The Jewel of the Isle

by Kerry Rea

Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

If Emily Edwards knows one thing, it’s that you don’t go to a remote island by yourself. Ever the type A personality, Emily doesn’t want to hike around an unfamiliar island, but she’s determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, starting with Isle Royale National Park—home to wolves, bears, and hundred-year-old shipwrecks. She has no choice but to hire a tour guide, and there is only one that isn’t booked solid.

Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, wouldn’t call himself a wilderness expert, and he definitely doesn’t know how to find true north. But when his dormant adventure guide business suddenly finds life again after a random inquiry, Ryder somehow finds himself on a ferry to Isle Royale with a very beautiful, no-nonsense woman. What this woman doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business, while Ryder just did the marketing. But how hard could it be to hike up a few mountains?

Pretty difficult, actually, when murder is involved. Emily’s perfectly planned trek turns disastrous when she and Ryder witness a brutal crime and are suddenly forced to evade a group of archaeologists on the hunt for a jewel. As they spend nights together too close for comfort, they realize their shoddily built fire isn’t the only thing that’s kindling, and that they must trust each other if they want to escape the island with their lives—and hearts—intact.

Genres: Romance, Adventure, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Adult

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2024

About the author

Kerry Rea is a 2017 and 2019 #Pitchwars mentee. Her work has appeared in Seventeen Magazine. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and four dogs The Wedding Ringer is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alternative title suggestion: Two Idiots Lost in the Wilderness.

Don’t worry, I’m not being mean, they call themselves idiots many times in this. It’s part of the fun!

3.5 rounded up because this was amusing and very cute.

This is a silly adventure romance with two completely inept people trying to survive in the wilderness after witnessing a murder.

Anyone who likes clueless golden retriever heroes who show up and grow and learn, will enjoy this one. Ryder was that guy in spades and was all in for the heroine. I’d say he was a hot mess hero but I don’t know if that’s a thing. The heroine was more capable and geeky but not exactly outdoorsy 😂.

It’s definitely entertaining but the writing is a bit tell and not show and there are several plot inconsistencies that drove me crazy. For example: she drops her first aid kit in the woods and can’t bandage her leg and yet she takes out her first aid kit later to stitch up his leg wound. Or she says her dad, who’s been dead two years, used to wear an old and battered Cleveland Guardians cap…the Guardians were the Indians until they changed their name in 2021, his cap would not have had a chance to get battered and old in *maybe* one year 🤦🏼‍♀️.

So I did have a good time with this one and could see it as a silly hallmark suspense movie or a Netflix romcom; it wasn’t that deep and was overall pretty goofy. Good for a beach read when you just want to see two loveable people get together with very little angst and some crazy side shenanigans ala cheesy 1980s movies.


Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book.






**********************


Did I just get approved for a Berkley arc? Is it a full moon? Did hell freeze over? Did I request every Berkley arc on NetGalley out of spite and it actually paid off?

The answer is all of the above.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you get when you combine an action adventure, a treasure hunt, suspense, and a romantic comedy into a story set on a remote island? The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea. Doctor Emily Edwards knows she can’t go hiking and camping for six days on an unfamiliar island like Isle Royale National Park in Michigan. With only two weeks to find someone to go with her to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, she hires a tour guide. Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, isn’t a wilderness expert, but when there’s an inquiry on the website, he agrees to guide Emily there. What Emily doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business while Ryder handled the marketing. Unfortunately, things get off to a rough start between them and dangerous situations abound.

Emily is an emergency medicine physician and a workaholic. She’s not an outdoors person and is very risk averse. She prefers to color code her bookshelf, read, do jigsaw puzzles, and make beaded jewelry in her downtime. Ryder fell apart after his brother died. While de has good intentions, he’s somewhat reckless, drinks too much, and is unable to sit still for long periods of time. However, he’s only kind and fun to be around.

While Emily and Ryder appear to be complete opposites, they are both suffering from the loss of a loved one which eventually helps them to relate to each other. Soon after arriving on the island, they see a crime committed and encounter some of the natural hazards of the wilderness.

