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First Comes Love #5
Love Quest
'Sexy, funny, romantic and heartfelt - this book has it all. A must read' - Sandy Barker
She didn’t go to the jungle to meet the man of her dreams. Luckily, Dr Logan Spencer is NOT the man of her dreams!
As epic meet-cutes go, travel photographer, Winter Knowles thinks finding a gorgeous naked man outside her Thailand villa is pretty perfect. But then she discovers the naked heartthrob is none other than Dr Logan Spencer, her gruff standoffish (but sexy as hell) jungle expedition leader.
Dr Logan is on the mission of a lifetime. There’s a lost city of gold to discover and he doesn’t need any distractions - especially not the stubborn, sassy beautiful photographer type! His reputation is on the line.
These arch rivals get off on the wrong foot. But when the heat rises in the jungle, Winter and Logan are forced together in the face of danger. Is trusting someone with your life the best meet-cute of all?
A sassy, enemies-to-lovers rom-com perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sarah Adams!
Please note that this title was originally published as From Thailand With Love.
She didn’t go to the jungle to meet the man of her dreams. Luckily, Dr Logan Spencer is NOT the man of her dreams!
As epic meet-cutes go, travel photographer, Winter Knowles thinks finding a gorgeous naked man outside her Thailand villa is pretty perfect. But then she discovers the naked heartthrob is none other than Dr Logan Spencer, her gruff standoffish (but sexy as hell) jungle expedition leader.
Dr Logan is on the mission of a lifetime. There’s a lost city of gold to discover and he doesn’t need any distractions - especially not the stubborn, sassy beautiful photographer type! His reputation is on the line.
These arch rivals get off on the wrong foot. But when the heat rises in the jungle, Winter and Logan are forced together in the face of danger. Is trusting someone with your life the best meet-cute of all?
A sassy, enemies-to-lovers rom-com perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sarah Adams!
Please note that this title was originally published as From Thailand With Love.
Audible Audio
First published February 25, 2020
267 people are currently reading
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About the author
Camilla Isley
54 books2,922 followers
Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.
She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you're a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
March 2, 2020
An adrenaline pumping, heart pounding, action packed romance.Adventure, Romance, monkeys, secret cities, hidden tunnels, treasure, machetes, mercenaries, mud, gold, insects, rescues, and humor. Wow Camilla Isley this was unexpected! This was so much more than a enemies to lovers romcom. The story starts off innocently enough Winter catches Logan chasing after a monkey who has confiscated his phone. Oh and did I mention that Logan was naked? Then Winter finds out that she will be spending the next month working with Logan, who seems less than pleased. Logan is an archaeologist and Winter is a travel photographer, they will be traveling through the jungles of Thailand looking for a lost city of gold. The story had my heart racing as Logan and Winter fought to survive. This book was very heavy on the adventure, but I have to say I was all in. Winter was a bad ass and Logan wasn’t too bad either. Even though I didn’t always feel the chemistry between them, I think it kind of develop organically and by the time they got together it really worked. Another winner in this fun series and I’m really looking forward to the next one!
This book in emojis 🐵 📸 🐲 🔦 ⛺️ 🩹
*** Big thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This book in emojis 🐵 📸 🐲 🔦 ⛺️ 🩹
*** Big thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
April 5, 2022
From Thailand with Love reminds me to be thankful that I am not a big fan of outdoor type. That is including camping and hiking for treasure hunt. Miss Isley made the book short. Only 6 hours long. Because of the short story, she did not elaborate on the hate chemistry between the Winter and Logan.
Despite that, I still enjoy the banter. It is so cute and funny. The inner dialog from Winter cracks me up. It certainly give me some sort of entertainment while doing my boring job desk. From Thailand with Love is a romance (enemy turns to lover) with a mix of Indiana Jones.
Overall a entertaining story.
4 stars
Despite that, I still enjoy the banter. It is so cute and funny. The inner dialog from Winter cracks me up. It certainly give me some sort of entertainment while doing my boring job desk. From Thailand with Love is a romance (enemy turns to lover) with a mix of Indiana Jones.
Overall a entertaining story.
4 stars
March 5, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
I can’t help not liking the man; he honestly gives me the creeps… he’s retained all his military bearing: buzz cut shorter at the sides, lean muscled body, and a hard face marked by a livid white slash. The ominous scar cuts from his left eyebrow to halfway down his cheek. And he probably enjoys frightening children with it in his spare time.
I try to resist, but quickly give in. Grabbing the ever-present camera dangling from my neck, I stealthily snap a few shots of my sweaty, muscular colleagues. Then I check the results on the small screen on the back of the device, and chuckle to myself. These pictures would look great on an erotica novel, probably one called something like: “Taken in the Jungle by the Three Archeologists.”
I’m not getting out of this tub for anything in the world. “I’ve ordered dinner,” Logan says. I don’t reply. “Burgers and champagne.” Okay, now he’s got my attention.
Did I overshare? Maybe I overshared. But when I’m nervous, I talk. When I’m tired, I talk. When I’m both, I crash into TMI land like a cannonball.
My Review:
This tale was more action-adventure than I was expecting but thankfully there was also a bevy of amusing accidents and observations as well as a budding romance to put a smirk on my face. I enjoy Ms. Isley’s deft writing style, wry humor, and colorfully written character descriptions. This busy volume to the series features an archeological expedition finding peril in the hot and sticky jungle filled with ravenous insects, and I’m still feeling itchy and dehydrated just from the highly evocative descriptions alone – I’m so suggestible!
