I love that we as a society have decided that not every book has to be thought provoking and deep! This book is just fun. It's an action rom com and it lives up to that!

When Emily hires a tour guide to take the trip to Superior with her after her boyfriend breaks up with her, hilarity ensues! It turns out her guide isn't actually a seasoned tour guide. In fact this is his first tour ever! Bad guys, chases, romance and silliness comes next. This book definitely gives The Lost City Vibes (sandra bullock and channing tatum movie). As a lover of The Mummy movies, Lara Croft, Indiana Jones, and The Librarian, this was right up my alley!

Overall I loved it and will continue to read Kerry Rea books!

Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the complimentary physical and audio copies of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞!

Do you ever have a book that sits on your shelves for weeks, and when you finally pick it up, you think, “what took me so long?!” 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞 by Kerry Rea is truly a diamond in the rough, because it was one of those books for me!

Read if you 💖:
•💞 Opposites Attract
• 🐍 Indiana Jones-style antics
• 🧗‍♀️ Characters pushed out of their comfort zone
• ⛴️ Himbos who would jump a pier for you

I’ll admit, I’m not one to usually collect “book boyfriends”, but if I did, Ryder Fleet would easily be in my top three. He’s a complete himbo, and despite barely knowing Emily, he’s ready to drop everything for her! It’s definitely a “He Falls First” moment, which I’m all about.

Another favorite aspect of this novel for me was the banter! It’s like “Indiana Jones” meets “New Girl”, with dramatic moments that are followed by lines so funny I had to pause the audiobook to get my giggles out. The narrators, Andrew Eiden and Emily Lawrence, deserve major credit for this as they bring every character to life and nail both the humor and the heavier moments, like when Emily and Ryder share about their recently deceased family members.

The only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars is that the spicier scenes felt a bit out of place at times. It was almost as if another author wrote them, because the phrasing didn’t feel cohesive with the rest of the book. There’s not too many of these moments, though, so I found them very easy to get through in order to move on to the real fun!

If you’re looking for an action-packed romance with tons of laughter and heart, be sure to grab a copy of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞 at your favorite local bookstore or wherever audiobooks are sold.

With major Romancing the Stone vibes, Kerry Rea's latest sees the great outdoors bring both peril and passion in this gut-busting adventure. A delightfully fun and quick read perfect for the dreary and dark winter season.

Thanks to Berkley for the eARC of Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea.

What a fun book! It's got romance. it's got adventure. It's got a hardcore himbo who KNOWS he is a himbo! All things I am a sucker for, so clearly I enjoyed it.

In this book, we have two MCs who are grieving deeply, and that grief is something they both must tackle in order to grow and find happiness in their lives. Both Emily (FMC) and Ryder (MMC) are forced to address their respective grief amidst a fight for their lives.

This fight first starts with Ryder not exactly knowing how to camp and have basic wilderness skills and then progresses to an archaeologist who is determined to seek riches and glory for himself at anyone's expense.

I thoroughly enjoyed this romp of a book, wondering how Emily and Ryder were going to get off this island. The writing is so much fun, the red herrings and the foreshadowing were great, and I'll definitely be looking to read more books from Kerry.

I know, I know. I'm late to the party, but in my defense, I work on boats, the shipyard is busy and then the holidays. **insert stressed emoji**

This is an ARC review of The Jewel of the Isle. Mild spoilers below.

So, not to make this personal, but reading is a personal experience, and when something makes you feel *something*, then you have to share. Within the first 2 chapters I was crying. Now, you're probably thinking, "Phoenix, this is a romantic comedy adventure. Why on earth are you crying?"

Grief.

Simple. Short. To the point.

Grief is not a one-way street. It's an ocean—vast and sometimes unpredictable. Like Emily, our FMC, I, too, lost my father unexpectedly. And just like her father, mine was also a lover of adventure. He was a Merchant Marine and travelled the world. When he returned, he would tuck me into bed and tell me one of his sea adventures.

So, you can see why I was crying. While this is a romantic comedy adventure, probably inspired by Romancing the Stone/Jewel of the Nile (not hating because those are my favourite movies of the 80s), this is also a story about grief and the unexpected loss of loved ones.

