"The island...[has] taught Irene some things about resilience, about patience, and, most of all, about hope."

The conclusion of a much-loved trilogy is always bittersweet. It's hard to say goodbye to characters you've grown to "know" and care about after all they've been through. After experiencing their tragedies, joys, and dreams, it always comes to the moment when you have to let go and can close the book with the confidence that everything will be alright in that world. I really had fun reading these 3 books set in a place that I definitely found to be a little bit of paradise. St. John is a unique island and i really enjoyed reading the references to familiar spots that I've visited there. Although sometimes the novel reads like a tourist travel guide advertisement, it was fun to be able to identify with so many of them. Just keep in mind that you really need to start at the beginning as this one is definitely not a standalone despite the author giving some of the relevant details from the previous two books as needed -- especially if you're like me and need specific reminders having waited for this release.

I won't rehash the plot so as not to give any spoilers. I liked the writing style and also the way that Hilderbrand gave us the point of view of so many different characters. It contains a lot of drama but it is, after all, a love story. You can tell that she loves St. John and that she's spent a lot of time on the island.

I've not previously read any books by this author and I hope that she chooses St. John for future work as that was the main reason I wanted to check these out. I was not disappointed though this is not the genre I usually prefer! If you have ever visited the USVI, or want to, this is a great way to highlight the memories or give a preview of its beauty. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.