Sophia Rose is here with a rustic contemporary romance. Come check out her thoughts on Fish Out of Water by Katie Ruggle.
by Katie Ruggle
Genres: Contemporary Women
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
WHY DATE A MOUNTAIN MAN? Because he knows how to pitch a tent.
When Dahlia Weathersby's sister disappears on what should have been a simple day hike, Dahlia immediately heads deep into the Colorado Rockies to find her. Knowing she'll never survive the mountains alone, she convinces the local hermit—adorably grouchy survival expert Winston Dane—to be her guide. All it takes is a good helping of Dahlia's charm…and just the teeniest bit of blackmail…before she's got all six-foot-something of him wrapped around her finger. But even with her very own mountain man in tow, things aren't going to be easy. There are:
Long hikes through gorgeous wilderness? Check. Bears? Check. A single shared sleeping bag? Check. Enough sparks to set the Rockies ablaze? Check, check, check. With everything the wilderness has to throw at them, it'll take more than charm and some city girl ingenuity to make this trek anything but a disaster waiting to happen…and an adventure she'll never forget.
The Rocky Mountains get unBEARably hot in Katie Ruggle's brand-new romance packed with adventure, action, tall dark & scruffy heroes, and a sense of quirky humor that will be your next perfect escape.
Sophia Rose’s Review
City meets Country in a Rocky Mountains backcountry setting and a missing person is at stake.
It has been a few years since Katie Ruggle released a book and I was over the moon excited when I got the word Fish Out of Water was releasing. While it is released as a standalone and a contemporary romance, I could see this being the beginning of a new series and it felt more like a mash-up of romcom and suspense harkening back to her earlier books.
Fish Out of Water has a funny start which drew me in quickly. The heroine, Dahlia, who is city pretty to her core coming to the rescue of a sister who sends her a coded text that something went wrong on a simple hike. There’s no way Dahlia can go up into those mountains alone for a rescue so she breaks into Mr. Crabby’s compound and coerces silent and reserved Winston Dane to lead her in.
Dahlia got on my nerves a great deal with her personality of constant chatter and pushiness which stood out particularly because Winston’s response was a grunt or silence. I couldn’t blame him because she roped him in. Dahlia gets the narration so Winston is something of an enigma especially since he’s the big and silent type. But, on the other hand, there was chemistry. They were funny in a grumpy-sunshine way and the forced proximity of sharing a tent led to the reclusive virgin showing he still had game that steamed up Dahlia’s world.
The sexual attraction and building romance definitely has the forefront and I did have the urge to tap them on the shoulder and remind them they were looking for a missing person out there in the sticks. I was curious to know what was up with Dahlia’s sister.
The end was something of a rush when the romance, the suspense, and the happily ever after came together right in a row. I forgot how her books did that. I would have wanted a bit more relationship development and felt that two weeks was fast for some of the decisions they were making, but fiction, right?
And so, in summary, I am happy as a bug that Katie Ruggle is back in the writer’s chair and I look forward to her quirky rustic romantic suspenses. I’d recommend this one for those who like a blending of romcom with suspense in a wilderness setting.
About Katie Ruggle
A fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, shoots guns (not while riding, although that would be awesome), cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Katherine
Oh I love that there’s suspense in here even though I suspect I will be tempted to leave Dahlia in the woods somewhere! I definitely need to read this one!
Sophia Rose
Hehe, yeah, there are moments like that, Katherine. 🙂
MarthaE
I haven’t read Ruggle in several years. This sounds like one I would like. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sophia Rose
Yes!!! She’s back, Martha. 🙂
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Yes, I did feel the need to “tap them on the shoulder” and remind them of the urgency of the situation, too, Sophia! I am so happy Ruggle is writing again! I’m looking forward to the next one.
Sophia Rose
Yes! Back in the saddle for Ruggle and I hope we get another book from this as a series.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
Definitely been wanting to read this author for a while, great review!
Sophia Rose
She’s a fun one to read, Lisa. Enjoy!
Laura Thomas
I’m in! I love her books!
Sophia Rose
Very exciting that she’s back at it. 🙂
Carla
This sounds like a story I would enjoy. Nice review, Sophia Rose.
Sophia Rose
Oh yeah, it had some LOL moments. Hope you get the chance at it, Carla. 🙂
Anne - Books of My Heart
I have enjoyed Katie Ruggle but most of the books I read were romantic suspense. So I didn’t read this one yet.
Sophia Rose
Yes, this one leans more toward Contemporary Romance, but the missing person part does add the suspense element to make it even more fun.
Kim
Oh. I love the sound of this story. I also love the cover.
Sophia Rose
Glad it put it on your radar, Kim! Yes, the cover is fun. 🙂