First in a new series where meet-cutes go wrong… or exactly right.
Pilot Rory Baker was born to fly. Schlepping around Lincoln Kerr, a billionaire with an ego as big as his bank balance? Not so much. Especially when Lincoln suddenly demands they fly to Hawaii despite severe weather warnings. Rory’s perfect flying record is about to crash and burn—literally. It’s a miracle he survives. Even more miraculous that rescuers find him in the middle of a Hawaiian jungle, and one of them is the hottest woman he’s ever seen…who also happens to swing a machete like a champ. Rory makes a snap decision: pretend to be his boss until he knows who he can trust.
Mathilda Wheeler is living on borrowed time. An agreement with her parents has allowed her to live the unassuming life of a grad student for nearly a decade, but she’s been avoiding a major decision—one that’s about to track her down all the way from England to a hidden research camp in a lush Hawaiian valley. Why now, when she’s finally found a man she could love? And why him, billionaire Lincoln Kerr, the very type she’s been avoiding? Though…Mathilda has to admit, he’s unlike any rich guy she’s ever met. For instance, even some of her fellow scientists seem to know more about Lincoln’s personal and professional life than the man himself.
Hidden identities, ancient bequests, intimate nights, a jackass billionaire…and speaking of, what was Lincoln Kerr’s super-secret trip to Hawaii all about, anyway? Rory and Mathilda have no idea. But judging by the sudden appearance of murder drones and masked commandos, clearly there’s more to this story than a one-in-a-billion accidental meet-cute.
Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found cuddling with her laptop and a cup of tea. No stranger to book success, she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name that she’s happy to share with the curious.
You can connect with Jennifer online at http://JenniferBernard.net or email her at Jen@JenniferBernard.net.
One in a Billion is set in the beautiful locale of Hawaii and you'd never guess that hidden in the jungle amongst a lush tropical background that a suspenseful story is taking place, but Bernard brought a new contemporary romance to life in this book that is full of whimsy, action, adventure, and a meet-cute between a couple that is unlike anything you'd expect.
From the very first chapter I was pulled into this book by the snarky wit of Rory Baker, the pilot who is flying around the billionaire, Lincoln Kerr. Lincoln is, as you'd expect, a billionaire businessman, who doesn't really take no for an answer, even when Rory tells him that flying isn't in their best interest with the upcoming weather they headed straight towards. Lincoln not only feels that his overflowing bank accounts should push through any problem, but that also his well paid employees should make any problem go away. Unfortunately, weather doesn't exactly listen to Lincoln Kerr, no matter how much money he has, thus causing Rory and Lincoln to crash land into the jungles of Hawaii. Thankfully with minor injuries, but with a last minute decision to switch identities since Lincoln doesn't have his normal security team in tow and they don't exactly know who to trust until help arrives. What Rory never expected was help to appear in the form of a machete wielding blonde goddess who knows the jungle like the back of her hand and knocks his entire axis off balance.
Mathilda Wheeler is a grad student, living in the Hawaiian jungle with other students like herself, when she witnesses a plane crash nearby. Of course she has to make sure if there are any survivors and thankfully there are, offering up their camp to heal and rest before they move on. She never expected to feel such chemistry from a stranger, especially one that would be here and gone, but Mathilda can't help her draw to Rory(who is pretending to be Lincoln) and he can't seem to stay away from her either. And its not only their chemistry that is off the charts, but something is strange, not only about their crash, but Lincoln-Rory says the oddest things and Mathilda can't quite pinpoint what it is, but she's torn between liking the man before her and not liking everything he represents.
Rory's snarky humor won me over immediately and it's also what won over Mathilda immediately too. Rory's the kind of hero that doesn't know he's a hero, but was pushed into stepping up at the right moments at the right time and I love those kind of guys in action books and films. He is the kind of guy who will do the right thing, even when he isn't aware he is doing it. And when asked why, he's not doing it for fame, or glory, or money, but something deep down inside pushed him to do the right thing and a lot of the time, it even baffled him, but he still went ahead and did it anyway. But...be still my heart...I'm a total sucker for these kinds of heroes every single time.
There is a ton of adventure, which never seemed to end, and I always look forward to that in Bernard's books. Along with the fast paced nature of the mystery and suspense, Mathilda has a looming deadline that she too has to meet, which added a whole other layer of doomsday feeling to the overall pacing of the plot. It really upped the momentum and made for an exciting read.
