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Wilder #1
Instant Attraction
Introducing Cameron, Stone, and T.J. Wilder—three bad-boy heroes who effortlessly mix breathtaking adventure and scorching sex appeal...
Get Wild... And Then Get Wilder...
Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl—working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn't fit in anywhere. That's all she wants. Well, that—and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she's crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed—that part defies explanation...
After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he'll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie's killer smile triggers something deep in his gut... among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he's ever felt—and an adventure Katie's wishing would never end...
Get Wild... And Then Get Wilder...
Accountant Katie Kramer is a quintessential good girl—working hard, recycling diligently, all the while trying to ignore the feeling that she doesn't fit in anywhere. That's all she wants. Well, that—and amazing sex, and the kind of daredevil escapade she can look back on when she's crunching numbers in a dusty cubicle. Which explains why she just took a job in Wishful, California, working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. Waking up to find a magnificently built stranger towering over her bed—that part defies explanation...
After wandering the planet for months following a life-changing accident, Cameron Wilder has come back to the only home he knows. Under other circumstances, he might be thrilled to find a gorgeous woman sleeping in his cabin, but now, while he'll risk his body taking clients on adrenaline-drenched excursions, his heart is off limits. Still, Katie's killer smile triggers something deep in his gut... among other places. Showing her how exhilarating it can be to stop balancing her life as if it was a checkbook is the biggest rush he's ever felt—and an adventure Katie's wishing would never end...
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2009
About the author
Jill Shalvis
362 books13.3k followers Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE SUMMER ESCAPE, is out now, and BETTER THAN FRIENDS comes out in January 2025!
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis
Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.
Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 759 reviews
May 25, 2017
4 Live life balls out Stars
*Mild Spoilers*
“I dreamed about living my life to its fullest. Balls out.” “You don’t have any.” “It’s a euphemism.”
So this is my first time reading Jill Shalvis and I loved it. Instant Atrraction, the first book in the Wilder series was awesome! This book has a little bit of drama, but for the most part it was a funny, light, sexy read!
What this book is about
At one time Cameron Wilder had it all. As a champion snow boarder he had money, fame, and the girl. Then he found out his girl slept with someone else. Distracted and Distraught he has a snowboarding accident that cost him his career. Not knowing how to deal with it all, Cam has spent the last year wandering the world trying to find himself. He comes home to find a beautiful sleeping woman in his bed. She says her name is Katie and she says she works for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions the company him and his brothers own. He is instantly attracted to her, but it's more than that. This little sexy thing in his bed makes him feel, something he hasn't been able to do since the accident.
“You think I’m so strong? I’m trying, believe me, but at this point, it’s still just an illusion.”“You’re here, doing something new. Out of your element and handling it. You are strong. You’re one of the strongest women I know.”
Cam:
Cam is the reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. I liked his character for the most part but his fear over his feelings for Katie annoyed me although I could understand why he would have some fears. Cam has been hurt many times. He could be very sexy, charming and sweet.
“I want you to know that I get that I tend to keep myself emotionally distanced from everything and everyone. But you…” He shook his head as if a little overwhelmed. “I’m not emotionally distanced from you, Katie. I never was.”
“But I met this woman. She’d been through hell but didn’t let that stop her. Nothing could make her quit.” He drew a deep breath, looking into her eyes, his so clear and green. “It made me want to be a better man. I don’t want to quit you, Katie.”
Katie:
“I want you to know, chickens aren’t sexy. Not to me.”
Katie made the book for me. She was honest, playful, and so full of life. Katie is the only survivor in a bridge collapse that killed 30 people. She is fighting her own demons. She doesn't let fear stop her. Panic attacks and all she still fights to live life to fullest or "Balls out" which is her motto. I love how she is with Cam. She doesn't make him feel like a failure and she doesn't demand anything from him. She gets him talking about his feelings and makes him think. She makes him smile and laugh and want to be a better man. She just lives in the moment with him. She is very open and doesn't play games. I love that she just tells everyone what she is feeling.
“Don’t say you’re a quitter, because the man I’m looking at has been dealt some pretty rough blows and he’s still standing. The quitting thing is bullshit, Cam. And don’t try to tell me you don’t feel this thing between us either.”
“I see them, Cam. I see all of them, and you know what? I want you anyway. I want you because of them. Because you’re human. Because…Because you represent someone who’s lived his life balls out-” She broke off at Harley’s choked laugh. “Oh. Am I not supposed to say balls to someone who has balls?”
“Nah, he’d try to kick my ass, and then I’d have to kick his, and then Annie would want in on it. It’d be a whole ass-kicking thing”
Cam and Katie together are so hot and cute. There is some major sexual tension going on in this book. I love that they spend a lot of time together so you get to see their relationship build. There is a side story of Annie ( Cam's aunt) and her husband Nick working out some problems in their relationship. I really like Cam's brothers and can't wait to read their stories. I loved the family dynamics. There was the cheating Ex but she really didn't cause much trouble and Cam shot her down the minute she tries! This book was a funny, sweet read with very little drama. I think Jill Shalvis may have just gained a new fan!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
*Mild Spoilers*
“I dreamed about living my life to its fullest. Balls out.” “You don’t have any.” “It’s a euphemism.”
So this is my first time reading Jill Shalvis and I loved it. Instant Atrraction, the first book in the Wilder series was awesome! This book has a little bit of drama, but for the most part it was a funny, light, sexy read!
What this book is about
At one time Cameron Wilder had it all. As a champion snow boarder he had money, fame, and the girl. Then he found out his girl slept with someone else. Distracted and Distraught he has a snowboarding accident that cost him his career. Not knowing how to deal with it all, Cam has spent the last year wandering the world trying to find himself. He comes home to find a beautiful sleeping woman in his bed. She says her name is Katie and she says she works for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions the company him and his brothers own. He is instantly attracted to her, but it's more than that. This little sexy thing in his bed makes him feel, something he hasn't been able to do since the accident.
“You think I’m so strong? I’m trying, believe me, but at this point, it’s still just an illusion.”“You’re here, doing something new. Out of your element and handling it. You are strong. You’re one of the strongest women I know.”
Cam:
Cam is the reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. I liked his character for the most part but his fear over his feelings for Katie annoyed me although I could understand why he would have some fears. Cam has been hurt many times. He could be very sexy, charming and sweet.
“I want you to know that I get that I tend to keep myself emotionally distanced from everything and everyone. But you…” He shook his head as if a little overwhelmed. “I’m not emotionally distanced from you, Katie. I never was.”
“But I met this woman. She’d been through hell but didn’t let that stop her. Nothing could make her quit.” He drew a deep breath, looking into her eyes, his so clear and green. “It made me want to be a better man. I don’t want to quit you, Katie.”
Katie:
“I want you to know, chickens aren’t sexy. Not to me.”
Katie made the book for me. She was honest, playful, and so full of life. Katie is the only survivor in a bridge collapse that killed 30 people. She is fighting her own demons. She doesn't let fear stop her. Panic attacks and all she still fights to live life to fullest or "Balls out" which is her motto. I love how she is with Cam. She doesn't make him feel like a failure and she doesn't demand anything from him. She gets him talking about his feelings and makes him think. She makes him smile and laugh and want to be a better man. She just lives in the moment with him. She is very open and doesn't play games. I love that she just tells everyone what she is feeling.
“Don’t say you’re a quitter, because the man I’m looking at has been dealt some pretty rough blows and he’s still standing. The quitting thing is bullshit, Cam. And don’t try to tell me you don’t feel this thing between us either.”
“I see them, Cam. I see all of them, and you know what? I want you anyway. I want you because of them. Because you’re human. Because…Because you represent someone who’s lived his life balls out-” She broke off at Harley’s choked laugh. “Oh. Am I not supposed to say balls to someone who has balls?”
“Nah, he’d try to kick my ass, and then I’d have to kick his, and then Annie would want in on it. It’d be a whole ass-kicking thing”
Cam and Katie together are so hot and cute. There is some major sexual tension going on in this book. I love that they spend a lot of time together so you get to see their relationship build. There is a side story of Annie ( Cam's aunt) and her husband Nick working out some problems in their relationship. I really like Cam's brothers and can't wait to read their stories. I loved the family dynamics. There was the cheating Ex but she really didn't cause much trouble and Cam shot her down the minute she tries! This book was a funny, sweet read with very little drama. I think Jill Shalvis may have just gained a new fan!
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
July 28, 2020
Good, but it felt like Grandma was reading to me.
I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis and have been for years. I read Instant Attraction a while back and really enjoyed it. Listening to it made me happy to step back into that world. Those Wilder men are irresistible.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I did struggle with the narrator a bit. She sounds like a pack a day smoker and older than my mother. Listening to her in the sexy times was a wee bit weird. I also struggled when she changed the voices for the characters. One of the characters, Sirena, sounded like a sixty-year-old Jessica Rabbit. So what should have sounded like a sexy siren sounded very wrong.
I really enjoyed Instant Attraction and definitely plan to listen to some more Jill Shalvis audios.
I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis and have been for years. I read Instant Attraction a while back and really enjoyed it. Listening to it made me happy to step back into that world. Those Wilder men are irresistible.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I did struggle with the narrator a bit. She sounds like a pack a day smoker and older than my mother. Listening to her in the sexy times was a wee bit weird. I also struggled when she changed the voices for the characters. One of the characters, Sirena, sounded like a sixty-year-old Jessica Rabbit. So what should have sounded like a sexy siren sounded very wrong.
I really enjoyed Instant Attraction and definitely plan to listen to some more Jill Shalvis audios.
December 4, 2013
The first book in the trilogy about the Wilder brothers - T.J., Stone and Cameron -, Instant Attraction was an enjoyable and easy read.
Cameron Wilder is the youngest of the Wilder brothers, a former Snowboarding Olympics and X-Games champion who "lost it all" when an accident ended his career one year ago. Used to the adventurous life and the adulation that came with his fame, he's having a hard time dealing with his current situation and doesn't know what to do with his life anymore. After spending the last year wandering around the world and trying to "find himself", he's finally back home in the Sierras - but he's still pretty much wallowing in his private pity party.
