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Island Endgame
An isolated island. A grieving nurse, struggling to heal. Three desperate fugitives taking hostages.
Can she outwit them and survive?
Guilt-ridden over the drowning death of her nine-year-old nephew, Kenzie Adams flees her nursing job at a major city hospital to work at a primitive but picturesque island summer camp. Hopefully a few low-stress months away from the city will help steer her life back on course. But before the campers arrive, Kenzie’s second chance takes a turn to real-life terror. Three determined fugitives invade the island to search for a rumored treasure, and they threaten to kill Kenzie and the staff, including the caretaker’s young son.
Their captors have a plan … until Kenzie seizes an opportunity to escape. But with no weapons, no communications with the outside world, and mounting danger from increasingly desperate men, she’ll have to tap into unexpected strengths to save everyone before the captors deliver on their ultimatum—find treasure or die. Kenzie must learn to trust herself again, or she’ll relive her greatest nightmare, failing to save yet another child.
Island Endgame is page-turning suspense with plenty of heart, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone and Peter Heller’s The Guide.
Can she outwit them and survive?
Guilt-ridden over the drowning death of her nine-year-old nephew, Kenzie Adams flees her nursing job at a major city hospital to work at a primitive but picturesque island summer camp. Hopefully a few low-stress months away from the city will help steer her life back on course. But before the campers arrive, Kenzie’s second chance takes a turn to real-life terror. Three determined fugitives invade the island to search for a rumored treasure, and they threaten to kill Kenzie and the staff, including the caretaker’s young son.
Their captors have a plan … until Kenzie seizes an opportunity to escape. But with no weapons, no communications with the outside world, and mounting danger from increasingly desperate men, she’ll have to tap into unexpected strengths to save everyone before the captors deliver on their ultimatum—find treasure or die. Kenzie must learn to trust herself again, or she’ll relive her greatest nightmare, failing to save yet another child.
Island Endgame is page-turning suspense with plenty of heart, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone and Peter Heller’s The Guide.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2025
About the author
Rebecca Hodge
3 books199 followersRebecca Hodge is the award-winning author of WILDLAND, OVER THE FALLS, and ISLAND ENDGAME, novels of page-turning suspense that have plenty of heart. When her characters find themselves in impossible situations, they take the initiative instead of watching from the sidelines. In doing so, they discover unexpected inner strength, resilience, and courage.
Following a scientific career as a veterinarian and clinical research scientist, Rebecca discovered how much fun it is to create fictional worlds of her own. She lives in North Carolina, where you’ll find her sipping tea on the screened-in porch with a dog at her feet and a computer on her lap. Visit her online at rebeccahodgefiction.
Following a scientific career as a veterinarian and clinical research scientist, Rebecca discovered how much fun it is to create fictional worlds of her own. She lives in North Carolina, where you’ll find her sipping tea on the screened-in porch with a dog at her feet and a computer on her lap. Visit her online at rebeccahodgefiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 18, 2025
Life has thrown her unexpected experiences recently, but Kenzie shows us that despite not controlling the circumstances, we can still control how we respond. Still grieving and looking for a different setting to lower her work stress, Kenzie discovers that the nursing position at Camp Madrona isn’t what she imagined. Rather than walk away (after all, she did arrive early), she pivots and sets her mind on using the time away to heal and help. Interacting with Chris helps her heal. By focusing on positive emotions, Kenzie helps herself survive stress and allows her mind to generate more creative solutions to problems. This is a skill she relies on when trouble steps on the island.
I loved the exploration of what we do when things don’t go according to plan and how we give ourselves space to creatively problem solve, as much as I loved watching her heal, being in the very circumstance she wanted to escape from. Salish Island may be the smallest island in Puget Sound, but it had a BIG impact. There’s a lesson in that for all of us.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I loved the exploration of what we do when things don’t go according to plan and how we give ourselves space to creatively problem solve, as much as I loved watching her heal, being in the very circumstance she wanted to escape from. Salish Island may be the smallest island in Puget Sound, but it had a BIG impact. There’s a lesson in that for all of us.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Currently Reading
July 29, 2025Dear Readers –
I’m so excited to share my most recent book with you! ISLAND ENDGAME is Suspense with plenty of heart, and it takes place at a summer camp on a fictional island in the Puget Sound. A grieving nurse, a rumored treasure, three desperate fugitives—it all adds up to a page-turning story that I hope you’ll enjoy.
I’m often asked where my stories come from, and the setting for this one comes from my past. I grew up in North Carolina, but when I was eighteen and restless for something different, I took a summer job as a horseback riding instructor at a summer camp on Lopez Island in the Puget Sound. It was a staggering contrast to summer at home in the South—not just icy water and sweatshirt weather, but a situation where I knew absolutely no one and felt incredibly out of place. I spent the summer living in a tipi, showering on the days when the campers remembered to build a fire under the bathhouse water tank, and absorbing the incredible beauty of the Sound. Snow-capped Mt. Baker watched over us from the mainland, and sea otters called to us at night.
Those memories kickstarted the idea for this story. I hope you enjoy the book! And heartfelt thanks go to all of you who take the time to leave a review.
All the best,
-Rebecca
I’m so excited to share my most recent book with you! ISLAND ENDGAME is Suspense with plenty of heart, and it takes place at a summer camp on a fictional island in the Puget Sound. A grieving nurse, a rumored treasure, three desperate fugitives—it all adds up to a page-turning story that I hope you’ll enjoy.
