Review: Animal Attraction – Jill Shalvis

Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Series:  Animal #2
Release Date:  October 4, 2011
Publisher:   Berkley
Page Count:  293
Source:  Provided by Publisher

Jade Bennett couldn’t be happier to escape her past for the quiet ranching town of Sunshine, Idaho. Plus, there’s nothing like working for veterinarian Dell Connelly. And though Dell has no intention of settling down, Jade’s strength and sass are enticements no red-blooded male can resist.

Dr. Connelly.  Paging, Dr. Connelly!


Jade Bennett’s time is almost up.  Eighteen months ago when she ran from Chicago after a workplace attack, she told her family she was just going somewhere to find herself again.  She never expected to land in Sunshine, Idaho or to make friends like she had.  Now her family is calling her back to Chicago.  Her father’s health is failing and they need to her come back and resume her duties as COO.  Trouble is, she can’t seem to see herself leaving Belle Haven or Sunshine.


Dell Connelly has been in lust with Jade Bennett since the moment she walked through the door of his vet clinic, designer clothes and all, then promptly got down on the floor to play with some puppies.  She’s organized his clinic and his life, making things easier for him to tend to the things he loves…animals.  It’s not until a scare in the parking lot of Belle Haven that Dell understands there was a pretty big trauma Jade was running from and decides to help her.  What he didn’t expect is that while trying to help her overcome her fears, he was going to fall head over heels for her.


I loved Jade in Animal Magnetism.  She was sassy, sarcastic and stood her ground with those pushy alpha men that worked with Belle Haven.  In this story we get a glimpse of how that sass and sarcasm (even some of her OCD) was to mask the fear that she’s lived with since her attack.  She isolated herself, hoping that would make her feel safe.  But the only thing that truly made her feel safe was her pushy boss.


Dell, Dell, Dell.  What can I say about Dell?  Like Jade, he used a facade to protect himself from his greatest fear.  He was always the guy whom everyone loved and no one could stay made at because he’d work him charm on you (a woman whisperer as Jade called him).  He’d use all this to make sure he was the one to walk away and ensure he’d never get hurt.  He’s grown up thinking everyone leaves him, so as an adult he’s going to make sure he’s the one that goes.  


You do feel like shaking both of them, especially when both of them realize they want the other but are too damn chicken to spit the words out, but in the end (and seventeen hundred miles of separation) the two realize that the only thing that made them crazy and happy was each other.


In typical Jill Shalvis fashion you’ll be laughing and these lovable characters one minute and either wants to smack them around or give them a hug.  It’s truly an enjoyable read.  Perfect for a fall Sunday afternoon.