Elin Hilderbrand is an amazing Storyteller! Every single book I read of hers is great! Can't wait for her next book!!

When reading this book, I kept telling everyone around me how much I love Elin Hilderbrand. She has a knack of making me want to move to whatever location her book is set in. I had read Winter in Paradise last year and enjoyed it, but didn´t remember many of the details before starting the second in the series. I was completely immersed in the characters and plot and whipped right through this book. It is a perfect vacation read or one to warm you up during the cold winter months. These might be my favorite of all of her books that I have read.

I loved this book! I think I read the whole thing in three sittings because I was so enthralled with the plot. I also felt like I was on my own personal vacation to St. John because Elin’s descriptions of the island, the food, and the atmosphere are exquisite. I can’t wait for the third installment!

Irene Steele was at home in Iowa City on New Years Day when she got the phone call. Her husband. Russ, had been killed in a helicopter crash on his way to the remote Caribbean island of Anagada. Then she learned that Russ was on the helicopter with his lover, a West Indian woman named Rosie Small. Rosie was the mother of Maia, his child. Russell also owned a 15 million dollar villa on the Caribbean island of St. John’s that Irene knew nothing about.

So Irene and her sons, Cash and Baker, went down to St. John’s to make arrangements for the funeral. That’s when they learned that Russ’ body had been identified by his mysterious boss, Todd Croft, and had already been cremated. Upon returning to Iowa, the family was visited by an FBI agent who told them that Russ’ death was being investigated as it was feared that he was involved in illegal activities. There was a subpoena to search the Iowa house that Irene had lovingly decorated . Irene tried to frantically contact Todd looking for answers. She found out but Todd seemed to have disappeared without a trace. The company where Russ worked for Todd has dissolved and his phones no longer work.

Eventually Irene and both sons returned to St. John’s, where they met with friends of Rosie and uncovered more surprises.

This book is a tribute to the island of St. John’s where the author had lived for 5 years. There are numerous references to natural wonders on the island as well as numerous bars, restaurants and resorts. The author divulges Rosie’s secret life by one character who reads Rosie’s diary.

This is the second in a series of 3 books that take place on St. John’s. The ending is predictable once all the secrets are revealed.

I am a huge Elin fan so it's like an automatic heck yeah when her books come my way! This writing and storyline in this book is well up to the bar that Elin has set! I can not wait to read more!!

Loved this sequel, can’t wait to read the 3rd. Characters are vividly described and you want to visit St. John’s immediately after finishing. Elin Hilderbrand truly is a master.

Elin Hilderbrand delivered! I am a huge fan of Hildebrand's work, but not every book is my cup of tea. This one really hit the spot and was exactly the book I was looking for! I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the pacing. Excellent read!

The second entry in the author’s Paradise Trilogy, What Happens in Paradise, by Elin Hilderbrand, is pure escapism at its very best. Set in the US Virgin Islands, this novel continues, but does not conclude, the story of the Steele family and their developing relationships on the island. Peopled by characters that are incredibly likeable, this story succeeds at entertaining its readers without terrorizing them. You want to root for all of them to find happiness. You can almost hear the waves, picture the swaying palms, and feel the sand between your toes.

I confess that I am a stickler for reading a series in the order in which the books were written, and the Paradise trilogy is no exception. I think the reader’s enjoyment of the second book will be enhanced if you go back and read the first. Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an opportunity to read an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. It was relaxing and fun!

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review**
I fell in love with St. John in the first book of the trilogy, Winter in Paradise. Hilderbrand, one of my favourite authors has spent a lot of time on the island, and this is shown by all the description and detail about all of the places in the books.
In this book, Irene, Cash and Baker are back to St. John and looking to relocate to the Island. We learn more about how Rosie fell for Russ, and we hear more about his lucrative business with Todd Croft and Ascension. Complete with some Baker/Ayers and Huck/Irene relationship drama, this book kept me wanting to read more. Both of the first two books in the trilogy have been a nice escape to paradise and I look forward to the release of the third book next fall.

I was enjoying Winter in Paradise until I found it was the start of a trilogy. Seemed to be well written and the author knew the island, so when the ending left me high and dry, I decided to read What Happens in Paradise. At the start of the book the author states that it is not necessary to have read the first book. I beg to differ. I would have been completely lost without having read book one. Book two also ends abruptly. I guess that now I will have to wait for book three, by then I will have forgotten the story line, but there is not a lot of depth to this book, so it probably doesn't matter.

