This seemed like a book up my alley… but sadly it was so one dimensional. I felt like the nc had no original thought and the mountain love interest grunted more then spoke. A girl can only take so many snorts and grunts in one chapter. The premise was a great idea. The cover… deceiving. It takes place in winter time and has nothing to do with a pretty lake.
I just felt like it feel flat like the pancakes the love interest decides to make for the mc after she trespasses on his property… she is suppose to be looking for her sister but that story line goes sideways once she meets the love interest. I really really wanted to like it. But this felt like a bunch of tropes thrown into a bag and jumbled together to create a story. DNF and no regrets

Fish Out Of Water by Katie Ruggle
"Why date a mountain man? Because he knows how to pitch a tent."
I was hoping for a rugged book boyfriend, but instead found myself on a very forgettable camping trip.

This is a book that requires the reader to suspend reality, and since I just wasn't expecting that, I'm not sure I ever succeeded.

-the story starts abruptly by getting tossed right in, and I wished for a chapter prior to chapter one in order to have a bit more backstory about who Dahlia was and to explain her relationship with her missing sister
-it's just too far-fetched that Dahlia broke into the Fort Knox style home of town grump Winston with no second thought for her own safety; how did Dahlia have these skills???
-I really wanted more of a take-charge personality from Winston; he was supposed to be rugged!
-I'm not sure I ever warmed up to either Dahlia or Winston or believed in their romance
-audiobook narrator, Cassandra Myles, helped make this book more entertaining, and I think she did the best she could with what was provided to her

Overall, I wanted something different than what this book delivered. I can see this one (maybe) being fun as a mountain roadtrip audiobook or camping read - just remember to suspend reality a bit!

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This was one of the cutest rom-coms I've read in a while. Outgoing makeup artist meets quiet hermit while on a quest to find her missing sister. I loved their outdoors adventure that led them to find more than just what they thought they were looking for. New author for me and I'll definitely read another. Thanks #netgalley and #KatieRuggle

Fish Out Of Water was an insta love romance novel. You will have to suspend belief a little as there are some inconsistencies. She just magically knows how to do certain things which she really shouldn't, or the fact that she's having s*x while looking for her disappearing sister, it just felt off to me.

The relationship between both characters just didn't work, it felt forced, it felt so fast… Within a few days they’re already talking about if they will live here or in the city, it was just very fast for me. You never truly got to know the characters either. They honestly didn't get to know each other, they just magically knew after 2 days what the other wanted in the bedroom and everything was perfect, it was missing the spark. The single POV also made him entirely forgettable and he just fell flat.

The “suspense” part of the book was honestly weird, it did not feel suspenseful and once her sister was found, it ended. I needed more explanation, more depth. I don't even think that was a necessary add on to the story.

This one missed the mark for me and left me entirely unsatisfied. I'm sad because that cover is adorable.

🎧 The narration by Cassandra Myles was enjoyable. I didn't feel like it was amazing but she did a good job with the characters. Although it's not her fault that they lack depth and are honestly unlikeable. If it weren't for her I don't think I would've finished.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @dreamscapemedia for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Katie Ruggle's Romantic Suspense books so when I saw this gem I was all over it! Whilst this has less suspense than her other books there is still an element there, although the comedy is the driving force.

Dahlia should be everything I hate. She comes across initially as shallow and a Hollywood darling.
Coming from a rich family she should be your typical horrible rich girl. But Dahlia is fun, stubborn, smart and loyal. When her half-sister Rose disappears and sends a cryptic SOS message Dahlia rushes to her rescue. It doesn't matter she has not one clue about the wilderness or survival. She descends on this small town as a woman on a mission.

Winston was one of the last to see Rose before she disappears and Dahlia sets off to meet the grumpy loner. Their meeting is kind of epic and sets the tone for the comedy in the book. He's grumpy, stand-offish, a survival expert and an author to boot!

