My national park loving heart merged with my true crime/thriller heart, then clashed headlong into my steamy romance NEEDING heart! This high stakes yet adorable romance was everything anyone who grew up loving National Treasure would ever want in a romance. This story tackled grief in such a beautiful way and really was so well paced that I found myself just falling in love with so many aspects of the story! My only complaint? The cover. It really did this book such a disservice because I can only imagine how many people will sneak right past this gem of a novel thanks to that cover. But honestly, this book was amazing and I loved every single moment.

Do you love the movie The Lost City? Did it totally alter your brain chemistry? Have you been looking for something to fill the void it left ever since you first watched it?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you NEED to read this book!

I say “this book had me hooked” a lot, but I was utterly lost in this one, to the point where I blinked and was somehow 60% through.

Part of what had me flying through the story was the dynamic between Ryder and Emily. They are true opposites, which made their banter nothing short of electric (and hilarious), and I loved watching Ryder’s sunshine-y personality interact with Emily’s seriousness. Even with how different they are, they also understand each other so deeply with their experiences with grief.

In short, this book had absolutely everything I wanted, from the high-stakes adventure vibes, to a swoon-worthy romance between two lovable characters, and I highly, HIGHLY, recommend checking it out.

Laugh out loud funny. 90s and 2000s references that will fill you with nostalgia. Witty banter. Tension. Romance. Adventure. The warm fuzzy feeling you got when you watched the Goonies for the first time and they made it out of the cave and they adopted that weird monster man.

If any of this appeals to you, READ THIS BOOK. The vibes were immaculate. The plot was fun and fast-paced. The romance was there. The main characters had baggage but the way it was addressed was so hopeful and with humor.

Goonies meets The Lost City meets Lara Croft meets self deprecating humor… plus love poems.

I had a lot of fun reading this!
The Jewel of the Isle is a fun and fast-paced story with two opposite and utterly clueless about the wilderness wandering around a national forest and finding themselves in the middle of a mystery and a murder.

Emily is a type A personality prepared for everything she could think of for hiking, including glow-in-the-dark toilet paper. Ryder is a bit of a goofy, goes-with-the-flow cinnamon roll guy who knows nothing he hasn't learned from books and YouTube about the outdoors.

Together they make this story super fun, I laughed out loud a bunch, and when they started to grow closer while running for their lives is was totally adorable. The ending was great, I loved the chemistry between our couple and watching the two of them stumble around the park was entertaining as all get out. With the added murder and mystery their wasn't a slow moment and I didn't want to put it down.
I will definitely be checking out other books by this author

3.5⭐️ This had me laughing so hard. It definitely gave me Jumanji (welcome to the jungle) vibes and I loved that.

Emily and Ryder are like oil and water. They definitely don’t get off on the right start but I love how their relationship changes as time goes on. It’s funny how different someone can seem at first glance but really they have more in common with you than you think.

“The older you get, the more people you see die. People you love, people who love you. And everybody tells you that you have to find a way to move on eventually, to keep going, but I don’t think anybody really moves on. I don’t think anybody should.”

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book! The Jewel of the Isle is available TODAY, November 26, 2024!

Emily Edwards is a type A emergency room doctor who does not want to hike a remote island alone. She is worried about bears, wolves, and the terrain, but she is determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, so she hires a last minute guide. Ryder Fleet is not exactly a wilderness expert, in fact he has practically driven his co-owned Fleet Outdoor Adventure company into the ground, but he is desperate for this last minute chance to make some much needed cash. Emily’s perfectly planned trek takes an initial bad turn because of Ryder’s ineptitude, and just keeps getting worse when they become bystanders in a jewel heist turned murder! These two adventure novices must figure out what they are doing to survive the outdoors, and protect their quickly falling their hearts!

What you really need to know about this book is it is FUNNY! Ryder is like the Deadpool of outdoor adventures, ready with a smart quip at every turn, even in the worst situations. Both characters are processing so much grief after losing people they love, but their unwillingness to share that information with a total stranger keeps that at a distance for a while, until necessity requires them to get close very quickly. It was cute, probably very unrealistic, but so much fun to follow! I’m excited to read more from this author!

