Saturday uspense: Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand

 

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,

   

   Winter in Paradise is the first book in a trilogy written by Elin Hilderbrand. It is published by Little Brown & Company, an imprint of Hatchet Book Group. In it, we are introduced to Irene Steele; whose New Year's Day is shattered by the news that her husband, Russell was killed in the US Virgin Islands. Calling her sons, Irene is ready to travel to St. John to investigate for herself what happened. Her husband was a traveling man for his job and could be away for weeks on end. But what was he doing in the Virgin Islands when he was supposed to be in Florida?

    As Irene and her sons begin to investigate Russell's business dealings, they are shocked to find that Russell owned a villa in the Caribbean. Irene is uncomfortable and continues to look into the life her husband kept from her. Along the way, she comes across information about a woman, named Rosie. As Irene and her sons dig deeper during their Winter in paradise, they find that Russell Steele had many secrets. Could these secrets have caused his death? And who is Rosie? 

  Winter in Paradise was a fun getaway to another life and another place. Vividly depicted by Hilderbrand, the Virgin Islands unfolds in front of the reader like a beautifully unfurled tapestry. She pays homage to places no longer in business due to the severe hurricanes of the past and shows the reader a paradise that they will not want to leave. The romance and family drama are forefront as the reader is given more clues as to what Russell's true business dealings may have been. The novel is filled with relatable characters that I loved. I am happy this is only book one because I want more of these characters. When the mystery is unfolded slowly saving more for the second and third installments. The truth circled like a hungry shark under the crystal blue waters, ultimately surfacing on the end page to deliver a shocking finale. I am excited to see where the story goes after what we have learned.

  I read this novel in part with the narration of actress, Erin Bennett. I enjoyed her slow and smooth reading style which paired very well with being sped up 1.2x or 1.5x. She has never disappointed me with her voice work; Winter in Paradise is no exception. 

  Winter in Paradise was a welcomed four-star read. I loved the way it whisked me away to a tropical paradise and gave characters that I was invested in. I loved the family drama and underlying mystery. This is a great beach read that will keep you turning the pages quickly with its blend of contemporary and thrilling storytelling.

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