In Wild Goose Chase by Sarah Adler, Callahan “Cal” Leitner has never before been in such a predicament. And that’s saying something considering his upbringing. But thanks to 
his ex-girlfriend and his attempt at keeping the peace, he’s now in possession of a taxidermy goose that could send him to jail. Okay, so storing it in his apartment above the antique store Cal co-owns might not have been his smartest idea to date. But everything was fine until his new *temporary* co-worker, Annie O’Neill, came barreling into the shop in all her technicolor glory. Not only is she a force of nature who nearly steals Cal’s breath every time she walks in the room, but Annie is also very smart about the antiques business. Partially courtesy of her uncle Harold who co-owns the shop with Cal. When the illegal fowl disappears from the shop, Annie somehow becomes his partner in crime–er, partner in tracking down the goose. And what follows changes Cal’s opinion of her completely.
‘The types of thoughts I’m having about Annie are a new level of lust I wasn’t aware I could reach.’
While her uncle Harold is away getting married, Annie is tasked with watching his house and helping out at the antique store. To say she’s excited to get to know Cal is putting it mildly. Too bad he’s way grumpier than she expected. But it turns out there’s a very good reason for his (nearly constant) bad mood: a Felonious Fowl. And Annie isn’t above using it to her advantage. If Cal will let her learn even more about the antiques business so she can start her own physical shop–she already has a thriving online presence–then she’ll help him find the stuffed goose. Annie knows Cal is backed in a corner and only agrees because there’s no other option. But she will do her absolute best to solve the mystery. And maybe while they are traipsing around Maryland following the clues, Annie can see what Cal is like when he lets down his guard. Because she has a feeling once he does, he will be irresistible–and that it could lead to them sharing some much more personal, steamy moments together while she’s in town.
‘I like to think I’m good at reading people, but whatever language this man is written in is not even remotely coherent to me so far.’
We’ve all heard the phrase “WILD GOOSE CHASE” before but for me at least, it’s never been as much fun as author Sarah Adler’s newest romance of the same name. This was quite the adventure, highlighted by an opposites attract couple that might not have started off seeing eye to eye on, well, darn near anything. But once they were set on the path tracking down a possibly highly illegal taxidermy goose? Things quickly went from contemptuous to heated. And the fireworks didn’t dissipate no matter what our couple did.
“Come on, Callahan. Let’s go see a man about a goose.”
I’ve read all of Adler’s books to date and what I *always* enjoy is her quirky characters. They are offbeat, dance to their own drum, have complicated backstories, and are honestly just a delight to get to know. Annie and Cal were no exception. Yes, there was a lot of awkwardness between them that continued throughout their story, but it felt endearing rather than forced or foolish. And the connection they formed seemed so genuine that my heart warmed every time they were together on the page.
I think what I liked most, though, was that Cal and Annie met each other where they were. They had both been through a whole lot personally and were doing the work individually to get to a better place in their lives–a place where they felt comfortable not only fully being themselves, but they were also able to offer something emotionally to each other. Cal had been in a long-term relationship before, but Annie had not. So, there was a definite learning curve when it came to compromising and most especially in communicating. However, through every twist and turn chasing down that goose, the couple figured out over time how to be there for one another and made an incredible team.
TROPES/VIBES:
🪿 Wild goose chase
💕 Opposites attract
🏺 Antique shop romance
⚡ Grumpy x sunshine
🛻 Chaotic road trip
😂 Witty banter
🗺️ Treasure hunt adventure
CW: View Spoiler »
The part of the storyline that revolved around the taxidermy goose was wildly entertaining and even had some factual details that were pretty fascinating. Cal and Annie’s chase took them all over Maryland. And it kept them teamed up, getting the chance to know each other more every day while sorting through the myriad issues and predicaments that befell them.
The other part of the storyline that added another layer of depth was the secondary timeline, with another couple meeting and bonding over a mysterious bird. Set mostly in 1908, we followed Dr. Ora Belmont Worthy and John Morse as they began to fall in love while trading letters and eventually meeting in Maryland. Theirs was also a complicated relationship–and not just because Ora was a STEM heroine dealing with misogyny and backbiting at her job but because of the times they were living in. Overall, it was a heartfelt addition to the book that reflected the present day in a very interesting way.
Overall, WILD GOOSE CHASE blended quirky humor with genuine emotional depth in a way that completely worked for me.
QOTD: Have you ever gone on a “wild goose chase” tracking something down? If so, were you successful in your search?
Book Info:
Publication: Published: July 28th, 2026 | Berkley |
An antique dealer and his inconvenient(ly irresistible) new colleague must contend with an illicit stuffed goose and their sizzling attraction, from USA Today bestselling author Sarah Adler.
Antique store owner Callahan Leitner has an illegal taxidermy goose in his living room.
Why? It’s…complicated.
But it may end his career unless he finds a legitimate way to dispose of the bird ASAP. Unfortunately, there’s an unexpected wrench in his plans—the frustrating, effervescent Annie O’Neill.
Annie is happy to fill in for her uncle at his antique store; it’s the perfect opportunity to gain more experience before opening a shop of her own, and to finally meet his handsome young business partner. Unfortunately, Cal is nothing like the charming man she expected. She’s tempted to take his apparent dislike personally, until she stumbles upon the source of his moodiness: the contraband waterfowl hiding upstairs.
When the goose goes missing, it puts both of their professional reputations on the line. As Cal and Annie attempt to track down the bird before it can be traced back to the store, their tentative alliance turns into something much deeper. Will the hunt for their felonious fowl lead to true love, or end in ruin?
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