Lost in Paradise by Rachel Lacey is a beautiful castaway romance that proves sometimes love has to be lost before it can be found.
Nicole Morella, a recently divorced New Yorker who has treated herself to a Mediterranean cruise and meets Fiona Boone, a British artist living in France, on their first night, sparks fly. Unfortunately, their night is interrupted when their ship is hijacked by pirates. The two women escape the situation by commandeering a lifeboat and setting themselves adrift at sea. When their boat washes up on a deserted island the two must do whatever they can to survive until help arrives. But when an injury puts Fiona’s life in danger, the two begin to worry that help won’t arrive in time. If they survive this ordeal, Fiona might face her biggest challenge yet: falling in love.
Writing
Lost in Paradise is written in the third person from the point of view of both main characters. The story combines exciting moments with drama and romance. The terror that grips Nicole and Fiona when their cruise ship is hijacked by pirates is palpable as is their ongoing battle with the elements at sea and on the deserted island they happen upon. It’s clear that Rachel Lacey researched lifeboats and survival on a deserted island in order to make Nicole and Fiona’s journey more realistic. The aftermath of their rescue is detailed, emotional, and completely riveting. I honestly hung on Rachel Lacey’s every word.
Narration
I’ve read Lost in Paradise countless times since its release in 2019 and when I heard that it was coming to audio, I was downright giddy! Ellie Gossage is a new to me narrator and with the work she’s done with this audio, she has catapulted herself right up there on a pedestal with my beloved narrators! She does an absolutely stellar job bringing Nicole and Fiona’s tale to life. Fiona’s sexy British accent is exactly what I imagined each time I read this story over the years. Nicole’s deeper timbre perfectly encompasses her character perfectly. Both of their voices are carried throughout the course of the story and the emotions Ellie Gossage conveys with smiles in her voice. hitches in her breathing, and sighs of pleasure make this a truly excellent listen.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Lost in Paradise is one of my favorite books of all time! It has two sexy main characters whose chemistry is off the charts, drama, and a fight for survival. Their adventures are exciting and their romance is swoon-worthy.
On the surface, Fiona appears confident, brave, and calm in the face of danger. She takes the lead as the rescuer on the ship, in the lifeboat, and on the island. Yet as time goes by and she begins to show vulnerability, my heart simply melted for her. As a fellow yogi, I appreciate a main character whose yoga and meditation practices are an integral part of her life. Fiona’s layers are deep, bearing a lot of scars. She’s a survivor on multiple levels who has closed herself off to others for self-preservation and has never really had someone in her corner. As she allows Nicole in, and her walls start to crack, her uncertainties and anxieties skyrocket, and are carefully ordered world is shaken. I could honestly feel her anguish as she questions everything she’s ever known. I have to say that her character arc is a really powerful element in this story.
Nicole doesn’t go through as grand an arc as Fiona but she does come to realize that she’s stronger than she ever imagined possible. Her steady presence, thoughtful reflections, and positive outlook help to level Fiona’s tumultuous emotions.
Nicole and Fiona’s stolen glances and mutual admiration while floating on the Mediterranean in an adrift lifeboat help to accelerate their connection so when they land on the deserted island, they can barely keep their hands off each other. It’s sexy, steamy, and so delicious. Once they’re rescued and they both try to go back to their lives (on separate continents no less), that connection they found on the Mediterranean won’t let either one go. This time is essential to both of their arcs and is as adorable as it is frustrating. These are clear emotions of a stellar read!
Heads Up
Trigger warning for past sexual abuse.
The Conclusion
From the moment Fiona and Nicole meet on the first night of their cruise, their lives are never the same. There’s a hijacked ship, pirates, a fully stocked lifeboat, injuries, a fight for survival, and throughout everything, a sweet and sexy romance. Both main characters are relatable women with backstories that shape who they’ve become. This is not only a story of survival, it’s a story of letting go of the past in order to have a future with the one you’re meant to be with. There’s bravery, honesty, acceptance, and vulnerability. I adore everything about this book and the audio only enhances the narrative! I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Excerpt from Lost in Paradise by Rachel Lacey
About halfway down the bar, a blonde in a red dress sat talking to the man beside her. The seat to her right was empty, and Nicole decided to take it. She crossed the room and slid onto the empty stool, setting her black clutch on the polished wood in front of her. Keeping her back angled slightly toward the man on her other side, who had already begun to eye her with curiosity, she held the bartender’s gaze as he sidled over. “Do you have a house red?”
“Yes, ma’am. It’s a cabernet blend from Veneto. Very smooth. Would you like to try it?”
“If you like red, you should try the Petit Verdot,” a husky British voice said. “It’s from Bordeaux, very full-bodied, with just a hint of berries.”
Nicole turned to find the woman to her left watching her out of sky-blue eyes as she swirled the contents of her wineglass. “The Petit Verdot?”
“It’s excellent.” The blonde swiveled to face her, tucking an unruly strand of thick, wavy hair away from her face. She looked to be about Nicole’s age—mid-thirties. Light freckles spattered her forehead and chest that, combined with her wild hair and direct stare, lent her a sort of unconventional beauty that Nicole found it difficult to look away from.
“I’ll, um, I’ll try a glass of that,” Nicole told the bartender.
He nodded, moving down the bar to pour her drink.
“American, hm?” the blonde said, still watching her.
Nicole nodded, inexplicably flushed and tongue-twisted when she herself hadn’t had even a sip of alcohol yet tonight. She’d booked herself a private Mediterranean cruise to find her footing after the divorce, and she had every intention of doing it alone. Yet, here she was, heart racing for a total stranger. It had been a long time since she’d felt this kind of attraction and even longer since she’d felt it for a woman. “I’m from New York. And you?”
The blonde swirled her wineglass again before taking a sip. “I live just outside Nice, along the southern coast of France.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-1732151956
Publisher: Indie Author
Audiobook Publisher: Tantor Audio
Narrator: Ellie Gossage
Audiobook Length: 6 hours 19 Minutes
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