I can’t help not liking the man; he honestly gives me the creeps… he’s retained all his military bearing: buzz cut shorter at the sides, lean muscled body, and a hard face marked by a livid white slash. The ominous scar cuts from his left eyebrow to halfway down his cheek. And he probably enjoys frightening children with it in his spare time.
I try to resist, but quickly give in. Grabbing the ever-present camera dangling from my neck, I stealthily snap a few shots of my sweaty, muscular colleagues. Then I check the results on the small screen on the back of the device, and chuckle to myself. These pictures would look great on an erotica novel, probably one called something like: “Taken in the Jungle by the Three Archeologists.”
I’m not getting out of this tub for anything in the world. “I’ve ordered dinner,” Logan says. I don’t reply. “Burgers and champagne.” Okay, now he’s got my attention.
Did I overshare? Maybe I overshared. But when I’m nervous, I talk. When I’m tired, I talk. When I’m both, I crash into TMI land like a cannonball.
My Review:
This tale was more action-adventure than I was expecting but thankfully there was also a bevy of amusing accidents and observations as well as a budding romance to put a smirk on my face. I enjoy Ms. Isley’s deft writing style, wry humor, and colorfully written character descriptions. This busy volume to the series features an archeological expedition finding peril in the hot and sticky jungle filled with ravenous insects, and I’m still feeling itchy and dehydrated just from the highly evocative descriptions alone – I’m so suggestible!
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January 17, 2024Available wherever books are sold, now also in audio!
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Guys, I'm so excited about this new book! My first adventure romance. I had such fun writing it, and I hope you'll enjoy reading this story just as much.
Happy reading.
Love,
Camilla
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Guys, I'm so excited about this new book! My first adventure romance. I had such fun writing it, and I hope you'll enjoy reading this story just as much.
Happy reading.
Love,
Camilla
April 16, 2020
1.5 stars, because I have read it after all.
I hate to give this author such a low rating - I like this series and have read all the books so far. They are usually a safe bet and exactly what you can expect from the genre – a nice, fluffy afternoon read. This one seemed to be no different (apart from being rather more action-packed) and, until about 60% and despite some reservations, I thought it was a real page-turner. And then it all went downhill pretty fast, spiralling into absurdity and ludicrousness.
Reading books like this, I am always willing to suspend my disbelief and overlook certain inconsistencies – but there are limits.
OK, so tl; dr: the characters are one-dimensional; their relationship(s) have no substance, and the plot, especially in the second part of the book, is far too absurd to follow. The book is rather like a really bad Netflix romance. I have returned it for refund.
I hate to give this author such a low rating - I like this series and have read all the books so far. They are usually a safe bet and exactly what you can expect from the genre – a nice, fluffy afternoon read. This one seemed to be no different (apart from being rather more action-packed) and, until about 60% and despite some reservations, I thought it was a real page-turner. And then it all went downhill pretty fast, spiralling into absurdity and ludicrousness.
Reading books like this, I am always willing to suspend my disbelief and overlook certain inconsistencies – but there are limits.
OK, so tl; dr: the characters are one-dimensional; their relationship(s) have no substance, and the plot, especially in the second part of the book, is far too absurd to follow. The book is rather like a really bad Netflix romance. I have returned it for refund.
April 22, 2025
A fun adventure filled read pretty well written
Love Quest by Camilla Isley is a charming, feel-good romantic comedy that reads like a modern fairy tale with a reality TV twist. With witty banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a delightful enemies-to-lovers setup, this story hits all the right rom-com notes.
Set against the backdrop of a dating reality show, the book follows the unexpected connection between Zoe—a smart, grounded woman thrust into the spotlight—and Dylan, the annoyingly handsome bachelor with secrets of his own. Their dynamic is full of fun friction and genuine emotional beats that make the romance feel both swoony and satisfying.
Isley’s writing is breezy and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the glamor and drama of the show while still rooting for real love to win. The supporting characters add depth and humor, and the behind-the-scenes look at reality TV offers a fresh layer to the story.
While some plot points are a bit predictable, the journey is so enjoyable it hardly matters. Love Quest is the perfect pick for readers who love their romance light, sparkling, and full of heart.
It’s not reinventing the genre, but it doesn’t need to. Love Quest is simply a joy to read—a sweet, satisfying rom-com that’s perfect for fans of shows like The Bachelor or Love Island, with a bit more heart.
Love Quest by Camilla Isley is a charming, feel-good romantic comedy that reads like a modern fairy tale with a reality TV twist. With witty banter, slow-burn chemistry, and a delightful enemies-to-lovers setup, this story hits all the right rom-com notes.
Set against the backdrop of a dating reality show, the book follows the unexpected connection between Zoe—a smart, grounded woman thrust into the spotlight—and Dylan, the annoyingly handsome bachelor with secrets of his own. Their dynamic is full of fun friction and genuine emotional beats that make the romance feel both swoony and satisfying.
Isley’s writing is breezy and engaging, making it easy to get lost in the glamor and drama of the show while still rooting for real love to win. The supporting characters add depth and humor, and the behind-the-scenes look at reality TV offers a fresh layer to the story.
While some plot points are a bit predictable, the journey is so enjoyable it hardly matters. Love Quest is the perfect pick for readers who love their romance light, sparkling, and full of heart.
