Winter in Paradise

Really more of a 3.5

Irene Steele has a picturesque life. Her husband, Russell, loves and dotes on her. She has a beautiful home and family, and a fulfilling job as editor of a popular magazine. Even though her husband works and travels away from home often, she is happy in her bubble. Until that bubble bursts...

Crippling news comes in the form of a phone call from her husband's boss's secretary...there has been an accident and her husband has died. Worse even still...he died in a helicopter crash on a small Caribbean island, with only the pilot and a local woman aboard. What was her husband doing there and who were the people he was with?

Irene and her sons, Baker & Cash, travel to St. Johns to unravel the secrets of Russell Steele and the devastation he's left behind.

This is the first in a series and my first Hilderbrand book. I've seen her all over Bookstagram and was highly intrigued. Since I actually had this book collecting dust on my shelf I decided...why not? Who doesn't love a good beach read?

I can see what all the fuss is about as the writing is good and the characters are well written. The story itself is cliche and I could see where it was going from the first chapter, but then I'm sure that was meant all along. How could it not be?

It's a very quick and enjoyable read and I will continue the series although I'm sure I know where it's going and the secrets that unfold will likely not be a surprise.