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Adrenaline Rush #1
Just Try Me...
Adrenaline junkie Lily Peterson is no stranger to taking chances. She's been there, hiked/rafted/skied that. But that was before an accident nearly put her out of commission for good. Now, after months in physiotherapy, this former firefighter has a new motto: look before you leap. It's not as much fun, but it works.
Still, it's killing her that she has to start all over again, more slowly this time. But she's going to do whatever it takes. After all, her latest job guiding a simple hiking trip through the Sierras hardly qualifies as risky. That is, until she looks at hiker Jared Skye -- and wants to leap into his bed. And if she's lucky, he'll take things slowly, too....
Still, it's killing her that she has to start all over again, more slowly this time. But she's going to do whatever it takes. After all, her latest job guiding a simple hiking trip through the Sierras hardly qualifies as risky. That is, until she looks at hiker Jared Skye -- and wants to leap into his bed. And if she's lucky, he'll take things slowly, too....
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
52 people are currently reading
553 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shalvis
388 books13.8k followersJill Shalvis is a NYT, USA Today, and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author of small-town romance and romcoms, known for big feels, found family, and plenty of shenanigans.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
If you love small-town chaos, meddling friends and neighbors, sizzling chemistry, and heroes who fall hard for the one woman they absolutely did not plan on, you’re in the right place. Jill’s books blend laugh-out-loud moments with emotional gut punches, slow-burn tension, and deeply earned happily ever afters.
She writes the stories she loves to read: small-town romance and romantic comedies packed with heart, heat, second chances, grumpy/sunshine sparks, and the kind of found-family vibes that make you want to move right into the pages. Many of her series are perfect for binge-reading, and a number of her books are available in Kindle Unlimited and at major retailers.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably plotting new ways to torture her characters, avoiding laundry, or daydreaming about fictional men and the strong, complicated women who bring them to their knees—and then making them work for it.
You can follow Jill here on Goodreads to keep up with new releases, add her books to your shelves, and discover which small town you want to get lost in next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 11, 2016
Former firefighter Lily Peterson (retired after being hurt on the job) is now looking for new/different work. While going through some want ads she sees Outdoor Adventures is hiring. She used to work there twelve years ago when she was eighteen. So she goes back and gets hired for a job as a trek guide, leading a hiking group through the Sierras. Along the way she meets friendly, but slightly geeky, Jared Skye. He is one of the group of people going on the hike. He's a bit of a techno-geek, with glasses, electronic gadgets, etc. Lily isn't usually attracted to this type of man, but there is something very appealing about him! While on the trail romance and attraction grows between them. But what happens when Lily's former lover/trek guide Keith, shows up?
This was a highly enjoyable book, my first read by Jill Shalvis. I loved the camping/hiking plot. I liked the group on the hiking expedition. I laughed at the part when poor Lily had to go rescue one member of the group, Rose, when she went skinny-dipping and jumped into the falls for a swim. I thought Lily and Jared made a great couple. They both had similarities/pain in their pasts. Lily was injured in a fall during her former firefighter job and was told she would never be able to walk again, but she proved them wrong! And Jared is recovering from cancer. Lily was a strong and independent heroine. Jared was sweet and sexy. A light and fun read.
This was a highly enjoyable book, my first read by Jill Shalvis. I loved the camping/hiking plot. I liked the group on the hiking expedition. I laughed at the part when poor Lily had to go rescue one member of the group, Rose, when she went skinny-dipping and jumped into the falls for a swim. I thought Lily and Jared made a great couple. They both had similarities/pain in their pasts. Lily was injured in a fall during her former firefighter job and was told she would never be able to walk again, but she proved them wrong! And Jared is recovering from cancer. Lily was a strong and independent heroine. Jared was sweet and sexy. A light and fun read.
February 7, 2013
Hiking in the Sierras
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★★★★½ What a nice little surprise. While I’ve always liked Jill Shalvis, I’ve just started reading her back list (which can be a risky adventure) and this one shines. I loved the characters (realistic, brave, upfront, likable), the dialogue (witty without being snarky), and the setting (outdoors!) in Just Try Me... Even the secondary characters were entertaining. Ms. Shalvis has a way of making a story just flow, causing the pages to slip away. There were a few things I shook my head over as far as realism , but this one was such fun.
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★★★★½ What a nice little surprise. While I’ve always liked Jill Shalvis, I’ve just started reading her back list (which can be a risky adventure) and this one shines. I loved the characters (realistic, brave, upfront, likable), the dialogue (witty without being snarky), and the setting (outdoors!) in Just Try Me... Even the secondary characters were entertaining. Ms. Shalvis has a way of making a story just flow, causing the pages to slip away. There were a few things I shook my head over as far as realism , but this one was such fun.