One in a Billion is an exciting new series set in the tropics of Hawaii. I love when you can get lost in a story and this was one of those books. I absolutely love it when a book catches and retains your interest and you feel like you simply cannot put it down. Sprinkle in some great history and the story is better and then some. I honestly could read any and all of Jennifer Bernards books in one sitting. Of course I force myself to make them last. Just when I think I have found my favorite series another comes along and I have a new favorite.
In this particular book we are introduced to Mathilda and Rory. Mathilda is in the remote jungle/valley doing some research. She is part of a remote camp where everyone pulls their weight and contributes ro the camp as a whole. Some people might not think living in a primitive setting even in Hawaii sounds even remotely appealing, but it is for Mathilda. She is living on borrowed time though. Her parents only agreed to let pursue her dream until she was sure she could not turn down an “arranged marriage” of sorts which would leave her set for life. She has never been in love and has finally accepted that she might as well just marry Duncan. Never did she think a plane would crash near the research camp where she would be thrown into saving the pilot cue Rory and his billionaire boss Lincoln. Lincoln has secrets of his own and puts everyone at risk. Rory has signed an NDA and is only taking care of Lincoln so he can take care of his family. From start to finish this book kept you on your toes. Will Mathilda find real love or would she settle? I guess you’ll just need to read to find out!
What a delightful book! Kat Mizera has taken me, in previous series, from the cold and wilds of Alaska, to the wetter, windy, more temperate climes of the coast if Maine, among other licales and now we find ourselves in the lush beauty of tropical, volcanic Hawaii. As always, we are treated to fabulous descriptions of the country, which bring the forests, flora, and fauna to rich life. The introduction to Rory, pilot extraordinaire, snarky, witty backtalker, and all-around decent human being is a dramatic one. He is contending with horrendous weather and the implacable, autocratic, determined billionaire Lincoln Kerr, who wants his own way and deals with his employees with a 'don't argue with me, I'm your boss' attitude. The situation is flaky, raising questions and red flags in Rory's head as to why and what's going on?? Their presipitous descent into the jungle, the introduction to the delightful Mathilda, their intrepid bird loving rescuer and the stoic, slyly witty Robert, initiates complications and risks which unfold over the course of events which provide thrills, secrets, revelations and the burgeoning love between our two fabulous stars of the show. I could not put this book down and became totally immersed in both the characters and their story. The book is full of wit, warmth, fun, craziness, a touch of truth regarding the isolationist, self-serving attitudes of the mega wealthy, and a thoroughly good live story! 💖💖💖💖💖
One in a Billion was exactly the kind of wild, escapist ride I didn't know I needed. Jennifer Bernard hooked me right from the start with Rory and Mathilda’s disastrously perfect meet-cute in the Hawaiian jungle. I absolutely loved the chaotic energy of Rory, a down-to-earth pilot, trying to pass himself off as his arrogant billionaire boss while being rescued by Mathilda—a machete-wielding grad student who is fiercely independent. Their chemistry felt incredibly organic amid all the madness, and watching them navigate their growing feelings while buried under layers of secrets made it impossible for me to put the book down.
What really elevated this story for me, though, was how quickly a standard romance trope spiraled into a full-blown action movie. I went into it expecting a lighthearted rom-com, but suddenly I was dealing with ancient bequests, masked commandos, and murder drones in a lush tropical paradise. Bernard balances the high-stakes suspense with genuine, intimate character moments so well that the absurd plot twists actually worked for me. It’s a stellar, fast-paced kickoff to a new series, and it left me genuinely excited to see what kind of trouble she cooks up next.
This is a fun, exciting first book in a new series from Jennifer Bernard. Right at the beginning, Rory Baker, pilot for billionaire Lincoln Kerr, finds himself in trouble. The small plane he’s flying develops problems and goes down in the jungle of Hawaii. He only has a small wound but Kerr is unconscious. Enter scientist Mathilda Wheeler. She and a colleague saw the plane crash and have come to help any survivors. They help Rory get Lincoln back to camp where several other scientists are living. The trouble doesn’t stop with the plane crash. Needless to say, Mathilda and Rory develop feelings for each other. So many other calamities befall them before they finally to find each other again, right where they first met. This is a fast-moving story with so many twists that will keep you riveted on the story. Be warned, you might want to have the Internet close by so you can research all the Hawaiian terms, plants, animals, and places mentioned. Jennifer always does her research for her books but she really outdid herself this time. Great story with great characters. I can’t wait for #2 in the series.
