Free-spirited Chloe lives life on the edge. Unlike her soon-to-be married sisters, she isn't ready to settle into a quiet life running their family's newly renovated inn. But soon her love of trouble—and trouble with love-draws the attention of the very stern, very sexy sheriff who'd like nothing better than to tame her wild ways.

Suddenly Chloe can't take a misstep without the sheriff hot on her heels. His rugged swagger and his enigmatic smile are enough to make a girl beg to be handcuffed. For the first time, instead of avoiding the law, Chloe dreams of surrender. Can this rebel find a way to keep the peace with the straitlaced sheriff? Or will Chloe's colorful past keep her from a love that lasts . . . and the safe haven she truly wants in a town called Lucky Harbor?

Title: HEAD OVER HEELS
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, book 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Year of release: 2011, November 22
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received a digital ARC from author for review

First line:
It wasn’t often that Chloe Traeger beat her sisters into the kitchen in the morning, but with Tara and Maddie currently sleeping with the town’s two hottest hotties, it’d been only a matter of time.

Memorable Scenes:
- Maddie's shirt-inside-out moment > funny as heck
- outdoor shower scene > playful fun lead to sizzling heat lead to anticlimax LOL
- painting Sawyer's dining room scene > touching and sweet and the paint handprints part was both funny and hot
- the scene involving Chloe showing Sawyer how she can climax without going into an asthma-attack > loved Sawyer's dirty story and what followed after that

Ever since finishing book 2 in this series I've been eagerly anticipating Chloe and Sawyer's book and my anticipation was rewarded.

Chloe Traeger is the youngest of the three half sisters who play the main roles in the three first Lucky Harbor books. She’s an esthetician who travels all over the place as it’s ingrained in her nature to wander. She’s a wild child, impulsive, stubborn, witty and resilient. Every chapter of this book started with a Chloeism and I loved them. Here are a few of my favorites:

“If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.”
“If things don’t seem right, try going left.”

“It’s always darkest before the dawn. So if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.”

“A closed mouth gathers no foot, though that’s hard to remember in the moment.”

“Just when you think you’ve hit rock bottom, someone’ll throw you a shovel.”

“I’ve always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific.”

“They say money talks, but all mine ever says is ‘good-bye, sucker’.”

“Sure, good things come to those who wait – but they’re the leftovers from those who got there first.”

“Women might not like to admit their age, but men don’t like to act theirs.”

Sawyer Thompson, the local sheriff is determined to make up for his not so squeaky clean past as he wasn’t always the upstanding citizen he now is. He’s guarded, calm, patient, unflappable an intense. I loved Sawyer. To be honest I loved all the heroes in these three books as they are awesome partners to the three awesome ladies who snag them up.

You know, it's the quiet ones...really it is! Who'd have thought upstanding sheriff Sawyer could give wild child Chloe a run for her money in the bedroom. I loved the beginning where the romance was building up but the chemistry was definitely there and promising. Sawyer's dirty thoughts were both funny and hot. The love scenes totally matched the romance they accompanied. They complemented both story and characters.

What I adore about the Lucky Harbor books, next to the great writing and superb romance, are the characters and the bonds between them. These bonds are the perfect basis for awesome and fun dialogues. I especially loved the interactions between the sisters and between Jax, Ford and Sawyer.

I really loved that HEAD OVER HEELS was a realistic, character-driven small town contemporary romance that focuses on interpersonal relationships and everyday life. No mysteries or weird plot twists although there is a subtle yet crucial suspense-ish plot that I thought was brilliantly woven into the rest of the story.

Jill Shalvis writes awesome small town contemporary romances. The combination of her fluent, easy writing style, her humorous voice, characters, setting and romance is excellent. She’s a master at witty dialogue.

I like that the books in this series are not just about the main couple starring in that book. They are still the focal point but it's not just about them. The story of each sister/friend is told through their connections with the others and really enjoyed seeing the couples and other characters from the first two books make their appearances and form a strong supportive background for Sawyer and Chloe.

I must rate this 3rd book of the Lucky Harbor series an awesome read! It ticked almost all the boxes for me: it was fun, it was romantic, it was emotional and I loved the characters so much! A fabulous combination of plot, romance, characterization, humor and emotional impact!

