So many of the aspects of this book seemed a little too much. Very insta-love. I would not recommend this to public libraries except for ones with large romance budgets.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Fish Out of Water releases February 13, 2024

When Dahlia’s sister Rose sends her an emergency coded text message for help, she drops everything to travel from California to a small town in Colorado when her sister goes radio silent.

After Dahlia trespasses through the traps set on the property of Howling Falls' local recluse, she befriends Winston and essentially blackmails him into helping her find her sister, or else she’ll out his identity as an author of cozy mysteries.

I liked the blend of mystery and romance, but the interactions felt forced and unnatural.
I understand the message that was being imparted through the makeup/makeover tutorials and such, but in the remote setting they were in coupled with the looming pressure of finding a missing person, it came across as annoying and insensitive.

Imagine the one person you choose to send an SOS text to save your life ends up having the audacity to carve out time to have a sexathon in a tent and apply makeup to the man she met two days ago…….. be for real.

I wish the cover on this book was more seasonally accurate — it’s set during the winter and they hike through a blizzard while wearing ski goggles, yet the illustration has them in a tiny tank top??

Read if you like:
- single pov
- virgin mmc
- small towns
- hiking/camping in the winter season (blizzard and all)
- sharing a sleeping bag
- insta-love
- flat characters that heavily rely on grunting as a form of communication

Summary
Dahlia gets an emergency text from her sister, who is on a hiking trip in the wilderness, and immediately makes her way to the tiny town of Howling Falls to find her. Since she doesn't know the area, she decides to enroll a local who spoke to her sister before she went missing - a famous author and grump Wintson who clearly prefers to be left alone. But Dahlia is determined so she blackmails this grouch into showing her the way. They set out on a journey to find Dahlia's sister, and end up finding love along the way.

Why did I pick up this book?
I was graciously gifted an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on February 13, 2024.

What did I enjoy about it?
I liked the adventure and mystery of trying to find her sister, Rose, and the suspense that went along with it. We truly had no clues about what may have happened to her, so this really drove the plot forward. I also appreciated how much Ruggle stuck to the Grumpy persona. I feel too many authors start books with a Grumpy/Sunshine trope and the Grump cracks so early it takes away the fun. Ruggle didn't have Winston open up right away or completely do a 180 - well done!

What did I not enjoy about it?
I feel I can be pretty forgiving, but so many elements of this story were unbelieveable: the intimate scenes, the dad's involvement, the RAPID pace of their relationship, the smooth ending, etc. I rolled my eyes a lot. Also, in stark contradiction to how well I felt Ruggle portrayed the Grumpy in Grumpy/Sunshine, the Sunshine piece was a total flop. Sunshine doesn't have to mean annoying, it can just mean optimistic or peppy. Dahlia was such a pest and had no real substance to her personality. If I didn't owe a review on this book, I would've given up three chapters in.

I enjoyed this book. I'm a huge Katie Ruggle fan and always want to read her work. Winston and Dahlia have quite the adventure setting out in search of Dahlia's sister. Hiking and camping with a reluctant trail guide is always entertaining, but the story suspends reality a bit too much. Dahlia goes from singular focus on the hunk of a mystery mountain man to "oh, yeah, my sister could be in real trouble". I'm not sure how a make-over artist has the ability to pick a lock. She's got some spunk, I'll say that and the hero is really awesome. The romance seems unlikely and develops pretty quick.

All that to say, not 100% amazing as I have previously rated Katie Ruggle books. But this is still a very entertaining read. Enjoyable, just be prepared for an eye-roll or two. I will definitely keep this author on my must read list, but hoping for more books like her Search & Rescue series, or the Rocky Mountain K9 books.

loved this romance that happened because she wanted to help rescue her sister. loved Winston and their relationship. loved how she won him over . I wasn't a fan of breaking and entering but loved their banter.

I love romance mysteries! This was one an easy and fun read. I love when men show a vulnerable side. Love a grumpy sunshine trope

I'm so glad I went into this one blind! The familiar wilderness setting resonated strongly with me, making it so easy to immerse myself in the story.

I'm so glad Katie Ruggle is back, and while this has a lighter tone compared to her previous books, I was enamored with the story once the main characters set off on their journey.

Honestly, I often found myself so entertained with the banter and chemistry, that I forgot they were trying to find Dahlia's sister, and got caught up in their interactions instead.