I’m often asked where my stories come from, and the setting for this one comes from my past. I grew up in North Carolina, but when I was eighteen and restless for something different, I took a summer job as a horseback riding instructor at a summer camp on Lopez Island in the Puget Sound. It was a staggering contrast to summer at home in the South—not just icy water and sweatshirt weather, but a situation where I knew absolutely no one and felt incredibly out of place. I spent the summer living in a tipi, showering on the days when the campers remembered to build a fire under the bathhouse water tank, and absorbing the incredible beauty of the Sound. Snow-capped Mt. Baker watched over us from the mainland, and sea otters called to us at night.
Those memories kickstarted the idea for this story. I hope you enjoy the book! And heartfelt thanks go to all of you who take the time to leave a review.
All the best,
-Rebecca
September 22, 2025
I love that locked room feeling and this secluded island setting was absolutely perfect!
Well paced, great characters and a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend!
Now I want to do a little treasure hunting :)
This is the third book I've read by this author and I love that each of her books is so different. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
My thanks to the author herself for this gifted copy.
Well paced, great characters and a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend!
Now I want to do a little treasure hunting :)
This is the third book I've read by this author and I love that each of her books is so different. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.
My thanks to the author herself for this gifted copy.
September 30, 2025
This book was excellent, it had mystery, drama, suspense and some OMG moments. The book was paced well and kept me interested and wanting to keep turning pages, definitely recommend if you like mysteries.
December 11, 2025
As with Rebecca Hodge’s two previous novels, WILDLAND and OVER THE FALLS, ISLAND ENDGAME is Hodge at her one-of-a-kind best. She uniquely combines the elements of thriller-suspense fiction with family drama/women’s journeys to tell stories of strength and healing.
Nurse Kenzie Adams needs a leave of absence from her longtime hospital position. In her quest for healing from a family tragedy, for which she feels responsible, she takes a summer job at a kids’ camp off-the-grid, on a remote Washington State Island. Once on staff, Kenzie stumbles into a warm family-of-friends as well into a web of dark, threatening relationships. A supposed buried treasure (left by a previous community decades earlier) brings to the Island criminal fugitives who take the camp staff hostage in order to conduct their own search.
Unthinkable horrors unfold for Kenzie and her new community. Kenzie, camp-mom/co-director Leah, her son ten-year-old Chris, and outdoor adventures-leader Jon (among others), must fight for their lives as the fugitives’ violence and brutality terrorize them in tandem with the Island’s isolation from civilization and technology: no internet. No cell-signal!
The gripping plot, plus characters I care about, kept me turning the pages and toggling between the print copy and audiobook, which deserves its own review. Narrator Erika Calvert, renders the main character-voices of Kenzie and Leah (and other women) well and these voices drew me in right away. I had a little harder time, at first, with young Chris and the bad guys’ voices, but as the story moved forward they grew on me. Now I highly recommend the audiobook as a companion to the print copy. Both are driven by electrifying suspense and heartening relationships. ISLAND ENDGAME (what a great title and cover) rewards us with a seemingly impossible deliverance at the end.
Like many voracious readers, I tend toward cozy reads (for solace) during the holiday season’s busy-ness. ISLAND ENDGAME is an exhilarating departure from that tradition, and I’m glad I took the diversion.
Nurse Kenzie Adams needs a leave of absence from her longtime hospital position. In her quest for healing from a family tragedy, for which she feels responsible, she takes a summer job at a kids’ camp off-the-grid, on a remote Washington State Island. Once on staff, Kenzie stumbles into a warm family-of-friends as well into a web of dark, threatening relationships. A supposed buried treasure (left by a previous community decades earlier) brings to the Island criminal fugitives who take the camp staff hostage in order to conduct their own search.
Unthinkable horrors unfold for Kenzie and her new community. Kenzie, camp-mom/co-director Leah, her son ten-year-old Chris, and outdoor adventures-leader Jon (among others), must fight for their lives as the fugitives’ violence and brutality terrorize them in tandem with the Island’s isolation from civilization and technology: no internet. No cell-signal!
The gripping plot, plus characters I care about, kept me turning the pages and toggling between the print copy and audiobook, which deserves its own review. Narrator Erika Calvert, renders the main character-voices of Kenzie and Leah (and other women) well and these voices drew me in right away. I had a little harder time, at first, with young Chris and the bad guys’ voices, but as the story moved forward they grew on me. Now I highly recommend the audiobook as a companion to the print copy. Both are driven by electrifying suspense and heartening relationships. ISLAND ENDGAME (what a great title and cover) rewards us with a seemingly impossible deliverance at the end.
Like many voracious readers, I tend toward cozy reads (for solace) during the holiday season’s busy-ness. ISLAND ENDGAME is an exhilarating departure from that tradition, and I’m glad I took the diversion.
July 15, 2025
What an action-packed book! I loved Island Endgame. Found myself at the edge of my seat the entire time. A book containing interesting characters, a cool setting, and wonderful descriptions. The author does a great job of creating complex characters. Couldn't wait to find out how the novel would end.
--Maureen Sherbondy (and Barry Peters)
--Maureen Sherbondy (and Barry Peters)
August 21, 2025
Warning: May cause excessive page-turning, spontaneous treasure-hunting fantasies, and an irrational fear of boats
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion, and boy oh boy, do I have opinions!