The narrative flows well with a story that engaged me from beginning to end. It was heartbreaking at times, hilarious at others, and suspenseful at other times which kept the story moving forward. Can they learn to trust each other and survive? My main quibble was the quickness of the romance. Additionally, I wanted a little more worldbuilding around the terrain of Isle Royale. However, the book has more depth to it than one might expect in a romantic comedy. The way the author handled grief, loss, and chemistry was well done.

Overall, this entertaining and witty novel has great characterization with relatable characters as well as plenty of adventure and thrills along with a good romance. Readers who appreciate romantic comedies and opposites attract romantic suspense stories will likely enjoy this one.

Berkley Publishing Group and Kerry Rea provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for November 26, 2024.
------------------------------------------
My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Jewel of the Isle is a fun and adventurous romance following two idiots and their journey through a national park as they undercover a conspiracy, murder, armed men, and a psychotic archaeologist willing to do anything to get his hands on a legendary diamond. This is such a fun and sweet read, I loved that both MCs are on a journey to overcome grief and find each other along the way. The adventure was so chaotic and just perfect for the plot and to balance all the emotion throughout the story. While the romance was a little insta-lovey, I think with the action and suspense, their relationship worked out so well if not a little playful and light.

Read if you like:
🏞Opposites Attract🏞
🏞Adventure🏞
🏞Idiots to Lovers🏞
🏞Himbo MMCs🏞
🏞Murder and Mayhem🏞
🏞Tension🏞
🏞30+ MCs🏞
🏞 Forced Proximity🏞

~Many thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - still catching up! · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Many thanks to Berkley and Kerry Rea for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Like Rose Dewitt-Bukater was dubbed by handsome Jack Dawson in the Titanic film, Emily Edwards is also definitely what you'd call an 'indoor girl.' Never one to venture forth in the name of adventure, her idea of camping probably more closely resembles glamping...meaning she is diametrically opposed from her sky's-the-limit-father. Tragically, though, Emily's father has passed away...and his dreams of completing a very ambitious bucket list have been dashed as well. But Emily has an idea of how she can continue her father's goal to visit every national park: she can spread his ashes at one of the national parks he HADN'T made it to: Isle Royale Park in Michigan.

But Emily's lack of nature know-how and her general intelligence (she works as a physician) tell her that she needs a tour guide to be able to lead the way and keep her safe from the dangerous wildlife that COULD be lurking. When she starts to desperately search for a guide, though, it seems that they are all booked...save for one agency, Fleet Outdoor Adventures. And luckily for Emily (or so she thinks) Ryder Fleet, owner, is set to meet her at the dock and provide all the guidance she could ever need. What she doesn't know, however, is that Ryder's brother Caleb was the TRUE tour guru...and ever since his untimely passing, Fleet Outdoor Adventures has been pretty quiet...and certainly hasn't had any tour requests. As a marketing whiz, Ryder is much better at taking a pretty PICTURE of an outdoor adventure than actually living it.

Too embarrassed to admit the truth, Ryder's pride and desperation to do his brother's legacy proud inspires him to keep this fact to himself and attempt to lead the way for Emily. What neither of them could have predicted, however, was that a precious and rare jewel is said to be somewhere in the park...and there are a couple of their fellow travelers who would do JUST ABOUT ANYTHING to get their paws on it...even commit murder. After witnessing a horrifying crime, Ryder and Emily are forced to TRULY band together to outsmart their common enemy. But as the danger increases and the perps become even more desperate, the connection between Ryder and Emily is deepening too...and might resemble something powerful and REAL. Will this unlikely duo be able to reign as King and Queen of the Isle and keep the jewel out of greedy hands? Or will the fact that they've seen (and that they know) far too much make them the killer's NEXT targets...and leave them trapped in the park...for good?

