Thank you netgalley for the eARC. I was pleasantly surprised at how much correct information about Alaska and Naknek was in this book. I've had bad experiences in the past with romances set in Alaska that are very ridiculous. For example, a different book I read has a character from Juneau say that he'll drive up to Fairbanks and pick up his friend if her flight gets canceled. If you know anything about Alaska you know why that was ridiculous!

Anyway, this was a cute romance about a scientist and a fisherman and how the community struggled to trust the scientist. I thought the issues presented were well done. There were some clichés about hot fisherman and their connection to the sea, but hey, it's a romance so that's forgivable!

I requested this book because it reminded me of one of my favorite Hallmark movies, "A Splash of Love". I am very happy to report that these vibes were definitely met. I had so much fun reading this. It's adorable and immediately draws the reader into the story.

I loved Lillian. She's an L.A. scientist sent to Alaska to study salmon. She's not exactly welcomed by the locals when she arrives, except for Matt. Matt offers to help Lillian by taking her out on his boat. Hence they end up spending a lot of time together. I really enjoyed this fish out of water (ha!) story. It felt realistic. Plus the romance was a cute slow burn. I really liked the chemistry they had and thought the romance was developed well. Their connection felt genuine. I simply just found Lillian and Matt adorable!

I also enjoyed the Alaska setting. I have never been but it was so cool to see a different world and feel immersed in it. I thought the descriptions were well written.

A great romance that will make you swoon! Highly recommend if you like small town romances.

this was a different setting for a book which i liked. so it made the plot points and situations all new and fresh too. these two are very relatable characters. both set in their ways, but in different ways. and like with all things they dont want to change. its easier not to right? often feels safer? until it doesnt. but when you start to feel closer to someone. when having them in your day feels better then not. then you realize that being with someone takes works both together and on yourself. and more than anything it take bravery to try something new that works for both of you and sometimes doesnt but even then, being together is simply better than not.

This book offers a breezy, heartwarming escape, filled with witty banter, endearing mishaps, and just enough chemistry to keep the pages turning. The love interest is suitably charming, with enough depth to make their dynamic engaging, even if some of their conflicts feel a bit predictable.

While the book excels in humor and sweet moments, the protagonist’s personal growth occasionally takes a backseat to the romantic plot. A deeper exploration of their emotional journey could have added more weight to their happily-ever-after.

That said, the supporting cast adds plenty of fun, and the romantic tension is well-paced, making it easy to root for the central couple. The writing is light and engaging, perfect for readers looking for a feel-good story with a few laughs along the way. If you don’t mind a little predictability and enjoy banter-filled romance, this book is a charming pick—just don’t expect too much introspection between the meet-cutes and grand gestures.

A great read, the story of Lillian and Matthew. She is in Alaska for research into dwindling fish populations and he is a fisherman that does no want her to change their way of life. I liked the setting, and the remoteness of the place. The dual point of view was also great to have.

Lillian is sent to a tiny Alaska town to study the declining salmon population. the town s not happy she s there, but she makes fiends with fisherman Matthew.

Thank you Net galley for the ARC! I'm speechless!!!! This book was soooo good.
I requested it initially because something about the cover drew me in and just felt real, And that's exactly what this story ended up being. This story follows Lillian who is a scientist in
L.A at a place called PMI ( pacific marine institute) when she gets sent on a job to a small fishing town in Alaska (Naknek) to collect samples and research why the coho salmon population is dying. From the moment she gets to town she is basically hated by everyone. Nobody wanted a scientist/ government coming in and restricting the fishing community.
Everyone is being so hateful and unhelpful except our mmc matt who immediately we can just tell he has the biggest, kindest heart. Matt offers to take Lillian around to different fishing towns and take her out on his boat and they end up spending so much time together that they develop this beautiful romance while literally fighting for the right to stay together against the whole towns wishes.
This story blew me away! It was so well written and real, it just felt like Lillian and Matt were to real people dealing with real problems. I loved it so much and definitely think this deserves to be hyped up.

4.5 stars

I liked the story. Our heroine is a climate scientist who is sent to Alaska. (Though IMO she is a bit preachy)
Our hero is part of the fishing community affected by the reduction in stocks of fish. Lillian is there to discovery why stocks are reducing. This book was down on the erotica list as well as the romance but though it could be thought as romantic any activity is behind doors.
The indigineous folk are highlighted as well as Mathew's drunken father and angry brother. It was faily obvious to me who Gwen's love interest would turn out to be...The authour is new to me, I might look for her books in the future. It was interesting to read about life in the artic circle.

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