After loving Anders "Whiteout" I couldn't wait to read "Uncharted." Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. It should have been a five star read. I love a good survival story and paired with a romance, it is the ultimate read. But this just didn't get off the ground for me. While the plot was good in theory, it felt overly long. It was dragged out and the big plot points didn't even really feel that big. Big revelations that should have left an impact barely registered. I think this does have to do with the length. I also didn't feel much chemistry with Leo and Elias. It was just a miss from me, although I do look forward to reading more in this series. This is the first book by Anders that I didn't absolutely love, so I hope it is just a fluke.

*Thanks go to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books you should not start before you go to bed because JUST when you think about putting it down something crazy happens and you have to find out how these two are going to get out alive. I usually have a hard time with contemporary action/romance because there always seems to be too much of one or the other but this book really had the perfect balance of both. The thing about romance is that you're guaranteed a happy ending but the author does a GREAT job or making you second guess that.

I loved Ms. Anders previous book in the series and was afraid it wasn't going to live up and even though the couples are really different it still had me cheering them on. Both Leo and Elias have a lot of experience in tough situations but the plot throws such massive crazy problems at the couple (cold! bears! hunger! head trauma! bad guys!) you wonder how the hell they'll get out of them. This is a great book to read on an incredibly hot day. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

P..S. I may have looked at the last couple pages to make sure the dog was ok. He was fine. Phew.

I have been itching to read a book set in the Alaska wilds and am I quite glad that this is my first one. It really displays the topography and the characters are just so loveable.

I will try to review this book without giving much away. It is really best if you into this one without knowing too much to prevent spoilers. Leo is an amazing pilot and she and her team have been sent to find a man who is suspected to have a very dangerous virus (in a time of the pandemic, I honestly do not think this is funny so I am all for hunting the guy with it down, as long as it gets into the hands of the right people). Leo knows that if she does not get to him soon another team of independent contractors will get to him and they might leave him for dead after they get the virus from him. The only problem now is that they have been unable to track him down.

She is then given a run-down plan by an old woman who says she knows where the man is hiding. In a last attempt to find him she takes the plane and ends up crashing on a frozen lake. This is when she is saved by a man who seems like a Yeti (I tell you this book is really funny. It was more hilarious because it was not attempting to be comedic). She is saved by Elias.

Elias has been hiding in secret because of a secret he holds. Everyone is trying to get a piece of him. So when he is told by his grandmother than someone is coming to help him. He is not sure if it is the lady, Leo who has heroically crashed a plane.

This book is just so intense, the relationship between Leo and Elias was so slow burn that I almost caught on fire from waiting for them to finally kiss. There are underground escape routes, bombing, shooting. You are not ready for this one!

Uncharted is full of great action and hot romance! Leo is a strong woman who can do it all and I loved her smart and witty character. Elias is rough and tough and has been alone in the wilderness too long. He reminded me of a Mountain Man Rambo. The chemistry between Leo and Elias is red hot from the start and once you throw in the enemies hot on their trail it makes for one wild and entertaining read. I received this ARC for free for my honest review. I loved it and I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good adventure story with constant action and some sizzling romance included! This was my first time reading Adriana Anders, and the writing style was very immersive and kept me interested in the story. Highly recommend!

Uncharted is an exciting, fast-paced epic romantic adventure. I was so looking forward to this one after reading Ford and Angel's book. I was not disappointed.
It takes about half of the book to get to any real "romance", but it is very much worth the wait! Leo and Elias were like molten lava.... the heat just oozed between the two of them. It took their sexual tension a while to build, but when it did, the explosion was HOT.
I'm a sucker for a take-charge, grumpy loner of a hero. Elias was all that, but he was also vulnerable. His past forced him into self-isolation and for years the only companion he had was his dog. The Alaskan wilderness became his home. His quiet world was turned upside down when Leo literally crashed into his life.
Leo was starchy and prickly and independent. She was extremely capable in her own right, but injuries from the plane crash forced her to be dependent on Elias. On the run from a common enemy, fighting the elements and a treacherous environment, the attraction between them caught them both by surprise.
Leo and Elias went from wary strangers to survival buddies to "need you NOW" sexual partners in a matter of days, but the journey they were on probably felt like years. I loved seeing them each come to realize that what they had was worth risking not only their lives but their hearts.
There has not been a book written by Adriana Anders that I have not been 110% in love with, and this one is no exception. Her characters are so unique, the storylines are so engrossing, the reader truly feels like they are a part of the adventure.