From this book's sugary, cartoon-y cover, it should be FAIRLY clear what you're getting, and after completing this book, it IS essentially what I thought it was going to be...minus one very important thing.

ALL. OF. THE. LAUGHS.

As much as I wanted to dig in and chuckle at the campy nature (pardon the pun) of the premise and the general mishaps of two very inexperienced adventurers, I had a hard time really finding any of the predicaments COMICAL. While our two main characters felt fairly grounded in reality, the villain might as well have been twirling a swirling black mustache: he was just THAT cliché. I don't necessarily mind this in general, because it could have been a lot of fun. But I think what felt most 'off' to me about this one was just the balance of four important elements: grief, romance, comedy, and the adventure/mystery aspect of the book. The author couldn't quite decide which tone would be the overarching one, and therefore sort of 'lost me in the forest' along the way.

Let's start with the romance: this is VERY much an insta-love kind of story. From the first time Ryder encounters Emily on the dock he is BASICALLY in love with her already because she's so dreamy. Again, that's all well and good...but I don't think this sort of connection was really necessary. With so much going on just in terms of plot, a slow build would have been PERFECT here! I know both characters found each other devastatingly attractive but still: less is often more. While not overly spicy, it was still more than I felt I personally needed after meeting these characters and also just felt a bit jarring in contrast to what truly bonded these two in the first place...

GRIEF. This is really a book about characters battling their own experiences of grief, and not only was it difficult to dig into and unpack these ideas in such a short period of time; tonally, it gave me whiplash. While this certainly COULD be a bonding force in a budding relationship, it was very clear that both of our MCs probably needed more time to work on themselves before they dove headfirst into a relationship. I both liked all of the background we got on Emily's father and Ryder's brother and simultaneously felt like it was just TOO much with the zany adventure plot line going on. I think I would have felt more at home with some of this behavior if these two met at a grief support group: it just didn't feel at home in the throes of the jungle.

And then of course, the main theme (?) of the book itself: the Jewel of the Isle. As much as the plot was borderline goofy at times, it WAS somewhat thrilling...but like many adventure movies, by the last third, I was basically counting the minutes until it was over. The twists and turns are enough to keep you invested, but never enough to read as insanely clever or unexpected in any way (okay, so this was probably my overly picky thriller loving side coming out...I can't turn it off entirely!). As with romances in general, it's perfectly serviceable to have this sort of predictability...but the flip side of this predictability is that nothing about this ending was particularly memorable. (But hey, I can't remember the end of the Indiana Jones films either...everything after the big ball rolls down the mountain is a LITTLE blurry! 🗻)

For those looking for a silly, slightly spicy, sweet, sad, and perfectly sufficient adventurous rom-com, the Jewel of the Isle just might be your diamond in the rough. 💎

But as for me, 'Isle' be dreaming of visiting a REAL one instead.

3.5 stars

[Hannah B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨Grieving the Stone???✨

Plain and simple, there’s way too much grief for an action adventure romcom. It’s fine if you like that, but I just didn’t enjoy how it is written here. Plus that man is criminally boring and exhausting and self deprecating. His POV sections ruined the book for me because I had no issue with Emily’s ones. Andrew Eiden is such an aggressive narrator and is in no way fit to read for a “golden retriever” type character. But then again maybe that’s all well and good because Ryder is not like Channing Tatum in The Lost City at all. He gives frat boy who still hasn’t grown up or shown up and is constantly shitting on himself but gets angry when others adopt that same opinion of him (that he projects). Partly this is due to his grief, but the rest just feels like ~him. The vibes are just not what they’re billed as.

P.S. There’s nothing in Ryder’s character that would make me think he’s got long flowing hair and I just can’t explain it besides he doesn’t have the rizz.

⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️*/5

*I skipped through the sex scene in the final pages because I genuinely couldn’t be bothered. From what I gathered though, there’s some explicit language but also vagueness and ~brevity.


I received a free audiobook from PRH Audio. All opinions are honest and my own.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laugh out loud funny adventure romcom where two non-outdoorsy people, not only have to survive outdoors, but also have to escape from evil henchmen! Perfect for fans of the movie The Lost City.