Listen, I went into Island Endgame thinking I was signing up for a nice, relaxing summer camp story. You know, maybe some s'mores drama, a forbidden romance or two, perhaps a spirited game of capture the flag. What I got instead was basically Survivor meets Pirates of the Caribbean with a dash of Lord of the Flies thrown in for good measure. And honestly? I'm not mad about it.
The beginning of this story spends important time setting the stage for what is to come, and reads at a steady but slower pace. I was getting all cozy with nurse-turned-camp-counselor Kenzie, wondering why someone would trade scrubs for bug spray and wondering what dark secrets this innocent little island was hiding. Spoiler alert: ALL THE SECRETS. LITERALLY ALL OF THEM.
But then—oh, THEN—when the boat from hell arrives, everything changes faster than a camp kid claiming they're "too sick" for swimming lessons. The secret hunt for hidden treasure becomes the main thread and a truly evil man with his two cohorts intends to do whatever it takes to get it all. Suddenly I'm not reading a cozy camp story anymore; I'm white-knuckling through what can only be described as "Die Hard on an Island, But With More Treasure Maps."
I couldn't read fast enough! My coffee went cold. My lunch burned. I may have ignored several important phone calls. This book turned me into one of those people who walks into furniture while reading because I literally could not put it down.
The Imagery Game is STRONG
Rebecca Hodge didn't just write about an island—she basically teleported me there. I was immediately on an isolated island with Kenzie, digging into why she left a nursing position to work at a camp (red flag #1, honestly), and into what was really happening on that island because all was not as it seemed. I could practically feel the sand between my toes and the paranoia creeping up my spine.
And then, when the bottom fell out (metaphorically speaking—though honestly, in this book, it could have been literal too), my adrenaline spiked with Kenzie, Chris, Leah, Jon, and the other camp counselors as a hostage situation turns into a fight for life and a rumored treasure. I'm pretty sure I developed actual stress wrinkles reading this book. My heart rate probably qualified as cardio.
This book kept me turning pages until the very end! I'm talking compulsive page-turning. The kind where you tell yourself "just one more chapter" at 2 AM and suddenly it's dawn and you're questioning all your life choices but also desperately need to know if everyone survives and where the heck that treasure ended up.
The Verdict
Island Endgame starts like a gentle summer breeze and ends like a Category 5 hurricane of pure, unadulterated chaos. It's got treasure hunters with questionable moral compasses, camp counselors who are WAY more badass than they have any right to be, and enough plot twists to make a pretzel jealous.
Four and a half stars because it made me temporarily forget that I'm a responsible adult with bills to pay and not a treasure-hunting adventurer. Also, because I may never look at summer camps the same way again, and that's honestly a public service. Only lost half a star because I'm still recovering from the emotional whiplash and may need therapy after that ending.
Would recommend to: Anyone who's ever wanted to punch a pirate, treasure hunting enthusiasts, people who think camp counselors need more adventure in their lives, and readers who enjoy their beach reads with a side of mortal peril.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion, and boy oh boy, do I have opinions!
Listen, I went into Island Endgame thinking I was signing up for a nice, relaxing summer camp story. You know, maybe some s'mores drama, a forbidden romance or two, perhaps a spirited game of capture the flag. What I got instead was basically Survivor meets Pirates of the Caribbean with a dash of Lord of the Flies thrown in for good measure. And honestly? I'm not mad about it.
The beginning of this story spends important time setting the stage for what is to come, and reads at a steady but slower pace. I was getting all cozy with nurse-turned-camp-counselor Kenzie, wondering why someone would trade scrubs for bug spray and wondering what dark secrets this innocent little island was hiding. Spoiler alert: ALL THE SECRETS. LITERALLY ALL OF THEM.
But then—oh, THEN—when the boat from hell arrives, everything changes faster than a camp kid claiming they're "too sick" for swimming lessons. The secret hunt for hidden treasure becomes the main thread and a truly evil man with his two cohorts intends to do whatever it takes to get it all. Suddenly I'm not reading a cozy camp story anymore; I'm white-knuckling through what can only be described as "Die Hard on an Island, But With More Treasure Maps."
I couldn't read fast enough! My coffee went cold. My lunch burned. I may have ignored several important phone calls. This book turned me into one of those people who walks into furniture while reading because I literally could not put it down.
The Imagery Game is STRONG
Rebecca Hodge didn't just write about an island—she basically teleported me there. I was immediately on an isolated island with Kenzie, digging into why she left a nursing position to work at a camp (red flag #1, honestly), and into what was really happening on that island because all was not as it seemed. I could practically feel the sand between my toes and the paranoia creeping up my spine.
And then, when the bottom fell out (metaphorically speaking—though honestly, in this book, it could have been literal too), my adrenaline spiked with Kenzie, Chris, Leah, Jon, and the other camp counselors as a hostage situation turns into a fight for life and a rumored treasure. I'm pretty sure I developed actual stress wrinkles reading this book. My heart rate probably qualified as cardio.
This book kept me turning pages until the very end! I'm talking compulsive page-turning. The kind where you tell yourself "just one more chapter" at 2 AM and suddenly it's dawn and you're questioning all your life choices but also desperately need to know if everyone survives and where the heck that treasure ended up.
