REVIEW: The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea: If there is one thing that Emily Edwards is, it is determined, so when her late fathers dying wish was to hike the Isle Royale National Park. Emily is damn sure to make it happen, even if it will only be his ashes taking the hike with her. Even with all her plans and survival tips Emily knows that she cant do this hike on her own after all there are bears and wolves known to roam this mountains, which is why she hires the only available adventure tour guide, Ryder Fleet.

As co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, Ryder would hardly call himself an outdoor expert, that was more his brother Caleb’s thing, but if Ryder had any hope of keeping his now late brothers dream alive then he has no choice but to buck up and lead a hike, after all how hard could it really be? Turns out two novices hiking together totally unprepared is pretty hard, especially when they wind up getting lost on the very first day and stumbling upon a murder… soon Ryder and Emily are faced with dodging jewel thieves, an angry bear and trying to out smart a hungry wolf. The question is can these two very indoor people survive the great outdoor and live to tell the tale?

I really liked reading The Jewel Of The Isle, this book combines two thing I love; romance and suspense and Rea did a brilliant job in crafting an intriguing tale of heart and drama with more than a few giggles along the way. This really was at its core a cute easy going read, I loved that both main characters were so out of their element but kind of just had to go with it if they wanted to survive.

I really liked how buttoned up and organised Emily was, she liked to live an organized and quiet life. I liked getting to see her having to step out of her comfort zone and doing something that is so no her, the entire idea to hike the mountains was such a beautiful tribute to her father and I really liked this angle in the book. As for our hero, well Ryder was a total sweet heart, he was so not the outdoorsman that Emily had hoped for but what he lacked in skill he more than made up for in heart. I love that he was genuinely a nice guy and that he didn’t give up. I really liked both main characters, while they were both very different they had one major thing in common, the fact that they were both dealing with grief. I really liked the way Rea handled the topic of grief in this book, we get to see two very different ways that people handle loss and how it can effect your entire life but also how it can connect people.

I absolutely loved the drama and action element in this book, if you like a bit of mystery and action with you romance then this will most definitely be a book for you. We get to see our two indoor house plant main characters have to rough it out to fight off the elements, some cray cray wild animals and some archaeologist jewel thieves. I loved all the action and getting to see these two characters thrown into a situation where they had no choice but to trust each other if they wanted to survive.

The Jewel Of The Isle was really great action romcom read, this book I perfect for fans of Indiana Jones and The Lost City. There is romance, comedy, action and a whole lot of heart, a total must read from me!
 

Book Info:

Publication: November 24, 2024 | Berkley |

If Emily Edwards knows one thing, it’s that you don’t go to a remote island by yourself. Ever the type A personality, Emily doesn’t want to hike around an unfamiliar island, but she’s determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, starting with Isle Royale National Park—home to wolves, bears, and hundred-year-old shipwrecks. She has no choice but to hire a tour guide, and there is only one that isn’t booked solid.

Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, wouldn’t call himself a wilderness expert, and he definitely doesn’t know how to find true north. But when his dormant adventure guide business suddenly finds life again after a random inquiry, Ryder somehow finds himself on a ferry to Isle Royale with a very beautiful, no-nonsense woman. What this woman doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business, while Ryder just did the marketing. But how hard could it be to hike up a few mountains?

Pretty difficult, actually, when murder is involved. Emily’s perfectly planned trek turns disastrous when she and Ryder witness a brutal crime and are suddenly forced to evade a group of archaeologists on the hunt for a jewel. As they spend nights together too close for comfort, they realize their shoddily built fire isn’t the only thing that’s kindling, and that they must trust each other if they want to escape the island with their lives—and hearts—intact.