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The McGraws #2
Into the Wild
She needs adventure.
He needs taming.
Things are about to get wild...
When River Kane's fiancé abandons her at the altar for being too conventional, she's heartbroken. But everything changes when her estranged archaeologist father sends her his journal—filled with cryptic maps and a note indicating he's in mortal danger. Worried, River faces her greatest fears and flies to the Amazon to find him. But she needs a guide. Someone completely unlike danger-seeking Spenser McGraw.
A charismatic treasure hunter who thrives on risk, Spenser hosts the popular TV show Into the Wild, dedicated to locating lost treasures and mythical icons. But River's father's life depends on discretion, and too-sexy Spenser is all about publicity. Forced to team up, they embark on a jungle adventure ripe with temptation and danger...ultimately discovering a hidden treasure that could alter history—and a steamy love neither expected.
He needs taming.
Things are about to get wild...
When River Kane's fiancé abandons her at the altar for being too conventional, she's heartbroken. But everything changes when her estranged archaeologist father sends her his journal—filled with cryptic maps and a note indicating he's in mortal danger. Worried, River faces her greatest fears and flies to the Amazon to find him. But she needs a guide. Someone completely unlike danger-seeking Spenser McGraw.
A charismatic treasure hunter who thrives on risk, Spenser hosts the popular TV show Into the Wild, dedicated to locating lost treasures and mythical icons. But River's father's life depends on discretion, and too-sexy Spenser is all about publicity. Forced to team up, they embark on a jungle adventure ripe with temptation and danger...ultimately discovering a hidden treasure that could alter history—and a steamy love neither expected.
379 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
6 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Beth Ciotta
42 books471 followersStorytelling comes naturally to award-winning author Beth Ciotta. Limiting herself to one sub-genre does not. Dubbed “fun and sexy” by Publisher’s Weekly, Beth specializes in writing Romantic Comedy with a Twist of Suspense and is published in contemporary, historical, and paranormal romantic fiction. “I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than writing stories where everyone (except the villain, of course) gets a happy ending!”
Beth lives in New Jersey with her husband, two zany dogs, and one crazy cat. Although writing takes up most of her time, she still performs occasionally as a singer, character actress, emcee, and storyteller. To support literacy, Beth also works at her local library.
To learn more about her chaotic life you can visit her Web site at www.bethciotta.com
Beth lives in New Jersey with her husband, two zany dogs, and one crazy cat. Although writing takes up most of her time, she still performs occasionally as a singer, character actress, emcee, and storyteller. To support literacy, Beth also works at her local library.
To learn more about her chaotic life you can visit her Web site at www.bethciotta.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 11, 2010
Seduced by reference to classic action/adventure with romance flicks such as Romancing the Stone I had to give this author a shot. I jumped in giddy about a new book like I haven’t been in quite some time.
River Kane is a wedding photographer whose explorer parents left her to be raised with her grandparents so they could continue their wild lifestyle chasing treasure and myth. The result? A germ phobic control freak who is struggling to keep it all together just weeks after being dumped at the alter by her rat fink fiancée. On the day we meet her she receives a mysterious package from her estranged father. What’s a girl to do? Jump a plane to South America and hit the jungle with the hunky TV explorer host Spenser McGraw, (and the brother of her good friend) of course! Not that she planned meeting up with him, in fact our heroine is determined to make it on her own. She can’t share the secrets her father entrusted her with, so she sets out to find a better guide until ultimately she realizes she has to stay with Spenser. (and fight animal lust, of course!)
What I just described takes place over the first 100 pages or so. It’s slow and I felt like the author was dragging her feet to get to the real action. I didn’t need so much background on her life in Indiana and all the set up about Spenser’s show Into the Wild. I think it all could have been cut in half at least. Especially considering later in the novel we race through the more interesting parts at warp speed.
The author did take time to write plenty of lines that I would have edited out, like this gem.
“She had a brief vision of a scene in Romancing the Stone, when Joan Wilder whooshed down a muddy hill, landing unharmed in a pool of murky water with her hero’s face between her legs. River anticipated no such luck.”
