Elin Hilderbrand’s newest book and first in a series, Winter in Paradise, takes a break from cozy Nantucket and whisks us away to sunny St. John!

Irene Steele is the main character that has it all. We know the one- fantastic husband, kids, the job, and home. That perfect facade has cracks, though, when her children are grown and don’t need her as much, her husband is distant, and her job is pushing retirement. The cracks shatter when she receives the late night phone call no one wants. Her husband has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. He was found far away on the island of St. John…

Irene flies to St. John with her two sons to figure things out, and she is confronted with more unexpected news: her husband has a second family.

Even with all the deceit staring her in the face, Irene won’t give up until she finds out the truth.

I know some of you may be thinking this sound dramatic and predictable, but not when Hilderbrand writes it. It reads as if this is happening to your best friend, and Irene becomes your best friend. She is human, her emotions are raw and honest, and she is fierce. She takes on all these secrets and fights for closure and peace for herself and her family.

With themes of heartache, love and loss, and most of all, hope and healing, Winter in Paradise is a stunning beginning to a new series, and I’ll be biting my nails waiting for book number two! (This is why I don’t often read series- ahh! The waiting!).

Thanks to Little, Brown for the opportunity to read and review an early copy. All opinions are my own.

I am always a fan of Elin Hilderbrand books and this one is no difference. The mystery surrounding the life and death of all of the character sets the way for a great trilogy. Hilderbrand paints a beautiful picture of the Virgin Islands and makes me want to plan a trip immediately. My only wish is that a few more questions had been answered in this book! The ending made me want more, but not feel completely satisfied either. Overall a great read and I can't wait for the next installment.

If you enjoy a great story with complications and messy relationships, you must read Elin Hildebrand’s novel, Winter in Paradise! It is chock full of crazy connections, brother competitions, a secret life and family trying to pull things together amid silent, disappearing people and tight lipped natives on St. John’s Island, USVI.
The story is compelling and draws the reader into a strange but lovely island where a dead husband has created a love nest for himself and an island woman. As the story unfolds, there are so many imaginative relationships that develop that you will be eager to not just read the next chapter but the next page.
I thoroughly enjoyed and savored Winter in Paradise!

Winter in Paradise was another thoroughly enjoyable read from Elin Hilderbrand. Heartwarming, some mystery & intrigue, some romance, some laugh out loud moments. The perfect read!

This is a beautiful, honest story about how lives are impacted by secrets. Elin Hilderbrand has give us love, sorrow, and hope in Winter in Paradise. Not to mention a graphic "trip" to the Virgin Islands.

I featured this title in a post on my blog about what to read in October. I'll send a private note to the publisher with more information when I fill out opinions in the next stage of this process.

Loved , loved, loved this book !!! Another great series by Hildebrand. It left me wanting more, more, more ! Fun charcters that made you not want to put his book down. anxious for the next in this new series.

Tl;dr: Another outstanding contemporary from Elin Hilderbrand--a smashing start to a trilogy.

Winter in Paradise is so good! How good is it? Well, I hate beaches, get a sunburn if I'm outside for twenty minutes on a cloudy day, and yet Ms. Hilderbrand has me convinced that I would have fun in St John's.

Yep. That good

Winter in Paradise has something for every fan of contemporary women's fiction-- well written, relatable characters, a bit of house and food porn (I confess, I dig both), and a damn good story that sucks you in and has you reading as fast as you can. It's a story about family, love, betrayal, maybe the start of something new, and has a bit of intrigue too.

That's a lot for one book, but Ms. Hilderbrand keeps everything rolling along smoothly, and with so much understanding. I love how she writes every relationship in this book, and that's no small feat.

The only downside is that it's the first book of a new trilogy and, if like me, you get attached to Irene, Huck, Ayers, Cash, Maia, and Baker (though I admit, I'm a Cash girl), you'll find yourself saying "Noooooooo!" at the end and looking for more pages.

Spoiler: There aren't any ;-) Looks like the second book will be out next fall, but until then, I highly recommend you pick up Winter in Paradise and enjoy a getaway that's compelling, a little heartbreaking, and hopeful all at once.

I dud receive an ARC, but had already preordered the book, and am glad to add it to my Elin Hilderbrand collection. Now I just need the next book...

It's not quite right to describe a book as a "pleasure" when it centers around devastating deaths and secrets, but getting the opportunity to visit a new island with Elin Hilderbrand, who has built a career writing about islands in a way that makes them feel like additional, beloved characters, is a treat. This is the kind of heartfelt, juicy, dramatic story that I want from Hilderbrand, and it's perfect for either beach reading or "pretending you're on a beach because winter never ends" reading. The first in a new trilogy, and the only bummer is waiting a year to see what happens next.