Ryder loses his brother.

Emily, her father.

Neither of them knows how to cope. Understandable.

Let me explain, for those who have never lost a parent, sibling, loved one, etc. When someone dies, whether unexpected or not, it's like your whole world comes crashing to a stop. When it's expected you might have a chance for closure, but if it's not... you live with it for the rest of your life with a big "What if" hovering over your head.

What if Ryder hadn't missed his flight to his brother's bachelor hiking trip?

What if Emily had gone on the hiking trips with her father, or gone to the bookstore that day with him?

What if I had just stayed a couple extra days, I would have seen my dad for the last time (I was flying out to my boat). What if I had been home, I would have been able to do CPR while my mum got help (I had been a 911 first responder), or done *something*. Anything.

But Ryder missed his flight. Emily was too scared. I was at work.

But life still happened to us, and we had to live with it. Live with the unexpected. But the first two years, just like Ryder, I was a bouncy ball in a square box just bouncing off of everything with no direction and a whole lot of guilt for something that wasn't mine to bear.

I love that Ryder and Emily found a way to connect while still being chased by a psycho archaeologist with henchmen--and henchwoman (Butcher), all for the sake of a diamond. But go Ryder for sacrificing your discman! IYKYK.

I honestly could have done without the spice in this book, the build-up, the teasing, the flirting, the kissing, all 10/10. Some books, even romance, don't need the spice because the plot does its job.

So, well done Ms Rea. You made me cry multiple times (something not many books have done), I connected with the characters and laughed along the way.

4.5 stars. <3

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

love this! my coworker describes it as Jake Peralta from brooklyn 99 in the woods. and I agree. they are both so funny and the stakes are technically high (mutder, jewel thief etc) but it reads like a rom com and a good one at that.

Kerry Rea's The Jewel of the Isle kept me warm during the cold Christmas days.

Our protagonist, Emily, is grieving her father's death. Now she's visiting his uncompleted list of national parks in his honor. She contacts the owner of a wilderness guide company, Ryder, in the hopes of his helping her check one park off the list. Unbeknownst to her, he isn't much of an outdoorsman, but he agrees to take her to the remote Isle Royale National Park. Once at the park however, things take a turn for the worst and both Emily and Ryder are forced to sort through their grief and try to stay alive.

Full of adventure, excitement, and flirting, The Jewel of the Isle was a delight to read and I can't wait to see what else Kerry Rea has to offer.

Kerry Rea is one of my booksta-darlings (found her as a debut author and have picked up every release since). I appreciate her writing and that each book is different from the previous. She's been serious, she's been quirky. And it works each time for me.
Emily needs to hire a tour guide to fulfill her dad's bucket list and she has one choice. On paper, Ryder should be the perfect guide. In reality? It's complicated.
Thank you Berkley Besties and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This was a fun adventure where you didn't know what would happen next! I definitely was on the edge of my seat as they were running from the bad guys to protect the jewel and their lives!

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program.

Emily is not an outdoorsy person. She loves her creature comforts, but her father was an adventurer at heart and loved exploring. He had a bucket list of places to visit, and he wanted his daughters to experience them with him. Life and anxiety got in the way, but his untimely passing has Emily determined to visit some of the places he wanted to see and face some of her fears. Ryder is also not and outdoors expert, he is more of the behind the scenes marketing guy. He co-owned an adventure company with his beloved older brother Caleb, but when he was left to run the business alone after a horrible accident Ryder is crippled by his grief and the business is failing. In an attempt to save Caleb's beloved boat from being sold, Ryder takes on Emily as a client and agrees to guide her through Isle Royale National Park, but it quickly becomes apparent that they both don't have a clue what they are doing. They also get caught up in an Indiana Jones type of archaeologist jewel hunt and murder situation that leaves them running through the park for their lives. Armed with a compass they can barely use and some protein bars, they have to learn to work together to escape with their lives.

This had some really great discussions about anxiety, paranoia, grief, guilt, and loss of a loved one. I thought the author captured the adventure and action parts well. There were some humorous moments threaded throughout the book, but given how often our main characters were stumbling around with their lack of outdoorsmanship and the frequent mention of glow-in-the-dark toilet paper (I didn't know that existed and I've been tent camping all my life), I expected more of a laugh out loud book from start to finish. I wanted a bit more comedy given all of the ridiculous situations our characters are put in in this romcom.

