Review: Wilder Series by Jill Shalvis

I have found fallen in love with a new author, and her name is Jill Shalvis. Lot's of my Twitter friends would talk about her books and I decided to pick one up and read it and I instantly fell in love with her writing. The book was Simply Irresistable and after reading it, I wanted more! My buddy Donyale recommended that I read the Wilder Series and I did. I am so glad that she told me about this series because I enjoyed it so much. I've decided to review all 3 books in one post.


Instant Attraction
Book 1 of the Wilder Series
Cam's Story

Publisher: Brava

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 978-0758231239

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...
(synopsis from Amazon.com)

Cameron Wilder is the youngest brother of the Wilder clan and is a well known celebrity. He wants to forget those days and is trying his best to move on. Some bad things happened in the past and Cam left his family to try to deal with it. He is now back home and is helping them with their business. He works alongside his aunt and uncle Annie and Nick, brothers Stone and TJ. He's been withdrawn and his family is worried about him. It takes the new office temp Katie to help Cam through all his problems. When he is with her, it takes his mind off of everything. Katie is on a trip of adventure, and Cam appreciates that. He finds her take on life refreshing. Katie's new take on life is due to something bad that has happened in her past. Throughout the book, Cam and Katie find ways of helping each other deal with their issues, and they soon find themselves having feelings for one another.

I loved this book! The Wilder family is a family that is there for one another through thick or thin. Even though Cam tried his best to push his family away, they let him know that regardless of the past, they are still there for him. I loved the touching moments that they shared as well as the hilarious ones. Annie is one character that had me laughing the hardest. She is the main cook for the company and always has hilarious sayings on her aprons. She also raised the Wilder brothers as her own, and is more like a mom than an aunt. We get to read about her marital issues with her husband Nick, and see the issues with their relationship throughout the book.

I'm giving Instant Attraction *4* Bells!

Instant Attraction was a wonderful first story for this series and did a great job of introducing the characters that are included in the books of the series.

Instant Gratification
Book 2 of the Wilder Series
Stone's story

Publisher: Brava

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 978-0758231253


Wishful, California, is 3000 miles from Dr. Emma Sinclair's last job in a New York City ER. It may as well be another galaxy. Here, running her father's clinic for a summer, Emma treats bee stings, stomach flu, and the occasional pet cat. Plus, she has to contend with patients like Stone Wilder: gorgeous, laid-back, and irritating beyond belief. The man laughs at her. A lot. And Emma loathes him. All except that tiny part of her that wants to throw him on her examining table and break every doctor-patient rule in the book. When Stones tries to help Emma learn to loosen up a bit, he pictures white-water rafting or scenic mountain hikes. Not a mind-blowing affair that shakes them both to the core. Emma's sure she has no place in a town like Wishful, but Stone knows different. Emma belongs here - in this town, in his life. It is convincing that this strong-minded, stubborn, sexy woman of that fact will be a challenge no Wilder man could resist.
(synopsis from Amazon.com)

Right after I read Cam's story in Instant Attraction, I started on Stone's story. I thought the storyline couldn't get any better. Boy was I wrong! Stone is the middle brother in the Wilder Family and is known as the peacekeeper. He also cares deeply for his family and friends. Doc Emma gets to see this first hand when she takes over her ailing father's practice and comes face to face with Stone. She has turned Stone down a couple of times and soon finds herself attracted to him. Stone knows more about Emma than she knows. He is a good friend to her father and decides to help her have a little more fun. He tries to get her to do some of the outdoor activities that he loves. Emma begins to fall in love with Wishful and before she gets too attached to the town and to Stone, decides to make a decision regarding her and her father's future. We also get to see Annie and Nick come to a conclusion regarding the state of their marriage. Cam and Katie from book 1 of the series also show up in the book.

I feel in love with Stone hook line and sinker! He is oh so sexy and the description that the author provides for us has me thinking of putting him on the Book Boyfriend list. His care of others made him even more loveable.

