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Island Promises: An Anthology
Hawaiian Holiday by RaeAnne Thayne
The Ex-Wife
Megan McNeil is genuinely happy to escort her little girls to their father's wedding in Kauai, Hawaii—even though she feels like a third wheel. One gorgeous groomsman definitely disagrees. But are they both carrying too much baggage to begin a new romance?
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella
The Best Man
Devlin Marshall won't let anything spoil his buddy's big day—not even his own rocky marriage. Secrets and mistrust have divided him from his Amy, but the love in the air seems to be catching….
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks
The Sister
Family comes first. Deep down, Gabi Foster knows it, but this holiday is hurting her career. Can a sweet, sexy surfing instructor convince her that love is worth more than a business deal?
The Ex-Wife
Megan McNeil is genuinely happy to escort her little girls to their father's wedding in Kauai, Hawaii—even though she feels like a third wheel. One gorgeous groomsman definitely disagrees. But are they both carrying too much baggage to begin a new romance?
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella
The Best Man
Devlin Marshall won't let anything spoil his buddy's big day—not even his own rocky marriage. Secrets and mistrust have divided him from his Amy, but the love in the air seems to be catching….
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks
The Sister
Family comes first. Deep down, Gabi Foster knows it, but this holiday is hurting her career. Can a sweet, sexy surfing instructor convince her that love is worth more than a business deal?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
41 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
RaeAnne Thayne
310 books3,855 followersI'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 26, 2016
Anthology with three stories that all revolve around the same destination wedding in Kauai, Hawaii.
Hawaiian Holiday by RaeAnne Thayne - Megan, the groom's ex-wife, heads to Kauai with her young twin daughters so the girls can participate in their father's wedding. She never expects to find love herself with the bride's handsome and charming brother, Shane. This was a cute and very enjoyable story with beautiful Hawaiian scenery throughout. Shane was a real dreamboat of a hero and Megan was pretty great herself. Megan and Shane had wonderful chemistry and I loved how kind and caring he was with her two daughters. The little girls were complete darlings and so endearing. Great story.
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella - Devlin is the groom's best friend and Best Man at his wedding. Devlin and his wife, Amy, are about to be divorced, but for appearances sake agree to act like a happy couple while at their friends' wedding. Devlin has no problem with this but Amy is having a hard time with this pretense. She thinks Devlin cheated on her (he didn't) and she doesn't trust or believe him when he says he is innocent. She is insanely jealous because he is handsome and gets a lot of attention from the ladies, even though he has told her that it is only her that he wants. Amy completely ruined this story for me with her endless sarcasm and snide remarks to Devlin. She acted immature and childish and was constantly being argumentative. She was also keeping her pregnancy a secret from him, intending to tell him about it after the divorce was final. The only way this story would have worked for me was if he divorced her and found someone more deserving of him. My least favorite story of the three.
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks - Gabi is the groom's half-sister and she's reluctantly taking time off from her job to come to his wedding. She loves her brother but she's also obsessed with her work. Lucky for her that hot and hunky surfing instructor, Finn, is making her downtime a lot easier. This was an enjoyable and fun read and I really liked both main characters. Finn moved to Hawaii to take care of his young nephew, Kai, when Kai's parents died in an accident. Not only was Finn gorgeous but I loved his dedication to raising Kai. Kai was a real cutie and I liked how he and Gabi bonded together so quickly. I liked seeing Gabi come to realize that there was more to life than work. The island scenery was lovely in this one and the story was engaging.
Hawaiian Holiday by RaeAnne Thayne - Megan, the groom's ex-wife, heads to Kauai with her young twin daughters so the girls can participate in their father's wedding. She never expects to find love herself with the bride's handsome and charming brother, Shane. This was a cute and very enjoyable story with beautiful Hawaiian scenery throughout. Shane was a real dreamboat of a hero and Megan was pretty great herself. Megan and Shane had wonderful chemistry and I loved how kind and caring he was with her two daughters. The little girls were complete darlings and so endearing. Great story.
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella - Devlin is the groom's best friend and Best Man at his wedding. Devlin and his wife, Amy, are about to be divorced, but for appearances sake agree to act like a happy couple while at their friends' wedding. Devlin has no problem with this but Amy is having a hard time with this pretense. She thinks Devlin cheated on her (he didn't) and she doesn't trust or believe him when he says he is innocent. She is insanely jealous because he is handsome and gets a lot of attention from the ladies, even though he has told her that it is only her that he wants. Amy completely ruined this story for me with her endless sarcasm and snide remarks to Devlin. She acted immature and childish and was constantly being argumentative. She was also keeping her pregnancy a secret from him, intending to tell him about it after the divorce was final. The only way this story would have worked for me was if he divorced her and found someone more deserving of him. My least favorite story of the three.