I’m thinking if I’m plunging to my probable death I’m not thinking about old movies. I also think any fan of that movie would catch the similarity without the heavy handed waste of a paragraph. Speaking of Joan Wilder, it should be said she had a pair of brass ones knocking between her thighs and she rocked it in a skirt and heels. She was tough as nails but naive and vulnerable all at the same time. It worked.
This heroine River was raised adventuring. Was obsessive about studying and being knowledgeable going into situations and should have been far better prepared. But what’s she doing? Running around fighting with the man she has a character reference and looking for someone, anyone else to lead her in. In a country where she doesn’t speak the language. Trusting a total stranger to take her into the jungle and not kill/rape/sell her. She knows her dad is in deep with this mysterious lost treasure, knows that men would kill for the info she’s got and yet she runs around a local bar yapping to everyone who she is and what she’s doing. Don’t even get me started on her ‘I love my ex-fiancée but I have the hots for you’ thoughts through more than half the book.
River is always going off about how she’s so tough, not delicate, not to be treated like a princess and in many ways we do see that. the author gives us scenes of her gritting her teeth and persevering. There are scenes of her trudging on without complaint and fighting her phobias and facing her demons. So yeah, it wasn’t all bad.
Then there was Spenser. He's set up with a ‘deja vu’ scenario (with many parts/players) that was just too easy. I had it all pegged from the first mention. (yawn, snore) He’s an attractive man, I assume. Outside of laugh lines on his face and hard abs I really never could picture him. I did appreciate that he had survival skills but wasn’t perfect, that he was knowledgeable but not MacGyver.
All faults I had could have been forgiven if there had been a real adventure. They had to climb up to get to a volcano. All good parts right up to the end (sex, action, and interesting detail) were conveniently ‘yada yada’d’ right out of the book. One minute things are getting good (yada yada yada) what happened? Where am I? Oh yeah. I saw ___ and did ___. This is not a writing technique I appreciate. I want to know about the lost tribe and treasure. I’d like to hear how they got out of the pickle. I wanted memorable moments. Bottom line, the best stories have moments that stay with a reader.
More pages wouldn’t have fixed this book. A tougher editor and another draft could have turned it from a good idea into an awesome read though. When it was good, it was great and it’s a story that will stay with me for a while.
River Kane is a wedding photographer whose explorer parents left her to be raised with her grandparents so they could continue their wild lifestyle chasing treasure and myth. The result? A germ phobic control freak who is struggling to keep it all together just weeks after being dumped at the alter by her rat fink fiancée. On the day we meet her she receives a mysterious package from her estranged father. What’s a girl to do? Jump a plane to South America and hit the jungle with the hunky TV explorer host Spenser McGraw, (and the brother of her good friend) of course! Not that she planned meeting up with him, in fact our heroine is determined to make it on her own. She can’t share the secrets her father entrusted her with, so she sets out to find a better guide until ultimately she realizes she has to stay with Spenser. (and fight animal lust, of course!)
What I just described takes place over the first 100 pages or so. It’s slow and I felt like the author was dragging her feet to get to the real action. I didn’t need so much background on her life in Indiana and all the set up about Spenser’s show Into the Wild. I think it all could have been cut in half at least. Especially considering later in the novel we race through the more interesting parts at warp speed.
The author did take time to write plenty of lines that I would have edited out, like this gem.
“She had a brief vision of a scene in Romancing the Stone, when Joan Wilder whooshed down a muddy hill, landing unharmed in a pool of murky water with her hero’s face between her legs. River anticipated no such luck.”
I’m thinking if I’m plunging to my probable death I’m not thinking about old movies. I also think any fan of that movie would catch the similarity without the heavy handed waste of a paragraph. Speaking of Joan Wilder, it should be said she had a pair of brass ones knocking between her thighs and she rocked it in a skirt and heels. She was tough as nails but naive and vulnerable all at the same time. It worked.
This heroine River was raised adventuring. Was obsessive about studying and being knowledgeable going into situations and should have been far better prepared. But what’s she doing? Running around fighting with the man she has a character reference and looking for someone, anyone else to lead her in. In a country where she doesn’t speak the language. Trusting a total stranger to take her into the jungle and not kill/rape/sell her. She knows her dad is in deep with this mysterious lost treasure, knows that men would kill for the info she’s got and yet she runs around a local bar yapping to everyone who she is and what she’s doing. Don’t even get me started on her ‘I love my ex-fiancée but I have the hots for you’ thoughts through more than half the book.
