Fish Out of Water by Katie Ruggle | Book Review

Hello, reader.

In 2019, Content Bookstore in Northfield, MN, launched their romance section with an author event. Katie Ruggle was one of the panel members and signed books. When her new book came out, I had to pick it up.

Why I read it: There was a “Read Now” promo for this book on NetGalley and because I read a lot of Katie Ruggle previously, I picked it up. (Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance copy; this is my honest review.)

Review #insixwords: Katie Ruggle nails the grumpy-sunshine trope.

More:

• He’s grumpy, she’s sunshine.

• Single POV; you only get his grump through her view. (It’s a very nice grump.)

• Katie Ruggle has a trademark grumpy mountain man who’s secretly a cinnamon roll and that shows up here. Everyone in town is scared or unnerved by MMC except FMC.

• Is it a little ridiculous how the FMC “stealths” her way into the local hermit’s compound? Yes. Is it fun anyway? Absolutely.

• Forget one bed, there’s one sleeping bag.

• Forced proximity: they trek through the mountains in cold, snowy weather in search of her sister. (It’s also kinda like a road trip, but without a vehicle or permanent lodging. Tents only.)

• FMC is a city dweller and unprepared for a trek through the mountain, but she is not helpless.

• This is less cop and military centric than Ruggle’s previous books. MMC is former military turned cop trainer turned mystery author. (Bad things happened during the cop trainer as led to his hermit and writer lifestyle.)

• After the 2020 uprising in Minneapolis (and elsewhere), the mainstream perception of cops/military shifted and I do think Ruggle attempted to write a romantic suspense that took that into account. But this will not appeal to people who believe ACAB and haven’t read a Katie Ruggle or aren’t fans of romantic suspense.

• Despite writing stories set in the Rocky Mountains, Ruggle lives in Minnesota. And Minnesotans love a local connection.

Recommendation: This is a lighthearted grumpy-sunshine romance that doesn’t take itself too seriously (in a good way), with a trek through the mountains and a little bit of danger.

Read the book description or add it to your TBR | Buy it

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