What I loved…
- Grade A+++ banter
- the TENSION! 🥵
- opposites attract
- ADVENTURE!
- laugh out loud funny
- golden retriever MMC
- STEM hottie (Physician) FMC
- 30+ age MCs
- themes of grief
- forced proximity
- BIFF (that’s a character not an acronym and you’ll just have to read to find out why I love him)
- and once more if you didn’t hear me the first time THE BANTER & TENSION ARE TOP TIER!

What I didn’t love…
- honestly I loved the crap out of this book, I’m only taking off .25⭐️ bc while I think the LOVE word worked here (see below) it comes off a little intense.


While this book was hilarious and a nonstop adventure it was also a book about grief and loss and if you know anything about me you know I love my romcoms with a side of trauma. The MCs build closeness in a short period of time but the shared past experiences (loss) and the imminent danger make the quick progression of their relationship believable.

4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Edwards, grieving the loss of her beloved father, vows to complete his National Park bucket list, beginning with Isle Royale, a rugged and isolated island cluster set in Lake Superior; home to predators and shipwrecks.

The problem is, Emily is not an outdoors girlie. She was always too anxious to join her Dad when he wanted to do this kind of thing, so if she is going to make the Isle Royale trip a success, she's gonna need to hire a guide.



There's also one other problem. Emily sort of waited until the last minute to procure said guide and at such a late date, pretty much everyone is booked.

She ends up contacting Fleet Outdoor Adventures. She knows nothing about this company, like the fact that they've been pretty much dormant since the co-owner, and expert outdoorsman, Caleb Fleet, tragically passed away.

His brother, Ryder, tried to keep the company afloat, but it has sort of petered out. Nevertheless, he's desperate for cash to make an important purchase, so when Emily's inquiry comes in, unprepared as he is, he accepts.



They're both fish out of water from the start, and also end up clashing like oil and vinegar, but determined to stick it out for varying personal reasons, they soon find themselves doing the thing; deep in the wilderness.

They aren't the only ones on Isle Royale though, and they end up being witnesses to a vicious crime, and soon find themselves on the run from a group of rogue archaeologists searching for a precious jewel.



The dangerous and stress-filled circumstances end up pushing the two closer-and-closer together, until it is less oil and vinegar and more peanut butter and jelly.

While this analogy may seem silly, I think you get the point. There are sparks in more than just the campfire...



This story was a great fit for my tastes. I enjoyed both of these characters so much, and the dual narration of the audiobook was so well done. Their comedic timing had me laughing out loud, especially Ryder's perspective.

Honestly, this was what I was hoping Raiders of the Lost Heart would be ((and wasn't)). I can't wait to read more from Kerry Rea if this is the level of humor, heart and plot we're going to get every time.



There wasn't a lot of steam, but honestly, I liked that and thought it fit very well given the set of circumstances our characters find themselves in. Eventually, there is some though and it was worth the wait.

There is a ton of great character development though, as well as a fun and exciting plot. It was, naturally, giving me Romancing the Stone vibes in such a fresh, modern way.

I appreciated the exploration of grief and felt the author did a great job presenting those very serious topics, while also managing to keep the overall narrative light and engaging.



Overall, I would recommend this to Readers who enjoy adventurous Adult Contemporary stories with forced proximity, pining and thorough character development.

I would also highly recommend the audio format, if you have it available to you. The dual narration and narrator's voices/delivery were perfection. It absolutely brought it to life.



Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am definitely excited to read more from this author!