Favorite Quotes:
He ran a long, callused finger down her calf alongside one particularly nasty gash, and she shivered. Not from pain. Maybe it was her exhaustion, or hell, maybe it was just from having him stand so close, but the stoic, tough-guy thing was sort of doing it for her this morning. He was a little on edge and sweaty, and a whole lot hot and sexy, and utterly without her permission, her brain rolled out a “Stern Cop And The Bad Girl” fantasy …

There was a wildness to her tonight, hell every night, and an inner darkness that he was drawn to in spite of himself.
It called to his true inner nature, the matching wildness and darkness within him, which he’d tried to bury a long time ago.

“You’re tense,” Chloe said. Standing up, she moved behind him, putting her hands on his shoulders. She dug her fingers into his tight muscles, working them with a surprising strength, until he melted into a puddle at her feet.
“Better?” she murmured against his ear, making him nearly groan when she pressed her breasts against him.
Was she kidding? The only way for this to be better would be for them to be alone and naked.

In answer, he brought his head up and kissed her. Deep, hungry, tasting her in a purposely slow, thorough manner before pulling back to once again look into her eyes.
Oh, God. “Sawyer, what are we doing?” she whispered.
He shook his head. “No fucking clue.”
She let out a low laugh. “Maybe then, we should do it some more.”
He obliged, pulling her in for another kiss, which grew rougher and more demanding, until she was vibrating with need, making little whimpers in her throat for more.

He’d have gone in search of Chloe but Tara’s hand on his arm stopped him.
“She thinks she’s a real tough cookie,” she said.
“She is.”
“Not when it comes to you.”
He met her gaze. “What does that mean?”
“You’re going to have to figure that out yourself. I like you, Sawyer. I like you a lot, but hurt her and I’ll hurt you.”
“Smile. It’s the second best thing you can do with your lips.”

Life’s short, Sawyer. Sometimes you have to take what you can get and make it okay.”

Slow.
Easy.
Driving her right out of her mind. “Please. Sawyer, please.”
But her entreaty fell on deaf ears. He did his own thing at his own pace, gently massaging and teasing and coaxing her right into a blissful explosion that shocked and rocked her to the very core.
While she trembled and shuddered back to Planet Earth, he gave her one last soft kiss and moved back up her body to study her face closely. “Okay?” he asked.
“If I was any more okay, you’d have to peel me off the ceiling.”

She cupped his face, slid her fingers into his hair, and beamed up at him. God, he loved her smile. She felt so good. Her eyes were a staggering, fathomless green, and looking at her made him ache, and he ran out of air.
Completely. Ran. Out. He struggled to breathe and thought this must be how she felt. But then she pressed her mouth to his and gave him her air.

Two Men Are One Too Many . . .

Tara has a thousand good reasons not to return to the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. Yet with her life doing a major crash-and-burn, anywhere away from her unfulfilled dreams and sexy ex-husband will do. As Tara helps her two sisters get their newly renovated inn up and running, she finally has a chance to get things under control and come up with a new plan for her life.

But a certain tanned, green-eyed sailor has his own ideas, such as keeping Tara hot, bothered . . . and in his bed. And when her ex wants Tara back, three is a crowd she can't control-especially when her deepest secret reappears out of the blue. Now Tara must confront her past and discover what she really wants. If she's lucky, she might just find that everything her heart desires is right here in Lucky Harbor.

Title: THE SWEETEST THING
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Lucky Harbor, book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Year of release: 2011, April 1
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought via the Book Depository

First line:
"Muffin?" Tara asked as she walked along the long line of people waiting on the pier to enter Lucky Harbor's summer festival.

Memorable Scenes:
- the three sister sailing during Team Building Wednesday > hilarious! But also perfectly displayed the sisterly bond and dynamics between them.
- Tara's blind date that ended before it actually began > Boyd is shudder inducing and not talking good shudders here, people!
- The kitchen/flour scene > If you've read the book you know exactly what scene I'm talking about.
- the scene at The Love Shack > Lucille and Sawyer cracked me up! Poor Ford!
-The apple tree incident and its aftermath > died laughing! Died!
- The drunk messages Ford left on Tara’s voicemail > Hilarious and really sweet too. Out of the mouth of babes and drunks, right?


