Even in paradise it’s not always sunshine

Synopsis

It’s hard to stay professional when you’re stuck on a tiny island… with your ex

Carrie Briggs is on the cusp of a career breakthrough. About to be made partner at her accountancy firm, she’s been given one more hoop to jump through before it can be made official.

And she could think of worse clients to work with – because world-renowned billionaire Joe Hettich is flying her out to his private island in the Caribbean.

But her hopes of career highs (and relaxing in the gorgeous sun in her spare time, of course!) are dashed when she meets the CFO of Joe’s company: Luke Chalmers, the man who broke her heart seven years ago when he chose his ex over her.

With a storm brewing in paradise – both in her heart and literally, on the island – she’s going to have to put her big girl pants on and get through this, before all those feelings have a chance to resurface…

A sun-filled and heartwarming romance, perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Christina Lauren.

My review

Carrie Briggs is doing everything she can to finally become partner. It took her a long time to be so close to her dream, especially as previously in her past some rumours went around about her, how she wasn’t afraid to use every trick in the book to get high in the hierarchy. So when her boss asks her to fly over to a high esteemed client, to the private island in the Caribbean,  she believes this is the last hurdle to take. However, once arrived on the wonderful island, Carrie is shocked to learn that her client, Joe Hettich, is in the company of his CFO, Luke Chalmers. And let it just be Luke that was the one that broke her heart seven years ago, and also jeopardized her career, as they sued to have a thing together. A thing that Carrie believed to be love, until Luke left her to go back to his pregnant wife. So to say that Carrie is rather bitter, is a real understatement. She cannot wait to finish her job, fly back home and forget Luke all over again. But a storm is coming, a literal and a figurative one, and Carrie despite her hateful feelings towards Luke, must face the music…

As a real romance – lover, I cannot imagine a more dream worthy storyline than being stuck on a wonderful island? Now, of course that island being hit by a hurricane, well, not that dream – worthy anymore! 😊

I was very eager to start with this book, as I have previous books for this author and I loved them all and they for all made me laugh, even out loud.

So when I reached the end, I was a bit sad, because this book didn’t make me really laugh at loud. I am not saying that I didn’t enjoy the book, because I did, but maybe (and I hope the author will think badly about me…) I liked the previous book just better.

It all starts with a flashback, bringing us back seven years ago, the right moment where Carrie’s heart got broken by Luke, and a heartfelt letter in an attempt to make the wrongdoings right again. And the regret of Luke’s actions is so palpable from the written words, making me even hope (in vain) that Carrie and Luke will get their second chance. Which they won’t as otherwise we wouldn’t be reading this story.

Despite the heartbreak that Carrie had, and the consequential backlash of it, Carrie is now finally reaching the dream of becoming a partner of the firm she is working for. She has worked hard to get to this point, and she knows that perhaps lately she has said more “yes” to requests, making her life rather hectic. But the end justifies the means, right?

While I liked it how Carrie was pursuing her dreams careerwise, it saddened me to read how not only she doesn’t have that significant other in her life, and even worse, how her heartbreak seven years ago truly scarred her.

But slowly getting to know that history, I could perfectly understand the devastation she has felt back then and also the hatred she started to feel and still feels for Luke.

Even if Carrie is unaware of the link between Joe and Luke, I couldn’t wait to read the moment that Carrie sets her eyes on Luke once arriving on the island. Yes, I am that evil, enjoying to read those bits! 😊

Great part of the book, Carrie and Luke are truly enemies. They cannot even be kind to each other, and they cannot help themselves but throwing digs to each other. And even when they agree to keep things businesslike and be generally polite to each other (and nothing more), we see it takes great effort on both sides.

Because not only Carrie is hurt by Luke’s behaviour those years ago, Luke also got hurt by Carrie, as he believed and still believes that their relationship didn’t mean that much to her as it did to him. And her ghosting him that easily only proof that even further.

It’s so obvious that these two people should just sit together as adults and talk about the past and just clear the air between them? But as an outsider that is obviously easier said than done. Instead we see two people that are hurt and hurting each other. Yet it’s also clear that there is still something brewing, and it’s not only the storm.

Being stuck together, forces them to spend time together, giving them also the time to come clean about present misunderstandings and get to know each other once again, for real.

Like I said, the biggest part of the book Carrie and Luke were antagonists, and only later on in the book there is a shift between them. Perhaps I would have liked it to see that shift taking place earlier in the book. But on the other hand, it also makes sense that grudge, hurt and pain just doesn’t disappear that easily, and that it truly takes time to open up (again).

I enjoyed reading this book, as it shows that even after many years, there can be something simmering between exes. But it isn’t that easy to let go of the past, and go for a second chance. We see in this book that perhaps being stuck can be exactly what we need, to face our fears and our pains. And that how scary it can be to open up again, love always deserves a second chance.