Definitely suspenseful, some romance.

First, I admit that I didn’t read the first book in the series, and that could be why this book didn’t flow for me. There were a lot of references to Chiksook and some drama that happened there, and a breakup between Dean and Fiona, but I prefer for sequels to at least give the reader a refresher that ties the prior book to the present book, especially if pub dates are a ways apart.

Second, I couldn’t get connected with Fiona. She is portrayed as renowned in her field, yet she didn’t project the image.

I think if the reader read the first book, they will be able to get past my issues and enjoy the story. Ruby Island sounds like a beautiful locale, rich with history.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC, but my opinions are my own.

3.5*

It’s no secret that I am an unabashed Rachel Grant fan. It’s also no secret that the Fiona Carver series hasn’t been my favourite of Ms. Grant’s extensive list, though I liked CRASH SITE more than its predecessor– largely because I haven’t been a big fan of either protagonist. In the first novel, male protagonist/love interest Dean Slater, wildlife photographer extraordinaire and man too brokenhearted by the demise of true love to ever love again, is an absolute wanker whose insistence in being a horndog but never letting his heart get involved again grated on my every nerve from about a quarter of the first book on through to the last few pages of CRASH SITE, the second book. I love me a broken hero, but the second-chance romance trope is far from my favourite, and with Dean it felt more like (grating) emotional cowardice than anything else. Fiona has the makings of a solid character– strong, compassionate, delightfully nerdy (I’m a trained scientist as well), and surprisingly sensual– but her helpless pining for an emotionally unavailable wanker like Dean for the bulk of two books was a bit of a downer for me. At least make him grovel, girl! Uneven and somewhat uncompelling (to me) characters aside, CRASH SITE is chock-full of Ms. Grant’s characteristic high-stakes action and taut (but educational) writing, so it makes for a pulse-pounding and educational read. Curious to see what comes next for these two given the… somewhat abrupt… end.

A dream assignment on a private Caribbean Island attracts the attention of archaeologist Fiona Carver and wildlife photographer Dean Slater. Fiona arrives planning to map the rainforest and explore the 17th-century fort and caves. Dean and Fiona have unfinished issues from book 1 and neither is aware that the other has agreed to this assignment. Once the initial shock at seeing each other wears off, they agree to work together and put the past behind them. Unfortunately, someone doesn’t want them on Ruby Island and goes to great lengths to force them to leave.

The love triangle and relationship tension that Grant creates is magnificent. At times I felt awkward just reading the narrative….as though I was there experiencing firsthand the tension between the characters. This is a good thing as not many authors achieve this! The author's sense of place and ability to describe the setting is stellar. I could place myself on Ruby Island. The mystery was nail-biting and propelled the novel. I also loved that this was an intelligent novel, stuffed with lots of new things to learn about archaeology and history….until the sex scenes happened…and then it went downhill. Unfortunately, I was reading for the adventure and the mystery. The sex and the choice of words used just cheapened the novel. I forced myself to finish reading.

If an open door ‘romance’ is your thing, this one’s steamy. Sadly, I won’t be reaching for the remainder of the series.

I was gifted this advance copy by Rachel Grant, Montlake, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

After a slow beginning, this book really rocked. I felt I was ON a private island in the Caribbean. The writing was spot on and the suspense was real.

Danger, suspense, murder, and betrayal are all here. The spectacular Caribbean backdrop with a possible archeological discovery, long ago infatuation, and the possibility of a real relationship make this book a romantic suspense with many other elements.

I really struggled getting into this book. The main characters kept referring to something that had happened to them in the past. That really took me out of the book. I'm glad I kept at it. The ending was excellent.

I didn't realize until about 1/3 into the book this was the SECOND IN THE SERIES!! I wish I would have known that prior to requesting this book from NetGalley. Perhaps a bit of backstory in the guise of a prologue, to set up the relationships in this book would help.

FIRST IMPRESSION:
Ever since I read Dangerous Ground, book one of the Fiona Carver series, I have been dying to read this book. I even preordered this book but my impatience got the better of me when I noticed the review copy up on NetGalley, so here we are!

THE STORY:
Crash Site picks up nine months after the events of Dangerous Ground, with Fiona Carver on assignment on Ruby Island in the Caribbean. She’s accompanied by a group including her friend Sadie and they have been brought in by the island’s owner, Josh, a buddy of Fiona’s from field school, to carry out a documentary of the historical island.