I loved that it had both suspense and comedy aspects throughout the book, keeping the reader entertained and on their toes.

Funny!

I've read other books by this author, but they were in the romantic suspense genre. While this book had a small amount of the suspense, it was mostly a fun story. Yes, there were serious parts, like the reason for their meeting and the extended hike through the woods, but there were many more actual laugh out loud moments.

I enjoyed reading this side of the author, I feel like she let herself just have fun with this book, and it really resonated with me. The chemistry between Winston and Dahlia was so sweet, funny and yes, hot. Just enough of all the above.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy of this book!

I love a cozy mystery romance, but I haven’t read much romantic suspense. I was nervous this book would be too intense for me and it wasn’t at all. It’s not too stressful or super dark. There’s no rape or anything like that that occurs with the drama of the missing sister.

I loved the hero in this book- he’s an author and stoic and protective. I wanted him to have the best life ever and that helped for a super quick read of this book.

The heroine I had more problems with and that’s why this didn’t make a 5 star rating for me. Her sister is missing but she decides that she needs to always have time to put makeup on before starting her quest to find her sister every day. There’s a LOT of moments in the book where she’s trying to educate the hero on why it’s completely normal for her to spend time on different makeup looks while camping and hiking to find her sister in the remote mountains. This same character also drinks black coffee every day. This person could very well exist in real life, because it’s a big big world out there. However, in my personal experience with the world- the type of person who won’t leave the house unless fully done in makeup, is usually the type of person who at the bare minimum at least wants milk in their coffee. (Let the record show that I also drink milk in my coffee. Because it’s delicious and perfect in every way). So the makeup thing got super old and I was honestly hoping that in the end she would realize that she could be all for the power that being done-up can make you feel, but also have a realistic sense of priorities when it comes to actually trying to save someone’s life…

Overall I really enjoyed this book and flew through it! I’ve read some reviews saying that Ruggle has an eerily similar book called Gone Too Deep - I haven’t ever read that but fair warning if you have!

4 out of 5 stars
3 out of 5 steam

It feels like we've been waiting forever for a new Katie Ruggle, and this one is really fun. It definitely is more rom com and less suspense than other books I've read by her. Excellent banter and chemistry, and I love the grumpy sunshine/one sleeping bag (hah!) tropes. Hard to go wrong with that.

Okay, so I need to preface this review by saying Katie Ruggle is one of my favourite authors, and when she announced that only a limited number of ARCs were going to be available via Netgalley for Fish Out of Water, I knew I needed to be ready to get clickin' and requestin'. Turns out the time zone difference meant that it would be online at 2am my time, so I stayed up (of course!) and was ecstatic to get my hands on an e-copy!

Now for the review...

I knew I was going to love this book - and love it, I did! Katie Ruggle is a phenomenal writer when it comes to stories of competence kinks, outdoorsy/wilderness survival romance, and/or small romance with a hint of suspense.

Fish Out of Water had elements similar to Gone Too Deep (my fave Ruggle book), with a tall, grumpy, handsome hermit of a MMC and a fun, sunshiney FMC on a mission to save a relative.

What I loved about Fish Out of Water is that it had a lovely balance of thriller/suspense elements for the surrounding mystery of the FMC's missing sister and romance between the MCs. It also had a realistic timeframe being that their journey spans a few days, so, although, it could seem like insta-love between the MCs, they go through a lot during that time, making their relationship progression feel natural. I also enjoyed that both MCs were flexible in their future plans together - it wasn't merely one character uprooting their entire life suddenly without more thought and consideration into the roots of their current lifestyle.

The one thing I would've liked a little more of was taking down the bad guys. I enjoyed what happened there (I won't go into too much detail and spoil it) but I wish there was more of them getting their butts kicked.

Overall, a fun read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys romance with light suspense and/or the grumpy/sunshine trope!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC.

When Dahlia's sister is in trouble and enlists Winston to help her. Opposites attract romance. Loved both characters, looking forward to more from this author.

Fish Out of Water was a quick, enjoyable read.

It follows Dahlia and Winston through the mountains of Colorado to find Dahlia's sister who has gone missing. Winston is a quiet, brooding, wilderness hermit who agrees to help Dahlia find her sister. Dahlia is a chatty, quirky city girl who is able to slowly bring Winston out of his shell.

