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Road Trip Rendezvous #1
The Joan Wilder Effect
Straightlaced NCIS agent Joel Hunter always plays by the rules, and he's been given an important assignment--get friendly with the suspected spy next door, gain her trust, and under no circumstances let her know who he really is.There’s only one hitch to winning over mousy cartoonist Marlie Montague—this shut-in’s more timid than Joan Wilder behind that door and won’t give any stranger the time of day, no matter how handsome.
Until a pistol-packin’ UPS imposter makes a special one bullet to make this Marlie's last cartoon caper. Adrenaline blasts Marlie out of her cautious cocoon and sends her bursting through Joel’s window in a panic, straight into the hunk’s shocked arms. Kaboom! Kablam! Kapow!
Now they’re on the run rogue-style, road-tripping in Joel’s muscle car, throttle punched, driving dirty with death in the rearview. With lives on the line, it’s no time to play things safe in a conspiracy deeper than the Deep State.
Can by-the-book Joel keep his cool with this shut-in turned wild woman riding shotgun? More surprises than a ticking bomb, she leaves him shaken, stirred and chasing after his runaway heart!
Until a pistol-packin’ UPS imposter makes a special one bullet to make this Marlie's last cartoon caper. Adrenaline blasts Marlie out of her cautious cocoon and sends her bursting through Joel’s window in a panic, straight into the hunk’s shocked arms. Kaboom! Kablam! Kapow!
Now they’re on the run rogue-style, road-tripping in Joel’s muscle car, throttle punched, driving dirty with death in the rearview. With lives on the line, it’s no time to play things safe in a conspiracy deeper than the Deep State.
Can by-the-book Joel keep his cool with this shut-in turned wild woman riding shotgun? More surprises than a ticking bomb, she leaves him shaken, stirred and chasing after his runaway heart!
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2024
About the author
Lori Wilde
298 books2,274 followersLori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.
Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.
She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 4, 2024
I started reading this book and realized I had read it before. It is published as new for 2024. However, the whole series, Road Trip Rendezvous, has previously been published under other names. I already own the older editions. Why must authors republish books under a different name?
The Joan Wilder Effect - You Only Love Twice (2006) reprinted 2014 as Mad About You (ANT)
The Las Vegas Effect - License to Thrill (2003) reprinted 2014 as Mad About You (ANT)
The Thomas Crown Effect - Charmed and Dangerous (2004) reprinted 2014 as Double Trouble (ANT)
The Mummy Effect - Mission: Irresistible (2005) reprinted 2014 as Double Trouble (ANT)
Thank heavens I started reading the first of the series before the return deadline. I was able to return all 4 with no problems.
I hope this helps some people who plan to read the series.
The Joan Wilder Effect - You Only Love Twice (2006) reprinted 2014 as Mad About You (ANT)
The Las Vegas Effect - License to Thrill (2003) reprinted 2014 as Mad About You (ANT)
The Thomas Crown Effect - Charmed and Dangerous (2004) reprinted 2014 as Double Trouble (ANT)
The Mummy Effect - Mission: Irresistible (2005) reprinted 2014 as Double Trouble (ANT)
Thank heavens I started reading the first of the series before the return deadline. I was able to return all 4 with no problems.
I hope this helps some people who plan to read the series.
May 5, 2024
Full of humor and action!
Joel is sent by NCIS to spy on his old playmate Marlie who he hasn't seen since his father killed her father 15 years ago when Marlie's father was up for treason. She doesn't recognize her old friend JJ, so accepts help from Joel after a man tries to kill her. After that, they are running around trying to stay ahead of the assassin, but things just get more and more twisted and complicated. Can Joel keep Marlie safe? Also, what will she do if she finds out who he really is? Read this to find out!
The pace is breakneck and the tone is uncertain with an action and character oriented storyline that has some steamy scenes but not a lot of details. The characters are vibrant and kickass with some great comical comments. The action is pretty much non-stop. Enjoy this super introduction to a new series by Lori Wilde!
Joel is sent by NCIS to spy on his old playmate Marlie who he hasn't seen since his father killed her father 15 years ago when Marlie's father was up for treason. She doesn't recognize her old friend JJ, so accepts help from Joel after a man tries to kill her. After that, they are running around trying to stay ahead of the assassin, but things just get more and more twisted and complicated. Can Joel keep Marlie safe? Also, what will she do if she finds out who he really is? Read this to find out!
