I have long been a fan of Elin Hilderbrand. Her novels have always been a sure sign that summer is here and now she has signs that alert us of a change of season! I personally always get excited when I see Elin's yearly interview appearing on CBS this morning. This new series Winter in Paradise swept me off my feet. I first read the book and than immersed myself in the audio book. Both are equally compelling and I am a true believer that when we both read and listen to a book your mind absorbs it differently. In What Happens in Paradise we follow Irene as she copes with startling news and learns about herself and what strength truly means. Be prepared to be swept out to sea with this one.

This is only the second Elin Hilderbrand book I’ve read. I really enjoyed all the characters and found the plot very enticing. I didn’t know this was part of a trilogy, so now I’m racing to get my hands on book 1 and eagerly awaiting number 3!

We found this book very intriguing. It was very well written and i was left wanting more. The plot with the husband dying and every one else having to get on with their lives as best they could trying to forgive their transgressions. Was very believable. The ending was kinda shocking. We am hoping there is a sequel.

Evidently a lot happens in Paradise. I will say I had hoped the lead character Irene would get to keep a bit more than one bag of possessions in the end but again this is Paradise how much do you need? One of this novels great lines is the slow burn of romance provided by Huck and Irene. I thought this was a story of two families with one slick guy in the lead. I was happily wrong , this was a guy in way over from the beginning. He only wanted to give his family in the states everything materially within his power,little did he imagine he would be money laundering. Committing fraud. And fathering another family in Paradise. The dialog between Russ and Rosie while simple was heartfelt and Midwest earnest. I found myself a bit sympathetic to the ole boy , but even I could see the writing on the wall. I found the love rivalry between his sons for Ayers, a local beauty , too quick to be believable. Irene’s ability to find peace in Paradise on Huck’s boat just casting the day away with tourists as an answer to her troubles with the government lacked any anxiety that I know I would be feeling but then again I can count my fishing days on one hand. I will say this the story fleshed out all the questions you have from the first chapter when you learn Russ has died and there follows all the reasons why.

I forgot that this is supposed to be a trilogy and now I have to wait!!!!!! The characters in this series are well developed. This book shows how mistakes we make affect many different people in our lives, but show that we can learn to trust again. Looking so forward to the next book!!

Probably my least favorite Hildebrand novel (and I have read them all, as I love her writing style). I picked this up, only because I was curious after the non-ending of “What Happens in Paradise.” This one has even less of an ending (it was beyond abrupt), and the unlikeable characters are even harder to connect with than they were in the first book of the series. I’m disappointed, but it is time for me to put this series down for good!

I adore Elin Hilderbrand and this new trilogy is amazing.

This is the second book of a trilogy involving a woman and mother named Irene who discovers some pretty large secrets after her husband dies in a helicopter crash in the Virgin Islands.

I do not want to spoil anything, but all our favorite characters from the first book, Maia, Huck, Ayers, Cash, and Baker are back in the U.S. Virgin Islands to continue to make new lives for themselves after the death of their loved ones. The book also offers a lot of new and interesting perspective from Rosie, and seeing the situation from her eyes led a new dimension to the story.

While I would highly recommend getting the first book, Winter in Paradise, you could read this without it. It's Elin Hilderbrand, she could write a car manual and it would be enjoyable!

I really enjoyed the touch of mystery that continued in this book, and I am looking so forward to being able to read the end of the trilogy.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and www.NetGalley.com for my ARC.

It took me a little bit to work out who everyone is again, but I did enjoy this story very much. I like the characters and feel invested in their lives. It continues from Book 1 and answers some questions (while still leaving some questions unanswered). I look forward to Book 3 and getting more of the story.

I was thrilled to read Elin Hilderbrand's newest book! I read it in one sitting! She has of course written another wonderful novel where you feel the sea breeze from out of the pages and the ocean waters lapping at your toes. She is an amazing writer and I highly recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

GREAT follow up to Winter in Paradise. The story picks up right where it left off and never skips a beat. It's highly entertaining, a quick easy read and I fell even more in love with the characters. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book the in <i>Winter in Paradise</i> trilogy, and it is a really solid follow up to the first book. The story line picks up right where the first book left off, and luckily Hilderbrand includes enough reminders for the readers about who the main characters are and the conflicts associated with them. I felt like the first book really focused a lot on Baker and Cash, but I really like that this book focuses more on Irene and how she's moving forward after the death and betrayal of her husband.

Like some other readers mentioned, the only part of the book I did not like was Ayers and the love triangle (square?). It's too much back and forth, and really made her less sympathetic in this book. I'm over that whole plot line and hope that there's even less focus on it in the third book.

