Crush in the Cascades

This book was a sweet contemporary romance that contained themes of adventure, lust, and heartbreak. It starts out as an instant enemies to lovers, but you quickly find yourself rooting for the character's to get over their dislike for the other. It's a unique theme to a romance novel that I have not experienced until now and I eagerly am awaiting the second book in the series to come out! Bravo!

This is so good! The gameshow idea is unique and provided some good tension, plus it fostered two great tropes: enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity. I really liked Easton and Amity, but why did he do that??? I understood why Amity didn’t want to be entirely truthful when there were cameras around, so this conflict felt natural, but if I were her, Easton would need to do a little more to earn my forgiveness. I’m glad Bria got a happy ending though, she was a cool side character. I’m excited to read the next book!

What a fun and easy read. I really enjoyed it.Read it in one sitting.Great book to get out of the reading slump. Plus, enemies to lovers trope.You can’t go wrong with that. Would definitely recommend.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

This was such a cute, fun read! I love the relationship between not only Easton Cooper and Amity (who doesn’t love a good enemies to lovers trope?!) but the other characters as well. I also love the “Amazing Race” style of this book, it really makes it stand out among other romances novels out now. The ending was fantastic and I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series!

Easton Cooper needs to win the money on this reality show and isn't looking for love. Amity Rose claims she doesn't want the money. She just wants the adventure. The reality show is The race to riches and romance. Can you have it all?

I enjoyed this book. It's a fun light romance.

This really worked for me! I’ve had this arc for a while and was in a bit of a reading slump, so I didn’t expect much from a breezy romcom. BUT, it was absolutely adorable! Cooper is a grumpy hero, and although seemingly chauvinistic, his inner dialogue helps us to understand that he can’t say the right thing around Amity, our heroine, and that’s so dang relatable! He also reacts appropriately to other male characters’ awful-isms. I saw a few reviews criticizing Cooper, and honestly, did they read it?! He’s a marshmallow, instantly protective of her, and it’s sooooo goooooood. The forced proximity trope is one of my favs, and set in the woods it’s fire. Loved every minute of this book and stayed up all night reading it. It’s cute, it’s funny and I can’t wait for more in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC, in exchange for my review!

This has an enemies to lovers premise set on a Survivor type reality TV show. I liked the banter between Amity and Cooper - that being said, it did seem super quick how they went from hating each other’s guts to all the sudden feeling like they’re in love. The characters weren’t very complex, which makes sense given it’s a quick read. All in all, it was still a fun read.

Fast paced and super unique, this was a fun rom com with adventure and a game show/reality TV twist! There was action, beautiful scenery, likable characters, humour, romance, friendship, and personal growth. In addition to the adventure and comedy, Crush In The Cascades also brings a sweet and satisfying romance for Amity and Cooper. I loved the banter between these two as well as the gradually developed friendship and mutual respect that deepened into more. ⁣I loved it!
⁣
It actually surprised me how much I enjoyed the wilderness aspects. I am NOT an outdoorsy person, nor am I a reality TV show fan, but I found the outdoor survival and game show portion of the story exciting and interesting. I shared their joy when they finished different challenges, and bit my nails when they got into some precarious positions. But it wasn't just a rush of adrenaline I experienced, I also loved seeing Amity and Cooper grow closer. The isolation of the setting allowed them to really peel back their layers and reveal a lot about themselves. I learned so much about both of them and enjoyed watching them slowly fall for each other. There are sparks between this couple that light up the page, their banter is incredibly fun to read, but it’s their tenderness that gives their story its heart. The two of them are such great characters, brave, devoted, adventurous, and delightful. The scenes on the Oregon Cascade Mountains brought an unexpected layer of action/adventure, sacrifice, and risk-taking that took my breath away.

This was a fun, fast and easy read, and the premise was awesome. The author delivered a romance that both made my heart race and melt, while taking me to new heights. I am already anticipating the next book in the series.

The Race for Riches or Romance is a reality show taking place in the Cascade Mountain Range in Oregon. It’s got The Amazing Race and The Bachelor vibes. I loved all of the references to some of my favorite places in Central Oregon, including the Three Sisters Mountains and Sparks Lake.

If you like enemies to lovers, you will enjoy the banter between two of the contestants- “rich girl” Amity and backpacking guide Easton. Amity is America’s sweetheart for sure! Easton leaves a little to be desired!

Reasons to read:
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
🏔 Beautiful Oregon Landscape
📺 Reality TV vibes

I was excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint.

Thank you @lisasgayle, @netgalley, and @booksgosocialgroup.

So, I’ve read at least 2 or 3 romance game show themed books with an enemies to lovers trope and have to say, I love to see the contestants love/hate relationships, the behind the scenes and the actual challenges.

I never watch these shows on tv, but I do love the books!

(I’ve read some of the DNF 1-2 star reviews and can’t really agree with the criticism)

These books are usually written like the show would unfold. Yeah, it’s a bit harsher here, but they would cut that all out. I’ve also heard that they pick out contestants to play the villain and be ugly and over the top (see Miles in this book, he’s the perfect candidate for that role).

Easton Cooper is irritated that he gets the young woman who’s wearing a formal dress to an outdoor adventure challenge show. He’s mad that he might not win the $1 Million prize with her. The first challenge is a disaster for Amity Rose and her stupid partner.

Both insult each other back and forth, with the help from other contestants. Both also seem to be attracted to each other and slowly share stuff with each other and grow closer much to the dismay of the other contestants.

I enjoyed this book and can’t wait for Hannahs book!

Wow when I read the synopsis for this book I was very interested as to how it would go, & it didn’t disappoint! It was such a fun book from the first chapter I was hooked! Easton Cooper, Mr. Caveman I loved his character though at times he was confusing & needed to communicate his plans!!! Nevertheless his motive for being on the show I respected. Though he was there for the win from the very beginning his eyes just always seemed to follow Amity he instantly changes from wanting her gone to helping her stay in the game. Amity Rose oh she was amazing! She was really feisty & such a great character. From the very beginning having Easton placed her as a weak link the entire group felt she was not competition. Though the group saw her as someone who would leave the game in the first challenge or have no skills she proved them all wrong time & time again. She used the idea of being weak to win but for the growing love she had for Easton she gave him the win. The entire plot was great and all the side characters were so much fun. I loved Bria, Justin & Miles (though he was a dick) others I couldn’t stand Liam, Cassie & Becky. Overall this was such a great book I really enjoyed it again from the very beginning I was hooked and stay hooked till the end. Happy Release Day Lisa congratulations on such a wonderful book! Thank You NetGallery for the opportunity to read such a fun book & give it a honest review!
4/⭐️

Just received this few days ago and completed it in 2 days 😍 . A bit long but it is necessary. I loved it how the characters developed and loved the power of main character also 🥺❤️

Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes on those reality shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race? Are the romances that develop just for the camera crews, or are they authentic? How much food do the contestants actually eat off-screen?

Lisa S. Gayle gives us a completely fictional, but completely possible, look at reality show romances with her new novel, Crush in the Cascades. A production crew has put together a new action-race-romance show called The Race for Riches or Romance, with a million-dollar prize for each member of the winning team. Among the contestants lured to participate in the grueling race taking place in the beautiful forests and mountains of the Cascade Range in Oregon are Easton Cooper, a loner-type Colorado mountain trail guide and Amity Rose, a fashionable woman from California with little outdoor exploration experience.

I’m not usually a huge fan of the romance genre, but the reality game-show setting immediately drew me in, as I was a huge fan of The Amazing Race years ago. The use of the race gave an organic, realistic reason for two totally opposite people to be forced to work together, a refreshing change from simply meeting at a bar or at work. Easton and Amity both have genuine reasons for being on the show and watching them learn to begrudgingly work with one another on certain tasks played out the way you would actually see on a reality show race. The supporting characters absolutely feel like the sorts of people you’d see on a reality show–one is there hoping solely that the exposure brings him fame and is deliberately a jerk, knowing the cameras will focus on him for drama; others are there hoping the winning money will help them kickstart a personal business. Even the host of the show, Alex, speaks and acts exactly the way you’d expect, enough that I basically heard the voice of Phil, host of The Amazing Race, in my head every time he spoke.

However, the end third of the book drags. With most teams having been eliminated, we spend more time with a core group of six or so people–but the supporting characters never feel fleshed out the way our protagonists do. Some of the challenges the teams must face are skimmed over, and the reader sees only the drama between characters, which is disappointing since the whole reality game aspect is what makes this book unique. I felt that the misunderstandings between characters were overblown by the end and were completely unnecessary by that point in their character development.

Gayle is writing a sequel–because there’s got to be a Season 2, right?!–and like all sequels, I hope it manages to improve on the original in every way, with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises to keep the viewer–er, the reader–intrigued.

Crush in the cascades is a contemporary romance novel with an action-packed plot about a reality competition for 1 million dollars. I’m very competitive so the theme of the book worked really well for me. And it stands out from other romance books I’ve read in the past. The reality show aspect isn’t overwhelming at all. The amount of cameras are mentioned a lot but that’s about it.

I really enjoyed the characters.
Easton the grumpy rock-climber from Colorado. A lovable MC that signed up for the competition to save his friend. And Amity is just to good for this world. She’s there to travel and experiencing the world. Their love hate relationship along with being competitors kept my interest up throughout.

