The author utilises her family experiences to write this book but to me it should have stayed within the family.
The story was slow and very predictable.
I would only recommend the book to someone who struggles to sleep because it's so limp

Dominica is painted as a very attractive and desirable place to be. The idyllic location is soon rocked by a severe hurricane hitting its shores and interfering with community life. Katie Fford captures the contrast in between the calm, serene scenery and the destructive nature of the storm, beautifully.

Cass is on a mission from her father to photograph a rare stone carving in Dominica, where she also meets Ranulph. He's well travelled and interesting, so very quickly becomes a character you want to know more about. He's a journalist, so of course is curious about Cass, since she's on the hunt for something rare.
When the hurricane hits, there's a more genuine warm-heartedness about the characters as they want to help the community get through the devastation.

Romance is in the air and oozes off the page, just like the romance of the location does. It's a very different sort of romance from the norm, which I rather liked. I won't say too much about that as I feel it's something to be explored as you read the book. It certainly adds much interest to the characters as its played out.

Island in the Sun is a rather interesting escapist read that embodies romance and danger.

Katie Fforde amazing as always!

Another classic Katie, great characters to invest in,found me left wanting a sequel!

Another lovely read from Katie FForde, we are taken to two extremes, the wild islands of Scotland and then the warmth of the Caribbean. Cass has a wonderful and empowering adventure in which she discovers her talents and starts to feel in control of her life without being brought down by the expectations of her parents and siblings, and now she knows that she can have a career to please her and not them.
The story also has a mystery vein which has to be solved for Bastian which Cass helps with.
With Katie's love of the island of Dominica showing, we were also able to have intertwined in the story the devastation that hurricanes leave behind and how islanders cope with this before and after the event, this was very atmospheric. Lets get out the rum punch!

I'm happy that Katie Fforde wrote another novel set in XXI century. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, rooted for the characters and loved the fast paced plot.
Well done
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book transports readers to the captivating island of Dominica, where Cass embarks on a mission to photograph a rare stone carving. Accompanied by the charismatic journalist Ranulph, their journey takes an unexpected turn as they find themselves aiding the local community in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane. Despite Cass's resolve to keep her feelings in check, sparks fly between her and Ranulph. As they navigate the challenges of the storm-ravaged island, Cass grapples with her growing affection for Ranulph and wonders if his kindness could possibly signal something more. This tropical romance explores the power of love in the face of adversity.

You’re always in safe hands when you pick up a Katie Fforde book, and Island in the Sun did not disappoint!

We join Cass as she sets off on an adventure to Dominica to deliver a map to Bastian; her father’s friend, which hopefully leads to the discovery of a petroglyph (don’t worry I had to google it too!) that can help the island in gaining some very well needed funding.

The island comes alive in this story, it really radiates off the pages how much Dominica means to the author and this makes each stunning backdrop stay in your mind for hours after reading it. We witness the island at its most serene moments and its most deadly moments, and yet through Fforde’s vivid detail Dominica appears breathtakingly beautiful throughout.

It’s the perfect time for Cass to go on this trip as she’s just out of a relationship and struggling to decide what career path to take. With her dishy chaperone; Ranulph, Cass is ready for the biggest adventure of her life and she’s about to realise a LOT about herself. One of my favourite aspects of Fforde’s writing style is her ability to not be afraid to delve deep into her main characters and expose their vulnerabilities and this is seen in every part of this story with Cass, allowing the reader to develop a really strong connection with her… even when she’s being naive!

To sum it up this book was mesmerising, packed full of adventure and cheerful… it was a pure delight to read and definitely takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that I won’t spoil for you – but trust me – it packs a punch!

Katie Fforde is one of my go-to authors but I struggled to enjoy this book.
I found the characters quite shallow and the story itself didn't keep me hooked. Sorry!

I love Katie Ffordes books. And I really enjoyed this but the main character was younger than in a lot of Katie’s previous books. So whilst I enjoyed it, I also missed a heroine who was over 30.

This was a beautifully writen, warm and envelopping romantic read. I was sucked in right from the beginning, Cass was a character that seemed familiar, she's trying to fulfil a favour to her father, Ranulph is trying to help her but the island they are on has just been hit by a terrible hurricane so theyre helping out the locals. I was totally engrossed and enjoyed every aspect of this.

I enjoyed this story and think it wold be a great holiday read. It was a bit different to Katie's usual stories, set in the aftermath of a storm on a Caribbean island but still had that warm, easy to read romance, mixed messages and confusion that make her books so enjoyable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for my copy 1.5/5 rounded to 2

Absolutely terrible book this!