The Jewel of The Isle is a thrilling adventure that is the perfect mix of romantic comedy and thrilling suspense and an adventurous treasure hunt. I loved the story line it flowed really nice from beginning to end and the character development we get from both Emily and Ryder was done really really well. I had the best time reading it I felt as like I took an adventure myself!!!


Thank you Berkley for the ARC copy!!!

This was an ideal combination of rom-com energy with romantic suspense thrills and I was absolutely here for it. I love the characters connecting over grief and growth. Kerry Rea's best yet.

Many thanks to Berkley & NetGalley for the digital review copy of this adventure romance, which comes out today, Tuesday, November 26.

After absolutely loving Kerry Rea's Lucy on the Wild Side, I couldn't wait to dig into this book with its exciting action-adventure premise. It's told from dual perspectives, which is never my favorite, but Emily and Ryder are quite different voices, and I appreciated seeing their situation through both of their points of view.

I absolutely loved the sense of humor in this book, finding myself laughing out loud at the way Emily and Ryder both tell their stories. Emily's danger aversion and love for all things cozy were incredibly relatable, and I came to feel for Ryder even if I couldn't really relate to him as much.

The chemistry between them was sizzling, and this book certainly brought the spice a bit more than previous books I've read by Rea. I was a little surprised by that, but not necessarily in a bad way. At times, I did feel the development of the relationship took a backseat to the action/adventure plot, but given the stakes involved, that felt like it made sense.

Some elements of the plot were a bit predictable, such as who the villain turns out to be, but that felt more like Rea playing into tropes than anything else, and I enjoyed watching how everything unfolded. It felt like a great entry into the action adventure romance genre, alongside movies like The Lost City, where two unlikely people fall in love while running for their lives.

I also really appreciated how the book tackles the heaviness of grief, letting us see it from multiple angles to understand that different people navigate loss in different ways. Emily's love for her late father and Ryder's love for Caleb are central to the story, and I loved seeing how they were able to bond over a shared understanding of what it feels like to lose someone you love. I thought the topic was handled really well, and always appreciate when a romance acknowledges that life doesn't begin and end with romantic love.

Overall, this was a fast-paced adventure that had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see just how Emily and Ryder were going to escape and find the HEA that the romance label promised me. There were plenty of gripping twists and turns, a few laughs, and some heartfelt moments as well. I highly recommend The Jewel of the Isle to anyone looking for a romance that also involves adventure and some deeper topics as well.

The Jewel of the Isle, reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, Romancing the Stone, is the third book I’ve read by Rea and all three are deserving of their 5* rating. She does such a fabulous job of crafting characters you can’t help rooting for and creating a plot that is full of surprises.

This friends-to-lovers, opposites attract, Instalove romance is more than you’d expect. Rea starts out introducing Emily and Ryder, who have both recently lost loved ones and who are struggling with misplaced guilt. However, from the moment Ryder makes a daring, yet foolhardy, leap onto a departing ferry bound for Isle Royale National Park, the action never stops. Emily, an ER doctor, is determined to complete her late father’s bucket list, fighting her natural fear of risk and the outdoors and, after her boyfriend dumps her, she hires what she thinks is an experienced tour guide to accompany her. Unfortunately, Ryder was the marketing brains behind the business he ran with his late brother and knows as little as she does about surviving in the wild. I literally laughed so hard that I teared up three times in the beginning chapters with this hapless duo and their hysterical banter, but never expected the thrilling, yet murderous action adventure to come. As they face down a bull moose, a pack of wolves, and an evil professor and his henchmen, they come to realize that the need to protect those they love trumps any fear or perceived incompetence they assumed about themselves.

I highly recommend this spicy, endearing romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat while still providing levity.

The Jewel of the Isle is an adventure romance with opposites attract energy that proves to be a delightful read. It also provides a poignant portrayal of grief that I found to be both honest and compassionate.

There’s a lot of entertainment to be found within this novel’s pages, and I thought author Kerry Rea balanced elements of over-the-top shenanigans with wit and emotion. I also could see this book easily turned into a movie.

This is definitely more of a slow-burn romance, but there’s so many other things going on, you won’t mind it!

Overall, I laughed, I teared up, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The Jewel of the Isle:

“So here we go. Adventure awaits”

Thank you @prhaudio @berkley for my free copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner

Honestly, the best way to describe this book is refreshing. It was hilarious, sweet, lots of fun adventure, a mystery/thrill, and little slow burn spice. The audio is phenomenal and if you’re an audiobooker, you HAVE to grab this one and listen to it.