The pace is breakneck and the tone is uncertain with an action and character oriented storyline that has some steamy scenes but not a lot of details. The characters are vibrant and kickass with some great comical comments. The action is pretty much non-stop. Enjoy this super introduction to a new series by Lori Wilde!
July 10, 2024
Mixed feelings on this book. I like the storyline. It's a little complicated, lots of characters, but it kept me interested. The romance was great. Long lost childhood friends meet again and fall in love - cute. I love supporting people who write, it's not easy, but there were a few sections that felt like repeat information. The reader has the info, it's being reiterated either because a) the writer forgot it was already written almost the exact same way chapters before, or b) it's important, but I found it as a reader not important. Honestly, just comes to tightening up the writing. It was a good book, I still enjoyed it, but overall that is why I didn't give it a 4-star review.
March 12, 2026
Entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
This story kept me entertained from start to finish. The author constructed a book that flowed smoothly from one chapter to the next. Even with the twists in the story line she did a nice job of pulling all the characters together at the end.
This story kept me entertained from start to finish. The author constructed a book that flowed smoothly from one chapter to the next. Even with the twists in the story line she did a nice job of pulling all the characters together at the end.
March 22, 2026
Not what I expected
Meaning, there was no humor or over-the-top hijinks as one would expect from a title referencing Romancing The Stone. I enjoyed reading the atypical romance, but there wasn't much zing between the characters. A few dozen typos and misnamed characters need to be cleaned up.
Meaning, there was no humor or over-the-top hijinks as one would expect from a title referencing Romancing The Stone. I enjoyed reading the atypical romance, but there wasn't much zing between the characters. A few dozen typos and misnamed characters need to be cleaned up.
December 29, 2024
Well written
Not sure J would enjoy reading this book. I was held captive from the very beginning. It was well written and flowed smoothly.
Not sure J would enjoy reading this book. I was held captive from the very beginning. It was well written and flowed smoothly.
January 13, 2025
Poorly written.
Poorly written.
Many grammar, punctuation, and phrasing errors.
Many grammar, punctuation, and phrasing errors.
Many grammar, punctuation, and phrasing errors.
Poorly written.
Many grammar, punctuation, and phrasing errors.
Many grammar, punctuation, and phrasing errors.
Many grammar, punctuation, and phrasing errors.
March 9, 2026
Fun little action story
A bit rough in place as far as editing, but the story has good bones.
As for Joan Wilder, I'm still lost... 🤪
A bit rough in place as far as editing, but the story has good bones.
As for Joan Wilder, I'm still lost... 🤪
March 18, 2026
Fast Paced Adventure
Loved the book and the characters. Lots of twists and turns. Would throughly recommend this book.
A wonderful and surprise ending.
Loved the book and the characters. Lots of twists and turns. Would throughly recommend this book.
A wonderful and surprise ending.
Read
April 5, 2026Fun
If the rest of this series is as good as this book, they will be a grand slam. Highly recommend
If the rest of this series is as good as this book, they will be a grand slam. Highly recommend
April 7, 2026
Fun!
This is a fun read! Think Joan Wilder meets ex-SEAL! Believable character s, unfortunately believable plot. Read this, you'll like it.
This is a fun read! Think Joan Wilder meets ex-SEAL! Believable character s, unfortunately believable plot. Read this, you'll like it.
April 29, 2026
An entertaining read from first page to last. Assassins, car chases, trust issues, romances, OTT twists and turns and a dramatic conclusion kept me turning the pages.
June 2, 2026
Romance at it best.
I’ve always loved “Romancing the Stone”. This follows the best romance storyline but gives the reader a new twist. Loved the story and the characters.
I’ve always loved “Romancing the Stone”. This follows the best romance storyline but gives the reader a new twist. Loved the story and the characters.
Did Not Finish
June 25, 2026I rally wanted to like this book. I love Joan Wilder and Romancing the Stone. But this just wasn’t it for me.
July 16, 2026
great story and fun characters
Nicely written, quickly paced, and loads of fun! I actually devoured this book and was happy to do so. I’ll definitely read more from Lori Wilde.
Nicely written, quickly paced, and loads of fun! I actually devoured this book and was happy to do so. I’ll definitely read more from Lori Wilde.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews