I really enjoy reading about people who push themselves out of their normal routine, people who take risks. Perhaps that is because I myself have trouble taking risks.

I found the perfect story in Jill Shalvis’ Instant Attraction. Her book has not one, but two characters throwing aside their fears and trying something new – sometimes with each other!

Katie Kramer shouldn’t be alive and every day she is reminded of that in so many ways. The sole survivor of a freak accident, Katie has decided to put her quiet life behind her and see what excitement she can find. Her new job at Wilder Adventures couldn’t be more different from her old job as an accountant. High up the Sierras with breath-taking vistas at every turn, she finds her temporary home exhilarating.

As for excitement, being scared awake in the middle of the night by one of the most attractive men she’s every seen definitely qualifies as exciting. Of course, the fact that Cameron Wilder is one of her bosses makes their unusual evening together all the more interesting. A night spent in her boss’ bedroom? How can you top that? Katie aims to find out.

Fresh off of an around the world trip, Cameron Wilder is definitely not expecting to find a beautiful woman in his cabin, let alone his bed. How could she possibly know he hasn’t been with a woman in nearly a year? It was all he could do not to end his dry spell with her the moment he walked in the door and saw her in the bed. No woman had ever slept in that bed and he was thinking perhaps this one shouldn’t sleep there either.

Unfortunately, Cameron swore off women ever since one broke his heart, and consequently various parts of his body. It was a woman who took away the one thing he loved most in life and left him with an empty shell of existence and no way to fill it. That was enough to turn a man off women for a lifetime and more, no matter how delicious they looked curled up in his bed.

How could he take a chance with another female after he had lost his whole life to one? But then again, Katie Kramer has not let her fear of the past stop her from living. Why should he let his fear stop him from loving her?

I have to admit I wasn’t expecting much from Jill Shalvis’ book from reading small bits of it, but I was completely wrong. A story filled with desire, passion, regret, fear and love, Instant Attraction has it all.

Set in the rustic Sierras, one can only imagine it as the perfect setting for someone starting over to live life to the fullest. Ms. Shalvis has written her characters to reflect the weaknesses of all people, so it is very easy to find yourself pulled into their struggles. As the story progressed I found myself rooting for them not just in their quest for each other, but in their challenge to put their fear and pain behind them. This is a real feel good romance that’ll keep you turning the pages and hoping for more.

Definitely pick Jill Shalvis’ Instant Attraction as one of your summer beach reads. You won’t regret it. 
 
Reviewed by Sabine Maurier
© May 2009