Katie Kramer is also struggling with a traumatic accident - she was the sole survivor of a bridge collapse that killed thirty other people - but the way she chooses to deal with it is completely different from Cam's. While he's basically decided to shut himself to the world and hide from life, she's decided to live it to the fullest. So she quits her boring job at LA, gets into her brand-new used car, hits the freeway and, eight hours later, finds herself in the wild Sierras, where she ends up taking a temporary job at the Wilder Adventures, a local outdoor adventure and expedition compay owned by the Wilder brothers. Is there any better way to start her new adventurous life? :)
Cam and Katie are instantly attracted to each other but, unlike what's become a standard in recent releases, they don't jump into bed right away. Neither wants anything permanent - Katie's only staying in the Sierras for a month before leaving for her next "adventure" and Cam, well, he doesn't know what he wants - so they take their time trying to figure out how to deal with their feelings. They slowly fall in love with each other but don't realize it right away. Katie convinces herself that she doesn't want more than a nice fling with Cam, but he really cares for her and he's afraid he'll hurt her in the end. So they dance around each other...
Overall, I really liked this book. Cam and Katie's interactions were funny and sweet, their relationship was romantic - as much as they had the hots for each other, I never felt that lust was their main focus - and the story had a nice pace.
There were a couple of times when I wanted to smack Cam in the head - enough with the self-depreciation already! - but I cut him some slack because I believed he really loved Katie, he just didn't know how to deal with his feelings. To be fair, he'd never learned how to, because that family of his wasn't the best example to follow when it came to communicating with each other. Don't get me wrong, I loved all the Wilder clan - Cam, Stone, T.J., their aunt Annie and her husband Nick - but communication wasn't their forte.
On the bright side, Annie was just adorable. Like Cam, she was also emotionally damaged but her positive attitude towards life was engaging. She wasn't perfect either, and I thought it was very realistic to have her refusing to talk about her accident and, at the same time, "forcing" Cam to talk about his. It's human nature: sometimes it's easier to focus on other people's issues than to look inside oneself.
While Cam and Katie's romance and emotional healing was central to the story, there was also a secondary romance involving Cam's aunt Annie and her estranged husband Nick that provided some funny moments. I loved her aprons - you could always guess her mood by the saying that was printed on them - but her stubborness made me want to shake some sense into her. Hmm, smack Cam in the head, shake Annie... I sense a theme here. Maybe the Wilder family had a knack for pushing my emotional buttons, LOL. Not enough to annoy me, though. In fact, I can't wait to read Cam's brother's stories.
Cameron Wilder is the youngest of the Wilder brothers, a former Snowboarding Olympics and X-Games champion who "lost it all" when an accident ended his career one year ago. Used to the adventurous life and the adulation that came with his fame, he's having a hard time dealing with his current situation and doesn't know what to do with his life anymore. After spending the last year wandering around the world and trying to "find himself", he's finally back home in the Sierras - but he's still pretty much wallowing in his private pity party.
Katie Kramer is also struggling with a traumatic accident - she was the sole survivor of a bridge collapse that killed thirty other people - but the way she chooses to deal with it is completely different from Cam's. While he's basically decided to shut himself to the world and hide from life, she's decided to live it to the fullest. So she quits her boring job at LA, gets into her brand-new used car, hits the freeway and, eight hours later, finds herself in the wild Sierras, where she ends up taking a temporary job at the Wilder Adventures, a local outdoor adventure and expedition compay owned by the Wilder brothers. Is there any better way to start her new adventurous life? :)
Cam and Katie are instantly attracted to each other but, unlike what's become a standard in recent releases, they don't jump into bed right away. Neither wants anything permanent - Katie's only staying in the Sierras for a month before leaving for her next "adventure" and Cam, well, he doesn't know what he wants - so they take their time trying to figure out how to deal with their feelings. They slowly fall in love with each other but don't realize it right away. Katie convinces herself that she doesn't want more than a nice fling with Cam, but he really cares for her and he's afraid he'll hurt her in the end. So they dance around each other...
Overall, I really liked this book. Cam and Katie's interactions were funny and sweet, their relationship was romantic - as much as they had the hots for each other, I never felt that lust was their main focus - and the story had a nice pace.
There were a couple of times when I wanted to smack Cam in the head - enough with the self-depreciation already! - but I cut him some slack because I believed he really loved Katie, he just didn't know how to deal with his feelings. To be fair, he'd never learned how to, because that family of his wasn't the best example to follow when it came to communicating with each other. Don't get me wrong, I loved all the Wilder clan - Cam, Stone, T.J., their aunt Annie and her husband Nick - but communication wasn't their forte.
On the bright side, Annie was just adorable. Like Cam, she was also emotionally damaged but her positive attitude towards life was engaging. She wasn't perfect either, and I thought it was very realistic to have her refusing to talk about her accident and, at the same time, "forcing" Cam to talk about his. It's human nature: sometimes it's easier to focus on other people's issues than to look inside oneself.
While Cam and Katie's romance and emotional healing was central to the story, there was also a secondary romance involving Cam's aunt Annie and her estranged husband Nick that provided some funny moments. I loved her aprons - you could always guess her mood by the saying that was printed on them - but her stubborness made me want to shake some sense into her. Hmm, smack Cam in the head, shake Annie... I sense a theme here. Maybe the Wilder family had a knack for pushing my emotional buttons, LOL. Not enough to annoy me, though. In fact, I can't wait to read Cam's brother's stories.
February 7, 2009
Hmmn. It's going to be hard to decide what rating I want to give this book. It started out pretty promising--good girl accountant Katie Kramer has a life altering experience (being the lone survivor of a bridge collapse that killed 30 people) and now doesn't want to take life for granted. She wants to live her life "balls to the wall", as she puts it, wanting to experience things that she'd usually never consider, living one daredevil escapade after another. That's all she wants before she returns to her old life, that, and some amazing sex. She hops in her car, leaving L.A. and heading for wherever the road takes her. She winds up in the tiny mountain town of Wishful, California, and takes a temporary office job working for Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. There's three Wilder brothers and an aunt and uncle, and they run a company that fulfills vacationers extreme sports fantasies. All is going well until one night, Katie wakes up to find the 'prodigal son' has returned, and he's hovering over her bed.
Cameron Wilder has not had an idyllic childhood. Illegitimate son of a mother who left the family when he was born, and a biological father he never knew, the father who raised him gave him up at the age of eight to Cam's young 18 year old aunt. Cam loved the mountain life and the winter sports, and became a champion snowboarder and Olympic medalist. But he was not as successful in his personal life, having had one girlfriend try to run him over, and having his fiancee cheat on him. While preoccupied with thoughts of his fiancee's cheating, he has an accident while snowboarding that tears up his knee, ending his career. After recuperating and bumming around Europe for a year, he finally decides to head home to California. His brothers want him to take an active part in the family business, and Cam's got nothing better to do. After all, his life as he knows it is over, right?
Then Cam meets Katie, and there's a spark. Her attitude and sunny disposition starts to get to him, and he finds himself actually 'feeling' again. He wants to be around her, and he starts enjoyong life like he hasn't done in a long time. And while the attraction is there for Katie too, she's going to be leaving soon, on to bigger and better adventures, and starting something with her would be wrong. He doesn't need anyone falling for him, he'll just end up hurting her. But Katie doesn't care if their relationship goes nowhere, she just wants the experience--no regrets. So Katie and Cam get together--and it's good. She gets her amazing sex, and then some. It's so good that Katie eventually admits to herself that she's fallen for him. Now what does she do? Could Cam possibly feel the same way? Does he even have the courage to love and let himself be loved?
Cam started out as one of the most grim, morose heroes I've read about in a while. At times his self-pitying really got to me. Did he think his snowboarding career was going to last forever? Did he even have a plan for the rest of his life? He was definitely a "glass half empty" kind of guy. And I have to say that the guy on the cover of the book fit his description perfectly--grim. And I got the feeling that his family (especially his aunt--who was featured in a subplot of her own) enabled him. They were so afraid of him running off that they didn't say to him what needed to be said. But thankfully Katie did. She called him on his attitude and didn't let him get away with it. She was the one who finally got him to open up and talk (something his whole family had trouble doing). I was just hoping that he had enough sense to see that Katie was the best thing that ever happened to him. Luckily by the end of the book he got his head out of his a** and realized that he had the rest of his life to live, and there was a special woman who he wanted to live it with.
So, Cam was not one of my favorite heroes of all time, but Katie was one of my favorite heroines. She's the reason why I continued to read, while Cam was frustrating the heck out of me. I wanted to see her get her HEA, and if she could get Cam to agree to take a chance on love and life. The ending was sweet and satisfying. And I will definitely give the other books in the series a try. Cam's older brothers seem interesting, as do the women that it looks like they'll be paired up with.
All in all a little frustrating, a little more satisfying, with an ending that gave me a smile on my face--4 stars.
Cameron Wilder has not had an idyllic childhood. Illegitimate son of a mother who left the family when he was born, and a biological father he never knew, the father who raised him gave him up at the age of eight to Cam's young 18 year old aunt. Cam loved the mountain life and the winter sports, and became a champion snowboarder and Olympic medalist. But he was not as successful in his personal life, having had one girlfriend try to run him over, and having his fiancee cheat on him. While preoccupied with thoughts of his fiancee's cheating, he has an accident while snowboarding that tears up his knee, ending his career. After recuperating and bumming around Europe for a year, he finally decides to head home to California. His brothers want him to take an active part in the family business, and Cam's got nothing better to do. After all, his life as he knows it is over, right?
Then Cam meets Katie, and there's a spark. Her attitude and sunny disposition starts to get to him, and he finds himself actually 'feeling' again. He wants to be around her, and he starts enjoyong life like he hasn't done in a long time. And while the attraction is there for Katie too, she's going to be leaving soon, on to bigger and better adventures, and starting something with her would be wrong. He doesn't need anyone falling for him, he'll just end up hurting her. But Katie doesn't care if their relationship goes nowhere, she just wants the experience--no regrets. So Katie and Cam get together--and it's good. She gets her amazing sex, and then some. It's so good that Katie eventually admits to herself that she's fallen for him. Now what does she do? Could Cam possibly feel the same way? Does he even have the courage to love and let himself be loved?
Cam started out as one of the most grim, morose heroes I've read about in a while. At times his self-pitying really got to me. Did he think his snowboarding career was going to last forever? Did he even have a plan for the rest of his life? He was definitely a "glass half empty" kind of guy. And I have to say that the guy on the cover of the book fit his description perfectly--grim. And I got the feeling that his family (especially his aunt--who was featured in a subplot of her own) enabled him. They were so afraid of him running off that they didn't say to him what needed to be said. But thankfully Katie did. She called him on his attitude and didn't let him get away with it. She was the one who finally got him to open up and talk (something his whole family had trouble doing). I was just hoping that he had enough sense to see that Katie was the best thing that ever happened to him. Luckily by the end of the book he got his head out of his a** and realized that he had the rest of his life to live, and there was a special woman who he wanted to live it with.
