September 1, 2024
A grumpy-meets-sunshine adventure rom-com sees two indoorsy characters coping with the great outdoors, on the run from villains, trying to survive in a national park, and risking a whole lot more than just twisted ankles and getting lost--their hearts are on the line too. Prepub Alert.
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Starred review from September 9, 2024
The great outdoors brings peril and passion in this high-octane rom-com from Rea (Lucy on the Wild Side). Emergency room physician Emily Edwards doesn’t like adventure, nature, or taking risks, but she’s determined to visit Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park to spread her father’s ashes as he would have wished. She snags the last available hiking guide and is initially impressed with Ryder Fleet’s handsome looks—but she’s understandably aggravated when he reveals that they’re lost and he’s not actually an expert hiker. His late brother was the outdoorsman, while Ryder generally handled marketing, but with their tour company in dire straits, he had little choice but to take the job. Emily and Ryder’s trek is derailed even further after they witness a murder and wind up embroiled in a criminal conspiracy. Now they’re forced to evade both rampaging moose and gunmen. Rea ramps up the suspense, but never races through the relationship itself, allowing it to develop at a natural pace amid the drama. The characters slowly reveal their hidden depths—Emily isn’t as uptight as she appears and Ryder has a good heart and a love for Calvin and Hobbes—igniting an attraction that inspires them to want to save each other. It’s the perfect mix of danger and delight.
October 15, 2024
Lace up your hiking boots and prepare for a laugh-filled adventure at Isle Royale National Park. Emily Edwards is not outdoorsy. She is an over-prepared and under-appreciated ER doctor who desperately wants to complete her late father's bucket list, starting with visiting Isle Royale. In need of a guide, she hires Fleet Outdoor Adventures. The thing is, Ryder Fleet is also not outdoorsy. His late brother was the one who did all the outdoor stuff--he just did marketing. But Ryder is desperate for business, so he figures he can fake it through one trip. That plan goes swimmingly . . . for a few hours. The duo's lack of outdoor skills becomes clear when they find themselves in the middle of a group of murderous archaeologists on a hunt for a long-lost jewel. Forced to go off-trail to evade the thieves, Emily and Ryder must depend on each other to get off the island alive. This hilarious novel doesn't take itself too seriously and is a quick, fun read.
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