If a man is going to throw a discman to save your life, immediately, 100%, I’m down. This needs to be on the big screen give me an Ellie Kemper or Selena Gomez and give me a Zac Efron or Channing Tatum. This is absolute gold.

I also like that we tackle a big topic of grief and life after someone passes. This was done so well and I really loved how it balanced the laughs and tension.

Again, audio is where it’s at. Andrew Eiden (You may know as Teddy Hamilton) and Emily Lawrence were so good! They hit each nuance perfectly and it totally made the book a 5 ⭐️.

Out tomorrow, definitely one to not miss!

QOTD: Do you have a bucket list and what’s on it? I’m a national parks bucket list person.

An adventurous RomCom!

This story was entertaining from the very start, blending dangerous treasure hunters, suspense, and romance into a fun, action-filled adventure. The characters' backstories added just the right amount of depth to balance out all the laughter.

A highly entertaining journey of two people thrust into an adventure neither wants to be on. Forced proximity at its finest--and I loved every moment!

Emily and Ryder's enemies-to-friends dynamic was a joy to watch. After a rough introduction, it was so satisfying to see their initial prejudices melt away as they got to know and trust one another.

The audiobook was absolutely delightful and made my workday fly by! The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, and now I'm inspired to plan a road trip to visit a National Park!

When her boyfriend unexpectedly dumps her, Emily Edwards must scramble to find a new guide to help her spread her father's ashes at Isle Royal National Park. Fortunately, she is able to secure hiking guide Ryder Fleet. Unfortunately, Ryder's knowledge of the great outdoors is just about equal to that of Emily's. As if this task wasn't tough enough, they find themselves on the run from a murderous archeologist. Fingers crossed they make it off the island in one piece.

Kerry Rea is three for three! When I was reading this book, I thought about how different it was from her other two books while it was still very "Kerry Rea". This time, Rea gave us an amazing adventure romance which was packed with action, danger, and a lot of humor too. The interactions between Ryder and Emily were so much fun, and they found themselves in situations that yielded comedy gold.

Needless to say, this tale evoked lots of laughter, but it also hit me in the feels. Both Emily and Ryder had lost someone dear to them. They were not only racked with grief, they were also harboring a lot of guilt associated with those losses. This excursion ended up stretching both Ryder and Emily in many ways. Not only were they forced to face some fears and push beyond their comfort zones, they also were able to unpack their emotional baggage while finding love along the way.

This book had a level of adventure I was not expecting and delivered it with lots of humor and warmth. It was a winning combination that made my heart pulse from the excitement while filling it with so much happiness. Overall, Kerry Rea wowed me again, and I will be eagerly awaiting her next release.

A short and sweet, adventurous read! Had a great mix of funny and wholesomeness that I greatly enjoyed. The characters had a fairly good arc, taking into the account of the short book, and I found the romance between the two main characters very sweet! I’m still giggling over the glow in the dark toilet paper!

I absolutely loved this book! It was a perfect mix of humor, emotion, and sweetness. Emily Edwards, ever the Type A personality, sets out to fulfill her late father's dream by hiking through Isle Royale National Park, and when she hires a guide who is flying by the seat of his pants, the adventure takes off with laugh-out-loud moments. Ryder Fleet, the co-owner of the tour company, is anything but the experienced outdoorsman he's expected to be, and the dynamic between him and Emily is absolutely hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud several times throughout the book!

The adventure takes a twist when they witness a crime and get caught up in a dangerous hunt for a jewel, forcing them to rely on each other for survival. I'd cry if I was in Emily's shoes but she and Ryder have amazing chemistry which only builds as they spend time together on the island, looking for the jewel and avoiding danger! This book was such a fun read, and I loved the unique mix of romance and suspense. The unexpected twists kept me hooked until the very end. Highly recommend this one!

This was in fact an adventure! It was funny and fast paced and filled to the brim with chaos at every turn! And it was a good time!! I don’t think I fully read the plot summary before I started it, so I was surprised at all the twists and turns, but it was such a good surprise!! And I actually really loved Emily and Ryder! They were a perfect unlikely match and watching them figure some really important things in just five days was such a treat!!