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks - Gabi is the groom's half-sister and she's reluctantly taking time off from her job to come to his wedding. She loves her brother but she's also obsessed with her work. Lucky for her that hot and hunky surfing instructor, Finn, is making her downtime a lot easier. This was an enjoyable and fun read and I really liked both main characters. Finn moved to Hawaii to take care of his young nephew, Kai, when Kai's parents died in an accident. Not only was Finn gorgeous but I loved his dedication to raising Kai. Kai was a real cutie and I liked how he and Gabi bonded together so quickly. I liked seeing Gabi come to realize that there was more to life than work. The island scenery was lovely in this one and the story was engaging.
January 16, 2015
Hawaiian Holiday by RaeAnne Thayne
The Ex-Wife — Megan McNeil is genuinely happy to escort her little girls to their father's wedding in Kauai, Hawaii-even though she feels like a third wheel. One gorgeous groomsman definitely disagrees. But are they both carrying too much baggage to begin a new romance?
Very good story. Megan is on her way to Kauai, taking her two little girls to be in their father's wedding. She feels a little awkward, attending as the ex-wife, but she's willing to put that aside for the girls. On the plane she is introduced to the bride's brother Shane, who turns out to be the injured cope she had flirted with in the ER the month before. She's a little embarrassed about her actions that night, but after a sincere apology, she and Shane seem to hit it off.
I loved the quick connection between Megan and Shane. There's some pretty strong attraction, but both of them try to resist. Megan's hands are full as a nurse and single mother of two girls, one of whom has special needs. She doesn't have time for a relationship. Shane's reasons are even stronger. He and his sister grew up as children of parents who have had multiple marriages. He remembers the unhappiness of being caught in the middle of custody battles and responsibility fights and has sworn to stay away from women with children. He never wants to put a child through what he suffered.
Shane falls hard and fast for both Megan and her girls. I loved seeing him step in to help when Megan needed it, but he also found himself wanting just to be with them. I loved seeing him playing with them in the water, on the beach, and how sweet he was when he took them all on a tour of the island. My heart just melted when he danced with both girls at the wedding. I wanted to shake him when he was telling his sister why he couldn't pursue the relationship. Megan fell for Shane, too. Besides the attraction that was there, she just couldn't resist when she saw how wonderful he was with the girls. But can she overcome his reluctance to get involved?
I really liked the fact that Megan and her ex had such a good relationship. It's always nice seeing divorced parents acting like adults. I also loved the two little girls and the realistic way that life with a special needs child was portrayed. Grace wasn't shown as being pitiful, but as a real kid. Megan didn't whine about how hard life was, she just dealt with her reality.
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella
The Best Man — Devlin Marshall won't let anything spoil his buddy's big day-not even his own rocky marriage. Secrets and mistrust have divided him from his Amy, but the love in the air seems to be catching....
Devlin is best man at his friend's wedding and is expected to bring his wife along. No one knows that he and Amy have been having problems and are on the brink of divorce. He talks her into coming along and pretending that everything is fine. What he's really hoping for is a chance for them to make things right.
I loved Devlin. He is a really nice guy who deeply loves his wife. He is hurt and frustrated at her constant accusations of infidelity. I could not believe how much patience he had to put up with everything she says and does. I liked his comments about marriage at the rehearsal dinner and how it showed how committed he is to his own marriage.
I had a hard time liking Amy. Her constant belief that Devlin was being unfaithful was totally irrational. It might have been easier to be sympathetic to her if there had been some explanation of why she expects it of him just because he's good looking. As it is, she expects to see it, so she does. I hated that she didn't trust him to resist what other women were doing. Trying to keep her pregnancy a secret was just as bad.
I was glad to see that love prevailed at the end, but I really hope Amy gets some counseling for her issues before it starts to happen all over again.
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks
The Sister -- Family comes first. Deep down, Gabi Foster knows it, but this holiday is hurting her career. Can a sweet, sexy surfing instructor convince her that love is worth more than a business deal?
Gabi is the groom's half sister. She loves Nick and is happy to be going to the wedding, but the timing is terrible. She's got an important deal in the works that, if she can make it happen, just might convince her boss father of her commitment to her job. But a funny thing happens on her first day on the island. She meets a man who can actually distract her from working all the time.
I liked Gabi a lot. She determined and focused, but she's also sweet. She loves her brother and is worried about whether his second marriage is the right thing. She still loves her ex-sister-in-law and feels a bit awkward about the divorce. Although she's cautious about her brother's fiancee, by the end she knows she has noting to worry about. Gaby is also a bit competitive, which gets her sucked into a surfing lesson with Nick and his friends, including her ex-boyfriend. It's there that she meets Finn, the surfing instructor. There's an instant attraction between them, and when her date for the wedding gets snowed in, Finn offers to step in.
Several years earlier, Finn had been a busy Wall Street executive. When his sister died, leaving him as guardian of her son, Finn left it all behind to come to Kauai and raise Kai. He set up his surf instructor business with the realization that he needed to have the right balance in his life to do well by his nephew. Staying in Hawaii, where Kai also has his extended family is the right thing for him to do. When he meets Gabi, there's something about her that he can't resist.
