This was a very cute adventure full of mishaps and celebrating the people we love. I found myself falling in love with the characters and giggling (and saying a lot of "ugh how can two people go through so much crap?!") through each new action packed moment.

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the eARC!

This was such a good time!! Watching Emily grieve her dad so heavily was hard, but also watching her do all the things he wanted to do made my heart so happy!

And it was SO action packed!! It was so much fun watching Emily and Ryder do so many fun things!

Thanks to Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

**Title:** *The Jewel of the Isle*
**Author:** Kerry Rea
**Rating:** 4.5/5

**Review:**

Kerry Rea's *The Jewel of the Isle* is a fast-paced, heart-pounding adventure romance set against the rugged backdrop of Isle Royale National Park, where the wilderness isn't the only danger lurking in the shadows. With the perfect mix of romance, suspense, and humor, this book is an absolute page-turner that will keep you hooked from the first chapter to the last.

The story follows Emily Edwards, a type-A, organized woman with a bucket list to fulfill, thanks to her late father. Emily is determined to honor his memory by visiting Isle Royale, a remote national park full of wolves, bears, and dangerous shipwrecks. But she’s smart enough to know that venturing alone isn’t an option, so she reluctantly hires Ryder Fleet, a tour guide who seems capable on the surface but has a secret of his own—he’s no wilderness expert.

Emily and Ryder’s personalities are starkly different, making for some amusing and awkward interactions at first. Emily’s practical, no-nonsense approach clashes with Ryder’s laid-back, somewhat unprepared attitude, which provides plenty of lighthearted moments. But when they witness a murder and suddenly find themselves on the run from dangerous treasure-hunting archaeologists, their differences quickly become secondary to the growing stakes.

What stands out most about *The Jewel of the Isle* is how well Rea builds the tension—both romantically and in terms of survival. The lush, dangerous setting of the island adds an air of mystery and danger, making it the perfect environment for the characters to evolve. The suspense is gripping as Emily and Ryder navigate the wilderness, trying to stay one step ahead of those who would rather they didn’t make it off the island alive. Rea masterfully balances the adventure with steamy moments of romantic tension, as the two find themselves growing closer with each step of their perilous journey.

Emily’s character is wonderfully layered—she’s determined and tough but vulnerable when it comes to dealing with the loss of her father and opening herself up to love. Her growth throughout the novel is believable and compelling, as she moves from someone who wants to control everything to someone who learns to trust others. Ryder, on the other hand, is equally endearing. His internal struggles over taking over his late brother’s business, his feelings of inadequacy, and the charm he brings to the story make him more than just a typical love interest. He’s relatable and flawed, but ultimately courageous when it matters most.

The romance is a delightful slow burn, full of witty banter and electric chemistry. The close quarters they’re forced into, along with the adrenaline of their life-or-death situation, creates the perfect atmosphere for their relationship to blossom. But beyond the romance, the book is about trusting others, letting go of the past, and finding the courage to face the unknown.

*The Jewel of the Isle* doesn’t just stop at romance and adventure—it also weaves in some lighthearted humor, especially through Ryder’s ill-preparedness and Emily’s reactions to the increasingly absurd situations they find themselves in. The danger, however, never feels over-the-top, and Rea balances the lighter moments with the darker, more suspenseful elements seamlessly.

Overall, *The Jewel of the Isle* is a captivating romantic thriller that has it all—an adventurous plot, sizzling chemistry, and the beauty of the untamed wilderness. If you’re looking for a book that will make your heart race both from suspense and romance, this is it. Kerry Rea delivers a thrilling, charming story about survival, trust, and finding love in the most unexpected places. Highly recommended for readers who love a good blend of adventure and romance!

What a fun adventure romance and I adored every second of it. it made me laugh and I loved the romance.

“Two very indoor people roughing it on a remote island."

I could not put this down. It was a laugh out loud adventure that blends romance, danger, and grief. And, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

The story centers around Emily Edwards, a type A doctor grieving the death of her father. And Ryder Fleet, a gig worker turned wilderness guide who has his own secret. Emily hires Ryder to guide her through the remote Island of Isle Royale. Little does she know that his brother was the true wilderness expert in their Adventure business. Their first meeting does not go well. Emily’s penchant for lecturing and Ryder’s go-with-the-flow attitude create some entertaining arguments and banter.

They set out on a 6 day hiking trip, with Ryder at the helm, and it quickly goes sideways. The pair quickly finds themselves in the middle of a true crime story with an overly chatty villain and his too patient henchmen. While running from the bad guy, and trying to stay alive, the two bond over losing people that they loved.

Overall, I found the Jewel of the Isle to be delightful and fun. It’s perfect for fans of romance looking for a fast paced story that makes you laugh and root for the golden retriever to get the girl.

I really enjoyed this book! The tension kept the pages turning, but it also stressed me out. I would have been more stressed out if this wasn't a romance, though. I'm glad I had the comfort of knowing everything would turn out okay for the main characters, who are on the run from a murderous villain the entire book. It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns and dangerous situations Emily and Ryder find themselves in. I was rooting for them up until the very end.

