Thursday, September 24, 2015

All I Want by Jill Shalvis

Title:  All I Want
Series:  Animal Magnetism #6
Author:  Jill Shalvis
Publication Date:  October 6/15 by Berkley
Length:  298pgs
Genre:  contemporary romance
Shelf:  Netgalley
Rating: ★★★★★

Back Cover Blurb:

Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.

Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going...

My Review:

Shalvis repeatedly had me laughing out loud with this intricately written and endlessly entertaining novel. She brings her setting forward through constant yet subtle descriptions that work their way into your subconscious, creating a picture for the characters to walk through. This small town really comes to life in a big way. The smooth & inviting narrative really takes the story to the next level, highlighting aspects of the plot and characters in minute ways that you can’t miss. I like how Shalvis tackled many difficult subjects while writing a fun, upbeat novel that I wanted to become part of. She also shows how romance in in the small things: a look, a touch, a whisper.

There was a contradiction within Zoe – to follow her dream yet to guard herself closely, shutting herself down from others. Conversely, Parker’s caring nature, yet not wanting to care too deeply put him in a similar, if also very different boat. Not only that, but these two were just plain fun individuals to get to know. Both had exciting jobs, yet at the same time they were both common enough. Their personalities drew me in as well. As individuals they were the type of people I could see myself being friends with, yet together, oh boy! I won’t do them justice to describe it.

The secondary characters were also a blast. You really get a sense of how much family matters throughout. Zoe’s sister, well, I don’t think she hit the page without making me giggle. I love how Shalvis brings people and their pets together in this novel. Oreo, for example, was priceless. He’s one of those rare pets who really comes to life in a story without becoming more than simply a loveable pet, making an unforgettable secondary character. And let’s not forget Parker’s sweet sister. I like how Shalvis developed her. I could empathise with and feel for her, without feeling pity for her.

This is one of those fantastic novels that builds on the series that came before it while also giving readers a great standalone romance in and of itself. I could barely put it down and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.

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