In the midst of their excursion, they are joined by the documentary film crew and the wildlife photographer, who turns out to be Dean Slater, to Fiona’s shocked surprise. But romantic tensions aside, strange things start happening during their documentary-making process, like a helicopter that almost takes out Dean and mysterious people on the island who don’t seem to be happy about a documentary happening. Soon Fiona and Dean are once again entangled in a life-or-death island stay that might endanger the whole crew.

THE GOOD BITS:
-The latter half of the story was what really worked for me. The story really picked up and the action and suspense really gave me book one vibes! I loved it!
-I really liked the story behind the suspicious events that plague the documentary crew. It was believable and I almost suspected it too but I still liked the dynamics that this hidden plot brought to the story.
-Fiona was great as a character here! I really loved her in book one because of her level-headedness and her bravery, and Crash Site really showed her at her best.
-Fiona and Dean had a great dynamic, despite the status of their relationship. I loved seeing them as friends or whatever they were at different stages of the book.
-I really liked how the author teased some romance for Dylan, Dean’s twin brother, as well! This guy is such a cinnamon roll and deserves so much! Maybe he gets a series too? I would totally grab it!

THE NOT-SO-GOOD BITS:
-The pace of the story was a bit haphazard. The story starts off really strong with some twists and death-defying stunts but then the story really slows down. I was almost bored reading the middle one-third of the book.
-The passages on the archaeology and other science-y stuff got really dense at some points. I honestly couldn’t understand it compared to how I actually enjoyed the details in the first book.
-The ending was way too predictable and brisk to me. I loved everything that happened during the intense scenes and once the ending came around, I was bored because I could easily predict what was going to happen.
-I was so annoyed at the romance, especially Dean! This boy took so long to make up his mind and when he did, it felt a bit anticlimactic? Even the way their story as a couple ended left me confused, because we didn’t really see much of what they are like together at all.

FINAL VERDICT:
Crash Site was an okay sequel to Dangerous Ground. There was a lot less suspense and action and more of the mysterious aspect. The writing put me off a bit at certain points and the romance did not really live up to my expectations. However, I loved seeing the old characters again and that was what really fueled my love for this series.

Archeologist Fiona Carver lands a dream job on a private Caribbean Island to conduct an archaeological inventory, exploring and mapping the lush rain forest, caves and 17th century star fort that comes complete with legends of hidden Spanish gold. Unbeknownst to Fiona, wildlife photographer Dean Slater has also been hired and she begins to feel manipulated for the cameras that are recording the expedition. A helicopter crash, a blown up boat and missing guests generate an underlying impression of intrigue and danger. Fiona and Dean have a complex relationship. Dean lost his wife at a young age and vows never to risk his heart to that extent again but he is inexplicably drawn to Fiona but tells her he cannot commit to a relationship. They must depend on each other to stay safe but we don't know how this will affect their relationship.
Grant does a wonderful job of describing the environment surrounding the characters. You can almost smell the smoke from the fire and feel the furtive heat and humidity of the rainforest. As always, her research is complete and she shares the facts with you while still immersing you in the story. It is a great mix of adventure, suspense and romance.

I NEED MORE FIONA + DEAN!

I have gotten through both Dangerous Ground and now Crash Site in around 5 days combined. I couldn't put down the first and similarly I could not put down this one.

Crash Site picks up nine months after we leave the main characters who spent their time in different ways, grappling with the events from Chiksook Island. Fiona has accepted a private job on Ruby Island to complete a survey for Jude Reynolds, her former schoolmate and the man she went on a date with that was alluded to in Dangerous Ground. Accompanying Fiona are some of her friends, Chad and Sadie, and surprisingly Dean Slater. Neither Fiona nor Dean know the other will be joining the island for the survey so it was a surprise to both of them.

Things are rocky straight from the get-go when the helicopter carrying some of the surveyors to the island crashes. It is one event after another which begs the question why did they not just leave (I sure would have), but Fiona is determined to see this through and Dean will not leave without her.

I found the development of the thriller part of this book slower than Dangerous Ground, but the romantic side picked up when needed to push the story along. I truly hope there will be more from the series because I need Dean and Fiona to get the chance they deserve!

One thing I love about this series has been the details about archeology. It really paints such a vivid picture of everything!

This was more action-packed than even the first book, which is saying something! I loved the juxtaposition of the rainforest and freezing Alaska. It gave this a distinct flavor.

I love Fiona and Dean together, and feel like this really did justice to their story. Their relationship feels very natural and real, and is highlighted without distracting from the suspense or being too melodramatic. I could have used more Dylan, though! Hoping he gets his own story!

4 Stars
3 Heat

I received Crash Site by Rachel Grant for free through Netflix in exchange for an honest review. I had already red Dangerous Ground by Rachel Grant and had loved that book. It kept me up at night to finish it. I could not wait to read the next in the series (once I realized that it would be a series.) Imagine my surprise to find that the book was available on Netgalley! I immediately downloaded it and started reading it the next day. It was a great sequel to the first book in the series and I sincerely hope that there are more. It was the perfect mix of adventure, mystery, and romance.

Crash Site, started the book out with exciting suspense and ended that way also. Fiona and Dean got a second chance at discovering love. Dean has reasons why he's against that. Fiona is aware of the reason and is able to give him his space to a degree. Time is not on their side though. A lot happened in a short amount of time that this book covers, which makes this book a page turner for sure.

Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for an ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

I read the first book Dangerous Ground, and was keen to be reunited with Fiona & Dean, mainly to find out how their romance would play out this time.

There is plenty of suspense and mystery but once again not enough romance.

I love the descriptions of the exotic locations. However the see saw emotions and the constant will-they-won't-they dragged on till the very end. Great suspense, dull romance.

This book packs a punch. It’s just the right amount of romance with mystery and adventure thrown in. Fiona and Dean, the two main characters run into each other on an island dig where Fiona is the archeologist and Dean is the photographer. I could tell these two had history and realized pretty quickly after starting the story it’s not the first book. That being said, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. I never felt like I was missing information, if anything I want to go pick up the first book. The beginning is a bit of a slow start, but the events that unfold carry your attention and the pace really picked up. Filled with history and adventure I was absorbed by the time I was halfway in, and that continue all the way to the very last page. Now I’m off to read book one. Highly recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book,it was a good continuation of the first one and the relationships from that book. I usually want an HEA at end of each book but this one of worth the wait. I liked that the characters had honest discussions .
The mystery in the book was also interesting, it was difficult to guess who the bad guy was but Ms Grant still held my interest all thru the book.

I read an ARC of the first Fiona Carver book and ultimately rated it three stars (after being a solid five stars for the suspense) because of how it left things hanging between Fiona and Dean. When I had the opportunity to read book 2, I was both thrilled and wary. Would I get the HEA that eluded me at the end of book 1? To that end, it stayed on my Netgalley bookshelf for longer than it deserved while I mustered up the courage to give it a chance. I'm glad I did.

First off, while the book can be read as a standalone, it is really a better novel when read soon after the first. Even having read the first novel, the several months (and dozens of novels) between reading Dangerous Ground and Crash Site meant that I forgot a lot of details that would have enhanced my enjoyment of Crash Site. In short, do read the books as a pair.

Government archaeologist Fiona Carver has taken a leave of absence to work on a project on Ruby Island, a private Caribbean retreat leased by an old friend(ish). She and her team are unexpectedly joined by Dean Slater, National Geo wildlife photographer extraordinare. He's also Fiona's disaster buddy and near fling from Chiksook and someone Fi hasn't seen in nine months. She's both elated and devastated to see him.

Dean is equally ecstatic to see Fiona because he thinks she's one of the most amazing and wonderful people in the world. Unfortunately, he believes he buried his heart more than a decade earlier when his wife died after a two-year illness, and he has decided that he never wants to extend his heart to another woman again. It's obvious to everyone that he already has extended his heart to Fiona, so his clinging to the past is annoying (I've always hated the the "I can't love again" trope).

Anyway, things happen, and once again Fiona and Dean find themselves depending on each other as they fight their way through the rainforest and jungle, both running away from and venturing toward danger depending on the hour. It's pretty clear that both will survive. What we don't know is what the collateral damage will be and what their relationship will look like on the other side.