River is always going off about how she’s so tough, not delicate, not to be treated like a princess and in many ways we do see that. the author gives us scenes of her gritting her teeth and persevering. There are scenes of her trudging on without complaint and fighting her phobias and facing her demons. So yeah, it wasn’t all bad.
Then there was Spenser. He's set up with a ‘deja vu’ scenario (with many parts/players) that was just too easy. I had it all pegged from the first mention. (yawn, snore) He’s an attractive man, I assume. Outside of laugh lines on his face and hard abs I really never could picture him. I did appreciate that he had survival skills but wasn’t perfect, that he was knowledgeable but not MacGyver.
All faults I had could have been forgiven if there had been a real adventure. They had to climb up to get to a volcano. All good parts right up to the end (sex, action, and interesting detail) were conveniently ‘yada yada’d’ right out of the book. One minute things are getting good (yada yada yada) what happened? Where am I? Oh yeah. I saw ___ and did ___. This is not a writing technique I appreciate. I want to know about the lost tribe and treasure. I’d like to hear how they got out of the pickle. I wanted memorable moments. Bottom line, the best stories have moments that stay with a reader.
More pages wouldn’t have fixed this book. A tougher editor and another draft could have turned it from a good idea into an awesome read though. When it was good, it was great and it’s a story that will stay with me for a while.
November 20, 2019
This could be so much better but I finished it. But really so much cringe. Also the MC is really like Princess Peach personified. It's not a good look.
August 15, 2015
A light and fun read which borrows heavily as the author admits from that great old movie, Romancing the Stone.
3.5 stars. ★★★☆
3.5 stars. ★★★☆
November 10, 2019
I really thought the story was interesting however,the romance within it felt disconnected. There was no emotional build up but instead that too fast cliched love. I felt the details in the demographics, story, characters were very, very well described but then the romance aspect seemed shallow and no emotional build up, no descriptive connections that the reader could feel as they read. Usually when a book starts out so quick with that cliched love I stop reading the book, I just hate that as it is so unbelievable, however, the story was good and I liked the characters so I kept reading and I am glad I did. I like how the author writes, I just wished the details would be balanced and tweaked as I mentioned above and more emotional build up etc..
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January 26, 2020There is probably nothing wrong with this book, but it’s not working for me. When I catch myself thinking that the MFC should have just called the police at the end of chapter one, and that the MMC’s sidekick’s food poisoning is more interesting than anything the MMC does or says, it’s time to move on. I’ve had this on my shelf, unread, for too long.
In a different mood, maybe I could get through it, but I think I’ll just watch “Romancing the Stone” instead.
In a different mood, maybe I could get through it, but I think I’ll just watch “Romancing the Stone” instead.
June 2, 2017
1. that's not what archaeologists do
2. heroine not terribly unlikable
3. hero is suddenly in love, halfway through. dear author, if I've been reading from the hero's headspace and the admission of love is still outta nowhere, you're doing it wrong
4. saw that twist coming
5. not how vaccines work either
6. and not how having a baby works
2. heroine not terribly unlikable
3. hero is suddenly in love, halfway through. dear author, if I've been reading from the hero's headspace and the admission of love is still outta nowhere, you're doing it wrong
4. saw that twist coming
5. not how vaccines work either
6. and not how having a baby works
January 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. I was really rooting for River and Spencer. Not only did I eat up the romance in this book, but the mystery surrounding the treasure really kept me reading as well. I loved the growth of River, and we also got to see the two love interests from the first book! Such a nice guilty pleasure reads.
September 1, 2021
River Kane is going to the Amazon to find her long-lost archeologist dad. She joins forces with Spenser, a TV treasure hunter. This book was full of silly and implausible scenarios, and for that reason, and for the stupid decisions River makes, I just couldn’t get into it. Took me a long time to finish.
February 24, 2018
I liked the little bit of mystery added to the story, even though I figured out who it was about halfway through the book.
March 7, 2025
Such a good story!