The Verdict
Island Endgame starts like a gentle summer breeze and ends like a Category 5 hurricane of pure, unadulterated chaos. It's got treasure hunters with questionable moral compasses, camp counselors who are WAY more badass than they have any right to be, and enough plot twists to make a pretzel jealous.
Four and a half stars because it made me temporarily forget that I'm a responsible adult with bills to pay and not a treasure-hunting adventurer. Also, because I may never look at summer camps the same way again, and that's honestly a public service. Only lost half a star because I'm still recovering from the emotional whiplash and may need therapy after that ending.
Would recommend to: Anyone who's ever wanted to punch a pirate, treasure hunting enthusiasts, people who think camp counselors need more adventure in their lives, and readers who enjoy their beach reads with a side of mortal peril.
September 20, 2025
I read both of this author's previous books and loved them. It had been a minute since she wrote one and when I saw this one I had to have it. Like the previous two... It is so good. Part mystery and a lot thriller. This author is becoming a favorite of mine.
When Kenzi arrives on the island things start out kind of different than she expected. There was no one to meet her. She had to walk a distance to get to the camp. There were no cabins for campers either. Seemed more like a deserted island. Then she met Chris and his dog Skagit. Chris was the owner's son. He was the same age as Kenzi's nephew Tim. Tim had died and Kenzi blamed herself. She was a nurse and could not save him from a drowning.
When Kenzi meets the other staff and learns how the camp operates she relaxes a bit. She meets everyone and they go to work. Then things start going south. A hostage situation. Looking for gold. A couple of deaths. Yes this one has some edge of your seat thrills. You don't have to guess who did it either. That is obvious from the moment you meet them. But the struggles to survive this attack is hard. Learning a bit about the other workers and becoming close friends makes it even harder.
This book was so good. From start to finish you won't want to put it down. You learn about this island and the few people there. I adored them all myself. Not the unwanted visitors but the ones that worked there. The mother and son. The dog. One smart pup there.
It's well written and the descriptions will let you see everything. You'll feel like you are walking the woods. The trails. The water's edge. Gasping when someone is hurt. Holding your breathe when the final showdown comes...
Thank you BooksGoSocial for this ARC.
4.75 stars.
When Kenzi arrives on the island things start out kind of different than she expected. There was no one to meet her. She had to walk a distance to get to the camp. There were no cabins for campers either. Seemed more like a deserted island. Then she met Chris and his dog Skagit. Chris was the owner's son. He was the same age as Kenzi's nephew Tim. Tim had died and Kenzi blamed herself. She was a nurse and could not save him from a drowning.
When Kenzi meets the other staff and learns how the camp operates she relaxes a bit. She meets everyone and they go to work. Then things start going south. A hostage situation. Looking for gold. A couple of deaths. Yes this one has some edge of your seat thrills. You don't have to guess who did it either. That is obvious from the moment you meet them. But the struggles to survive this attack is hard. Learning a bit about the other workers and becoming close friends makes it even harder.
This book was so good. From start to finish you won't want to put it down. You learn about this island and the few people there. I adored them all myself. Not the unwanted visitors but the ones that worked there. The mother and son. The dog. One smart pup there.
It's well written and the descriptions will let you see everything. You'll feel like you are walking the woods. The trails. The water's edge. Gasping when someone is hurt. Holding your breathe when the final showdown comes...
Thank you BooksGoSocial for this ARC.
4.75 stars.
September 21, 2025
ISLAND ENDGAME is Rebecca Hodge at her best! This fast paced suspenseful thriller rollercoaster of a ride had me on the edge of my seat. The island on the Puget Sound is itself a character.
The story is told in the POV of three characters. Kenzie arrives on the island to be a nurse for the summer camp. She is trying to heal from the death of her nephew. Jon is an IT guy and camp counselor who considers the island home and is secretly in love with Leah the camp caretaker. Chris is Leah's nine year old son who likes to help at the camp and knows the island better than anyone.
While helping set up the camp, Kenzie hears whispers of a secret treasure. Three fugitives crash their boat on the island and take hostages. They have arrived on the island to search for the rumored buried treasure. Once the fugitives arrive there is non stop action. Kenzie, Jon, and Chris must use their strength and courage to keep the other hostages safe.
Kenzie is a strong female character and I loved her grit and determination. Chris reminded Kenzie of her nephew and I am glad at the end she was finally able to heal. Chris was my favorite character. I loved the way he tried to take care of his mom and help apprehend the fugitives. Some of the scenes are brutal but it just added to the suspense. I loved the action packed ending that made me hold my breath. I am looking forward to seeing what Rebecca writes next.
The story is told in the POV of three characters. Kenzie arrives on the island to be a nurse for the summer camp. She is trying to heal from the death of her nephew. Jon is an IT guy and camp counselor who considers the island home and is secretly in love with Leah the camp caretaker. Chris is Leah's nine year old son who likes to help at the camp and knows the island better than anyone.
While helping set up the camp, Kenzie hears whispers of a secret treasure. Three fugitives crash their boat on the island and take hostages. They have arrived on the island to search for the rumored buried treasure. Once the fugitives arrive there is non stop action. Kenzie, Jon, and Chris must use their strength and courage to keep the other hostages safe.
