Spend your winter on sunlit shores in the New York Times bestselling follow-up to Winter in Paradise, where secret lives and new loves emerge under the bright Caribbean sky.
A year ago, Irene Steele had the shock of her life: her loving husband, father to their grown sons and successful businessman, was killed in a helicopter crash. But that wasn’t Irene’s only shattering news: he’d also been … Irene’s only shattering news: he’d also been leading a double life on the island of St. John, where another woman loved him, too.
Now Irene and her sons are back on St. John, determined to learn the truth about the mysterious life — and death — of a man they thought they knew. Along the way, they’re about to learn some surprising truths about their own lives, and their futures.
Lush with the tropical details, romance, and drama that made Winter in Paradise a national bestseller, What Happens in Paradise is another immensely satisfying page-turner from one of America’s most beloved and engaging storytellers.
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Ok so I have read several different reviews on this book and lots of people felt that it just rehashed the first book. I did not find that to be the case. ME I loved that Elin continued the first book and brought us more information. I like a story that eventually ends even though it may take several different books to do it. I have the next book on order right now and can’t wait to see what they eventually find out about Russ and his involvement in all the charges that have been brought about him. Will Huck and Irene find a life together and will Russ and Rosie make another appearance? What about Baker and Ayers will they be able to find their way together?
Thank you Elin for completing this story, so many times I want an author to let us know what is going on and you do that. You leave us with a life that we know what happens.
You can never go wrong with Elin Hilderbrand and this book is absolutely no different.
Book 70 towards my goal of 280! 5/5 stars for this adult contemporary reread. Nobody does family drama quite like Elin! Love the cover! Fantastic characters! Don’t want the series to end 🙁 Highly recommend!
Wonderful story continues of a widow and her sons after they move to St. John after her husband’s death.
A good beachy, page-turner of a book. Not quite as scintillating as the first one but every bit of the Steele family’s journey is now left at a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to return to St. John and see how the saga wraps up.
4.5/5
The Paradise trilogy is really the gift that keeps on giving. What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand was an amazing follow up to Winter in Paradise, and I loved it just as much. The mystery of Irene’s husband’s second life continues, and I loved the inclusion of Rosie’s journal entries in this book so we could get to know her character better. I highly recommend reading this trilogy in order as otherwise you are going to miss a lot of details. Hilderbrand does a great job of catching you up on the previous book, but it is stated at the beginning of the book that you will get a better experience if you read them in order and I definitely agree.
One of the best parts about this trilogy is the characters, and I am going to miss them terribly when it’s over. Irene is an amazing woman, and I also love her sons and basically all the main characters, as well as most of the secondary characters. There is a definite feel-good aspect to reading What Happens in Paradise, even while the characters grapple with some tough choices. And as always, the setting of St. John’s is completely stunning and another great part of this story. There are even more surprises in this one and literally nothing I didn’t love. For the sake of not giving anything away I will leave it at that, but I highly recommend the audio and the book in general, read in order of course!
I loved Winter in Paradise, but it ends in a cliffhanger and I couldn’t wait to read more. What Happens in Paradise starts off with the Steele family back home but pretty quickly, for their own unique reasons, they each end up back on the island. I love the way the story is told, divided up by various characters. It keeps the story moving and interesting to see from difference points of view. I especially liked that we got more of Rosie’s experience in this book. I don’t want to say too much about the plot because I don’t want to spoil the first book. This is like one of those stories on Lifetime where you just can’t stop watching because there’s so much happening and you want to explore other people’s secrets and drama. I couldn’t stop reading!! And now I’m dreaming of an island vacation with adventures on the water and delicious Caribbean food. As I expected, this book ended with another cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to reading the final book in the Paradise trilogy.
ThatEllin can really turn a yarn.
The Steele family saga continues in the second book of the paradise series. This one did not slow down. Irene and the two boys have come to terms with their father having had a secret woman on the side for years as well an expensive villa. But they still don’t quite understand exactly what he did as a career, and now the FBI have become involved. As Irene and the boys start to make a bit of a life on this paradise island, they start to integrate themselves within the circle of those who loved and miss, Rosie – the mistress. Just when they don’t think any more secrets can be uncovered, another bomb of a secret is found out and now there is another person who could be impacted by everything Russ had done and the secrets he carried. Again, this one leaves off as a cliff hanger as well and now I have to wait to get book three. This one was just as fast paced as the first one, and it did not seem to be a drag on the story, if anything it added more to everything going on.
This book was good but it did not hold my attention like the first one did. I am looking forward to the next one though to see how it all plays out.
Really like the author and read all of their books.
I have read many of Elin Hilderbrand’s books over the years, and as always, she does not disappoint with the story she tells. Elin Hilderbrand does a wonderful job in weaving together the tragedy that a family suffers after the death of a loved one, along with positive plans for the future and happiness. What could have been a dark depressive book, was a wonderful story of loss, grief, love, uncertainty, and hope for the future. Elin Hilderbrand’s style of writing pulls you into the story and weaves you into the lives of the charters in the story she is telling. She braids you into their lives in a way that makes you believe that you are part of their family and part of the life they are living. And when you finish a book, they always leave you wanting more and wondering what happens to the charters after you read the last page. I love Elin Hilderbrand’s books and will continue to read each one she publishes!!!
