Rumor Has It (Animal Magnetism, #4)

by Jill Shalvis

[Cocktails and Books]

4.5 Cocktails

Rumor Has It, by Jill Shalvis tells the tale of Spec ops warrior Griffin Reid and his sister’s friend, fourth grade teacher Kate Evans. Griffin comes back to his hometown of Sunshine, Idaho to regroup following his last tour of duty to try and figure out what he wants to do next. While he is unsurprised that his relationship with his father remains strained, he is surprised at the level of attraction he feels for his sister’s friend Kate. Griffin has known Kate for most of his life, but her relationship with his sister has always made her off limits. The attraction is there, but so is the healthy threat from his sister telling him she will kill him if she touches her friend. Kate is desperate to break away from the chains she feels in Sunshine, but doesn’t know quite how to do so. She does however, set her sights on Griffin, and no amount of finagling on his part will get him out of her crosshairs. As there attraction explodes into a flaming hot affair, the two are left wondering whether they should just part ways when they hit a few snags on their road to happiness.

Coming home both emotionally and physically scared from his time in the service, Griffin works hard to try to prove himself worthy of both his father as well as the girl he has always seen as a little sister. Katie is a woman on a mission to help everyone but herself. A natural nurturer and self-proclaimed science geek, Katie is her family’s go to person following her mom’s death at the expense of her own dreams. Katie has to try to learn to live for herself, something Griffin is more than happy to help her with, while she tries to show him he is worthy of having a great life. Katie was a really likable person, although sometimes you just wanted to shake her for putting everyone above herself. And despite his previous career successes, Griffin is still that little boy who is desperately seeking his father’s approval. All you will want to do is to see them both achieve their dreams, as they seem to have put everyone but themselves at the top of their lists. This book will make you laugh, cry, and have you rooting on the couple until the very last chapter.

Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books