Something Wilder
Something Wilder was such a fun and fantastical adventure story that I could not put down! This story has it all: adventure, adrenalin, romance, bad guys, and characters you will fall in love with.
Synopsis: Growing up the daughter of notorious treasure hunter and absentee father Duke Wilder left Lily without much patience for the profession…or much money in the bank. But Lily is nothing if not resourceful, and now uses Duke’s coveted hand-drawn maps to guide tourists on fake treasure hunts through the red rock canyons of Utah. It pays the bills but doesn’t leave enough to fulfill her dream of buying back the beloved ranch her father sold years ago, and definitely not enough to deal with the sight of the man she once loved walking back into her life with a motley crew of friends ready to hit the trails. Frankly, Lily would like to take him out into the wilderness—and leave him there.
Leo Grady knew mirages were a thing in the desert, but they’d barely left civilization when the silhouette of his greatest regret comes into focus in the flickering light of the campfire. Ready to leave the past behind him, Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily Wilder is all business, drawing a clear line in the sand: it’s never going to happen.
But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. There’s a chance to right the wrongs—of Duke’s past and their own—but only if Leo and Lily can confront their history and work together. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives and hearts on the adventure of a lifetime.
What appealed to you the most in this story?
I really loved everything in this story, but for me it was all about the setting and wild west adventures! This fall my son and I will hike Moab for the first time, so I was loving the cinematic and wild-west vibes of Utah's Canyonlands National Park. Seriously, the duo has outdone themselves with their atmospheric writing! Each scene was perfectly developed and had all the vibes of National Treasure as they worked through riddles, puzzles, and codes. I even found myself pausing to try to figure them out myself!
How was the romance?
This was a fabulous second chance romance. Leo and Lily were a great duo who you just had to root for as a couple and as individuals.
Steam level: PG-13
How was the pace?
This was a fast-paced story that took me on a nonstop adventure while keeping me on the edge of my seat! I really didn’t want to set it down and I know Kaley ripped right through it and also was in love with the story and characters from the very beginning. Personally, I think she would have actually jumped into the book if it was a possibility!
Do you recommend this book?
Yes! This is such a unique adventure and romance all thrown into one, and I can guarantee you will devour this story and want more! Read it, love it, and enjoy the wild ride!