I would definitely recommend this one, it’s a great read. It seems like there will be a sequel so I’ll definitely keep an eye out for that!

This book gets 3.5 stars from me. I thought the premise was interesting. I haven't read a lot of reality show based books - especially out door wilderness reality shows. It did definitely feel plausible from an emotional development perspective - just based on what seems to happen in shows like the Bachelor franchise, etc.
This book felt like it was channeling The Bachelor, Survivor and probably a few other reality tv shows all at the same time. I also like how it wrapped up, I always wonder how contestants deal with watching themselves played back on shows like that - and this book handled that part of it well.

I struggled a bit with the main characters and a lot of how their relationship went down - especially how they treated each other. It's definitely an enemies-to-lovers with a bit of forced proximity thrown in - but the rollercoaster was a rough ride. I appreciated the spice, though it did feel like there was a lot going on and those scenes were almost forced into the storyline.

Overall, a fun, escapist read that was decently enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher & author for an early copy of the book to read & review.

Very cute story. Really enjoyed. And set in cascades around my hometown! Would definitely read the sequel.

This book was a really fun, quick read. I liked the reality tv aspect, as that’s something different than the same old, same old. I think realty tv fan will really get into that. My one thing is that I don’t think the title actually fits the book at all.

I was craving a short, happy ending story and while contemporary romances haven’t been my cup of tea, I was pleasantly surprised by this one!

Set in the Oregon Cascade mountains, our main characters find themselves as contestants on an action-adventure reality show. Easton Cooper is there for the money - he hates reality TV but he’s desperate for the one million dollar top prize. Amity Rose is there for an adventure, and she isn’t exactly the wilderness loving type.

When Amity shows up to the first scene in a formal gown and high heels, everyone assumes her to be a pampered princess only there for the screen time. Imagine his utter disdain when Easton finds himself paired with her for a challenge… Sparks fly right away (and not the good kind).

Reality TV isn’t 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 the everyday experience, but as far as crazy scenarios go in romance novels, I was on board. The action-adventure show provided a solid setting and provided a more exciting plot than I was expecting.

The story really read like I was watching a reality TV show - with challenges, villainous contestants, power couples, the whole bit. Who doesn’t like bingeing some dramatic reality TV on occasion?

This book was certainly emotionally charged. The tension between Cooper and Amity was ever-present and the volatility of their personalities made for a classic enemies-to-lovers scenario.

I liked this one - I look forward to giving the next book in the series a read!

This is fantastic! The gameshow concept is original and creates a lot of drama, as well as two wonderful tropes: enemies-to-lovers and forced intimacy. Easton and Amity were two of my favourite characters, but why did he do that? This tension felt natural to me since I understood why Amity didn't want to be completely honest when there were cameras around, but if I were her, Easton would need to do a bit more to gain my forgiveness. Bria was a cool side character, so I'm glad she had a happy ending. I'm looking forward to reading the next book!
thank you for this arc!

I absolutely devoured this book! It had me from the first glance at the fun and energetic duo!! The reality show setting made the whole cast of characters interesting and set beautiful scenic picture for the romantic plot to take place. This book was hard to put down!! I can’t wait to see what is in store for the next book in the Riches or Romance series!!!

4.5 ⭐️

Survivor meets Love Island in this adorable story. I loved the fun story line that sucked me in immediately and kept me want more. A perfect beach read for those who love a good love/hate relationship troupe. Already looking forward to book #2 in this series!

Hello!

I absolutely loved this story right from the beginning! It was giving me The Bachelor meets Hunger Games vibes. Also love the enemies to lovers aspect.

I will be posting my full review on the pub date(tomorrow), on my Instagram and tiktok @manas_library and also on my goodreads account!

I will be highly recommending this book I absolutely loved it!

I went into this book blind, only seeing the cover which instantly I loved. Especially the cartoon cover which are very popular at the minute. It caught my eye as soon as I saw the cover.
The premise of the book - an adult reality TV show combining physical and mental challenges to win $2 million dollars - was a different read for me and I really enjoyed how fast paced it was.
I loved how as a reader, we all believed Amity was a pretentious rich girl. Although stereotypical it worked in the setting of the novel.
Easton came across as judgemental from the offset. I preferred when he was vulnerable and real but I found the character slipped into the role of misogynistic male which I didn't like.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There were a few times I got bored with the descriptive sections of the challenges but that may be because I have no interest in those hobbies. I'll definitely read Hannah's story in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book! There was never a dull moment for the main characters. I can usually figure out what is going to happen with the story, but not this time! I look forward to the next book in this series!

Okay - this was such an unexpected gem of a book!

I picked it up as a read-now option on NetGalley as I had seen it on BookSirens, so I grabbed it even though it was publishing the next day and it was a very limited timeframe (and even though I had a ton of other arcs waiting) - the blurb was just way too good to pass up. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL, and it was actually even so, so much better than I ever could have imagined!

It was creative, fast-paced, super unique, and even with a ton of characters, they were all fantastic! The main characters stumbled through the relationship from the beginning, but they were on a reality competition show, and competing against each other for a million bucks (survivor meets amazing race meets eco challenge), and had an immense dislike for each other from the start, so it was to be expected that it wasn't love at first sight and all warm fuzzies. Amity Rose and Easton Cooper were a fantastic couple and I loved their enemies to lovers relationship and how it blossomed. All of the reasons they, and the other characters, were doing the competition were brilliant.

Being a big fan of Amazing Race (I stopped watching Survivor a while back, but I used to enjoy it, too), and many other reality competition shows, this was right up my alley. Everything about it, and all the little twists along the way in the challenges and the team swaps - it's really just so great, and I absolutely recommend it to everybody who loves a great reality show and a romance mash-up!

I'm looking forward to the next book when Cooper's little sister (Mini Cooper!) is on the next season of the show and we get another season and hopefully another romance, just as exciting! So glad I picked this one up, and I flew through it in no time at all.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and BooksGoSocial, and this is my honest feedback.

Crush in the Cascades is about a reality TV show called The Race to Riches or Romance and follows the story of Easton Cooper and Amity Rose as they complete for the one million dollar prize. They get off on the wrong foot when they meet as Amity shows up wearing an evening dress and heels and looks completely out of place on the action-adventure show. Cooper thinks Amity is a pampered princess and Amity thinks Cooper is a grumpy mountain man. We follow their journey as they realise how wrong they are about each other and also discover why Cooper really needs the prize money.

I found the premise of a reality tv show and camping adventure very entertaining and at times funny as we read about the different challenges they and the other contestants have to face and complete. This is an insta-love, enemies to loves trope and I enjoyed reading Easton and Amity's story unfold and learn their backstory along the way. I'm not usually a fan of of the insta-love and I did feel that some of the scenes were rushed but overall this was an easy and enjoyable read.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc, in exchange for an honest review.

What happens when rugged travel agent, Easton & City Girl, Amity compete on a dangerous, action packed, adventure reality show? It's loathe at first sight.
While Easton thinks that Amity is a pampered princess who shows up in a dress & scrappy heels for the challenge, Amity thinks that Easton is a know-it-all, mean jerk.
Sure there's a million dollars on the line but so is their hearts.

I loved the whole concept of this show/ book. The hate-to-love situation mixed into the wilderness was a complete mood. And to top it all the show was a mixture of Survivor +The Bachelor.

Amity is one of the nicest characters I've ever seen. Her enthusiasm & approach to life was amazing. I was torn how everyone misunderstood her despite the sacrifices she made.
Easton came across as a jerk at times but the reason behind it was saddening.

The back & forth bickering, nagging, flirting banter these 2 had going on was EVERYTHING. I appreciated how in the middle they admitted their feelings for each other & gave themselves a chance even though the conflicts were too high.

And the challenges, damn. I loved seeing them in details along with getting to know the other contestants. This was such a refreshing read & one heck of a ride with so many hilarious & swoony moments. Can't wait for the sequel.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read this book because I throughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I loved the Big Brother meets Survivor reality TV show vibes with the outdoorsy challenges to win a million dollars. All the drama and the anticipation of who will win really put the book on another level. This is a true enemies to lovers with dual pov between Easton Cooper the grumpy mountain man and Amity the "Hollywood" princess. The funny banter and steam between those too was hot hot hot!!

There was only one aspect in the beginning that I found problematic in the writing. I did not like when Amity was referred to as "that Amity girl."

Thank you to netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun book, perfect for a beach read! The main plot focuses on a game show called the race to riches or romance and centers on 2 of the contestants. Amity and Easton are complete opposites or so it seems and they're quick to dislike each other. As the competition heats up so does their attraction for each other, will they act on it?

The plot was pretty simple, this is mainly a romance novel and the characters are mostly pretty surface level besides Amity and Easton. The game show adds a fun factor to the plot though and it's perfect for those that enjoy shows like the bachelor!

Amity was by far my favorite character, I did warm up to Easton in the end too. I think Amity was a strong woman and I liked her personality, I felt I could see myself in her and she felt the most real. Easton was a bit tougher in the beginning but I think he turned around and became more of a softie which I liked.

I do think the writing could be worked on a bit, the characters often felt like they were repeating themselves and some of the lines were pretty cheesy. The male characters were also pretty sexist towards the women and that was at times frustrating but it was also a pretty accurate portrayal of what's seen in society so I understand the motive.