So, Cam was not one of my favorite heroes of all time, but Katie was one of my favorite heroines. She's the reason why I continued to read, while Cam was frustrating the heck out of me. I wanted to see her get her HEA, and if she could get Cam to agree to take a chance on love and life. The ending was sweet and satisfying. And I will definitely give the other books in the series a try. Cam's older brothers seem interesting, as do the women that it looks like they'll be paired up with.
All in all a little frustrating, a little more satisfying, with an ending that gave me a smile on my face--4 stars.
January 26, 2009
Need a break from historical or paranormal romance? Like brooding, sexy heroes, humor, and spicy sex? Try "Instant Attraction" by Jill Shalvis.
Katie is the sole survivor of a horrible bridge collapse. Thirty people died, she alone survived. After her recovery, she's determined to live life 'full out'. So she gassed up her car and drove north. Now she's taken a temporary job at Wilder Adventures and Expeditions; and it comes with housing. The mountains are very different from LA and oh so beautiful and the nightmares are slowing down too! But being awakened in the middle of the night by a gorgeous stranger may just be a bit too dangerous for her...of course, he is really hot!
Cameron was a world-famous extreme snow-boarder...until the accident that nearly took his life. After a year of trying to find something, anything to 'feel' for, he returns home to find a sexy woman sleeping in his bed! Suddenly Cameron is feeling lots of things...none of them comfortable and most assuredly dangerous to his state of mind.
Hot, humorous, and just flat-out fun to read. When Jill Shalvis' 'hits' with me, it's a homerun and this one is definitely a hit for me. Of course, now I'll have to buy the upcoming stories about the other two Wilder brothers, the first of which is scheduled to release in June 2009.
Katie is the sole survivor of a horrible bridge collapse. Thirty people died, she alone survived. After her recovery, she's determined to live life 'full out'. So she gassed up her car and drove north. Now she's taken a temporary job at Wilder Adventures and Expeditions; and it comes with housing. The mountains are very different from LA and oh so beautiful and the nightmares are slowing down too! But being awakened in the middle of the night by a gorgeous stranger may just be a bit too dangerous for her...of course, he is really hot!
Cameron was a world-famous extreme snow-boarder...until the accident that nearly took his life. After a year of trying to find something, anything to 'feel' for, he returns home to find a sexy woman sleeping in his bed! Suddenly Cameron is feeling lots of things...none of them comfortable and most assuredly dangerous to his state of mind.
Hot, humorous, and just flat-out fun to read. When Jill Shalvis' 'hits' with me, it's a homerun and this one is definitely a hit for me. Of course, now I'll have to buy the upcoming stories about the other two Wilder brothers, the first of which is scheduled to release in June 2009.
March 21, 2020
So cute! I am late to Jill Shalvis, but better late than never. I hope to be making up time soon. I just love her writing and the stories I have read so far. A new fan!
July 25, 2023
I didn’t feel the chemistry between Katie and Cam as much as some of the other characters this author has written in the past.
Also, a big thing that bothered me is how Katie’s accident was addressed. Something that exciting and interesting should have been deeply described in the very first part of the book. If we had that, I felt I would’ve been more connected to this story and the characters. Instead we just got the accident mentioned a bunch, but without going into full detail of showing the true emotions that would be connected with something like that. I just feel like this book was very surface level and if it was arranged differently, it would have been a much better story.
Also, Annie annoyed me. I did not like the way she treated Nick.
Overall, the book was good, but not great. She has definitely written better ones. I feel like this is a pattern with her though, some are great and some just so-so.
Also, a big thing that bothered me is how Katie’s accident was addressed. Something that exciting and interesting should have been deeply described in the very first part of the book. If we had that, I felt I would’ve been more connected to this story and the characters. Instead we just got the accident mentioned a bunch, but without going into full detail of showing the true emotions that would be connected with something like that. I just feel like this book was very surface level and if it was arranged differently, it would have been a much better story.
Also, Annie annoyed me. I did not like the way she treated Nick.
Overall, the book was good, but not great. She has definitely written better ones. I feel like this is a pattern with her though, some are great and some just so-so.
December 5, 2017
Okay...so I know the title is “Instant Attraction,” BUT I still felt like the MC’s attraction was...well, instant.
Katie, a number’s person, is looking for an adventure because of something that happened. She takes a leap of faith and takes a job in the middle of nowhere and meets Cam who is fighting demons of his own.
The setting was beautiful with the snow and cozy fires. The side characters even held my attention and had me wanting to know more about them.
This was a fun, cute read, but I was unnecessarily stuck on the swift romance.
Katie, a number’s person, is looking for an adventure because of something that happened. She takes a leap of faith and takes a job in the middle of nowhere and meets Cam who is fighting demons of his own.
The setting was beautiful with the snow and cozy fires. The side characters even held my attention and had me wanting to know more about them.
This was a fun, cute read, but I was unnecessarily stuck on the swift romance.
February 8, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️2.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well, I don't know what I expected from this book. I liked it, but I never connected with any of the characters...
I'm currently binging on Jill Shalvis, enjoying the hell out myself with her Lucky Harbor series. I thought I'd give a try at the Wilder brothers, expecting the same fun and light feelings...
It was different, but maybe this is just my current mood talking.
Well, I don't know what I expected from this book. I liked it, but I never connected with any of the characters...
I'm currently binging on Jill Shalvis, enjoying the hell out myself with her Lucky Harbor series. I thought I'd give a try at the Wilder brothers, expecting the same fun and light feelings...
It was different, but maybe this is just my current mood talking.
May 20, 2009
5 stars – Contemporary Romance
I didn’t know about this book until I read a couple of friends’ reviews here on GR, and I’m glad I gave it a shot because I was very pleasantly surprised by this delightful read. This is the second book that I’ve read by author Jill Shalvis, but I’m sure it won’t be the last.
“Instant Attraction” is the first book in the ‘Wilder’ series about three brothers (Cameron, Stone, and T.J. Wilder...gotta love those strong alpha names) who own Wilder Adventures and Expeditions, an extreme tours/sports company, in the town of Wishful, California in the Sierra Mountains. The three sexy, rugged outdoors men and extreme sport enthusiasts also happen to be the small town’s most eligible bachelors and notorious playboys.
In “Instant Attraction”, city girl Katie Kramer leaves the congestion, stress, and monotony of her life in LA and takes a job as an office temp at Wilder Adventures, where she hopes to embark on exciting new adventures of her own. After being the sole survivor of a tragic accident, Katie has a new outlook on life and is inspired to making her life count through new experiences. Former Olympic snowboarding champion Cameron Wilder is back home after a year of wallowing and soul searching while wandering the globe following his career ending accident. Katie and Cameron feel an instant pull and combustible attraction to one another, and she makes him feel something for the first time since his accident, which scares the hell out of him, especially since he’s pretty darn content to continue with his self-pitying, poor-me routine. They’re both survivors, but their traumatic experiences have left them with polar opposite attitudes. Gradually, Katie’s positive approach to life begins to influence Cameron and helps drag him from his pity-party.
The heroine’s cheerful personality, zest for life, and upbeat attitude are positively infectious and one of the main reasons the book is so enjoyable. Katie’s a shining example of a glass-is-half-full, life’s what you make it type of person, without being overly naïve or bubbly to the point of irritation. She’s bright, honest, funny, and sarcastic without being mean...a truly lovable heroine. That being said, there were still times that she annoyed the heck out of me with her lack of caution and recklessness. Just because someone vows to make each day count and to live life to the fullest doesn’t mean they have to take unnecessary risks to prove something...that’s a little overboard and foolish in my opinion. But still, she definitely made me smile and laugh, and I cracked up at her bravado and seduction antics after one too many vodka shots! Despite the whole ‘feeling sorry for himself’ thing, I still really liked Cameron and found his insights, honesty, and self-deprecating humor amusing, especially since he’s self-aware enough to know that his attitude and behavior suck. He’s just not sure how to fix things or how to change his glass-is-half-empty tendency, which is a realistic dilemma that a lot of people face every day in life.
There's also a secondary romantic entanglement between Cam's aunt Annie and her estranged husband Nick that’s a nice touch to the story. After years of marriage, they have unresolved tension and emotional distance in their relationship that’s resulted in repeated arguments and blatant sexual frustration, and it’s honest, funny, and touching.
The dialogue is witty and well written and the banter between the H/H is hilarious. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, especially the scene where Katie and a couple of girlfriends drink too much vodka and she says some pretty brazen and crazy things to Cam in her drunken stupor!
“Instant Attraction” is a great contemporary romance and an enjoyable read! I’m looking forward to reading T.J. and Stone’s stories when they come out later this year. 5 stars!
I didn’t know about this book until I read a couple of friends’ reviews here on GR, and I’m glad I gave it a shot because I was very pleasantly surprised by this delightful read. This is the second book that I’ve read by author Jill Shalvis, but I’m sure it won’t be the last.
“Instant Attraction” is the first book in the ‘Wilder’ series about three brothers (Cameron, Stone, and T.J. Wilder...gotta love those strong alpha names) who own Wilder Adventures and Expeditions, an extreme tours/sports company, in the town of Wishful, California in the Sierra Mountains. The three sexy, rugged outdoors men and extreme sport enthusiasts also happen to be the small town’s most eligible bachelors and notorious playboys.
In “Instant Attraction”, city girl Katie Kramer leaves the congestion, stress, and monotony of her life in LA and takes a job as an office temp at Wilder Adventures, where she hopes to embark on exciting new adventures of her own. After being the sole survivor of a tragic accident, Katie has a new outlook on life and is inspired to making her life count through new experiences. Former Olympic snowboarding champion Cameron Wilder is back home after a year of wallowing and soul searching while wandering the globe following his career ending accident. Katie and Cameron feel an instant pull and combustible attraction to one another, and she makes him feel something for the first time since his accident, which scares the hell out of him, especially since he’s pretty darn content to continue with his self-pitying, poor-me routine. They’re both survivors, but their traumatic experiences have left them with polar opposite attitudes. Gradually, Katie’s positive approach to life begins to influence Cameron and helps drag him from his pity-party.