I loved seeing Gabi and Finn together. She's so focused on her work that she's forgotten how to have fun. Finn, having been in her shoes, is determined to show her a good time. Neither of them expects the strong attraction that grows deeper very quickly. I loved seeing the way that Finn supported Gabi, such as helping her with the project, but also showed her that there was more to life. I adored little Kai and the way that he bonded so quickly with Gabi. I loved seeing how happy Gabi was whenever she was with Finn. Neither of them could see any way for a future, with her in Chicago and him in Hawaii. I loved Gabi's last minute visit to Finn and what happened after it.
The Ex-Wife — Megan McNeil is genuinely happy to escort her little girls to their father's wedding in Kauai, Hawaii-even though she feels like a third wheel. One gorgeous groomsman definitely disagrees. But are they both carrying too much baggage to begin a new romance?
Very good story. Megan is on her way to Kauai, taking her two little girls to be in their father's wedding. She feels a little awkward, attending as the ex-wife, but she's willing to put that aside for the girls. On the plane she is introduced to the bride's brother Shane, who turns out to be the injured cope she had flirted with in the ER the month before. She's a little embarrassed about her actions that night, but after a sincere apology, she and Shane seem to hit it off.
I loved the quick connection between Megan and Shane. There's some pretty strong attraction, but both of them try to resist. Megan's hands are full as a nurse and single mother of two girls, one of whom has special needs. She doesn't have time for a relationship. Shane's reasons are even stronger. He and his sister grew up as children of parents who have had multiple marriages. He remembers the unhappiness of being caught in the middle of custody battles and responsibility fights and has sworn to stay away from women with children. He never wants to put a child through what he suffered.
Shane falls hard and fast for both Megan and her girls. I loved seeing him step in to help when Megan needed it, but he also found himself wanting just to be with them. I loved seeing him playing with them in the water, on the beach, and how sweet he was when he took them all on a tour of the island. My heart just melted when he danced with both girls at the wedding. I wanted to shake him when he was telling his sister why he couldn't pursue the relationship. Megan fell for Shane, too. Besides the attraction that was there, she just couldn't resist when she saw how wonderful he was with the girls. But can she overcome his reluctance to get involved?
I really liked the fact that Megan and her ex had such a good relationship. It's always nice seeing divorced parents acting like adults. I also loved the two little girls and the realistic way that life with a special needs child was portrayed. Grace wasn't shown as being pitiful, but as a real kid. Megan didn't whine about how hard life was, she just dealt with her reality.
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella
The Best Man — Devlin Marshall won't let anything spoil his buddy's big day-not even his own rocky marriage. Secrets and mistrust have divided him from his Amy, but the love in the air seems to be catching....
Devlin is best man at his friend's wedding and is expected to bring his wife along. No one knows that he and Amy have been having problems and are on the brink of divorce. He talks her into coming along and pretending that everything is fine. What he's really hoping for is a chance for them to make things right.
I loved Devlin. He is a really nice guy who deeply loves his wife. He is hurt and frustrated at her constant accusations of infidelity. I could not believe how much patience he had to put up with everything she says and does. I liked his comments about marriage at the rehearsal dinner and how it showed how committed he is to his own marriage.
I had a hard time liking Amy. Her constant belief that Devlin was being unfaithful was totally irrational. It might have been easier to be sympathetic to her if there had been some explanation of why she expects it of him just because he's good looking. As it is, she expects to see it, so she does. I hated that she didn't trust him to resist what other women were doing. Trying to keep her pregnancy a secret was just as bad.
I was glad to see that love prevailed at the end, but I really hope Amy gets some counseling for her issues before it starts to happen all over again.
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks
The Sister -- Family comes first. Deep down, Gabi Foster knows it, but this holiday is hurting her career. Can a sweet, sexy surfing instructor convince her that love is worth more than a business deal?
Gabi is the groom's half sister. She loves Nick and is happy to be going to the wedding, but the timing is terrible. She's got an important deal in the works that, if she can make it happen, just might convince her boss father of her commitment to her job. But a funny thing happens on her first day on the island. She meets a man who can actually distract her from working all the time.
I liked Gabi a lot. She determined and focused, but she's also sweet. She loves her brother and is worried about whether his second marriage is the right thing. She still loves her ex-sister-in-law and feels a bit awkward about the divorce. Although she's cautious about her brother's fiancee, by the end she knows she has noting to worry about. Gaby is also a bit competitive, which gets her sucked into a surfing lesson with Nick and his friends, including her ex-boyfriend. It's there that she meets Finn, the surfing instructor. There's an instant attraction between them, and when her date for the wedding gets snowed in, Finn offers to step in.
Several years earlier, Finn had been a busy Wall Street executive. When his sister died, leaving him as guardian of her son, Finn left it all behind to come to Kauai and raise Kai. He set up his surf instructor business with the realization that he needed to have the right balance in his life to do well by his nephew. Staying in Hawaii, where Kai also has his extended family is the right thing for him to do. When he meets Gabi, there's something about her that he can't resist.
I loved seeing Gabi and Finn together. She's so focused on her work that she's forgotten how to have fun. Finn, having been in her shoes, is determined to show her a good time. Neither of them expects the strong attraction that grows deeper very quickly. I loved seeing the way that Finn supported Gabi, such as helping her with the project, but also showed her that there was more to life. I adored little Kai and the way that he bonded so quickly with Gabi. I loved seeing how happy Gabi was whenever she was with Finn. Neither of them could see any way for a future, with her in Chicago and him in Hawaii. I loved Gabi's last minute visit to Finn and what happened after it.
December 28, 2013
Cute book with a fun theme. Three of my favorite authors each contributed a novella to this anthology of stories about a destination wedding in Hawaii. The happy couple, Nick and Cara have invited friends and family to celebrate their wedding day.
In Hawaiian Holiday by Raeanne Thayne, Megan finds herself going to the wedding of her ex-husband in order to being their twin daughters to the wedding. On the plane she sees Shane,a handsome policeman she had flirted with during an ER shift and given a fake phone number when he asked for her number. I loved that the ex spouses have a good relationship and act like adults. I also enjoyed the twin girls contribution to the story.
In Hawaiian Reunion, Marie Ferrarella, tells the story of a couple torn apart by the wife's insecurities about her handsome firefighter husband. Devlin and Amy are divorcing but pretending to be together for the sake of the couple getting married. Amy has filed for divorce because she believes her husband cheated and he can't convince her otherwise. They both still love each other but can't overcome their issues. I found Amy to be a bit of a whiner but she does manage to don her big girl panties by the end of the story and grow up.
In the last story, Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks, Gabi(Nick's stepsister) meets Finn, a surf instructor while having a lesson. Gabi is conflicted about being at the wedding because her ex-boyfriend is also attending with his new and pregnant wife. Gabi is also stressing about her role in the family business and her inability to get her father to respect her decisions. She is attracted to Finn and enjoys his nephew Kai but doesn't see a realistic future for them.
The wedding theme and the anxieties of the bride over her much married parents involvement is woven in every story. There is just the right amount of spice in the book and the characters are very well drawn despite the short length of each segment.
In Hawaiian Holiday by Raeanne Thayne, Megan finds herself going to the wedding of her ex-husband in order to being their twin daughters to the wedding. On the plane she sees Shane,a handsome policeman she had flirted with during an ER shift and given a fake phone number when he asked for her number. I loved that the ex spouses have a good relationship and act like adults. I also enjoyed the twin girls contribution to the story.
In Hawaiian Reunion, Marie Ferrarella, tells the story of a couple torn apart by the wife's insecurities about her handsome firefighter husband. Devlin and Amy are divorcing but pretending to be together for the sake of the couple getting married. Amy has filed for divorce because she believes her husband cheated and he can't convince her otherwise. They both still love each other but can't overcome their issues. I found Amy to be a bit of a whiner but she does manage to don her big girl panties by the end of the story and grow up.
In the last story, Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks, Gabi(Nick's stepsister) meets Finn, a surf instructor while having a lesson. Gabi is conflicted about being at the wedding because her ex-boyfriend is also attending with his new and pregnant wife. Gabi is also stressing about her role in the family business and her inability to get her father to respect her decisions. She is attracted to Finn and enjoys his nephew Kai but doesn't see a realistic future for them.
The wedding theme and the anxieties of the bride over her much married parents involvement is woven in every story. There is just the right amount of spice in the book and the characters are very well drawn despite the short length of each segment.
January 8, 2014
If you are shivering through these record-breaking January temperatures, as many of us are, this anthology may be just the book to provide a pleasant escape as you join the wedding party and guests in Kauai, Hawaii, for the destination wedding of Nick McNeil and Cara Russell.
“Hawaiian Holiday” by RaeAnne Thayne
Megan McNeil is accompanying her seven-year-old twin daughters, Sarah and Grace, to Kauai so that the girls can be flower girls in their father’s wedding. Megan and Nick amicably ended their brief marriage five years ago, and they have remained friendly, both dedicated to parenting the twins. Even so, Megan would have skipped the wedding if Grace’s medical needs had not required that Megan travel with her daughter, who has moderate cerebral palsy. She knows the nine-hour flight from Chicago to Hawaii will be exhausting for her and the twins, but she doesn’t expect to share the journey with Shane Russell. Who knew the sexy cop that she flirted with several months ago when a bullet wound sent him to the ER where she works as a nurse would turn out to be the brother of the bride?
Shane has not forgotten Megan or the sting of rejection when the phone number she gave him turned out to be fake. The initial spark between them is even stronger now, and he appreciates her honesty about why she gave him the fake number. He is also captivated by the charms of the twins. But Megan thinks her responsibility to her daughters doesn’t leave room in her life for a romantic relationship, and Shane, with his parents and their serial spouses, swore long ago never to date women with children because he didn’t want other children hurt as he and Cara were. Are the romantic setting and the bliss of Nick and Cara enough to persuade these two to believe in a love that lasts a lifetime, not just for a holiday?
I loved the warmth and sweetness of this story. It was refreshing to see exes who sincerely wished each other the best and worked together for their children’s best interests. Sarah and Grace came across as real and appealing, and I especially liked seeing a special-needs child whose health issue did not define her as a person. Thayne is an author whose work I find consistently engaging, and I thought this novella was the best in the anthology.
