Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advance reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This has a bonkers plot in all the best ways. The plot seemed rich and nuanced enough with just the set up of two people dealing with grief thrown together on a remote island for a week. And then add in a murder and a treasure hunt.

Seriously, how did this grief-focused book become hilarious and help me process my own? I loved the tone and the balance of humor and more serious aspects. It's fast paced and yet in a way I found believable for the character and romance development.

The audiobook featured incredible narration by Andrew Eiden (a favorite of mine) and Emily Lawrence. It flew by incredibly quickly at just under 9 hours, and I want to listen again.

This book is described as “Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel” and truly that is the perfect synopsis.
I am a huge fan of Kerry Rea’s writing and this book solidified that. It was the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and adventure. This story was truly bananas and I was invested in every word. Emily and Ryder were the most unlikely couple, but they way they helped each other through their grief and through the chaos of their trip was so sweet. I loved them together and I loved the chaos of this book.
Thanks to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the advance copy.

I love Kerry Rea and I don't care who knows it! She writes the best romances, and I am here for every page. This book was everything I hoped for in a romance.

Thank you @berkleyromance #berkleybesties for the digital ARC and @PRHAudio for the audiobook.
The Jewel of the Isle is a funny romcom full of crazy adventures. It’s a modern day story, but it gave me big “The Mummy” vibes IF Brendan Fraser’s character knew nothing about the outdoors. That probably doesn’t make any sense, but it just reminded me of his humor and of course, the romance. It also kind of has Jumanji vibes because things just keep going wrong for them. The story made me laugh and as long as you go in knowing they’re going to be in some ridiculous situations, it’s a fun read.

The Jewel of the Isle is a fun adventure romance that follows two people definitely not meant for the wild trying to survive a dangerous race to buried treasure. I thought the mix of action and emotion with the humor of neither being equipped was well done. The main characters are likeable enough and the blunders as they try to make it through make them a bit more endearing. Of course with any comedic aspects of adventure, some of the character choices are QUESTIONABLE but it was enjoyable all the same.

After I read a book by an author that I didn’t love, I usually don’t pick them up again. But this time I had to give her another shot. The very first book she wrote was a 5 star for me so I decided to give her another chance. And y’all, I hate saying this cliche, but I’m so glad I did!

So the reason I loved this one so much was because it had both romance and a mystery. And on top of that, it was also so funny! Rea can really write comedic relief. I know I should NOT have laughed at the cave scene, but Lordt they had no idea what they were doing. But Rea had me hooked in this book, from the laughing to the learning about the outdoors. It really was so much fun! Definitely not something I thought I was going to like as I don’t like the great outdoors like the FMC lol But I actually really, really did.

So the plot was a little crazy. It starts out as all about the romance. But when the mystery starts, it comes out swinging. As y’all know I don’t ever read the synopsis, so I had no idea what this was about. I really thought they were like archeologist lol But no, it was an outdoor jewel heist. So yeah, it was different than what I usually read lol

I do wish she had went more in depth into their feelings. Like the grief was a big part of their lives. I thought it deserved to be more front and center. And don’t say they didn’t have time while running for their lives, because I mean they found time to do the horizontal tango while outdoors, so I think they could have had this talk lol I’m just saying.

The characters were my favorite tho. Ryder was hilarious. Their meet cute? I choke laughed lol I see things happening as I read and it’s so much easier to do so when listening to an audio, so when I saw this happening in my head it was like watching it in real time. And I thought it was hilarious that Emily was so weird about everything lol She wanted everything down to an exact science, but as a doctor she didn’t know they weren’t going to get everything right? Like girl bffr lol But they got out of the weirdest situations all because she was really weird and packed her whole life lol

This was not something I was expecting to ever read. I don’t know that I would have picked it up if it hadn’t been by an author I’ve previously read. That’s one thing I can say about Rea. She really writes the most random things. From weddings to gorillas to now hiking in national parks set on an island lol It was alll so much fun and I loved it. I hope all her next books are like this!

The Jewel of the Isle is an adventure rom-com featuring two very indoor people trying to survive in the wilderness after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a jewel and witnessing a murder. It was so much fun and left me wanting to watch Romancing the Stone again!

This book was hilarious and full of adventure with an opposites attract, forced proximity romance.
I loved both main characters. They may be polar opposites, Emily is an ER doctor and Ryder is an “ambassador of adventure” who’s…not exactly qualified for the job, but they complement each other SO WELL. They were adorable together. The banter and tension between them was perfect.

