Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: November 5th
How I got this book: NetGalley
Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid doesn’t exactly have happy memories of growing up in Sunshine, Idaho. He’s only come back to recover from a war injury, and while he refuses to admit he’s in a weakened state, he finds comfort in the last person he’d expect.
Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science in Sunshine, the place she’s always called home. Dreaming of graduate school and a happily-ever-after, she’s desperate to break out of the monotony of Sunshine. Luckily, a certain sexy man has just come back into her life.
To Griffin, Kate as always been his little sister’s friend, but now he’s finding her to be so much more. As both attempt to forge their paths, they must decide if their passionate connection can turn into something lasting…
*Blurb from Goodreads*
Lou: When Minn mentioned Rumour Has It to me the other day, I totally forgot (okay. I’m kinda behind on upcoming releases) I jumped at the chance to write a joint because I adore the Animal Magnesitm series. Like, really adore. It’s one of my favourite contemporary romance series. It has cute animals, sexy man with rawr factor, and smart and kickass heroine who reel these sexy men in and have them eating out of their hands.
Kate definitely has Grif eating out of her hands (and perhaps other places *wink*) and Rumour Has It really shows how awesome of a writer Jill Shalvis continues to be with small town contemporary romances. Kate is a family woman. She loves her family, and took over as the authority figure when her father became addicted to painkillers. Since then she’s taken over the matriarch role, which fits in with her being a school teacher. I really enjoyed Kate’s character because while she was shown to be a great teacher and an all around good person, her dirty and funny mouth balanced out her character so she didn’t come across as sickly sweet. Kate has had a crush on her best friend’s brother since forever, and when Grif finally comes back to town, the attraction between the two of them blows up. And it’s Grif that has trouble resisting Kate when she licks him, and kisses him.
MinnChica: I love the Animal Magnetism series, it’s on my list of books I must get immediately! I couldn’t wait to read all about Kate and Grif, and I have to say, they might be my favorite couple to date in this series. As individuals, I think they were some of the best characters around, but when they got together they were even better. They danced around their friendship, and the sexual tension was out of this world. I loved how much push and pull there was in the beginning, and I was just as anxious as Kate to have them hop into bed together. *grin*
Lou: I agree one hundred percent with you. Kate and Grif were great as individual characters. Kate nearly came off as this super nice person that was super nice to everyone but Shalvis made her character seem real by giving her an awesome personality. She made Kate proactive when it came to Grif and while at first she seemed the shy type, Kate soon quickly shed that exterior. It was probably one of my favourite scenes (there were many in this book) where Kate wrapped her arms around Grif’s neck and licked him. And inhaled him. His reaction was hilarious but Kate just carried on as if it was completely normal. Grif was this tough, former soldier who didn’t know his place. He had been medically discharged from the army, and whilst he had a job lined up, he didn’t know where he stood in his old, family town. He didn’t leave on good terms with his father, and I enjoyed the storyline we had with Grif and Donald. I enjoyed that Grif and Kate didn’t hide things from one another. Grif lets Kate help him when he suffers from effects from his injury, and I liked that Grif came off as vulnerable; that he could also be taken down from an illness like any other person.
MinnChica: I adored Kate. She was so sweet, so caring, and she was so determined to take care of everyone in her life. I loved that Grif was able to see that, and tried to push her to see it as well, to see that she needed time to pursue her own dreams, to make her own happiness. Watching Grif go through the motions of not knowing what he wanted, where his real home was, and what would make him happy was both amazing and so sad. There was one scene where Grif had to learn some hard truths about his family, and I just wanted to wrap him up in a big hug! But seeing him navigate his own internal minefields and working past it all, all while helping Kate do the same was so awesome for their relationship.
Lou: That scene was really emotionally. Poor Grif :(. I wanted to hit Donald across the head so badly because it was at that time that Grif needed his father to not be this burly, tough guy. I was so glad that Kate still went ahead with her own dreams. That she didn’t have to sacrifice them for a guy, and that it was possible to have her cake and eat it too. I was also happy that her family were happy for her. Kate’s family dynamics were hilarious, especially her sister, Ashley, who I would love to see have a book when she’s older, just for her snarky attitude alone. I also really enjoyed Ryan, and I would also like to see him have a book. In other words, Jill Shalvis write awesome secondary characters who have great potential for future books.
