6/28/10

Review and Giveaway: Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis

Pub. Date: April 2010
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
Format: Trade Paperback


It was with mixed feelings that I started the last of the Wilder books, Instant Temptation. I knew it was going to be awesome. I am so in love with the Wilder series and Jill Shalvis's writing. But knowing this was the last book in the series meant it was going to be a bittersweet experience for me.

Unlike the two previous installments in the series, this isn't a hometown boy meets out-of-towner story. It's a story about two people who have known each other all of their lives. Not quite friends to lovers, given the tension and hostility that exists between the two characters throughout the previous 2 books in the series, but with the same immediate intimacy that trope supplies.

Harley is one of my favorite characters in this series, and I've been waiting impatiently for her story. She's hardworking, practical, competent, kind. She has a plan, goals, and the only person who really gets on her nerves is TJ Wilder.

TJ is the oldest of the Wilder brothers. He's the one who leads most of the long term adventures provided by the outdoor adventure company owned by the Wilder family. He's always been drawn to Harley and just can't seem to understand where her animosity towards him comes from. And he's a little irritated that he has to work at getting past her defenses when female companionship has never been a difficulty before.



There's just something about Jill Shalvis's writing that connects with me. It's an easy, nearly conversational style of writing, but it is so filled with humor, wit, and a sometimes preternatural ability to create characters that I can picture as real people. Her use of the Sierras is more than a setting--it's almost another character. Wishful and the wilderness surrounding the town are far more than a sketchily drawn backdrop. And, since I happen to also live in the Sierras (thankfully at a much lower elevation) I tend to nitpick setting details in books set in the mountains. But Shalvis's setting is 100% spot on.

There's a tiny bit of a suspense plot in this book which sets it apart from the other two books in the series. Fortunately, it's only a small part of the plot, so it doesn't overwhelm what is overall a straight forward contemporary romance.

I also love, love, love that Harley is now a biologist on an unpaid internship. It's a plausible career move for her given her love of the woods. And I love that it takes her moving on with her life to give TJ a kick in the pants about exploring his feelings for her.

There were only a few minor irritants in an otherwise perfect story. Harley's family annoyed the heck out of me. Not only were they a drain, emotionally and financially, but their interference seemed to resolve itself a little too easily and conveniently. People don't just wake up one day and stop being leeches. My other complaint was with the way the 'suspense' part of the story was resolved. It was beyond anticlimactic. But, then again, it was more of an excuse to get Harley and TJ out in the woods alone than an attempt to liven things up with danger.

If you like smart, funny, touching contemporary romance, you should give Jill Shalvis's Wilder brother series a try.


My Grade: A-

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Giveaway!




I loved this series a lot! So much, that I'm going to give away one of the Wilder books--winner's choice as to which one. This contest is open to anyone who can receive shipments from the The Book Depository, so international entries are welcome! You can check to see if your country is on the list here.


To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment below. Winners will be posted on the blog and will not NOT be contacted, so please check back to see if you've won. Contest ends July 4th at 7pm PDT.

26 comments:

  1. Ooh, cool! :) I just started reading her books, up to two myself; one of two was Instant Temptation, and quite enjoyed it myself. But I ssure don't have either of those first two Wilder books, so here I am, and please add me to the hat for the contest! :)

    Lois

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  2. I have read The Trouble With Paradise and Out of this World and enjoyed them both. I would love to try either of the Wilder books.

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  3. I love Jill's books - thanks for the giveaway :)

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  4. I LOVE Jill Shalvis, and this series in particular. The Wilder brothers are so great. I don't know how she does it, but I'm always laughing out loud when I read her books. I love all her characters. I sound like a gushing fangirl, because I am!

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  5. I recently discovered Jill Shalvis and am loving her writing style. I can't wait to dig further into her back list (or futur list! :P )

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  6. ronnadrane@hotmail.comJuly 2, 2010 at 6:12 AM

    The Wilder brothers are just one example of the great characters Jill Shalvis writes! Oh how I wish they were real!

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  7. I always enjoy her books, thanks for the great giveaway.

    seriousreader at live dot com

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  8. I love Jill Shalvis' books, but I haven't read any of the "Instant" books yet. Thanks for a chance to win one of them!
    castings at mindspring dot com

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  9. I love her books and just started reading this series!!! Thanks for a great review.

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  10. Jill's books are such a joy to read. I, too, have not read the "instant" books so hopefully I will win so I can!

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  11. I love her books so thanks very much for a chance to win this one!

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  12. I love Jill's books too! I read the first one in the series and the third one, but somehow missed Instant Gratification.

    Have you read Slow Heat yet? If not then it's a must!!!

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  13. Great review. Jill's books always leave me satisfied.

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  14. Thanks for the review. I love Jill's books and her sense of humor. And I can't wait to read this book.

    Thanks!

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  15. What a great giveaway! I haven't read Jill Shalvis's Wilder series, but have been hearing great things about this series and about the Wilder brothers. Thank you for the review and for the giveaway!

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  16. I'd like to be included, love her blog it always cracks me up! tWarner419@aol.com

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  17. I can't believe I have missed this whole series. I love Jill and have almost all her recent books and quite a few of her backlist. I have been soooo out of the loop lately!

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  18. I read the first two books of the series & have been dying to read the last book but haven't had time to go out & look for it.
    mesirigurl@yahoo.com

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  19. I've heard great things about this series! I need to give it a go :-)

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  20. Thanks for sharing the review and the opportunity to win one of Jill's books. I'm a regular reader of Jill's blog but have yet to read one of her novels. I'm thinking that the chance of winning the first in this series could be a great place to start.

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  21. What a great review. This is a new author to me and have added her to my list of authors to read. Sadly my library doesn't own either of these books. Have requested two of Jill's other books they do have.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win these books. I look forward to reading this series when I am able to buy them.

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  22. love jill's books
    whoo
    please let me in lol
    great 4th all

    kim h

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  23. It looks like a great series. Please enter me in your contest.

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  24. The contest is now closed

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    A Big thank you to everyone who visited the blog and entered the contest.

    Amber

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  25. The Winner has been posted here:

    http://buriedbybooks.blogspot.com/2010/07/wilder-brothers-giveaway-winner.html

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