Tara Daniels is the oldest of the three Lucky Harbor siblings that this series centers on and dubbed the steel magnolia. She’s always putting up a brave and sunny front, worrying about and taking care of her younger sisters. Tara is a little uptight, a control freak and a worrywart but beneath her tough exterior is a softy and a caring woman to the people she loves. Her need to care for others comes through in her talents as a chef, she loves to cook and bake.

Ford Walker is a bar owner and professional sailor. He’s laid-back, optimistic, caring and a natural charmer. Ford was awesome! The things he’d say to Tara would make my knees go wobbly right alongside Tara’s. I really enjoyed how Ford could get cool and collected Tara all flustered. She tries to resist him because of their past but it's futile. Still throughout the book Tara continued with her habit to run away from Ford and Ford kept letting her go, not trying to keep her with him.

When I read the excerpt from this book in SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE I was a little afraid it was going to be all about the search for what Tara and Ford gave up in the past (purposely vague here to avoid spoilers for those who haven't read either or both these books) and I was extremely relieved that Jill Shalvis didn't go that road (but still gave it a satisfying closure).

There is some kind of pattern that I’m distinguishing in the love scenes of this series: Maddie and Jax had the attic. Tara and Ford had the pantry. So now I wonder what part of the Inn is going to be Chloe and Sawyer's :)

Again (as in the SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE) the collection of secondary characters is comprised of wonderful characters that complement the primary couple and add to the overall good feel of the book. I love it when authors do that and I love kids and elderly people in my romances so I was very pleased with this cast and their contribution to the overall story and the stuff going on between Ford and Tara. I was also highly amused by the (pissing) contest between Ford and Logan stating their claim on Tara. It was so cute to see them both vying for Tara's attention, yet already knowing what the outcome would be made it no contest at all.

And of course there are Ford’s best friends and Tara’s younger sisters. The banter between Ford, Jax and Sawyer is witty and just as much a strongpoint in the book as the bond and bickering between the sisters and the great push-and-pull romance between Tara and Ford.

Despite the verbal back and forth and sometimes heavy discussions, the warm bond and love between the three sisters is palpable throughout the entire book. They take care of each other and have each other's back at all occasions but they're also not afraid to tell it like it is when one of them is acting stupid. Chloe is a hoot! I loved that girl and can't wait for her book to come out.

Jill Shalvis' writing is mesmerizing in it's simplicity and recognizability and this book is no exception. Once you start reading THE SWEETEST THING you just don't want to stop. Without throwing in suspense plots or secondary storylines, she easily holds my attention with her wonderful characterization and her awesomely witty sense of humor. The 'Taraisms' and 'Chloeisms' at the beginning of every chapter were awesome. Absolutely loved them! Her characters aren't picture-perfect which makes them all the more likeable to me.

When I've laughed out loud by page 8 and I've marked 5 quotes by page 12, I know a book is going to be another addition to my favorites shelf and THE SWEETEST THING has taken it's rightful place on that shelf. Not only because it made me laugh out loud and made me mark a ridiculous amount of quotes I loved but also because underneath the fun and humor there’s emotions and struggles poured into some kick-ass writing. I vote for another RITA next year for Jill!

Below are my favorite quotes. I had 30 marked in the book. With a lot of culling and cutting, brought it down to my 19 favorites but still it was too much. However the 12 I’ve left I can in no way cut down further. These are really the ones I can’t withhold from you. I will try and pick up doing the Quotes-Posts again soon, I promise!

Favorite Quotes:
At that he flashed her a grin, and her knees wobbled. Sweet baby Jesus, that smile should come with a label: WARNING: Prolonged exposure will cause yearning, lust and stupidity.

With a laugh, Ford stepped close, so close that she could smell the ocean on him. He was salty and tangy, and so incredibly male that Tara almost closed the last inch between them simply so that she could lick him like a lollipop. Just one lick, she told herself, from sternum to the very low waistband of the basketball shorts…

With a deep breath, she tipped her head back and met his gaze. And yep, right on cue, as he took in the two-day stubble on his square jaw, the fine laugh lines around his mesmerizing eyes and the effortlessly charming smile, she melted like a glob of butter on a stack of pancakes.
“What?” he asked.
She studied his big, wet gorgeous self and slowly shook her head. “Why couldn’t you have gone bald or gotten fat?” It really was a bee in her bonnet that he looked even better now at thirty-four than he had at seventeen.
“The least you can do is burp or scratch an impolite body part, or something equally unattractive.”
His brow shot up. “You want me to scratch my ass?”
“Yes,” she said. “And maybe you could also pick your nose in public. “
His smile came slow and sure.
“What?”
”You want to jump me.”