“Hawaiian Reunion” by Marie Ferrarella
Devlin Marshall, Nick’s best man, does not want to spoil his friend and fellow firefighter’s wedding with the news that Devlin’s own marriage is ending, so he strikes a deal with his estranged wife: if she will attend the wedding with him and play the role of the happily-married Mrs. Marshall everyone thinks she is, then Devlin will sign the divorce papers.
Amy Marshall is eager for her divorce to be final before Devlin discovers a secret she is determined to keep from him as long as possible. Cara and Nick’s happiness reminds her of how deeply she and Devlin were in love once, and sharing intimate space with Devlin again reminds her that she finds him as sexy as ever. But she stubbornly refuses to accept Devlin’s assurance that she is the only woman he has ever wanted and that he has always been faithful to her.
Marie Ferrarella has written some terrific stories over the past three decades, but I regret to say this is not one of them. Devlin is a dream hero—handsome, tender, and faithful with a sense of humor. But I actively disliked Amy. I thought her jealousy was irrational and obsessive, and I thought the reunion came too quickly. The jealousy issue was resolved too simplistically to be credible, and I didn’t believe in this HEA. Frankly, I thought Devlin deserved better.
“Hawaiian Retreat” by Leanne Banks
Gabi Foster is the half-sister of the groom. She and Nick have always been close, and she knows she can’t miss his wedding. But she is not enthusiastic about attending. First, it is an awkward time for her to be away from work where she thinks she is on track to finally win a promotion and the approval of the CEO, who also happens to be her father. She also has reservations about Cara and her ability to measure up to Megan. Finally, she is not at all looking forward to meeting her ex, a friend of Nick’s and a fellow fighter, or the ex’s pregnant wife. To make things worse, the friend who agreed to be her date for all the wedding festivities can’t get out of Chicago because of the weather. Things start to look more promising when she meets a surfing instructor who volunteers to be her date.
Finn Beckett left a successful Wall Street career to move to Hawaii when he became the guardian of his orphaned nephew Kai. He though Kai needed the security of a familiar place and his mother’s extended family, and so Finn exchanged his suit and laptop for shorts and a surfboard. Finn knows workaholic Gabi is headed back to Chicago, and he tries to protect his own heart and Kai, who bonds with Gabi right away—to no avail. Finn and Kai both fall fathoms deep for Gabi, who finds they are both occupying her thoughts to the exclusion of things that have been all-important to her. But neither Finn nor Gabi is expecting her to start questioning whether she really wants to leave Paradise after all.
I really liked these characters. Gabi is an endearing mix of confidence and vulnerability, and Finn’s big heart and high degree of self-knowledge coupled with his good looks make him a hero who appeals on many levels. Kai is a heart-stealer. This is also the most sensual of the three stories. My only complaint about this story is that it just moves too quickly. I wanted to see more of how the relationship between Finn and Gabi developed. I wanted this one to be a novel.
Overall, I liked the way the wedding theme connected these three novellas. With one excellent story and one good one, I recommend Island Promise as a quick, easy read with some characters contemporary romance readers will delight to see achieve their HEA.
“Hawaiian Holiday” by RaeAnne Thayne
Megan McNeil is accompanying her seven-year-old twin daughters, Sarah and Grace, to Kauai so that the girls can be flower girls in their father’s wedding. Megan and Nick amicably ended their brief marriage five years ago, and they have remained friendly, both dedicated to parenting the twins. Even so, Megan would have skipped the wedding if Grace’s medical needs had not required that Megan travel with her daughter, who has moderate cerebral palsy. She knows the nine-hour flight from Chicago to Hawaii will be exhausting for her and the twins, but she doesn’t expect to share the journey with Shane Russell. Who knew the sexy cop that she flirted with several months ago when a bullet wound sent him to the ER where she works as a nurse would turn out to be the brother of the bride?
Shane has not forgotten Megan or the sting of rejection when the phone number she gave him turned out to be fake. The initial spark between them is even stronger now, and he appreciates her honesty about why she gave him the fake number. He is also captivated by the charms of the twins. But Megan thinks her responsibility to her daughters doesn’t leave room in her life for a romantic relationship, and Shane, with his parents and their serial spouses, swore long ago never to date women with children because he didn’t want other children hurt as he and Cara were. Are the romantic setting and the bliss of Nick and Cara enough to persuade these two to believe in a love that lasts a lifetime, not just for a holiday?
I loved the warmth and sweetness of this story. It was refreshing to see exes who sincerely wished each other the best and worked together for their children’s best interests. Sarah and Grace came across as real and appealing, and I especially liked seeing a special-needs child whose health issue did not define her as a person. Thayne is an author whose work I find consistently engaging, and I thought this novella was the best in the anthology.
“Hawaiian Reunion” by Marie Ferrarella
Devlin Marshall, Nick’s best man, does not want to spoil his friend and fellow firefighter’s wedding with the news that Devlin’s own marriage is ending, so he strikes a deal with his estranged wife: if she will attend the wedding with him and play the role of the happily-married Mrs. Marshall everyone thinks she is, then Devlin will sign the divorce papers.