The heroine’s cheerful personality, zest for life, and upbeat attitude are positively infectious and one of the main reasons the book is so enjoyable. Katie’s a shining example of a glass-is-half-full, life’s what you make it type of person, without being overly naïve or bubbly to the point of irritation. She’s bright, honest, funny, and sarcastic without being mean...a truly lovable heroine. That being said, there were still times that she annoyed the heck out of me with her lack of caution and recklessness. Just because someone vows to make each day count and to live life to the fullest doesn’t mean they have to take unnecessary risks to prove something...that’s a little overboard and foolish in my opinion. But still, she definitely made me smile and laugh, and I cracked up at her bravado and seduction antics after one too many vodka shots! Despite the whole ‘feeling sorry for himself’ thing, I still really liked Cameron and found his insights, honesty, and self-deprecating humor amusing, especially since he’s self-aware enough to know that his attitude and behavior suck. He’s just not sure how to fix things or how to change his glass-is-half-empty tendency, which is a realistic dilemma that a lot of people face every day in life.
There's also a secondary romantic entanglement between Cam's aunt Annie and her estranged husband Nick that’s a nice touch to the story. After years of marriage, they have unresolved tension and emotional distance in their relationship that’s resulted in repeated arguments and blatant sexual frustration, and it’s honest, funny, and touching.
The dialogue is witty and well written and the banter between the H/H is hilarious. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, especially the scene where Katie and a couple of girlfriends drink too much vodka and she says some pretty brazen and crazy things to Cam in her drunken stupor!
“Instant Attraction” is a great contemporary romance and an enjoyable read! I’m looking forward to reading T.J. and Stone’s stories when they come out later this year. 5 stars!
May 15, 2009
This was my first experience with this author, and I was pleased. This is the first in a series featuring three brothers that run a sort of ‘extreme snow adventure’ business. They brothers are all big, sexy, brooding, outdoorsmen.
Cam was a famous snowboarder and Olympic champion until he suffered a major knee injury that ruined his career. He doesn’t know how to live without the spotlight, without boarding being the center of his world. He takes off on his own for about a year on a soul searching journey. He doesn’t find it and returns home to the family business.
He stumbles in to his cabin from his trek and finds a cute woman asleep in his bed. Katie is just as surprised to see him and he is her and she quickly explains she’s a temporary accountant working for his brother, Stone.
Just like the title says, they are instantly attracted to each other. Katie survived a near fatal car accident when a bridge collapsed. She was the only survivor. She’s been trying to months to take advantage of life ever since. She claims she want to live life ‘balls out’. In fact she repeats this quite a bit through the book, and it annoyed me every time. She is from LA and took this job in the Sierras as part of her plan.
Cam has been hurt badly by women in his past. He really wants Katie, but is the classic non-committer. Katie needs to show him he can feel again, and is worthy of love and of giving it.
I really liked Katie. She was a little naïve, but she was not TSTL. I liked Cam, too, but I wanted him to suck it up a bit quicker than he did.
The author had me laughing quite a few times during this one. There is one part where Katie gets a little tipsy with some other women that are pretty funny, and then the later interaction with Cam was pretty good. I recommend to any contemporary romance fan. I can’t wait to read Stone and TJ’s books coming out later this year.
Cam was a famous snowboarder and Olympic champion until he suffered a major knee injury that ruined his career. He doesn’t know how to live without the spotlight, without boarding being the center of his world. He takes off on his own for about a year on a soul searching journey. He doesn’t find it and returns home to the family business.
He stumbles in to his cabin from his trek and finds a cute woman asleep in his bed. Katie is just as surprised to see him and he is her and she quickly explains she’s a temporary accountant working for his brother, Stone.
Just like the title says, they are instantly attracted to each other. Katie survived a near fatal car accident when a bridge collapsed. She was the only survivor. She’s been trying to months to take advantage of life ever since. She claims she want to live life ‘balls out’. In fact she repeats this quite a bit through the book, and it annoyed me every time. She is from LA and took this job in the Sierras as part of her plan.
Cam has been hurt badly by women in his past. He really wants Katie, but is the classic non-committer. Katie needs to show him he can feel again, and is worthy of love and of giving it.
I really liked Katie. She was a little naïve, but she was not TSTL. I liked Cam, too, but I wanted him to suck it up a bit quicker than he did.
The author had me laughing quite a few times during this one. There is one part where Katie gets a little tipsy with some other women that are pretty funny, and then the later interaction with Cam was pretty good. I recommend to any contemporary romance fan. I can’t wait to read Stone and TJ’s books coming out later this year.
September 5, 2020
Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Wilder book 1. Contemporary romance with lots of family and secondary characters.
Cam is back at the Lodge ready to face life after his crash from fame. He’s done with adventure. Katie is searching for adventure after a major death scare. She’s finding the crisp mountain air allows her to breathe deeply. The two are attracted to each other to the point of a sizzling affair. It’s temporary. Katie is leaving and Cam doesn’t know what he wants.
This was a second reading. I still loved the writing and all the complex family dynamics. I was a little less happy with Cam and his hot and cold attitude. Would lower the rating to 4.25 or maybe 4.5 because I still love the writing voice.
“He could guard his heart all he wanted, but it was too late. She’d sneaked in past his defenses and leveled him flat on his ass, and now he was down for the count.”
Excerpt:
“Cam watched Katie come flying out of the lodge, her clothes all neat and tidy, her hair perfectly pinned up on her head, all pretty perfection except for the jacket she’d left open in her hurry.
In the week and a half he’d known her, she seemed to be unwinding a bit. He wanted to unwind her some more.
Unwind and unwrap . . .
She came to a stop in front of him. “Hi.”
“Goldilocks.”
“You said we were a bad idea,” she reminded him.
“We are.”
She grinned at him, and he felt his own reluctantly tug at his mouth. Ah, man. He liked her. That simple. He liked her, and in his experience, that never ended well for anyone.“
Excerpt from a Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Wilder book 1. Contemporary romance with lots of family and secondary characters.
Cam is back at the Lodge ready to face life after his crash from fame. He’s done with adventure. Katie is searching for adventure after a major death scare. She’s finding the crisp mountain air allows her to breathe deeply. The two are attracted to each other to the point of a sizzling affair. It’s temporary. Katie is leaving and Cam doesn’t know what he wants.
This was a second reading. I still loved the writing and all the complex family dynamics. I was a little less happy with Cam and his hot and cold attitude. Would lower the rating to 4.25 or maybe 4.5 because I still love the writing voice.
“He could guard his heart all he wanted, but it was too late. She’d sneaked in past his defenses and leveled him flat on his ass, and now he was down for the count.”
Excerpt:
“Cam watched Katie come flying out of the lodge, her clothes all neat and tidy, her hair perfectly pinned up on her head, all pretty perfection except for the jacket she’d left open in her hurry.
In the week and a half he’d known her, she seemed to be unwinding a bit. He wanted to unwind her some more.
Unwind and unwrap . . .
She came to a stop in front of him. “Hi.”
“Goldilocks.”
“You said we were a bad idea,” she reminded him.
“We are.”
She grinned at him, and he felt his own reluctantly tug at his mouth. Ah, man. He liked her. That simple. He liked her, and in his experience, that never ended well for anyone.“
Excerpt from a Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
July 14, 2018
"LOCAL OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AND EXPEDITION COMPANY SEEKING TEMPORARY OFFICE MANAGER, ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT REQUIRED. CALL WILDER ADVENTURES FOR MORE INFO."
One week ago, Katie Kramer answered this ad and left L.A after a life-threatening accident for a new beggining in Wishful, a small town in the Sierras. Always on the cautious side before, she's now determined to live life to the fullest.
Cameron Wilder is no stranger to having your life suddenly turn upside down. Before an accident that almost cost him the use of his legs and his career, he was a famous snowboard champion. He now have to learn who is Cameron Wilder when not on the slopes and in the spotlight.
Back in Wishful to help his brothers with their expedition company, a meet-cute with the new bookeeper is exactly what they both needed to get a fresh start. She'll take his mind off his worries and he'll make her try new things. With Katie, he doesn't have the time nor the inclination to feel sorry for himself. She challenge him without knowing or trying with her fast quips. And his presence is so soothing for her stressful mind. But as strong as the attraction is between them, he's pretty hesitant because he doesn't want to mess with her feelings. But if only his brothers and the cook could mind their own business with their advices and good intentions. And if only it wasn't so difficult to resist.
A re-edition of this book with a new cover was the perfect excuse for a reread (not that I needed one to reread a favorite author ;p). Don't know about you, but for me, what makes a writer become a favorite one is the trademark. The special details each author bring to the table and that I want to find in every book she or he write. With Jill Shalvis, there's three things that stand out : the fun stories, the sweet romance and the great cast of characters. Katie and Cameron were totally lovable but the addition of the Wilder brothers and the secondary romance with Annie and Nick, a married couple with communication problems complemented the story perfectly. I especially liked that the story was set in winter. It almost felt like it was an other character.
"She'd faced her demons and had gotten comfortable. Hell of an attractive combination. And a small part of her wished she never had to leave, because this world with scrawny cats and gorgeous men, with new friends and wide-open spaces, no traffic, and some pretty amazing adventures left to be had, felt good."
One week ago, Katie Kramer answered this ad and left L.A after a life-threatening accident for a new beggining in Wishful, a small town in the Sierras. Always on the cautious side before, she's now determined to live life to the fullest.
Cameron Wilder is no stranger to having your life suddenly turn upside down. Before an accident that almost cost him the use of his legs and his career, he was a famous snowboard champion. He now have to learn who is Cameron Wilder when not on the slopes and in the spotlight.
Back in Wishful to help his brothers with their expedition company, a meet-cute with the new bookeeper is exactly what they both needed to get a fresh start. She'll take his mind off his worries and he'll make her try new things. With Katie, he doesn't have the time nor the inclination to feel sorry for himself. She challenge him without knowing or trying with her fast quips. And his presence is so soothing for her stressful mind. But as strong as the attraction is between them, he's pretty hesitant because he doesn't want to mess with her feelings. But if only his brothers and the cook could mind their own business with their advices and good intentions. And if only it wasn't so difficult to resist.