I feel like The Jewel of the Isle could use a content warning for past parental death (Emily) and past sibling death (Ryder), grief, and gun violence. I was expecting some violence going into this book considering the blurb mentions the characters witnessing a murder, but there's a LOT of violence involving guns. Take care while reading if this is a triggering topic for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

This book was utterly perfect. I'm going to keep this book close to my heart for a really, really long time. The grief, love, adventure, humor and danger were perfectly balanced, something very hard to say about any other book dealing with such heavy topics. Kerry Rea has a true gift.

This book is such a fun, goofy adventure romance! I loved the vibes between the main characters and the complete over-the-topness of the villain. It was often silly and a little unbelievable, but that was part of the charm! The only thing I didn't super enjoy was the romance arc, especially toward the end. Things wrapped up too quickly, in my opinion, and took on an insta-love vibe that I didn't really like.

I picked up this book partially because it was set in a National Park unit and almost immediately was googling moose and wolf tours for Isle Royale. I don't have that type of money apparently. Anyways, I liked this book up until the last 25%. I liked that the characters were both bumbling and yet also figured things out eventually. What I did not like was the slightly stilted romance part of the last third of the book or that some of the violence at the end of the book was very rushed. I think if it was just an adventure book, it would have been much more successful.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own.

I think I’ve just realized these kind of books just aren’t my kind of book. I think if you like these kinds of adventures in your romance book, you’ll like it. But it’s not my cup of tea. I’d rather experience cozy real world situations then read these kinds of book that just produce more anxiety than comfort. It’s not a bad book, just not my thing. And the love interest was super boring and she was into the bad guy for most of the book.

I really loved this! The description calls this an "adventure rom-com" and that is absolutely spot on, and is also apparently a subgenre that I'm really into. This reminded me in different ways of Christina Lauren's Something Wilder and Jo Segura's Raiders of the Lost Heart. ER doctor Emily is basically the opposite of an adventurous person, but she has a trip planned to the remote Isle Royale National Park because it was something she was supposed to do with her dad. He died unexpectedly, and Emily finds herself trying to work through his bucket list of national parks, planning to scatter his ashes at each one. Isle Royale is first on the list, and after her boyfriend (and planned travel partner) breaks up with her, she ends up hiring Ryder, co-owner of the largely defunct Fleet Outdoor Adventures. Ryder is mourning his brother, who was the actual wilderness expert, but he needs money and accepts the job despite not being remotely qualified. The two clash immediately when Ryder is late for the ferry to the park and decides to jump from the shore to avoid missing it, which gives Emily the impression that he is stupid and reckless. Things don't get much better after their initially rocky start, especially after they witness and attempted murder and find themselves on the run from a group of archaeologists who are hunting for a legendary diamond on the Isle. I loved the chemistry that sparked up between Emily and Ryder - a combo of opposites attracting and shared experiences of grief and mourning - and while the adventure part was, of course, a bit unbelievable, it kept the plot moving quickly and was a fun twist on the usual rom-coms that I read. This ended up being just what I needed, and it makes me want to go back and read the Kerry Rea books that I've missed.

I think adventure romance is my new favourite romance sub-genre! This was ridiculous and hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times at Ryder and his quick wit. The outrageous situations these two ended up in were entertaining and over the top in a fun way, but also there was grief and vulnerability and love. Ryder and Emily totally reminded me of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago from Brooklyn 99, which happens to be a beloved tv of mine.

Emily is not the greatest with the outdoors. She would rather be inside, clean and warm and enjoying all the comforts of home. But in an effort to fulfill a last promise to her father, she knows she needs to make the trip she has scheduled to visit the Isle Royale and spread her father's ashes. Her boyfriend is the outdoorsy type, so he will make the perfect companion to help her make the trip. But when he breaks up with her just weeks before they were to leave, she's desperate to find a guide to accompany her and keep her safe.

Ryder is in a bit of a rut. Bouncing from handyman jobs to dog sitter to jack-of-all trades may pay the bills, but only just, and there's not much left to the wilderness guide business he worked so hard to build with his brother. But when a woman makes a last-minute request for a guide, he reluctantly takes the job, even though he knows next to nothing about surviving in the wilderness - that was his brother's part of the business.

When these two city dwellers find themselves lost in the woods, they both have to admit to their lack of skills. And when they find themselves embroiled in the search for a missing diamond, their adventure in the wood takes a deadly turn. Will they be able to work together to survive?

This was a great giggle-fest of a book. The banter between the two and the mishaps they find themselves in are hilarious and keep things moving along at a good clip. Readers will find the characters likeable and relatable and will root for their HEA. The mystery and suspense of their adventure keeps things interesting, and their growing chemistry is just perfect for their storyline.

Perfect for fans enjoy a good dash of humor in their romance, and the forced proximity trope is very well done for this one.