Amy Marshall is eager for her divorce to be final before Devlin discovers a secret she is determined to keep from him as long as possible. Cara and Nick’s happiness reminds her of how deeply she and Devlin were in love once, and sharing intimate space with Devlin again reminds her that she finds him as sexy as ever. But she stubbornly refuses to accept Devlin’s assurance that she is the only woman he has ever wanted and that he has always been faithful to her.
Marie Ferrarella has written some terrific stories over the past three decades, but I regret to say this is not one of them. Devlin is a dream hero—handsome, tender, and faithful with a sense of humor. But I actively disliked Amy. I thought her jealousy was irrational and obsessive, and I thought the reunion came too quickly. The jealousy issue was resolved too simplistically to be credible, and I didn’t believe in this HEA. Frankly, I thought Devlin deserved better.
“Hawaiian Retreat” by Leanne Banks
Gabi Foster is the half-sister of the groom. She and Nick have always been close, and she knows she can’t miss his wedding. But she is not enthusiastic about attending. First, it is an awkward time for her to be away from work where she thinks she is on track to finally win a promotion and the approval of the CEO, who also happens to be her father. She also has reservations about Cara and her ability to measure up to Megan. Finally, she is not at all looking forward to meeting her ex, a friend of Nick’s and a fellow fighter, or the ex’s pregnant wife. To make things worse, the friend who agreed to be her date for all the wedding festivities can’t get out of Chicago because of the weather. Things start to look more promising when she meets a surfing instructor who volunteers to be her date.
Finn Beckett left a successful Wall Street career to move to Hawaii when he became the guardian of his orphaned nephew Kai. He though Kai needed the security of a familiar place and his mother’s extended family, and so Finn exchanged his suit and laptop for shorts and a surfboard. Finn knows workaholic Gabi is headed back to Chicago, and he tries to protect his own heart and Kai, who bonds with Gabi right away—to no avail. Finn and Kai both fall fathoms deep for Gabi, who finds they are both occupying her thoughts to the exclusion of things that have been all-important to her. But neither Finn nor Gabi is expecting her to start questioning whether she really wants to leave Paradise after all.
I really liked these characters. Gabi is an endearing mix of confidence and vulnerability, and Finn’s big heart and high degree of self-knowledge coupled with his good looks make him a hero who appeals on many levels. Kai is a heart-stealer. This is also the most sensual of the three stories. My only complaint about this story is that it just moves too quickly. I wanted to see more of how the relationship between Finn and Gabi developed. I wanted this one to be a novel.
Overall, I liked the way the wedding theme connected these three novellas. With one excellent story and one good one, I recommend Island Promise as a quick, easy read with some characters contemporary romance readers will delight to see achieve their HEA.
March 4, 2020
Interesting approach - three novellas by three writers telling three different stories that are all part of the single larger story of a wedding at a Hawaiian resort. Thayne's story leads the group and is the strongest of the three. The final story is the weakest, especially when it resorts to lame romance novel coupling cliches. As typical with such stories, all three novellas have happy endings, albeit more or less unlikely ones.
March 8, 2023
Super fun stories that are all connected to the bride and groom for the destination wedding. They were all very short, quick stories, but all very entertaining. Would have liked more on the actual island of Kauai, but still a nice beach read.
April 30, 2018
Only read the 1st story the rest didn't interest me. Ok story for a quick read.
July 24, 2020
Island Promises
I thought it interesting 3 different authors wrote such amazing continuing stores. I especially enjoyed the connection between family by the 3 different authors.
I thought it interesting 3 different authors wrote such amazing continuing stores. I especially enjoyed the connection between family by the 3 different authors.
July 25, 2020
3 stories in 1 book. Loved that they took place on the Hawaiian islands.
Read
September 2, 2022unable to put down till I read all 3 stories!
May 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this. I loved the Hawaiian setting and liked the romances in here. I really liked the wedding aspect too.
Read
August 14, 2025Thayne book only
January 26, 2014
This is a book of three novella’s that each carry the same theme. Nick and Cara have decided to have a destination wedding in Hawaii. Each of the stories is about different people they know who have come to their wedding.
Hawaiian Holiday by RaeAnne Thayne
This is the reason I wanted to read this book. I am a fan of the author and while I have enjoyed all the books I have read by her so far, this novella was not my favorite. The story was slow and a little bit unbelievable.
Megan McNeil is bringing her two, special needs daughters to their father’s wedding. She gets along so well with her ex-husband and his soon-to-be bride that she is willing to this for them and for her girls. You get the feeling she is like the most perfect mother in the world, almost a saint. Yet a month ago she gave a cop the wrong phone number when he asked if he could call her after she helped him when he was shot. It turns out he is the brother of the bride and so this trip is the perfect way for the two of them to get to know each other better.
