Match Made in Paradise (Paradise, Alaska #1) by Barbara Dunlop
Publication Date: May 25th 2021 by Berkley Books
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
My
Thoughts:
Mia just lost her much older husband to a long-time illness and is
being made the gold-digger villain in the press by her step-kids and the ex-wife.
The media is stalking her and she’s getting death threats, but even worse her step-kids
and the ex are contesting the will and trying to take over the company Mia has
had a big part in making successful. While the lawyers battle it out, she
decides to lay low until it blows over by escaping to her cousin Raven’s
cottage in the Alaskan wilderness. Mia has a bit of culture shock being out in
the middle of nowhere, and clashes with the hot bush pilot sent to pick her up
in Anchorage.
Silas can’t believe Mia is Raven’s cousin. Yes, she’s
gorgeous but she comes off as a snob and a half whereas Raven is down-to-earth
and capable. Paradise is a small town and Silas’ job is intertwined with Raven’s
so Mia and Silas can’t help but run into each other.
Match Made in Paradise gave me The Simple Wild vibe,
but with adult characters, not new-adultish. Mia made me cringe and roll my
eyes at first, but she made great positive strides. She wasn’t a bad person,
just out of touch with how the real-world works. There was even more of a
contrast here because not only was Paradise an extremely small town; it was very
remote. Not many creature comforts, shopping, or restaurants to be had, but Mia
was a good person, and it wasn’t long before she adjusted.
I love the setting of Alaska as it’s somewhere I’d love to
visit. I love the idea of a town out in the middle of a beautiful, almost
untouched wilderness, rustic with small-town charm.
While Mia recently lost her husband, they were more good friends than romantic partners, so the romance wasn't odd. It was something I was wondering about at first, so I thought I'd mention that. The romance was a hate-to-love
romance, one of my favorite troupes. Mia and Silas didn’t exactly hate each
other, but they didn’t really like the person they thought they saw. Getting to know each other both Mia and Silas start
to discover they may have made snap judgements, and that immediate physical
attraction blooms into more despite their misgivings. Their romance was both
sweet and sexy and a pleasure to experience!
I can’t wait to dive into the next book, Finding Paradise,
with Marnie, Mia’s lawyer and Conrad, the strong, silent airplane pilot!
Book Description:
Supermodel Mia Westberg finds herself on the run from the
paparazzi after the death of her much older husband. In order to stay out of
the public eye until the fate of her late husband’s fashion house is decided,
Mia leaves behind her lavish Los Angeles lifestyle for the wilderness of
Alaska—a place where no reporter would follow. It’s immediately clear that Mia
isn’t ready for everything Paradise, Alaska has in store for her: the wild
animals, insanely harsh weather, and a gorgeous no-nonsense bush pilot who is
immune to her charms.
When pilot Silas Burke flies a beautiful blonde into
town, he thinks he has her all figured out from the jump. She’s a city girl who
has no business in the rough Alaskan terrain. Silas decides against his better
judgment to help Mia acclimate to life in Paradise after seeing her struggle.
But he’s an impatient teacher and she’s a frustrated pupil—and nothing gets
them more fired up than each other. Can these two polar opposites find common
ground and let their hearts soar?
About the author:
Barbara Dunlop is a New York Times and USA
Today bestselling author who has published more than fifty novels. Her
stories have ranged from lighthearted comedies to family sagas. Barbara is a
four-time finalist for the RWA RITA award, and her Tule novel His Jingle
Bell Princess has been optioned by Motion Picture Corporation of America
for a Hallmark movie. Barbara resides in Yukon, Canada with her bush pilot
husband. You can find her at www.barbaradunlop.com.
The wonderful people at Berkley kindly provided a Paperback Copy of Match Made in Paradise I'm giving it away to one lucky reader. The giveaway is open to US Residents only. Fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win. Good luck!
No I have never been to Alaska but would love to go.
ReplyDeleteMe too! The hubby would like to take a cruise there sometime, but I'm not sure I'd ever go on a cruise ship again. :)
DeleteI love when a character grows right in front of your eyes. I've never read The Simple Wild so I can't say I understand the comparison. Lol. it's on my TBR for sure.
ReplyDeleteI do like positive character growth and Mia really needed it! The Simple Wild is one of my all-time favorite stories! I think you'd love it, Joy!
DeleteAlaska is the only state I have not visited. I was actually planning a cruise and then Covid. Now I am not sure I will ever do a cruise. I have enjoyed reading several books about Alaska past and present though.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
I did an Alaskan cruise for my daughter's high school graduation and loved it! The super long days were weird for me, but it's a beautiful state.
ReplyDeleteThat Alaskan setting is always so great! It's one I find irresistible. I'll definitely be checking this one out. :D
ReplyDeleteI can get behind a bad first impressions type of hate to love and a city gal country guy trope. I want to visit Alaska so I enjoy when an Alaska setting is well described. Enjoyed your review, Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Alaska three times. Twice as a kid camping and fishing for the entire summer. And once as an adult, visiting my parents who were camp hosts in Eagle River outside of Anchorage for the summer.
ReplyDeleteI never have!
ReplyDeleteAye, sounds like a good one to me
ReplyDeleteI’d like to go
ReplyDelete