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wacky, ridiculous, fun, adventure/rom-com. It had the vibes of The Lost City with Sandra Bollock, but I liked the romance even a little more. In between the absolute ridiculousness this book also deals with grief. Both of the two main characters have had major losses (Emily has last her father and Ryder lost his brother). Emily is a doctor who hates the outdoors and has a lot of (perfectly logical of course) fears. Ryder is a bit of a mess and when his brother died, his brother’s adventure company went under when Ryder tried to run it. Emily is determined to take a trip that her father asked her to go on so she can spread some of his ashes. Ryder is guilted into taking the job guiding her by his sister in law she can buy his brother’s boat and hold onto that small piece of him. The two of them get an adventure they could not have imagined. Because while there were normal wilderness struggles there were also bad guys and guns and running for their lives. This was a fun book and it would make a fun movie.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so freaking funny LMFAOO

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never laughed out loud as much as I did while reading this book. The dialogue and references absolutely make this book. This was such a fun story!

Emily is not an outdoor person but she is determined to go to Isle Royale National Park to honor her late father. She needs a guide because she just got dumped and can't go alone. She hires Ryder thinking he is an experienced guide. Ryder is still dealing with his brother's death. His brother was the outdoorsy type. Ryder thinks that he can handle being a guide even though it was always his brother who did it, takes Emily out to the National Park. What follows is a perfect Rom-Com that will have you laughing and loving all of the action and adventure.

This is the perfect escape from your daily routine! I loved this fun, romantic adventure!

[susana ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

♡ Opposites attract
♡ Meet… dangerous
♡ Strangers to hiking partners to lovers
♡ Two BIG idiots!!!
♡ The sweetest man ever
♡ Lots of adventure

This is my absolute favorite book of 2024 so far, and I do not think it will change this time. Kerry Rea is one of my favorite authors and I was expecting this with so much anticipation. I knew this wasn’t gonna disappoint me, and it doesn’t surprise me that I found it to be so spectacular.

So, this book is one of those not everyone will get. As I was reading, all I could think about was ‘’I’m going to disagree with so many people on this one’’, because you have to GET IT! And I know it’s okay that not everyone will get it, it happens with every book, but I guess sometimes it’s more personal. This is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read in my life. I laughed so much. Ryder was the biggest, sweetest man ever. He’s naive and genuine and soft, so caring and protective. He might not be the brightest (though, HE IS bright) but who the f- cares. I fell in love with him the moment he screamed ‘’parkour’’ jumping into a moving ferry. Emily and Ryder were probably the biggest opposites in the world, but falling for each other was inevitable because of their enormous hearts.

As fun as this book was… it’s a Kerry Rea book. I knew grief was going to play a big role and oh, it does. It was perfectly balanced with the story. Both Emily and Ryder are battling a huge grief, she for her father and he for his brother. Both of them were so open about it and it made me feel closer to them. Kerry always treats death and grief with care and so much tact… I know she’s one author I can trust with this topics because she doesn’t use them to get a reaction out of the readers. You can feel the importance of learning to live with love and pain in her books, and that’s what always makes her books huge, 5-star reads for me.

TW: Death of a loved one, grief, death by gunshot (on page, secondary character)

Rating: 5+/5
Steam level: Open door, 1-2 scenes, medium level of detail

ARC provided by PRH International and Edelweiss. Opinions are my own!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your rom coms with a side of adventure this was so much fun! I instantly liked Emily and could relate to her aversion to the great outdoors and desire to stay home where it’s cozy and safe. Ryder was a charming goofball with a heart of gold and they balanced each other very well. The grief they were both working through made their bond so special and both narrators captured the emotions beautifully!

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Kerry Rea book feels so different from the last, and I love that unpredictability! This one was pure, adventurous silliness (think The Lost City with Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum vibes), and I absolutely adored it.

With her dad's ashes in tow, Emily Edwards is determined to fulfill his bucket list, starting with a trip to the remote Isle Royale National Park. Not the adventurous type, she hires a tour guide to help her. But when Ryder Fleet shows up, he’s far from the seasoned wilderness expert she expected—in fact, he’s not even a qualified tour guide.

The situations these two stumble into, including being pursued by a jewel thief and killer, was such joyful chaos. And with Emily and Ryder both having very limited survival skills, the result is hilarious! Their dynamic is hard to put into words—it’s super funny but also deeply heartfelt as they bond over shared experiences of grief and loss.