Overall this was a fun book. If you like opposites attract, adventure style romances with a bit of comedy, give this a go.

I’ve never related more to the indoorsy Emily who heads out on adventure. She bravely heads out to a remote island with the help of a not so experienced tour guide. Mix in some murder, intrigue and a lost treasure and this reads like a movie! This was a fun one !

Thank you #NetGalley and #berkley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

. From the moment you open the first page, you’re plunged into a world brimming with secrets, hidden histories, and high stakes that keep you turning the pages faster than you can say “treasure hunt.”

The story follows Clara, a woman with a restless spirit, who embarks on a quest to unravel a long-forgotten mystery linked to her family’s past. When Clara is drawn to a remote island with rumors of a priceless jewel, she quickly discovers that there’s more to the island than meets the eye. Not only does she have to navigate treacherous landscapes, but she’s also up against others who will stop at nothing to find the jewel first. As Clara uncovers hidden clues and unlocks secrets buried in the island’s history, she’s forced to confront not just her own past but the dangerous people willing to do anything to possess the jewel.

Kerry Rea’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, and she does a fantastic job of creating a vivid, atmospheric setting that you can almost feel. The island itself is a character in its own right—mysterious, rugged, and brimming with a sense of adventure and danger. From lush forests and craggy cliffs to ancient ruins, the island is filled with treasures and perils that keep you on the edge of your seat.

But it's not just the setting that makes this book so gripping—it’s the complex characters, particularly Clara. She’s fierce, determined, and full of heart, and her journey of self-discovery is just as compelling as the treasure hunt itself. As she navigates her emotions, grapples with betrayal, and forges unexpected alliances, Clara's growth is deeply satisfying. And let’s not forget the unexpected romance that blooms along the way—this relationship adds another layer of excitement and complexity to an already thrilling narrative.

With sharp twists, breathtaking action sequences, and a sense of intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very end, *The Jewel of the Isle* is a perfect read for anyone who loves a gripping adventure with a touch of romance. It’s the kind of book you won’t want to put down, as Rea masterfully builds tension and excitement, while also weaving in moments of heart and personal growth.

If you're in the mood for an adventurous escape—one that takes you to an island full of secrets, treasures, and danger—*The Jewel of the Isle* is a must-read. It’s a fast-paced, high-energy adventure with just the right amount of romance and mystery to keep you hooked from start to finish. Perfect for fans of treasure hunts, hidden gems, and thrilling escapades!

Thank you so much to Berkley for my ARC in exchange for my review!

I thought this book was super fun and well written! The characters were likable and unique, while sharing enough in common to make them have a strong connection.

The setting was unique, and while the overarching plot wasn't totally new, I didn't feel like I was reading every other jewel heist in the jungle book.

Emily felt like she was a well fleshed out character, and her motivation to go on the trip was nice to read about, because it put her out of her comfort zone but still felt like something her character would do.

I didn't love how much yelling and freaking out Ryder did, and would love if he was a little bit more composed, especially in situations that he chose to be in, knowing he had no clue what he was doing.

Overall, a cute and fun read!

3.5 stars

The Jewel of the Isle gave me Romancing the Stone vibes but doesn't feel like a copycat at all. It was a fun story with a decent amount of action/adventure, but still with a romance at its heart.

Emily and Ryder are both struggling with loss and grief. Her plan to spread her father's ashes in a National Park brings her to Ryder's tour company. There's just one problem. His late brother was the outdoorsman and Ryder only worked on the office side of things. Their trip together is further complicated by a murder, henchmen, and a missing diamond.

I enjoyed this story and the characters. They don't have it all together and it felt realistic how they were processing their grief. Overall, though, it felt rushed, especially the relationship development. It was still a good read, though, and I would like to try more from the author.

I went into The Jewel of the Isle blind and I was delighted by this adventure romance! I’m a girl who is way more outdoorsy in my head than in reality so I saw myself in this story more than once.