March 4, 2026
interesting story
July 11, 2011
Into the Wild is more of a companion novel to Out of Eden than a sequel. Although we occasionally see or hear about Kylie and Jack, it would be a stretch to even consider them secondary characters. Into the Wild is about River and Spenser's romance. Or to be more exact, the book is about River and Spenser's adventure in the jungle with romance making an appearance every now and then.
River is neurotic about germs and bugs. Her need to control her life and her future is what caused her fiance to leave her at the alter. She has abandonment issues due to a less than perfect childhood and the public loss of her fiance and planned future drives her neurotic tendencies into overdrive. When it seems her long estranged father needs rescuing, River embarks on a crazy journey in the name of closure. The entire premise seems a little unbelievable, but Ciotta manages to make the adventure seem plausible even in the face of neurosis.
Spenser has baggage of his own and the couple clearly fight against their growing attraction. While this was obviously going to be a happily-ever-after story, the mental and physical obstacles the two face often seem insurmountable. At times the romance seemed out of place in the story and distracted from the life-or-death situations the couple often faced. It worked on the whole, but the budding relationship felt like poor timing much of the time.
I enjoyed Out of Eden much more than Into the Wild, but I prefer my contemporary romances to be in more conventional settings and my adventures to have lusty encounters rather than romances with potential for life-long love. The book is able to straddle the genre line in a workable fashion, but didn't appeal to me as much as it would have if it leaned more heavily in either direction.
River is neurotic about germs and bugs. Her need to control her life and her future is what caused her fiance to leave her at the alter. She has abandonment issues due to a less than perfect childhood and the public loss of her fiance and planned future drives her neurotic tendencies into overdrive. When it seems her long estranged father needs rescuing, River embarks on a crazy journey in the name of closure. The entire premise seems a little unbelievable, but Ciotta manages to make the adventure seem plausible even in the face of neurosis.
Spenser has baggage of his own and the couple clearly fight against their growing attraction. While this was obviously going to be a happily-ever-after story, the mental and physical obstacles the two face often seem insurmountable. At times the romance seemed out of place in the story and distracted from the life-or-death situations the couple often faced. It worked on the whole, but the budding relationship felt like poor timing much of the time.
I enjoyed Out of Eden much more than Into the Wild, but I prefer my contemporary romances to be in more conventional settings and my adventures to have lusty encounters rather than romances with potential for life-long love. The book is able to straddle the genre line in a workable fashion, but didn't appeal to me as much as it would have if it leaned more heavily in either direction.
October 6, 2010
I'm not much for contemporary romances, but this one was given to me, and I never pass up free books. The back cover description sounded kind of interesting in an Indiana Jones kind of way, so I gave it a chance. It was a decent read, I'd recommend it for the beach or the airport, anywhere you need to be distracted for a little while. River was a somewhat interesting character, what with her germ-phobias and bug-phobias, but she was still determined (if sometimes a little too stubborn) to do what she came to Ecuador to do. Spenser was nice, but nothing about him really stuck in my mind aside from the cookie cutter "hunky man" descriptions. The "love at first sight" he experienced was a little unbelievable, to me anyway, especially since he spent so much time getting her out of trouble and watching her squirt hand sanitizer on her hands five thousand times.
June 19, 2016
Even though River Kane is estranged from her father, when she receives a mysterious package from him she heads off to South America to rescue him. Of course, she doesn't speak the language and needs to find a guide and this is where Spenser McGraw enters the picture. Spenser is her girlfriend's brother and the star of a adventurous television show. River is reluctant to trust Spenser because he's a treasure hunter just like her father but he's the only option so off they go.
Even though River was a germ-a-phobe and a bug-a-phobe, this was a fun read in an exotic location with danger and dangerous persons at every turn. A thoroughly enjoyable treasure hunt with an ultra sexy hero and skittish heroine.
Even though River was a germ-a-phobe and a bug-a-phobe, this was a fun read in an exotic location with danger and dangerous persons at every turn. A thoroughly enjoyable treasure hunt with an ultra sexy hero and skittish heroine.
