The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea

e-Audio, 08:53:40
Narrated by: Andrew Eiden & Emily Lawrence
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Published by: Books on Tape (Berkley)
Read from: November 26-27, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio (I also received a copy of this e-ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: Grief, Death, Gun Violence, Death of a Parent, Sexual Assault, Injury/Injury Detail, Violence
For Readers Interested In: Romance, LOL, Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Meet Cutes, Full Cast Audio, Dual POV, Family Diversity (Loss of parents, Bad Brother), Sparkly Covers, Thrillers

      Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.
     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.

*MY THOUGHTS*

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!

Overall, I give this