This book was pure joy. If you enjoy movies like The Lost City or Murder Mystery, you’ll love this book. It’s fun and silly in a good way, and I loved the setting and romance!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

FIRST, I am BEGGING authors to stop including HP references in their books. PLEASE. It's so unnecessary and alienates people and it just feels so jarring in 2024.

I thought this was cute, quick read but it does ask you to suspend your disbelief to an extent that I'm just not able to. I didn't really buy the romance, I felt like there was no real banter or tension or build up to it and when they got together I was like "...but why?". The characters in general feel more like caricatures than real people who could actually resist. I think there were moments that the author started some character development but it just didn't feel like enough. The plot was also a little ridiculous and cartoony in a way that would probably work better in a movie format.

Thank you to Berkley for the finished copy!

Emily Edwards is a classic type A personality and not a fan of the great outdoors, but when her father passes away, she is determined to fulfill his national park bucket list and spread his ashes at the remote Isle Royale National Park. She expects that her boyfriend will accompany her, but when he dumps her right before they’re supposed to leave on the trip, Emily is forced to hire a tour guide. And oh boy, what a guide she ends up finding!

Ryder Fleet might be the co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, but it turns out that he was actually just the marketer and has major golden retriever vibes. His brother, who passed away two years ago, was the true outdoorsman. Ryder is trying to save the business though, so he agrees to serve as Emily’s guide, thinking it should be an easy gig, especially since Emily already has the itinerary. Needless to say, when Emily and Ryder find themselves trying to avoid a group of murderous archaeologists who are hunting for a rare jewel, they quickly realize they are both in over their heads.

Oh my goodness, this was just the most hilarious story! I love a good adventure romance and the chemistry between Emily and Ryder was just so incredible. Kerry Rea is one of my favorite writers when it comes to humor and banter, and she was just on fire here. I was practically cackling my way through so many scenes in this book!

There were also some very moving moments as well, especially since as I already mentioned, Emily and Ryder are both dealing with the loss of loved ones. As they are forced to trust one another and work together to get out of their predicament, it also gives them the opportunity to work through their grief and to explore what they’re feeling for one another.

I have to admit, this book surprised me. I had a LOT of fun. It's sweet and adventurous and so funny. Like I could not stop laughing - so much was hilarious but then two pages later you'd be crying. Dead dads and brothers, extreme sadness and grief mixed with joy and fear. This is like a Eat Pray Love but in the wilderness and with a hot man who is actually not an adventure guide. The side thief/diamond plotline was SO FUN and really added a lot of momentum to the story. I really had fun with this book!

The Jewel of the Isle was an adventurous rom-com, and I really enjoyed reading the book. Two non-outdoorsy opposite personality people going outdoors and being stuck with each other sets up a fun and unique type of survival story. You will have to suspend your common sense and real-life thinking while reading, but it is worth it and sometimes the escape is what we crave. A slow burn of a romance, there is plenty of plot to keep the story moving. Funny at times, heartfelt and endearing at others. I was rooting for the characters the entire time, the female main character, Emily, was fantastic, I do believe I might be her biggest cheerleader. There was a great balance of sassy banter but emotional connection, mixed in with an over-the-top diamond heist. A great book for those that like an action packed rom-com, but do be aware there is grieving of a parent/family connection to the story in case that is something you try to avoid.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an opportunity to read and review an advanced digital copy.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Kerry Rea for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Like Rose Dewitt-Bukater was dubbed by handsome Jack Dawson in the Titanic film, Emily Edwards is also definitely what you'd call an 'indoor girl.' Never one to venture forth in the name of adventure, her idea of camping probably more closely resembles glamping...meaning she is diametrically opposed from her sky's-the-limit-father. Tragically, though, Emily's father has passed away...and his dreams of completing a very ambitious bucket list have been dashed as well. But Emily has an idea of how she can continue her father's goal to visit every national park: she can spread his ashes at one of the national parks he HADN'T made it to: Isle Royale Park in Michigan.