Ryder is the definition of a golden retriever hero. I adored him. He may not be well versed in wilderness survival but he doesn’t hesitate to protect Emily when necessary.
Emily is very type A and relatable. I admired her strength and determination to step WAY out to her comfort zone and finish her dad’s bucket list.
I also loved her obsession with murder documentaries and the references she made during their adventure in the wilderness.

A majority of the book takes place over 5 days but I didn’t mind the insta-love aspect here as they grew close due to their experiences with grief AND the danger they faced.

I definitely recommend picking this up if you’re in the mood for an adventure romance. There’s murder, a jewel thief, henchmen, an angry moose and so much more!

I would like to extend my gratitude to Netgalley for granting me the chance to read this book as an ARC!

This captivating tale is rich with adventure, suspense, romance, and humor, presenting a scenario where "two clueless individuals" find themselves lost in the wilderness and inadvertently drawn into a darker conspiracy. I genuinely enjoyed this modern romantic comedy, as it offers more than the typical explicit content that has become prevalent in recent literature. It boasts a thoughtful plot, engaging characters, and a well-developed story line. Furthermore, the book is a swift and enjoyable read, allowing readers to dive in without the need for extensive analysis, which is a delightful aspect. Lastly, I admired the seamless narrative flow, which maintained a steady pace without feeling rushed or fragmented.

This book has a great balance of romance, adventure and humor! It centers around Emily and Ryder (not sure if this is a Tangled reference but he definitely gave off Big Ryder Flynn energy!) who go on an adventure and get swept up in more ways than one!

To give you an idea of how outdoorsy I am as a reader, I first looked up if Isle Royale is, in fact, a real place. It is real and beautiful—the perfect backdrop to the heart-pounding and hilarious hijinks these two get into. Ever since their first meeting, I was rooting for them and excited to see where their adventure would lead.

One note, there is a strong theme of grief throughout this book—that could be triggering or cathartic for the reader. As an Emily 14 years into her own Dead Dad grief journey, this didn’t bother me but I wanted to flag just in case. I found this element especially well done, specifically how the different characters navigate their grief (❤ Biff)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so fun! For lovers of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone, it’s an easy read for any romance and adventure lover. The two main characters couldn’t be more opposite but they have something very personal in common, both have lost someone very dear to them recently and are navigating through grief. When the close proximity of a backpacking trip forces them together in the outdoors, the two learn to get along. When the archeologist and subsequent jewel heist force them to fight for their lives together, they grow even closer togther. I thought I wouldn’t love this because it seemed a little far fetched but it was so fun and enjoyable and just the perfect amount of escapism.

This is my third book by Kerry Rea and I think she’s just getting better and better. I had so much fun reading The Jewel of the Isle and fell in love with Emily and Ryder. These two have NO business embarking on any kind of adventure on a good day. After they accidentally stumble upon a jewel heist and murder, they find themselves not only trying to survive the elements, but also attempting to flee the bad guy’s goons.

One of my favorite not-so commonly used tropes is opposites attract. On paper, Emily and Ryder make zero sense. Once you get to know them, you see that both characters have suffered a great loss and they’re able to connect with each other on a level not everyone can. Ryder’s wilderness skills are very basic, but he’s still able to keep Emily safe when need be. Emily is able to let down her guards a bit and start relying on her instincts more. All in all this was just a fun time, and I definitely hope to read more adventure romances in the future. 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy. I can’t wait for Kerry’s next novel.

Silly & fun, The Jewel of the Isle will have you rooting for the two grieving MCs as they navigate the wilderness entirely unprepared while also on the run from murderous treasure hunters. I honestly had so much fun with this one! Ryder is the perfect goofy golden retriever MMC who falls first and hard. He's big, brawny, and a bit reckless but very lovable and loyal -- so loyal, he takes a gig as a wilderness guide to earn money to save his brother's boat, despite the fact he has no wilderness training. Emily is a brainy, workaholic doctor with many anxieties and really no outdoorsy qualities but she's determined to survive a week in Isle Royale National Park to honor her father and the trip he had wanted her to go on with him before he died. Despite being a very mismatched pair, the two find love and support along with adventure and danger in this romance novel!