Their escapades are fun, entertaining and hilarious. My absolute favourite was #Flactus! Is the romance and steam a tad misplaced? Yup. Did it stop me enjoying the steamy blizzard? Heck no!
Winston is supportive and protective but cracks his shell around Dahlia, admitting to things that go against is hottie grump façade. Dahlia is more than a makeover whizz - she's like a life coach, cheerleader and amateur hiker all rolled into one. But this girl has the tenacity of a honey badger let me tell you!

I would love to revisit this little world!

Fish Out of Water is a different type of book for Katie Ruggle. You still get her grumpy, mountain man hero, but in more of a rom-com type vibe. But, if rom-coms happened in a rugged wilderness hike up a mountain to find a lost sister. The wildness adventure if what made this book seem very much like Ruggle's previous books, but it isn't as suspenseful. Even Winston isn't super grumpy or anything. Dahlia is bubbly and fun, and has that can-do attitude. While admirable, it kind of distracted from the fact her sister is missing and could be dead. She doesn't really seem to take it seriously.

If you were a fan of her previous books, Fish Out of Water might not be a good pick for you. If you loved the suspense and intense moments in her previous books, you aren't really getting that here. This is much more contemporary romance with a lighthearted vibe than romantic suspense. It is pretty spicy too! However, if you enjoy the lighthearted romance with some mystery, you could really enjoy this! I think some fans of Katie Ruggle will struggle with it because it is a departure from her previous books, but only in some aspects.

This felt a little too invested in its own concept and not enough in creating compelling characters, which made it not for me. Also, writers need to stop making cops cute! Cops aren’t cute. Get with the times, please.

I enjoyed this for the most part. The banter got a bit extreme toward the middle and end. I thought the characters had a cool, easy going chemistry until mid way through the trip, the comments from the FMC got a bit weird.





I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved Dahlia and Winston. They are the biggest softies. Especially Winston. Behind that surly facade you can find the biggest heart. And I could totally relate to his experience. Dahlia is so kind yet fierce. I really liked her determination. I loved the hiking and camping parts of the story. Otherwise the plot was quite simple in my opinion and it was an easy read, nothing too complicated.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

As everyone knows I’m a sucker for Grumpy/Sunshine and this one was SO cute. Dahlia was so funny and resourceful and Winston really wanted to be a grumpy jerk but on the inside he was just the sweetest!

I also loved the twist on one bed! We had one tent in this one and overall the story was just so sweet! I’m definitely going to have to pick up more Katie Ruggle because it was just that cute!!

This is the best "romcom" read! I do not read romcom's (I find them to be ridiculous), however Katie Ruggle wrote this one which is the only reason I gave it a try. This one is amazing! I love the combination of suspense, humor, and romance. Winston is absolutely adorable, even though he doesn't want to be. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a lighthearted, feel-good read.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy of "Fish Out of Water" by Katie Ruggle in exchange for an honest review.

Dahlia's sister disappears while on a hike, but not before sending Dahlia a text, a secret code between them that something is very wrong. So Dahlia heads to her sister's last known location and recruits survival expert Winston Dane to help.

If you are a fan of Katie Ruggle, you will likely find A LOT of similarity between this book and Ruggle's book "Gone Too Deep." The plot is pretty similar: a loved one has gone missing and a woman entirely unqualified to search the wilderness recruits a big, broody man to help them. Winston and GTD's George Holloway have A LOT in common, although their backstories differ a little. Dahlia and GTD's Ellie Price are both girly girls; one sells clothes and the other does makeup. These adventures both happen in cold weather so sharing body heat is required, etc.

Differences are relatively minor. The exact location is different. The people who threaten her sister are different than the ones that threatened Ellie's father. Dahlia and Winston resolve their relationship a little differently than Ellie and George.

In general, they're kinda the same book. Which isn't the worst, if you like George and you want to meet him again in the form of Winston. (Opinion: he's pretty likeable, actually.) It felt like this book was an attempt to take Ruggle's signature romantic suspense (with a survivalist twist) and splice it with a rom com. Without a ton of success, sadly. There is one scene involving a makeover that was pretty precious but in general, this book missed the mark.