I really liked the two of them together! They were so different and they couldn’t have been more unprepared for what was about to happen to them…but it was so fun seeing it all unravel! They had good chemistry and they were both able to be vulnerable and also be so playful with one another!

I really liked how both of their grief was written. They both had similar experiences but they were dealing with it in such different ways. They both were still really struggling and not really dealing with anything. Emily really was fueled by regret, and the fact that Ryder was able to get through to her was really so sweet. And for Ryder specially he was having such a hard time just existing without his brother, and seeing him learn that he doesn’t have to move on, he just has to keep moving forward and how that changed things for him was so bittersweet.

Thank you to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea is a delightful blend of humor, adventure, and romance that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The banter between Emily and Ryder is sharp and hilarious, making their unlikely partnership all the more enjoyable to follow. Emily’s Type A personality clashing with Ryder’s somewhat underqualified tour guide act leads to plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, especially as they stumble through dangerous—and sometimes ridiculous—situations. While the story has its share of suspense with the archaeologist's jewel hunt and murder plot, the romance blossoms beautifully, with emotional depth emerging as both characters grapple with grief in ways that feel heartfelt and relatable.

Though some scenes border on the implausible, they add to the charm of this whimsical escapade and serve the novel’s adventurous tone well. Readers should be prepared for the story’s underlying themes of loss, which are treated thoughtfully but might catch those looking for a purely light read off guard. Overall, The Jewel of the Isle is a hilarious, touching, and slightly over-the-top rom-com adventure that’s perfect for anyone seeking a story with heart and humor in equal measure.

I plan on doing a review for the Feminist Book Club podcast.

The adventure aspect delivered once the story got going! This was a fun one.
I needed less of the bad guy in the first 30 percent. (He was a little TOO over the top movie villain.)
The main characters connecting through their grief and comforting each other was really sweet. Ryder himself was a doll whenever he wasn’t being a dummy, (I say affectionately.)

THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE – Kerry Rea
A Perfect 10
Berkley
ISBN: 978-0593815649
November 26, 2024
Romantic Comedy

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan – Present Day

What happens when you mix a novice female doctor whose idea of roughing it while hiking is to bring her coffee maker along and a man who isn’t really a hiking expert? This is what readers get while reading THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE and they are in for a hilarious adventure.

Dr. Emily Edwards recently lost her father, and to honor him, she wants to distribute his ashes at Isle Royale National Park because they had made plans to hike there before he died. She isn’t really the outdoor type and prefers the comforts of home, which means she is packing stuff she shouldn’t if she plans to carry them in a backpack. The reservation is with Fleet Outdoor Adventures, and once Emily boards the ferry that takes her over to the island, she gets cold feet. But she becomes distracted when a man who is late arriving has to literally jump from the dock to the ferry. Turns out he is her guide.

Ryder Fleet only worked in the back end of the business as his late brother was the actual guide. But Ryder needs the money he will receive from this trip and hopes to fake his way on what should be a simple hike on the island. However, the trip soon becomes disastrous, especially after they witness an attempted murder and try to help the victim. Emily and Ryder are getting deeper into a complicated mystery and adventure, one that seemingly has them going every which way, and soon has them running for their lives.

Once I started reading THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE, I found myself deeply involved in wondering what was going to happen. The good guys may be the bad guys, and Emily and Ryder are seriously inept, which will have you laughing. Their trials and tribulations will have you rooting for them and hoping they remain in one piece. I had to give this story one of RRT’s Perfect 10’s because it is deliciously funny, and the characters are likable and adorable. It’s clear early on that these two have no business hiking on an isolated island. Emily acts a bit uppity at times, while Ryder is a little too laid back, like a surfer dude. Yet they end up meshing well together and are soon there for each other. The chemistry between them works, as does the dialogue. Yes, the plot might be a little out there, but it keeps the story moving along in a fun way.

Both Emily and Ryder are dealing with the losses of people they love and invariably it brings them closer. Soon, they have to rely on each other as they face potential death from wild animals, falling down, and of course, danger from people who want to kill them. It’s a rollicking adventure that will have you laughing and cheering at the same time. If you like a tale that is fun and intriguing, then you don’t want to miss THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today