Still the One (Animal Magnetism, #6)

by Jill Shalvis

Love is a dare in this Animal Magnetism romance by the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Lucky Harbor series...

Darcy Stone is game for anything—except sexy Navy vet and physical therapist AJ Colten, the guy who’d rejected her when she’d needed him most. Now the shoe is on the other foot and he needs her to play nice and help him secure grants for his patients. Unfortunately Darcy can’t refuse. She needs the money to fund her passion project: rescuing S&R dogs and placing them with emotionally wounded soldiers.

AJ admits it—Darcy is irresistible. But he’s already been battle-scarred by a strong-willed, vivacious, adventurous woman like Darcy, and he’s not making the same mistake twice—until he and Darcy are forced to fake a relationship. Growing closer than they’d ever imagined possible, Darcy and AJ have to ask themselves: how much between them is pretend? What’s the real thing? And where does it go from here?

• ISBN10: 0425270181
• ISBN13: 9780425270189
• Publish Date: 7 April 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425270189

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

I am pretty much a solid Jill Shalvis fan. Her books always give me exactly what I am looking for. Once again, we are in Sunshine (which is an awesome place with lots of people I want to be friends with). This story focuses on Darcy, who has been recovering from a horrific car accident, and AJ, best friend of her brother and sister, as well as the PT who helped get her back on her feet, literally.

This is one of those unrequited love stories. AJ has long loved Darcy, but she held him and everyone else at arm's length, because she had her own issues of self worth and abandonment to deal with. As with all great heroes, AJ is absolutely swoon worthy. He would say the right things (most of the time) and do the right things (most of the time). Notice I said "most of the time"; Shalvis knew not to make him too perfect. I loved the banter between them, and I loved AJ's tender heart. I also adored the therapy dog part of the story. This idea of saving the "throw-away" dogs, and using them to inject joy into the lives of those who lost something. It was actually quite beautiful.

The only bad thing I have to say, is that there is only one more Animal Magnetism book left for me to read, and I am not sure I am ready to leave Sunshine.

[stacey_is_sassy]

There was definitely Animal Magnetism between AJ and Darcy...

I loved this story. Darcy was badly injured in a car accident and AJ is her physical therapist and her brother’s best friend. We’ve met both characters in previous stories but this is where it all comes together. Darcy hasn’t seen much love in her life and AJ has been in love before but it didn’t end well. Both of them hide behind antagonism and indifference instead of facing the real feelings they have for each other.

Darcy has faced a lot of pain in her recovery and the people who love her the most have had to suffer with her. She lost her job as a reporter travelling the world when her injuries left were with a limp and long lasting damage. Her sister Zoe and brother Wyatt help her as much as they can, but Darcy likes to do things for herself. Her best friend Zander has helped her cope by always being there for her but her feelings aren’t as deep as his. AJ has always been there for her especially in her physical recovery. One night she threw herself at him and he rejected her, this to Darcy was another example of why she keeps people from getting too close. AJ and Darcy are thrown together to help raise money and their feelings for each other can no longer be put off. There were some very HOT scenes between AJ and Darcy but they still have issues that need to be worked out.

I really enjoyed the Animal Magnetism series, but I think this one was my favourite. I loved AJ, he was sweet but also tough with Darcy while everyone else hovered and protected her. AJ is a hardworking man who puts the needs of his patients before himself. AJ has to learn to express himself and his feelings but has to learn to put his loved ones ahead of his work sometimes. Darcy was so vulnerable because of the hurt she received in her childhood, but she was lovable too. It was great to see them work through their problems and come out the other side with smiles on their faces.

Jill Shalvis is one of my favourite authors and this was a good example of her at her best. I can’t wait to read more of her work.

[Linda]

*I received a free ARC of Still the One from Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*

Still the One has it - the romance, the struggle and the fun.

Full review to come soon.

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[leelu92]

 

I'm a Jill Shalvis fan.  I had been in a bit of a retirement of sorts where Ms. Shalvis is concerned, after reading/inhaling the first 7 Lucky Harbor and the first 4 of the Animal Magnetism books, I took a break.  (I still have to finish up the Lucky Harbor series.)  The Animal Magnetism series draws me in because I'm an animal person and I worked in veterinary offices in college.  My mother also worked in several offices as a child, so the fact that I am not a veterinarian is kind of odd.  Whatever, I digress.

Still the One was on my TBR for a while and honestly, I had not planned to read and review it for the post.  Luckily, I found the time to read book 5, Then Came You and I was able to read Still The One in time to come up with a review.

While I enjoyed Then Came You, I enjoyed Still The One more. I knew that Darcy was a bit of a basket case after meeting her in book 5 and that AJ would have his hands full.  Luckily, being her former physical therapist, he  knows exactly what he is getting into with her.  I mean, they totally drive each other crazy in almost every way possible and it's a lot of fun to read.  Darcy has an immense amount of emotional baggage from her childhood and it directly impacts her self-esteem and her relationships.  She basically feels like she is expendable and that she is not worthy of permanent relationships.  Enter AJ who understands why she is the way she is and knows when to push her buttons and when to back off.

AJ and Darcy are extremely well matched, something that Ms. Shalvis excels at.  I especially liked AJ, again something that Ms. Shalvis excels at, she writes incredible male characters that I always go a little gooey over.

Ms. Shalvis's books always manage to make me laugh sigh and swoon and Then Came You was no exception. :)

 

Purchase:


 



 This review was originally posted on Straight Shootin' Book Reviews

[Kait ✨]

Jill Shalvis is my favourite author of contemporary romance, so I was really looking forward to this book. The setting and characters were a lot of fun. I love her series’ set in small-town USA. I was a bit disappointed by this book, as I felt the romance (and the obstacles to the main characters getting together) was a bit juvenile and unconvincing. I didn’t find AJ and Darcy as compelling and memorable as other characters in the series. However, it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to fans of Jill Shalvis, and I’m really excited for the first book in her upcoming series, Cedar Ridge.

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 Cocktails

Darcy Stone has the hots for A.J. Colten, and he has the hots for her too, yet they’re both not willing to act on their feelings. Darcy acted on her feelings and A.J. rejected her, because he didn’t want to be hurt again.

I really liked Darcy and A.J. they have amazing chemistry and the way that Darcy was so easy going and nice to everyone and then would snipe at A.J., that made me smile. It was pretty obvious to everyone around them that they were meant to be together even if they don’t see it themselves.

This is also a story of Darcy finally coming to terms with her accident, and all that came after it. There were a few misunderstandings between the two, and at times I wanted to yell at both of them to just talk to each other instead of assuming things. I also adored that Darcy was so passionate about rescuing dogs and pairing them with wounded soldiers, even if those soldiers were just as cranky as she could be at times. She just persevered, and I loved that.

When these two finally come together, their passion explodes off the page, and I enjoyed every moment of them finally admitting their love for each other. Overall, this another strong showing from Ms. Shalvis and I look forward to more Animal Magnetism books in the future.

Reviewed by Sheri for Cocktails and Books

[Rowena]

DNF'd this. Surprised me but Darcy? Sigh.