August 7, 2015
This was my first Beth Ciotta book. I wanted to me adventurous and step out of my normal authors. I liked this book. I had no idea that it was book 2 of 2 and that there was another one I should have read first. It however turned out that it really didn't matter. This was a cute read however very entertaining and adventurous, it was also crazy farfetched. I know that was probably the point to certain extent and I did my best to remember that. It was just that there were certain things that just didn't work for me. I would found it a better read had those certain things been left out. Still if you are looking a fun, adventurous book it's worth a read.
October 21, 2013
I kind of felt like this book was a bad Indiana Jones knock-off.
I could almost like the protagonist. She was a wimpy small town girl who runs off to the Amazon to find her missing father. She is over the top neurotic, afraid of and allergic to everything in the jungle. She meets up with a good guy and they fall prey to every stereotypical disaster Ciotti could think of. It just went too far. And the ending is unbearably unbelievable.
So, she is off my list of authors to follow. My high hopes were bitterly dashed.
I could almost like the protagonist. She was a wimpy small town girl who runs off to the Amazon to find her missing father. She is over the top neurotic, afraid of and allergic to everything in the jungle. She meets up with a good guy and they fall prey to every stereotypical disaster Ciotti could think of. It just went too far. And the ending is unbearably unbelievable.
So, she is off my list of authors to follow. My high hopes were bitterly dashed.
June 13, 2013
I don't review books I don't finish, so I'm giving it 2.6 stars because I read it. The hero should have had a brain since he talked on TV for a living. Instead, he's a Rambo who drops f-bombs for nouns, verbs, and various other parts of speech. He calls the heroine Angel instead of her name--something that likely only annoyed me. It must have been the feisty heroine, who really does have a brain, and the adventure that kept me reading.
April 4, 2011
I absolutely loved this book!! I myself wrote an adventure, I'm a huge fan, and this one really sweeps the reader into the jungles of South America. It still manages to give us a great romance too. The characters sizzle and I'd even love to see more of them. I thought the ending was appropriate too *spoiler* not every book has to end with finding that priceless treasure.
Fantastic read!!
Fantastic read!!
October 17, 2011
Book #57 of 2011
Just looking through my books and realized I forgot to add this one! No idea when I finished it... but sometime in September at any rate.
This was a decent book. I kind of wish there had been more actual adventure and less lead up to the adventure. But I still liked it quite a bit!
Just looking through my books and realized I forgot to add this one! No idea when I finished it... but sometime in September at any rate.
This was a decent book. I kind of wish there had been more actual adventure and less lead up to the adventure. But I still liked it quite a bit!
September 3, 2012
A good follow up to Out of Eden, I loved reading about Spencer's adventure with River. I really enjoyed how in touch Spencer was with himself, recognizing his feelings for River very quickly. River was frustrating though, fighting the attraction (and the relationship) the whole way, but the important thing was that she came around.
September 20, 2013
First off... This is a part 2?! Well... On the bright side it can be read as a stand alone, because that's what I did. This quirky book was full of adventure and romance. I felt both balanced well, I found myself getting caught up in gold fever and wanting to know where the treasure was. River, was a mess but fun, I loved how she evolved in the story. Definitely glad I picked it up!!
November 15, 2010
Very Cute! Great story. Light romance, meaning it wasn't detailed, although they were always kissing or having sex. Ended great and very solid. No loose ends... adventurous, and a quick one day - 6 hour read. actually that depends on your speed...
October 24, 2012
A cute and fluffy read. Fast pace and fun, though sometimes you want to yell at the main character to not do what shes about to do or roll your eyes at her antics it doesn't take away from the story and the chemistry of the two main characters. I enjoyed it!
August 8, 2013
This book was fine. It was an adventure romance. The characters are ok, if not that interesting. BUT the epilogue at the end was one of the worst things I've ever read in my life. Barf. No redemption.
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September 16, 2015I picked this up because I like Beth Ciotta's writing style, however the premise of this book seemed a bit far-fetched and was difficult to engage with. I am still going to read the first book in this duet though.
March 6, 2011
I enjoyed this book. Simply a fun adventure book that's great for an afternoon's entertainment.
November 18, 2017
adventure, a little mystery, a little romance
September 22, 2011
It was alright.
August 9, 2012
I really enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews