Fish Out of Water by
Narrator: Cassandra Myles
Rating: 3 stars
Spice: 1 chili
Pub date: 2/13

When Dahlia’s sister doesn’t return from her hike, Dahlia heads to the Colorado Rockies to find her. Her sister sent an emergency text that let Dahlia know something was wrong before she went missing, but the authorities aren’t taking it seriously. So Dahlia enlists the help of Winston Dane, a well-known hermit and survivalist living in the area. Winston likes his solitude, but not even the grumpiest of grumps could withstand Dahlia’s city-girl charms. Can these two opposites make the treacherous hike to find Dahlia’s sister before it’s too late?

This was a cute story. It’s an opposites attract, insta-love, grumpy/sunshine slow burn that takes place in the wilderness, and there’s a lot to like about it. I love romantic suspense, and I really enjoyed the mystery portion of the story. There are a few close calls with the authorities, villains, and some angst over whether or not Dahlia and Winston will find the missing sister.

Winston is the perfect grumpy survivalist, communicating only in grunts while also being concerned about Dahlia’s water intake, keeping her warm, and making sure she’s okay with the strenuous hike. Their attraction to each other is adorable, and I really enjoyed their growing connection and the tender moments they shared. And there’s an only-one-sleeping-bag steamy scene that I wasn't expecting that was surprisingly hot. I also enjoyed the audio by Cassandra Myles. While it’s a single POV story, she really brought all of the different characters to life.

This book is fun, but it’s also kind of a mess. Dahlia is supposed to be a city girl who doesn’t spend any time in the outdoors. Yet she can pick up a heavy pack and start hiking through the wilderness without breaking a sweat, and it’s no big deal. She insists on packing makeup for the trek and seems a little too unbothered by her sister’s disappearance. Her character was a bit all over the place, and it was hard to get a read on who she was supposed to be.

The abrupt ending should have gone on longer to clarify a few things for the reader. I would have enjoyed it more if that had been given more attention.

Overall, this is a cute romantic suspense that you have to suspend some disbelief to enjoy. Thank you so much to Edelweiss and Sourcebooks Casa for my advanced copy and Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for my complimentary audiobook.

3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐🎧
This was just a fun listen. Who doesn't love a grumpy Gus but who also wants to help? It sure did have its moments. I couldn't help but root for Dahila; she just wanted to find her sister, and she knew her SOS text wasn't going to raise any alarms with law enforcement, but it did for Dahila.

The flirting and chemistry was here for sure. It was a little over the top, but that is what I liked about this book. It wasn't too serious.

I think it was a lot like a Hallmark movie. That's it. It was cute but not real.

The narration was just ok for me, I didn't dislike it, but she will not be my go to, and that's ok.

Well this was adorable! Such a cute little rom-com with just the right mount of spice. There were some cheesy parts and some hardcore flirtation which leads to some steamy romance in the sticks. The plot was a little over-the-top but I think that is what makes the book. The whole book is a little “extra” and the female main character sure takes the cake!

This is definitely a feel good, lighthearted romance with just enough drama and spice to make it insure it won’t be featured in the Hallmark Channel - which is just fine by me! Great audiobook, liked the narrator and would definitely be interested in more by this author. This was just what I needed, a good palette cleanser between heavy historical fiction and psychological thrillers!

I would like to thank Katie Ruggle, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this advanced audiobook!

I really tried to look this book but I just didn’t get into it. The main characters are both fairly odd and awkward. That doesn’t usually deter me. Very slow burn.

Thank you for the ARC for my honest review.

Jumped right in with no backstory. I had to restart to make sure I didn't miss something. I'm not sure what this was supposed to be, but it wasn't for me. I could see the potential, but this was not very good. Unfortunately, the narrator was not for me and made listening a chore. Thank you, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

1.5 ⭐

First of all i want to thank Netgalley for the arc of the audiobook for “Fish Out of Water”. I’m going to be honest I really wanted to like this book, the plot seemed different than the usual rom-com books i’m used to reading but this was not a book good objectively speaking. the narrator did an incredible job on reading the book though.

our female main character dahlia is very childish and immature (in her actions and the random ways that she speaks) and although her sister is missing in the woods she manages to never sound that worried about her. i mean the book has absolutely zero suspense to it.