Ryder was an absolute gem. Adorably naive, incredibly kind, and full of vibrant energy. His reckless abandon paired perfectly with Emily’s fearful, high-strung personality. I will say, the romance was a liiiiiiiiittle insta-love, given that they only spent five days together. But considering those five days involved running for their lives, the whirlwind emotions are totally forgivable, ok? Easily one of the most fun books I’ve read in a while!

(heat level: a couple open-door scenes, moderate details)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Keri Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun romantic adventure story featuring two characters who bond over their crazy explorations and shared grief experiences. Emily’s father died and his wish was for his ashes to be spread on this island (and other parks). Ryder ran a wilderness adventure business with his brother who died recently. Unfortunately, Ryder took care of the business end while his brother did the adventure tours.

They encounter unexpected events during their time together, and have to work together to return safely. First impressions aren’t always accurate… but will they survive and what is in their future?

Fun book worth 3-1/2 stars, rounded down to 3.

[guiltless pleasures · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read my reviews regularly, you know I am always hunting for books with Romancing the Stone/Indiana Jones vibe. And while The Jewel of the Isle takes place on an island in Lake Superior rather than in a jungle somewhere much warmer, I say: Mission accomplished.

This was my first Kerry Rea, and I really vibe with her writing. This was laugh-out-loud funny, and the pairing of an uptight, indoorsy, high-achieving doctor (Em) with a himbo (Ryder) hit the spot for me. (I am a Loretta Chase superfan; of course I love a himbo.)

Contemporaries can be a hard sell for me, because so many of them inflate the conflict to create drama (hello, miscommunication!), but here, the conflict is external--namely, a murderous archaeologist. That allows Em and Ryder to work together as they fight to survive, while also grappling with the question of whether the two of them could really have a future together.

There's emotional heft, too. Both of them had suffered losses not so long ago: Em's father and Ryder's brother. In someone else's hands, this could have felt like a trauma pile-on, but I thought Rea did a nice job of melding together the action-adventure, relationship exploration, and grief AND humor. She also didn't have them hold onto their secrets to add tension artificially, which I very much appreciated.

Basically, I loved this book. I inhaled it and I would happily read it again.

[Laura (thenerdygnomelife) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun for what it is — a predictable, surface-level but entertaining romance. I definitely enjoyed this one more than I was anticipating from the synopsis or cover! Emily is an ER physician, too well versed in the dangers of the world to let loose and explore. After her father's death, she's determined to set those fears aside, however, and follows his bucket list deep into the nation's wilderness parks. Needing a last-minute guide for a solo park expedition, Emily hires Ryder, unaware that his outdoor expertise is more than a little bit lacking as he tries to fill the shoes of his late brother, a professional adventure guide.

I really enjoyed Ryder in particular, and was laughing out loud at some of his inner dialogue, particularly in relation to his verbal gaffes. While I didn't connect to Emily as much, they make a fun couple that's easy to root for.

Content notifcations: open door sex

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars ✨

This was a lot of fun. Emily is grieving the death of her father & decides to begin his bucket list of visiting a national park. However, she is not the outdoors type of person. So she hires Ryder to be her guide. The only catch is……he has no idea what he’s doing because his brother was the one who guided the adventures. They automatically get to a rough start and honestly doesn’t let up till the end. Two clueless people, a bad guy, henchman chasing them, a diamond, and all sorts of obstacles….well, what could go wrong? Love the action and adventure of this story. Reminds of those 80’s movies that I love. The only thing I didn’t like was the insta love, but this was a fun time.

[summer⁎ ˚ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was actually so much fun!!! i wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as i did. it reminded me of the lost city and also of ps i hate you in the way that it journeys through grief at the same time they're on their fun adventure. the way the story progressed was slow but quick enough to keep my attention and it kept me guessing what was coming next!

emily and ryder were so much fun together. i always love the chaotic, golden retriever man and the follow-the-rules woman. they really complemented each other so well!!! and they were HAWWWTTT 😩

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to PRH Audio and Berkley Romance for the free audiobook!

