I enjoy sinking into Shalvis when I need a mind cleanse. But I REALLY hate when publishers allow covers that are general and lend nothing to the story. ( )

Several laugh out loud moments, and cute funny animal moments. Parker is an undercover Park and Wildlife agent, Zoe is quirky pilot who can't fix a thing nor bake with any success. Parker rents a room at Zoe's in order to continue an investigation and finds so much more.
( )

All I Want
Animal Magnetism, Book 7

I Picked Up This Book Because: Finish this wonderful series.
The Characters:

Zoe Stone:
Parker James:
Darcy, Parker’s sister whose name I can’t remember right now

The Story:

Parker and Zoe have chemistry from the first page but they spend a lot of time denying it for various reasons. Fortunately between the chaos of a crazy man, a home in need of repair, a goofy fluffball of a dog and wild kittens they manage to get it together.

I’ve so enjoyed my time in Sunshine, Idaho and am sad to leave. The couples, people and animals of this town are a delight.

The Random Thoughts:

I found Parker’s name distracting but only because he shares it with one of my coworkers.

4 Stars ( )

First off, the book stars Oreo, a Bernese Mountain dog. That's a Lab, I'm fairly certain, on the cover. No. Give me the right doggie. And as long as we are making wishes, give me a Rottweiler. In the story and on the cover.

Anyway, not trying to say it in a rude way but if you've read one Jill Shalvis, you've more or less read them all. Late 20s early 30s heroine, some mish mash of getting life together or down on luck combined with been burned by guy before or stone-walled from poopy parents. Hero is mid-thirties, mish mash of uniform job, poopy parents, recovering from harrowing incident from said uniform job, and sweetly alpha. A meet-cute follows by funny conversations, sexy encounters, and the heroine put in a precarious situation. The characters are always affable and I always end up smiling over something. This one followed the formula and I liked it.

The formula works because it's a glazed donut, no one turns down a glazed donut, they're delicious. They take the edge off but rarely do they blow your socks off. There have been Shalvis books I've liked more than others but usually they fall into the good category. Which is not a complaint but it's not a thunderous standing ovation either. They are a glazed donut to me, they get the job down but they're no Ain't That a Peach fritter (Voodoo Donuts reference ;) either. ( )

All I Want
3 Stars

With her siblings out of the house, Zoe Stone is trying to settle down to a life of peace and quiet in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, when her brother’s friend, Parker James, blows in to stay with her while he searches for a fugitive smuggler. Zoe and Parker’s instant attraction catches them by surprise, but well aware that he is simply passing through has them questioning the wisdom of a temporary fling that may just break both of their hearts.

While the book has all the right elements, a sexy hero, a quirky heroine and the cutest animals around, they simply do not come together and the story ultimately falls flat.

Zoe and Parker’s supposedly instantaneous chemistry is actually non-existent for most of the book. It is never quite clear what they see in each other and the fact that Zoe is constantly on guard to the fact that Parker is leaving puts a damper on any emotional attachment that could develop between them.

It is never a good thing when the animals characters are the best aspect of a romance. The antics of Oreo the huge Bernese and Bonnie & Clyde, the cutest kittens alive, completely overshadow Zoe and Parker’s relationship.

The minor suspense plot revolving around Parker’s investigation into a smuggler’s connection to a local militia has potential, but lacks any real tension and action.

In sum, although there are some engaging scenes, and Zoe and Parker’s romance does eventually take off, this installment is one of the weakest in the series and perhaps it is time for Shalvis to move on from Sunshine, Idaho. ( )