Recommended for those that enjoy romance based game shows like the Bachelor, a little spice, instalove (this is not a slow burn), quick reads, and books that just make you smile!

I would be interested in reading the 2nd book when that becomes available! Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC.

This was a FANTASTIC book! I loved the concept. When Cooper realized what kind of show he was really going on, it was humorous. I really felt like I was watching a real reality TV show here,lol. Between that and the strategy and alliances and following the shows progress with the contestants and events it was so amazingly entertaining!

What I loved:
▪️Amity. I love a good Fish Out of Water Trope - City Girl tackles the Wild. Always fun stuff there, lol.
▪️The TV show concept. Think Survivor.. meets The Bachelor..meets Amazing Race. I loved all the competition and events. I was dying to see who would win each challenge and which guy would would pick which girl for each event. I was soooo grossly invested 😂
▪️The true enemies to lovers feel this had. If you are expecting sweet hand holding singing Kumbaya gazing into each other’s eyes around the camp fire…you will be disappointed. This is a competition with a million dollar prize, you aren’t supposed to be friendly with anyone, not even the girl you secretly starting to pine for.
▪️The on and off - hot and cold with Cooper. He drove me insane, but in a very good way, lol. I loved the warranted uncertainty- it added to the angst and suspense.
▪️The other contestants. Great side characters. I learned them all with all their strengths and weaknesses for challenges so I could follow along and track things (lol). Who am I? 😂 (I usually hate reality tv of any sort)
▪️How it ended. I truly had no idea how it was going to all end, but I was beyond excited to find out who would win, how, and how it would all work out between Cooper and Amity (and the other contestants too). I was NOT disappointed. It had a great ending!

I’m glad I formed my own opinion on this one! I highly recommend this if you like a true enemies to lover trope and a true grumpy MC. I loved every morsel of Coopers Grumpy Mountain Man attitude ❤️😂 This is a hidden gem. I myself don’t even like reality TV and I loved this!

As a reality comp fan this book was so much fun! It kinda felt like if the producers of the bachelor were told to produce the amazing race on a smaller geographical scale with Big Brother’s casting crew. As those are my 3 favorite reality shows I loved it. Amity and Easton were an interesting pair. I enjoyed them both but both also were a little hard to understand at time. I never truly understood how amity was totally ok being there just for the experience. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a big reason why I’d love to go on amazing race or big brother, but if I found out I had a shot at winning earlyish on I’d be in it to win it. She’s much more altruistic then me lol. Easton is easier to read, even if he makes some stupid male moves throughout the book lol. The arc of their relationship, enemies to tentative friends to lovers, alongside the competition meshed perfectly. I was equally invested in both them and the competition. I may have been mentally screaming at a character to not be an idiot in the comp finale, but it does in fact have a pretty good HEA.

I’m excited that this is the start of a series set in this shows world!

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my arc!

This book was adorable and i loved watching the characters learn about each other past first impressions and their strengths and were eases. The premise of an outdoor reality tv was refreshing and hilarious. Definitely recommend

This is the perfect sort of light-hearted happy I’m always looking for. The inside of this book is as cute as the cover. Definitely give it a read!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Montlake for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. My full thoughts will be posted on the release date.

5 huge stars! I found this novel so entertaining and fun to read. The characters were enjoyable and very likeable. Think Big Brother camping addition with contemporary romance. I was so happy to see there is going to be a sequel.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this cute book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to Lisa S. Gayle for allowing me an ARC copy of this book. I can’t even express how much I loved it. The story hits the ground running on page 1; you will not be able to put it down. Lisa S. Gayle hit a home run with this one!

Amity and Easton are both contestants on an outdoor adventure based reality show; The Race for Riches or Romance will award the winning team 2 million dollars. With their own intentions in mind, Amity and Easton find themselves paired as a team for the first challenge. Dressed to impress, Amity doesn’t realize that she will begin the competition immediately…in her dress and heels. Outdoor expert Easton Cooper can’t believe he could potentially be eliminated during the first round due to his clearly pampered partner.

As the competition moves on, Amity and Easton can’t seem to stay away from one another despite being paired with other competitors for various challenges. They are challenged physically and mentally while learning to work with the varying personalities of the other contestants.

Do they trust one another, form an alliance, and fan the sparks that are flying between them? Or is it better to play it safe and stick to their initial intentions? Can you really find true love on a reality TV show anyway? What happens when the cameras turn off?

Without hesitation, this book gets 5 stars. It’s fun, evolves at a great pace, has just the right amount of attention to detail, and allows the reader to experience a variety of emotions.

The characters were so well developed; you’ll enjoy their backstories and personal quirks. Even the secondary characters have clear personalities and hold your attention. The game show premise was new and a little out of the box for me; honestly, it was awesome. It just worked. I could go on and on. Just read it. Then tell all of your bookish friends to read it too. Lisa S. Gayle deserves some love for this one!

Solid 3.75 stars, rounding up to 4. This book was fun! Amnity and Easton meet on a reality TV show, The Race for Riches or Romance. While Amnity is in the race for an adventure, Easton is there to win the money, hoping to split the 2 million dollars prize money with a female contestant. The two are paired in the first match and immediately hate each other. Their hatred turns to lust pretty quickly and that’s when things get interesting. This made for a fun, quick read!

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

🌳BOOK REVIEW!🌳

Crush in the Cascades by Lisa S. Gayle
Release Date: May 2, 2022

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶/5


Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on one of those wild reality racing shows? If you have this book is for you.

Riches or Romance? Can you have it all? What would you choose?

Meet Cooper. A handsome mountain man who is in desperate need of some cash. He signs up for this action packed adventure show and lucky for him, he is right in his element. Standing across from Cooper is Amity. Dressed for a party, Amity is clearly NOT in her element. All the contestants seem to think that she is just some sort of socialite princess, here for the attention. But never judge a book by its cover. Follow this story of instant irritation and see what can blossom when money and love are on the line.

🌿🌱🌿🌱🌿🌱🌿🌱🌿🌱🌿🌱🌿🌱

Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this before it is published!

Truth be told, when I was younger, I always wanted to do the Amazing Race. This book instantly changed my mind. Lol This book was so much fun to read. If you love a good, fast paced, instant romance, this one is for you. If you have ever been irritatingly attracted to someone, this book will make you feel less alone. Lol I really enjoyed all of the banter and exciting challenges these characters face. With a dash of spice, the story between Cooper and Amity is so sweet. If you need a fun, flirty, irritating (in a good way) book to read this summer, consider checking out Crush in the Cascades when it releases next week.





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The plot is amazing. The writing kept me engaged. It wasn't too lengthy nor too short. that's why it didn't seemed boring to me. in the end it was a nice read for me. The cover of this book is also fabulous.

If I’m honest first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. I am a huge fan of contemporary romance anyway, but when a contemporary romance is paired with a cartoon cover like this one I’m probably going to give it a go! When I read the description I was even more drawn in. I thought the concept and plot sounded very unique - It included all the rom/com elements I love with the twist of adventure and reality television thrown in.

Things I liked about the book:
-As stated above, I really liked the uniqueness of placing a romcom in a adventure reality TV setting. I’ve not read a book that’s done that yet.
-Being the enemies to lovers fan I am, I love repairing the very opposite people together.
-I thought the location was interesting in the sense that it wasn’t the typical settings I expect from lots of contemporary romances I have read.

Things I wasn’t too keen on:
-I find miscommunication troops frustrating. The lack of communication between the characters made for, at times, a not so enjoyable reading experience. However, I know there are many people that do enjoy this in books, because of the drama it can creat3. That’s completely valid, but just not my cup of tea.
-To pair with the miscommunication, this book has the instant love trope. Again, that is valid and there are loads of people that enjoy that in contemporary romance. I have also enjoyed it from time to time, but when used in conjunction with a lack of communication it is confusing. This is because sometimes the switch from being ‘in love’ to the duo not getting on felt very sudden or unjustified.

Overall, I think I would recommend this to a friend. This is because the issues I had with the book could just be put down to personal preference. I think there is definitely an audience for this and there will be people that will love it!

3.75/5

Um romance leve, rápido de ler e com todos os ingredientes para dar umas boas gargalhadas.

Quem não adora um belo enemies-to-lovers?!

Easton e Amity são como o cão e o gato, mas nem tudo é o que parece.

Gostei imenso do conceito do reality show e das dinâmicas do enredo. Houve alguns momentos mais lentos e parados, mas no geral foi uma boa leitura.

Ideal para quem quer uma leitura leve, divertida, recheada de aventura e bem romântica.

I was provided a ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever had a book smack you straight in the gizzard without absolutely joy? Well, now I can say I have. I am relatively new to the "romcom" contemporary romance genre and always preconceived notions about how these types of books were supposed to go or how I would be perceived reading them, I am happily over that nonsense now but every time I pick up a book like Crush in the Cascades I am reminded why its so rewarding to read this genre. First and foremost, this book was just cute. Maybe that isn't high on the list for most readers but honestly the older I get the more I look forward to what we used to call in the old days "a good squee" and squee I did. Constantly giggling and shrieking out loud from being unable to handle the cuteness. Amity and Easton are charming, capable, selfless, and complex, feeling like real people that could enrich your life by knowing them. The plot line was what first drew me to wanting to read the book a romance set in a reality show competition sounded like the recipe for either a fun adventure or a catty/ dramatic mess and well I am happy to say the book is the former rather than the latter. The plot line was riveting (I could not put it down), I sometimes felt so enthralled by the actual competition I forgot we were also here for a romance, and the resolution brought me such joy. If you are a fan of enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance or just want to feel good than Crush in the Cascades is for you.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I actually quite enjoyed this book, and would give it a 3.5/5. I wasn’t sure I was going to like the reality tv aspect of it and the miscommunication trope but I thought it helped add to the story. A couple things that I did not enjoy: I would have liked more background as to why Easton and Amity joined the show at the beginning of the book as there were times I felt very confused as to why they were acting in certain ways. As well, it felt that almost every chapter it was going back and forth between the two main characters loving and hating each other. I think that part of the story could have been cut down a bit but otherwise I quite enjoyed this read!