3.5 Stars
The Jewel of the Isle was a fun read that I could see being made into a movie. It had action, adventure, romance, and two main characters who fell in love while being completely out of their element. Emily was a recently dumped ER doctor who was trying to live out her dead father's dream of visiting the dangerous Isle Royale National Park. Ryder was a guy who was trying to make it in life after the loss of his brother who was the brains behind their business. Ryder was the last person who should have been leading Emily through the wilderness, but it made for some hilarious moments - especially with a murder and bad guys chasing them.

While I enjoyed reading this book, I did have a couple of things that bothered me a bit. At times, the pace felt a little slow with some show rather tell writing. There were also a few inconsistencies that didn't add up, but maybe most readers wouldn't notice them. I was also a little surprised by how instant love the romance felt toward the end. But, like I said, I was still able to enjoy this romance despite those things. Fans of this author's previous books will most likely enjoy this one as well.

It's been over 24 hours since I finished this book, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I thought this book had a lovely investigation of how two people navigate grief and how they are both struggling to live into being the version of themselves that they think their deceased family member (brother and father) would want them to be. I also loved the fish out of water setting, where two very indoorsy people end up on a wilderness trip together. However, the somber tone of the beginning of the book did not prepare me for the madcap, action movie hijinks that would come later. I have no qualms with a wild adventure-romance (in fact, once I realized this book was going to take a 1980s movie-style turn, I enjoyed it), but the book felt like it was two different approaches to the same story smashed together.

I love Kerry Rea so I was really excited to see she had a new book coming out! The Jewel of the Isle is an adventure romcom about two introverted people who get caught up in a hunt for a famed jewel! With great characters, and adventures that sound like so much fun this is a must read for all romcom fans!

3.5 Stars.

Excellent and fun first half but the last 20% or so got weirdly sappy and jarringly insta-love.

It’s a great start and the pages just fly by. A fish-out-of-water style rom-com adventure (think ‘The Lost City’ with Tatum/Bullock) and characters who are both on an emotional grief journey too. It’s lighthearted but with some depth.

The rest is definitely a nod to the 80s movies the title alludes to. A bit cheesy but with great banter and opposite personality types. Makes for a delightful duo who frustrate each other but just happen to fall in love along the way. And don’t forget a talkative villain and some henchmen thrown into an unlikely but energetic escapade. It’s a playful read if you understand the vibe intended.

For all the suspension of disbelief, though, that final act was just a little too much for me. Again, just suddenly sappy, at odds with the previous character interactions, and there definitely wasn’t enough build up for the avowals of love. Start of something great and meaningful, sure. But not love. Not yet.

Still, I definitely recommend giving it a read. It’s easy and quick with fun throughout.

This book was unhinged.

I am a national park junkie - so when I saw an action-based romance in a national park - I was first in line! And yet, every page I read I feel like I was watching a telenovela.

Both of our main characters are just messy individuals trying to find themselves after difficult losses. However, the plot was just unhinged - there is murder, a love story, a diamond, double-crossing, wolves, and henchmen. It just had a lot going on and was chaotic and wild and the most unbelievable. It's giving the national park version of Atlantis, honestly.

At it's core, I did enjoy our two characters healing themselves and finding each other through trauma and it's wild story - but my friend kept giggling at all the outlandish faces I kept making while finishing this book.

This book is a delightful romp. It's full of action and adventure with a strong romantic throughline. The characters are absurd and the situation they find themselves in is even more so, but that's what makes the story so much fun. The Jewel of the Isle is a light and breezy romance, perfect for fans of Christina Lauren's Something Wilder and Raiders of the Lost Heart.

Before I begin, I would like to thank Kerry Rea for allowing me to read a Net Galley ARC of her upcoming book, The Jewel of the Isle, which will be available on November 25, 2024.

Emily Edwards never wanted to hike on a remote island, especially one that has wolves, bears, and century-old shipwrecks like those found on Isle Royale National Park. She has to do it to honor her dad by completing his national park bucket list, and the smart way to accomplish that is to hire a tour guide. Ryder Fleet, the co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, doesn’t know a lot about the wilderness at all, that was his brother’s expertise. When the business he used to share with his late brother gets an inquiry, he prepares himself to go to Isle Royale even though he is more experienced in marketing than the outdoors. But a hike turns deadly when he and Emily witness a horrific crime and have to both hide and survive money-hungry archeologists for a missing jewel. Can Ryder and Emily learn how to trust each other and escape the island with their hearts and lives unscathed?

I loved this book. You have Emily who is ambitious, sassy, intelligent, and understandably cautious due to being an ER doctor. Ryder is charming, kind, witty, and absolutely chaotic. I loved the banter between the two main characters since their first encounter and the suspense throughout the book was well written. The humor, especially due to chaos given the situations Ryder and Emily found themselves in were fantastic. There were a lot of twists in this book, and I enjoyed every one of them. The romance was sweet, and I loved how Emily and Ryder’s dynamic became more complex (in a good way) and how the book talked about coping with loss. Overall, if you like adventure, humor, suspense, chaos, and romance with quite a bit of spice, then I would highly recommend this book. Here’s the link for more information: Amazon.com: The Jewel of the Isle eBook : Rea, Kerry: Kindle Store