I'm giving Instant Gratification *4.5* Bells!

I did not want to put this book down! It was a joy to read how Stone and Emma fell in love with each other.




Instant Temptation
Book 3 of the Wilder Series
TJ's story

Publisher: Brava

Genre: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 978-0758231277

To Harley, the landscape around Wishful, California, is exhilarating, untamed, and more than a little dangerous. The same could be said for T.J. Wilder, who's invited himself along on her trek to study a rare coyote. Harley's career is riding on this trip, and she doesn't need a stubborn, incredibly sexy distraction. But T.J. is a professional guide who knows when to stay back and when to provide invaluable expertise - just like he's done since they were in high school. And Harley, as usual, is torn between throttling him and giving in to the raw attraction that's been smoldering all these years. T.J. knows how proud and capable Harley is, but he's damned sure not letting her put herself at risk when there are illegal hunters in the area. She needs him, with the same soul-stirring urgency that he's always craved her. And here, in this beautiful place days from civilization, he'll finally have a chance to prove it - over and over again...
(synopsis from Amazon.com)

She did it again folks! I thought Stone's book was good, but once I started reading Instant Temptation I realized I was wrong again. We meet the last of the Wilder brothers, TJ. TJ is the oldest of the brothers and the once that sacrificed the most to start up the company that they share. TJ is the one that brings in the big bucks and takes the far away trips so that his family may remain at home. He has another reason for always being away, and Harley is the woman that figures out why. Harley and TJ have a history, one that reader can sense after they run into each other through book 1 and 2 of the series. We finally figure out why Harley tries her best to avoid TJ. He notices that she is very close to his brothers, but keeps her distance from him. He tries his best to be nice to her, but all she does is let him know that she wants nothing to do with him. We eventually figure out why TJ rubs Harley the wrong way. And we learn that Harley really wants TJ to rub her the right way. ;) Harley has been carrying a torch for TJ for a long time and once he figures that out, they have the opportunity to move on. TJ lets her know that he has also had feeling for her for some time and we get to see them fall for each other. They've got it bad for each other and Jill Shalvis does an excellent job writing the progression of their relationship.

There are so many smoldering scenes in this book as the two characters give into their attraction. There is a scene involving a sleeping bag that had me holding my breath as I was reading it. They are both outdoor types and when the opportunity arises for them to work together, they realize that they make a great team. They can see each others talents in what they do and take the time to let the other know just how great they are. This one scene had me getting a little misty eyed as I read it. Harley let's TJ know how she feels:

"But you're the one that keeps on giving. Your time, your experience, your resources..."
"Anything. Anything you need."
"Now, see, that," she said softly. Looking confused and a little anxious to boot. "I don't get it. Because in return, I don't give you anything. I mean I drive you crazy, I'm sure, but that doesn't count."
He shook his head. Then let out a low laugh and nodded. "Okay, yeah, you drive me crazy," he admitted. hell, he'd told her as much. "But you also make me laugh. You make me feel good. And sometimes, Harley, when you think I'm not paying attention, you look at me like..."
"Like what? she whispered.
"Like I'm worth something to you."
"TJ." She stared at him, her eyes two fathomless pools he could drowned in. "You always have been."
Simple words. Simple sentiment. Both went straight through him and warmed him in a way he hadn't realized he needed warming. "And you wonder what you give me," he murmured, reaching for her.

The reader gets small intimate moments like that throughout the book that has us rooting for them to give into their true feelings. And when they do, it is oh so good!

I'm giving Wicked Temptation *5* Bells!

Book 3 ended up being my favorite of the series and although it is the last book of the series, it ended so beautifully that it left me one happy reader. TJ Wilder, you are the Wilder brother of my dreams!

So now I have a new author to covet and will find the time to read as many of her books that I can. If you'd like to find out more information on Jill Shalvis' books, click on this link to view her book list on her website.