It’s not reinventing the genre, but it doesn’t need to. Love Quest is simply a joy to read—a sweet, satisfying rom-com that’s perfect for fans of shows like The Bachelor or Love Island, with a bit more heart.
February 29, 2020
Wow! this was a surprise. When I imagined an enemies-to-lovers romance packed with adventure, I was not expecting it to be a life and death situation. Yes, that is how I found myself hunched up over my kindle with a heart about to burst . . . on a work night. Phew!
To be honest, the chemistry between Winter and Logan was not convincing enough for me at the beginning, probably because of the amount of time both spent secretly ogling each other's body. Infatuation at first sight? Definitely. Not a fan of those. But everything changed once the secret city is found and thus began a compelling and exhilarating story bound to keep us on our toes.
Looks like Winter is not only a good shot with a camera, but also smart with a gun. Attagirl! I should have expected that considering the stand she took against her evil twin in the last story. The girl is not lacking guts. Logan is not bad either considering his hilarious bargaining skills with the monkey . . . ha! I cannot end this review without mentioning Archie, our golden boy. Each time you make an appearance, there comes the laugh. Can't wait to read your story in the next book.
If you are in the mood for a thrilling romance to spike your adrenaline levels, go ahead and grab a copy. You won't be disappointed!
To be honest, the chemistry between Winter and Logan was not convincing enough for me at the beginning, probably because of the amount of time both spent secretly ogling each other's body. Infatuation at first sight? Definitely. Not a fan of those. But everything changed once the secret city is found and thus began a compelling and exhilarating story bound to keep us on our toes.
Looks like Winter is not only a good shot with a camera, but also smart with a gun. Attagirl! I should have expected that considering the stand she took against her evil twin in the last story. The girl is not lacking guts. Logan is not bad either considering his hilarious bargaining skills with the monkey . . . ha! I cannot end this review without mentioning Archie, our golden boy. Each time you make an appearance, there comes the laugh. Can't wait to read your story in the next book.
If you are in the mood for a thrilling romance to spike your adrenaline levels, go ahead and grab a copy. You won't be disappointed!
June 8, 2023
a hero who hates women in the workplace makes me swoon
February 25, 2020
I Love an Amazing Enemies to lovers romantic comedy trope. This one sure gave me all the swoons and I devoured it!
Winter Knowles is an archeology professor and a travel photographer, out for an adventure of a life time. Enter Logan Spencer who is out to make a name for himself by using a new technology to find some long lost gold. Winter and Logan bumped heads right from the start and they definitely hate each other.
This is the fifth book in the First Comes Love Series by Camilla Isley. There is nothing more fun to read than a book filled with adventure, lots of action, a bit of heated banter and amazing dialogue to a romantic and funny happily ever after story. Isley is a wonderful writer that knows how to keep your attention focused on this thrilling ride of a read.
I loved the exotic location that adds to the drama of this fun romcom read that was definitely hard to put down. This book had me at times laughing out loud! I loved the characters, the mischiefs and the amazing ride this book took me on.
I really enjoyed this one and I cannot wait for the next installment. Highly recommend!!
Winter Knowles is an archeology professor and a travel photographer, out for an adventure of a life time. Enter Logan Spencer who is out to make a name for himself by using a new technology to find some long lost gold. Winter and Logan bumped heads right from the start and they definitely hate each other.
This is the fifth book in the First Comes Love Series by Camilla Isley. There is nothing more fun to read than a book filled with adventure, lots of action, a bit of heated banter and amazing dialogue to a romantic and funny happily ever after story. Isley is a wonderful writer that knows how to keep your attention focused on this thrilling ride of a read.
I loved the exotic location that adds to the drama of this fun romcom read that was definitely hard to put down. This book had me at times laughing out loud! I loved the characters, the mischiefs and the amazing ride this book took me on.
I really enjoyed this one and I cannot wait for the next installment. Highly recommend!!
June 9, 2023
"Winter is coming."
Winter is a travel photographer who has been hired to photograph an expedition in Thailand. Dr Logan is head of the jungle expedition on search for a long lost golden city. They both don't make the best impression when they first meet, Logan is grump and doesn't like the idea of woman being involved on the expedition as he things she will be a distraction. While Winter soon puts Logan in his place and won't take any nonsense.
I loved this book it included one of my favourite trope- grumpy sunshine and this book didn't disappoint. Even though it focus more on the adventure side rather than heavy on romance I was all for it. It was a nice change to have an Indiana Jones/Lara Croft style adventure for the book theme- one I don't think I have read about before. I read in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend if you are in a reading slump.
I loved the Game of Thrones references "And now the Khaleesi fantasy is complete."
The only thing I would mainly change but this is through my own hate for this phase is to get rid of "And a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding." - it seems romance authors always find a way to sneak these words in. I was enjoying the story, until I read those words and then It took me a minute to carry on.
I will definitely will be reading more of Camilla Isley books, I have already got 'The Love Theorem' on my tbr pile hopefully to be read soon.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review
Winter is a travel photographer who has been hired to photograph an expedition in Thailand. Dr Logan is head of the jungle expedition on search for a long lost golden city. They both don't make the best impression when they first meet, Logan is grump and doesn't like the idea of woman being involved on the expedition as he things she will be a distraction. While Winter soon puts Logan in his place and won't take any nonsense.
I loved this book it included one of my favourite trope- grumpy sunshine and this book didn't disappoint. Even though it focus more on the adventure side rather than heavy on romance I was all for it. It was a nice change to have an Indiana Jones/Lara Croft style adventure for the book theme- one I don't think I have read about before. I read in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend if you are in a reading slump.