A highly entertaining read. This book is about a reality show in which they compete for 2 million dollars for the winning couple. Amity and Cooper's interaction were funny. I liked both of them. Amity showed that first impression is important. People were very wrong about her. It's a fast paced quick read with a lot of action. It's probably not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.

This book was provided by Netgally and Lisa S. Gayle for an honest review. All of the thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you loved it happened one summer by Tessa Bailey you will absolutely love this book too.
Enemies to reluctant teammates to lovers grumpy /sunshine set in a competition that is a cross between The bachelor and Bear Grylls.
Easton Cooper is a rugged mountain man grump pared up with Aimty Rose who everyone believes is a spoiled rich girl from Hollywood ( even going so far as to give her the nickname Hollywood). She thinks he is a rude brute and in the series of unfortunate foot in mouth moments that proves to be true until they start seeing other sides of each other.
Amity is here to have the adventure in the memory of her late father and Cooper is here to save his friends life by getting that much needed money for his heart surgery.
The premise is can you win money and romance and..... I'm going to let you find that out on your own.
4 stars all around and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the sequel when it's Cooper's sister Hannah's turn at love and adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Lisa S. Gayle for letting me read this book.
A romantic and peppy version of The Hunger Games+ Instant unexplainable chemistry= Binge worthy book you can finish in less than a day!!!
I've got to say that although Instant Chemistry is not my type, I did enjoy this book a lot. Smart, funny and beautiful- Amity has it all. Mountain man, sleek, and slightly rugged, Easton ends up a million dollars richer than before with a Fiancé to brag about! I recommend this book to those facing a book slump.

First time reading this author, and a fairly straightforward enemies-to-lovers story that was a breezy read.
The thing I really appreciated in this story was the use of the reality show setting and how that crimped the "simple conversation" response to why the two protagonists were withholding information from each other. I mean, obfuscation is the name of the game in these settings after all!
Also appreciated the FMC being a smart & strong competitor & how she just carried on while the others misjudged her. Go, girl!

Take a romantic adventure by picking up this book! It was a slow start, but towards the end I could not put it down. This is the first romcom I have read that felt distinctly unique. I can’t wait for the series to continue!

3.5/5 Stars

Easton Cooper is a mountain trail guide competing in an action-adventure reality show for the chance at a million-dollar prize that could save his best friend’s life. The last person he wants to be paired with is a Hollywood princess who doesn’t even know what flint is.

This was a quick and fund read. I enjoyed the challenges and the different characters competing. I thought it was a little too insta-love. Even so, I was all in until about halfway through the book. Then I felt like someone else was writing it. Some of the descriptions felt awkward and the sex scenes felt a little cringy. I think the general premise was a great idea and I really wanted to love it. I’m looking forward to seeing how the second book in the series turns out.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this ARC and the opportunity to review it.

This was a cute, enjoyable read! I liked the contrasting yet complementary personalities between Easton and Amity, and I liked the buildup of their relationship. This was also the first "reality tv" plot I've read about in a romance book, so I was very interested in the concept and how it was written out. It was a very fun and entertaining book to read!

Crush in the Cascades was a cutesy romcom adventure that follows Easton Cooper and Amity Rose as they battle through a reality TV show amidst other contestants for a cash prize of $1 million. The reality show constantly changes its rules and throws out skills and challenges that keep the contestants guessing. Amity and Easton start off at odds and have a back-and-forth relationship that is almost Enemies to Lovers in its delivery while popping in with the miscommunication trope.

The book is a very light, happy read that brings in a breathtaking backdrop of the candidates competing along the PCT. If you're looking for an easy RomCom with a hint of spice for a summer read, this will make a great addition to your TBR.

I received this story as an E-ARC courtesy of NetGalley and BooksGoSocial and am sharing my thanks for allowing me to read an early copy.

I absolutely loved this read. The cover sucks you in and the concept of the story keeps you there.
5* read !!

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with this version of Crush in the Cascades.

Crush in the Cascades takes enemies to lovers to a whole different level with an original and refreshing plot when Amity and Cooper take part in an adventure game show, providing them with the ideal setting to find a partner. Their chemistry is definitely something, and while I really didn't like Cooper all that much in the beginning, once his reasons became clear, I rooted for him to succeed.

Amity is by far my favourite character with her wit and general badass-ness. I rotted for her from the get-go, and felt for her all the way through. She's kind, compassionate and selfless to the bone.

I can't wait for the second novel, telling Hannah's story.

This book was a really fun read! It’s just like a guilty pleasure such as the reality tv shows are, but then in a way better format: a book! I emjoed the way Cooper wasn’t in it for himself, but for his friend Dominic. As well as how Amity, despite the first impressions she gives off, was in it for the experience amd not the money despite being "dirt poor" as she calls it. My main piece of critique is that the contestants did not get sunscreen, that would be dangerous! (So please remember to put on sunscreen, even if it is not sunny, you don’t want to get burned like Miles) In those moments I was transported back from the book into the real world, kind of a shame. For that reason I give it 4 stars. Looking forward to the second book!

I really enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of light hearted romance, then this is the book for you. We have our grumpy action man paired up with a supposed spoilt rich girl, thrown together on a reality tv programme. The cameras follow their every move, including hilarious challenges they have to face. The book hooked me straight in. I felt a small lull mid way through, but stick with it!
Overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend . A video review will also be posted to: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLpTsfWs/

Reality TV meets enemies to lovers trope. Amity and Cooper are amongst the contestants joining the show The Race to Riches or Romance. Set in the picturesque Oregon, these contestants will partner up, doing physical and mental tasks opening them up to their weaknesses and strengths. Amity proves to Cooper that she is in actual fact not as out of place as he thought. With Cooper's eye on the prize for the winning money, what will it take for him to potentially win it all? As always reality TV provides some popcorn-worthy entertainment and drama.

At first Cooper's behavior really rubbed me the wrong way and I was on the verge of DNF this book but I stuck around and I'm so glad I did, his portrail in the beginning made me understand his determination to win. My favorite character was definitely Bria. Who doesn't love a happy ending too.

This was a fun, easy read. The action was quick off the mark and I enjoyed Amity and Easton’s initial love/hate relationship set amongst an outdoor adventure challenge. Amity is a brilliant long distance runner but is still girly and confuses the other contestants by appearing to come from money. It was good that the story had a proper epilogue.

First of all, I have to confess that enemies-to-lovers is my favorite trope. This book won me after only reading the description!

The book follows Amity and Easton in a reality show called “The Race for Riches or Romance” where the winning team will win 2 million dollars.

Here is Amity who’s in for the adventure and the thrill she would have loved to share with her beloved father, while Easton is ready to win this contest to save his best friends’ life.

I really enjoyed the setup and the idea of an outdoor couple contest. All the ‘legs’, as mentioned in the book, were thrilling. I really liked, that, besides the romance, Lisa really highlighted the importance of team work.

I would have liked to have more enemies in the beginning and less love, because it would have built more their story, but overall, Amity and Easton were super cute. There were some moments where I really disliked Easton as we discovered throughout the book that Amity is a gem of a girl and he was acting really bad towards her, but in the end, they both got the happy ending they deserved!

I’m excited to follow Hannah’s story in the reality show! I think it’ll be amazing!

Thank you NetGalley & BooksGoSocial for the copy of Crush in the Cascades! I really enjoyed the adventure!

Review posted via Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4737109570
Enemies to lovers paradise.
Easton Cooper and Amity Rose couldn't be more different. She is a girly girl from California. He lives in a cabin and knows his way around the mountains. The attraction and hate spark at once. As the two are forced together can they work together without falling for each other?

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The chemistry was instant and I loved it. The story was unique and kept me intrigued. Even with the elements, I did not like, I still enjoyed the book enough to rate it a 5/5. Moving on to the things I did not like. The Language. So much cursing. I found it to be unnecessary. Also the sexual content. It was not needed and could have been toned down. Overall I really enjoyed this novel and am looking forward to the next book in the series.

A super cute, fun, summer read. I enjoyed the different challenges and the scenery. The characters were great and so fun. I can’t wait to read the second installment in this series.

A book based on Easton Cooper and Amity Rose during a competition where team needs to complete challenge in the nature, use their muscles and brains. If Easton is a nature guy, Amity is far from it. But she has other asset. The winner take one million dollars home. If they find romance along the way? Great, it makes better drama for television! I was immediately hooked. A fast paced, effortlessly quick read where the pages just turned themselves and I was engaged throughout.