What an interesting story. This book starts off with a bang and keeps you on your toes throughout the entire story. Rory works as a pilot for his billionaire boss, Lincoln and they are heading to Hawaii. Unfortunately, they never make it to their destination as they run into a bad storm and crash in the jungle. Luckily they both survive but here is where the adventure really beings. Rory makes a split decision to trade places with Lincoln until he can figure out what is going on and who he can trust. This happens when they are saved by a research group that has a camp not far from where they crashed. That’s when he meets Mathilda. These two had some serious sparks between them, which disturbs Mathilda because she doesn’t want to like Rory due to his being a billionaire, even though she has her own secrets that she isn’t telling anyone else about either. This book was a very interesting read as it had just the right amount of mystery along with that slow building romantic build between Rory and Mathilda.
This book was an adventure. Rory is a pilot begrudgingly going on a very dangerous flight with his billionaire boss Lincoln to Hawaii. But the two never make it to their destination as their plane crashes in an unknown location in Hawaii. Rory survives, as does his boss, but Lincoln is unconscious, so Rory makes a snap decision to pretend he is the billionaire in an attempt to try to keep them both alive and safe. From there things get more and more twisted as they go to a research camp in the jungle with a beautiful woman named Mathilda, who has her own secrets. Rory has to keep up the lie of being a billionaire, while trying to figure out what his boss was up to, his to keep him alive, and stay a step ahead of those trying to find them. This book was full of mystery, beautiful scenery, and some nice romantic longing and tension. A fun start to a new series! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.
I can’t think of a better place for a meet/cute! Great story with fun characters, well, except for entitled billionaires and mosquitoes, of course. Loved Rory Baker, he was the most caring character I’ve read in a while. He worries about his family, wants to do his job well (even when he questions his billionaire boss’s judgement…), and goes to the mat for new friends. And Mathilda Wheeler. She is a grad student who shows up to help crash victims – in the wilds of a Hawaii forest! – but she has some secrets that she hasn’t shared with her fellow students or anyone else.
These two are perfect together, even with their secrets. No spoilers from me, read the story and find out what I mean. It is at times hilarious, scary, fun and touching. I loved the relationship building between Rory and Mathilda and had some choice thoughts for Rory’s boss, Lincoln Kerr. Loved this story and can’t wait for a next one and a return trip to Hawaii. Minus the bugs.
This is the first in a new series, and what a great beginning this story it. Rory is a pilot, who flies billionaire Lincoln wherever he wants, and when he is told to fly to Hawaii despite a severe warning weather, he knows his perfect flying record is coming to an end. Mattilda is living on borrowed time, and a major decision needs to be made about her future, and she is one of a group of scientists studying in this remote area, come to their rescue, with Rory temporarily takes on Lincoln’s identity. This is a well written action packed, easy to read story, with tension, hidden identity, danger, suspense, intrigue, secrets, forced proximity, romance, revelations, romance, humour, witty banter, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and unpredictable, addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
One in a Billion was so much fun! It's a contemporary standalone that will definitely bring a smile to your face. When private pilot Rory Baker crashes into the Hawaiian mountains, he never expected to be rescued by a beautiful woman and her native Hawaiian friend. Mathilda Wheeler is a graduate student researching the native Hawaiian birds but when she and one of her fellow research students witness a plane crash, they both run to assist any survivors. They never expected to find a billionaire and his private pilot in their remote corner of the island. As Mathilda gets to know both men, she has many questions about why they ended up her but then she has her own surprise come to the island! The rest of their story is funny, intriguing, light hearted and has heat and a HEA! This is the perfect beach read and I highly recommend diving into it today!
There were two different story lines going on in this book. In one, Rory and his wealthy boss, Lincoln crash land in Hawaii near Mathilda's research camp and Rory tries to protect him by assuming his identity. The other involved Mathilda and her family drama. Both plots worked well together until they didn't. Towards the end of the book, Mathilda is returned to her family and has a choice to make. However, under the circumstances in which she left Rory, she never thinks about the danger he was in when she left. Instead of expressing any concern for his welfare, her thoughts are on her decision for her future. When a story is heading toward a HEA, it felt unbelievable and out of place. I enjoyed the story until it veered off course. It comes back together, but that one part took away from the story.
ONE IN A BILLION is the first in Jennifer Bernard's Accidentally Yours series. Pilot Rory Baker meets researcher Mathilda Wheeler when the private plane he's flying is forced to crash land in Hawaii. While he's scrambling to protect his unconscious boss, uber wealthy businessman Lincoln Kerr, Mathilda and a fellow scientist come to their rescue. All is not exactly as it seems at first glance, and while Rory and Mathilda work to keep each other at a professional distance AND to keep everyone safe and alive, a lot is afoot on this island.