The story flows well and their opposite qualities make Emily and Ryder a great pair. The topic of grief and moving forward is handled very well and while at times it's a bit heartbreaking, the comic relief and the camaraderie between the main characters keeps it from feeling too heavy. It's perfect if you're looking for a quick, entertaining, opposites attract romance with tons of adventure and ridiculousness!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a drc from Berkley via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is exactly what I needed this weekend and my last read of November.
This was so fun and exciting with an unexpected jewel heist they somehow get involved in. Emily is a very relatable character not outdoorsy, worried about everything and she is only on this hiking trip as a vow to her late father. Ryder the himbo but not really, is still trying to figure out his life after his brothers death. They both don’t know what they are doing in the wilderness even though he should cause she hired him. This was so entertaining and hilarious.
Loved how they went from enemies to friends to lovers. They are definitely opposites attract and they are going through an intense experience. But I think they both needed this.

Thank you Berkley romance for the gifted copy

The Jewel of the Isle Kerry Rea is a a delightful, funny, and adventurous romantic comedy. Emily Edwards is an ER doctor who takes safety to a new level. She needs to visit a National Park, and can not go alone. Ryder Fleet is co-owner of wilderness adventures and thinks he may be able to do more than marketing and help Emily out. He really needs the money. The story takes a turn when they witness a murder, are on the run from an archaeologist, and are trying to hide a diamond. Adventure Awaits!

This was the book that I didn’t know that I needed to get through this month! The banter, mystery, and the laugh out loud scenes made for a great story. The book explores grief in a thoughtful way, the characters are engaging, and it is filled with good adventure. The story was so quotable and my favorite line may be, ‘Never trust a man who does not carry his own pack. “ Wisdom!

I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!

I was given a copy and all thoughts are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Romancing the Stone is one of my most favorite movies. When I spotted this on NG I had high hopes it would inspire similar affection. It didn’t.

Reader, the story is fine - ridiculous, implausible, wholly lacking in relationship development - but fun and deranged? Unfortunately, lighthearted frolics in the woods with bad guys in pursuit are only good if you have a couple you’re invested in and who you genuinely want to root for AND the author successfully walks that tightrope of tension/crime caper and wacky, romantic frothy fun. Rea doesn’t.

The author simply doesn’t give readers a couple to get behind and the villain is…too nasty and villainous for this silly story? Our couple has zero chemistry or showers to support their after hours recreational activities (ick), and our villain is a vicious asshole that was too mean for this novel.

Readable? Yes. Enjoyable? Sometimes. Worth your $? I don’t think so. Sorry.

This was a wacky, ridiculous, fun, adventure/rom-com. It had the vibes of The Lost City with Sandra Bollock, but I liked the romance even a little more. In between the absolute ridiculousness this book also deals with grief. Both of the two main characters have had major losses (Emily has last her father and Ryder lost his brother). Emily is a doctor who hates the outdoors and has a lot of (perfectly logical of course) fears. Ryder is a bit of a mess and when his brother died, his brother’s adventure company went under when Ryder tried to run it. Emily is determined to take a trip that her father asked her to go on so she can spread some of his ashes. Ryder is guilted into taking the job guiding her by his sister in law she can buy his brother’s boat and hold onto that small piece of him. The two of them get an adventure they could not have imagined. Because while there were normal wilderness struggles there were also bad guys and guns and running for their lives. This was a fun book and it would make a fun movie.

This was such a fun rom-com filled with adventure that swept me away for the perfect escape read. When two non-outdoorsy people witness a murder, their only option is to survive outside, and escape a group of archeologists on the hunt for a jewel.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
🩷great banter
💎adventure
🥵allll the tension
⛺️forced proximity
🤝friends to lovers

*many thanks to Berkley Romance, prh audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy

The Jewel of the Isle is a fun and adventurous romance following two idiots and their journey through a national park as they undercover a conspiracy, murder, armed men, and a psychotic archaeologist willing to do anything to get his hands on a legendary diamond. This such a fun and sweet read, I loved that both MCs are on a journey to overcome grief and find each other along the way. The adventure was so chaotic and just perfect for the plot and to balance all the emotion throughout the story. While the romance was a little insta-lovey, I think with the action and suspense, their relationship worked out so well if not a little playful and light.

Read if you like:
🏞Opposites Attract🏞
🏞Adventure🏞
🏞Idiots to Lovers🏞
🏞Himbo MMCs🏞
🏞Murder and Mayhem🏞
🏞Tension🏞
🏞30+ MCs🏞
🏞 Forced Proximity🏞

Emily Edwards didn’t see it coming. She’d been hiking with her boyfriend, which was not her favorite activity, wearing her new bucket hat, when he stopped to talk to her. He wanted to break up and start seeing a dogwalker. Emily didn’t have anything against dogwalkers, except when they steal her boyfriend. But that wasn’t the worst, nor was the fact that he had told her this in the middle of the hike, leaving them the awkward hike back to the car and then the car ride home to deal with.

The worst part was that he was supposed to go with Emily in a few weeks to Isle Royale, a remote National Park where she was going to spread some of her father’s ashes. Her father had always wanted to go there, and then he had dropped dead in a bookstore before he could make a dent on his bucket list. Emily’s (now ex) boyfriend handed her a list of potential tour guides who could keep her safe on her trip, since she’d already gotten time off from the hospital where she worked and stubbornly refused to postpone it.

Ryder Fleet is going through a difficult time. His older brother Caleb had been outdoorsy, and Ryder tagged along. He did okay, usually, but it was Caleb who had paid attention to the rules. Caleb set up the company, Fleet Outdoor Adventures. Ryder just did the marketing for it. Caleb was the one who actually worked in the field, leading tours, keeping hikers safe, making customers happy. But now Caleb is gone, killed in a freak accident, and the company is shut down. Or, all but the website, where a desperate note from Emily shows up, asking for a guide for her trip to Isle Royale. Ryder needs the money, since his father has decided to sell Caleb’s boar, and he can’t bear the thought of it going to a stranger. So Ryder is heading for Isle Royale with only a couple of weeks notice.

On the ferry to the island, Emily looks around for a man in the green Fleet Outdoor Adventures shirt and doesn’t find one. She asks them to go back to the shore, as she is sure she’s made a horrible mistake, but then a handsome man in the green shirt comes running up to the pier. The boat won’t return to pick him up, so he starts running and makes a giant leap to get on board. Everyone is impressed with his skill, except for one Dr. Emily Edwards, emergency room doctor, who understands just how many ways he could have hurt himself with that move. She’s still wondering if she’s made a mistake, when she meets Dr. Killian Sinclair.

Dr. Sinclair is a Harvard professor and an archeologist, heading to Isle Royale to look over a shipwreck with his mentor. He is wearing a tweed jacket in that hot professor way, and Emily is smitten. She enjoys talking with him about his work, until they make it to the island and Emily’s trip starts in earnest. She heads out with Ryder and quickly finds out that he doesn’t know all that much about reading maps. Hours of hiking doesn’t get them close to the spot they were supposed to stop for the night, but they manage to survive. And going off course means that they witness the argument that Dr. Sinclair has with his mentor, ending with Dr. Sinclair being shoved off a cliff.

Emily runs to help him, and that puts her and Ryder in the sights of a killer who will do anything to leave the island with a valuable diamond that had been discovered in the shipwreck. Suddenly, all that matters is staying alive until they can find help, but since the killer came prepared and Ryder and Emily did not, it will take all their combined intelligence and strength to get off the island alive.

The Jewel of the Isle is an adventure rom com with lots of clever dialogue and genuine danger. Emily and Ryder are both strong characters, well developed and just fun to spend time with. This compelling read from Kerry Rea, the author of Lucy on the Wild Side, offers up lots of fun and good humor as these characters fight with each other, then fight with the elements, then fight with a killer to find their way back home.

I adored this book. While the characters are imperfect and a bit lost to grief, they find compassion and strength in each other to overcome all the odds that seem to be stacked against them. There are lots of clever twists and smart action, and I found myself laughing out loud as I got completely lost in this book. It’s the perfect escape for a winter weekend, just grab some snacks and a pine scented candle, and you’re ready to go.

Egalleys for The Jewel of the Isle were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

✨ Review ✨ The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This book was so much fun to read! It was like a slapstick romance Indiana Jones, but mixed with characters working through deep feelings of grief and how to move forward from that grief.

Emily, a hospital pediatrician, wants to confront her fears and sprinkle her dad's ashes in Isle Royale National Park, a remote island park without many amenities. She hires a guide to lead here...but the problem is, after Ryder's brother died, they lost their primary guide, and he's never done this before. So we have this mess of a guy without wilderness skills leading Emily who's terrified of the wilderness, and that sets up a hilarious story.

Mix in a jewel heist, a truly absurdly bad villain, and all sorts of other wilderness shenanigans, and it's truly astounding that these two manage to stay alive. Be prepared for lots of laughs and lots of feels.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Isle Royale National Park
Reminds me of: slapstick romance Indiana Jones
Pub Date: November 26, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ slapstick rom coms with lots of jokes and shenanigans
⭕️ Indiana Jones-style wilderness adventures
⭕️ opposites attract