A re-edition of this book with a new cover was the perfect excuse for a reread (not that I needed one to reread a favorite author ;p). Don't know about you, but for me, what makes a writer become a favorite one is the trademark. The special details each author bring to the table and that I want to find in every book she or he write. With Jill Shalvis, there's three things that stand out : the fun stories, the sweet romance and the great cast of characters. Katie and Cameron were totally lovable but the addition of the Wilder brothers and the secondary romance with Annie and Nick, a married couple with communication problems complemented the story perfectly. I especially liked that the story was set in winter. It almost felt like it was an other character.
"She'd faced her demons and had gotten comfortable. Hell of an attractive combination. And a small part of her wished she never had to leave, because this world with scrawny cats and gorgeous men, with new friends and wide-open spaces, no traffic, and some pretty amazing adventures left to be had, felt good."
August 29, 2015
Instant Attraction was my first read by this author, and it wont be my last. I’m always happy (and a little surprised) to find good contemporary romance (not chicklit), and despite the truly atrocious cover, this one delivered.
Katie Kramer was the sole survivor of the catastrophic Santa Monica bridge collapse that killed thirty people. After recovering, she feels compelled to live her life to the fullest and determines to find adventure and challenge herself. Her first stop is at Wilder Adventures and Expeditions, where she takes a job as a temp.
Cameron Wilder, celebrated snow-boarding champion has been wandering the planet for 12 months, trying to find some purpose after a debilitating injury removed him from the sport he loved. When he finally returns home to the mountain unannounced, he finds Katie, a stranger, asleep in his bed.
I really liked how the book opened with this scene – my attention was immediately captured and we were off to a great start. Instant Attraction kept a great pace and there was sufficient activity and some genuine laugh out loud moments throughout to keep things moving.
I also appreciated that although Katie and Cam felt attraction fairly early in the piece, they didn’t fall straight into bed with each other. They had both been through traumatic experiences, and were dealing with it very differently. Katie was grabbing life with both hands, where Cam felt he’d lost his reason for living.
There was no external conflict affecting their relationship, rather two people who had to come to terms with their past, present and future, both in very different ways and in their own time. The primary and secondary characters were all well developed, and we were also treated to a secondary romance that enhanced the book, rather than detracting from the main relationship.
I’m looking forward to spending more time with the Wilder brothers in Instant Gratification and Instant Temptation.
Katie Kramer was the sole survivor of the catastrophic Santa Monica bridge collapse that killed thirty people. After recovering, she feels compelled to live her life to the fullest and determines to find adventure and challenge herself. Her first stop is at Wilder Adventures and Expeditions, where she takes a job as a temp.
Cameron Wilder, celebrated snow-boarding champion has been wandering the planet for 12 months, trying to find some purpose after a debilitating injury removed him from the sport he loved. When he finally returns home to the mountain unannounced, he finds Katie, a stranger, asleep in his bed.
I really liked how the book opened with this scene – my attention was immediately captured and we were off to a great start. Instant Attraction kept a great pace and there was sufficient activity and some genuine laugh out loud moments throughout to keep things moving.
I also appreciated that although Katie and Cam felt attraction fairly early in the piece, they didn’t fall straight into bed with each other. They had both been through traumatic experiences, and were dealing with it very differently. Katie was grabbing life with both hands, where Cam felt he’d lost his reason for living.
There was no external conflict affecting their relationship, rather two people who had to come to terms with their past, present and future, both in very different ways and in their own time. The primary and secondary characters were all well developed, and we were also treated to a secondary romance that enhanced the book, rather than detracting from the main relationship.
I’m looking forward to spending more time with the Wilder brothers in Instant Gratification and Instant Temptation.
November 25, 2015
3.5 stars
I bought this one because I just finished Jill Shalvis' My Kind of Wonderful (advanced reader's copy) a couple of days ago and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to her characters just yet. I saw few of my friends gave this series positive reviews, alongside SBTB that gave it a B+ review.
Unfortunately, I found Instant Attraction to having quite similarities with My Kind of Wonderful, except that I found myself liking Cam Wilder a lot less than I did Hudson Kincaid. The problem with Cam, for me, was that he is having the "sorry-for-myself" issue. It wasn't attractive for me. Yes, okay, so Cam 'feels lost' after the accident that robbed him his precious snowboarding career, but it wasn't enough for making me wanting to root for him.
On the other hand, I thought Katie was AMAZING, hands down. Even with panic attacks and nightmares that follow her after the horrible accident in which she was the sole survivor, Katie makes sure that she attacks the next days and challenges heads up. It is the no regrets, come what may attitude that just makes her wins my heart. Cam is stubbornly clinging to his own inability to move forward, while Katie opens herself for new adventures. She is the strength of this book for me.
However, when it comes to the romantic relationship, no matter how much I loved Katie, I didn't feel that invested towards her and Cam's. Maybe I felt it was lacking the charm or the light humor that coming from Shalvis' recent books. Luckily, the secondary relationship between Annie Wilder and her soon-to-be-ex husband Nick helped in the romantic department. Their story appealed to me and I wanted so badly to see how these two fix their marriage.
Bottom line, I liked it enough but not exactly a Shalvis' winner in my book. Hopefully the next two books will be better.
I bought this one because I just finished Jill Shalvis' My Kind of Wonderful (advanced reader's copy) a couple of days ago and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to her characters just yet. I saw few of my friends gave this series positive reviews, alongside SBTB that gave it a B+ review.
Unfortunately, I found Instant Attraction to having quite similarities with My Kind of Wonderful, except that I found myself liking Cam Wilder a lot less than I did Hudson Kincaid. The problem with Cam, for me, was that he is having the "sorry-for-myself" issue. It wasn't attractive for me. Yes, okay, so Cam 'feels lost' after the accident that robbed him his precious snowboarding career, but it wasn't enough for making me wanting to root for him.
On the other hand, I thought Katie was AMAZING, hands down. Even with panic attacks and nightmares that follow her after the horrible accident in which she was the sole survivor, Katie makes sure that she attacks the next days and challenges heads up. It is the no regrets, come what may attitude that just makes her wins my heart. Cam is stubbornly clinging to his own inability to move forward, while Katie opens herself for new adventures. She is the strength of this book for me.
However, when it comes to the romantic relationship, no matter how much I loved Katie, I didn't feel that invested towards her and Cam's. Maybe I felt it was lacking the charm or the light humor that coming from Shalvis' recent books. Luckily, the secondary relationship between Annie Wilder and her soon-to-be-ex husband Nick helped in the romantic department. Their story appealed to me and I wanted so badly to see how these two fix their marriage.
Bottom line, I liked it enough but not exactly a Shalvis' winner in my book. Hopefully the next two books will be better.
March 4, 2012
Jill Shalvis writes a sweet, sexy solid contemporary romance. There's nothing bad to say, really. It wasn't phenomenal either. But I never got bored, and I liked everyone involved in the story line. I could empathize with the H/h and their similar issues. And I got a few good chuckles:
"At the knock on his window, Cam nearly bashed his head on the roof. "Jesus."
"Who-"
"No idea-" Through the fogged windows he caught the tall outline of Stone.
Katie was working frantically in the opposite direction now, trying to straighten her clothes instead of getting out of them. Cam waited until she gave a nod, then turned the key and hit the button for the window, and met Stone's cynical expression.
"You don't care, huh?" Stone's steady gaze flicked to Katie. Cam turned to look at her too. She hadn't gotten her jacket zipped back up, revealing the fact that she'd misbuttoned her sweater. She looked like he'd cared all over her."
The setting was a fun one, the premise a little new. In the mountains of California, three brothers run a sort of fun and dangerous resort called Wilder Adventures. Now their women are beginning to show up, and we get their sexy stories. The book was fairly short. The author doesn't try for epic romance, so it was a fast, decent read. I'm already reading the next.
"At the knock on his window, Cam nearly bashed his head on the roof. "Jesus."
"Who-"
"No idea-" Through the fogged windows he caught the tall outline of Stone.
Katie was working frantically in the opposite direction now, trying to straighten her clothes instead of getting out of them. Cam waited until she gave a nod, then turned the key and hit the button for the window, and met Stone's cynical expression.
"You don't care, huh?" Stone's steady gaze flicked to Katie. Cam turned to look at her too. She hadn't gotten her jacket zipped back up, revealing the fact that she'd misbuttoned her sweater. She looked like he'd cared all over her."
The setting was a fun one, the premise a little new. In the mountains of California, three brothers run a sort of fun and dangerous resort called Wilder Adventures. Now their women are beginning to show up, and we get their sexy stories. The book was fairly short. The author doesn't try for epic romance, so it was a fast, decent read. I'm already reading the next.
July 29, 2009
Katie Kramer is the sole survivor of the tragic collapse of the Santa Monica Bridge trying to learn to live her life “balls out.” Her first adventure lands her in the beautiful Sierras in Wishful, CA working for Wilder Adventures as an office temp.
Cameron Wilder was a professional athlete until an accident that cost him his profession. He has been on a year-long trek across the world, trying to figure out how to put his life back together. He's lost it all - his lavish lifestyle, his endorsements, and all that goes with being a professional athlete. He returns to the family business – Wilder Adventures, in Wishful, CA, only to find Katie in his cabin...and in his bed.
These two are instantly attracted to each other, but dance around it beautifully. The banter between hero and heroine is superb…and hot! When they both finally given in, it gets even better.
Though they are strongly attracted to each other, they each have their own issues to overcome. The story of how they do that individually, as well as how they help each other thru the difficulty of overcoming, is absolutely fantastic. It’s heartbreaking, it’s funny, it’s anxious…..this story covers it all.
Great read!
4 Stars
Cameron Wilder was a professional athlete until an accident that cost him his profession. He has been on a year-long trek across the world, trying to figure out how to put his life back together. He's lost it all - his lavish lifestyle, his endorsements, and all that goes with being a professional athlete. He returns to the family business – Wilder Adventures, in Wishful, CA, only to find Katie in his cabin...and in his bed.
These two are instantly attracted to each other, but dance around it beautifully. The banter between hero and heroine is superb…and hot! When they both finally given in, it gets even better.
Though they are strongly attracted to each other, they each have their own issues to overcome. The story of how they do that individually, as well as how they help each other thru the difficulty of overcoming, is absolutely fantastic. It’s heartbreaking, it’s funny, it’s anxious…..this story covers it all.
Great read!
4 Stars
July 7, 2009
There's not much to say about this book that hasn't already been said (I think I'm the last romance reader on the face of the earth to read it), but I loved it. I don't know that I've ever read Shalvis before, but she's hooked me. I loved Cam, I loved Katie, and I love the whole family. I think I have everyone's HEA's set (and can I say, I am soooo glad one of the brothers is not going to end up with Serena!). Can't wait for the rest of the series!
