OUT OF THIS WORLD? Most definitely!

(For some reason I'm unable to upload images so I can't put up the book cover, but I plan to keep trying! Grrrrr)

Anyone who visits here very often knows how crazy I am about Jill Shalvis http://www.jillshalvis.com/ - she was sweet enough to send me an ARC of OUT OF THIS WORLD, her latest release, available the first week of September. I remember Jill talking about this book some time ago, and asking her blog visitors for their thoughts on first person writing. I also remember responding that I typically steer clear of them (sorry, Jill). I’ve read two first person stories in the past three weeks, one was Jill’s OUT OF THIS WORLD and the other was Sasha White’s THE CRIB from the PURE SEX anthology. These stories couldn’t be more different in storyline or style, but both are very enjoyable and highly recommended. Jill’s first person isn’t limited to just one person, but both the heroine and the hero have their say. Sounds like it might be confusing, I know, but it isn’t. It’s always clear whose head you are in and there is never any doubt about what is going on. I think this breaks up what I’ve often found monotonous about first person storytelling.
Jill’s characters never lack incredible wit and sass, but in this book she has added a skillful touch of paranormal suspense. Here is my review for OUT OF THIS WORLD; I hope it will make you want to get your own copy! If you do, here's a link! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0758214448/103-0236478-2899826?n=283155
Rachel Wood has inherited a B&B from her Great Great Aunt Gertrude in, of all places, the Alaskan wilderness. Working as a muralist in LA and living paycheck to paycheck, Rachel decides she’ll go to Alaska and check out the B&B, see what is has to offer; maybe even sell it. Rachel thanks her lucky stars that her best friend’s brother, Kellen McInty, was able to go with her. After a harrowing, white-knuckled arrival in a float plane, and being left in the middle of nowhere by a pilot who apparently believes that a successful flight means landing with both wings intact, Rachel and Kellen hike their way to the B&B. The strange characters and even more strange happenings eventually push Rachel and Kellen together, and once Rachel begins to see things as she never has before, she begins to wonder why she has never seen Kel for the man he truly is.
Kellen has loved Rachel for what seems like forever, and being thrown together with her in such close quarters in the plane and later in her aunt’s cottage, is almost more than he can resist. He is determined to keep her at arms’ length, no easy feat given how she in all of her glorious girliness, is afraid of her own shadow and is constantly plastering her gorgeous self to him. Kel doesn’t know what to think about the weird goings-on at the B&B, the two on-site caretakers and two visitors who put the s-t-r-a-n-g-e- in strange, but he’s determined to get to the bottom of their bizarre behavior.
Rachel and Kellen are so wonderful for each other that readers will be crossing their fingers for them to get together. The secondary characters and their motives are questionable to say the least, but you can’t help but care for them and want them to all be happy. Excepting the bad guys that is – but with that being said, who would ever have expected pirates to show up in the middle of Alaska?
Jill Shalvis has outdone herself with the humor in this book - it seems as if she may have put a little bit of herself into Rachel's character - and as for first person writing? I’m a full-fledged convert and will never reject another book written in this style.
Thank you again Jill, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book for you - you’re the best! I know I’ve told you before, but I truly hope I’ll get to meet you in person someday!
Hugs,
Laurie