Chloe’s brows went up. She started to say something but Maddie covered her mouth. “Pay no attention to us,” Maddie said, dragging Chloe to the door.
“If only that was possible,” Tara muttered. “And what happened to going out with Jax? And the yoga class?
Chloe shoved free from Maddie’s hand. “Still happening.” She looked at her watch. “We have some time yet. We just didn’t realize you’d be having casting calls for Pimp My Chef…or was that Ride My Chef?”
“Internal editor,” Maddie murmured to her, which meant nothing to Ford.
Chloe smiled.
“We were just having a little trouble with the flour,” Tara said, still brushing at her dress.
“Yes, I can see that,” Chloe said. “I especially like the handprints you left on Ford’s butt. Nice job there.”

(A few Taraisms at the beginning of the chapters)
“Remember, a closed mouth can’t attract a foot.”
“Families are like fudge–mostly sweet, with a few nuts”

“What would you do to get the recipe?” he wanted to know.
“Okay, but if you change your mind and want to play with my underwear, text me and I’ll be right there. You can play with the ones I’m wearing.”
She felt herself go damp and hurriedly disconnected.

Her cheeks were getting hot, along with other parts of her. “I’m saying you seduced me with all the– “
“Say ‘cuteness’ again,” Ford warned, “and I’m going to strip you naked right here and show you exactly how not cute I can be. I’m going to show it to you until you scream my name.”

Lord. Maddie and Jax were like a couple of freaking newlyweds with a case of nearly expired condoms. “I’m surrounded by children.”
“Not exactly children,“ Chloe said. “More like horny teenagers.[…]”

“Does he look like he’s okay?” Tara asked, peering through the binoculars she’d found in the marina building.
“He has the two-way,” Maddie said. “He’d call for help if he needed it, right?”
“No, he wouldn’t. He’s a guy. He’ll call for help when he’s dead.”

Chloe rolled her eyes again.
“If you don’t stop doing that,” Tara said. “I’m going to pop them in a jar and roll them for you.”

(Ford drunk calling Tara’s voicemail) “I want you to know that if I could be your superhero, I totally would. But there’s no way my ass is gonna wear a pair of tights, not even for you.” He paused thoughtfully. “I could do sex slave though. That seems like a fair trade, right?”

“Wait, I didn’t taste the chocolate butter toffee,” she murmured, and Lance patiently offered her another tiny spoon.
She was in mid-heavenly sigh when she felt Ford shift close behind her, his mouth brushing her ear. “Moan through one more sample,” he warned in a thick husky whisper, “and I’m dragging you to the closest dark corner on the pier. And Tara?” His breath warm against her skin, making her shiver. “By the time I’m done with you, you won’t remember your own name.”
She couldn’t remember her own name now. “That’s a pretty outrageous threat,” she managed.
“Yes, and if you’re very lucky, I’ll wait until we’re alone to carry through on it.”

Back Cover:
T.J. Wilder is the perfect package of breathtaking adventure and raw sex appeal. Even better, he’s about to reconnect with the one woman he’s never been able to forget…

Get Your Pulse Racing

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. . .

TJ Wilder is the eldest Wilder brother. The calm, cool and collected one with all the answers. A tragic loss in his past made him close himself off for emotions to avoid getting hurt by a woman ever again. He is levelheaded, direct, honest, solid and steady.

Harley Stephens is a complex woman, tough on the outside and soft on the inside. She's a part-time car mechanic and research biologist after she put herself through 6 years of night school to get her degree in wildlife biology. A lone responsible one in a family of moochers. She's also at crossroads in her life. Choosing the right path proves to be linked to the sexy TJ Wilder she's had a crush on since her high school years.

Harley has a hard time making ends meet. TJ finds out and offers her a job at Wilder Adventures. A day and night together in the mountain brings some serious smooching, a trip down memory lane, sharing of body heat which only leads to creating some fondling and a lot more body heat, soul searching and serious talks creating a bond between them. They are clearly in love but since both of them aren't very forthcoming with expressing their feelings it takes a while before they can enjoy their HEA.