There's action, adventure, romance, and a shared sleeping bag! The spice was mild (for me) but it was there. The chemistry between the 2 characters grew at a good pace, and there was a bit of a twist that I didn't expect. Overall, this book kept me entertained, the plot was enjoyable, and I felt connected to the characters. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Katie Ruggle and NetGalley for sending me this ARC copy to review

I had high hopes for FISH OUT OF WATER as I am usually a huge Katie Ruggle fan, but this just fell flat for me. I know she has another book that has almost this exact storyline, so I am slightly confused as to why its been rewritten with just a few minor changes. Hugely disappointed.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I always enjoy a good story with the strong silent type and this one did not disappoint. Winston was quiet but patient with Dahlia. Dahlia was a talker but she made me laugh out loud.

Both are on the run to find her sister Rose and while hiking the trails they grow intimately closer in their friendship and romance.

Great happy ending and definitely an author I will read more of.

This is my first Katie Ruggle book. I have head rave reviews about her previous books from a variety of friends. What I didn't expect was for this to be a little silly. I wanted a "find your sister in an emergency situation on a mountain with a mountain man" kind of suspense. This was that situation, but in a rom com. For me, I needed it to be a little faster paced. The first half was work. I didn't feel like I got much depth of character from either of them (especially Winston) which lead to a lesser investment in their relationship. The second half took off and was super easy to read but the context around the kidnapping was weak and none of the things made me care about what was happening.

In "Fish Out of Water," Katie Ruggle invites readers on a lighthearted journey through the snow-dusted mountains of Colorado, blending elements of romance, adventure, and mystery. The story unfolds as Dahlia Weathersby embarks on a quest to find her missing sister during a simple day hike gone awry, and she enlists the help of the local hermit and survival expert, Winston Dane.

The novel's charm lies in the dynamics between the two main characters, Dahlia and Winston. Dahlia's relentless charm and a hint of blackmail lead the grumpy Winston to become her guide through the wilderness. The secluded mountain setting allows readers to get to know the characters intimately, away from external distractions, revealing Winston's sweet and protective side as he reluctantly cares for Dahlia. Despite Dahlia's excessive chattiness, the narrative cleverly portrays it as endearing rather than annoying, creating a delightful dynamic between the mismatched pair.

The mystery surrounding Dahlia's missing sister adds a layer of intrigue to the storyline. As the characters navigate the challenges of the wilderness, including long hikes, encounters with bears, and the inevitable sharing of a single sleeping bag, the novel checks all the boxes for a cozy mountain adventure.

While the mystery keeps the plot moving forward, the overall pacing may not induce anxious page-turning. Instead, the story unfolds at a leisurely pace, allowing readers to savor the charming interactions between the characters and the picturesque mountain landscapes.

The ultimate climax towards the end provides a satisfying resolution to the mystery, tying up the loose ends of the plot. "Fish Out of Water" succeeds in delivering a nice, lighthearted read, perfect for those seeking a cozy escape into a mountainous world filled with romance, humor, and a touch of mystery. Katie Ruggle's storytelling captures the essence of a delightful mountain escapade, making this novel a pleasant addition to the genre.

This review is my opinion and my opinion alone. I did receive an early copy from Netgalley for an honest review. This story is an enjoyable read. Yes, it’s a little unrealistic at times, but it’s a fiction romance. So in my opinion, it’s suppose to be. The story flowed nicely, and I enjoyed the characters.
This story is about Dahlia and Winston. Dahlia is searching for her missing sister after getting an s.o.s. text. Winston is the local grumpy hermit. Dahlia comes to the Colorado Rockies to find her. She blackmails him
to helping her.
I’m not saying more because I don’t want to ruin the story. This is a cute story and a fast read for me.

3 out of 5 stars. Wasn't bad but wasn't my favorite. It had a decent story line that was just a little bit too slow in the middle. I also wasn't connecting with the characters and maybe that's why it wasn't great. Definitely could be great for another reader.

Maybe round up to 3.5 stars? The first half of this story threw a lot at you all at once (which was only made more so by the fact the main character/narrator rambled and was a talker/extrovert), so while by the end of the story I felt like I enjoyed the main couple and their journey + the tad of suspense, I wanted more at the beginning to make me more invested.

Also, the cover is slightly misleading - it's hiking in the winter, not the summer.