September 10, 2019
#RetoRita3 #RetoJill
Me da pena pero más estrellas no le puedo poner.
Es una historia muy simplona, que se lee en un día o dos como mucho, que me ha recordado un Telefilm de domingo por la tarde. Eso si, esta bien escrita.
La protagonista me ha sacado de quicio un poco, hay momento en que no entiendo su actitud y el protagonista si me ha gustado un poco más, al menos tenía las cosas más claras, al menos me reído algo con los personajes secundarios.
Puede que en un futuro me vuelva animar y lea otra libro de la autora y que me llene más que este.
Me da pena pero más estrellas no le puedo poner.
Es una historia muy simplona, que se lee en un día o dos como mucho, que me ha recordado un Telefilm de domingo por la tarde. Eso si, esta bien escrita.
La protagonista me ha sacado de quicio un poco, hay momento en que no entiendo su actitud y el protagonista si me ha gustado un poco más, al menos tenía las cosas más claras, al menos me reído algo con los personajes secundarios.
Puede que en un futuro me vuelva animar y lea otra libro de la autora y que me llene más que este.
February 14, 2013
Unusual in the sense that the heroine was the one afflicted with wanderlust and commitment issues while the hero was the one willing to take a chance. The bad girl and the geeky guy story. Enjoyable but not that memorable. We also get POV's of some of the people on the hike that the heroine is leading.
August 24, 2013
Jared!! OMG!! He is the kind of guy I would totally fall for. Everything, just everything about him is so good. From the way his glasses keep slipping to the way he’s so addicted to his electronics. I loved this book, it certainly deserves 4 and a half stars. I loved the way the author had written about the beautiful sceneries. I could almost imagine myself being there with the rest of the group. This is a must read, especially for those who love adventure.
September 5, 2010
I LOVED this story....sweet love with some juicy action thrown in to keep you glued! I really liked how Shalvis used the male "hero" who was not the typical "hot" guy....glasses, sophisticated and somewhat geeky. Great premise for a great read.
February 21, 2012
Heroine in denial. Fucking kill me. Or her. Yeah, kill her.
May 8, 2013
Two-haiku review:
After injury
She guides trek through wilderness
Meets hot techie geek
Nice Harlequin Blaze
Better depth of character
Than most of this type
After injury
She guides trek through wilderness
Meets hot techie geek
Nice Harlequin Blaze
Better depth of character
Than most of this type
January 6, 2014
Jill Shalvis got better later on. Just sayin.
October 24, 2018
Just Try Me... by Jill Shalvis is a great contemporary romance. Ms. Shalvis has given readers a well-written book loaded with amazing characters. Lily is recovering from an accident during her former career. Looking for a job, she goes back to where she started, guiding hikers. Jared is in Lily's first group that she'll guide. Their story is loaded with drama, action, humor, sexy bits and a little suspense. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to reading more from Jill Shalvis in the future.
I read a print copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read a print copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 3, 2019
It was a sweet story, but I've noticed a theme in some of Shalvis books where the woman just likes hookups and wants nothing else. Of course there's her tragic childhood to blame and for this story it worked . I enjoyed all of the characters on the hiking trip. They made the story entertaining. I do worry if she's going to give this same mindset to do many of her heroines , it is getting redundant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2017
I absolutely loved the hero in this. He was perfect. Like actually perfect. All the characters and side romances were lovely too. This would have been five stars for sure but the Keith stuff annoyed the fuck out of me and I was annoyed about the blind date at the end.
August 12, 2025
Jumping from one narrator to another from paragraph to paragraph; weird views of dating and relationships (seriously, heteros, are y'all okay?); a plot that didn't quite work... not the best read, though the storyline certainly had potential.
January 9, 2018
Fun, sweet romance between a former firefighter and a tech geek who go on a hike. The subplot romances with the side characters are even more interesting.
April 3, 2018
I enjoyed the story, but the romance happened over way too short of a time span to be believable for me.
February 21, 2019
Great book.
June 15, 2020
A cute HEA read.
A cute HEA read. Adventure guide meets tech geek. Both had life changing events and now they both find one more thing... each other.
A cute HEA read. Adventure guide meets tech geek. Both had life changing events and now they both find one more thing... each other.
