This was a sweet and fun small-town, opposites-attract romance with the wonderful Wilder family at the center. It wasn’t fully as great as I’d hoped for, but it was still so fast-paced and addictive that I read it all in just a couple of hours.

Make Me Wilder is the first book in the Wilder Adventurs series, but I actually started this series in the completely wrong order. I received the fourth book as an ARC and absolutely loved it, and wanted to work my way through Serena Bell’s backlist. And while I enjoyed Make Me Wilder too, it didn’t quite match A Little Wilder. Maybe because I already knew a lot of what would happen, or maybe because Serena Bell has developed as an author throughout the series?

In this first book, we get acquainted with the wonderful Wilder family, who owns an adventure business in the little Oregon town Rush Creek. After Gabe’s father died when he was 15, he assumed responsibility for the business and the promise to take care of his mother and brothers. But when hot springs are discovered, the town transforms from a rodeo-focused one to a spa-and-wedding destination, and suddenly the Wilder business is struggling. So his mother hires city girl Lucy to give Wilder Adventures a makeover.

Lucy is the opposite of what Gabe is looking for in a girl, and not to mention how opposed he is to her ideas that threatens to turn Wilder Adventure into a glamping, yoga and sunset cruises business instead of real outdoor adventures, but still he can’t keep his eyes of her, and soon sparks start to fly…

I really loved Gabe and his bad-boy with a good heart vibes from the start, but I had problems connecting with Lucy. I didn’t like her damsel in distress attitude, and how she was this silly city girl walking around in high heels and spending hours on getting her make up perfect. It didn’t make sense that she would be so ignorant to outdoor life, having grown up in a small town herself. Her character just didn’t add up, especially since she was supposed to be a strong business woman who would give advice on business development for the adventure business. I did enjoy her and Gabe’s banter, and their chemistry though. But my favorite part was the big Wilder family with their wonderful dynamics and love for each other.

All in all, this was a quick, fun and sweet read, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations and I don’t think I will continue this series.

Rating:
3 stars

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Author info:
Serena Bell

This was such an adorable and fun small-town, one night stand, surprise baby romance that I absolutely loved! I read it in one sitting, not wanting to put it down until the very end! 

A Little Wilder is the fourth book in the Wilder Adventures series, but since each book focuses on a different brother in the Wilder family, it can be read as a standalone. It was my first read not only in this series, but by Serena Bell, and I had no problem understanding the family dynamics without having read the other three books. But having read this one and loving it so much, I can’t wait to continue working my way through Serena Bell’s backlist!

In this book, the story focuses on the middle Wilder brother, Kane, who is the good boy, the fixer, of the family. Seven months ago, at his brother’s bachelor party in Las Vegas, Kane had a one night stand with an amazing woman named Marigold (Mari), who he hasn’t been able to forget ever since. But since they never exchanged names or numbers, they haven’t been in contact since that night. So imagine Kane’s surprise when Mari shows up in Rush Creek to help his brother with a redesign of the RV’s for the family business and not only is she pregnant, but the baby is his…

I absolutely loved both Kane and Mari from the very beginning. Kane is just such a sweetheart, so kind and understanding and protective of his family. And Mari was such a lovable free soul, and so strong and independent, even though she’s struggling with commitment after the rejection of her mother and the fear of being an equally bad mother herself. The chemistry between Kane and Mari was mesmerizing and I loved the way the story was told from both their different POVs so we really could follow their thoughts and feelings, and see them form a friendship first before allowing themselves to admit the attraction. I really appreciated how the unexpected pregnancy wasn’t the core focus, but that the relationship and the character growth and self-discovery, was just as important.

I also adored the small-town setting and the Wilder family. This family was so sweet and fun, and I loved their wonderful support for each other, but also their constant banter. There were so many fun moments with the brothers picking on each other and the strong females in the family speaking their minds. I can’t wait to read all the other books in this series to get to know the other brothers and their plus ones more as well.

All in all, this was a fun, sweet and heartwarming romcom with complex and relatable characters, hilarious banter, and just the right amount of spice and emotions! And so bingeable – I read it in just a couple of hours!

Huge thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC and blog tour invitation! All opinions are my own and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Rating:
4.5 stars rounding up to 5

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Author info:
Serena Bell