WILDE ONE - Jeanine Gallant

ROMANCE WITH A TWIST - 4 stars

Plot - 4.5 stars - Although this is clearly a fairly typical romance, the treasure hunt is a bit of twist that really keeps things interesting, adding a bit of mystery to the usual romantic give-and-take.

Writing - 4 stars - This is my first Gallant book, and I enjoyed her casual and easy-to-read style. She captured my attention right from the beginning with the introduction of the search, then she kept me reading to follow the progress of the main characters.

Characters - 4.5 stars - These are definitely people that I'd love to hang around with. Griff is hot and sexy (of course), but he also has a fairly unusual and seemingly-glamorous job of sunken wreck treasure hunter. And Ainslee is cute and fun and someone who wants to help people. I found her very sweet and approachable. The camaraderie between the two of them was fun to watch, and the building sexual tension made sense.

Title - 3 stars - OK, so it's a play on Griff's last name, but I didn't really think it led anywhere. Their relationship wasn't particularly wild, nor was their adventure. So it's just an OK title for me.

Cover - 3.5 stars - Nothing special about this cover, nothing to draw the eye. Definitely an attractive couple, and I like the ocean and sun in the background, but still, I would have preferred to leave a little more to my imagination.

Overall - 4 stars - I enjoyed this book, and I found it interesting and fun. The location continually changed, which kept things fresh, and it also provided the perfect opportunities for both main characters to meet the other's families. I liked the treasure hunt, although I didn't really feel any particular sense of urgency or suspense, so that aspect felt a little disappointing. The characters were especially enjoyable and appealing. I will definitely look for more from this author.

Griff Wilde received a letter telling him to go on a race to find treasure, since he's on hiatus from his job, he decides why not. But the clues are tricky and not exactly what he anticipated.

Ainslee Fontaine is ready for a change and going on a scavenger hunt seems easy after being a teacher in NYC. However, she didn't count on meeting fellow treasure hunter Griff who catches her eye. But will they be able to find the prize while danger lurks?

This was a fun, fast paced story that really gets you interested. The author was able to bring the world together and brings it to life and really makes you feel as though your experiencing everything the characters are. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait for the second.

Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review from NetGalley