Of note, this is the 2nd book in the Paradise Series. I did not realize this when I began this book and really wish I would have read the first book in the series first. If you take anything away from this review, other than Elin Hilderbrand is a fantastic author, take away that you should read this series in the order that they were written.
Insanely good story and characters. I wish the third part of the story was out now!!
I love this series!
Author Elin Hilderbrand’s vibrant, complicated, but endearing characters return in the second installment of her Paradise trilogy. (It is not necessary to read the first volume in order to enjoy What Happens in Paradise, although doing so will provide a richer experience.)
Winter in Paradise focused on exposition. Hilderbrand compassionately detailed the reactions of her characters to the untimely deaths of Russ and Rosie, and their struggles to come to terms not only with losing them, but the shocking news about their relationship. Irene found herself unable to tell any of their friends back in Iowa about her husband’s secret life with Rosie, and their sons, Cash and Baker, grappled with all the things about their father’s life they never knew as they both became acquainted with and enchanted by Avery. Rosie’s beloved stepfather, Huck, the rugged fishing boat captain, remained focused on Rosie’s daughter, Maia, putting her well-being above all else, even as he felt a strong connection to and growing affection for Irene.
The next chapter of their lives is focused on the aftermath of the deaths of Russ and Rosie, as Irene, Cash, and Baker all return to the island. Baker, in the midst of a divorce from his wife who has already moved on to a new romance, decides that his father’s lovely island estate would be an ideal place to raise his young son and works out a shared custody arrangement with the boy’s mother. But Cash’s business in Colorado has failed and there is nothing for him there or in Iowa, so he also decides to take up residence in the home. He jumps at the chance to work on a tour boat with Ayers, determined to convince her that he is the “superior Steele brother” and make her fall in love with him.
Back in Iowa, Irene now finds the showplace home she shared with Russ — which she poured so much time, planning, and money into renovating — dark, overwrought, suffocating . . . and lonely. She also heads back to the island and accepts an offer from Huck to serve as his first mate. To Huck’s delight she is both a highly competent assistant and good company. Irene thoroughly enjoys joining Huck on the fishing charters and interacting with his guests. Their attraction is undeniable, but they wisely proceed cautiously.
Ayers is determined to make her relationship with Nick work. After all, they have a shared history. But she is not convinced that Nick’s affair is over and her feelings for Baker complicate matters.
Ayers continues to be a supportive presence in Maia’s life and agrees to help Huck sort through and dispose of Rosie’s things. In the process, she finds more than the stylish clothing that accentuated Rosie’s natural beauty. One of her discoveries leads to questions that, perhaps, the FBI agents who have descended on the island might be able to answer. Their investigation into the helicopter crash is ongoing and one thing is clear: the crash was not an accident. The damage to the helicopter was caused not by lightning, as originally thought but, rather, by an explosive device.
Ayers also locates Rosie’s diary and takes it with her to read. Through Rosie’s first-person narrative, Hilderbrand reveals the details of her time with Russ, including how they met, what drew her to Russ and vice versa, and how her affair with him impacted her relationship with her late mother. Rosie’s story is a heartbreaking tale of attraction, yearning, joy, and loneliness, particularly when she acceded to a threat issued by her mother. And because of her status as the other woman in Russ’s life. After all, Russ remained married to Irene until his death.
Irene works to unravel Russ’s estate. Information received from their attorney about his wishes comes to light, as do details about mysterious financial transactions. Irene never knew much about Russ’s employment by an old college friend — she wasn’t really interested.. She was busy renovating their home and attending to her own career. What she learns is unsettling and leads her to ponder whether she might somehow be implicated,
What Happens in Paradise proceeds at a fast pace as the characters’ lives move forward. They struggle to find a new sense of normalcy and design futures that differ dramatically from the lives they originally envisioned. Hilderbrand injects shocking plot developments at expertly-timed intervals, with each bombshell revelation posing a threat to the tenuous lives Irene, et al. have established on the island.
The entries in Rosie’s diary, interspersed with the present-day third-person narrative, provide context and are deeply affecting. But each of Hilderbrand’s characters is each uniquely likable and empathetic, and their struggles provide an absorbing and entertaining tale set against a stunning tropical backdrop. All of which make What Happens in Paradise, along with Winter in Paradise, ideal books to read by the pool or on the beach. Be warned, however, that Hilderbrand once again provides a jaw-dropping conclusion to her compelling story that sets up the forthcoming third and final volume, Troubles in Paradise, which, unfortunately, will not be available until October 2020.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
Awesome book
No sequel slump for Hilderbrand! The plot thickens and revs adding new twists and turns for Irene, Cash, Baker, Huck and Ayers. Now I’m impatiently waiting book 3! Don’t miss this one.
This follow up to Winter in Paradise continues the story of the Steele family in St John. The same characters return in the same settings. I found this book interesting and very readable and the plot unfolds at a good pace. However, I still have a problem with the author labeling any local island character as “West Indian” as if the book’s characters are “us” and “them”.
I enjoy this winter read. The characters are not well developed and the plot is rather shallow, but the book is enjoyable. I tend to have great diversity in my reads and this was a good break from some of the more challenging pages that cross my path. I would read Elin Hilderbrand again as the overall characters, story, and interaction of characters make it quite enjoyable.
This is part two of a three part series …. really good, can’t wait to read part three