I loved the first book in this series, Winter in Paradise, and couldn't wait until this book came out. This is book two of the trilogy. I love Elin's writing. Her descriptions of St. John are amazing and make you feel like you are looking at what she is describing yourself. You can feel how much she loves the island when you are reading this book. I like the characters and the situations that they get into are what could happen in real life. I also enjoyed the parts included from Rosie's diary which help to understand Russ more and the relationship that he had with Rosie and being on the island. The reader also learns a little more about his job and what he was doing in the Caribbean. Although I liked the book, it ends with a real cliffhanger which is not ideal, and it seemed a little abrupt.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Little, Brown and Company through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Irene got the shock of her life 1 year ago when her husband was killed in a helicopter crash, and she learned that he was leading a double life with another woman.
As she tried to uncover the truth, she continues to uncover more secrets.

*I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

LOVED! A fantastic 2nd book in this planned trilogy. Continued the story seamlessly and I found myself becoming even more invested in the characters.This book picks up where Winter in Paradise left off: Iowa housewife Irene is struggling to accept the unexpected death of her jetsetting businessman husband, her sons Cash and Baker are each struggling with their girl dramas, and Ayers—the deeply relatable St. Johns local—is making bad decisions. If you didn’t read Winter, I encourage you to grab both books now and dive in, because this trilogy is heating up, and you can tell it’s only going to get better. Intricate plotting, a diverse cast of likeably flawed characters, and a beachy setting right as I’m swapping my summer clothes for sweater weather are all I need right now—surely you can’t disagree?

This book was received as an ARC from Little, Brown and Company in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a fan of Elin Hilderbrand and her work but this one at first got me very confused but the main reason I believe was that it was hard to keep up with Irene and her double life which I later on thought was the intent of the plot and it was pure genius. My time was invested through and through and the climax and ending was edge of your seat jaw dropping excitement that anyone is sure to enjoy. Elin Hilderbrand does very well in our Fiction collection and I know this book will do just as well if not better.

We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

The first book was interesting although Elin’s books are getting formulaic, but it was a pleasant read. But to think the whole family would find a reason to go back to St. John after never knowing Russ had a house there is ridiculous. I thought Irene hated the Caribbean and what woman who finds out her husband had a villa he shared with his mistress moves in there like it’s no big deal. And NO ONE thought the FBI might find it was bought with illegal funds so let’s all just uproot our lives and move there! A poor excuse to make a trilogy. Redundant, unsympathetic characters and just poor writing.

I just love the characters in this new series from Elin Hilderbrand. I have been a fan of all of her books that I have read but there's something about this setting in St. John and this cast of interesting characters. I definitely recommend reading these books in order, but this book can stand alone as well. I can't wait to read what's next in this fabulous series!

I was thoroughly looking forward to this second installment in this trilogy. Elin is one of my top authors. The first installment, Winter in Paradise, brings us to St. John. This is a new location for Elin to use in her books which gives a fresh new vibe to this story.

What Happens in Paradise is good however, it seems to be a bit dry in areas as nothing too spectacular happens. In the first book we learn who the characters are and what their lives are like and what the majority of the story is about. In this book, we live through basic life issues and the story gets carried through only another few weeks after the first book ended. We get to know the characters a little more but nothing develops or moves forward very far.

I am looking forward to the third installment and I know it won't disappoint. Without a doubt, the next book will have a thickened plot like the first one and the answer as to what actually happened to Russ and Rosie. I feel like I know Irene and her family and Elin does an excellent job describing the beauty of the Island and all that it has to offer. It is a must read for Elin fans and those who like a fun, light read with a little mystery attached.

What Happens in Paradise is the 2nd book in the Winter in Paradise series. Irene is still sorting through the shock of finding out her husband died in an accident with his mistress, leaving behind his wife & 2 sons and him & his mistress’s daughter. Irene & both sons find themselves drawn to the island where their husband/father had an entire second life. There is humour, healing, heartache and a touch of intrigue as the mystery of what happened starts to slowly unravel.

I regret to say that I didn't finish this book. I requested it not realizing that it was the second in a trilogy and I had not read the first. The preamble at the opening states that is could be read as a stand-alone, but I think it really would read better with more background. The premise of the story is easy enough to pick up on and it was intriguing enough in the earliest chapters to make me want to prove that it could be a stand-alone. Sadly, the number of characters with first-person narratives is what did me in. It became clear that there were complex relationships bringing these characters together but I didn't have enough background to appreciate the nuances.

I thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC but decline to rate a book that I was unable to finish.

If you are looking for some closure to last year’s “Winter in Paradise,” KEEP LOOKING! I appreciate how this second novel was the perfect second novel to provide us many more answers to all our questions in book 1, but as many questions as it answered, it created just as many more.

Like all of Hilderbrand’s works, there are extremely likable characters and a setting that makes anyone want to jump on a jet (definitely not a helicopter!) and fly to St. John. Like her novels made me visit Nantucket, I’m adding the BVI vaca to our docket in the future.

I absolutely devour her novels, and this was no different. I’m enjoying the suspense that isn’t always a plot point In her novels. My only regret is I wish I would have waited till next year so I wasn’t faced with the suspense over the next 12 months! Talk about a cliffhanger 😳