Kenzie is a strong female character and I loved her grit and determination. Chris reminded Kenzie of her nephew and I am glad at the end she was finally able to heal. Chris was my favorite character. I loved the way he tried to take care of his mom and help apprehend the fugitives. Some of the scenes are brutal but it just added to the suspense. I loved the action packed ending that made me hold my breath. I am looking forward to seeing what Rebecca writes next.
September 11, 2025
A 5 star thriller with heart
Kenzie Adams arrives on Salish Island to serve as a nurse at Camp Medrona and forget reality for a while. Believing herself responsible for the loss of a family member, she’s held prisoner by guilt and regret.
But when a strange boat runs aground on the island’s rocky shores, Kenzie and the other camp staff find themselves actual prisoners, held by a crazed gunman. Armed with only wits and courage, Kenzie must find a way to break free –from the danger, from fear, from remorse– if she wants to make it to the endgame alive.
Set against the lush background of the Puget Sound and featuring her signature style of emotional stakes paired with heart-pounding action, Rebecca Hodge has written another masterful thriller, one that speaks both to the heart of healing and the treasure of forgiveness.
Kenzie Adams arrives on Salish Island to serve as a nurse at Camp Medrona and forget reality for a while. Believing herself responsible for the loss of a family member, she’s held prisoner by guilt and regret.
But when a strange boat runs aground on the island’s rocky shores, Kenzie and the other camp staff find themselves actual prisoners, held by a crazed gunman. Armed with only wits and courage, Kenzie must find a way to break free –from the danger, from fear, from remorse– if she wants to make it to the endgame alive.
Set against the lush background of the Puget Sound and featuring her signature style of emotional stakes paired with heart-pounding action, Rebecca Hodge has written another masterful thriller, one that speaks both to the heart of healing and the treasure of forgiveness.
September 24, 2025
I read Island Endgame tonight from start to finish - WOW!
There is a secluded island, bad guys on a mission, a kid with the coolest ball of fluff ever, and a group of people just trying to kick off another year as camp counselors. Throw in a nurse who arrives with her head full of bad memories - but who, deep down, has got the guts to be extremely courageous - and you’ve got a story that’s impossible to put down. Nonstop action, great characters, and a setting that pulls you right in. I absolutely loved it!
There is a secluded island, bad guys on a mission, a kid with the coolest ball of fluff ever, and a group of people just trying to kick off another year as camp counselors. Throw in a nurse who arrives with her head full of bad memories - but who, deep down, has got the guts to be extremely courageous - and you’ve got a story that’s impossible to put down. Nonstop action, great characters, and a setting that pulls you right in. I absolutely loved it!
September 9, 2025
Island Endgame hooked me from the very first page. Fans of action, adventure, and treasure-hunting will find plenty to keep them turning pages. The pacing is brisk without feeling rushed, and I often found myself saying, “just one more chapter.” The cast of characters each brings something distinct to the story, and together they create a dynamic, engaging group. As a dog lover, I especially enjoyed Skagit’s role and the bond between him and Chris. This was my first book by this author, but definitely not my last. I’m excited to dive into more of her work.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 14, 2025
This book has a great setting and a great plot with so much tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the conclusion.
I love that the characters had to band together to survive. Kenzie is a great help as a nurse and they may not have survived much without her. Leah is the very protective mother that will do anything to keep her son, Chris, safe. Chris is a pretty scrappy 10 year old. He did make some mistakes but of course at his age, that's bound to happen.
I read this pulse pounding book in a few hours, I was just glued to the pages for the duration.
I love that the characters had to band together to survive. Kenzie is a great help as a nurse and they may not have survived much without her. Leah is the very protective mother that will do anything to keep her son, Chris, safe. Chris is a pretty scrappy 10 year old. He did make some mistakes but of course at his age, that's bound to happen.
I read this pulse pounding book in a few hours, I was just glued to the pages for the duration.
July 25, 2025
Rebecca is a master of setting and suspense. I was immediately on an isolated island with Kenzie, digging into why she left a nursing position to work at a camp, and into what was really happening on that island because all was not as it seemed. And then, when the bottom fell out, my adrenaline spiked with Kenzie, Chris, Leah, Jon, and the other camp counselors as a hostage situation turns into a fight for life and a rumored treasure. This book kept me turning pages until the very end!
September 14, 2025
4.5/5 stars. Thank you to the author for including me as an early reader for this book. This book has some very heavy topics and graphic scenes, but the action is engaging and the characters (the important ones!) are endearing. I especially loved Skagit. The end felt cleanly done, but appropriate, rather than forced. I applaud the author for her scenic descriptions and use of different POVs.
January 26, 2026
Island Endgame is a pulse-pounding, heart-stopping adventure. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book, never knowing which way things were going to turn. What a ride!
February 7, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the different perspectives of Kenny and John. The back and forth of their thoughts and the present kept me interested. The story starts slow but speeds up pretty quickly and then it’s just a roller coaster.
October 4, 2025
Rebecca Hodge has done it again! Island Endgame is chock full of heart-stopping action and resourceful protagonists with interesting backstories. I especially loved Chris, the intelligent ten-year-old boy who knows every rock and cranny on the remote but beautiful Salish Island. Highly recommend.