I've always heard good things about Katie Ruggle's romances and I wasn't disappointed with this one. Who knew I would be so enchanted by a book where the characters spend 80% of it hiking?

We follow city-dweller Dahlia to small-town Colorado where she's looking for her lost sister. As the police won't take it trouble seriously (Dahlia got a 911 text and everything), she is determined to trace her sister's last steps on a local hike. When she discovers the last person to talk with her is local weird hermit/sexy author Winston, she coerces him to go along with her. What ensues is a very fun and very spicy journey into the mountains with sparkling banter, magnetic attraction and one very big sleeping bag.

I think Ruggle is known for writing virgin heroes and Winston is an absolute sweetie - until he isn't. The steam is steamy and his character arc is adorable; going from him being a grunting monosyllabic survivalist to an affectionate, Dahlia-obsessed mountain man.

This book is yes, a little ridiculous at some points. The suspense plot gives a little bit of extra action to the proceedings, but the charm in this story is the quiet moments on the hiking trail with just the two of them, the freezing cold and the beautiful wilderness.

Only one sleeping bag. Need I say more? 🏕️

Katie Ruggle's Fish Out of Water is an absolute delight! It's grumpy/sunshine at it's absolute finest. The banter between the MCs was A++ and I loved them ❤️

I binged this audiobook in one afternoon because I couldn't get enough. I definitely recommend adding to your TBR!

Special thanks to @dreamscape_media @sourcebookscasa for the ALC + ARC.

I've been reading Katie Ruggle since her debut novel. Her slightly offbeat characters, complex storylines, and slow-building, edge-of-your-seat suspense have landed her first two series on my keeper shelves and cemented her as an auto-buy author. After a few years publishing hiatus, Ruggle is back with something a little different. There's still the quirky characters and terrific banter of her earlier books but Fish Out of Water is lighter in tone, more romcom than suspense, though still with a bit of danger.

I enjoyed this book that pairs a chatterbox makeover artist from the city with a Mr. Grumpy Pants, reclusive author from the mountains. Dahlia and Winston are hilarious, endearing, and more than a little quirky. It's a vibe Ruggle has used before and does well. Even during the spicy bits I found myself grinning and chuckling along with the unlikely couple who somehow seem perfect for one another. I admit that there were times when I found myself wondering if they had forgotten about Dahlia's missing sister. I had to suspend belief a bit there but I willingly did so because this book was more romcom than suspense and, also, I was having fun with these two. Even when the danger showed up around the 80% mark, I was so entrenched in the lighthearted vibe of the story by that point that I took it for granted that all would be well.

Did I miss the complex character development, emotional depth, and breath-stealing tension of Ruggle's earlier books that I love so much? Yes, I did, but once I realized that this was a different type of book I was able to appreciate it for what it is: a lighthearted, laugh-inducing, slightly bonkers, adventurous romcom...with a touch of danger and a happy ending.

*ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review

It's been quite some time since I've read a Katie Ruggle book. Reading the synopsis for Fish Out of Water, I knew this would be a simple, light weekend read and I was not disappointed. Following energetic Dahlia, who receives a mysterious text from her now missing sister, we see a woman who is confident in herself and abilities. When a rumor in town states that her sister was last seen talking to the grumpy hermit, Winston, she goes on a mission to find him. Upon teaming up, the two hike through the Colorado mountains in search for her sister and fall prey to the rom-com gods throughout.

Fish Out of Water is a cozy, rom-com, afternoon read and I say this with all compliments. Although there is a fantastic plot following Dahlia's sisters' disappearance, the humor of Dahlia's mind was what won me over. She almost reminds me of Elle Woods with her bubbly self-confidence and her no-nonsense attitude. And Winston....of the grumpy golden retriever of a man is delightful. Dahlia repeatedly says he gives the best compliments, and he does; swoon-worthy words fall out of his mouth when he deigns to speak.

If you're looking for a quick pick me up and want a little bit of mystery to your outdoorsy romance, this is definitely a good read. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the review copy!