The scenes in INSTANT ATTRACTION and INSTANT GRATIFICATION where TJ and Harley were both featured already hinted to both the off-the-charts chemistry and the animosity between them. I found out the reason for Harley's animosity pretty soon (chapter 1) and got why she was determined not to fall for TJ again. I couldn't blame her for it but I could also see TJ's side of it.

I loved the brotherly banter and bond between the Wilders. It came back in each one of the books and the scenes with the three brothers together are both hilarious and endearing. The bond they share and the deep love and concern they have for each other shines clearly through their teasing and bickering. Same goes for Harley and her younger sister, Skye. I also liked that all three books in this series are straight up contemporaries, no distracting suspense plot to take away the attention from these fabulous, witty characters, their emotional and sexy stories and Jill Shalvis' wonderful writing

Jill Shalvis writes some of the most beautiful romances, the most wonderful characters and the hottest loves scenes I've had the pleasure of reading. And she made me laugh out loud so many times, I lost count. One thing, Jill: I loved the building of sexual tension with the teasing lovemaking interruptus scenes but it did take a long time TJ and Harley to finally put the raw passion between them into action. This being said, when they finally did I was just as revved up as Harley and TJ were and I thought the pages were going to spontaneously burst into flames. But it needs to be said that I was very sympathetic to TJ's pain and his blue balls...And what's with these Wilder men and making out in closets? Not that I'm complaining because it made for some memorable and hot, very hot, love scenes...

INSTANT TEMPTATION was a great mix of wonderful true to life characters with pasts, strong points, insecurities and troubles, witty dialogues and a sexy romance with a healthy amount of raw and passionate lusting.

Choosing the quotes to include in this review was so hard! I could've quoted almost the entire book. I picked so many moments and phrases that were either touching or funny that cutting them down to the quotes below was pure torture.

Quotes:
He still had one rubbing up and down her back, the other low on her belly, holding her upright, which was ridiculous so she smacked it away, doing her best to ignore the fluttering he’d caused, and the odd need she had to grab him by the shirt, haul him close and have her merry way with him. This was what happened to a woman whose last orgasm had come from a battery-operated device instead of a man, a fact she’d admit, oh never.

At the first touch of his mouth on hers, her bones completely dissolved, and that was it, she was his for the taking. Please take me . . .

Yes, just looking at him turned her from an educated biologist into a drooling imbecile. It wasn’t her fault, he’d been blessed by the gene Gods.

Today’s apron [Annie's] said it all: K*SS MY *SS --would you like to buy a vowel?

9.0 out of 10

In Instant Attraction, Jill Shalvis introduced Cameron, Stone, and T.J.—the sexy, daredevil brothers who run Wilder Adventures. And for Stone Wilder, the thrill of a lifetime is about to arrive in a surprising package. . .

The Doctor Is In Deep
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 Stone 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. And convincing this strong-minded, stubborn, sexy woman of that fact will be a challenge no Wilder man could resist. . .

Title: Instant Gratification
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Wilder Adventures, book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Brava
Year of release: 2009
Format: eBook
Source: Bought
First line: Hot and bothered, and not in the good way, Dr. Emma Sinclair switched the sign on her father’s medical clinic from CLOSED to OPEN.


QnD-review:
Ingredients/Summary: Emma moves to Wishful to temporarily run her father's small town clinic after he has a mild heart attack and needs to recover. Coming from a swamped New York ER, she has a hard time adjusting to life and work in a small town. She longs to go back to her life in the big city. But little by little Wishful and its people, and especially one big, bad Wilder brother, start to creep into her heart and she wonders how much she really wants to return to her old life.
Hero: Stone Wilder (32), seems laid-back and easygoing. He is the charismatic caretaker and peacemaker of the family, the one who keeps them all together and makes sure they can all realize their dreams at the expense of his own. He likes Emma from day one but gets turned down flat on every attempt to get to know her better. Though he loves running Wilder Adventures and working with his brothers, his heart and passion lie in renovating and restoring old, rundown buildings.
Heroine: Dr. Emma Sinclair (30), professional, tough as nails and blunt. She's stubborn and an all work-no play kinda woman. She sees Stone mainly as a mountain bum and slacker at first but slowly she starts to discover there's much more to him than that.
Writing: Every time I read a Jill Shalvis book I'm amazed and pleased how easily I get through them. They are written in a wonderful, clean, crisp writing style that oozes humor and her characters aren't picture perfect but people with their faults and day to day problems. The way Jill Shalvis builds up the sexual tension between the characters is done with ease and sprinkled with a lot of humor. She makes it a joy to read her books and connect with her characters.
Likes:

• Again the humor was there right there from the start. Big badass Stone being afraid of needles cracked me up and was just one of the many examples of the humor this book oozed with.
• TJ, who in INSTANT GRATIFICATION really made up for his absence in INSTANT ATTRACTION and is just as yummy as his younger brothers.
• The banter between the characters (the Wilders, Stone and Emma).
• The secondary romance between Serena (Cam’s ex-girlfriend) and Spencer (Emma’s co-worker and best friend)
• Aunt Annie's antics. She is one of the characters I like the most in this series.

Dislikes:

• Couldn't find anything that didn't like or that bothered me in this book.

Verdict: After the wonderful read that was INSTANT ATTRACTION with it's tiny preview of the chemistry between Stone and Emma I couldn't but dive straight into their story: INSTANT GRATIFICATION and I was not disappointed, from the first paragraph I was thrown back into the delicious world of the Wilder brothers and the people who surround them. And again Jill Shalvis treated me to a great read with hot men, witty, independent women, genuine emotions and spine-tingling love scenes.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10:

The first in a sensational new series, Jill Shalvis introduces 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. . .

Title: Instant Attraction
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Wilder Adventures, book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Brava
Year of release: 2009
Format: eBook
Source: Bought
First line:“Live life balls out,” Katie Kramer told herself every night, and even though she didn’t own a pair, she hoped the mantra would keep the nightmares away.

QnD-review:
Hero: Cam(eron) Wilder is the youngest Wilder and former snowboarding champion, put out of commission due to a severe accident and beating himself up over it. He is deliciously sarcastic, brooding and tight-lipped.
Heroine: Katie Kramer, accountant. Decided to change her life after surviving an accident she easily could've died in. She's impulsive, feisty, talkative and open.
Writing: Humorous, easy and fast-paced. Jill Shalvis is a master at creating a contemporary vibe I've grown to love a lot.
Likes:

• The humor! I loved the vibe from the very start.
• Cameron and Katie's witty dialogues. Getting to know Katie and Cam and what makes them tick. The believable, realistic way they explore the sexual tension and chemistry between them.
• The other Wilder brothers: Stone and TJ.
• The texts on Annie's aprons and the stuff going on between Annie and Nick!
• No distractions from the characters and romance by some suspense plot!
• Small introductory plotline for the next book: the chemistry and explosive interactions/sarcastic banter between Stone and Emma make that I can't wait to see more of those sparks.

Dislikes:

• Katie's fogging glasses. Do glasses really do that just looking at a hot guy? I think it is supposed to be a funny touch to the story but every time it was mentioned it took me out of the story a bit. Luckily it wasn't mentioned often.

Verdict: INSTANT ATTRACTION is hilariously laugh-out-loud funny combined with genuine emotions and insecurities. I just can't express how much I liked this book. All of it. It's a perfect example of my kind of contemporary romance! Hot and sweet!
Another winner for Jill Shalvis and I'm ready for the next Wilder brother...

Rating: 8.7 out of 10:

Release Date: February 2, 2010

Back Cover:
After a woman claims she’s pregnant with Wade O’Riley’s love child, Major League Baseball’s most celebrated catcher and ladies’ man is slapped on the wrist by management and ordered to improve his image. His enforcer is the team’s publicist, the tough and sexy Samantha McNead.

When Wade needs a date for a celebrity wedding, Sam steps up to the plate as his “girlfriend.” But given her secret crush on him and that one awkward night a year ago in a stuck elevator with too much scotch, the whole thing is an exercise in sexual tension.

Wade is thrilled when the pretense turns into an unexpected night of hot passion. But the next day Sam is back to her cool self. As a catcher, Wade’s used to giving the signals, not struggling to read them. Now, to win the love of his “pretend” girlfriend, he needs a homerun–even it involves stealing a few bases…

When a publicity scandal surrounding Wade threatens the Heat's endorsements, Sam and Wade are forced to form a couple for a month to keep any more rumors at bay and generate good press for the Heat. But pretend soon feels pretty real and when family members are thrown in the mix, the pretend-relationship propels into a real one, with all the struggles, insecurities and emotions that accompany any true relationship.