We spend about 90% of the book on the journey to find the sister where they butt up on strangers who add nothing to the plot, then in the tent one night dahlia decides to do winston’s makeup randomly cause she’s a makeup artist???? then the two manage to get “intimate” in the sleeping bag. i’m sorry but it’s freezing outside and you’re sister has been missing for days and somehow none of that was enough of a cock-block for them?

the story wraps up super quickly and unsatisfyingly. her sister was tricked to go on an alternate path to the waterfall by a person in town, who just so happens to be running a meth lab in the forest? and wants to use her for ransom? and she falls for it by not only following the path but going to check out the random building placed in the middle of a forest as a lone woman hiking? literally zero survival instincts. so in order to save rose (her sister) dahlia and winston burn down the meth lab 🫠.

the book had zero suspense and zero romance it was simply lust. i was bored honestly.

I liked this book! The story was witty, funny, sweet, and something different than the run of the mill romance. I enjoyed listening to Cassandra Myles bring this to life. My only gripe is that this is third person, and that’s so hard for me to follow.

The plot is ridiculous - but I found the book very lighthearted and funny despite it being a mystery romance. It has the feel of a cozy mystery -- which means that I would definitely be reading any other books set in this world.

With opposites attract/grumpy x sunshine, you almost expect the main characters to stuck to one side or the other but - sometimes Dahlia and Winston almost switch places which shows just how much the characters have grown on each other or at least are intrigued by each other.

Don't expect a lot of spice because this is a slow burn (with lots of tension). But the spicy scenes are sweet.

This book was just ok.. I mean I did enjoy the story but just wasn’t a fan of the narration. The narrator made the main female sound whinny.

I recommend you read the book instead of listening to the audiobook.

I DNFd this. I didn’t enjoy the narration and I found the storyline to be boring. It’s just not the book for me.

I’ve been anticipating this author’s next book for quite some time so when I saw this I immediately wanted to read it. This mixes mystery and romcom to perfection. It’s an odd combination but Ruggle pulls it off with ease.
The characters were fun and likeable. I thought they had good chemistry too. The spice was good as well.
The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing.
I really loved the narration too. Brought the characters to life and the story engaging.
A great read that I’d definitely recommend!

“Nothing else mattered until her sister was safe”

...Except for completely forgetting about your sister who is potentially in danger while you lust over a stranger who hikes for a couple of days with you in the woods to go rescue her, then make grand declarations of love at the end of the trip.

I love a good romantic suspense story but this missed the mark for me. I'm also really confused about the title and cover because this takes place in Colorado in November, there was no lake and the two main characters get caught in a blizzard at one point.

Dahlia was quirky, but I didn't love the audiobook narrator's voice. This was my first read by Katie Ruggle and I would love to give another book by her a try because I see a lot of great reviews.

The narrator gave this book a bit of a too quirky feel for my liking. Somehow she made me find the FMC more annoying. It was still a fun time and will definitely find it's audience, just not for me.

In this captivating narrative, the swift interplay of grumpiness and sunshine themes adds a dynamic flair to the story. The protagonist's quest to find her sister serves as a driving force, infusing the plot with a compelling sense of mystery.

Within this fast-paced journey, the inclusion of a one-bed romance subplot introduces a layer of warmth and emotional depth. The romantic elements provide a counterbalance to the overall intensity, offering readers moments of respite and connection with the characters.

One of the story's notable features is the deliberate ambiguity surrounding character identities. The author skillfully maintains a veil of mystery, leaving readers guessing about the true nature of each character until the story's resolution. This clever narrative choice enhances the overall reading experience, encouraging speculation and ensuring impactful revelations.