July 31, 2025
New-to-me author, Rebecca Hodge, has written a gripping story. An emotionally burned out nurse, Kenzie, takes a completely different kind of job at a summer camp to escape bad memories and heal her soul. A work at home computer programmer, Jon, returns to the camp of his youth to be a counselor, like he does every year, nursing a secret love. Chris and his mom live year round on the island in isolation, and he looks forward to the surge of new life soon to arrive when summer camp begins. When the first group of counselors arrive, Kenzie notices they seem to have a secret...
The beginning of this story spends important time setting the stage for what is to come, and reads at a steady but slower pace. When the boat from hell arrives, everything changes. The secret hunt for hidden treasure becomes the main thread and a truly evil man with his two cohorts intends to do whatever it takes to get it all. I couldn't read fast enough!
Hodge's visual writing turned this book into a movie in my head. After the first third, I was on the edge of my seat, wishing the main characters were more super heroes than regular folks in the fight of their lives. I respected the author for making them real and messing up like any of us would if in the same circumstances. This made the final challenge and victory all the sweeter.
It's hard to include emotional development and growth for characters in a nonstop action book such as this, but Hodge does a wonderful job of doing just that. I rooted for Kenzie, Jon and sweet Chris to the very end.
Well done and highly recommended 4.5 stars.
The beginning of this story spends important time setting the stage for what is to come, and reads at a steady but slower pace. When the boat from hell arrives, everything changes. The secret hunt for hidden treasure becomes the main thread and a truly evil man with his two cohorts intends to do whatever it takes to get it all. I couldn't read fast enough!
Hodge's visual writing turned this book into a movie in my head. After the first third, I was on the edge of my seat, wishing the main characters were more super heroes than regular folks in the fight of their lives. I respected the author for making them real and messing up like any of us would if in the same circumstances. This made the final challenge and victory all the sweeter.
It's hard to include emotional development and growth for characters in a nonstop action book such as this, but Hodge does a wonderful job of doing just that. I rooted for Kenzie, Jon and sweet Chris to the very end.
Well done and highly recommended 4.5 stars.
August 24, 2025
In Island Endgame, Rebecca Hodge combines her gift for vivid setting with a cast of memorable characters trapped together on an island in the Puget Sound with no way to communicate with the outside world. We meet Kenzie, battling her guilt over her nephew's death; Jon, desperate for the only place that feels like home; Leah, for whom it is also a place of refuge; and Leah's charming and fiercely independent son, Chris.
But everyone has secrets, and some of those secrets will put all of them in danger. When the bad guys show up, the team has to band together, and everyone will get a chance to show what they're made of.
This was a riveting page turner of a book.
But everyone has secrets, and some of those secrets will put all of them in danger. When the bad guys show up, the team has to band together, and everyone will get a chance to show what they're made of.
This was a riveting page turner of a book.
August 26, 2025
Well this is the third novel I have read by Rebecca Hodge, and they just keep getting better! This one is about a nurse deciding to spend her summer working at a summer camp on an island in Puget Sound. Sounds tame right? Nope, she has no idea what she's gotten herself into. Once again, like her previous novels, the tension starts early and ramps up from there. There is a lot of secrets among the staff, as they are supposed to be getting set up for the campers who will arrive in a week. That's not really happening, but some bad actors have other plans and they don't include singing kumbaya around the campfire. This was a high-octane thriller, and I loved it!
Thanks to Book Sirens, Rebecca Hodge, and Lost Meridian Press for giving me an ARC to read and review.
Thanks to Book Sirens, Rebecca Hodge, and Lost Meridian Press for giving me an ARC to read and review.
August 1, 2025
When Kenzie, a nurse harboring some PTSD, arrives at an island summer camp it is not what she expected. Most of the people greet her warmly, but there is something weird going on. What follows is a wild story of hostage situations, treasure hunting, and cliff diving (IYKYK).
While I enjoyed the story, I was not on the edge of my seat. It kept my attention fairly well, but there was a moment or two where I rolled my eyes because, "really? ANOTHER obstacle?"
BUT what do I know? I have never been held hostage on an island intended for summer camp while having to search for treasure and protect those around me.
Overall, I rate it a 4.2. I do recommend it!
**NetGalley review**
While I enjoyed the story, I was not on the edge of my seat. It kept my attention fairly well, but there was a moment or two where I rolled my eyes because, "really? ANOTHER obstacle?"
BUT what do I know? I have never been held hostage on an island intended for summer camp while having to search for treasure and protect those around me.
Overall, I rate it a 4.2. I do recommend it!
**NetGalley review**
September 1, 2025
Great story, fast paced, never a dull moment! Looking for other books by this author!
August 18, 2025
Action Packed Island Adventure With Heart. This is one of those books that is going to be great for damn near any reader. If you're more a women's fiction type... well, there's a lot of aspects of that happening here between one of our main characters coming to the island specifically over some trauma she is trying to heal from and one of our other main characters and the reasons she lives on the island permanently. Both of which play central roles in this tale.
Then for the action/ adventure/ mystery crowd, suddenly the tale spins and becomes much more action/ suspense/ mystery based, with unexpected newcomers threatening to kill everyone currently on the island. Through this section - much of the rest of the book, with the relationship drama folded into this new survival/ action pacing - we get a near Atomfall / early Tomb Raider/ Lara Croft type tale wherein the islanders have to evade their captors and sneak their way around as they work to find some way back to safety.
Both sides of the storytelling work well with each other, with richly detailed main characters providing a lot of the heart even as their various and conflicting motivations also lead to some of the difficulties being faced here.