I loved the Game of Thrones references "And now the Khaleesi fantasy is complete."
The only thing I would mainly change but this is through my own hate for this phase is to get rid of "And a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding." - it seems romance authors always find a way to sneak these words in. I was enjoying the story, until I read those words and then It took me a minute to carry on.
I will definitely will be reading more of Camilla Isley books, I have already got 'The Love Theorem' on my tbr pile hopefully to be read soon.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review
July 9, 2023
3.75🌟!
This was a very enjoyable book with loads of adventures, a little danger and action. And my favourite part was the adventure.
Logan and Winter starts on wrong footing and Winter instantly takes a dislike to him. I loved Logan more than Winter.
I enjoyed the writing style and the story just flowed. I also loved the variety of secondary characters and characterisation was done really well.
It was also commendable that they BOTH tried to work for their relationship in the end instead of just one sacrificing everything.
What I did have problem was with Winter. She was overly hostile with Logan. Towards the middle I expected them to bond a little more, to be in more sync and have more chemistry. I also wanted them to act a little more maturely. That didn’t happen instead Winter took a rather impulsive step that irritated me (first Airport scene).
But Winter as a photographer and Warrior was quite a badass.
Overall an entertaining and enjoyable book with closed door scenes.
Recommended.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a very enjoyable book with loads of adventures, a little danger and action. And my favourite part was the adventure.
Logan and Winter starts on wrong footing and Winter instantly takes a dislike to him. I loved Logan more than Winter.
I enjoyed the writing style and the story just flowed. I also loved the variety of secondary characters and characterisation was done really well.
It was also commendable that they BOTH tried to work for their relationship in the end instead of just one sacrificing everything.
What I did have problem was with Winter. She was overly hostile with Logan. Towards the middle I expected them to bond a little more, to be in more sync and have more chemistry. I also wanted them to act a little more maturely. That didn’t happen instead Winter took a rather impulsive step that irritated me (first Airport scene).
But Winter as a photographer and Warrior was quite a badass.
Overall an entertaining and enjoyable book with closed door scenes.
Recommended.
I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2023
Once again this book is filled with stereotypes about women even more than the last book. The concept of their romance is that he hates women and questions if she is able to do the job then she impresses him and makes him fall in love by being able to do said job (omg she’s not like other girls) and the fmc seems to be quite pleased with herself that she’s impressing him like why? Is the bar really that low?
June 30, 2023
Winter and Logan are the main couple in this book. She’s a wildlife (I think) photographer and he’s an archeologist, who’s trying to discover the legendary golden city. As part of his discovery team Winter accompanies Logan to the jungle of Thailand.
Our first meeting with Logan could have been better, literally one of the first things he thinks when he sees Winter is that he doesn’t want women on his team, because they overcomplicate everything. He and Winter bicker over everything, even when he tries to be civil, she thinks he’s being hostile. It was a bit annoying to be honest.
When it comes to the plot in this book, it was a little more high stakes then in the previous books. We have a great adventure story with some obstacles and I liked that the story focuses on more than Logan and Winter.
I like the writing style and will dive into the next book in this series right away, which will focus on Summer, Winter’s evil twin and Archie, Logan's best friend.
Our first meeting with Logan could have been better, literally one of the first things he thinks when he sees Winter is that he doesn’t want women on his team, because they overcomplicate everything. He and Winter bicker over everything, even when he tries to be civil, she thinks he’s being hostile. It was a bit annoying to be honest.
When it comes to the plot in this book, it was a little more high stakes then in the previous books. We have a great adventure story with some obstacles and I liked that the story focuses on more than Logan and Winter.
I like the writing style and will dive into the next book in this series right away, which will focus on Summer, Winter’s evil twin and Archie, Logan's best friend.
January 28, 2024
*2.5 JUNGLE STARS*
Well, this was a cute and quick read, but that is pretty much all I can say about it.
Because the book is so short, character development (or the natural development of romantic feelings) was basically non-existent. They basically went from enemies to lovers in the span of a couple of pages. We all know I much prefer a slow burn. This could have been a Hallmark movie.
What happened was also very clichéd, I could basically predict it all from the get-go. Also, there were inconsistencies that were a little unbelievable, like how it was stressed how dangerous the jungle was at the start of the book, then when they were actually running for their lives they were basically frolicking around naked in it. Or how 1 antibiotics pill saved the life of one of their crew mates with an infection? Please. Anyway, I liked Winter, she saved the book for me!
Anyway, a quick palate cleanser.
Well, this was a cute and quick read, but that is pretty much all I can say about it.
Because the book is so short, character development (or the natural development of romantic feelings) was basically non-existent. They basically went from enemies to lovers in the span of a couple of pages. We all know I much prefer a slow burn. This could have been a Hallmark movie.
What happened was also very clichéd, I could basically predict it all from the get-go. Also, there were inconsistencies that were a little unbelievable, like how it was stressed how dangerous the jungle was at the start of the book, then when they were actually running for their lives they were basically frolicking around naked in it. Or how 1 antibiotics pill saved the life of one of their crew mates with an infection? Please. Anyway, I liked Winter, she saved the book for me!
Anyway, a quick palate cleanser.
December 12, 2020
"𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑙𝑒𝑡’𝑠 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑖𝑡 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑙, 𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑎’𝑠 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡 𝐹𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑤—𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑘, 𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑡, 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑛𝑑."
"𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑠. 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛’𝑡 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑚𝑒."
Yikes, yikes, yikes. I couldn't finish this, like wow.
"𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑠. 𝐼 𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑢𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛’𝑡 𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑚𝑒."
Yikes, yikes, yikes. I couldn't finish this, like wow.
August 29, 2020
Well, wasn’t this book a huge disappointment.
What I expected this to be: a fun rom-com with some exotic and dangerous journey through the jungle and a pair of witty main characters.
What I got: a slow and mostly boring journey through a not so exotic described jungle with a sexist man and a woman with child-like behavior.
Let’s start with Logan.
This book basically starts with a hot view of his ass, so we all know he’s physically perfect. Of course he is *eye roll*. But being physically beautiful isn’t important at all when you’re a sexist prick, which he is, and we can notice that since his very first POV: “With weeks of heavy trekking ahead of us, bringing a woman on board was a terrible idea.” He then excuses himself saying he doesn’t have anything against women since he and his ex girlfriend went on journeys together but after that: “But a few bad experiences with mixed-gender teams afterward have taught me what a nightmare having a slow, whiny, drama queen on the payroll can be.”
Like ok so you’re telling me professional women that are specifically hired to do expeditions CAN’T act civilized or ethical in their jobs? Of course, because we women can’t be anything but drama queens.
As if this wasn’t enough sexism, he also added: “Plus, having one woman join a team of eight men is going to be an unwanted distraction on its own.” Ah, now I get it. This isn’t about the women, then. This is about your men who are incapable of being ethical in the presence of females and of course have to act “manly” and try to seduce them. Isn’t this funny. Because his so respected “best friend” is the first one to jump to her jugular and see her as a sexual distraction instead of focusing on his fucking job.
Some advice, Logan: next time hire real men, not monkeys.
Oh, but wait, if you thought this was it, you’re wrong. He had some more bullshit: “I hope at least she’s ugly. Or married. Less chance of my team falling over themselves trying to impress her if she is. I have enough problems without adding yet another to the mix.”
At this point, you may think this asshole perhaps will have some redemption and change his mind, so in that way you could (barely) excuse his behavior. But no. Of course that shit won’t happen here. All we see is how he develops a crush on Winter and then proceeds to focus on seducing her even though [little spoiler next] they’re being followed by a bunch of ex G.I. JOE fuckers who wants to kill them. Anyways. He never really respected Winter, he just softened about her because he had a crush on her or, should I say, fell in love with her. I’m actually laughing right now.
Now, Winter.
I don’t really have much to say about her, but I can tell you I wanted to strangle her from time to time. She isn’t as despicable as Logan, but she is childish and kind of stupid, if I’m honest. And let’s not talk about how she called him “Satan” in her mind (because that’s so hahahaha funny omg 🙄) or how she fell in love with him even though they’ve known each other for a fucking week and half of that week she barely got to know him. Or about how she somehow developed a STRONG friendship with Logan’s best friend to the point she caressed his cheek sister-like even tho he tried to seduce her. CRINGE. You can notice the poor girl is shallow. She’s more like a meh, she’s not worth the effort character, so let’s just leave it there.
And finally, let’s talk about the story.
This had A LOT of potential here. We’re talking about discovering a fucking LOST CITY OF GOLD whilst heading into a dangerous expedition through the jungle. But no. We see nothing of this. There were no dangerous natural encounters, nor any glory when they actually found the fucking city. The descriptions were vague and not espectacular as you would think, the important pieces of the story were basic and boring. Camila decided to focus more on Winter calling multiple times Logan “Satan” than on the plot itself. Very disappointing.
The whole book they’re warned about venomous snakes and exotic animals attacking them and shit, but as I said, we never see any of this. The author preferred to use a stupid thorns bush so this idiot sidekick fell on it, flat on his ass (because this also is hahahaha so funny omg). Girl, use your imagination. I’d rather have him bitten by a venomous snake, the jerk deserved it. Not to mention that he was almost dying because of an infection and let’s just imagine if he actually died and in Hell everyone asked him how he died and he’d be like “I fell butt-first on a thorns bush”.
And, oh, one last thing that annoyed the shit out of me was the insta-love and Logan’s different behavior because of it. One fucking week and they’re saying “I love you” as easy as you would say “can I have ketchup please”, like such things actually happen between grown adults. And Logan suddenly being more worried in hugging and consoling Winter instead of helping his moribund best friend (his only “family” now) like ???? Bitch are you for real.
Anyways, sorry for my messy review but this actually annoyed me. Can’t believe I finished it, let alone spent my time on it. I blame the quarantine.
Don’t read this, it’s awful. 1/5 stars.
What I expected this to be: a fun rom-com with some exotic and dangerous journey through the jungle and a pair of witty main characters.
What I got: a slow and mostly boring journey through a not so exotic described jungle with a sexist man and a woman with child-like behavior.
Let’s start with Logan.
This book basically starts with a hot view of his ass, so we all know he’s physically perfect. Of course he is *eye roll*. But being physically beautiful isn’t important at all when you’re a sexist prick, which he is, and we can notice that since his very first POV: “With weeks of heavy trekking ahead of us, bringing a woman on board was a terrible idea.” He then excuses himself saying he doesn’t have anything against women since he and his ex girlfriend went on journeys together but after that: “But a few bad experiences with mixed-gender teams afterward have taught me what a nightmare having a slow, whiny, drama queen on the payroll can be.”
