Sandy M’s review of Island in the Sea by Anita Hughes
Contemporary Romance published by St. Martin’s Griffin 12 Apr 16
This is my first book by Anita Hughes. Between the cover and the blurb, there was something that pulled at me to read this story. Soothing and calm beaches and one of the world’s most beautiful cities as a backdrop to broken hearts and finding love again. Unfortunately, that doesn’t even come close to what I got.
At the start of the story I did relate to both Juliet and Lionel as I got to know them. But suddenly I was reading more about what the characters were eating, what everyone was wearing, and they seemed to be stuck in a rut of sorts – starting the day out in the same way, standing at the same balcony or routinely doing some other activity, and other details that became monotonous very quickly. On top of that, I never felt the connection between Lionel and Juliet. If Lionel’s name hadn’t been mentioned in the blurb, I’d never have known he was the hero of the book. In between all of this, however, Ms. Hughes does a nice job of describing the city and its citizens, countryside, and the aforementioned food, even if on too frequent a scale.
Lionel is a famous songwriter, having written the biggest hit of the century. But his muse has left him and he’s behind in getting his current assignment turned in to the record label. Actually, it’s more that’s he refusing to send anymore work to Gideon, the man who helped make him famous and also caused his greatest heartache. The story weaves in and out of the present, introducing Lionel’s past up to that heartbreaking moment when everything seems lost. He’s telling the story to Juliet to try to get her understanding as to why she probably will go back to the states without a new song, thus probably losing her job. Music is her life, though, and she’s not about to let that happen.
We do get to meet local characters, including Gabriella, whose family owns a restaurant where Juliet spends a lot of time. Come to find out, Gabriella has a wonderful voice, so maybe Juliet can appease her boss with a new star since the current one is dragging his feet. There’s also a well-known tennis player who is a love interest for Juliet, but for some reason she can’t commit to him, despite being in paradise where love should blossom. It’s just blossoming where she doesn’t expect. I didn’t expect it either at first. It’s not until well into the story that we get the first clue from Lionel that he has feelings for Juliet. They’ve had a few conversations, shared some coffee and a meal or two, and he’s told his story in pieces – nothing that tells a reader these two are remotely attracted to one another. Juliet is even slower on the uptake than I was.
It’s like there was a formula the author had in mind, and the characters did the same thing over and over again at the start of most chapters. And as much as I like food, I really did get tired of every meal being described down to the last ingredient in the sauce and the like. We even get the typical misunderstanding in Gabriella’s relationship with her future husband, no asking or talking things over to figure out what’s going on. Let’s just take off and start life anew somewhere else. Though I do have to give credit where it’s due, that particular scenario was nipped in the bud before it got too out of control.
Unfortunately for me, while the book started out on a high note, especially that beautiful cover, it never struck a chord with me and ended on a very low note. Not a great first impression of Ms. Hughes’s books to make me want to pick up another.
Grade: C-
Summary:
Juliet Lyman is a senior executive at Yesterday Records. Music is her passion and she’s very good at her job. That’s why her famously philanthropic boss Gideon sends her to Majorca, Spain to work with a very tortured, but talented client. Lionel Harding is one of the best song writers of the 20th century, the multi-Grammy award-winning lyricist of the third most recorded song in history. But now he’s 42 and six months overdue on the his latest paid assignment. Juliet is not leaving Majorca without either new lyrics or a very large check.
To Juliet, business comes first. Emotions are secondary, and love isn’t even on the menu. But to Lionel, love is everything, and he blames Gideon for his broken heart. He’s determined to show Juliet that nothing is more important than love, but Juliet is just as determined to get Lionel to create the music that made him famous. If she can sign up local talent, even better. Her new friend Gabriella has a voice like an angel, but she’s not interested in fame. Her grandmother, Lydia, wants the world for Gabriella, and she wants Juliet’s help to give it to her.
As her professional and personal lives start to mix for the first time, Juliet is forced to reevaluate her priorities. Gideon hasn’t been totally honest, and love may be the only thing that gives them all what they need.
No excerpt available.