October 19, 2012
Posted on Under the Covers
It is no secret that I adore Jill Shalvis and her work. So I decided to pursue her backlist when I needed something to cheer me up. I stumbled upon the Wilder series and knew right off the bat that it had all that I desired in a comfort read - Charm, snark, outrageous circumstances and last, but not least, a quirky heroine and a smoking hot hero.
Cameron Wilder used to be the golden boy. As co-owner to Wilder Adventures and Expeditions and an accomplished athlete, he has the means to live life to its fullest. Yet, one gut-wrenching accident on the slopes causes him to land in the hospital and end his dreams of tearing through the powder again. Added to that is the betrayal he experiences with his ex. So for one year, Cam leaves Wilder Adventures to escape his lost future and brood. When he returns, he finds an endearing woman with glasses sleeping in his bed. He isn’t too happy about this, yet despite the haze of exhaustion, he cannot deny that this little woman is a firecracker inside.
Accountant Katie Kramer survived a freak accident where her life could have easily been taken from her. As the sole survivor, Katie is still experiencing panic attacks and nightmares as a result of the accident, but she isn’t letting that stand in her way. With a renewed sense of purpose and zest for life, Katie is looking to experience adventure and freedom in the most liberating of ways. She becomes a temporary employee at Wilder Adventures and definitely reaps the benefits of working there.
INSTANT ATTRACTION is a great start to the series. I loved the way Shalvis is able to blend humor and heart in an enticing mix. There’s a good balance of it here and with both the hero and heroine experiencing traumatic events, it was nice to see how the both of them working together to keep this relationship going. It would have been easy to give up when times got hard, yet neither one was a quitter in times of uncertainty.
There’s plenty to laugh about with this book. Annie, the boy’s aunt and cook to Wilder Adventures is a trip! With her snark and larger-than-life attitude, she lit up the pages of this book. I loved reading about her struggles with her own relationship with Nick. But it’s always a little disconcerting when a character shares the same name as you AND her love interest shares the name of your ex. Whoa. Major coincidence there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading about Stone next! Shalvis has had a spectacular year. Whether it’s a new release or a rerelease, her books always seem to make me smile, providing the perfect outlet to escape a little bit. This book was no exception.
It is no secret that I adore Jill Shalvis and her work. So I decided to pursue her backlist when I needed something to cheer me up. I stumbled upon the Wilder series and knew right off the bat that it had all that I desired in a comfort read - Charm, snark, outrageous circumstances and last, but not least, a quirky heroine and a smoking hot hero.
Cameron Wilder used to be the golden boy. As co-owner to Wilder Adventures and Expeditions and an accomplished athlete, he has the means to live life to its fullest. Yet, one gut-wrenching accident on the slopes causes him to land in the hospital and end his dreams of tearing through the powder again. Added to that is the betrayal he experiences with his ex. So for one year, Cam leaves Wilder Adventures to escape his lost future and brood. When he returns, he finds an endearing woman with glasses sleeping in his bed. He isn’t too happy about this, yet despite the haze of exhaustion, he cannot deny that this little woman is a firecracker inside.
Accountant Katie Kramer survived a freak accident where her life could have easily been taken from her. As the sole survivor, Katie is still experiencing panic attacks and nightmares as a result of the accident, but she isn’t letting that stand in her way. With a renewed sense of purpose and zest for life, Katie is looking to experience adventure and freedom in the most liberating of ways. She becomes a temporary employee at Wilder Adventures and definitely reaps the benefits of working there.
INSTANT ATTRACTION is a great start to the series. I loved the way Shalvis is able to blend humor and heart in an enticing mix. There’s a good balance of it here and with both the hero and heroine experiencing traumatic events, it was nice to see how the both of them working together to keep this relationship going. It would have been easy to give up when times got hard, yet neither one was a quitter in times of uncertainty.
There’s plenty to laugh about with this book. Annie, the boy’s aunt and cook to Wilder Adventures is a trip! With her snark and larger-than-life attitude, she lit up the pages of this book. I loved reading about her struggles with her own relationship with Nick. But it’s always a little disconcerting when a character shares the same name as you AND her love interest shares the name of your ex. Whoa. Major coincidence there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading about Stone next! Shalvis has had a spectacular year. Whether it’s a new release or a rerelease, her books always seem to make me smile, providing the perfect outlet to escape a little bit. This book was no exception.
May 15, 2011
Jill Shalvis is fast becoming an auto-read for me, her contemporaries have so real and likable characters.
Cameron Wilder was a world-famous athlete before an accident when he lost his concentration, took it all away from him a year ago. He's been lost since flitting from place to place trying to find a way to live without something that defined him. Cameron was a result of his mother's infidelity so his father was cruel to him, it was only at the age of 8 when he went to live with his young aunt Annie life became better, but the damage had been done. He believes the only thing he was good at is snow-boarding which he can't do if he is not the best. He returns to Wilder Adventures run by his two brothers Stone and TJ and his aunt and finds Katie in his bed.
Katie lived in LA and didn't live life to the fullest when a near-death experience changed it all, so she quit her accounting job to the chagrin of her parents and drove and when she saw a sign for temp office help joined Wilder Adventures.
The story also has Stone the middle, peace-maker brother and Annie and her husband Nick who despite loving each other are unable to communicate.
The book is extremely well-done. The dialogues are snappy, the characters all lovable, they are more than what they seem at the surface. There is instant attraction between Katie and Cam but they do not immediately act on it, there is lot of tension and kisses, all the time Cam decides not to do something since he is not in the right place but Katie says she wants an adventure and she is not staying.
Cam helps Katie in her adventures, he helps her get over her panic in driving and even takes her snow-boarding which helps him as well in getting back to it for the first time since the accident.
Katie and the feeling she arouses in him terrify Cam since they are so new and when he acts like he's about to run Katie shrieks at him. I loved the drunken Katie scene with the other two women. Poor Cam, when she gives him a dose on the phone and when she throws him out, with all his family right outside to watch the show.
I liked it when Cam tells Katie that he has opened up to her and not she. She has survivors guilt about the accident in which she was the only survivor hence the nightmares and the she needed to confront it.
The most hilarious part their family walks on them whenever things are about to get hot and heavy or they are about to have a conversation.
The Wilders are amazing. I can't wait to dive into the next book.
Cameron Wilder was a world-famous athlete before an accident when he lost his concentration, took it all away from him a year ago. He's been lost since flitting from place to place trying to find a way to live without something that defined him. Cameron was a result of his mother's infidelity so his father was cruel to him, it was only at the age of 8 when he went to live with his young aunt Annie life became better, but the damage had been done. He believes the only thing he was good at is snow-boarding which he can't do if he is not the best. He returns to Wilder Adventures run by his two brothers Stone and TJ and his aunt and finds Katie in his bed.
Katie lived in LA and didn't live life to the fullest when a near-death experience changed it all, so she quit her accounting job to the chagrin of her parents and drove and when she saw a sign for temp office help joined Wilder Adventures.
The story also has Stone the middle, peace-maker brother and Annie and her husband Nick who despite loving each other are unable to communicate.
The book is extremely well-done. The dialogues are snappy, the characters all lovable, they are more than what they seem at the surface. There is instant attraction between Katie and Cam but they do not immediately act on it, there is lot of tension and kisses, all the time Cam decides not to do something since he is not in the right place but Katie says she wants an adventure and she is not staying.
Cam helps Katie in her adventures, he helps her get over her panic in driving and even takes her snow-boarding which helps him as well in getting back to it for the first time since the accident.
Katie and the feeling she arouses in him terrify Cam since they are so new and when he acts like he's about to run Katie shrieks at him. I loved the drunken Katie scene with the other two women. Poor Cam, when she gives him a dose on the phone and when she throws him out, with all his family right outside to watch the show.
I liked it when Cam tells Katie that he has opened up to her and not she. She has survivors guilt about the accident in which she was the only survivor hence the nightmares and the she needed to confront it.
The most hilarious part their family walks on them whenever things are about to get hot and heavy or they are about to have a conversation.
The Wilders are amazing. I can't wait to dive into the next book.
June 30, 2020
I was kinda surprised that this was a Jill Shalvis book, because I've read a lot of romantic suspense from her and there are rarely humorous moments. But this book had me laughing all throughout. The informal writing was a nice touch. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a comedy or stick it on a humor shelf, but it had plenty of amusing moments and I claim the informal writing had a lot to do with that.
It was a light, cushy read that used the no-strings-attached-fling-that-turns-into-love trope. Since there wasn't a lot of dwelling on the characters convincing themselves they weren't in love, the book wasn't subject to my "people who want to be miserable" phobia.
While Shalvis uses some commonly used traits for her characters, it feels a little like a copy+paste of bits and pieces of a dozen of her other characters. I imagine she uses a cork-board covered in Post-It notes that read "brooding, sports star, scarred, special ops, highly intelligent, orphan, 5 sisters, doctor, reclusive, animal lover, city boy, undercover, bilingual, charming, widowed, survivor's guilt, amnesia, passive-aggressive, has evil twin, vulnerable, cop, abused as child, owns a jet, romantic, rich cowboy, framed for murder, doesn't trust women, reluctantly romantic, generous, daddy issues, fireman, prisoner of war, competitive, 2 brothers, blonde, creative, scar on eyebrow, scar on lip, etc." And she just throws darts at a the board until she has enough cards to complete her character. Toss in the automatic "strong, handsome, possessive, gentle but fierce, protective" traits and you've got a lead male.
Then again, all authors that pump out books faster than that lady on "20 Kids & Counting" pumps out babies will probably reuse characteristics. And I doubt anyone wants to read about the scrawny, weak-minded, partially deaf, swamp rat, cat lover anyway.
It was a light, cushy read that used the no-strings-attached-fling-that-turns-into-love trope. Since there wasn't a lot of dwelling on the characters convincing themselves they weren't in love, the book wasn't subject to my "people who want to be miserable" phobia.