I absolutely enjoyed this book. You have Leo, an alpha female ex military pilot who was on a mission that was suppose to be a quick in and out. On the other hand you have Elias who is an ex government employee who is also an alpha that was set up many years ago for a crime he didn’t commit. This book was a romance suspense that seemed to lean a little heavier on the suspense side. It had multiple heart pounding moment that will have you on the edge of your seat hanging on to the next word as the story unfolds. The book truly captures you with the descriptive way it was written. You also have a slightly mischievous dog in the mix that I adored.

Oh wow. That was intense. The life-threatening survival in the cold was just as gripping as in Whiteout. Maybe more so? Leo and Elias scramble through the Alaskan wild and it is beyond wild. It's kind of too much. I think that it had to be that way in order to still call this a romance, because we have to spend more time with the couple, but honestly I could have used a lot more of Old Amka in this book! She is an amazing character, and her role was really important but we just didn't get to spend much time with her. Also, I've never worried so much for a dog. Goodness!

I did like the characters, the plot, and setting. If you want to feel suspense, this is for you! I found I was really piling up the suspension of disbelief on some level after the challenges just seem insurmountable, but that is also what makes over-the-top adventure fun sometimes. (Except for the part about licking someone in the Alaskan wilderness, honestly I can't imagine wanting to be licked when it's that cold! Ha).

This is an interracial romance, Leo is a Black woman (her mother is of Ethiopian origin) and Elias is a white man. Leo has a close-knit team of friends/colleagues.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC free of charge. My opinions are my own.

Uncharted
Adriana Anders
Leo and Elias
Expect to be kept on the edge of your seat- and maybe peeking out from behind you hands every now and again. Leo is sick so misses the team evacuation in Alaska but instead gets roped into a solo rescue of Tom Campbell, the man they were sent to find. He is wanted for the disappearance of a deadly virus from Chronos labs. Only her team doesn’t believe the story. They want at Tom first. Instead,when she is shot down during her daring solo rescue attempt she is saved by a large ‘yeti’ of a man. Elias, obviously not Tom. But Chronos will do anything and kill everyone involved to cover up so Elias and Leo have to flee. They must battle the weather and the landscape as well as their pursuers. But their flight brings them together as nothing else can. Will they be able to survive to realize their love?
I would highly recommend this book to my patrons, both romance and non romance readers.

Whiteout was amazing so the follow up was going to have an uphill climb (pun intended) no matter
what. Every book written in 2020-2021 gets a pass because of the shitshow the USA went through/is
going through. It’s amazing that anyone, anywhere, got anything creative done, let alone a whole book.

If you suspend a lot of reality and the laws of physics, this book is a wild ride. The amount of times this
couple is in danger is all of the time. Leo and Elias are never not in danger. But don’t worry, they still
can’t stop making out with each other, while being hunted by baddies in a helicopter, next to a sleepy
Grizzly bear, and under a freezing Alaskan waterfall on a steep, slippery mountain. They push each
other’s horny button the very hardest. Look, I know adrenaline is a miraculous hormone that can give
humans bursts of energy, and help push through tremendous amounts of pain, but it has nothing on L-
O-V-E.

But that’s where the story didn’t work for me. I couldn’t feel the connection. It’s all situational
circumstances and a dangerous, stressful situation, which Elias points out to himself and out loud to Leo,
then just pushes past that very real thing. Ms. Anders kept telling us about the connection, very
forcefully and frequently, and with very beautiful writing, even going so far as to describe that both
Leo’s and Elias’s parents had a love at first sight kind of love so this instant lust/love they feel for each
other could be genetic, lol, but I still couldn’t get there. It could have been all the extraordinary action
getting in the way, or the lack of deep character work for Leo and Elias, or both. I wish we could get to
know them better and see them as a couple in normal circumstances. Danger sex is great and all (But in
a hot spring? With all the stuff in there? No, not for my vagina), but I’ll take a lazy Sunday morning over
that every time.

Overall, Uncharted is solidly enjoyable with over the top, intense action, danger sex, beautiful
descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness, and the dog does not die, but I kept getting pushed out of the
story.