Between the two books, Dangerous Ground is a much more exciting one. Dean and Fiona are new to each other, and they really are on their own trying to survive in the frozen and inhospitable tundra. Here on Ruby Island, their digs are luxurious and food is plentiful (most of the time). There is definitely danger from the people on the island, but otherwise, there's not a lot of danger from their surroundings. Their forays out into the rainforest and jungle are not easy of course, but you don't get the sense that the land is going to swallow them whole. Still, though the book seems slow in the beginning the adventure and suspense eventually kicks in and the second half of the book is a fun and fast read.

The book is parenthetically referred to as Fiona Carver #2. Series books typically come in three or more, and I'm wondering if we'll get to enjoy more of Fiona and Dean's adventures together (desert? savanna? concrete jungle?). There are also secondary characters who deserve time in the spotlight. If a book 3 or a spinoff makes an appearance, I'm all in.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

I was intrigued to read Crash Site upon seeing that it was following archaeologists, nature photographers and other aspects that I am always fascinated to read about. It was nice to have thrills and a love story with archaeology as the backdrop.

What I did not realize until now that I am reading other reviews is that there was a first book, Dangerous Grounds! I would definitely read that first. Having not read it, I opened up with a huge disconnect between our lead character Fiona. I did not start off liking her, as I did not have the background on some of the relationships and feelings that tell her tale. A lot of the story is based on her experience in the first book on Chiksook -- not knowing that, I thought Chiksook was an intentionally lingering question that I would get more answers on as the book went on. Instead, I should have already known about it going in, because this story did not fill in the blanks sufficiently for me.

The second half of the book really picks up speed, as Fiona and Dean (who I now know we met in Book 1) begin to see that things are not adding up on the scenic Ruby Island that they have been sent to explore. The build up is slow and long however to get there. Once we did (well into the second half) the speed was much more enjoyable, and the suspense more satisfying.

If you are interested in a love story that has an exciting backdrop of archaeology and thrills in nature, then I would look into starting this series. However, starting at the second book was not a good place to start.

Thank you Montlake and #NetGalley from the complimentary copy of #CrashSite in exchange for an honest review.

Crash Site by Rachel Caine a thrilling five-star read. This is number two in the Fiona Carver series, and I have loved them both, I will be honest though, I didn’t love the first half of this story, it felt a little over long and jumped in places, but the second half made up for the whole thing. The second half had me gripping my seat and reading ignoring everything else in my life, much like the first story. I loved the details, the descriptions of the island, I could smell the smoke and fell the jungle encompassing me, that is what made this five-star worthy house.

The book opens with Fiona on Ruby Island to film an archeological dig. Dean also arrives on the island in a surprise to the two of them. They have chemistry and an unifinished something from the previous book. Fiona is so concerned that she was not told about Dean’s being there so the camera could catch their reaction. Okay, so here at the beginning I was already like - why do you think you are so important that they want to film your reaction to seeing Dean. I was annoyed because the beginning seemed to harp on this.

I found Fiona annoying, which made it really hard to read. Not for me.

Thank you #NetGalley from the complimentary copy of #CrashSite in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 1/4/2022

Amazing. Rachel Grant has written a top notch thriller - Fiona and Dean are reunited on a tropical island, but danger lurks close by. The storyline moved very quickly, the characters were well developed, and the scenes were steamy in every way. Action-packed, romantic thriller; who could want anything more.

A great follow-up to Grant's first book in the series. I'm definitely invested in an ongoing series with this heroine and her hero. TBoth MCs have great backstories to really push them forward with ongoing in their own personal journies while also creating learnings and roadblocks for the relationship between the two of them.

Unlike the In Death series, this couple definitely feels more balanced in what they need to overcome and their resources and fears. - I'm a huge In Death fan, but Grant's setup for a long-term series shines through here in a world I'd be fascinated to visit with them.

A must read...after you read book 1. Back to back these two for a great weekend!

Also, bring on the secondary romances!!!! I'm excited to watch this bloom too.

Jan 4..2022
CRASH SITE
Rachel Grant
Following her book Dangerous Ground with archaeologist Fiona Carver
Comes to Ruby Island in Caribbean a billionaire private grounds.
To document the history and habitants of the island.
Dean was coming as a photographer unknown that Fiona was also here.
There last parting nine months wasn’t the best.
She secretly loved him, he doesn’t do relationships.
Finding with his arrival that danger has also.come to Ruby Island.
Someone determined to kill the project.
Suspense and romance, with adventure of twists and turns.
Given ARC for Net Galley and Montlake for my voluntary review and my honest opinion