Jennifer Bernard's story is full of good humor, good storytelling, straight talk and some straight shooting, family ties, pasts catching up with presents, unimaginable wealth and real treasures, and not only finding but ultimately pursuing one's heart's desires. An absolutely delightful read, and I can't wait for the next in this beguiling series.
One in a Billion is a fun read. This is book 1 in a new series and i cannot wait for more. Rory is a pilot who works for a billionaire named Lincoln. He finds them in a bit of a pickle once the plane goes down in Hawaii. Mathilda is a researcher trying to restore the crow population on the island. Both Mathilda and Rory have secrets. Rory is protective of Lincoln to an extent as they try to figure out who is after them. Poor Lincoln and you'll see why as you read. I love the chemistry build between Rory and Mathilda as they spend more time together. This is an amazing adventure in the jungle of Hawaii that will keep you hooked from the start. I love how everything unravels. You need to read this today.
This book was not what I expected when I started reading and I am so glad. It took directions I didn’t think it would go and kept me invested in the story from start to finish. Rory and Mathilda are so intriguing as individual characters and together. Rory is full of snark and made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion in the story. He steps up when it’s needed and does it because it’s right, not for the glory. Mathilda is such a caring and kind person. She didn’t hesitate to help at any moment. The connection and chemistry between Mathilda and Rory was incredible and intense. The pull they have to each other was endearing and heated. This book gave us adventure and tension and heat and action. And the ending left me feeling satisfied and happy.
If you’re looking for a book with romance, secrets, suspense, people who love their families, and let’s not forget Rory pretending to be billionaire Lincoln Kerr, after their plane crashes in the Hawaiian jungle. Rory and Mathilda meet when Robert and her are the ones to rescue Lincoln and him. Lincoln survives the crash but he’s unconscious. Rory decides to pretend to be him. Will this come back to bite him in the butt? We shall see. Mathilda doesn’t want to be attracted to Rory, but their chemistry is undeniable. Soon, danger arrives in the form of shooting drone. What’s that about? No spoilers, so grab your copy and see what happens in this suspenseful page-turner.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
This is the first book in a new series. The book was set in Hawaii and had some interesting characters, plane crashes, loads of heart pounding moments and suspense. I really liked Rory, a pilot employed by billionaire Lincoln. He was a sexy, interesting character, always looking out for his boss. I also liked Mathilda, who was working at the Nahele Research Camp in a jungle. It was fun watching the sparks between Rory and Mathilda and whether anything would develop between them or if secrets might keep them apart. This book was definitely a page turner that will have you wondering what would happen next and how everything would turn out. I received an advance copy of this book, and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Lush Hawaii is the backdrop for this suspenseful book in her new series. Rory, a pilot, is taking his boss to Maui when they crash on the big island during a bad storm. They are rescued by a group of scientists studying this remote area. One scientist, Mathilde, is studying birds. Together they work to save his boss and develop a close relationship along the way. Unfortunately, they don’t know the danger they are in which even follows them when they return to civilization. I learned a lot about the flora and fauna of Hawaii while reading this enjoyable and hard to put down book. If you like romantic suspense, you will like this one. Recommended.
What an adventure!!! Author Jennifer Bernard has our MMC, Rory, a pilot for a billionaire (Lincoln), crash landing a plane in the Hawaiian jungle area. Some hasty decisions has him protecting Lincoln (who is out cold), and Lincoln’s “weird lunchbox” until he knows who he can trust.
Machete-wielding Mathilda comes to his rescue but is on her own mission on the island…which is about to come to an end.
This romance book is full of mystery/light suspense, twists, and scientific research. It was such an enjoyable read! I liked the characters, the roller-coaster plot and the light romance in this book. I am excited to see what book 2 has in store for us in this series!
One in a Billion was an entertaining blend of romance, adventure, and suspense that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Rory's quick wit and genuinely good heart made him an easy hero to love, while Mathilda's intelligence and independence made her the perfect match for him. Their chemistry felt natural, even amid the chaos of a plane crash, hidden identities, and escalating danger in the Hawaiian jungle.