This book ends on a huge plot point, so I'm really looking forward to the third book to see how the series ends.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

The second installment in her Winter in Paradise series, What Happens in Paradise gives readers a little more insight into the story of the late Rosie Small and Russ Steele and their love affair that was tragically cut short when both were killed in a helicopter crash as the first book began. As with all of her spectacularly written beach reads, this one leaves readers on a cliffhanger wondering what will happen next. Waiting for the next installment is going to be torture for me! Ironically, the remaining members of the Steele family, Irene, Baker, Cash, and Baker's young son, Floyd, all end up on the island of St. John once again, a place where Russ had a secret sprawling villa on Little Cinnamon as well as a secret mistress and tween daughter, Maia. To complicate matters, the FBI is now investigating the helicopter crash, along with Russ and his business partner Todd Croft, searching around both the Iowa City and Little Cinnamon villa for clues. Baker and Cash are both still vying for Ayers' (Rosie Small's best friend) attention, though Baker more seriously, after his wife Anna, now a lesbian, agrees on a divorce and then decides to move out of state to work, live, and start a family with her lover. Ayers is back with her ex-husband Mick, even though he cheated on her in the past with one of his bar employees. Let's just say, once a cheater, always a cheater. Things are looking good for Baker on that front. Cash doesn't really have anything tying him to Colorado just as Irene feels a pull to St. John and her budding friendship with Huck, Meanwhile, Ayers and Huck find some unsettling information while cleaning out and searching Rosie's room before the FBI does the same thing. Rosie's step-father. As the Steele family settles into St. John, more fireworks from the past ignite, forcing each of them to consider what the future holds for them and where they should call their home - Iowa City or St. John? Readers will love the atmospheric setting of St. John with its picturesque beaches and quaint streets. What Happens in Paradise is a quick read which is written in multiple points of view between characters in short chapters, keeping readers interested and wondering what Elin has up her sleeve for the third and final book in the series. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance reader's edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars Totally loved this follow up to Winter in Paradise. It picks up right where "Winter" left off as the Steele family plans to relocate to St. John. Very enjoyable read, typical of Elin Hilderbrand. Only negative? Having to wait for the next one!

What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
Mandi Rink, Technical Services Librarian
Last year I listened to the audiobook, “Winter in Paradise” by Elin Hilderbrand. I was forcing myself to branch out of my normal ‘thriller/horror’ genre. I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Winter in Paradise’ and could not wait for the second book in this chick lit trilogy, ‘What Happens in Paradise.” You could read this book as a standalone but I really do not recommend it. ‘What Happens in Paradise’ picks up right where we left our characters at the ending of the first in this trilogy. Irene is struggling to understand her husband’s death, her fresh feelings for Huck, and her new life on the island. Cash has decided to start over on the island, accepting a new position on a snorkeling boat. Baker, in the midst of divorcing his wife, has similarly decided to return to St. John. Both men are hopeful of a new relationship with the island’s most sought out bachelorette, Ayers Wilson. The conclusion of the book leaves you guessing and wanting more out of these characters.
I really love Hilderbrand’s writing style. She seems to be able to construct a storyline that captivates me when most authors would bore me writing of the same subjects. The characters are not always loveable, I am looking at you Baker and Ayers, but they are always real. I was able to read ‘What Happens in Paradise’ in three days and I really wished I had paced myself. This book helps build the characters and their relationships better and, presents us with glimpses of characters that were not directly in the first volume. I really do recommend this series to many patrons that come to the library because I enjoyed it so much. I hope Mrs. Hilderbrand does not make us wait too long for the conclusion. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the prepublished eBook.


(This review is published on Goodreads and will be on my library's website the month of October)

Just when I thought Elin Hildebrand books couldn’t get any better, she goes and does it again! What Happens In Paradise was such a good book and fed your hunger that was left from reading Winter in Paradise. The characters and details in the book make you want to visit St. John right now. I cannot wait for the third book to come out!

What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand is book two of Hilderbrand's Paradise series that is set in the author's beloved St. John. This book catches the reader up on what is happening since the helicopter crash that took the lives of Russ and Rosie in book 1. It's great catching up on all of the characters and delving a little deeper into th mystery of the helicopter crash. Can't wait for book 3 to be written. Read and enjoy!

The second book in the Paradise trilogy did not disappoint! I always drop everything when I can get my hands on a DRC of Elin Hilderbrand’s books, since I know I will be in for a treat. I have been waiting for this one since last year, as the story of the Steele family continued. I have to say that I did go back and reread Winter in Paradise very quickly to refresh my memory and it did help to keep the story going; I’m not so sure this could be a stand alone book as the author says it can be.
The characters, as always in a Hilderbrand book, are so well developed, as she juggles her chapters around focusing on each character and slowly unfolding the plot while doing so. It’s what she does best and why I love her books so much! Of course the setting is another character in the book. Like Nantucket, St John is now well imagined in my mind and on my bucket list to visit some day!
Thanks to Little Brown & Co and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the digital review copy!

Love, love, love this second book in the Paradise series!

Again, my only issue is the Ayers love triangle. While it does somewhat get resolved in this book, it still goes on much longer than I feel it should. And this time it is almost a square, not a triangle. That being said, having some idea of the how everything came about was great, without giving spoilers. So thankful I was able to get an ARC of this book, I devoured this in a day and a half. Cannot wait to see how this series ends!

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!