While Shalvis uses some commonly used traits for her characters, it feels a little like a copy+paste of bits and pieces of a dozen of her other characters. I imagine she uses a cork-board covered in Post-It notes that read "brooding, sports star, scarred, special ops, highly intelligent, orphan, 5 sisters, doctor, reclusive, animal lover, city boy, undercover, bilingual, charming, widowed, survivor's guilt, amnesia, passive-aggressive, has evil twin, vulnerable, cop, abused as child, owns a jet, romantic, rich cowboy, framed for murder, doesn't trust women, reluctantly romantic, generous, daddy issues, fireman, prisoner of war, competitive, 2 brothers, blonde, creative, scar on eyebrow, scar on lip, etc." And she just throws darts at a the board until she has enough cards to complete her character. Toss in the automatic "strong, handsome, possessive, gentle but fierce, protective" traits and you've got a lead male.
Then again, all authors that pump out books faster than that lady on "20 Kids & Counting" pumps out babies will probably reuse characteristics. And I doubt anyone wants to read about the scrawny, weak-minded, partially deaf, swamp rat, cat lover anyway.
May 23, 2016
She wasn’t watching where they were going, but his face. His mouth. It was a really great mouth. Wide and firm but not too much so. She bet it’d be heaven on hers—
[...]
He looked his usual scruffy, solidly muscled mountain-man self, and gorgeous with it, of course. Not to mention his scent. Good Lord, that scent should be bottled and sold under the name IMPENDING ORGASM.
Okay, this kind of writing and descriptions only 5 chapters into the book when the male and female MCs have only spoken like 3 times...that makes me roll my eyes. I mean, really, I should've known that a book with the actual title "Instant Attraction" was most likely not going to be my thing. Evidently, when I added this 4 years ago, past Cathy did not know this yet.
I figured I should probably tackle some of the books that have been on my to-read shelf the longest, so I picked up this one. I've heard good things about Jill Shalvis, but I'm not sure if this book would have still been on my radar now. I seem to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with contemporary romance these days, yet that doesn't stop me from reading more books and hoping to find one that will sweep me off my feet, so to speak.
This was not that book. It was fine, but altogether not that memorable and I am pretty sure I'll have forgotten the MCs names in about a week's time. The main couple was not my thing, and there are only so many scrapes Katie could get into and I was tired of that happening after, like, the second time. However, I did enjoy the family aspect of it, and then there was the stray cat thing which, well, that will never fail to pull on my heartstrings, so we'll see how the other books in the series go. If my suspicion is correct that TJ will be paired with Harley, then I'm tentatively looking forward to their book. A lot.
[...]
He looked his usual scruffy, solidly muscled mountain-man self, and gorgeous with it, of course. Not to mention his scent. Good Lord, that scent should be bottled and sold under the name IMPENDING ORGASM.
Okay, this kind of writing and descriptions only 5 chapters into the book when the male and female MCs have only spoken like 3 times...that makes me roll my eyes. I mean, really, I should've known that a book with the actual title "Instant Attraction" was most likely not going to be my thing. Evidently, when I added this 4 years ago, past Cathy did not know this yet.
I figured I should probably tackle some of the books that have been on my to-read shelf the longest, so I picked up this one. I've heard good things about Jill Shalvis, but I'm not sure if this book would have still been on my radar now. I seem to have a bit of a love/hate relationship with contemporary romance these days, yet that doesn't stop me from reading more books and hoping to find one that will sweep me off my feet, so to speak.
This was not that book. It was fine, but altogether not that memorable and I am pretty sure I'll have forgotten the MCs names in about a week's time. The main couple was not my thing, and there are only so many scrapes Katie could get into and I was tired of that happening after, like, the second time. However, I did enjoy the family aspect of it, and then there was the stray cat thing which, well, that will never fail to pull on my heartstrings, so we'll see how the other books in the series go. If my suspicion is correct that TJ will be paired with Harley, then I'm tentatively looking forward to their book. A lot.
March 25, 2015
omg
omg you guys
This book is so wonderfully warm and fuzzy and funny that I don't know what to do with myself other than squee in happiness because FINALLY! A book where I love the heroine, I don't want to murder the hero and the secondary characters are so loveable and relatable that I am actually having a hard time believing I found this. I even fell for the damn stray cat, Chuck! And no it has nothing to do with the fact that I've rescued two stray kittens this month.
Ok, maybe a little but Chuck was so sweet!
And this book? IT'S SO GOOD.
Katie was a joy to read. She was just so wonderful. I have nothing but praise for her. She had issues, but she was so damn sincere and open and honest and I related to her so much. The whole getting over a trauma made me ache for her.
Cam was a stud muffin with a very marked commitment phobia, but you just felt bad for the poor guy. Sure, I wanted to smack him but in a REALIZE THE MISTAKE IN YOUR WAYS AND LOVE HER NOW DAMNIT.
I loved the Wilders and everyone that surrounds them. I also love that the next couple was introduced and not in a beat-you-over-the-head-with-it way. It was organic, it flowed, it made damn sense!
It just restored my faith in Contemporaries cause I was getting fed up with the amount of lackluster crap I kept reading. Nothing made me laugh or hit me in the feels or seemed well written lately. Not the case here THANK GOODNESS.
This is my first Shalvis and I'm sure it won't be my last.
omg you guys
This book is so wonderfully warm and fuzzy and funny that I don't know what to do with myself other than squee in happiness because FINALLY! A book where I love the heroine, I don't want to murder the hero and the secondary characters are so loveable and relatable that I am actually having a hard time believing I found this. I even fell for the damn stray cat, Chuck! And no it has nothing to do with the fact that I've rescued two stray kittens this month.
Ok, maybe a little but Chuck was so sweet!
And this book? IT'S SO GOOD.
Katie was a joy to read. She was just so wonderful. I have nothing but praise for her. She had issues, but she was so damn sincere and open and honest and I related to her so much. The whole getting over a trauma made me ache for her.
Cam was a stud muffin with a very marked commitment phobia, but you just felt bad for the poor guy. Sure, I wanted to smack him but in a REALIZE THE MISTAKE IN YOUR WAYS AND LOVE HER NOW DAMNIT.
I loved the Wilders and everyone that surrounds them. I also love that the next couple was introduced and not in a beat-you-over-the-head-with-it way. It was organic, it flowed, it made damn sense!
It just restored my faith in Contemporaries cause I was getting fed up with the amount of lackluster crap I kept reading. Nothing made me laugh or hit me in the feels or seemed well written lately. Not the case here THANK GOODNESS.
This is my first Shalvis and I'm sure it won't be my last.
July 27, 2018
I cannot believe I missed reading this series! I really enjoyed this 1st book and am looking forward to the others. Love JS <3
September 12, 2020
Every time I read a Jill Shalvis book I feel like I’ve come home. So lovely and satisfying!
November 27, 2014
I really enjoyed INSTANT ATTRACTION and I can’t wait to get into more of Jill Shalvis’ work. I’ve bought nearly all of her books and it’s just a matter of time. Something tells me I won’t be disappointed.
What I really liked about INSTANT ATTRACTION was that there was so much more underneath that made your heart ache. You wanted to constantly comfort them all, but at the same time kick their butts for being complete idiots.
The sole survivor of a bridge collapse, Katie Kramer is determined to live her life ‘balls out’ and leaves behind her L.A. life and finds herself at Wilder Adventures with a temporary job.
Cameron Wilder on the other hand as been avoiding life since his skiing accident took away his professional career. Running for over a year, he’s finally back at the resort he owns with his brothers, trying to stop feeling sorry for himself.
Katie and Cameron don’t exactly hit it off when he finds her in his bed, but they do manage to leave their mark on the other and can’t seem to stay away. Although seemingly opposite on the outside with him being adventurous before his accident and her being cautious before hers, they are now switch with Katie wanting to make the most of her second chance and Cameron having trouble finding his way.
Yet Cam is surprised when he realizes she needs healing just as much as he does. But Cam’s problems go deeper than just his lost career, with his childhood of disappointment and his heartbreak with women; he constantly pushes her away.
With her month coming to a close and a ski trip accident, Cam is too late to stop her from leaving after her vow of love for him.
Turning the tables on her, he’s waiting in her bed to make things right.
I really enjoyed the Wilder brothers and Aunt Annie. Her side story with husband Nick got a little repetitive sometimes, but wasn’t too bad.
I’m glad this series is being reprinted because otherwise I don’t know if I would have found them.
What I really liked about INSTANT ATTRACTION was that there was so much more underneath that made your heart ache. You wanted to constantly comfort them all, but at the same time kick their butts for being complete idiots.
The sole survivor of a bridge collapse, Katie Kramer is determined to live her life ‘balls out’ and leaves behind her L.A. life and finds herself at Wilder Adventures with a temporary job.
Cameron Wilder on the other hand as been avoiding life since his skiing accident took away his professional career. Running for over a year, he’s finally back at the resort he owns with his brothers, trying to stop feeling sorry for himself.
Katie and Cameron don’t exactly hit it off when he finds her in his bed, but they do manage to leave their mark on the other and can’t seem to stay away. Although seemingly opposite on the outside with him being adventurous before his accident and her being cautious before hers, they are now switch with Katie wanting to make the most of her second chance and Cameron having trouble finding his way.
Yet Cam is surprised when he realizes she needs healing just as much as he does. But Cam’s problems go deeper than just his lost career, with his childhood of disappointment and his heartbreak with women; he constantly pushes her away.
With her month coming to a close and a ski trip accident, Cam is too late to stop her from leaving after her vow of love for him.
Turning the tables on her, he’s waiting in her bed to make things right.
I really enjoyed the Wilder brothers and Aunt Annie. Her side story with husband Nick got a little repetitive sometimes, but wasn’t too bad.
I’m glad this series is being reprinted because otherwise I don’t know if I would have found them.
April 13, 2011
Katie is a good heroine. After a traumatic event she decided to change her life completely and do all the things she was afraid of, to live her life full of adventures. I admire her for that. She planned to spend a couple of months working at Wilder Adventures and then move on. And then she met Cameron.
Cameron is an athlete whose life changed dramatically after an accident. He can't compete anymore and has problems dealing with that. He spent the last year wandering around the world, trying to "find" himself. He failed. Because he misses his family he comes home to find Katie in his bed. A Goldilocks moment.
I love Cameron's family, the Wilders. His brothers T.J. and Stone are great, and I will b e reading their books. The secondary romance between Nick & Annie was entertaining. Here's a quote from Nick about the Wilders:
An interesting fact about the main characters is the different way they reacted to a life-changing experience.
The only problem is that the book didn't draw me in. Don't ask me why.
Rating:
3.5 stars.