The Pacific Northwest island setting also plays a strong role here and Hodge describes it so wonderfully that you'll likely want to consider vacationing out there yourself... without the drama and survival tale taking place within the setting of this particular tale. :D
Truly an excellently written tale that works superbly on many different levels.
Very much recommended.
Then for the action/ adventure/ mystery crowd, suddenly the tale spins and becomes much more action/ suspense/ mystery based, with unexpected newcomers threatening to kill everyone currently on the island. Through this section - much of the rest of the book, with the relationship drama folded into this new survival/ action pacing - we get a near Atomfall / early Tomb Raider/ Lara Croft type tale wherein the islanders have to evade their captors and sneak their way around as they work to find some way back to safety.
Both sides of the storytelling work well with each other, with richly detailed main characters providing a lot of the heart even as their various and conflicting motivations also lead to some of the difficulties being faced here.
The Pacific Northwest island setting also plays a strong role here and Hodge describes it so wonderfully that you'll likely want to consider vacationing out there yourself... without the drama and survival tale taking place within the setting of this particular tale. :D
Truly an excellently written tale that works superbly on many different levels.
Very much recommended.
July 16, 2025
I loved everything about ISLAND ENDGAME, Rebecca Hodge's latest page-turner.
The writing is beautiful and the suspense palpable from the moment Kenzie Adams steps off the boat onto a remote island for a low-stress summer job as a camp nurse. Kenzie's plan is to make sense of the grief and guilt that has derailed her nursing career and destroyed an important relationship. She needs to reboot her life.
Nothing feels quite right on the island from day one, despite the beautiful scenery with snow-capped mountains in the distance. Even as she helps a skeleton staff prepare for the campers' arrival, Kenzie stumbles on secrets.
Then three armed fugitives crash their boat on the shore, take hostages, and issue a directive: discover the treasure rumored to be hidden on the island or die.
Kenzie eventually escapes, but is thrust into a deadly game of survival.
The story is told from the perspective of Kenzie and two other compelling characters: Jon, a camp counselor, and the caretaker's 9-year-old son, Chris, who runs wild on the island with his dog.
The natural setting comes alive through their different perspectives, and as the tension and twists ramp up, we gradually learn that Kenzie, Jon, and Chris are all as isolated as the island that brings them together. They are also resourceful, compassionate, and determined to outwit the criminals and keep the rest of the staff safe.
A five-star read all the way!
The writing is beautiful and the suspense palpable from the moment Kenzie Adams steps off the boat onto a remote island for a low-stress summer job as a camp nurse. Kenzie's plan is to make sense of the grief and guilt that has derailed her nursing career and destroyed an important relationship. She needs to reboot her life.
Nothing feels quite right on the island from day one, despite the beautiful scenery with snow-capped mountains in the distance. Even as she helps a skeleton staff prepare for the campers' arrival, Kenzie stumbles on secrets.
Then three armed fugitives crash their boat on the shore, take hostages, and issue a directive: discover the treasure rumored to be hidden on the island or die.
Kenzie eventually escapes, but is thrust into a deadly game of survival.
The story is told from the perspective of Kenzie and two other compelling characters: Jon, a camp counselor, and the caretaker's 9-year-old son, Chris, who runs wild on the island with his dog.
The natural setting comes alive through their different perspectives, and as the tension and twists ramp up, we gradually learn that Kenzie, Jon, and Chris are all as isolated as the island that brings them together. They are also resourceful, compassionate, and determined to outwit the criminals and keep the rest of the staff safe.
A five-star read all the way!
August 20, 2025
Hodge delivers a taut, atmospheric thriller that blends survival suspense with a moving portrait of grief and redemption. Kenzie Adams carries the crushing weight of her nephew’s drowning, a tragedy that drove her from her hospital career. Hoping that the quiet of a secluded island camp will restore her, she takes a post as nurse for the summer. But when three fugitives land on the island in search of treasure, her refuge becomes a battleground. With no way to call for help and a child’s life on the line, Kenzie must summon strength she no longer believes she has.
The island is drawn with exacting detail: mist curling through forests, waves lapping with cold menace, a landscape that mirrors the story’s tension. Leah projects quiet strength; Kenzie falters under grief; Chris is at once a reminder of innocence lost and a spark of hope, while Jon enters with the heaviness of his own scars. Rather than caricatures, the fugitives are drawn with unsettling realism—their greed and fear corroding judgment until survival instincts drive them to brutality.
What elevates the novel beyond standard thriller conventions is its emotional core. Kenzie's battle is both with the men who hold her captive and the crushing conviction that she cannot protect those who rely on her. Their threat mirrors her deeper conflict: recover her ability to trust herself, or repeat the heartbreak of failure. A razor-sharp thriller that grips from the opening page and doesn’t let go.
The island is drawn with exacting detail: mist curling through forests, waves lapping with cold menace, a landscape that mirrors the story’s tension. Leah projects quiet strength; Kenzie falters under grief; Chris is at once a reminder of innocence lost and a spark of hope, while Jon enters with the heaviness of his own scars. Rather than caricatures, the fugitives are drawn with unsettling realism—their greed and fear corroding judgment until survival instincts drive them to brutality.