I love this author and will continue to buy every book she puts out, but this one just didn’t do it for me.

3.5 stars. I loved Whiteout so much for the action and character development but this one was a bit of a miss for me. It was almost too much action for me to believe these two could even have energy to keep moving let alone fall in love.

It definitely put the suspense in Romantic Suspense!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

Headlines:
Action-brimming
Survival with proximity
Page-turner

The second book in this series did not disappoint me at all, in fact, it lived up to all my hopes. It was a new couple and I wondered if I could feel the same connection as the previous couple. The answer was I did and quickly.

The story started with a bang and with Leo, a pilot, brave and a bit stupid gung-ho. She held the stage until Elias entered the story and together they made compelling reading. I want to say nothing about the plot because it was clever and kept the story from book one going but in a fresh way, however these two were part of that complex picture.

While this book had its adrenaline moments, feelings of helplessness, that was well balanced with a suspicious connection between the MCs that built into both investing in surviving. As that relationship evolved, it was as much of a page-turner as was the suspense plot.

"He felt rearranged by this woman. His insides would never be the same again."

I loved everything about the Alaskan context, the danger of it, the nature. The set up for the next book sounds good and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to the publisher/netgalley for the early review copy.

Wow. Just finished reading Uncharted and I am blown away by Adriana Ander’s skill at drawing out suspense without losing this reader’s attention.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Whiteout, and was looking forward to reading Leo’s story. Leontyne Eddowes is the heroine I want to read about! A WOC who has served our country, is so smart, badass and accomplished! What a fantastic character!
The hero is Elias Thorne, and he is the competent, grunting hero you want as your partner when running for your life in extreme weather and circumstances!
The writing is flawless. The use of Alaska’s wildness and brutality as the background and essentially a character in this novel is beautifully executed.
It’s a slow burn and there’s heat on the page but it’s subtler than other works by this author.
I’m not going to sugar coat this: the suspense and danger Leo and Elias endure in this story caused a high level of anxiety for me but my curiosity of how it would play out kept me going. Anders also interjects just enough softer moments of human connection or diversion to keep you hooked.
There are two particularly interesting secondary characters in this book: Amka, who represents the elderly, which is unusual in a romance and she’s critical to the plot; then there is Ash, and I am hoping he will get his own book or his secondary character continues to be developed in the next book.
Please keep writing, Adriana Anders! You’ve earned my trust as a reader!.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I've been looking forward to this one since I read Whiteout, the first in the series, which is fantastic. In this second installment, we move on to an existing member of the team introduced at the end of the first book, and a mission that takes the heroine, Leo, to Alaska. The key plot element and ur-villain continue into this book, and a substantial amount is unravelled in this story, which I won't detail, since it would spoil a lot. Those elements also set up at least one of the future stories.

It's a new leading man (and his dog) and a new landscape, but just as much danger ans suspense as in Antarctica, and I'm here for it. It's action movie-level dramatic right from the early pages, and I'm definitely in favour having the superhuman stunts pulled off by a woman (and a woman of colour at that). Which is not to say that Elias isn't super competent, which he shows again and again in the book. One of the best parts of their story is how Leo and Elias take turns caring for each other, saving each other, and just looking out for each other. Both have quite serious injuries, so really, it's their only option for survival.

The bad guys in pursuit are a bit murky, and I thought that bit could have been presented more clearly. As noted, it is tied to the big bad from the first book, but there's a lot of throwaway that makes you wonder - why bother? And one character whose actions and allegiance get super confusing toward the end. I can only assume he'll be back and his motivations and importance will become clearer and more central later.

There's also a more minor character who is thoroughly awesome and takes care of business on the home front while Leo and Elias are in the wilderness. I can't really say a tonne more about that, like with the main plot, without spoiling a good time.

There's certainly a tonne of incendiary sexual tension with Leo and Elias, and it's easily believable that the incredible stress and tension of their circumstances would drive physical impulses and an emotional bond. The way the emotional relationship's development was described didn't really work for me. It made sense, and was the other end of the pendulum swing from the characters' personalities and past experiences, but it was just over the top and a bit too florid. That's just personal taste, though.

In any case, will definitely be picking up the next in this installment and seeing where the next life or death adventure takes place, and with whom.