Like ok so you’re telling me professional women that are specifically hired to do expeditions CAN’T act civilized or ethical in their jobs? Of course, because we women can’t be anything but drama queens.
As if this wasn’t enough sexism, he also added: “Plus, having one woman join a team of eight men is going to be an unwanted distraction on its own.” Ah, now I get it. This isn’t about the women, then. This is about your men who are incapable of being ethical in the presence of females and of course have to act “manly” and try to seduce them. Isn’t this funny. Because his so respected “best friend” is the first one to jump to her jugular and see her as a sexual distraction instead of focusing on his fucking job.
Some advice, Logan: next time hire real men, not monkeys.
Oh, but wait, if you thought this was it, you’re wrong. He had some more bullshit: “I hope at least she’s ugly. Or married. Less chance of my team falling over themselves trying to impress her if she is. I have enough problems without adding yet another to the mix.”
At this point, you may think this asshole perhaps will have some redemption and change his mind, so in that way you could (barely) excuse his behavior. But no. Of course that shit won’t happen here. All we see is how he develops a crush on Winter and then proceeds to focus on seducing her even though [little spoiler next] they’re being followed by a bunch of ex G.I. JOE fuckers who wants to kill them. Anyways. He never really respected Winter, he just softened about her because he had a crush on her or, should I say, fell in love with her. I’m actually laughing right now.
Now, Winter.
I don’t really have much to say about her, but I can tell you I wanted to strangle her from time to time. She isn’t as despicable as Logan, but she is childish and kind of stupid, if I’m honest. And let’s not talk about how she called him “Satan” in her mind (because that’s so hahahaha funny omg 🙄) or how she fell in love with him even though they’ve known each other for a fucking week and half of that week she barely got to know him. Or about how she somehow developed a STRONG friendship with Logan’s best friend to the point she caressed his cheek sister-like even tho he tried to seduce her. CRINGE. You can notice the poor girl is shallow. She’s more like a meh, she’s not worth the effort character, so let’s just leave it there.
And finally, let’s talk about the story.
This had A LOT of potential here. We’re talking about discovering a fucking LOST CITY OF GOLD whilst heading into a dangerous expedition through the jungle. But no. We see nothing of this. There were no dangerous natural encounters, nor any glory when they actually found the fucking city. The descriptions were vague and not espectacular as you would think, the important pieces of the story were basic and boring. Camila decided to focus more on Winter calling multiple times Logan “Satan” than on the plot itself. Very disappointing.
The whole book they’re warned about venomous snakes and exotic animals attacking them and shit, but as I said, we never see any of this. The author preferred to use a stupid thorns bush so this idiot sidekick fell on it, flat on his ass (because this also is hahahaha so funny omg). Girl, use your imagination. I’d rather have him bitten by a venomous snake, the jerk deserved it. Not to mention that he was almost dying because of an infection and let’s just imagine if he actually died and in Hell everyone asked him how he died and he’d be like “I fell butt-first on a thorns bush”.
And, oh, one last thing that annoyed the shit out of me was the insta-love and Logan’s different behavior because of it. One fucking week and they’re saying “I love you” as easy as you would say “can I have ketchup please”, like such things actually happen between grown adults. And Logan suddenly being more worried in hugging and consoling Winter instead of helping his moribund best friend (his only “family” now) like ???? Bitch are you for real.
Anyways, sorry for my messy review but this actually annoyed me. Can’t believe I finished it, let alone spent my time on it. I blame the quarantine.
Don’t read this, it’s awful. 1/5 stars.
June 25, 2023
If, like me, you are old enough to remember the films Romancing the stone and The jewel of the Nile then you will appreciate this book as much as I did. Then add in a phone stealing monkey, a sassy and more than capable heroine and I was fully invested.
I love it when attractive women are underestimated and Winter was more than happy to use it to her advantage. While grumpy Dr Logan has already made assumptions and pegged her as a distracting bimbo when all hell breaks loose she shows him and the rest of the team exactly what she is made of.
A lost city of gold, rogue security and danger lurking behind every jungle palm gives this book tense drama like any good action movie. I was half expecting a rogue boulder à la Indiana Jones and maybe an alligator or two.
Fun with a capital F! This was a romp in the jungle I didn’t mind taking, especially from the comfort of my sofa.
I love it when attractive women are underestimated and Winter was more than happy to use it to her advantage. While grumpy Dr Logan has already made assumptions and pegged her as a distracting bimbo when all hell breaks loose she shows him and the rest of the team exactly what she is made of.
A lost city of gold, rogue security and danger lurking behind every jungle palm gives this book tense drama like any good action movie. I was half expecting a rogue boulder à la Indiana Jones and maybe an alligator or two.
Fun with a capital F! This was a romp in the jungle I didn’t mind taking, especially from the comfort of my sofa.
May 27, 2023
3.5⭐️ Mixed feelings on this one.
I loved the beginning (especially the monkey scene) and the adventure but idk.. Logan was kind of a dick for most of the book. He didn’t redeem himself in my eyes.
Archie was the highlight for me. I love his friendship with Logan but his new friendship with Winter was super cute.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*
I loved the beginning (especially the monkey scene) and the adventure but idk.. Logan was kind of a dick for most of the book. He didn’t redeem himself in my eyes.
Archie was the highlight for me. I love his friendship with Logan but his new friendship with Winter was super cute.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*
December 24, 2022
Nothing makes me more sad than rating a Camilla Isley book this low, but good god. These characters were insufferable, and that's putting it nicely. I just don't think this companion series is for me.
