Review: Island in the Sun by Janice Horton

Island in the Sun by Janice Horton

Release Date: 4th January 2019
Publisher: Thornhill Print

Genres: Contemporary Romance

When successful jewellery designer Isla Ashton unexpectedly inherits her eccentric Aunt Kate’s Caribbean island, she is obligated to return to the place she associates with heartache and regret. To where she grew up and fell in love with her childhood friend, Leo Fernandez. Fully intent on selling the island and finally putting the past behind her, Isla is soon compelled to put together the pieces of what really happened on a fateful night ten-years before. She begins to believe that in going to prison, Leo hadn’t only been shielding her from the same fate. She also starts to suspect that her late Aunt hadn’t been entirely honest in sending her away under the guise of recriminations. Who had they both been protecting and why?

I'm sitting writing this review and outside its pouring icy rain down. In April!!!  I long to be back in this wonderful book and escape once again to Pearl Island and its inhabitants. Janice Horton's descriptions of Pearl Island and the wonderful cast of characters instantly transported me to sunnier climes. 

The book shifts from present day to 10 years previously plus we get a glimpse further into the past through various diaries that the main character Isla is left by her late aunt Kate. Isla has returned to Pearl Island when she is informed of her Aunt's passing. She hasn't been to the island in 10 years after she was effectively banished by her aunt. We aren't immediately told the reason for this but instead find out through flashbacks to a time when Isla, only 16 years old falls for Leo, a sea gypsy. I adored this description..............sea gypsy. It totally captured my imagination!

Isla soon discovers that she has inherited the island from her aunt much to her horror and she can't wait to sell it and move back to Edinburgh and the life she has built for herself. She's now effectively a very wealthy woman and the world is her oyster! However, the island holds many secrets and the past and aunt Kate's diaries are full of mystery. Kate was not the woman Isla thought she was and as skeleton's continue to fall out of the closet, Isla is more than a little surprised by what she discovers. Isla must face her demons and also face Leo who she hasn't seen since she left the island. There is much to resolve.

This is a mesmerizing read and I simply adore a good mystery, particularly when there are old diaries / journals involved with secrets hidden within. A cracking read from Janice Horton who never fails to deliver a good story. Highly recommended.

  

ABOUT JANICE HORTON

Janice Horton, also affectionately known as the backpacking housewife, writes contemporary romantic fiction with a dash of humour and a sense of adventure. Once her three children had grown up, Janice and her backpacking husband sold their empty nest in Scotland UK along with almost everything they owned and set off to travel the world. Since then they have been traveling full-time and have explored over 50 countries, living out of an apartment, a hut, or wherever they happen to find themselves.

Janice works as a writer wherever she is in the world. When not writing bestselling romantic adventure novels, she writes lifestyle and travel features for her website and her work has featured in national and international magazines like ‘Prima’ in the UK and ‘Friday’ in Dubai. She has also been involved in BBC Scotland’s Write Here Write Now project and has been interviewed on many podcasts and radio shows including Loose Women’s Kaye Adams’ prime time BBC Radio Scotland Show.

Social Media Links 

Website: https://thebackpackinghousewife.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceHorton

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/janicehortonwriter/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JaniceHortonAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/janice-horton