I always say that it wouldn't be summer without a new book from Elin Hilderbrand to enjoy on the beach... But for the past few years, I've also realized that it wouldn't be winter without a new Elin Hilderbrand book to read in front of the fire! I was sad that her Winter Street series ended, but SO happy to learn a new series would be starting... And it's a good one!

Winter in Paradise begins on New Year's Day with Irene Steele learning about the death of her husband... A helicopter crash while he was on one of his regular business trips. Except the plane crash happened on St. John... And there was a woman in the helicopter with him. Irene immediately heads to the island along with her two adult sons (who each have problems of their own) to collect Russ's remains and to figure out why he was on the island.

From there, we learn a lot about the woman Russ was seeing, her family and friends, and the home Russ was living in when he was on all of these "business" trips. The book is definitely reminiscent of Anita Shreve's The Pilot's Wife (also an awesome book!), but is unique enough that it certainly stands on its own.

I am now fully invested in the characters (there's even plenty of romance in the book!) and obsessed with learning more about Russ's secrets and exactly what was going on. Honestly, I have no idea how I'm going to wait a year for the next book! I guess I'll just have to console myself with the fact that Hilderbrand's next summer book will be released in about 6 months!

Fans of the Winter Street books will likely love the first of this new series. While it doesn’t have the immediate charm to suck you in, it’s a great entry. Irene, Baker and Cash are going to need some time to completely warm up to them. The twist in this is that it has a mystery in it as well which is unresolved at the end. So it will be such a long wait until next year for the second installment!

Through my association as a blogger with NetGalley, I have the great opportunity to receive and review books in advance of their publish date.  Today's book - Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand - is being released October 9, 2018! You don't want to miss this one.

If you read Hilderbrand's books like me, you were probably sad when her last series came to an end.  Now that Winter in Paradise is out, I'm sure you'll fall in love with the new series, Paradise, just like me! Not surprisingly, this new trilogy series is set in the Virgin Islands -- specifically St John!

The story's protagonist, Irene Steele of Iowa City, Iowa, is grief stricken following the death of her husband, Russ. Irene learns that Russ died in a helicopter crash near St. John on New Year's Day, and she's stunned.  She had no idea Russ was even in the Virgin Islands. Russ took on a new job thirteen years ago that moved their family from struggling middle class to very wealthy, but he seemed to always be traveling for work since that time.

Irene is unable to get any details about Russ' death and the details that is able to receive only leave her with more questions than answers. As a result of her failure to get information, Irene and her two adult sons, Baker and Cash, head to St. John themselves to gather the remains of their husband and father, respectively.  When they arrive, they learn about the multi-million dollar villa that Russ owned with a second family.  In case that secret didn't shock the enough, they also start to discover - and uncover - all the secrets Russ had kept from Irene, Baker and Cash for many years. 

The characters are wonderfully complex and well developed, which allows readers to become invested in the relationships they develop with these people. I don't write spoilers, but I will warn you: beware of the cliffhanger.  I personally loved the way the book ended - the author had me flipping through the final pages of this book knowing something huge was going to happen. I can't wait for book two in the series!

Wow. This is what I love about Netgalley.....a chance to be introduced to authors that I would never have found otherwise.
Why have I never heard of Elin Hilderbrand before??
This book was awesome....so well written.
I was initially interested when I saw this was book 1 of what was to be a trilogy. A chance to get invested in characters and to anxiously await the next book.
I absolutely loved everything about this book. The setting...the characters all of it.
I can’t say enough good things about this book....go pick it up and read it..you will not be disappointed!
It had a great ending that leaves you excited for the next instalment!
Awesome book!

I loved the Winter Street series and was so sad after I read the last book of the series. So, when I heard that Elin Hilderbrand was writing a new series, I couldn't wait to get ahold of the first book. I was hooked after the first chapter, and would find ways to sneak away to read a little bit more. Hilderbrand developed a wonderful story about a tragic family event set on the beautiful island of St. John. The characters were easy to connect with and their stories were all intertwined to form this captivating story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Last year after reading the last book in Elin Hilderbrand's "Winter Street" series I felt happy because the book was just so wonderful yet a bit heartbroken because although I love and adore my favorite queen of the summer beach read, her "Winter Street" books have always been my favorites. That is until now. Those books have huge competition for favorites after I just finished the first book in her newest series, Winter in Paradise! If the next two in the series are as good as the first, then I'll be in for reading heaven!

Maybe it's the new setting that made me love this book so much; I mean how can you NOT love a book set in St. John?? Of course, I love the setting of Nantucket where all of Hilderbrand's other books take place, but there is just something extra special about the blue waters of the Caribbean, the sand, the people, just the whole lush and vibrant locale! Reading Winter in Paradise immediately transported me back to this past spring when my husband and I took an anniversary cruise to the Caribbean and although we went to St. Thomas and not St. John, I could still picture everything in my mind exactly the way Hilderbrand described in such beautiful and exquisite detail! She's a master at describing her settings, but she's, even more, a master at writing characters who you feel like you not only know but want to be friends with (most of them anyway because there's always someone awful in one of her books!).

Irene is reeling with grief after finding out that her husband Russ has died in a helicopter crash near St. John on New Year's Day. She had no idea he was even in the Caribbean although he was traveling for work as he always seemed to be ever since taking a new job more than a decade ago-a job that changed their lives from struggling middle class to very wealthy. No one will tell her anything about what happened besides some mysterious details that leave more questions than answers, so she and her two adult sons, Cash and Baker, fly to St. John.

What awaits them there is more than lush beaches, crystal clear water, and stunning views. Irene, Baker, and Cash arrive at a multi-million dollar villa that they discover belonged to Russ and begin to uncover a web of deception and secrets he'd been keeping from his wife and sons for years.

In true Hilderbrand style, the novel is full of juicy drama and scandal, mainly brought on by the actions of a dead man. It's interesting to see how the main characters in the book, who also include islanders Huck, granddaughter Maia, and family friend Ayers, who all three lost someone they loved in the same crash that killed Russ face their grief differently and how the characters interact when they finally cross paths.

This is definitely a book about grieving, heartache, and loss but also about love and forgiveness. I found that I admired Irene so much for having the strength she did under the most tragic and painful circumstances not to be bitter but to actively forgive and do what was right. I think she's one of the best characters that Hilderbrand has written (and in aside she's cousin to Mitzi from the "Winter Street" series, so she has to be pretty great!).

Of course, Winter in Paradise left me feeling all kinds of warm fuzzies...that is until the ending that makes me need the second book right this minute! What a way to leave readers in suspense but the good kind! Because between now and next year, I'll be doing my own detective work and trying to sleuth things out...until then, I'm going to dream of tropical beaches and exotic drinks that only taste that good in the Carribean!

Make sure you start your holidays off perfectly by reading Hilderbrand's fabulous new start of a holiday trilogy, Winter in Paradise coming out on October 9, 2018!

**Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.**

Winter in Paradise is an introduction to the new series by Elin Hildenbrand. The story takes place on the beautiful Caribbean island of St John. A woman in Iowa suddenly finds herself a grieving widow and flies with her two grown sons to St John where her husband has died. They encounter many surprises and fall in love not only with the island, but also with the people who were connected to her husband’s life there. This book serves as a good beginning to the others in the series to follow.

Oh MY!! Ok.. my first thought is why in heck have I waited SO long to read a Elin Hilderbrand book?! No excuses! This was FANTASTIC!

I've got to go back to all her previous series and get going here! ;).

I fell in love with everything about this book. The characters are relatable, deep, emotional, and the setting is godly! haha. Hilderbrand I think you've just convinced me where I want to take my honeymoon with my new husband next year!

Irene's husband dies in a tragic helicopter accident... along with his deception of living an entire double life in the island of St. John's. Can you imagine.. not only finding out your husband is dead but also living a double live in a beautiful island of St. John's?! Yikes....
In grief, Irene drops everything along with her two sons Baker and Cash who travel to the island of St. John's. Of course, nothing is as easy as it may seem and secrets upon secrets are waiting for them.

Winter in Paradise is the perfect amount of romance, heartache, love, and tension. I would not categorize this as a romance per say but it's so much more than that and I am SO glad I read this. If this is anything like Hilderbrand's previous novels... I am definitely in for a treat!

I loved Irene Steele's character the most... but characterization is so strong in this novel. This is a must read my friends!!

Beautifully well crafted novel!!

Huge 5 stars for Winter in Paradise! Highly recommend.

Huge thank you to Little Brown and Company and Netgalley for the advanced arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Publication date: 10/9/18
Published to GR: 9/30/18

Classic Elin Hilderbrand! I loved this book, and look forward to more in this series. The setting of St. John in the British Virgin Islands will make you want to hop on a plane and head down there right away. Hilderbrand's unique writing style captures the area, and makes the location a main part of the story. The plot begs the question: do we really know those closest to us? Lots of surprises in store in this book!

So - its not your typical Elin Hildebrand novel..Its not set on Nantucket; it isn't the usual really rich people with their problems; no one's fallen in love - yet. But I am loving this departure that she has done with her last two books. There's now some murder, some deception - if only she's have some Jackie Collins-esque sex scenes these books would cross the line from Fluff into Smut (I can only dream!).

Besides learning more about a island I know nothing about along with life in the Midwest, I'm enjoying this new direction for a winter book series - as long as it doesn't go too crazy with Russ' secret life.

Overall Grade: B

Juicy drama, family secrets, interesting characters and a Gorgeous setting brought to life by Hilderbrand’s writing style- what’s not to love?