Review: Island in the Sun

Island in the Sun by Katie Fforde
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cass is a sheltered youngest child of a gifted photographer. When her father invites her to visit him on his remote Scottish island home she is excited, but also apprehensive because she doesn't know how to tell him that she doesn't want to be a teacher and that her passion is sketching rather than photography. However, she doesn't get a chance to tell him before he asks her to visit the island of Dominica to deliver an old map to the son of a friend. The map will hopefully allow him to find some ancient stone carvings alleged to have been seen on the island.

However, before Cass can begin her journey the island is hit by a severe hurricane, now her mission is to render assistance (if she can) and hand over the map. Her father ropes in his neighbour and journalist Ranulph, some ten years her senior, who has been to Dominica before and can help Cass.

Although everyone treats Cass as if she is eighteen instead of in her mid-twenties, she has hidden talents such as having taken a first aid course and an off-road driving course - both of which prove to be invaluable when they get to Dominica.

For some reason Cass has fallen in love with Ranulph despite having had very few conversations with him as far as I can tell, unfortunately they run into one of his older, glamorous ex-girlfriends on the island and the two of them seem to be cosying up. In addition, the map which Cass is carrying could help her father's friend's son win an archaeology competition with a large cash prize, something which is being hotly contested by one of his more obnoxious guests.

Despite the unusual setting, this is 100% Katie Fforde, she has tried to mix it up by not making her heroine a blushing virgin but all the trademark signs are there: artistic, quiet, overlooked heroine with older, wiser hero, bullying by other characters and mild threats of violence. Thing is, I love me a bit of that romance, its like catnip for me :)

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

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