Just Another Day in Paradise

Whatever the name, Dara Joy, Justine Dare, Justine Davis, she always gives you strong characters and a worthwhile story. This is the first in the Redstone Incorporated series (Silhouette Intimate Moments, No. 1141) centering on the resort empire created by Joshua Redstone. In this one, it's not just another day in paradise! Single mom, Paige Cooper has been hired to teach children on the distant paradise resort in the Redstone chain, just getting ready to open. She is thrilled for the opportunity because it gets her rebellious 15-year-old son away from the gang violence of Los Angeles. However, the son hates the move and is making it hard on mom. The serenity of the peaceful island starts to crack when Noah Rider, head of shakedowns before opening, comes to checkout the new resort. 5 years ago, Paige's jerk husband died in a plane crash - with his girlfriend - and Rider had been sent by Redstone to help her with arrangements. Numb with shock, Paige gets a double slap on the day of the funeral, when divorce papers are served. Her husband had planned to leave her and wanted nothing of their son; he was starting a new life with his girlfriend. In her sorrow, she turned to Noah, but before anything serious happened, they were interrupted. During the past five years, Noah and Paige have relived their mistake and with a strong helping of regret. Paige only held on knowing no one knew of her husband's betrayal. She is shocked to find Redstone sent Noah to the resort, but they quickly make peace with him, each taking a share of the blame. But Paige is distraught to learn not only did Noah know of the divorce papers, but most of Redstone did. That humiliation is quickly supplanted and shown just how unimportant, when terrorist storm Paige's Classroom and take her and the kids hostage. Noah is determined to save everyone, and win Paige's love. The characters are very human, with very real problems. This writer gives you a strong, believable storyline, as she does always.

As a huge fan of Justine Davis', I am pleased that she is back with a new series. This book is the first book in the Redstone, Inc series and it is an thrilling and exciting beginning and we meet many characters that I hope get their own stories. Justine Davis does an excellent job with what I think is a strong hero with an equally, if not stronger, heroine. The strength and determination of Paige was a delight to see. Paige put herself on the line many times for the children and the others all the while being terribly frightened but determined to be strong and find a way out. While Noah doesn't claim to be superman, and doesn't have the knowledge of how to escape terrorists, he uses his intelligence to outwit them. He is an ordinary man who will do anything to protect the people he cares about. This story packed a wallop of excitement and adventure and two characters who are halves of each other and they share their strengths, knowledge and determination with each other and forging an unbreakable bond. We also see a sullen and angry at the world young teen become a hero himself while helping Paige and Noah in their fight for freedom. I am eager for the next book in this series and knowing Justine Davis' work, books filled with danger, romance, action and excitement.