What elevates the novel beyond standard thriller conventions is its emotional core. Kenzie's battle is both with the men who hold her captive and the crushing conviction that she cannot protect those who rely on her. Their threat mirrors her deeper conflict: recover her ability to trust herself, or repeat the heartbreak of failure. A razor-sharp thriller that grips from the opening page and doesn’t let go.
September 16, 2025
Just when I thought Rebecca Hodge’s writing couldn’t get any more intense, frightening, and chilling, it does!
Kenzie Adams has just arrived at a summer camp on a deserted island in Puget Sound, where she will serve as the camp’s nurse. Hoping to heal from a recent tragedy, her hopes are soon dashed when three armed and dangerous fugitives invade the island, in search of buried treasure. Desperate, the three are willing to risk everything (and anyone who stands in their way) to claim their booty. Kenzie, though, is having none of it. Dredging strength and courage she didn’t know were hers, she battles to save all in her charge from the fugitives’ brutality.
In addition to being the Queen of Suspense, Rebecca Hodge is a master at creating strong, brave, interesting female characters. And Kenzie Adams is one of her best creations. I loved her grit and determination, as well as every suspenseful word of ISLAND ENDGAME. I devoured this book in large gulps…yet hated to see it end. Just like Ms. Hodge’s other novels, WILDLAND and OVER THE FALLS, ISLAND ENDGAME is a thrilling must-read.
Kenzie Adams has just arrived at a summer camp on a deserted island in Puget Sound, where she will serve as the camp’s nurse. Hoping to heal from a recent tragedy, her hopes are soon dashed when three armed and dangerous fugitives invade the island, in search of buried treasure. Desperate, the three are willing to risk everything (and anyone who stands in their way) to claim their booty. Kenzie, though, is having none of it. Dredging strength and courage she didn’t know were hers, she battles to save all in her charge from the fugitives’ brutality.
In addition to being the Queen of Suspense, Rebecca Hodge is a master at creating strong, brave, interesting female characters. And Kenzie Adams is one of her best creations. I loved her grit and determination, as well as every suspenseful word of ISLAND ENDGAME. I devoured this book in large gulps…yet hated to see it end. Just like Ms. Hodge’s other novels, WILDLAND and OVER THE FALLS, ISLAND ENDGAME is a thrilling must-read.
August 20, 2025
Hodge delivers a chilling hostage drama where survival and redemption collide. Guilt-ridden over the drowning death of her nine-year-old nephew, Kenzie Adams leaves her city hospital job for what she hopes will be a quiet summer as camp nurse on Salish Island. But before the campers even arrive, her refuge turns into a nightmare. Three fugitives land on the island in search of a rumored treasure, taking Kenzie and the staff hostage and threatening the life of the caretaker’s young son. Will she survive the ordeal?
Hodge blends suspense, mystery, and shocking violence with a deeply emotional examination of grief and resilience. The novel asks what happens when the very circumstances we run from return in even more harrowing form—and how far we can go when forced to outthink danger. Salish Island may be unassuming and quiet, but in these pages it delivers a story of immense impact. With its mix of pulse-pounding suspense and emotional depth, the novel makes for an un-put-downable read.
Hodge blends suspense, mystery, and shocking violence with a deeply emotional examination of grief and resilience. The novel asks what happens when the very circumstances we run from return in even more harrowing form—and how far we can go when forced to outthink danger. Salish Island may be unassuming and quiet, but in these pages it delivers a story of immense impact. With its mix of pulse-pounding suspense and emotional depth, the novel makes for an un-put-downable read.
July 26, 2025
“Island Endgame” is a gripping, emotionally charged survival story wrapped in stunning natural beauty. Rebecca Hodge, paints the scenery with such vivid detail that the island feels like a character of its own—both breathtaking and brutal.
Kenzie Adams is my new hero. Watching her transform from grief-stricken and uncertain into a fierce, capable survivalist was nothing short of inspiring. Her resilience and quiet strength drive the story forward with emotional weight and authenticity.
This book delivers tension and suspense in equal measure, but what really sets it apart is its compassion—for the characters, their pain, and their growth. Hodge blends fast-paced, high-stakes action with deeply human moments, crafting a survival tale that doesn’t just thrill, it moves you.
A well-written, unforgettable read. Highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kenzie Adams is my new hero. Watching her transform from grief-stricken and uncertain into a fierce, capable survivalist was nothing short of inspiring. Her resilience and quiet strength drive the story forward with emotional weight and authenticity.
This book delivers tension and suspense in equal measure, but what really sets it apart is its compassion—for the characters, their pain, and their growth. Hodge blends fast-paced, high-stakes action with deeply human moments, crafting a survival tale that doesn’t just thrill, it moves you.
A well-written, unforgettable read. Highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 27, 2025
ISLAND ENDGAME is a page-turning suspense novel set on a remote island in the Puget Sound, that will grip readers from the get-go. Hodge excels in setting the scene with vivid yet haunting descriptions of the island landscape. Kenzie, a nurse, arrives on Salish Island with a painful secret, hoping a few months at summer camp tending to kids’ scraped knees will give her time to heal and get her life back on track. But her camp co-workers have other plans and nothing and no one are what they seem. Soon, danger is racing toward the island at jet speed and this story goes from idyllic to menacing, taking readers along for an expertly crafted thrill ride. This riveting, suspenseful novel is full of characters readers will root for from the edge of their seats until the nail-biting end! Brava, Rebecca Hodge!
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