Half romance and half adventure comedy, I could easily picture this as a movie. There were parts that felt like Indiana Jones, but the heart of this black cat/golden retriever romance is an opposites attract love story. These characters couldn’t be more different, but they’re stuck together for the foreseeable future. I loved that they were both totally out of their element - our heroine is fulfilling a promise to her late father, while our hero is trying to step into a role his brother filled before his death. Neither one should be wandering around the wilderness, let alone with each other. The forced proximity allows them to let down their walls and connect in a way they wouldn’t have in any other situation. I loved that our hero was so smitten and convinced that he’d never be up to the standards of such a strong, intelligent woman. They complemented each other perfectly, and their banter made for such a playful read. There was a little too much action and suspense for this romance reader, but I knew what I was getting into. It was a fresh, fast-paced read that kept me turning the pages with ease.

The story follows Emily, an ER doctor who recently lost her dad. She had big plans to go on the wilderness adventure he’d been planning before his death, but a recent breakup leaves her without a partner for the journey. After calling many businesses, Emily finally finds an adventure guide who is available to escort her… or so she thinks. Turns out, Ryder’s brother was the wilderness expert - he’s just the hot mess who needs money so badly that he’s willing to go on this adventure. Unfortunately for them both, they are in way over their heads and it’s not long before Ryder and Emily are stuck trying to make their way back to safety. As the two indoor people work together, they form a connection that neither expected.

This is my second experience with Rea’s work, and it was so much fun. I loved that the story was a little different than the usual, seamlessly blending together the romance and the action. While I do think the romance suffered because so much of the focus was on the adventure, Ryder and Emily were great together. I don’t often see a pairing where the woman is educated and a little uptight, while the man is laidback and aware that he’s not the smartest guy in the room. They brought out the good in each other, and that was great to see. They also bonded over their shared grief, and I liked the depth that connection brought to the story. I actually wouldn’t have minded more exploration into that side of things, though it was nice that the story was lighthearted overall. This was a very solid read and an entertaining time - a suspenseful break from the usual.

Audio note: The audio is really good! If you’re not familiar, Andrew Eiden is also known as Teddy Hamilton, who is one of my favorite narrators. I love his voice. I believe the voice actor goes by Andrew Eiden when he’s narrating lower spice reads. There’s just a little bit of heat in this, with two minimally descriptive scenes towards the end. I’d never listened to anything narrated by Emily Lawrence prior to this, but I liked her voice quite a bit. The combination makes for a great listening experience in dual narration. The runtime (about 9 hours) was perfect for bingeing, and this would make an excellent workday listen. The romance is a slow burn and the plot is so fast-paced that it’s sure to keep you listening for hours. Highly recommended in the format!

[Barbara Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't help but think of the movie from the 80s Romacing the Stone when I read this book..
Doctor Emily Edward's wants to fulfill her late father's bucket list and visit all the national parks, and she wants to spread his ashes there since he is not able to visit the parks himself anymore. She knows she doesn't have the skills necessary to tackle the challenge by herself, so she sets out to hire a professional tour guide/outdoorsman to go with her. Ryder is the owner/operator of Fleet Outdoor Adventures but he's not exactly a wilderness expert-that was his brother's area of expertise. But he's passed on and left Ryder to take care of the business on his own and the business is struggling so when Emily's request comes in, he agrees to take her on her journey.
Soon after they arrive on the island, they witness a crime being committed and encounter some wild natural elements.
The story had lots of depth for a romance, and the subject of grief from both the FMC and MMC was handled differently but very well. There's load of adventure and if you're a fan of opposites attract then you're going to love this one!
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[Amee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! I haven’t laughed through a whole book in quite some time. And I laughed my butt off reading this. The banter between our mc’s as well as both their hilarious inner thoughts, I couldn’t get enough. They had major chemistry yet they couldn’t be any more two different people. Our fmc is a type A, by the rules scaredy cat 🙀 where the mmc flies by the seat of his pants. There are some steamy parts and a bit of a suspenseful adventure running from a villain and his henchmen. Their road to a hea was a fun ride that i definitely recommend when you need lifted spirits.