The lush setting, fast-paced plot, and unexpected twists made this more than a typical romance. It was a fun, exciting read with plenty of action, humor, and heart. A great start to a new series, and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
The latest series from Jennifer Bernard has all the twists we have come to love about her books. PilotRory looks little like his billionaire boss Lincoln. When they find themselves in a research camp in Hawaii Rory does everything he can to protect his boss. Him and Mathilda begin to talk but both have secrets that they are not willing to share. Will they need to share these secrets to keep each other safe or will they go their own ways once secrets are shared and they find they both might have not been truthful with each other. Once you go on this adventure with these two you will want the next book to come out to find out what adventures are next and for who!
I really enjoyed the suspense with this one, Rory and his sassy self. I couldn’t love him more! He literally made me read this almost in one sitting. Rory is flying his oh so rich boss to Hawaii and even though he told boss, the weather would be bad, he didn’t listen and guess what!? They crash into the Hawaii jungle. Mathilda and her fellow science buddies studying out in the field rescue them and Rory pretends to be Lincoln thinking he could be in danger. Everything after I’ll leave for you to find out but man I loved the suspense, the sass, the love that we get to experience through this read. Another great book by this author!
One in a Billion is book 1 in Accidentally Yours series by Jennifer Bernard and a great start to this series
This story pulls you in from the first page with cute meet vibes, rom/com, adventure, action, crash landing in the Hawaiian forest for billionaire Lincoln and pilot, Rory with no security they switch identities. Enters Mathilda who witnesses the crash, offers help and more…you really don’t want to miss this series!
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Action and adventure at its best. Fast paced and definitely full of danger Anna suspense.
Pilot Rory crash lands after her demanding passenger Lincoln persists in changing route in a storm. In the jungle an adventurer Mathilda finds them and that's when questions are asked as more danger is after them.
Such a demanding roller coaster ride of a book that compelled me forward to not miss a word. These characters and this plot never let go from start to finish.
Fantastic writing which made this a must read. So good!
Rory is the pilot for billionaire Lincoln, who forces him to fly through a horrific storm. When the storm causes them to crash on some Hawaiian island, Rory says he's Lincoln in order to protect his bosses proprietary information after Mathilda rescues them both. Mathilda is a researcher who is checking on a special bird she has introduced into the surrounding area to keep them from becoming extinct. The story of these two is fascinating, funny, suspenseful at times and just a really enjoyable read! You won't want to miss this one!
In typical fashion, Ms. Bernard manages to blend romance and action into a perfect story. Mathilda and Rory both have secrets, which of course complicates the attraction between them. But they are throw into an uneasy alliance in order to combat a growing list of hostile forces. I love Ms. Bernard's books, because she really knows how to make the characters in them come alive in your mind. If you like a read with a great mix of romance, action and suspense, then this is definitely the next book you want to read.
The world-building in this story is next level. Author Jennifer Bernard creates such rich locations and realistic characters in unrealistic circumstances, that it’s all totally believable. Rory is a pilot working for Lincoln, a billionaire. Mathilda rescues them after a crash in the jungle. Rory and Mathilda have off-the-charts chemistry. Secrets and bad guys get in the way, of course, but that’s what keeps the story moving and the heat up. Enjoy this first-in-a-new-series 5-star read!
Jennifer built up the action and suspense in One In A Billion. The storyline was unique and kept me hooked. The story has secrets, bad guys, action and adventure.
Rory and Mathilda, these two have secrets. Rory is pretending to be his billionaire boss (Lincoln) and Mathilda is hiding her own identity. The chemistry between them is off the charts but Mathilda behinds to question the things “Lincoln” says and does.
Rory is a pilot that Lincoln has hired to fly him to Hawaii. There's a bad storm coming and Rory advises against flying. However, Lincoln doesn't understand no so he insists they go anyway. When the plane crashes they are rescued by Mathilda who is doing research on the island. When Rory pretends to be his boss to figure out why it was so important to make the trip immediately, things start to really get interesting. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Quite a different story…private pilot taking on the identity of his billionaire boss after his plane crashes leaving his boss in a coma, a woman running from an antiquated English familial requirement to marry a stranger, a weird crystal carried around in a high security box, mystery surrounding the reason why the billionaire wanted to fly to Hawaii in the first place, etc.
If you enjoy a touch of fanciful story telling, this one is for you!
This was an amazing rom com adventure! So fun, exciting and the banter was everything I didn't know I needed. Fantastic writing, remarkable characters and entertaining plot twists, you won't be able to put this one down. The gorgeous Hawaii setting made this story feel exotic and a whole lotta spark between Rory and Mathilda. The chemistry, emotions, adventure and fun were just a delight from start to finish. This would make a great movie! I couldn't have loved it more, a must read!