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella
Not my favorite novella in this book. Amy Marshall is pregnant but wants to divorce her husband (and best man in the wedding) without him finding out she is expecting a baby with him. The reason she wants a divorce is because he is so handsome women are constantly throwing themselves at him. She is jealous and sure that he is having an affair. Devlin is in love with his wife and wants her back.
Devlin seems like the perfect guy except for one thing. He blames Amy for feeling the way she does and he doesn’t do anything to help the situation. When Amy finds him with one of their neighbors all over him, it doesn’t sound like he was trying to get her off of him and telling the lady to stay the heck away from him. Instead he just has a guilty look when Amy saw them. I was just not impressed with him at all.
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks
Gabi is the half-sister to the groom and she doesn’t want to attend him wedding. She doesn’t think Cara is going to be able to live up to how perfect Megan is. This is also a bad time for her because she is really busy with her work. She finally arrives and when she takes a surfing lesson she meets Finn. Finn agrees to fill in as her date to some of the wedding festivities and she enjoys spending time with him and his nephew Kai who he is raising.
This one turned out to be my favorite one of all the novellas. I liked the flow of the story and the characters best of all.
Overall this was not exactly what I was hoping for but it was still a decent book filled with three different romance stories. I am happy that I had the chance to read it!
Hawaiian Holiday by RaeAnne Thayne
This is the reason I wanted to read this book. I am a fan of the author and while I have enjoyed all the books I have read by her so far, this novella was not my favorite. The story was slow and a little bit unbelievable.
Megan McNeil is bringing her two, special needs daughters to their father’s wedding. She gets along so well with her ex-husband and his soon-to-be bride that she is willing to this for them and for her girls. You get the feeling she is like the most perfect mother in the world, almost a saint. Yet a month ago she gave a cop the wrong phone number when he asked if he could call her after she helped him when he was shot. It turns out he is the brother of the bride and so this trip is the perfect way for the two of them to get to know each other better.
Hawaiian Reunion by Marie Ferrarella
Not my favorite novella in this book. Amy Marshall is pregnant but wants to divorce her husband (and best man in the wedding) without him finding out she is expecting a baby with him. The reason she wants a divorce is because he is so handsome women are constantly throwing themselves at him. She is jealous and sure that he is having an affair. Devlin is in love with his wife and wants her back.
Devlin seems like the perfect guy except for one thing. He blames Amy for feeling the way she does and he doesn’t do anything to help the situation. When Amy finds him with one of their neighbors all over him, it doesn’t sound like he was trying to get her off of him and telling the lady to stay the heck away from him. Instead he just has a guilty look when Amy saw them. I was just not impressed with him at all.
Hawaiian Retreat by Leanne Banks
Gabi is the half-sister to the groom and she doesn’t want to attend him wedding. She doesn’t think Cara is going to be able to live up to how perfect Megan is. This is also a bad time for her because she is really busy with her work. She finally arrives and when she takes a surfing lesson she meets Finn. Finn agrees to fill in as her date to some of the wedding festivities and she enjoys spending time with him and his nephew Kai who he is raising.
This one turned out to be my favorite one of all the novellas. I liked the flow of the story and the characters best of all.
Overall this was not exactly what I was hoping for but it was still a decent book filled with three different romance stories. I am happy that I had the chance to read it!
March 15, 2015
Some light reading is at hand with three linked tales of travel to a wedding in Hawaii.
HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY by RaeAnne Thayne. It's a nine hour trip from snowy Chicago for harried mother Megan and her twin daughters. She's amicably divorced and going to her ex-husband's wedding, regardless of the fact that little Grace has special needs. The bride's brother Shane is a cop and they met previously. They flirted a little but nothing came of it, because Megan doesn't date, not with the kids. Shane's pleased to sit beside her on the flight. The island is beautiful, with garlands of plumeria wafting sweet scent. Smiling at Shane, who is so helpful with Grace's wheelchair, Megan starts to wonder if magic is in the air.
HAWAIIAN REUNION by Marie Ferrarella. Amy wants to avoid ruining the wedding trip so isn't telling anyone that she and the best man Devlin are getting divorced. She found her firefighter husband in a compromising position with their sexy neighbour. Devlin swears that nothing was going to happen. Amy just feels that if it happened once it could happen again. There's a further complication... she's pregnant. This was the story I liked least because of the constant bickering and tension.
HAWAIIAN RETREAT by Leanne Banks. Gabi is on her way to her half-brother's wedding - she and Nick have much-married parents. She works in a cosmetics firm, and is trying to release an organic line and secure a major contract, so can't turn off her phone. Hawaii is so lovely that she feels stress drop off her shoulders and tries surfing. Since she doesn't have a wedding date, Finn the friendly surf instructor offers to partner her. Gabi can't resist this really nice guy with his two-year-old adopted son. It's just a holiday fling - or is it?
HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY by RaeAnne Thayne. It's a nine hour trip from snowy Chicago for harried mother Megan and her twin daughters. She's amicably divorced and going to her ex-husband's wedding, regardless of the fact that little Grace has special needs. The bride's brother Shane is a cop and they met previously. They flirted a little but nothing came of it, because Megan doesn't date, not with the kids. Shane's pleased to sit beside her on the flight. The island is beautiful, with garlands of plumeria wafting sweet scent. Smiling at Shane, who is so helpful with Grace's wheelchair, Megan starts to wonder if magic is in the air.