This. This is how you do a follow-up in a great romantic suspense series!

Quick spoiler (ish) about the fate of two of the characters, because I know it mattered to me going into it: Both Bo (the dog) and Amka (the old lady) live! They both make it through to the end, and I would have been devastated if they hadn't. So if you're worried about them like I was, you're good to read on!

I absolutely loved this book and I couldn't put it down. You can read this as a standalone, though I think you will get so much more out of it if you've read Whiteout first. And Whiteout is an incredible book too, so why not enjoy both? Uncharted hits the ground running, and we're thrown right into the Alaskan deep-end right from the start and it doesn't slow down once! I think the fast pacing right from the jump along with the fact that this story spends less time in the villain's POV compared to Whiteout is what set Uncharted apart and made it that much better for me.

The writing of Leo and Elias's survival journey through the Alaskan wilderness was beautiful and cinematic. The tension and danger were so high, but it was incredible to watch their relationship transition from reluctant and hesitant partners, to trust, to love. It felt so organic for their situation and I loved it so much!

This book has everything you want in romantic suspense. High stakes, knives-to-the-throat, body heat for survival, teamwork, wonderful side characters, personal growth, and of course, danger banging! I genuinely cannot wait to see where this series goes next!

Leo and Elias are trapped in the wilds of Alaska. They flee from storms, bears, waterfalls, helicopters, bullets, and trackers on foot with guns. They also manage to make out a lot, share a sleeping bag (for warmth, of course) and fall in love.

First of all-the dog is fine. Nothing bad happens to her at any time and she ends the book safe and sound.

Now that that's out of the way, I really enjoyed this book-but it was stressful! I don't read romantic suspense very often, for this reason. I absolutely loved Whiteout, the first book in this series, which convinced me to try Uncharted. The author did a great job keeping the romance as central to the plot as the suspense, which I think is hard to do and rare to find. There were a number of times where I couldn't believe these two were going to make it out alive, let alone in love. I ended the book happy and convinced these two were going to live happily ever after and probably save the world from killer viruses.

I was born and raised in Alaska, and found a lot of the lower 48 jokes pretty amusing and the descriptions of the wilderness convincing and realistic. Usually I read Alaska books and roll my eyes a lot, but not this one! When a setting is so big it is almost another character I think it's important to get it right, and it felt like this book did.

I read Whiteout last year and didn't remember Leo- not sure if she is mentioned in there or not. Her backstory in Uncharted discussed the events of Whiteout a bit, so she probably is. I think Uncharted works as a standalone, but it builds on Whiteout so you might as well read that one first.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC.

I am happy to say that this book was a solid 4 stars for me. I was worried when I first got the ARC and realized that it was a second in the series. As it is a thriller romance, I wondered if I would be lost or frustrated from not knowing enough. I am happy to say that never happened. It didn't under or over-explain what happened before, and all of the knowledge came naturally and not in one giant dump. The characters themselves were diverse and well crafted and fit in the thriller scenario quite well. The romance was slower than I expected, but I actually loved it the way it was and wouldn't have wanted it to rush. It was not slow to get going, and it kept that pace pretty consistently throughout the entire book. I will say I loved the side character Amka more than I loved the main pairing....... but overall, it was a solidly good read.

I loved Whiteout, so I was very excited to read the second book in the Survival Instincts series, Uncharted. I love a strong, confident heroine and Leo certainly fit the bill. Elias was a great hero, too - supporting Leo when she needed it, but aware that she could take care of herself. Anders throws everything Alaska has at Leo and Elias and at times I found that frustrating (how much bad luck can one couple have?), but it does keep the pace of the story going. I enjoyed the portions of the story from Amka’s point of view. It was great to see an older woman get the best of the bad guys. I also like Ash’s perspective and liked the way Anders added nuance to his character. I look forward to future books in the series and (hopefully) stories for Von and Ans. I give this book 3.5 stars but will round up to 4.

I read the first book in this series during the lockdown days of the pandemic, so I was looking forward to this one. A perfect example of survival adventure romantic suspense at its best. The romance was believable, but also didn't detract from the racing storyline of Leo and and Elias running for their lives in the Alaskan wilderness. The setting was gorgeous and let readers in on an unfamiliar land filled with mystery and violence. A great read for romantic suspense fans.