Crush in the Cascades is a light-hearted, cheesy story about enemies-to-lovers who fall for one another while filming a reality TV show. The idea of the story, set on a reality TV show, is fresh and exciting but I found Amity and Easton's whole love story to be a bit lackluster. Either way, this story would be a fun and breezy beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the BooksGoSocial for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

This was an adorable rom-com. I love a good enemies to lovers story. I thought the setting was really creative and the characters were a hoot. I can’t wait for book 2!

I loved this book! It was a quick and enjoyable read. I genuinely enjoyed getting to know the main characters and the Amazing Race-esque premise was unlike any other romance novel I've read before. I would absolutely recommend this to any romance lover, or anyone in need of a book to break them out of a reading slump.

Thanks for letting me read this one it was really good and has you captive from the first chapter of the book and I liked the reality TV aspect of the book too you can't go wrong with that kind of thing in a book

It was a good book, I really liked it! I like the concept of a reality tv competition as well as enemies to lovers. The only that would have made it better is if there was more of a build up with the romance and it felt too quick. A little more drama and excitement would have made it better.

Overall I enjoyed the book, it was a very easy read and will definitely read the 2nd book of the series when it comes out.

We have Cooper and Amity competing on a reality show where they go on adventures like running, climbing... If you love all those things, you can imagine!
I really like the book idea of having this tv show. It's something new for me because I never read any book about reality show.

Lovers from enemies to lovers, this is perfect for you.

I loved Amity, which is her; amazing. It is a clear example that appearances are deceiving. She is treated like a spoiled rich woman, they call her Hollywood. When she really is all different. She is so good and so generous that it hurts.
Easton sometimes made me very nervous, seriously, he had attitudes that I didn't like too much but later with the passage of the book he changes and I finally loved them both together.

I will definitely be reading Hannah's book next, I can't wait!!

I really, really enjoyed this book! It was captivating and it hooked me from the very first chapter! I was glued to my seat!

'Crush in the Cascades' by Lisa S. Gayle is the story of Amity Rose and Easton Cooper, two contestants in an adventure reality show who fall in love all the while trying desperately no to. This enemies-to-lovers romance is beautifully written & had a unique setting, the making of a reality T.V. show up in the Oregon Cascade Mountains.

Amity joins the first season of 'The Race for Riches or Romance' as a contestant as she had promised her father that she would be adventurous in life, but Easton has agreed to compete in a reality game show for the winning prize money and nothing else. I couldn't put the book down. The way these Amity and Cooper fell in love hopelessly despite being so different, was absolutely amazing.

This story was subtle, sweet and easy. For those who love a good enemies-to-lovers/grumpy sunshine romance, this book is definitely for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, I loved the book and waiting for the next book based on season 2 of The Race for Riches or Romance!!

Crush in the Cascades – 4.25 stars ⭐️

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too if you are a fan of the shows like The Amazing Race or Survivor. It has aspects from both shows that I really enjoyed like the racing part is hinted you can see some of the inspiration is from The Amazing Race and the tasks and skills challenges remind me of Survivor. I have always been a major fan of these shows so I couldn’t wait to read this book and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the two MC’s Amity and Cooper (Easton) The side charters were really good for me, and I think that a big reason for me to give it the rating I did. In parts there were some little bits and things that were said that I didn’t enjoy but there were parts that were excellent and made up for anything that I didn’t really like. I was happy with the ending and read the whole book in 1 and a bit days. I am extremely excited that they hinted at another book and will be looking forward to that! I gave this book 4.25 stars and would totally recommend this book to anyone who loves Survivor or The Amazing Race. Extremely blessed I was able to receive the ARC because this book was highly creative and had things that I had not ever read about!! Head out to grab your own copy and give this fantastic book a shot.

I will be posting a photo and review on my Bookstagram @readswithlily on the 20th of May and will be tagging Net Galley and Lisa S. Gayle. Then in the beginning of June I will be posting some aesthetics from the book and will tag everyone. I will also be posting my Goodreads review on the books Pub Day.

A cute and quick romance with fun characters, all contestants in a televised race. None of the characters are deeply developed, and our main couple has a frustrating lack of communication, but if you just need an entertaining escape, this would be a good way to do it.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. #CrushInTheCascades

Easton and Amity (both have such strange names) are on a reality TV show set in the wilderness of the Cascades. Fun banter and lots of playing on and with each other made for a quick and easy read. Would be a fun summer read. Highly recommend.

4stars for Amity, 3 for Easton. I loved the concept of this book but had some difficulty connecting to the characters. Overall a fun romcom read!

This book was absolutely amazing, and i loved it. One of my best reads in a while! I loved the characters and the setting and just everything about it. It was perfect!

an enemies to lovers story set in the cascades, during the filming a reailty show, I thought the book was good for a debut.

(This review contains a spoiler)

Considering this was a debut, I absolutely loved this book! It’s a story full of Drama, competition and fun. It honestly felt like I was watching a reality show on tv. The characters were easy to connect with especially Amity. The author’s writing style really sucked me in, I never knew how to stop reading this and carry on with my day.
The only thing I didn’t like was the ending as I wished Amity chose herself however it still worked out in the end so I cannot complain.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This was a fun enemies-to-lovers, misunderstandings/no communication kind of book with great secondary characters.

I loved this one. As a fan of some reality tv the idea of a rom-com focused around a reality tv competition with an enemies to lovers storyline immediately got my attention. Crush in the Cascades was seriously super cute. I loved Copper and Amity, their back and forth, love/hate/love dynamic was fantastic, and so were all the supporting characters as well, especially that weasel Miles. I can’t wait to see where Lisa Gayle takes this series next. Thanks so much to BookGoSocial and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Crush in the Cascades.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2YUQMY4ZDZPP1/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

For this enemies-to-lovers book, I could do with a little more enemies and a little less lovers. I ADORED Amity and the concept of this book. But I did not vibe with Easton, I found him to be very annoying and such an idiot. I will definitely be reading Hannah's book next. (This book also kind of gave me It Happened One Summer vibes). [Posted manually to Goodreads.}

Crush in the Cascades is a fun enemies to lovers rom com set in the Cascades during the filming of a reality TV adventure show. I really enjoyed this one, although the first half did feel a bit repetitive. I think it was just the enemies part.... it felt a little too drawn out and like if they would just be honest and communicate with each other there would have been no drama. And I understand that it's done for the purposes of making the story interesting, but it's not my favorite method of creating tension.

Overall, I'll rate this one 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I would recommend it, especially if you enjoy enemies to lovers, reality TV, or the PNW great outdoors.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley, but the review is my own. This is the first book I’ve ready by Lisa Gayle; I picked up “Crush in the Cascades” because it sounded entertaining, and the book did not disappoint. The enemies to lovers set in an outdoors reality show competition worked well. I’m not usually a modern rom-com reader, as I find a number of the tropes to be tired or the comedy too over-the-top, but in this book you rooted for the main couple and there was enough complexity to the characters that it kept you on your toes. This was a solid read, and I look forward to the second I the series 3.5/5

Cooper’s entered this adventure-slash-romance reality show with the sole intention of winning the money to pay for medical treatment his best friend needs to survive. So when he’s paired with a well-dressed, manicured Amity who looks like she’s never taken a walk in the woods in her life, let alone survived in the wild, he’s frustrated beyond belief. But Amity isn’t all that she appears, and she has some hidden tricks up her sleeve. As the competition heats up, so does the tension between Amity and Cooper, as both of them realise they may have misjudged the other.

This was so fun! I just had a really good time reading it. It was a really action-packed book, especially for a romance. There was always something happening, including in the external plot, but it never detracted from the central romance. There were a lot of fun twists and turns and whilst some of it was predictable there were a few plot points I didn’t see coming.

I enjoyed the romantic side of this. Amity and Cooper had nice chemistry and I liked the dynamic between them. Amity was a great heroine: she was really funny and likeable and I loved her determination to prove everyone wrong. I will say I struggled more with Cooper; there were times when his judgemental attitude was hard to swallow and sometimes I didn’t like the way he was with Amity. A couple of his decisions, especially later on, didn’t really make sense to me. But I did like how into Amity he was. The way he kept on helping her despite his own goals was quite funny and cute. If I had one criticism of the romantic element it was that I think it moved too fast - they went from antagonism to being on the verge of I-love-yous way too quickly for me. But for what it was the romance was quite good.

I also liked the cast of characters in the background and I hope we get to see some of their stories in the future - this includes Miles, who I liked despite every awful little thing he did just for his sheer commitment to being the worst person.

I just really enjoyed reading this, particularly once it got into the second half. I did have issues aside from Cooper's character and the speed of the romance - there were some plotting choices I found questionable and some of the reactions of characters felt very over the top. But it was really entertaining and I’m looking forward to reading more from this series, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for an action-packed enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Death of a parent (in past), cancer (in past), serious heart condition (side character). on-page sex, semi-public sex, unprotected sex.

Thank you BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing an e-Arc for an honest review.

This was such a cute romance. I absolutely devoured it! I am always here for an enemies to lovers trope with the outdoors, competition, and underdogs as an added bonus. I loved the reality TV aspect of the story, it felt like I was watching it at home cheering on my favorite characters. I could see the competitions and the struggle each character went through and how they pushed through to overcome everything thrown their way. Especially Amity. She is such a great character that you just want to root for the entire book. I will say I was a bit irked with everyone underestimating her and Cooper’s treatment of her throughout. Honestly she should have made him grovel more but I’m not as nice as Amity. All in all really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read Hannah’s story!

4.5/5 stars for me!

What happens when a group of young adults are put into a competition that gives them a shot of riches and romance? Which do they choose: A 2 million dollar cash prize or romance? Practicality dictates money of course because romance won’t pay the bills, but is it really the case?

What I like:
🌲 Adventure packed story that features exciting and unique challenges for every characters in the story.

🌲Strong main character who knows her worth and what she wants and isn’t really scared to pursue them.

🌲You never really know what’s gonna happen. This book is such a tease. One time you see a predictable outcome, then how the events turn out would surprise you.

🌲Fast paced story. The story isn’t dragging and the events move very quickly so it wouldn’t be a bore.

🌲Main character was thought less and her potential was underestimated because she was viewed as the spoiled brat that came from money, which clearly she isn’t. Typical I - don’t-need-your-pity subplot.

🌲Characters have a great but not so sad backstories. Don’t get me wrong I know backstories are the great motivation for the characters to develop, but overly sad and tragic backstories seem to be too mainstream that it sometimes became distasteful. Here the author provided a motivation for the characters and effectively shows how it would be impactful in their decisions.

🌲 Silly but cute nicknames: princess, caveman, Hollywood, and cowboy, are just some of the nicknames that sticks to your mind as you read the story.

🌲Some smut scenes in the forest. How they escape the cameras and the crew from finding their scandalous rendezvous is something you need to discover by reading😉😉😉

Overall, the story might seem one of the enemies to lovers trope, but it actually offers something more than that. The adventure and challlenges the characters have to complete makes the story exciting and how the plot develops is good. Although their love and relationship seems fast, I guess that's what makes a romance story more exciting isnt it?

This book is about a group of people on a Reality TV adventure show. I loved the main character Amity. I like how the relationship grew over time and how they also how they misunderstood each other. It kept the book interesting.

A reality dating show in book form? Okay, you’ve got me intrigued! That was exactly what made me want to read this book. Add in the fact we get an enemies to lovers trope, I’m double excited!

Amity and Cooper are contestants on a wilderness/dating reality tv competition. At first glance they seem like complete opposites, and quite frankly don’t like one another. But as the competition heats up, so does their chemistry!

Okay, so I enjoyed this book, I really liked the competition aspect and thought it was really well done. I couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded. However, I gave this a 3.75 because it started out a little slow and some of the main characters chemistry seemed to develop with very little interactions.

I loved this! Yes, it’s an insta-love and yes, it’s a tiny bit unlikely. But I’m an outdoorsy kind of girl and a hopeless romantic.
My back story is that I instantly fell in love with my husband over 14 years ago , so I know its possible. We still run together and are section hikers-backpackers. We want to section hike the PCT. So you can understand how excited I was about this story.
My favorite Survivor episode was with Boston and Amber and I thought this was as precious to read as that. I understood all the emotions and competitions. I loved how they fell for each other. I even adored the side characters. If you have a big imagination for a fun, light enjoyable romance then you’ll love this.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.

I loved this title. Stereotypes and assumptions were part of the game they were playing. It reminded me of a mash-up between Survivor and The Amazing Race! I loved the characters and how we learned about more than just Cooper and Amity. It was a wonderful weekend read!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Very nice book, enjoyed reading it

A great read - the story of Amity and Eaton. They are in a reality TV outdoors show. They both have their own reason for being there, but will they share their stories? Their first impressions may lead them to judge the other incorrectly, but as they start to get to know and fall for each other. what will happen when they are pitted against each other and then the show ends?
Looking forward to reading the next book.

This book is such a cute strangers to lovers romance, although the miscommunication trope was slightly annoying all of the different challenges the characters had to work through and banter between all the contestant made up for it.

This book is a common with an enemies/strangers to lovers, forced proximity, with lots of tension and banter the Main characters

Crush in the cascades by Lisa S. Gayle had me hooked from the summary. I loved the idea of a couple falling in love while competing in a reality TV show. I really only have one complaint about this book, I didn’t like Eastons character very much. I found him to be very rude, sexist, and undeserving of everything Amity did for him. On that note I rate this book as a 4 out of 5 stars. It made me want to continue reading to see what the outcome would be!

A light novel, quick to read and with all the ingredients for a good laugh.

Who doesn't love a beautiful enemies-to-lovers?!
Easton and Amity are like the dog and the cat, but not everything is as it seems.

I really liked the concept of the reality show and the dynamics of the plot. There were some slower and slower moments, but overall it was a good read.
Ideal for those who want a light, fun, adventure-filled and very romantic read.

I received an ARC of this delightful book from Netgalley, thank you!

I didn’t go into this book with any expectations and the beginning was a little rough around the edges, not gonna lie. I disliked both main characters and it took me awhile to get into the whole reality TV atmosphere but let me tell you: it blew my mind!
I ended up rooting for not only the main couple but also the side characters! The race was super fun and I loved to be surprised by the challenges.
This is the perfect summer romance with fluffy plot and lovely characters, I can only recommend this.
And extra points for the incredible scenery of the book: The Pacific Central Trail, a beautiful setting with mountains, lakes, woods and fun racing. This is not your standard romance! I honestly cannot wait for the next book in this fun series!!

Crush in the Cascades is a tale of Man meets Woman while competing on an Action Adventure Reality Show.
Cooper and Amity have that chemistry from the beginning, with angst and tension throughout.

The character interaction lifts this book. You keep you wondering what will happen next and championing for your favorite characters to progress through the challenges and fall in love. I kept reading to see who would win each round and stay in the competition. 

An easy read, rom-com perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Emily Henry.

QOTD: Do you watch survival/fitness style reality shows?
My A: Yes! I grew up watching The Real World and then of course, Road Rules and The Challenge. Diem 😇 and CT will forever have my heart.
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Speaking to the people of Goodreads... DID YOU GUYS EVEN READ THE BOOK? I'm pretty positive half of the negative reviews on GR are just copy and paste from one single review. People too lazy to actually read the book themselves, because I can't think of any other reason this book has so many harsh reviews??? I loved this book!!
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A fun and flirty romance set in the mountains, where a group of people are being filmed for a reality TV show while fighting to win 2 million dollars. The ultimate Enemies to Lovers, this book is packed with witty banter, true enemies and a unique setting! It was clear that Lisa S. Gayle put a lot of work into the layout of the challenges and I lOVED rooting for the badass under dog, Amity. The MMC, Easton, seems to be getting the brunt of the hate from readers, and to that I say wahh. He's broody and grumpy and honestly just a guy. He's emotionally unaware but underneath he's such a softy and I was cheering him on while he suffered through getting his crap together.
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This was such a fun read and I'm looking forward to book #2 in The Race for Riches or Romance series!
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BLURB:
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!

This book was an extremely fun enemies to lovers romance with an enthralling plot. I loved the way the characters were developed throughout the book. This was such a quick read for me. I can not wait to see what the author does with the next installment in the series.

The Bachelor meets survivor in this heart pumping enemies to lovers romance. Easton practically lives outdoors. As he reluctantly joins a reality show in a desperate attempt to win a million dollars, Easton could not be more thrilled to discover it is a mountainous
adventure he is about to embark on. Amity is a city girl who lands herself in the wilderness in a floor length dress and heels. What ensues in the six week journey to follow is charming banter filled story, packed with heart.

Thank you NetGalley and Lisa S. Gayle for letting me read this ARC!

Crush in the Cascades is a fun and easy book to read. I really enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, so I highly recommend this title for lovers of contemporary romance.

Thank you to the publishers & NetGalley for the ARC!

I was really excited to read this one - not only for the beautiful cover, but because the premise of a reality-adventure show. I love a good enemies to lovers trope & I loved the adventure aspects of the story too.

This is definitely a fun book to read for summer (or anytime of the year really)!

This book was read thanks to NetGalley

They are part of a reality show, and at first they couldn't be more different, so they sort of become instant enemies, however I think that the author went a little too far with the enemies and make him kind of antagonize the lead character, due her being really girly, taking that, well the book is really enjoyable, and the idea of the reality show was amazing,

I enjoyed everything about this book, especially the concept, which I hadn't seen in any other book. I can't wait for the next series, and I want Easton Cooper in my life!!

This is a contemporary take on enemies to lovers and I think it’s brilliant!! Being contestants on a reality show is such a unique idea that I’d yet to read before this book! I found that the plot moved at a fast pace and really enjoyed the love story between Easton and Amity. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Amity and Cooper meet on a reality adventure-meets-romance television show that is set in the Pacific Northwest. While all camping together, single men and women get partnered for each outdoor challenge. Of course they initially dislike each other, and the banter between them was fun to read. I really enjoyed both Amity and Cooper's point of view of each other, the other contestants, and the show in general. The reality show premise was entertaining and kept me interested. The challenges led to Amity and Cooper discovering different things about each other. I liked how the ending was handled and it felt like it could have been a show that is currently on television. Overall, it was a fun book to read and I enjoyed it! Thank you to NetGalley and the BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this novel! Crush in the Cascades by Lisa Gayle is easily one of the most fun books I have read in quite some time. The story follows Easton Cooper and Amity Rose as they compete on the reality tv adventure competition, Race to Riches or Romance. We get to see their relationship evolve from enemies, to reluctant friends, to lovers.