Wade is the Heat's catcher. He's laid-back and easygoing, sharp-witted, and underneath his charming veneer there's a vulnerable, loyal man who's had to struggle to get where he is now. He's hiding a lot of hurt behind the surface of a dumb jock. He's stubborn and a smart-ass and there's a lot more substance to him than he lets on. Wade is afraid of commitment because he's been let down, hurt and disappointed every time he's offered it, and his playboy image plays right into it. He's afraid to take his budding feelings for Sam further because he's afraid she wants commitment and he doesn't know how to offer it to her, afraid to let her down as he's been let down.

Sam is the Heat's publicist. She's a woman in a man's world; growing up with dominant males she is used to insensitive alpha males and comfortable with men. She is sexy, tough-as-nails and the epitome of a strong, confident woman. She is comfortable in her own skin yet afraid to give herself to the man she wants. Afraid he can't offer her the commitment she wants and needs. Afraid to give in to her feelings and watch him walk away and leave her broken-hearted.

The supporting cast was big, but they were never too much and comprised of mostly family members and players and staff of the Heat. I absolutely loved seeing Pace and Holly again and their interactions (offering advice and support) with Wade and Sam. But the same way Wade made an impression in DOUBLE PLAY, Gage made himself known too in that one too and in SLOW HEAT my fascination with him has grown even more! I want Gage now. And I am ecstatic to find out that Jill is writing his book next in this series!

Quote:
It was hard not to have a good time with Gage. He was a mix of his Latino father and supermodel mother, and within the confines of baseball, possessed a will of sheer steel that served him well. Outside the sport, like today, he let loose a little bit, and attracted nearly as many women as his players did.

And there were more secondary characters I loved, if not in another, more endearing way. Tag, Sam's nephew, was a great addition to the story. His whole situation gave the story a turn I wasn't expecting and made it just a tad more profound than light-hearted. And then there was Wade's dad, I didn’t expect him to make an actual appearance but he did and I wouldn't have wanted to miss his role in the story either.

I just loved SLOW HEAT. If there was ever a book I read that is funny on one page and heart-breaking emotional the next, it's this one. Ever since I read DOUBLE PLAY I was longing for the story between Wade and Sam. Both of them made an impression with just the hint that was dropped subtly by Jill Shalvis in that book and now that I have gotten my wish granted I can say I my expectations were met and exceeded. And let me tell you, if the first chapter doesn't have female readers drooling all over Wade, I don't know what will. It definitely had me wiping the drool of my e-reader...but then again, I fell for Wade from the moment he showed up in DOUBLE PLAY. If you don't end up loving Wade after SLOW HEAT, something is definitely wrong with you. Seriously wrong.

I love Jill Shalvis' writing! It flows easily and smoothly. Before you know it you're entranced and before I knew it I was captivated by the story of Sam and Wade. The humor is subtle and charming, the banter between Sam and Wade is exhilarating and the chemistry between them is hot and spine tingling sensual. The love scenes are a great mix of intensity and fun and they're hot, really hot. Sam and Wade get it on in a bathroom, a car, on the couch, on the beach, in the shower...really anywhere but in a bed. That was quite remarkable and fun to read. And like in DOUBLE PLAY there was a case of underwear napping again. A different piece of underwear this time, but it was just as funny.

Next to the romance and the hot scenes, Jill Shalvis again proved to be my teacher of all things baseball. With the Pacific Heat books she makes baseball interesting, exciting and even hot! And she makes me look up more sports (baseball) romances out there. The baseball quotes at the beginning of every chapter were great and some were very amusing. But I also loved seeing the baseball games through Sam's eyes. Those scenes were amazing and fun, and the "Powder-puff" inning at the charity baseball game was hilariously entertaining.

What could have been a clichéd kind of a rich, pampered, girl born with silver spoon in her mouth and a boy from wrong side of the track story is lifted to something much more by Jill Shalvis' witty writing and her ability to convey emotions and portray character depth in a story with true to life and extremely likeable characters. Slowly and thoroughly, through dialogue and action, the reader gets to know the Wade and Sam hiding behind their outer masks. SLOW HEAT was perfectly balanced and it was fun and witty with the right amount of emotional stuff. And the end was just wonderful! It made me tear up and my romantic heart just soared!