July 10, 2023
This was a super fun enemies to lovers romance set in a Thai jungle that sees two people on an expedition to find a Lost City and its jewels on the run from a dangerous jewel thief. Perfect for all the Indiana Jones fans out there and recommended if you're dying to read Jo Segura's debut, Raiders of the lost heart as much as I am! Good on audio too with a BRILLIANT new cover design for this re-release edition of the formerly, From Thailand with love.
March 2, 2020
An enemies to lovers adventure extravaganza. I adore to read love hate relationship books, but toss a thrilling adventure in and this novel has jumped to one of my all times favorite.
There was humor, action, tension, romance... this story really had it all!
I loved how feisty Winter was, how she didn't take any nonsense from Logan. And Logan was my kind of brooding, gorgeous hero. And best of all, his sidekick and best friend was just as charming and will be the leading man in the next novel! I can't wait to get my reading paws on that!!
Highly recommended, not for the faint of heart.
There was humor, action, tension, romance... this story really had it all!
I loved how feisty Winter was, how she didn't take any nonsense from Logan. And Logan was my kind of brooding, gorgeous hero. And best of all, his sidekick and best friend was just as charming and will be the leading man in the next novel! I can't wait to get my reading paws on that!!
Highly recommended, not for the faint of heart.
March 9, 2020
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to RaRa Resources and Pink Bloom Press for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Again, I have been getting really awesome contemporary romance novels from RaRa that I wouldn’t have even thought to look for if it wasn’t for this company, so thank you again so much for this opportunity. And again, here’s another contemporary romance novel that really surprised me in how much I actually enjoyed it because I was not expecting it.
I also wasn’t expecting this to have so much action too? I mean sure, we gotta give some action to romance novels that aren’t in your typical city locations (London, New York, etc.) or your English countryside that I’ve been reading lately. Again, nothing wrong with those romance novels because sometimes you need to just have a little comfort in your settings like that, something that you’re used to reading so that you don’t have to have your imagination wander too far when you just need a palate cleanser. So imagine my surprise when this contemporary romance got pretty damn heated, and not just in the sexy sexy way that we all like to see.
I mean, if you’re trying to search for the Lost City of Gold, you know you’re going to have some trouble chasing after you. Even if you’re trying to just not fall in love with the one person on your team that you apparently don’t like. It happens more often than we think, and I think that this book did a great job of keeping me entertained and in this journey.
Again, I have been getting really awesome contemporary romance novels from RaRa that I wouldn’t have even thought to look for if it wasn’t for this company, so thank you again so much for this opportunity. And again, here’s another contemporary romance novel that really surprised me in how much I actually enjoyed it because I was not expecting it.
I also wasn’t expecting this to have so much action too? I mean sure, we gotta give some action to romance novels that aren’t in your typical city locations (London, New York, etc.) or your English countryside that I’ve been reading lately. Again, nothing wrong with those romance novels because sometimes you need to just have a little comfort in your settings like that, something that you’re used to reading so that you don’t have to have your imagination wander too far when you just need a palate cleanser. So imagine my surprise when this contemporary romance got pretty damn heated, and not just in the sexy sexy way that we all like to see.
I mean, if you’re trying to search for the Lost City of Gold, you know you’re going to have some trouble chasing after you. Even if you’re trying to just not fall in love with the one person on your team that you apparently don’t like. It happens more often than we think, and I think that this book did a great job of keeping me entertained and in this journey.
June 22, 2023
3.5 stars
It’s not every day some handsome man is outside your villa, butt-naked and yelling at a monkey. It isn’t long until Winter realises it’s the same man who’s leading the expedition she’s on, Dr. Logan Spencer. Nice cheeks aside, Winter can’t stand him. He’s rude and doesn’t think she belongs on the team all because she’s a woman. Though when the two are forced to trek through the jungle together she can’t deny the heat that rises. Maybe Dr. Logan Spencer isn’t so bad after all?
Whilst I enjoyed the premise of this novel, unfortunately it fell flat for me in other areas. I’m always down for adventure or travel plots, I love being able to ‘explore’ from the comfort of my own house – this initially drew me in. I liked the excitement of the expedition, and the thrill of potentially uncovering something. The characters are supposed to be experts in their field, but they felt more like teenagers. When they first meet with the main character the men from the expedition discuss how attractive she is, and it just made them appear unprofessional. I also struggled to like the love interest, who only seemed to dislike Winter because she was female. It was kind of explained later on, but it still didn’t sit right with me. In saying all that, this was still a fun read. The writing was good, and I enjoyed the whole jungle setting, there were just a few things that didn't work for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s not every day some handsome man is outside your villa, butt-naked and yelling at a monkey. It isn’t long until Winter realises it’s the same man who’s leading the expedition she’s on, Dr. Logan Spencer. Nice cheeks aside, Winter can’t stand him. He’s rude and doesn’t think she belongs on the team all because she’s a woman. Though when the two are forced to trek through the jungle together she can’t deny the heat that rises. Maybe Dr. Logan Spencer isn’t so bad after all?