HAWAIIAN REUNION by Marie Ferrarella. Amy wants to avoid ruining the wedding trip so isn't telling anyone that she and the best man Devlin are getting divorced. She found her firefighter husband in a compromising position with their sexy neighbour. Devlin swears that nothing was going to happen. Amy just feels that if it happened once it could happen again. There's a further complication... she's pregnant. This was the story I liked least because of the constant bickering and tension.
HAWAIIAN RETREAT by Leanne Banks. Gabi is on her way to her half-brother's wedding - she and Nick have much-married parents. She works in a cosmetics firm, and is trying to release an organic line and secure a major contract, so can't turn off her phone. Hawaii is so lovely that she feels stress drop off her shoulders and tries surfing. Since she doesn't have a wedding date, Finn the friendly surf instructor offers to partner her. Gabi can't resist this really nice guy with his two-year-old adopted son. It's just a holiday fling - or is it?
December 25, 2013
Review featured on www.books-n-kisses.com
Hawaiian Holiday
4 Hearts I loved this story. It was so sweet. I loved the little girls and liked how the special needs child was written so well and not as if she was a burden. I wish it has been a full size novel because I would have enjoyed more time with this couple and the girls.
Hawaiian Reunion
3 Hearts This story is very well written and some how (I really am not sure how) had me hoping this couple would get back together. Amy is just argumentative and insecure so why I wanted her with a good guy like Devlin I have no idea but I did.
Hawaiian Retreat
3.5 Hearts This story was very sweet as well. It did feel a little rushed in some way and yet drawn out in others. Not sure why that is but it had that feeling. Kai is just a sweetie.
Overall I am giving this 3.5 Hearts. I enjoyed all the stories. It is a fast read (I read it in a day) and yet seemed complete and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the way the kids were written in the book. Not perfect but real. An enjoyable read all the way around.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Hawaiian Holiday
4 Hearts I loved this story. It was so sweet. I loved the little girls and liked how the special needs child was written so well and not as if she was a burden. I wish it has been a full size novel because I would have enjoyed more time with this couple and the girls.
Hawaiian Reunion
3 Hearts This story is very well written and some how (I really am not sure how) had me hoping this couple would get back together. Amy is just argumentative and insecure so why I wanted her with a good guy like Devlin I have no idea but I did.
Hawaiian Retreat
3.5 Hearts This story was very sweet as well. It did feel a little rushed in some way and yet drawn out in others. Not sure why that is but it had that feeling. Kai is just a sweetie.
Overall I am giving this 3.5 Hearts. I enjoyed all the stories. It is a fast read (I read it in a day) and yet seemed complete and enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the way the kids were written in the book. Not perfect but real. An enjoyable read all the way around.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
Great set of stories to read for an escape. I really enjoyed how this anthology pulled together all three stories through a singular event (although sometimes there were inconsistent details between them). I loved the first story for all the effort put into creating relatable characters. I really enjoyed the third story for how it really utilized and explored the Hawaiian setting. The second story was the weakest of the three. Had that story been better, I may have given this anthology a four.
December 12, 2013
This review pertains to Island Promises, a compilation of stories, by authors Raeanne Thayne, Marie Ferrarella, and Leanne Banks. Thank You to Netgalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review. I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation! I loved how the tree stories were all connected but could have been read separately. There were no teasers into the stories which gave the others away. They were novella, and quick easy fun reads. Typically in an anthology there is one story which really stands out, but I found all three stories to be delightful and entertaining. Highly recommend this to all romance readers. And now I need a trip to Hawaii!
February 9, 2014
This review is only for the story by RaeAnne Thayne.
It was hard not to like this story, for one, it was set in Hawaii, the other is that it was sweet. I did feel like I was missing something, like maybe there was another book where these two met first. I did really like that Megan put aside her awkwardness so that her daughters could see their father get married. The girls were delightful, providing some very fun scenes. I did like the attraction between Megan and Shane, loved even more that Shane included the girls and helped Megan when she needed it. I was glad that Shane got over himself and is going to try to keep the relationship going when they get home.
It was hard not to like this story, for one, it was set in Hawaii, the other is that it was sweet. I did feel like I was missing something, like maybe there was another book where these two met first. I did really like that Megan put aside her awkwardness so that her daughters could see their father get married. The girls were delightful, providing some very fun scenes. I did like the attraction between Megan and Shane, loved even more that Shane included the girls and helped Megan when she needed it. I was glad that Shane got over himself and is going to try to keep the relationship going when they get home.
December 9, 2013
Typical sweet Harlequin anthology. Full review on 12/26 13 at http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2013...
June 25, 2014
A lighthearted read.
August 6, 2016
Three stories written by three different authors all connected to a wedding being held in Hawaii. The stories blend well and are interesting. A good beach read.
April 25, 2017
Meh. Pretty heavy on the kid/instant parent theme
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