Quotes:
Wade smiled. It was his professional smile, the one that could melt a woman’s panties at fifty paces and make men wish that they had half his athletic prowess, and it was a charmer. She knew its potency, braced herself for it, and still felt her panties begin to melt.

His hair was still damp, and because he was on the wrong side of a haircut, it lay against the nape of his neck. He smelled like himself, which was to say amazing, and his opened shirt kept giving her a peek-a-boo glimpse of those rock-hard pecs and eight-pack abs that could make a grown woman weep with wanting. The muscles bunched as he reached out to tug on her hand. Though she wanted to remain far, far away so that she didn’t actually fall to her knees and try to lick him like a lollipop, she allowed him to pull her down next to him.

"Funny thing about ten-year-olds. It’s hard to keep your distance.”
“Yeah, especially with that one. He’s got a way of worming right in.” He pressed a hand over his heart. “Here.”
She worked at not melting and failed miserably. “Are you just trying to butter me up?”
“No, I’m not crazy about butter. I’ll whip-cream you up though. Anytime.” She shook her head even as her knees wobbled at the thought.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Getting to first base is a cinch… But getting home will take a grand slam…

Pace Martin is the ace pitcher for the Pacific Heat. He’s got the arm, the experience, and the wins. He’s also got the pain, the pressure, and the possible end of his career looming over him. The last thing he needs now is a
distraction, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful, tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses.

Holly Hutchins knows a good story when she sees one, and the tall, dark, and slightly attitude-challenged Pace Martin fits the bill. But when she realizes there’s more at stake than just a win, she starts to see the handsome, broad-shouldered jock in a different light.

Pace and Holly begin a seductive game, but in the face of unexpected betrayal and challenges, they’ll have to find the courage to swing for the fences…

Title: Double Play
Author: Jill Shalvis
Series: Pacific Heat, book 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year of release: 2009
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought at The Bookdepository
First line: If Pace Martin had the choice between sex and a nap, he'd actually take a nap, and wasn't that just pathetic enough to depress him.

QnD-review:
Summary: Holly is a reporter planning an exposé on the Pacific Heat, the team of which Pace is the pitcher. What she didn't plan on was the immediate attraction between them and how hard and fast she falls for him. Pace has no time for a nosy reporter and her questions but the heat between them cannot be denied. When rumors of drug abuse within the Heat reach a high point and rumors turn into allegations Holly and Pace seem to be on opposite sides and a HEA is far away.
Hero: Pace Martin (lives for baseball, broody, caring, sexy, keeps to himself)
Heroine: Holly Hutchins (funny and sharp-witted underneath an uptight, reserved exterior, tenacious, candid)
Plot: The plot with the drugs is one I saw coming and therefore it was a bit predictable. The world of baseball shown through Pace eyes and a bit through Holly's eyes was very fascinating though.
Writing: Jill Shalvis' writing is filled with easy and fun dialogue and unnoticed she slips background information into the story easily and without interrupting the pace, flow or humor.
Likes: I loved the dialogues which were witty and fast. Especially those between Holly and Pace & Pace and Wade. I also loved Wade as a secondary character and am looking forward to his book (Note from reviewer: at the time of publishing this post I have read Wade's book and it's even better than this one!). One memorable scene that lingers in my mind and puts a smile on my face, even 3 months after finishing this book, was the scene with the "panties". If you've read this book you know which one I mean and if you still have to read it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when you reach this scene.
Verdict: I had absolutely no knowledge of baseball when I started DOUBLE PLAY and I can safely say that has changed now. And next to the newly acquired knowledge I also got to read a touching, funny and sweet romance. DOUBLE PLAY is a great contemporary romance. It is not overly complicated but far from simple either because of the emotional journey both Holly and Pace undertake along the course of the book. However, always with a light humorous tone seeping through. I laughed a lot with Pace and Holly's verbal sparring but also choked up in the end when feelings are hurt and insecurities roar their ugly heads.
Jill Shalvis gave me a baseball 101 in small doses, whetting my appetite for more on both the romance and the baseball.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10