Make Me Wilder

Serena Bell

May 2021 · Wilder Adventures Book 1 · Jelsba Media Group

About this eBook

She’s a city girl. I’m a mountain man. This shouldn’t work. So why can’t I stay away? 

Gabe: I promised my dad I’d take care of the Wilder family adventure business, including my rowdy co-workers, AKA my brothers. 

Now the business is in trouble. Rush Creek has become a spa-and-wedding destination, and the new tourists aren’t interested in getting dirty—at least not in the woods. 

Then Lucy comes to town, all blond hair and silky blouses and spike heels. It’s her job to give Wilder Adventures a makeover. If she gets her way, Wilder Adventures will become Wilder Romantic Adventures. 

Lucy hates small towns, getting messy, and anything involving the woods or the water—which pretty much makes her Not My Type. 

That doesn’t explain why when I see her, I can’t look away. Why when I touch her, I can’t stop. And why, even though I know no one can talk a city girl into small town life, I’m still trying. 

She’s driving me wild. All I can do is make her wilder. 

“Serena Bell always delivers on fine writing and sexy characters. And, wow, fans of True North should know that her new series is right up your alley!” —Sarina Bowen, USA Today bestselling author of the True North Series

“Absolutely loved the story! ♥” —@Bookstley on Instagram

“Stayed up so late to read this book last night but it was sooooo worth it.” —@torlynnreads on Instagram

★★★★★ “Absolutely love this book!” —Goodreads reviewer

★★★★★ “This book sizzles right from the start! I lost track of how many times I genuinely laughed out loud.” —Goodreads reviewer

★★★★★ “Humor, steam, and a whole lot of heart.” —Misty, Reds Romance Reviews

★★★★★ “Wow! There aren’t words to describe how this book made me feel.” —Goodreads reviewer

★★★★★ “Funny, romantic and wonderful characters!” —Goodreads reviewer

★★★★★ “I really, really love this book! Just the right amount of humor, angst and sex with a perfect HEA.” —NetGalley reviewer

Keywords: enemies to lovers, small town, alpha hero, band of brothers, fish out of water, opposites attract, outdoor adventure, steamy, fun, funny, romantic comedy, steamy contemporary, laugh out loud, found family, friends and family, steamy romance, contemporary romance, romance series, small town romance

Ratings and reviews

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the characters involved, but I'm only giving it 4 starts because of a couple of reasons. The first is the steamy scenes are a little short and too fast paced for my taste. Sometimes starting and finishing in what seems like less than a page. There's definitely a lot of pinning in this books so if that's your thing it's heavy with that. Also the characters chemistry is very sexual, and not super emotional, it seems more like infatuation when Lucy decides she's in love with Gabe after having known him for like 2 weeks. The other thing about this book is it's a bit choppy in terms of flow. Sometimes it seems like a thought was cut short in the middle, or words are missing. I found myself rereading sentences to try to figure out what was happening, but it wasn't enough to stop me from finishing the book in 2.5 days, and I still plan to read all of the other books in the series. I'm hoping the Grammer issues are because it's the first book of the series.

After a truly embarrassing incident during a meeting in her NY office, Lucy goes and visits her mother in small town Oregon. A marketer by trade, Lucy's mother sets her up with a job at Wilder Adventures. Their business isn't doing so hot due to recent hot springs being found locally. Instead of people coming for outdoor adventures, more are coming for destination weddings and girls trips. She meets instant opposition from Gabe, the son of the owner and his four brothers who run various different outdoor adventures. Of course his opposition to her work doesnt translate to opposition of her. I wanted to love this book. The storyline hooked me from just reading the synopsis. A book where a city girl tries to save an adventure company seems interesting and could easily translate to a funny ROM com type of book. But instead of focusing on the amazing story that could be, more focus is placed on her thinking for five pages f having sex with him then him thinking for another five pages of having sex with her. I got to the point of just flipping thru each of their imaginings of what sexual thing they'd like to be doing. I have no problem with sexual books, I just feel the sex was so focused on the potential storyline was lost. This isn't a bad book don't get me wrong, it just didn't work for ME as I was hoping to actually read a ROM com and got more erotica with the story loosley thrown around it. If that's hour thing then this book will be five stars for you. ⭐⭐⭐ Thank you to NetGalley, Serena Bell, and Author Collective 20 for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book sizzles right from the start! Grab your fan and a cool drink -- this story is going to get your heart racing! The author brilliantly teases the intense chemistry on nearly every page, yet it's done as a natural progression of the heartfelt feelings Gabe and Lucy develop for each other. From their first meeting (rescuing ducklings) to the final life-threatening adventure, the action is non-stop and forces Gabe and Lucy to reexamine all the reasons they each had for remaining single forever. This first book of a new series introduces us to the five very handsome, very single Wilder brothers who each take on a different adventurous aspect of the family business. Lucy's first meeting with them had me sighing, "Same, girl, same." "The Wilder brothers. It’s a sea of slightly-too -long hair in shades of brown, broad shoulders under flannel shirts, khaki hiking pants bulging at the thighs, and gorgeous sun-golden forearms arrayed on the table for my visual feast. I think I’ve been reading too many why -choose romance novels, because my heart is totally pounding." But more than just hunky heroes, all five of these men are complex characters with well-defined personalities and vast potential for their own upcoming stories. I'm already addicted and I can't wait to read these as they come out. I adore the writing style of this author. The prose shoots straight as an arrow into the hearts of the characters, while the dialogue ratchets up the tension and the fun at every opportunity. I lost track of how many times I genuinely laughed out loud, especially when Gabe realizes that he's not the only man with a pulse around Lucy. Each scene is vividly brought to life and I couldn't put the book down until I got to the unexpected path to the very satisfying HEA. If you love the gruff, growly outdoorsman type, this is your catnip. Book your trip to Wilder Adventures ASAP and hang on for the ride of your life! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.