Instant Attraction (Wilder Brothers)

“Live life balls out” is Katie Kramer’s new mantra. After being the only survivor of a terrible bridge collapse, she takes a look at her life and realizes it’s been stagnant. She was an accountant, and her life was as boring as a stereotypical accountant’s life would be. She’s never done anything unexpected or off her life’s plan. She feels a lot of survivor’s guilt because of that, thinking that her life was worth less than the lives of the hundred or so other people who died, and she decides to change everything. She leaves her home, family, and job in L.A. and drives off to parts unknown, eventually ending up in Wishful, CA. Specifically, she ends up taking a temporary admin job at Wilder Adventures, an outdoor adventure company. She doesn’t know anything about the winter sports they specialize in, but as part of her new outlook on life, she decides she wants to at least try most of them.Cam Wilder was a professional snowboarder until a crash resulted in a career-ending injury. Unable to compete anymore, he didn’t know what to do with his life and took off, not returning home for a year. When he does finally get home, it’s to find a strange woman in his bed, since no one had been expecting him and the family had given his cabin to Katie to use while she was working there.Sparks fly pretty quickly, though both Cam and Katie fight it. Cam fights it harder than Katie does. Katie’s temporary job is only supposed to last for a total of one month, down to under 3 weeks by the time Cam arrives. They both recognize that what’s between them is stronger than a fling, and neither are willing to start it with an expiration date. Until they are both willing to do exactly that. I really loved this story. Both of these people were damaged by their pasts, and frankly, it was a relief for me to read about people who were damaged by events and not by other people. This is just a me thing, but I’ve been reading a string of books recently involving “I can’t be with you because my ex was a jerk and I can never trust again” issues and it was refreshing to read something different. They were both inspired by the other to get through their issues, but had to do the work and get there on their own. Cam put his unwillingness to get back on a snowboard aside in order to help Katie try out some of the activities she wanted to try, and Katie was able to make Cam see that even though he can never compete professionally again, he still has a lot to offer Wilder Adventures, himself, and other people, her included. He sees that Katie is terrified by some of the new events she’s trying out but barrels through them anyway, not letting her fear rule her anymore.The secondary stories were less well-crafted, but still enjoyable. Annie is apparently an older woman who raised the boys, and there’s a reference to hot flashes, but she’s only “getting ready to turn forty”, so I have a rough time considering her to be the older curmudgeon she’s portrayed as at times. She was going through her own relationship issues with her soon-to-be-but-maybe-not ex, and at times her sheer pigheadedness was hard to take. I did love the other women we met in the story, some of whom I’m guessing will show up in future books. Serena, Cam’s ex, makes an appearance, and though she starts off a fairly stock vindictive ex character, she quickly becomes a lot more than that, even in the few scenes she’s in. One scene in particular had me actually laughing out loud. I believe this series is only a trilogy, so I’m pretty sure she doesn’t get her own book, but I hope she at least shows up in the next two.One question I had while reading this book – Do eyeglasses fog up just from the wearer getting turned on? Katie’s glasses are constantly fogging up when she looks at Cam. It’s entirely possible that this happens, I’m just not aware of it. I wear reading glasses if I’m spending a lot of time on the computer, but they’re just drugstore glasses, not prescription, so I’ve never had this problem.This book is really charming, really fun to read, and one of my favorites by far. This is at least the third time I’ve read it, but for some reason I’ve never read the next two in the trilogy. I’m going to read them soon, especially because I have no idea why I wouldn’t go on.