Dahlia’s sister Rose is her best friend, the one person in her family she can count on. So, when she receives a “911” text from her Dahlia drops everything and flies out to Colorado, her sister’s last known location.

I admired Dahlia’s determination to find her sister, flying in blind after receiving her SOS signal, not knowing what she was up against. Dahlia was perky, silly, and fun, the quintessential “sunshine” to Winston’s “grumpy”. Winston wasn’t all that grumpy, though with a big, mushy, protective heart under a gruff exterior.

Loved all the backpacking/survival bits! The challenging weather and terrain lent a bit of excitement, and the forced proximity made acting on their attraction inevitable! There were some deliciously sexy times!

I enjoyed Katie Ruggle’s romantic suspense, so I was looking forward to Fish Out of Water, described as a “murdery rom-com”. Some parts were a little a beyond belief, like how Winston just agreed to help Dahlia in her search right after meeting her, but I was okay to go along and enjoy the ride. It was a lot of fun, and a lot silly, with a little bit of suspense and danger mixed in.

When city girl Dahlia receives an SOS message from her sister, she immediately sets out to find her. Rose’s last known location seems to be a treacherous mountain. Dahlia immediately enlists local hermit Winston Dane to help find her. As the two begin to hike up the mountain, they get to know each other better. Dahlia must balance her worry for Rose with her attraction to Winston.

Fish Out of Water was unfortunately not my cup of tea. On the surface, it had a lot of tropes that I enjoy: forced proximity, grump/sunshine, cinnamon roll hero etc. However, the pacing of the book felt too fast to be believable. The dialogue between the characters did not work well for me. At one point, their romantic dialogue seemed ominous and I began thinking about how this dialogue could also be used in a stalker/thriller book. Not quite the suspense that I think the author intended! Fish Out of Water is a lighthearted, fast-paced, forced proximity wilderness romance. While this wasn’t my cup of tea, I am sure some readers will love this.

Thank you to Katie Ruggle, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really hesitated to give this book a 4 star rating, for me it is really a 3.5 star rating and I bumped it up. I have read all of Ms. Ruggle's books and really enjoyed them, I don't know what happened with this one though. It was very different from her normal writing. The plot is almost exactly like one of her previous books - Gone Too Far (which was a 5 star rating to me). There were so many little things that were just so odd and pulled me out of the narrative. Every time we meet a new character they are described by their race - Why???? Why is this important to the story line? Dahlia's job is doing make overs for people, and this almost seems like the most important thing in the book. She comes across as a total airhead, and she really isn't. They go backpacking in the mountains to find her sister, in the winter, and she wastes precious space in her backpack for her full make-up kit. Because of course, when someone backpacks in the dead of winter, you have to wear full make-up!!!!

There is minimal focus on the suspense of "what happen to Rose (Dahlia's sister)", there is more time given to the make-up. GAH! Also Winston, the male lead, is kind of just there. You never really know what he is thinking, or much about him at all. It was just an oddly paced book.

Also, a petty note - the cover - there is no lake, no fish, and they are in a blizzard. Who ok'ed this cover, did you read the book?

I did enjoy the story because I like her writing, but 1. too many odd focuses and 2. the suspense was almost nil.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced ARC.

Review: FISH OUT OF WATER by Katie Ruggle https://bit.ly/3UGPb94
Publication Date: 2/14/2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

As usual, Katie Ruggle’s writing has flown me away from reality. This quick read was a light romantic suspense novel filled with humor. Dahlia’s quirky comments reminded me of my own thought processes that aren’t always understood by others. Poor Winston didn’t stand a chance. He may come off as a cold taciturn mountain man, but to me there were enough glimpses of his true nature coming through to explain the attraction. The romance was sweet and understandable, culminating into a gentle and sexy encounter. Some small things in the story confused me and made me shake my head. The biggest thing is the basic storyline. It is so much like her “Gone Too Deep” novel. (One of my favorite books) That did not stop me from enjoying this story, however. I’m glad she’s back and look forward to more adventures.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Kindle https://amzn.to/42F2cSq