The story is highly entertaining from the challenges, to pairings with other competitors, to the banter between Easton and Amity. Both characters are relatable and fun to read as they navigate their evolving relationship and the competition. I love that we also get to see the story from each of their perspectives as it gives us so much more insight into each characters feelings and motivations. The story is also emotional at times because of the stakes of the game and how certain decisions affect the relationship between the two main characters.

I have zero complaints about this book and cannot wait for the next book in the series. Gayle will definitely be an auto-buy author or me after this excellent read. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially readers of romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this romance story with all of the characters. The two main characters were Amity Rose and Easton Cooper.

Amity, Easton and others are in the mountains of Oregon to participate in a reality show that is being filmed. They all want a chance to win one million dollars. They all find out that they will be partner as one woman and one man. After they been partnered Easton not sure that the woman that been partnered will be able to win the first challenge.

This was a fun story to read. It has action, adventure,  and drama throughout. It has quite a bit of funny parts that had me giggling and laughing to.

I received a complimentary copy via Booksprout and also Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.

3.5 stars/5 (rounded to 4). This book had some of my favorite tropes, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, & grumpy/sunshine, but missed the mark on the actual romance for me.

I loved the premise, I've only read one other book with a reality TV plot so I thought this was really creative. It didn't feel like a book I've read a billon times before. Somehow, I couldn't connect with the characters and honestly, I wasn't rooting for them to end up together. The connection felt forced and pages-long inner monologue felt fake to me.

I did really enjoy this book, I loved the plot and the tropes included. I wanted to love it, especially since it was an ARC and I feel grateful to have been given a copy, but the romance felt so forced and I didn't find myself loving the characters.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This combines two of my favorite things- reality competition shows, and rom-coms.
I love the whole premise and would definitely watch the series. I DO wish that the "riches OR romance" played a bigger part in the competition itself, but I am a sucker for a happy ending and feel that everyone that deserved one, got it.
Except- can we get an update on Justin? Can he come back later in the series? Would have loved to get to know his story more.

I want to thank the author, Lisa S. Gayle, the publisher, BooksGoSocial, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to review this Romance book that will be published on May 2nd 2022. The review will be posted on my Instagram @disfordoom and on my Goodreads profile.

I am a super fun of romances and this one came to give me a brand new experience. Reading a book that has such a unique setting, really offered me a unique experience. Reality shows, especially the ones with the element of survival in tents and whatsoever, have always been my guilty pleasure.

Let me start with a feeling I got after finishing the book; Amity and Easton were two characters that I’ll miss after all. Cooper made it hard for me to sympathize with him, he was a bit dense toward the way he viewed Amity. I felt like most contestants were easy to label each other, and the two main characters were the ones who did it the most, which is something that annoyed me. Truth be told, that’s something we see a lot happening in reality tv, and I find it a bit sad. So, definitely, the book is very realistic as far as reality tv shows go.

What made me give 4 stars instead of 5 is the fact that I wanted to see more depth in the personality of both main characters and I would have liked to see more about Amity’s family.

Id definitely recommend this book to a friend, it’s such a fun read, it’s definitely worth their time,

a fun book with reality show mixed in. I was hooked on this from the start. good book and look forward to reading more from this series.

Enemies to lovers, this book isn't in my typical reads but I enjoyed it overall. Follow Easton Cooper and Amity Rose as they compete in a wilderness adventure reality show. The book is fun and entertaining and for me had the right amount of romance. I did find the dialogue a little cheesy at times which is why I didn't rate this one higher. Would make a fun summer read in the sunshine! I will recommend this book to others!

This is a contemporary take on enemies to lovers and I think it’s brilliant!! Being contestants on a reality show is such a unique idea that I’d yet to read before this book! I found that the plot moved at a fast pace and really enjoyed the love story between Easton and Amity. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

This story follows a group competing for one million dollars as they hike along the Pacific Northwest trails. Through a wide variety of competitions, pairs of contestants are eliminated until the remaining pair walks away with the prize. Specifically following the experiences of Amity, a California girl seeking adventure, and Easton, a professional mountain tour guide, this story is about their relationship as it develops from begrudging partners to falling in love. The concept for this story reminded me of "Survivor" and "The Hunger Games" but through a more light-hearted lens. When I read the description of this story, I was intrigued by this concept of an action-adventure competition because it's a refreshing setting for a love story. The descriptions of the scenery made me long to hike the PNW which would not typically be a trip that ranks highly on my bucket list. If I had the opportunity to participate in a competition like this, I would jump at the chance after reading this novel.

My one complaint about this book is that it missed an opportunity for a good slow burn. An enemies-to-lovers story with a good slow burn is my all-time favorite trope. Easton’s and Amity’s relationship began on rocky ground. But it doesn’t take much for them to become obsessed with each other, and I’m not sure that sharp turn from enemies fully made sense to me. I would love to see more competition between the two main characters because the premise of the book sets up for it perfectly. But on the other hand, the fast progression did help establish a more fully developed relationship in a limited number of pages.

I did enjoy how well their relationship developed. The author did a great job establishing the two characters as polar opposites, but still their relationship works. Their individual strengths and unique perspectives help make the other a stronger competitor. Throughout their journey, they struggle a lot with miscommunications and false assumptions. There were some moments that felt a little forced, but in general their progression towards understanding each other and helping the other succeed was enjoyable to read. I look forward to continuing this series in the future!

this was a really fun read that I enjoyed so much!! It felt different from other romcoms I’ve read but it was still a good read. I love the way Cooper and Amity meet and their banter😭 Amity’s character was intriguing to get to know and reading her pov was interesting just like Cooper’s. They have great chemistry and I enjoyed their moments together.

This is my first read by this author and I can’t wait to get to the other books!

Absolutely loved this fun, quick read! I read a lot of rom-coms, but enjoyed how this was written a little differently in the third person point of view. The story is about a group of people on a reality TV show that resembles both the Amazing Race and Survivor, with a romantic twist added in. I love enemies to lover novels and this did not disappoint between the humor, romance, and adventure it described. I feel like it got a tad repetitive, with the love interests thoughts being stated in the same way over and over. I also wish the burn had been a little slower, and the main characters relationship progressed a little too fast for it to be believable. It also introduced a lot of secondary characters at once and I had trouble remembering who was who. Also, I disagree with the other reviews that say the male romantic interest was too much of a jerk. If you’re on a reality TV show trying to win money, you aren’t going to be nice to everyone you meet!!
It was still a very fun, unique romantic book with the reality TV show angle and I would recommend it!

Spice level 🌶🌶 🌶🌶/5 pretty spicy! Not appropriate for teens to read.
Language/cussing level: 🤐🤐/5 mild cussing in my opinion, there were a lot of instances where a cuss word is implied but not said

“Could you hate someone after only hearing them say a handful of words?”

I was looking for something fun and lighthearted to read when I came across this one. The premise of an outdoor adventure type reality show with the athletic alpha male and non outdoorsy female was exactly what I was looking for. I don’t mind the odd reality show binge. That’s right I’ll admit to it and own it.

The reality show in question is called The Race for Riches or Romance, and I have to admit if it was a real show I’d watch it 😂 The story alternates between Amity and Cooper which definitely kept things interesting. I often found myself reading that little bit extra just so I could get through whatever challenge they were doing so I could learn the outcome before I stopped reading.

Both main characters kept me interested and their banter had me smiling and laughing constantly. This was a really enjoyable read and was a great book to pass some time with. I’ll admit that it lost me a little bit around 3/4 of the way in but then came back strong towards the end. After that final page I think I’ll definitely be checking out the next book in the series too.

I love reading books about dating and reality shows. I don’t know why, but I find them fascinating! Crush in the Cascades combines a dating show with an adventure show, kind of like I’m a Celeb. The characters compete in couples, but those who come first in individual challenges can choose to stick or have a new partner, which of course creates drama!

‘All that matters to me is that I’m with you.’

Easton and Amity don’t make great first impressions on each other, and their relationship hits the rocks quite a few times. This book is an enemies-to-lovers romance, and I ate it up! There was a bit of miscommunication but it was solved quickly. The plot was fast-paced and I found myself rooting for this couple to win the competition. I recommend if you love reality shows and romance!

Tropes in this book which I loved:
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Competing while on reality TV
✨Forced proximity
✨Opposites attract
✨Rom-com

Listen I seriously enjoyed this opposites attract, Easton and Amity are competing on a reality TV show together. Easton is this very chilled layback, rugged outdoors manly man and Amity is the type of girl that shows up to a survival completion in a dress. These two initially start as enemies, but the banter and angst between them was absolute hilarious and swoon-worthy in the end.

This book was a lot of fun, quick and highly entertaining.
I am excited to read about Easton’s sisters in the books to come🥰

Je vous avouerai que j'ai craqué sur la couverture et l'intrigue m'a ensuite intriguée. Logique non! J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture en compagnie de Cooper et Amity. J'ai aimé le côté original du récit et cet enemies to lovers a su me conquérir.

