Great second book. Leaves you with more understanding and wanting more. Loved it and cannot wait until the third trip to St Johns!

I have been waiting for this book for several months since the last one came out. I read the entire book in a matter of 2 days. I wish I had been able to read it in one sitting as I couldn't stop thinking about it. I am enjoying seeing Huck and Irene's relationship grow and also how the two sons are maturing. I feel bad for Irene that her life is falling apart because of something she had no hand in. I also enjoyed reading Rosie's side of the events. I now and sad that I have to wait a whole several months again for next and last copy to this trilogy.
Thank you netgalley for this book!

Enjoyed this very much, and I'm sure all fans of Elin Hilderbrand will enjoy it too. It is the second book in a trilogy, and you really need to have read the first book in order to get anything out of this one. It checks off all the boxes of a great beach read, anytime of year!

What Happens in Paradise
Elin Hilderbrand
October 8, 2019


Irene Steele is plagued with dreams of her late husband, Russ returning from the dead since returning from St. John, Virgin Islands where she and her sons, Cash and Baker spread his ashes in the ocean. She and Cash have come back to her home in Iowa City. Irene is trying her best to put her life back together since the helicopter crash with Russ and his mistress, Rosie aboard. The storyline picks up at exactly at the point it ended in the book, Winter in Paradise. I found myself backtracking trying to remember the last of the book. Paradise 2 continues on in a chapter by chapter view by each of the prominent characters. Baker and his son, Floyd plan on moving to the islands where Floyd will enter the gifted school for the school year. Cash has taken a job as a dive instructor with the Treasure Island boat. Ayers is still in the tropics trying to work it out with Mick. She too works on the Treasure Island and weekend nights at La Tapa. Rosie’s daughter lives with grandfather, Huck. She is back in school while spending much off-time with Ayers or Cash. Irene has left her job in journalism to join Huck’s boat crew. Irene is at ease on the water as she and Huck enjoy each other as much as the passenger’s view while fishing. Aside from the characters private lives we find the FBI
is hard at work to discover the details behind Russ and his coworkers illegal business actions.
Details are complex but entertaining as typical for Hilderbrand’s books. It isn’t really necessary to have read the first book in the series but knowing the characters helps to keep the story line clear. I really enjoyed this second book on Paradise and look forward to number 3. Yes, there has to be a sequel to What Happened in Paradise as it’s end was abrupt, just as the first was. I look forward to it.
What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand will be published on October 8, 2019 by Little, Brown and Company. If you enjoy her books make sure to pick up a copy of this one. It was truly a pleasure to read the digital galley edition. Ms. Hilderbrand has once again hit the mark with the follow up in the Paradise series.

I just love this book! Fans of Elin Hilderbrand and this series will not be disappointed! I would definitely recommending having read the first book in this trilogy before jumping in to this one to really enjoy the story. This book starts out right where the first one stopped and don't slow down at all! I picked the book up to read yesterday and ended up reading the whole thing, I just couldn't stop reading! I'm so excited for book three and to see how everything gets wrapped up. Highly recommended!

I started this one on Friday night, planning to read just a few chapters since I'm in the middle of two other books. I couldn't stop reading and ended up finishing it this weekend--it's that good! The story picks up right where the first book ends, so you may want to spend some time reviewing the first book in the series before you start this one. Ayers and Huck are still grieving on the island, while Irene and her sons have returned to the states. Eventually, the Steele family returns to St. John to start a new life there, and to learn more about their island family. The reader gets a tantalizing glimpse at the backstory between Rosie and Russ, but the novel ends with another cliff-hanger. It will be a long wait to find out how the trilogy resolves! Thanks so much to Little, Brown and Netgalley for the preview!

I was excited to be able to get into book #2 of this new series from Elin Hilderbrand. I love the way she leaves you hanging at the end of chapters, leaving you wondering what the heck is going on...causing you to read "just one more chapter." This book does not disappoint. It kept me interested and wondering all the way through. I love getting to know more about the characters as the story unfolded. And just when you wonder if there will be another book in the series the last page leaves you hanging and wanting for more!! A great beach read with just the right amount of mystery. Wonderful as always!!

Enjoy the twists and turns as Irene Steele discovers many things: her husband's secrets, the beauty of St. John, and how her sons will react to the island's spell. What Happens in Paradise is a delightful middle entry in this series. You don't have to read Winter in Paradise first; but why wouldn't you? This whole series is designed to perfectly scratch that beach-reading itch.

The second installment of this trilogy did not disappoint. Pickup up with Irene, as she has struggled to get through the loss of her husband and the discovery of his secret life, the reader is immediately swept back into her life and the lives of her sons. The story takes place primarily in St. John and is told in different points of view, which add to the full story. I was left frustrated that I will have to wait so long to see what will happen next, as I was really swept away into this world and the mystery. If you are a fan of Hiderbrand this won't disappoint. I do wish there was a slight recap for those of us who read the first story a long time ago! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Irene is still struggling with the loss of her husband, but it becomes easier the closer she gets to a boat captain. She decides to move to the islands, after all she owns the villa. Her sons also make that decision, although each have arrived at it unilaterally. However, things aren't always as they seem. There is an investigation going on behind the scenes into the crash, and her husband's business partners. An absolute cliff hanger of an ending.

Fans of Elin Hilderbrand will not be disappointed by this second installment of this story. Despite changing settings to the island of St. John, Hilderbrand's knack for writing page-turning prose and satisfying narrative is on full display.

Since Irene discovered her husband's secret life she knows she has to make a change. Her sons, Baker and Cash feel the same. Their lives are at crossroads so when they abandon their lives for the St. John house they discovered on Russ' death they feel like they are moving forward. But the mystery of Russ' secret life threatens to destroy their new lives as the FBI are investigating. A story of secrets and new beginnings and learning to trust again. Now I am anxious for the next installment so I can find out what happens.

I have been anxiously waiting for this book since I finished the cliff hanger of "Winter in Paradise" to find out what happens next. Irene Steele lived in Iowa City, the wife of Russ and mother to Cash and Baker when she received a phone call telling her that her husband had been killed in a plane crash in the Virgin Islands. When she gets there she finds that he had another life there which she knew nothing about - a multi million dollar home as well as a mistress (who was also killed in the crash) and a daughter. As the families become inter-twined they all try to figure out (along with the FBI) exactly who Russ was, what he was doing and with whom, and where all the money came from. This is an absolute page turner that you will not be able to put down and it will leave you wanting more!

I like this new book from ElinHildebrand. The setting in the Bahamas is interesting, and we’re getting to know the characters better. My only problem is when I started this second book in the series I was lost at the beginning. It took me a while to remember the characters and even the plot. I would have liked a brief recap at the beginning.

This is the second book in this series. I was anxious to read this, and it did not disappoint. The cast of characters kept this moving right along, making you not want to put the book down. I cant wait for the next one !

OH NO! Will I have to wait a year to read the final installment of this trilogy? I love Hilderbrand’s Nantucket books, and she has transferred the magic to St John.

The characters are tremendously likable, and I was glad to read this follow up to the first part of the trilogy. Once again, Irene returns to the island to deal with the secrets and lies of her late husband. She is portrayed as a woman of huge warmth and kindness who has managed to embrace the detritus of her husband’s secret life.

The setting is so delightful and the characters so engaging that the reader feels like part of the community. I was lucky enough to have visited pre-Hurricane St John and these descriptions made my mouth water at the thought of returning.

No spoilers, but this novel ends with a huge cliffhanger which makes me yearn for resolution.

Thanks Netgalley, for this delightful read.

ent
Irene is still struggling with the double whammy she got hit with when her husband died unexpectedly and she discovered he had another life, and another woman on the island of St. John. Now that the initial shock has passed, Irene and her sons travel to St. John in hopes of uncovering the truth about the man they thought they knew. For me, the best part of this book were the descriptions about the island. Tropical paradise, exotic birds and animals are described in such detail, I felt like I was there