Cameron is an athlete whose life changed dramatically after an accident. He can't compete anymore and has problems dealing with that. He spent the last year wandering around the world, trying to "find" himself. He failed. Because he misses his family he comes home to find Katie in his bed. A Goldilocks moment.
I love Cameron's family, the Wilders. His brothers T.J. and Stone are great, and I will b e reading their books. The secondary romance between Nick & Annie was entertaining. Here's a quote from Nick about the Wilders:
“How did we all get so fucked up?”
“Practice, man. Lots of practice.”
An interesting fact about the main characters is the different way they reacted to a life-changing experience.
The only problem is that the book didn't draw me in. Don't ask me why.
Rating:
3.5 stars.
August 31, 2021
Late Review.
This is the first series I double purchased - paperback and e-book. And they're all carefully lined up in my shelf like a mother lode of all novels.
This particular book though is my baby in this series. It took me awhile to pick my fave among the three because they were all good. However, thanks to Cameron Wilder for being such a recluse, jaw and panty dropping piece of hotness.
As for Katie Kramer, certainly author put an edge to her character. I can only imagine the after effect of the tragedy she was in. I'd definitely go away too - look for my lost soul, make amends and try to achieve peace once again. And the way she holds herself - firm and laid back packed together. If she could be a real person, she'd be like the sister I never had.
Both Cameron and Katie complement each other because of their strong personalities. Love the banter, Cameron being annoying badass, and Katie being patient with him but about to burst into flames. Haha.
This is one of those books I've reread prior to having GR account, and will definitely reread again once I'm up for it.
This is the first series I double purchased - paperback and e-book. And they're all carefully lined up in my shelf like a mother lode of all novels.
This particular book though is my baby in this series. It took me awhile to pick my fave among the three because they were all good. However, thanks to Cameron Wilder for being such a recluse, jaw and panty dropping piece of hotness.
As for Katie Kramer, certainly author put an edge to her character. I can only imagine the after effect of the tragedy she was in. I'd definitely go away too - look for my lost soul, make amends and try to achieve peace once again. And the way she holds herself - firm and laid back packed together. If she could be a real person, she'd be like the sister I never had.
Both Cameron and Katie complement each other because of their strong personalities. Love the banter, Cameron being annoying badass, and Katie being patient with him but about to burst into flames. Haha.
This is one of those books I've reread prior to having GR account, and will definitely reread again once I'm up for it.
July 1, 2018
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posting 11/29)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IGkDvj
A wintry wonderland with a scorching hot mountain man who's a little growly but on board with dishing out some adventures? Um. Yes, please! Instant Attraction was a fun one.
The Gist: Needing an escape after surviving a disaster Katie lands at an outdoor adventures business. She wanted an adventure and oh she's gonna get it from multiple fronts including...one of the hot and oh-so-sexy owners.
I liked Katie. She's dealing with a spot of PTSD from what she experienced but she's determined to get back out there. To live life and have adventures. I loved her spirit and how hard she tried. She's also sweet and caring and just a nice person.
And Cam. Woo sexy hero. He's a snowboarder that was injured and is having to figure out his life again now that he can no longer compete. He's a good guy with gentle hands and an easy way about him.
I liked them together and that they were both battling having to figure out how to live their lives again after trauma. They had some really funny moments and some incredibly sweet ones as they helped each other through things. Some nice heat, too! Woo!
My only real issue was a secondary romance --his aunt--that annoyed the tar out of me. She was so irrational. Pushing her husband away then mad when he'd leave after being screamed at by her. Or being mad and telling him he needed to fix it but refusing to tell him why she was mad or what he could do fix things. She drove me bonkers.
Other than that, though, Instant Attraction was delightful. I'll be checking out the brother's books for sure.
April 22, 2011
Finally, a review. RL has intruded to the point where it's been hard to concentrate on writing reviews. I've been spending my online time blog hopping with the attention span of a two year old instead of writing. But I'm hopefully back on track with my first Jill Shalvis book. At least I think it is my first. She has a huge back list so I suppose it's possible that I read one of her earlier books but I don't think so. I would have remembered this author. I'm starting to wonder about this rumor about the contemporary being a dying breed. Looking back on my recent reads I've read quite a few very well written contemporaries. Sure the PNR genre is flooded with new series every month but the contemporary is still alive and kicking. Instant Attraction is a perfect example of what a really good romance is.
Katie Kramer got a wake up call one day. It was in the form of a car accident that nearly killed her. After she recovers she feels the need for change but what she not sure of. So she packs up and heads out to the unknown and ends up in the town of Wishful. Katie takes a temporary job as the office manager for the Wilders at their mountain lodge. She's gotten out of the city and into what she feels is a refuge, at least for now. Katie is at the point in her life where she's not sure what she wants or where she wants to end up, both physically and emotionally. The one thing she does know is that she wants to take risks, to do things she never would have done before. Kind of like the bucket list but instead of dying she almost died and now gets a second chance at life. She doesn't want to waste that chance.
What can I say about Katie? I liked her. I understood her motives for wanting to get away from her old life and the pain she went through. She was a well developed character that Shalvis really let the reader get into by seeing Katie's actions and reactions to the situations she finds herself in. She scared of taking chances and trying new things but she's more scared of not trying and losing out on what could be an amazing experience. These emotions come through so well in Shalvis' writing.
Cameron Wilder is so damn tired. When we first meet him he can barely stay awake. He's been moving here, there. Never staying in one place too long. Not knowing where he'll go next only that he can't go back to what and who he was. That old life is lost to him and he can never get it back. And that really sucks for Cam. He doesn't know what else to do. His abilities on the slopes defined him. Made him who he was. Without that he's lost. And where do the lost, if their smart, finally go? Home. Unfortunately for Cameron his home is occupied by a woman. And she's not just any woman but a woman who wants to live life to the fullest when all Cam wants to do is retreat from life.
Katie was exactly what Cam needed. The kick in the ass to get him to realize that his life wasn't over. That he was more than just this famous world champion snowboarder. That there can be life after a tragedy. These two worked so well together. They complimented each other. Push and pull. Katie giving Cam the push he needed to get back into the business of living. Cam giving Katie the pull she needed to go for those adventures she's so certain will complete her life.
And the Instant Attraction is certainly there. They have a hard time keeping their eyes (and hands) off each other. The scenes where the clothes start coming off are sexy, funny and so very hot. You know how readers blog about the various words authors used when describing a man's anatomy? Specifically what's between his legs. Shalvis used a word to describe those man parts that I don't remember hearing before.
No slouch, she got his pants to his thighs, freeing his essentials.
And, oh God, his essentials... He was big and hard and hot, and her being so naked while he was still relatively clothed was a shocking turn-on. page 177
I like it. It has class. Essentials. It even sounds a bit erotic if you draw it out and say it in a sultry voice. Go ahead, say it. You gotta admit it's way better than "man-root".
Katie and Cam weren't the only ones whose essentials were getting some action. The characters of Annie, Cam's aunt, and her soon to be ex-husband, Nick, had an interesting secondary story going on. Poor Nick trying to figure out what Annie really wants from him. With Stone and Cam trying to help him out (the blind leading the blind). Those conversations between the guys had some great male dialogue.
I enjoyed Instant Attraction and will add more Jill Shalvis books to my TBR pile. Can't have enough good books. And with that in mind there are two other Wilder men, Stone mentioned above and TJ the oldest brother who was absent for most of the book. So more Wilder Adventures to look forward to.
Katie Kramer got a wake up call one day. It was in the form of a car accident that nearly killed her. After she recovers she feels the need for change but what she not sure of. So she packs up and heads out to the unknown and ends up in the town of Wishful. Katie takes a temporary job as the office manager for the Wilders at their mountain lodge. She's gotten out of the city and into what she feels is a refuge, at least for now. Katie is at the point in her life where she's not sure what she wants or where she wants to end up, both physically and emotionally. The one thing she does know is that she wants to take risks, to do things she never would have done before. Kind of like the bucket list but instead of dying she almost died and now gets a second chance at life. She doesn't want to waste that chance.
What can I say about Katie? I liked her. I understood her motives for wanting to get away from her old life and the pain she went through. She was a well developed character that Shalvis really let the reader get into by seeing Katie's actions and reactions to the situations she finds herself in. She scared of taking chances and trying new things but she's more scared of not trying and losing out on what could be an amazing experience. These emotions come through so well in Shalvis' writing.
Cameron Wilder is so damn tired. When we first meet him he can barely stay awake. He's been moving here, there. Never staying in one place too long. Not knowing where he'll go next only that he can't go back to what and who he was. That old life is lost to him and he can never get it back. And that really sucks for Cam. He doesn't know what else to do. His abilities on the slopes defined him. Made him who he was. Without that he's lost. And where do the lost, if their smart, finally go? Home. Unfortunately for Cameron his home is occupied by a woman. And she's not just any woman but a woman who wants to live life to the fullest when all Cam wants to do is retreat from life.
Katie was exactly what Cam needed. The kick in the ass to get him to realize that his life wasn't over. That he was more than just this famous world champion snowboarder. That there can be life after a tragedy. These two worked so well together. They complimented each other. Push and pull. Katie giving Cam the push he needed to get back into the business of living. Cam giving Katie the pull she needed to go for those adventures she's so certain will complete her life.
And the Instant Attraction is certainly there. They have a hard time keeping their eyes (and hands) off each other. The scenes where the clothes start coming off are sexy, funny and so very hot. You know how readers blog about the various words authors used when describing a man's anatomy? Specifically what's between his legs. Shalvis used a word to describe those man parts that I don't remember hearing before.
No slouch, she got his pants to his thighs, freeing his essentials.
And, oh God, his essentials... He was big and hard and hot, and her being so naked while he was still relatively clothed was a shocking turn-on. page 177
I like it. It has class. Essentials. It even sounds a bit erotic if you draw it out and say it in a sultry voice. Go ahead, say it. You gotta admit it's way better than "man-root".
Katie and Cam weren't the only ones whose essentials were getting some action. The characters of Annie, Cam's aunt, and her soon to be ex-husband, Nick, had an interesting secondary story going on. Poor Nick trying to figure out what Annie really wants from him. With Stone and Cam trying to help him out (the blind leading the blind). Those conversations between the guys had some great male dialogue.
I enjoyed Instant Attraction and will add more Jill Shalvis books to my TBR pile. Can't have enough good books. And with that in mind there are two other Wilder men, Stone mentioned above and TJ the oldest brother who was absent for most of the book. So more Wilder Adventures to look forward to.
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