I waffle between really 'light' books like this and some super heavy books, ("Hopeless" is one of my all time favorites).Jill Shalvis seems to really know the formula for 'light' romance. Without making it cheesy nor irritating.Katie has experienced a near death experience and has moved from LA to Wishful (snow mountain town, okay, the name is a bit cheesy, but it works) to experience new adventures. She ends up working as a temp (office/accounting) for a mountain sports/experience company. After a year away, Cam (one of the owners of the company) returns and has an immediate attraction to Katie. He fights it for awhile because he believes himself to be a 'quitter', doesn't stick through things when they get difficult. Katie is great. She rambles in dialogue and has glasses that continue to fog up when he's around. She refuses to give in, and works fervently (in a non-annoying way) of breaking through to Cam. At the same time, it seems that Katie has a bit of fixing up to do as well.You cheer for them to work things out. There are no 'big misunderstandings' (hate those) or big villains in this book. Just a simple, let's get through things day by day. Although things do seem to move along pretty quickly with these two. Guess there isn't much else to do in the mountains? :-)Jill skates us through their relationship and it is a nice journey.This is not an angst-y book. It is light. It is easy and fun to read. It is enjoyable. It makes you feel good. It is not deep. It is not earth shattering. It has a HEA, no epilogue, no cliffhangers. Wish there was a tiny epilogue at the ending, but it's okay.The other characters are great too. Can already see which characters, the other books in this series will highlight.The cat and the other characters keep the book moving along and keep it light and fun.I love Katie's tenacity, perception and honestly. Even when she meets Cam's ex-girlfriend, it plays out nicely.Katie is sweet, but strong. She is still jumpy from her near-death experience, but she keeps moving on - fighting, not curling into a ball and feeling sorry for herself. When Cam does something that hurts her feelings, she gets annoyed and a bit upset, but it doesn't last for chapters on end, with him chasing her around and her slamming doors on his face. They are able to fairly quickly talk things through.The women in the book are strong. The men are just a bit clueless. Not super alpha-male where they grunt, drink beer and ravish their women. Although I do enjoy those books too... (Love Kristen Ashley's books for those!!). These men are more balanced. I love the camaraderie of the family-owned business and the snow/sports aspects in the book.This book is completely predictable. But since it flows nicely and the dialogue is fun - it's worth reading anyhow. Don't expect more.The hotness level is fairly hot. I thought this would fall under more of a (leave it to your imagination), but it's fairly description a couple of times.Read this in one night. Nice and sweet. No surprises.Enjoy!

Cam is a world class snow boarder who was injured in a career ending accident. Katie has decided to go on the road and have adventures. She takes a job as a temporary office helper at Wilder family business in the Sierras. This couple has much to work out so that their attraction will not be temporary.

Jill you have done it again! I’m obsessed! I love escaping to the different places your books bring me to. I honestly feel like I’m sucked right into the stories. Please don’t ever stop writing!

There’s something special about find a new author, at least new to me, and falling in love with her characters and her writing. Thank goodness a friend introduced me to this amazing author and this amazing series.I’m finding it difficult to decide what I like best about this book, but I think I’ve settled on the characters. They captured my heart and I so wanted everything to work out for them all, not just that main characters, Katie and Cameron, but the minor characters. So much so I instantly bought the next book in the series. I want to live in this place and I want to know more about these characters and their stories.I gave Instant Attraction 5 stars.Written by Karen from A Thousand Lives Book Blog

Ok, I really like Jill Shalvis. This book was another winner to add to the list. I enjoyed both of the main characters, they made me laugh. The side-story was a little discouraging at some points, just wanted to slap some sense into them, but it was cute. I love nothing more than a book that actually makes me laugh out loud at some points (trenchcoat anyone?) and that makes me really root for the characters. The love scenes were hot and awesome and the romance was completely believable. The way she described the mountains made me think I was back home in the Rockies. I would definitely recommend this one for a fun easy read!

Jill Shalvis is a favourite author of mine and this is from a series of three. I enjoyed and for the price $1.99 you can’t go wrong.

I really enjoyed this book. Jill Shalvis has a fun sexy way with her books. Cam is gorgeous but has flaws and both Katie and Cam has been through something that has altered their lives emotionally. It is a really nice feel good story and I happily recommend that you read it!

Again another Wilde one gets hitched...Or at least meets his mate. These are cute books and can be funny but they are intendedd, I think, for a younger crowd. They don't have the sex and sizzle that I was looking for but it was a light story to read...