What surprised me (happily) was that Kate and Grif worked together as a team. There was still tension between them but there wasn’t any fighting between them that was used as a means to keep them apart. Rumour Has It is a great contemporary romance, and the love scenes were hawt. Shalvis really does write great male characters, and Grif probably is one of my favourite Shalvis hero. I loved the friendship between him and Adam, and the lengths Adam would go for his best friend. Holly and Kate’s friendship never falters, even when Holly is unsure about Kate and Grif.
MinnChica: On top of the fabulous hero and heroine and the awesome romance, there were also amazing secondary characters as well as some of the best sexy times I think Shalvis has ever written. Like Lou, I hope we get to see more of Ryan. But seeing Adam and Holly play such an integral role in this book made me so happy. I loved getting to see more of their happily ever after, and the relationships that they had with Grif and Kate were so crucial and pivotal to the book.
Lou: I would happily recommend this book for its great romance and great characters. I’m not a huge fan of small town contemporary romances but Jill Shalvis knocked the ball out of the park with Rumour Has It. With a fabulous heroine and one seriously hunky hero with oodles of smexy times between them, and witty and funny banter, I give Rumour Has it an A.
MinnChica: All in all I agree that Shalvis knocked it out of the park with the fourth book in the Animal Magnetism series. Both Grif and Kate are amazing characters, and together their sexual chemistry heated each and every page. I loved the struggles that they both had to go to get to a good place, and I hope that we get to see more of them in future books!
I give Rumor Has It a B+
*Thanks to the wonderful folks at Penguin, we have one copy of Rumor Has It to giveaway. This contest is open to US addresses only, and ends on November 5th. To enter, let us know your favorite romance animal. Good luck!
Am so happy today, not only is it my bday, but there are so many great contemps releasing today and even found some contests today.
Hard to remember a fav animal, but will have to say the dog in The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks – great love between the dog and hero (or heroine was it? – read it so long ago) and he gave his life for his human.
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Griffin and Kates book! I love this series and have been waiting for their story since Kate spilled coffee on herself during Holly’s Skype session with Griffin! haha My favorite romance animal would have to be a horse! Thanks for the chance to win! =D
@Patoct: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I am sorry…favorite romance animal? *cue inappropriate snicker*
*ahem*
I honestly don’t know, though there are a number of great dogs written by Nora Roberts. There are the three Labradors and the utterly destructive Jaws from The Search, for example, or Bert, the protective and loving dog in The Witness
Going back to the Animal Magnetism series, though, the duck in Lilah’s and Brody’s story always makes me laugh and snicker.
Dogs because they’re the friendliest AND get into the most trouble.
Dogs. They have a special relationship with their human. 🙂
I cannot think of a particular animal in a book; but dogs usually have a great relationship with their owners and vice versa, so for a particular type of animal I would say dog.
I recently read a 2 books, one with a hissing cat and also a mean iguana – that one was a Diana Palmer book.
One of my favorite romance animals is Andy, a golden retriever in Meryl Sawyer’s “Play Dead.”
Nice reviews. Dogs
I love books with dogs the best. I think I liked Jaws in Nora Roberts book The Search the most. Such personality!!
Oh, I love the dogs in Jennifer Crusie’s books! The stinky basset hound in Agnes and the Hitman is hilarious.
Like puppies they are do cute
love Jill books
thanks al. Whoo
Dogs for contemporary. Cats for paranormal.
dogs and cats love them both and have many of my own.
Ohhh love Jill Shalvis novels!
Susan Donovan always writes cute and funny animals into her novels!
I’m always a fan of Susan Donovan’s animals in her romances! 🙂
My favorites are dogs in romances. Julie Garwood has put some great ones in her historicals.
Thanks for the awesome post/review! I’m dying to get my hands on this book as I love with fierce passion this series 🙂 I’m gonna have to also go with dogs. Both Jill and Kristan Higgins have adorable dogs that add to the romance 🙂
Dogs. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks for the lovely review! Jill
AW_W_W!!! look at those cute puppies!!! I’d really love to win these books!!! Happy day after Halloween!!!
I meant to type “those”….typing too fast!!! LOL!!!
I’m such a sucker for books with animals in them. I just finished Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie, which featured a little rat dog that was a catalyst for the heroine to change her life. It was so good, and so funny.
I do like dogs but my favorite is cats. Elvis from Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me sticks out as a favorite.
I must admit, I love Jennifer Crusie books — especially Agnes and the Hitman (wonderful dog with a serious drool problem!!). The animals in her books are preciously imperfect and lovable. I love the dogs in Getting Rid of Bradley — a dog joke, hah 😀
Animals are cute in stories, hissy cats (read one recently), and there was a dog with 3 legs named Tripod. I am bad at remembering book titles.