Cooper Easton est notre héros de 28 ans. Il a décidé de s'inscrire à cette émission de TV réalité avec un but bien précis et bien noble. Pourtant, quand nous le verrons à l'écran, nous changerons d'avis à son sujet car son entrée en matière ne sera pas des plus douces. Cooper ne sera pas tendre avec notre héroïne et si nous savons qu'il a des circonstances atténuantes, nous ne pourrons pas tout excuse. Il sera ancré dans ses préjugés et ne cherchera pas à creuser et voir ce qui se cachent sous les apparences. Les épreuves du cette émission lui mettront les nerfs à vif mais il se pourrait aussi qu'il soit face à un dilemme. On va donc apprendre à le connaître et chercher à comprendre ses motivations. Les alliances sont de mises dans ce genre de jeu mais il devra faire attention car le moindre faux pas pourrait lui coûter cher. Il sait certes manier une boussole comme personne et il se débrouille parfaitement dans un milieu sauvage mais il ne maîtrise pas les codes de la vie sociale ou même des relations. A la clé de cette émission: l'amour ou un million de dollars. Quel choix fera-t-il?

Amity Rose est une jeune femme de 25 ans qui ne s'est jamais fait des amies. Elle n'a pas eu une vie facile et pourtant, elle ne se plaint jamais. Elle aussi a envie de remporter le trophée et bien entendu l'argent mais nous n'avons pas au départ de précisions sur ses intentions. Elle dégage une image faussée d'elle même, ce qui conduira à des jugements hâtifs mais douloureux. La première épreuve donnera le ton mais il est évident qu'elle saura nous surprendre plus d'une fois. Avec les nombreux changements de règles, nous la verrons donc faire équipe avec les différents candidats. Si nous avons envie de baffer Miles, lui au moins sera clair dans son jeu. Elle devra donc faire attention aux alliances qu'elle va former et aussi aux sentiments qu'elle pourrait développer. Cette émission montrera les vrais visages des gens et nous espérons qu'elle s'en sortira indemne. Fera-telle les bons choix? Ne devrait-elle pas plus penser à elle?

Bref, je suis contente d'avoir découvert cette romance qui sera vraiment sympathique à lire. L'autrice nous offre un enemies to lovers dans un contexte différent des comédies romantiques habituelles et elle tire donc son épingle du jeu.

I truly partook in this book . In the event that you honestly love carefree sentiment, this is an ideal book for you. We have our testy activity man brought together with an alleged spoilt rich young lady, put together on an unscripted television program. The cameras follow everything they might do, including comical difficulties they need to confront. The book snared drive straight in.

5 stars!

I picked up Crush in the Cascades by Lisa S Gayle thinking it looked kind of cute. So wrong. I was so so wrong. I can’t get over how much I loved this book. It’s romance with action! And for the record, I don’t watch any reality TV shows, but I’d totally watch the one described in this book.

Amity and Cooper are both contestants in an outdoors, fitness, adventure reality TV show. The winning team wins $2 million - `$1M for each member of the team. First impressions weigh heavily on all the contestants as they size each other up eventually forming alliances along the way.

As the challenges increase in intensity (though they all seemed rather intense to me!), and whether paired up with each other or not, Amity and Cooper start falling for each other. As they begin to open up, they learn the real reasons behind why they entered the contest.

As for the ending. Sigh. All the feels!

Side notes:

* I love that we got to know a handful of characters. I hope we’ll hear more from some of them in the sequel.
* Oh yeah - did I mention this is totally set up for a sequel?
* Are we going to get any sort of backstory on Goatee Man? No really. I’ve gotta know.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I throughly enjoyed this novel. In fact, it’s one of the few lately that has held my attention throughout the entire story. While I could see a few things coming, I never felt like rushing though it. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

This was a fun, back and forth contemporary romance! I enjoyed both of the characters personalities and liked them together as a couple. The book was well paced and kept my attention.

Story of the book-

Everything, except for a shot at a million dollars, is for Easton Cooper. He will even participate in a ridiculous action-adventure reality program because he needs money so badly, even though he detests reality TV. By chance, he finds himself in a series of outdoor trials in the Oregon Cascade Mountains, right where he belongs. But there’s a catch: his companion, a tanned, sexy, and out-of-place California lady in heels and a formal dress in the middle of freaking nowhere, will not be able to defeat him! He’s looking across the meadow at her. even though he had to lug her over the finish line.

Amity Rose yearns for a journey. Nobody informed her that “dress correctly” meant donning rugged mountaineering gear. She arrived at the opening scene in high heels and a gorgeous outfit. She despises insects, the cold, tents, campfires, and shall I go on? All the competitors now view her as a spoiled princess, and to make matters worse, she was paired with the worst possible contestant: a gangly, arrogant mountain trail guide. Did the drama’s romance subplot simply have been added by the directors? Indeed, why not? She could win something more precious than cash when she finishes the race. However, not with him!

My review-

Full-length contemporary romance Crush in the Cascades is a stand-alone book. A fast-paced, action-packed story is woven together with an intense, enemies-to-lovers romance. Although I would have loved to read more about Bria, who was also an important part of the fantastic tale, the characters were fantastic, and Lisa Gayle managed to paint a superb picture of their origins throughout the book. I suggest it to anyone who enjoys romcoms or contemporary romance since it was a novel idea for a book. Amity, the lead character, was fantastic. I loved how they misunderstood one another and how their connection developed over time. It maintained the book’s attention.

It’s enjoyable, develops quickly, pays exactly the appropriate amount of attention to detail, and elicits a range of feelings in the reader. I thought the setting of this story—a traditional “enemies-to-lovers” tale—to be quite engaging and creative. The two characters’ connection works even though the author made a superb job of emphasizing their differences. Each makes the other a stronger rival thanks to their complementary skills and distinctive viewpoints. They encounter several difficulties with misunderstandings and incorrect presumptions along the way. Although some of the scenes seemed a little forced, overall it was interesting to read about how they came to understand and support one another.

Even though there were many characters, they were all wonderful. It was imaginative, fast-paced, and quite distinctive. Overall, I thought this was a good read, especially if you enjoy outdoor-themed reality TV shows. I enjoy the supporting characters since they are all recognizable by their names and characteristics. Aha, her complete justification is now clear, and she must inform her partner. Sincerely, the beginning of a relationship is crazy and mentally chaotic. But reading it is certainly a delight. I’m eager to read more in this series and would suggest it to anybody searching for an exciting, opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers story. This is a winner and a great retreat since it’s enjoyable, amusing, and lovely.

I received this book for free for an honest review.

So fun and sexy. Wonderful read and great for my camping trip. So happy with it.

It's been a while since I read a good romcom. I love enemies to lovers. Even tho it was difficult for me to connect with the characters, it was entertaining.

3.5 stars. This is a rom-com set in a "reality" competition show. Even though I steer clear of that genre of TV, I had a good time with this book! Amity and Easton are contestants, and they definitely don't get off to a good start. As the game challenges progress, competition strategies and team alliances clash with their growing attraction to each other. The problem is that both of them make assumptions about the other that might stand in the way of their romance. As with lots of books, it's not always realistic, but I don't mind that at all. The mountain adventures that were part of the competition were described very well and were really fun to read about. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read this book.

Easton Cooper you have my mf heart. My new favorite romcom couple. I adored this book. I physically could not put it down. This one is going to be big.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Crush in the Cascades seemed a little familiar to me. Maybe it's because of the whole game show aspect and how I'm knee deep into Survivor. Either way, I was here for it all because of Easton and Amity. Now at first, they were definitely not into each other once they started speaking that is. Then the challenge started to happen, and they were getting closer and closer to one another.

Sure, they bickered like crazy but damn that is my love language. Sarcasm and bantering - what a lovely duo to fall in love with. As for reality tv, eh, it was okay competition wise. I liked seeing them interacting with other contestants, but I was mostly here for their bantering. I'll admit, though, I wasn't a huge fan of everyone assuming the worst about someone or how they lived their lives before coming on the show to compete.

In a way, it worked out though because these two truly did fall for each other. Sure, Cooper was a douche canoe in the beginning, but he came around...eventually. Definitely excited for his sister to compete next. No idea who could be her potential love interest but I'm hoping for some great bantering!

A Massive Thank You to the Author, the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book prior to its release date.

This was so cute. I didn’t love the male main character, but otherwise I was obsessed. The premise reminded me of Happiness for beginners meets reality tv and I wasn’t disappointed.

The cover really drew me in and I am so glad because the storyline was so good! I'll definitely be reading more by Gayle in the future.

This review is kinda late, like more than a year, but big thanks to NetGalley for giving me an early copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book was super easy to read. Easton and Amity are cute, they start as enemies and become lovers, kind of like a fun romantic comedy( I’m not a big fan of insta-love but ok). There are lots of mix-ups that add tension as their connection grows. It's really fun and a bit silly,

This is so good!
This was a easy and fun read it took me a while to read it beacuse I totally forgot I asked for it. The idea of both characters working togheter to win a TV reality show have hooked.Their story was sweet but so insta love but nothing else it have me kicking my feet in the air with all their interactions,

Almost didn’t finish, but I am glad I did. It was a cute classic enemies to lovers book. The classic bickering banter in the beginning — If you can make me hate a character and then make me love them by the end chefs kiss. It was give or take with the other contestants though.

Okay first I have to say I loved the names Easton and Amity!

The setting was also so fun! I love a good mountain setting. The enemies to lovers theme was ripe for the picking for this one! Might be one of my favorite tropes.
Amity was such a fun character too and I really loved her!


The supporting characters were also well developed and added a fun bonus to the story.

This book was so unique! The banter and sarcasm made the main characters so much fun to read about them falling in love!

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!