And Then He Kissed Her" features a secretary, and "With Seduction in Mind" the woman is an assistant hired to help an author write his book. I enjoyed both romances.

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  14. Thanks for the reiview. I liked Double Standards by Judith McNaught.

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  15. LOL @ robbedofmygoodsense!! I "met my honey where I made my money", but we worked in different departments. ;-)

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  16. I'll have to check that one out, traveler!

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  17. LLG is great at writing those, cheryl c. I would classify GUILTY PLEASURES as that type of romance, too!

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  18. Thanks, Penfield. I've never read a Judith McNaught book....

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  19. I adore Jill Shalvis, and I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I'll have to pop out to the store later today to pick this one up!

    I read a Kelly Hunter book recently that featured a boss and an assistant, although the title escapes me now. It was set in Australia, which was fun, and the relationship was complicated by the fact that the hero and heroine were also old friends. It was a wonderful book - Kelly Hunter books usually are - and it was interesting to see how such a complicated relationship worked itself through.

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  20. I do like this trope a lot but all of the books I can think of that I enjoyed in this trope are from Harlequin-

    Penny Jordan's "Response"

    LeAnn Banks "Shocking the Senator"

    Lee Wilkingson's "The Bosses Forbidden Secretary"

    Leigh Michaels "The Bosses Daughter" is good too

    I've enjoyed them all:)

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  21. I can think of a few…I’m sure I’ve read more, but these are the ones that come to mind, and I’d recommend them all:

    Lori Foster’s Too Much Temptation is a good one (although the heroine is really secretary to the hero’s grandmother.)

    Scent of Darkness is a paranormal romance featuring a boss and his office assistant. It’s book one in Christina Dodd’s Darkness Chosen series.

    Nora Roberts featured a boss/assistant romance in The Hollow, book two in her Sign of Seven trilogy.

    Can't wait to read Jill's newest.

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  22. I'm a huge Jill Shalvis fan. She is also one of my go-to authors.

    I hadn't picked this one up yet but you have me thinking payday can't get here fast enough.

    Great review Andrea!

    Tami

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  23. The Dishes made a Shalvis convert out of me, and then when I glommed her backlist, I discovered I had read some of her categories. Animal Attraction is on my TBB list.

    The only secretary-boss romances I can recall are the Guhrke and Dodd ones that have already been mentioned. If a personal assistant counts, I'll add Rachel Gibson's Nothing But Trouble to the list.

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  24. Great review, Andrea! I love a book that can pour on the heat but also tug at my heart.

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  25. Great post, Andrea! I love Jill Shalvis books!

    Unfortunately I can't think of any boss/secrety stories although I know I have read a lot of them and loved them one and all.

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  26. I didn't know you are a Jill Shalvis fan, Vanessa! I adore her writing. Oooo, that book sounds good! I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the rec!

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  27. Thanks for the recs, Maria! And thanks for stopping by. :)

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  28. Thanks, LSUReader! I hope you enjoy Jill's newest. :)

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  29. Thanks, Tami! I'm so glad you're a JS fan! You have great taste. ;-)

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  30. Woo-hoo! Glad to hear it, Janga. I hope you enjoy Animal Attraction! *g*

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  31. Glad to hear you're a fan, too, Cathy! Jill rocks!

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  32. I have been seeing this book around and it looks really good.

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  33. I have this book on order from Amazon and I have to agree with the Christina dodd book being good. I also think one of the SEP's books had some great chemestry also

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  34. Aww, what a cute cover! I've never read a Jill Shalvis book but I've heard very good things about them.

    I read THE SECRETARY'S SEDUCTION by Jane Porter (it's a Harlequin Presents). It was really good. I love boss/secretary books! :)

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  35. I know I have read a few, but the only one that comes to mind is Diana Palmer's The Case of the Mesmerizing Boss and that could have something to do with the title. LOL.

    patoct@yahoo.com
    Pat L.

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  36. That is a real toughie, I know I have quite a few, but titles escape me. I did read the Palmer book mentioned and also there was one by Linda Howard which was a followup I think to Sarah's Child and the hero's name was Max I think.

    Gmapeony

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  37. I would say I like the brother's friend as the hero for a heroine.

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  38. Can't think of specific titles, but Diana Palmer has a lot of boss/employee scenarios in her books; and the Harlequin Presents line uses that theme often too.

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  39. I know I've read many in my day, but the titles are escaping me now. I know I just read one last month about a personal assistant for a construction company who loved her boss. The two other owners were interested in her as well.

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  40. Count me in - Jill's books are awesome.

    I really cannot think of any boss/worker titles off the top of my head other than All Night with the Boss by Natalie Anderson.

    lovesthemets@yahoo.com

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  41. Thanks for another great review, Andrea. I have been wanting to read Jill Shalvis for a long time now. This sounds like a terrific series to start with. Some of the Boss/Secretary books I love have already been mentioned.
    There is, however, a favorite film, appropriately titled "The Secretary," that I highly recommend. The boss is played by James Spader. Maggy Gyllenhall is his
    secretary. The movie is sexy, quirky, off beat and HOT!

    A

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  42. I love the covers on the books in this series. The plot with secrets keeping people apart lends itself to good stories. Both books in the series so far sound like good reads.

    I know I have read stories with this story line, but can't think of any at the moment.

    thanks for the review. I hope the release is going well.

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