But Emily's lack of nature know-how and her general intelligence (she works as a physician) tell her that she needs a tour guide to be able to lead the way and keep her safe from the dangerous wildlife that COULD be lurking. When she starts to desperately search for a guide, though, it seems that they are all booked...save for one agency, Fleet Outdoor Adventures. And luckily for Emily (or so she thinks) Ryder Fleet, owner, is set to meet her at the dock and provide all the guidance she could ever need. What she doesn't know, however, is that Ryder's brother Caleb was the TRUE tour guru...and ever since his untimely passing, Fleet Outdoor Adventures has been pretty quiet...and certainly hasn't had any tour requests. As a marketing whiz, Ryder is much better at taking a pretty PICTURE of an outdoor adventure than actually living it.

Too embarrassed to admit the truth, Ryder's pride and desperation to do his brother's legacy proud inspires him to keep this fact to himself and attempt to lead the way for Emily. What neither of them could have predicted, however, was that a precious and rare jewel is said to be somewhere in the park...and there are a couple of their fellow travelers who would do JUST ABOUT ANYTHING to get their paws on it...even commit murder. After witnessing a horrifying crime, Ryder and Emily are forced to TRULY band together to outsmart their common enemy. But as the danger increases and the perps become even more desperate, the connection between Ryder and Emily is deepening too...and might resemble something powerful and REAL. Will this unlikely duo be able to reign as King and Queen of the Isle and keep the jewel out of greedy hands? Or will the fact that they've seen (and that they know) far too much make them the killer's NEXT targets..and leave them trapped in the park...for good?

From this book's sugary, cartoon-y cover, it should be FAIRLY clear what you're getting, and after completing this book, it IS essentially what I thought it was going to be...minus one very important thing.

ALL. OF. THE. LAUGHS.

As much as I wanted to dig in and chuckle at the campy nature (pardon the pun) of the premise and the general mishaps of two very inexperienced adventurers, I had a hard time really finding any of the predicaments COMICAL. While our two main characters felt fairly grounded in reality, the villain might as well have been twirling a swirling black mustache: he was just THAT cliche. I don't necessarily mind this in general, because it could have been a lot of fun. But I think what felt most 'off' to me about this one was just the balance of four important elements: grief, romance, comedy, and the adventure/mystery aspect of the book. The author couldn't quite decide which tone would be the overarching one, and therefore sort of 'lost me in the forest' along the way.

Let's start with the romance: this is VERY much an insta-love kind of story. From the first time Ryder encounters Emily on the dock he is BASICALLY in love with her already because she's so dreamy. Again, that's all well and good...but I don't think this sort of connection was really necessary. With so much going on just in terms of plot, a slow build would have been PERFECT here! I know both characters found each other devastatingly attractive but still: less is often more. While not overly spicy, it was still more than I felt I personally needed after meeting these characters and also just felt a bit jarring in contrast to what truly bonded these two in the first place...

GRIEF. This is really a book about characters battling their own experiences of grief, and not only was it difficult to dig into and unpack these ideas in such a short period of time; tonally, it gave me whiplash. While this certainly COULD be a bonding force in a budding relationship, it was very clear that both of our MCs probably needed more time to work on themselves before they dove headfirst into a relationship. I both liked all of the background we got on Emily's father and Ryder's brother and simultaneously felt like it was just TOO much with the zany adventure plot line going on. I think I would have felt more at home with some of this behavior if these two met at a grief support group: it just didn't feel at home in the throes of the jungle.

And then of course, the main theme (?) of the book itself: the Jewel of the Isle. As much as the plot was borderline goofy at times, it WAS somewhat thrilling...but like many adventure movies, by the last third, I was basically counting the minutes until it was over. The twists and turns are enough to keep you invested, but never enough to read as insanely clever or unexpected in any way (okay, so this was probably my overly picky thriller loving side coming out...I can't turn it off entirely!). As with romances in general, it's perfectly serviceable to have this sort of predictability...but the flip side of this predictability is that nothing about this ending was particularly memorable. (But hey, I can't remember the end of the Indiana Jones films either...everything after the big ball rolls down the mountain is a LITTLE blurry!)

For those looking for a silly, slightly spicy, sweet, sad, and perfectly sufficient adventurous rom-com, the Jewel of the Isle just might be your diamond in the rough.

But as for me, 'Isle' be dreaming of visiting a REAL one instead.

3.5 stars