In summary, this unnamed novel delivers a rollercoaster of emotions, seamlessly navigating between intense moments and tender connections. Readers who appreciate a blend of romance, mystery, and rapid storytelling will find themselves engrossed in a compelling narrative that lingers well beyond the final page.

Such a fun listen! I love Dahlia and her determination to find her sister. No one helped her until she blackmails Winston who seems to warm up to Dahlia rather quickly. I am a sucker for grumpy sunshine so this story plus the added mystery vibes made a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my advanced copy and the chance to review it honestly.

When Dahlia’s sister disappears during a hike, she heads to Colorado to find her. Knowing she could not survive the mountains alone, she convinces the local survival expert to be her guide.

I received Fish Out of Water as an ALC and I was able to listen to it in one sitting. It was fast and fun but unfortunately I wanted something more. I love the grumpy sunshine trope and I especially love when the banter is on point. You get some fun and funny banter in this one and overall I think it was cute enjoyable. The narrator was great and didn’t swap my opinion either way when it came to my enjoyment of the book and I would recommend the book. I think it’ll be more of a hit for other readers. I was in a slump when reading it so maybe it was my mood and not the story! Just take my opinion with a grain of salt as always, we all read a different book. Fish Out of Water is out 2/13/24!

Happy reading!

I listened to the audiobook and didn’t love the narrator, her voice was whiny but I’m not sure if this is natural or if she was trying to play a character. The main female character was pretty insufferable and naggy. The main male character seemed like a good guy. While the premise was posed as searching for a missing sister, she seemed to be forgotten through 75% of the awkward romcom storyline. Parts of it were funny, mostly secondhand embarrassment. While I’m sure others will love this one, it was not the book for me.

I received an audiobook copy of this book for my honest review.

Our FMC flies from LA to Colorado after receiving a 9-1-1 text from her sister with no response back, Only problem is the text (tell mom hi) doesn't ignite the same fire in the locals as it does for her, have they never heard of a code? That's when the bartender tells her that she saw her sister talking with the local hermit - and a plan is hatched. She reaches his compound, and does her best to break in, picking locks, avoiding bobby-traps, scaling walls, to finally get to our MMC. He is a rugged flannel wearing, surprisingly well decorated hermit, and published author. She devises a plan to have him help her follow where her sister may have gone in order to find them - even if that plan involves blackmailing him, They begin their journey to hike the trails, learning to understand their differences, find her sister and maybe act on the attraction that they both feel.

Unfortunately, the "Fish Out of Water" audiobook by Kate Ruggle missed the mark for me. Despite the beautiful cover that initially caught my eye, I did not connect with the story and seriously contemplated not finishing it several times. The FMC proved to be more annoying than endearing, leaving me disinterested in the story. Even though I typically enjoy a grumpy, broody MMC, this particular MMC came across as dull. The lack of chemistry between the characters increased my disinterest in the story.

As a seasoned audiobook listener, I'm generally not picky when it comes to narrators, but Cassandra Myles failed to resonate with me. I'm unsure whether it was the FMC's irritating character or Myles' performance itself, but I found her voice annoying to listen to.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

🏔 3rd Person, single POV
🐟 Grumpy/Sunshine 
🏔 One sleeping bag
🐟 Virgin Hero
🏔 Opposites attract 

This was cute! I found myself not wanting to put it down at times, and for a 3rd person book that is saying something. 
Dahlia got an SOS text from her sister using their code saying that something is wrong! So Dahlia immediately leaves sunny California and heads to the Colorado Rockies, where her sister was last known to be.
There she enlists the help of the town hermit, who is also a cozy mystery author. Together they set of hiking towards her sister's last known location. 

I really enjoyed these two, they had great banter and chemistry. Winston is a growly cinnamon roll and add in his beard 👌 and he's a virgin 🤭 like please, he's perfect. 
My only real complaint is the focus on Dahlia not eating. I get it played a part later in the book, but it was very repetitive.