I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Instant Temptation
by
Jill Shalvis
contemporary romance in Paperback edition that was published by Brava on April 1, 2010 and has 273 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Beach Blanket Bad Boys, Instant Attraction, Instant Gratification, The Night Before Christmas, "Under the Mistletoe", Animal Magnetism, It Had to Be You, Simply Irresistible, The Sweetest Thing, Animal Attraction, Rumor Has It, Rescue My Heart, It’s in His Kiss, Head Over Heels, Lucky in Love, , He's So Fine, At Last, One in a Million, Forever and a Day, Second Chance Summer, My Kind of Wonderful, "Wrapped in You", Get A Clue, The Trouble with Mistletoe, Chasing Christmas Eve, “One Snowy Night”, Rainy Day Friends, Merry and Bright, Always on My Mind
Third in the Wilder romance series revolving around the Wilder brothers and their sports-oriented resort Wilder Adventures. The couple focus is on TJ Wilder and Harley Stephens.
My Take
Phew…it’s a long, hard road of dancing around the critical point for both TJ and Harley. I like that TJ is careful of Harley. That he won’t go further than she can accept. That he never lies to her. He’s supportive, teasing, protective.
Annie has the greatest collection of aprons. Two of them say: “K*SS THE *SS, Would you like to buy a vowel?” and “IN THIS HOUSE TWO RULES APPLY. 1) I’M THE BOSS 2) SEE RULE #1”
Ooh, I like the Fritos trick! And I never would’a thought of dental floss…duh…
This is a really sweet story. No great depth, but, heck, the whole series is just sweet with its emphasis on family and love. There is a great sense of community with everyone in Wishful knowing everyone else and being supportive of each other. Naturally, the Wilder boys are hot, sexy, rugged, and very alpha. All with caring dispositions and wild reputations. Boys who managed to escape their family heritage and make something of themselves.
If you’re looking for a read that is mellow, spontaneous, and all about the outdoors, you won’t go wrong.
The Story
Harley is between a rock and a hard place. She’s finally gotten her biology degree, but the internship she’s just signed up for doesn’t pay. Between her own bills and her family’s mooching, she hasn’t enough in the bank for food and her own rent.
Until TJ stops by and offers her a job when he drops off the maps of Desolation Wilderness. They have so many bookings and really need some extra help. Combined with Harley’s photographic skills, they could really clean up. But. In the meantime, there is no way that TJ is letting Harley wander off into Desolation to check on the coyote population without backup. Him.
It’s a memorable trip. TJ finally finds out why Harley has treated him like crap for the past 15 years and they get to explore avoiding each other even as they feel eyes spying on them.
The Characters
Harley Stephens, the town mechanic has finally gotten her degree in biology. She has an unpaid internship checking the coyote population out in Desolation Wilderness. And she’s waiting on a job offer in Colorado as a research biologist. Skye is her irresponsible, hard-partying younger sister. Her parents, Cindy and Mark, are separated and unable to be responsible enough to take care of their bills.
TJ Wilder leads all the long-term treks for Wilder Adventures. Escaping from home and trekking was his way of escaping his lousy home life.
Nolan Lightner is the owner of the car and truck garage where Harley works as a mechanic. He’s also sweet on Harley.
Stone Wilder handles the paperwork as well as leading groups, but he’s getting back into renovating old houses as he continues to court Dr. Emma Sinclair who is renovating Serena’s bakery for a clinic. Annie Wilder is the Wilder Lodge chef and is pregnant with not-Abigail while her husband Nick is their maintenance guy and helicopter pilot.
Katie Kramer and Cameron Wilder finally get married. Chuck the cat had kittens. Rambunctious, playful, naughty kittens.
Shelly, Tandy, Lani, and Kitty are the sorority co-eds who flirt their way through the kayaking trip. Colin is a repeat client taking a long trek with TJ to evade his wedding day. Fear.
The Cover and Title
It’s another snow-covered cover with a depression of snow leading straight to a trio of evergreens in the center and a blow-up of TJ’s head and shoulders hovering in the upper right corner. Five o’clock shadow on his chin, wearing a button-down mint green shirt and a grey jacket with lime green facings.
The story is the opposite of the title. It’s been 15 years since TJ and Harley hooked up that first time, certainly not an Instant Temptation.
