Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand- Battle of the Book

I would like to say that I am the world's worst blogger. 

I thought that having these themes would help me stay on top of the task at hand but I only lied to myself... (I watched a RawBeautyKristi video last week where she said that if you announce something before actually making the accomplishment, that you are less likely to complete the task.  Why you may ask? Well, it's because you've made the announcement out loud.  This is something that I'm wholeheartedly agreeing with!)

For the "holiday" theme that I had planned for this month, I read "Winter in Paradise" by Elin Hilderbrand.  It's no big secret, that I am a big fan of Elin Hilderbrand (I don't think it is anyway). 

I looooved loved loved "The Perfect Couple" which was released this summer.  (Jess and me both read and reviewed that book - those reviews can be found by clicking on our respected names)

I was super excited to learn that she was releasing another book this year!  Usually, Hilderbrand's books take place in Nantucket but this one is different in that it takes place in St. John, US Virgin Islands.  It's also takes a similar path to "The Perfect Couple" in that involves a death! 

What kind of death? You'll just have to go and read it for yourself.  I'm not going to ruin it for anyone.

My only issue with this book is the title. I don't get it. Yes, the book starts at the New Year. Yes, they're travelling to an idyllic place.  However, they didn't spend the entire winter there and, the stuff that the Steele family had to deal with, doesn't make me think of St. John's as being a "paradise" for them. 

Aside from the title, the stuff that made the book was good.  

Irene Steele was spending New Year's Eve at dinner with one of her best friends.  Irene is a married woman, in her late 50s with two grown sons (one is living in CO and the other is living in TX with his wife and young son).  Irene is under the impression that her husband of 35 (?) years is away on a business trip.


Little does Irene know, her life is going to change for forever.

One phone call changes everything that Irene believed and known.  Her entire world is turned upside down.

A phone call that leads Irene and her sons to go down to St. Johns in the Virgin Islands.  Where they discover secrets that have been hidden for 12 years. 

Not only is she dealing with the fact that her husband is dead but she is also dealing with the fact that her husband was hiding a HUGE secret. I must say, Irene's character handled everything with dignity and grace. 

In a bizarre twist of fate, Irene's sons Cash and Banker both fell for the same girl (who's name I don't remember).  This was probably the one thing that I didn't like about the book.  I thought that Banker was a jerk about the whole thing- I wasn't really feeling how he pushed his way into going out on a date with said girl.  (In my mind, I saw Cash as being the better fit.)

Hilderbrand pens a story is able to hold the reader's attention.  In many ways this book was like her others.  The relationship that characters have, the stories that they have to tell. 

I give this book 4 coffee beans out of 5.   

~ Jillian