It’s a romance about a young girl (who is revealed to be a 25 year old woman but is treated as a teenager throughout) and an older man (never revealed how much older) who fall in love after her famous photographer father sends her to Dominica with a treasure map (I kid you not) of an ancient petroglyph accompanied only by strong protector Ranulph, her father’s wannabe biographer.

The romance between these characters is flat as a pancake with the marriage proposal coming out of nowhere at all! The character of Ranulph is so unfleshed out as to be a cipher, and I have no idea of why she’s in love with him beyond him being alright looking, in fact I don’t think even SHE knows why she loves him!

The book is ridden with cliches - older man, conveniently rich love interest and father, overlooked but secretly super talented heroine (how was she paying for all those courses - off road driving, first aid etc. - and wtf was she taking them?), dreamy location filled with charming ‘rustic’ locals (yuk!), millions to be had from publishing and journalism, a dumb villain… I could go on.

Its saving grace is in its descriptions of the island and the aftermath of a hurricane - I just wish we really knew why either our heroine or her beloved were there!

Don’t read this. But Katie Fforde should write a real book about Dominica.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I highly recommend you settle down with a favourite snack at hand and just sit back and enjoy. The storytelling is sublime, so warm and cosy like a big hug. The characters are relatable (although I would hope Austin doesn’t appear in too many people’s lives) and the setting divine. A great read.

Thank you Netgalley

Slightly different from Katie Fforde's other books, this one is set on the island of Dominica in the Caribbean in the aftermath of a storm. Cass has travelled to the island to take some photos of a stone monument for her father. Their relationship is complicated, and this is a way to re-connect. A friend of her father's, travel journalist Ranalph, is going too. Once there, the stone proves difficult to find, and, following the storm, impossible. Ranalph and Cass then focus on helping the community, but another scholar is also trying to find the stone, and with Cass now distracted, can seize his chance... An adventure as well as a romance, this is great escapist fiction that offers a little more ...

I was really looking forward to reading this new book by Katie as I hadn't read one of hers in quite some time. I felt this was a bit different from her other books I have read - and I think it was the overseas location. On reading the bit at the end about Katie's connection to the island that everything fell into place. I sort of wish I had known the connection when I started reading. An enjoyable story.

Another great book by Katie, I really enjoyed the story and the characters. A great beach read.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

This book is largely set on Dominica island in the Caribbean, and it is an adventure romance story about finding an archaeological treasure and navigating after hurricanes. I just couldn’t get into the book, characters, nor pacing.

In this, the latest novel from Katie Fforde whose writing has perhaps taken a different turn since her earlier novels. This one takes us to the Caribbean and Dominica, via a remote Scottish island.

Cass is an artist, not a photographer like her renowned father. It has been an issue all of her life, but now he has entrusted her with a special map, an old camera and a request to photograph some stone carvings. Surely she can fulfil this one thing for him? However when Dominica is hit by a devastating hurricane, Cass along with Ranaulph who has accompanied her finds her focus is on help and rebuilding this beautiful place. As she starts to embrace all of the changes in her life, can she perhaps see what is obvious to her and everyone around her.

This book is full of the laughter and romance you would accept but also, the mystery of the carvings, the impact and devastation of a natural disaster and the way anyone can rebuild from nothing to forge a life for themselves. If an island can do it, so can Cass and Ranaulph surely?

I haven't read any Katie Fforde books for a few years. This one was quite different to the others I had read though I did enjoy it. It was set in an unusual place with intrigue, suspense and of course love. It was lovely to read how it all unfolded and kept my interest all through the book. It is a life adventure with some great characters and insight into Dominica Well worth a read.

We follow the journey of Cass whose father is a well-known photographer. He invites her to the remote Scottish Isle where he lives and asked her to travel to Dominica to find some rare paintings. He also enlists the help of his friend Ranulph. But the remote island has just been hit be a severe hurricane, leaving destruction in its wake. The pair have a harder task than they imagined. Whilst on the island she also finds herself falling for the man some years older than her. And has to decide where her true feelings lie.

Let me start by saying I love the front cover of this book, but unfortunately the writing style just didn't work for me. It was all a little too stop, start and some of the storyline just wasn't believable, and I found myself rolling my eyes. I guess I just didn't gel with the characters and found them lacking. There was no build up to her feelings towards Ranulph it was almost one minute she liked him, the next chapter she was madly in love.

The description of the Island and its people were the best thing about the book. I have been fortunate to travel to a few Caribbean islands and know how quickly the weather can change and the devastation it can cause within such a short space of time so I thought she had done her research really well. But this book was definitely not as good of some of the authors other works I have read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I will read other books by the author. But this one was not one of her best.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.