Colors of the Wild by Cindy Ras: Book Review (ARC)

Details

• Genre: Contemporary romance with some mystery/suspense elements
• Series: No
• Length: 376 pages (EPUB)
• Publication Date: June 26, 2026

Tropes

• Forced proximity
• Grumpy + sunshine

My Rating

Book Description

“Hiking was supposed to make her bolder, not a witness to a crime.

Fashionista Willow Sinclair is the black sheep in a family of beige-clad, athletically inclined overachievers. Before changing her career path for the fourth time, she’ll need to ditch her serial quitter reputation by proving she’s more than just a flaky influencer.

Swapping her designer tote for a hiking backpack, Willow embarks on the Sinclair family rite of passage—a grueling trek through the Grand Canyon. But her plans take a sharp turn after she unwittingly disrupts a smuggling operation and crashes into Jack, the rugged park ranger who finds her looking more like a damsel in distress than a viable suspect.

Willow is determined to complete the hike, though it seems impossible without accepting Jack’s help at every turn. As they piece together a crime and navigate through perilous trails, Willow begins chipping away at Jack’s rough exterior, and suddenly, there’s a whole lot more than her reputation on the line…”

— from Goodreads

My Review

She’s finishing this hike, even if it kills her…

The FMC Willow is passionate about fashion and adores colors, which doesn’t exactly mix with her athletics-obsessed family.

Seeing how left out and looked down on Willow felt made me sympathize with her almost instantly.

I absolutely love a protective hero! And Jack did not disappoint. He looked out for Willow both inside and outside the canyon, even shielding her from bullets (and patching her up afterwards, too).

I’m glad the story kept things realistic and showed that all Willow’s problems weren’t magically solved because of the hike. She still worried about informing her parents and still sometimes struggled with self-doubt.

Although, I was a bit surprised that Willow’s dad accepted her decision just like that, without even a little pushback.

While I usually prefer dual POV, the single POV had me right there with Willow, wondering at Jack’s thoughts and emotions. (Loved Willow’s attempts at guessing his last name. The truth was certainly a surprise.)

The mystery had me intrigued. There were a couple plot twists that I didn’t see coming.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Favorite Moments

🌵 the tunnel
⛺️ sweet coffee
🌵 feminine wiles
⛺️ Cottonwood Campground
🌵 Giving their relationship a chance

Favorite Quotes

“…all while grumbling something under his breath. The only words I make out are magnet for trouble, and I can’t help but smile. Because I’m really just a magnet for him. The trouble is all coincidental.“

Cindy Ras

“‘You ready to get going?’ He asks.

‘Is piggybacking an option?’

‘Not unless you’re greatly injured.’

‘Do emotional wounds count?’“

Cindy Ras

“‘Come, on Princess.’ Jack stands, turning and holding out a hand to pull me up. ‘You have a canyon to conquer.’

Then his mouth erupts into the most beautiful grin I’ve ever seen….He needs a sign around his neck warning unsuspecting women of the power of his smile.“

Cindy Ras

“‘You’ve got this,’ he reassures me.

I give him a watery smile. ‘I’m not known for my perseverance.’

‘Perseverance isn’t about being good at something — it’s about refusing to walk away from what matters. It’s not your fault that your family has always failed to see what matters to you.“

Cindy Ras

“‘I’m no prince, Willow.’

…’I don’t need a prince. I’m perfectly happy with a knight,’ I tell him.“

Cindy Ras

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