Whilst I enjoyed the premise of this novel, unfortunately it fell flat for me in other areas. I’m always down for adventure or travel plots, I love being able to ‘explore’ from the comfort of my own house – this initially drew me in. I liked the excitement of the expedition, and the thrill of potentially uncovering something. The characters are supposed to be experts in their field, but they felt more like teenagers. When they first meet with the main character the men from the expedition discuss how attractive she is, and it just made them appear unprofessional. I also struggled to like the love interest, who only seemed to dislike Winter because she was female. It was kind of explained later on, but it still didn’t sit right with me. In saying all that, this was still a fun read. The writing was good, and I enjoyed the whole jungle setting, there were just a few things that didn't work for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2024
Romancing the Stone, 1984 movie starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, is one of my favorite Rom Coms. But it does have it's problems resulting in the time period it was made. This book also has those problems, but it's of this time? The hero is a tough sell for me because
I would say I enjoyed the adventure elements of this more than the relationship progression. I loved the over-the-top parts.
I would say I enjoyed the adventure elements of this more than the relationship progression. I loved the over-the-top parts.
July 2, 2024
2.75/5 stars. A little too cheesy for me, but I still kept going. Once I got past the first few chapters, the middle chunk of the book was okay. Easy, quick read.
January 29, 2020
Action and adventure wrapped up in a fabulous rom-com. Complete with an initial "meeting" that involves a naked bum, and a monkey! What on earth more could you ask for from a book.
This latest book was everything I could have wanted from a Camilla Isley story based on the title and a whole lot more besides.
It's a fabulous setting, twists I didn't see coming and it actually had my adrenaline pumping at points as I wondered how they would escape the situation they found themselves in.
I loved how Winter and Logan hated each other initially, while at the same time feeling the undercurrents of something more.
The writing pulled me right into the middle of the action, and I was so hooked I didn't dare read the last bit on a tube as I feared where I would end up myself!!
And I'm delighted to hear that my favourite secondary character from this book, will be given his own story next. I can't wait.
I love all these interconnected stand alone books, from an author who never stays unread on my kindle for long!!
Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This latest book was everything I could have wanted from a Camilla Isley story based on the title and a whole lot more besides.
It's a fabulous setting, twists I didn't see coming and it actually had my adrenaline pumping at points as I wondered how they would escape the situation they found themselves in.
I loved how Winter and Logan hated each other initially, while at the same time feeling the undercurrents of something more.
The writing pulled me right into the middle of the action, and I was so hooked I didn't dare read the last bit on a tube as I feared where I would end up myself!!
And I'm delighted to hear that my favourite secondary character from this book, will be given his own story next. I can't wait.
I love all these interconnected stand alone books, from an author who never stays unread on my kindle for long!!
Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 20, 2020
DNF'ed at 8%. I REALLY did not like the male POV, I don't care if he's going to have some big revelation or transformation, I am not going to read sexist things for fun. I only read enough to know that he is concerned because if she's with them, none of the men in the group will do any work because they will be just trying to sleep with her. If on a professional work assignment, men won't do their job because they are only trying to sleep with their co-worker, that's not her problem. That's a hostile work environment claim for gender discrimination under Title VII...
Exhibit A: "With weeks of heavy trekking ahead of us, bringing a woman on board was a terrible idea. I’ve nothing against women per se. With my ex, we’ve been on countless archeological trips together. But a few bad experiences with mixed-gender teams afterward have taught me what a nightmare having a slow, whiny, drama queen on the payroll can be. I never want to go through that again." EWW.
And when he's not coming across as sexist, he's coming across as creepy. No thank you.
Exhibit B: "Well, let’s just say it brings to mind a very different kind of angel, as in the ones walking down the runway at the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show—generous rack, tiny waist, legs that never seem to end." After all that sexist stuff, this just comes across as EWW.
Exhibit A: "With weeks of heavy trekking ahead of us, bringing a woman on board was a terrible idea. I’ve nothing against women per se. With my ex, we’ve been on countless archeological trips together. But a few bad experiences with mixed-gender teams afterward have taught me what a nightmare having a slow, whiny, drama queen on the payroll can be. I never want to go through that again." EWW.
And when he's not coming across as sexist, he's coming across as creepy. No thank you.
Exhibit B: "Well, let’s just say it brings to mind a very different kind of angel, as in the ones walking down the runway at the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show—generous rack, tiny waist, legs that never seem to end." After all that sexist stuff, this just comes across as EWW.
Read
October 9, 2020Available wherever audiobooks are sold...
An Enemies to Lovers, Adventure Rom Com
Thrown together on an expedition to find the legendary Lost City of Gold, photographer Winter and archaeologist Logan are instant enemies. But as they journey through the jungle together — and their treasure hunt takes an unexpected turn — the line between love and hate begins to blur…
What I love most about this book: I finally got to go on a treasure hunt!
An Enemies to Lovers, Adventure Rom Com
Thrown together on an expedition to find the legendary Lost City of Gold, photographer Winter and archaeologist Logan are instant enemies. But as they journey through the jungle together — and their treasure hunt takes an unexpected turn — the line between love and hate begins to blur…
What I love most about this book: I finally got to go on a treasure hunt!
February 25, 2020
From Thailand With Love was so sooo nice and when I turned last page I wished there was more to read.
I've enjoyed to follow Winter, a travel photographer, and Logan, an archaeologist, in their adventure to discover an ancient city of gold in the Thai forest.
Our main characters hate each other on the spot but a difficult time in an old temple make them reconsider their positions and they call a truce.
You can always count on Camilla Isley for a cute and funny story and a pretty and colourful cover, she is a guarantee.
I'm very much looking forward to next book in the series with a certain good looking viking as a hero.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author
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