June 17, 2021
It was a fine category romance. Nothing happens except sex scenes and a lot of scenery. Nice-ish secondary characters but I wasn't really engaged with the main characters. It was fine.
January 22, 2012
I loved it.
First of all I like campy- it makes me feel good and although I've never been to the Sierra's or any mountain at all to be honest you could tell that Jill has and how much she loves them. It was almost this whole second undercurrent - an ode - a love story to the outdoors, to hiking, to nature, to the wild wild wilderness. It was humbling.
On the love story level it was phenomenal. I just love Jill's Characters and how real they feel for me. You know that thing they say about finishing a good book - it feels like you've lost a friend. That's how I almost always feel when I close a Jill Shalvis book.
I get so wrapped up in them I don't want to put them down, I devour them, I drink from them, I rush through them almost as if I'm afraid the words on the pager are going to dissapear before I can get them read but then when I'm done I'm left feeling so morose about it. A couple hours later I'm reaching for the book to find out what's happening with these characters I've fallen so madly in love with only to remember that I've already finished them. This is both the Miracle that is Jill and the unholy terror... She gets into my head and my heart and burrows into both with her charming wit, raw honesty and her characters' pure sexual hunger for each other. Then the last page comes and she rips them away from you. Thank God that so far there's been another Jill Shalvis book on the horizon of my immediate future.
Long story short- get out there - run don't walk - and get your hands on this book and if not this book any other by Jill will do.
First of all I like campy- it makes me feel good and although I've never been to the Sierra's or any mountain at all to be honest you could tell that Jill has and how much she loves them. It was almost this whole second undercurrent - an ode - a love story to the outdoors, to hiking, to nature, to the wild wild wilderness. It was humbling.
On the love story level it was phenomenal. I just love Jill's Characters and how real they feel for me. You know that thing they say about finishing a good book - it feels like you've lost a friend. That's how I almost always feel when I close a Jill Shalvis book.
I get so wrapped up in them I don't want to put them down, I devour them, I drink from them, I rush through them almost as if I'm afraid the words on the pager are going to dissapear before I can get them read but then when I'm done I'm left feeling so morose about it. A couple hours later I'm reaching for the book to find out what's happening with these characters I've fallen so madly in love with only to remember that I've already finished them. This is both the Miracle that is Jill and the unholy terror... She gets into my head and my heart and burrows into both with her charming wit, raw honesty and her characters' pure sexual hunger for each other. Then the last page comes and she rips them away from you. Thank God that so far there's been another Jill Shalvis book on the horizon of my immediate future.
Long story short- get out there - run don't walk - and get your hands on this book and if not this book any other by Jill will do.
April 8, 2010
Lots of great 'outdoor sex' keep this one lively. Lily Peterson was never supposed to walk again. Jared Skye is also lucky to be alive. Maybe they should get lucky together.
I used to be an avid outdoorsman. I've backpacked in the Tetons and the Appalachians. I even spent a few months on the Appalachian Trail. I've done many of the things they do in this book and it certainly brought many of those experiences back. Sure it was over the top at points, but still a fun read.
I used to be an avid outdoorsman. I've backpacked in the Tetons and the Appalachians. I even spent a few months on the Appalachian Trail. I've done many of the things they do in this book and it certainly brought many of those experiences back. Sure it was over the top at points, but still a fun read.
March 2, 2013
Great love story. Outdoor hiking adventure were the hero is a normal guy and the girl is commitment phobic. The storyline involves all the characters and you got to learn about them too and not just the lead characters. I would definitely read this book again.
Jill Shalvis
Jill Shalvis
March 24, 2013
I enjoy everything by Jill Shalvis. This book was a pleasure as they all are. I felt I got to know Lily and a bit of everyone else. I wish I felt I knew Jarod better. I thought they were a great couple and connected well. I just didn't get enough of Jared's character. This book didn't have as much humor as some, either.
June 19, 2007
Ehhh...it's good for a train ride...and maybe for those not getting any. A quick, breezy read.
March 23, 2010
it was good, i liked pretty much the whole book but i didn't like the way Lily tried to close herself off from Jared...that was sooooo stupid...
May 15, 2012
A sweet story, fine characters and blossom lovestory.
May 24, 2012
Randomly chosen to be book #35 for 2012. Not quite speed reading at the mo but still enjoying the escape.
October 6, 2012
My second Shalvis book confirmed to me her talent at writing funny and smart relationship stories.
March 17, 2014
03/16/14
Read
December 3, 2017Miniseries: Adrenaline Rush
February 16, 2013
A classic Harlequin with the premises for the Wilder series :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews