Crush in the Cascades by Lisa S. Gayle

Reality TV, riches, and a race for romance! What’s not to like?

For Easton Cooper, everything—except a chance at one million dollars. Desperate for cash, he’ll even compete on an outrageous action-adventure reality show, and he hates reality TV. As luck would have it, he’s thrust into his element, a series of outdoor challenges in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. But there’s a catch—he’s staring across the meadow at his partner—a tan, hot, out-of-place California girl, wearing heels and a formal dress in the middle of freaking nowhere—and she will not bring him down! Even if he has to drag her across the finish line.

Amity Rose wants an adventure. No one told her that “dress accordingly” meant deck out in hardcore mountain gear. So she wore strappy heels and a fancy dress to the opening scene. So she hates bugs, cold air, tents, campfires—must she go on? Now all the contestants think she’s a pampered princess—and to add to her bad luck, her partner is the worst—a gangly, overconfident, know-it-all mountain trail guide. Did the directors just add a romantic twist to the drama? Sure, why not? Maybe she’ll leave the race with something more valuable than money. Just not with him!

My Review

Reading this contemporary romance book is like reading a reality tv show; each team and characters must complete a certain number of challenges against each other, with the lowest-scoring team being eliminated.  The action and adventure show is based in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.  This book brings city girl Amity and mountain man Easton together.  It is incredible how enemies become lovers as they play this outdoor survival game.  Decisions, feelings, and odds all impact the chosen paths, but who will win? 

This book begins with an action-adventure show, a pretty unfair partnership, and a seasoned wilderness man.  Cooper joined because he needed the money, but he seems to have drawn the short stick when selecting a partner, at least for the first round.  He is excited about the adventure as it is up to his alley as a Rocky Mountain Tour guide, but he is determined to keep an unemotional attachment and focus on winning.  Amity is out of place, or so her attire seems to say.  This race is taking place in Oregon in the Cascade mountains.  Copper is a down-to-earth guy but maybe more rustic and wild.  Amity seems pretentious, but she has sass; we’ll see how this plays out.

The first challenge leaves something desired for both of them, but it is frustrating to read.  Mostly because Amity doesn’t listen and thinks she knows best when she doesn’t.  Okay, I may be partial to the wilderness guy knowing what he is doing.  He tries so hard to be an Ass, but he seems to have a protective instinct and attraction to Amity.  This book gets more complicated as Easton and Amity discover their feelings for each other amidst the turbulence of this race and challenges. 

We get a more insightful look at Amity as we discover she is more than meets the eye; she has her reasoning behind this show which I’m still trying to understand.  But her character has come a long way since the first challenge.  I like the supporting cast, each having identifiable personalities and names.  Aha, her reasoning is finally revealed in full now she has to tell her boyfriend.  Honestly, this start of a relationship is nuts and mental chaos.  But it sure is fabulous to read. 

Who will win this reality show challenge, and what will they have to give up to do it?  This book is entertaining as the contestants battle in the great outdoors—lots of drama, nature, conversations, and steamy scenes.  I loved reading this book and loved the ending.  Yea, I became addicted to both characters and was rooting for them both to win what their hearts desired. 

If you would like to read Crush in the Cascades by Lisa S. Gayle you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories Contemporary Romance, Action/Adventure and Enemies to Lovers.