[Jo ✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely bonkers!! Two idiots (non-derogatory) bumbling around in the forest falling in love while trying not to die. I had a blast reading this!!

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Tanis DeMille · Rating 4 out of 5]

there's something endearing about a man who knows as little as you do about the outdoors

[Sabrina Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two people struggling with grief and guilt end up on an island adventure, unprepared for the terrain, each other, or a long-lost diamond to fall into their laps. 💎

2.5 ⭐️ I realized after reading Something Wilder by Christina Lauren that adventure rom-coms are a niche genre I really enjoy so I was excited for this one, but I ended up disappointed. 😕 Right off the bat I was annoyed by the use of the type-A female trope and it continued to annoy me throughout the book. (Legit nonsense like having a gun held to your back and demanding a life vest before you’d get on a boat…or being chased by murderers and not wanting to go up a set of stairs because a closed sign was hung up. 🙄) The true adventure part of the story didn’t start until around the 50% mark and it felt more like a catalyst for hijinks than a true high-stakes adventure, which is what I wanted. Honestly, it seemed like the adventure was more of a side plot in the sense that our MCs were reacting to various scenarios, but they were never actually searching for the diamond in question. For me, the story just wasn’t strong enough to ever buy into either the adventure or the main characters. 🤷🏻‍♀️

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 11/26/2024.

[ReneeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, thrilling, adventure romance. This novel is a bit silly and a bit serious with a handful of kooky characters to keep you entertained throughout. I had a great time listening to this one and the audiobook narrators were great.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Constance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this book! Kerry Rea really put the Com in RomCom in this one. Equal parts laugh-out-loud and devastating, i was enraptured the entire time. Best of all: No third act breakup!

Dr. Emily Edwards lives her life on the safe side. While her father was a daredevil who loved adventure, her idea of danger is shopping at Homegoods. But after her father’s death, she has no choice to leave her comfort zone- he left an unfinished bucket list, and she’s determined to finish it. After her boyfriend breaks up with her, Emily can’t go on the trip to Isle Royale national park alone, and so she enlists the help of an experienced wilderness guide.

But Ryder Fleet has a secret: he has no backpacking experience. His deceased brother was the brawn of their tour company- Ryder just managed the funds. When his brother’s beloved boat is put up for sale, Ryder takes the job, if only to save one of the last remaining parts of his brother he has left.

While our protagonists butt heads at first, they stumble upon an archeological conspiracy and a priceless diamond, and have to stick together during the process. Dodging henchmen and fighting for their lives, can they make it to safety without getting killed or giving into their urges?

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good sad girl book, could maybe have used a scootch more relationship development? It's such a compressed time frame that it's a thing that I personally bump on. But I had a nice time and the author is so lovely!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger or content warning? Nope. Gun violence (by a side character) on page. Murder (of a side character by a another side character) on page. Being stranded on an island.

Details?
FMC’s name is Emily and she is 33 years old.
MMC’s name is Ryder and he is 34 years old.
OM drama. Emily is broken up with during the first chapter of the book. She then meets another man on the boat ride over to the island and strikes up conversation with him. She finds him to be more her type. This OM kisses her in front of Ryder. While FMC starts off interested in this OM, it is an extremely quick passing.
No on page OW drama, just a nasty ex of Ryder’s who haunts his thoughts for a little bit. It’s mentioned that he went throughout a very sexually active phase after being dumped by his ex.
No condoms are used.

My thoughts?
This was so good. I downloaded it on impulse from my local library and was not disappointed. This was exactly my type of humour, and found myself laughing out loud more than once. While they were different from each other, their grief was a bonding component for them. I love this book so much I’m looking into getting a physical copy!