An outdoor adventure to find a lost loved one... and possibly love? I enjoyed listening to this audiobook, it was an easy listen with likeable characters. A great listen while on a walk or hike. :-)

"Fish Out of Water" by Katie Ruggle, narrated by Cassandra Myles, presents an intriguing premise, but ultimately falls short. While Myles delivers a decent performance, her narration couldn’t fully compensate for the story’s weaknesses.

The plot had potential but felt disjointed at times, with pacing issues that made it hard to stay engaged. The characters were relatable, but their development lacked depth, leaving me wanting more from their arcs.

I’d rate this audiobook 2 out of 5 stars. While it had some enjoyable moments, it ultimately didn’t live up to its potential. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy; all opinions are my own!

#NetGalley #KatieRuggle #FishOutOfWater #DreamscapeMedia

I ended up having to DNF this book after multiple attempts over time. I struggled to get into the story and with the narrator. Despite the disconnect, I would be interested in trying another title this author in the future.

Fish Out of Water is about Dahlia Weathersby's search for her sister, Rose. She blackmails Winston Dane into helping her. As they go on the trail, they believe Rose went on, they learn more about each other and start to fall in love.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration by Cassandra Niles. She took some meh source material and brought it to life.

I obviously read for fun, but some reading is bubblegum fun, some is serious, and some is about learning. I really enjoyed this book until we got about 68% into the story and had the most awkward sex scene. I don’t know if it was uncomfortable because I was listening to it, and sometimes, they can be a little less embarrassing when you read them. I believe this scene would’ve been awkward either way.

I feel like the end of the story kind of ran up on you, and the ending would’ve been more fleshed out with a cute epilogue six months later.

I enjoyed the first half of the book and felt like you got to know the character of Dahlia really well. However, since Winston is such a quiet main lead, and the whole book was from Dahlia‘s point of view, you didn’t get to know Winston nearly as well.

I probably would not recommend this book to a friend without warning them about the awkward sex scene and the abrupt ending.

This romance has everything a girl could need, grumpy/sumshine topres, strong female characters, forced proximity. A great romance book for outdoorsy lovers! Thanks for letting me read this book.

This one was a cozy mystery, with a mountain man who loves animals. The rescue of Dahlia’s sister was a touch that the book needed.

Grumpy/Sunshine, Mountain Man/City Girl
Only One Tent, slow Burn

Not a huge fan of the narrator in this one, it was harder to follow.

This was a DNF for me, I just couldn't get into the characters and storyline even though it sounded like a lot of fun!

If you like:
💧 Cozy mystery writing mountain man who keeps animal shelters open with donations, keeps to himself, grunty, & cinammon roll
💧FMC Quirky/word diarrhea problem
💧Grumpy/Sunshine
💧Mountain Man/City Girl
💧Only One Tent
💧Slow Burn
💧Sweet
Then you’ll enjoy Fish out of Water as much as I did!

I love the grumpy x sunshine trope and was delighted to read this fun story with an outdoorsy Colorado setting in FISH OUT OF WATER. Part romance, part mystery, I was intrigued with the rescue mission of Dahlia’s sister.

I paired the book with the audiobook, and actually preferred the physical format this time.

*many thanks to Sourcebooks, Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Fun concept but I really did not care for the narrator - so I did not finish this one. :(

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ALC.

This was about of a disappointment. I adore Ruggle's previous series and was so excited for a new one. Unfortunately the characters seemed stilted and the plot convoluted. I will definitely try Ruggle's next book but this one want for me

Dahlia Weathersby’s sister Rose, disappears on a simple day hike and Dahlia knows something is wrong so she heads to the Colorado Rockies to find her. Knowing her skill set, or lack thereof, Dahlia convinces the local hermit, Winston Dane, to be her guide. While Winston is grouchy, Dahlia’s charm and a bit of blackmail have him fully onboard the rescue mission.

As the two retrace her sister’s trail deep into the wilderness, they face wild animals, poor weather, and of course, attraction. While Dahlia has realized that Rose may not just be lost she and Winston work together to solve the mystery of her disappearance all the while romance grows.

This novel is super cute and has a great storyline, although it does start to become a bit unrealistic toward the second half (as a Colorado gal myself). But the excitement and adventure it strong and I can overlook some of the exaggerated excitement.

I was not a huge fan of this book. It felt very bland and the story line was not very interesting. I liked the narrator but I just couldn’t get into this book.

Cute romance! loved the FMC and her vibe of “just cause I like makeup doesn’t mean it is for you/just cause I like to look good doesn’t mean I am dumb.” The MMC was a bit one dimensional- I mean the grunts were a bit much. Overall fast paced and fun!

When Dahlia Weathersby’s sister leaves her a cryptic message before vanishing, she sets out to find her in the Colorado Rockies where she was last spotted. Unable to travel the rugged terrain alone, she convinces survival expert and local grump, Winston Dane, to help her.

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the romantic suspense element, how quickly the story pulled me in, and the setting of the Colorado Rockies. I liked getting to know the characters and definitely chuckled a time or two. What didn’t work as well is how over the top the story became in the second half. Once I had to suspend that much disbelief, I could not longer connect to, or be immersed in the story.

The reviews are all over the place on this one so I would suggest giving it a try if you have had your eye on this one and enjoy the listed tropes.

Read if you like:
•romantic suspense
•forced proximity
•grumpy x sunshine
•one bed (sleeping bag)
•outdoor adventures

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the gifted copy.

I wanted to like this more than I did when I originally read it, but unfortunately the audiobook didn't work any better for me than the ebook. The narrator may be great in other books, but does nothing to elevate this story. She also does not sound anything like I imagined the heroine to which did not help me.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for my copy to review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: She Got The Best of Me - Luke Combs

💭What I thought would happen:

The cover. I had to have this book based on its beauty! I have read so many books based on Minnesota lately I’m going to feel like fate will lead me there again (kidding it’s set in Colorado)

📖What actually happens:

Dahlia gets the secret SOS text from her sister Rose and immediately drops her life in LA to head to the wilderness to find out where her sister is and potentially save her. Instead she meets a mountain man of hotness.

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I didn’t know I needed fucking in the wilderness but yup it definitely fuelled my campfire. Grumpy and sunshine in nature…so think like if Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes went camping 😂🤌🏽

The mc gave me Finlay Donovan vibes with her silliness but like if Finlay cared the way she looked in public. While she was high maintenance it was in a likeable way

I think this one could get some more attention! It was perfectly enjoyable! Take
It camping with you this summer

Read if you like:
🎣The Catch
🌲Hiking/Camping romance
😘Chatty fmc x silent mmc
💜He’s a Virgin

"Fish Out of Water" was a fun grumpy/sunshine romance with quirky characters, lots of one-sided chatter, a lumberjack hermit, a missing sister, and a wilderness hike.

When Dahlia receives a 911 text from her sister Rose, she proceeds to a small town in Colorado to find her adventurous sister. But Dahlia realizes she needs help and the local police aren't convinced that Rose's unconventional 911 message really means anything. So, Dahlia conscripts the help of Winston Dane, a local hermit who wants nothing to do with her.

But as they hike through the wilderness, they each come to appreciate the other and sparks start to fly!

As a clean romance reader, the sex scenes were a bit spicier than I liked, but the emotional intimacy that developed between them as they shared with each other was wonderful.

Thank you to Kate Ruggle, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Fun read, with adventure in the outdoors as Dahlia tries to find her missing sister, she gets help from grumpy hermit Winston as she searches the rugged wilderness. Tent sex? Check.
While I enjoyed this book, I did not like the audiobook narrator as much.
Thank you to the author and publisher for this arc.