This was a book I was really nervous to read as I had such high expectations for it after “Whiteout” dominated as my favorite read of 2020, and I was not disappointed. I’m in awe of Adriana Anders and her ability to weave words into these beautiful stories that will stick with me long after I’ve finished them. “Uncharted” for me was amazing in its own way to where I found I wasn’t even comparing it to “Whiteout” as I was reading it as it was so different. Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty!

What I loved:
-Adriana Anders knows my type so well that I wonder if she has gotten a look in my head. If big, burly, stoic mountain/wild men who are competent and feral for the women they love is your thing, then this series is for you. Not to mention he has a beard!!! There’s never enough beards in romances for me.
- Leo and Elias’ first interactions and how they meet and don’t really even know each other’s names for a while after meeting due to their natural distrust of others was so satisfying to watch. It made their love that much more real and special to me!
-So often in books I find that my hero and heroine are never “beat up” enough for me to truly be worried about their well-being. That is not the case with this one. If anything, Leo especially, was so beat up so consistently that I wondered how she was going to make it through.
-The way the conflict is able to seamlessly carry on from one book to the next without feeling dragged on is amazing.
-I really enjoyed the perspectives we got from Ash, the man who is tracking them throughout their journey in the Alaskan wilderness. (and also kind of really want a book for him. Like I need it.)
-Amka is the best. She stole the show and every time she was on the page I fell i love with her all over again and her intense focus on getting back to Daisy to make sure she was safe. (Also loved her interaction with Jack and again, just like with Ash, I want his story.)
-The scene towards the beginning of the book in the cave when Leo has a knife to Elias’ throat is my lifeblood.
-This was a book that didn’t feel like the love was rushed or out of place despite the entirety of it occurring over only 5 (maybe 6?) days.
-This was the best kind of slow burn for me. It’s what made them finally clashing together so much better than what I could hope for. It also helped with the timeline, as it wouldn’t have been very believable for me if it had happened faster than it did considering they were strangers to each other at the start.
-One last thing so this review doesn’t become a book of its own, I loved the way both Leo and Elias preferred to be alone and in solitude without someone else but both decided that they were worth it and that being alone couldn’t compare to what it was like being together. They decided to jump into the unknown together and to trust despite their fears.

What I didn’t love:
-Nothing. I can’t think of a single bone to pick with this book other than I wanted it sooner because I’m greedy and now that it’s over, I’m going to go out of my mind waiting for the next book.
-Ok, well maybe one thing, but it wasn’t something I didn’t love, it was more just funny to me which is how often the word “scuffled” and variants of it are used. It was one of those words that I noticed and then couldn’t stop seeing because it was such a bizarre word to me (I’ve never seen this word used in this context). Again, not bad, just weird to me. (I searched the book and it’s only used 8 times from what I can see so I’m not sure why this stood out to me which is just making it funnier to me that I’m so fixated on the word.)

If you were thinking about picking up, don’t think, just do. This series is phenomenal and everything I want out of a suspense. I highly recommend both “Uncharted” and “Whiteout” and will be shoving these books into peoples hands for as long as I’m alive. I already want to re-read the book and I just finished it.

*I received this ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily read this book. my thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me the chance to read an advanced copy!*

Wow, what a book!! I was hooked from the beginning & didn’t want to put it down!! This is the second book in the series involving Chronos & the missing virus & this book leaves off where the first one finished. Pilot Leo Eddowes stays behind in Alaska because of food poisoning while her team flew back & she is asked by Amka
to go rescue her godson Elias Thorne in the wilderness before it’s too late, only she’s thinking she’s going to rescue a man they’ve been searching for related to the virus. She uses Amka’s ancient plane to go get him & then realizes there’s more to the story after danger ensues leaving her, Elias & his dog Bo on the run to survive in the Alaskan wilderness. What an wild, suspenseful, action packed adventure it is!! Leo & Elias are characters you will absolutely love along with the adorable Bo🐾. Leo is an amazing strong female character that holds her own & Elias is a strong, dependable, incredible character. They work well together & help each other to survive learning to trust & love each other along the way. This book has it all love, romance, emotion, humor, action, suspense, adventure!! I highly recommend this book & series!! I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.