Finding Paradise by Barbara Dunlop {a review}

Passion heats up in Paradise, Alaska, for two people who couldn't be more different in this sweet, sizzling romance from New York Times bestselling author Barbara Dunlop. Learn more about Marnie and Cobra in Barbara Dunlop's latest release, Finding Paradise. It is now available!

I went into Finding Paradise with a bit of uncertainty. I knew that the first book (Match Made in Paradise) was decent, but it didn't fully wow me. So I had that playing in the back of my mind.

I will say, I was pleasantly surprised by Finding Paradise. Returning to Paradise Alaska with the group of women was going to be a wild ride. Especially since none of them had been in the town before, it was totally going to be a fish out of water experience. Granted the women had been thoroughly vetted, but still.

The relationship between Marnie and Cobra grabbed my attention away from all the other "matchmaking" that was attempting to happen. Looking at the two, you wouldn't think they'd work, but yet they did. Especially was Marnie revealed more and more of her skills (as well as her past). She showed how easily she'd be able to fit into this small town, as well as be perfectly suited for Cobra.

I also loved how Marnie jumped in where ever she could to help out. Whether it was with the matchmaking group, the community, with Cobra, or even with Mia, it just speaks to her character.

There was so much of this book that I enjoyed. That being said, the ending wasn't my favorite. Granted it works for Marnie, but in my heart of hearts I wanted something a tidbit different. Honestly, I wanted her to make a grand gesture for Cobra.

Now when do we get Brodie and Raven's story? Because I NEED that. It feels like it is going to be a doozy.

Thank you for reading my thoughts about Finding Paradise. I hope you'll consider picking up this series, and discovering the town of Paradise for yourself.

Laura

Accomplished Los Angeles lawyer Marnie Anton has always been sensible, but when her friend Mia Westberg asks for help with a ridiculous matchmaking project, she can't say no. The idea of transporting city girls into the small town of Paradise, Alaska, is so crazy it just might...work? Against her best judgment, she tags along. Having grown up in a family of intimidating men, Marnie developed a preference for the urbane lawyers and clients in her life in LA. But when she meets a mountain of a buff Alaskan man with an intriguing snake tattoo, intimidated is definitely not the first thing she feels.

Conrad "Cobra" Stanford was skeptical of the matchmaking event from the start. Big-city women weren't adventurous, they were judgmental. They'd take one look at him and scorn his lifestyle, just like his first love did. Cobra planned to give the women a wide berth, but one of them won't be ignored. Marnie's everything that's wrong and everything that's right for him all at the same time. Just when he thinks he's got her pegged, she blindsides him with a startling past, falling into his arms and igniting his protective instincts and so much more....

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Meet Barbara Dunlop

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Barbara Dunlop is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than fifty novels. Her stories have ranged from lighthearted comedies to family sagas. Barbara is a four-time finalist for the RWA RITA award, and her Tule novel His Jingle Bell Princess has been optioned by Motion Picture Corporation of America for a Hallmark movie. Barbara resides in Yukon, Canada with her bush pilot husband. 

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Thank you to Barbara Dunlop, and Berkley Romance, for providing me with an advanced copy of Finding Paradise.

Match Made in Paradise {a review}

image source: author's facebook page

Match Made in Paradise is the brand new book by Barbara Dunlop! Match Made in Paradise is also kicking off a brand new series called Paradise, Alaska. After reading the book, I am positive this series will be quite interesting.

When I initially read the description for the book, my mind immediately went to The Simple Wild by KA Tucker. It was giving me similar vibes. I mean the hero works as a bush pilot, the heroine is a fish out of water, the heroine has to leave luggage behind at the airport, it's a bit of hate to love, it's small town romance, and of course there is a HEA. But really that's where the similarities end.

After the death of her husband, Mia is heading to Paradise to stay with her cousin Raven. Mia is heading there at the request of her lawyer, as back home she's in a legal battle with her step-children regarding the fashion empire, and she's receiving death threats from fanatics who think she is to blame for her husband's death. Upon arriving in Alaska, Mia has to hop aboard a smaller plane to get to her final destination. Silas happens to be the pilot who is handling this trip, and he has to break the news to her that she cannot take all her luggage. The plane is already full, and there just isn't space (physical or due to weight restrictions). When Silas drives Mia to Raven's home, Mia doesn't know what to think. This strange man has just taken her to this remote home that is in desperate need of repairs, and Mia's first thought is to run for her life. That right there is just the start of it all. There is so much that happens in this book, and I cannot even begin to recap it all.

I went into Match Made in Paradise with high hopes. The teaser had my full attention, and I could not wait to pick up the book. If I'm being completely honest, this book had potential to be fantastic. Instead, it was just middle of the road. I found myself skimming through the filler, and only truly paid attention when it was about the relationship, the side stories, or the big scene at the air strip. I mean I get it, a world needs to be built, we need the background, especially since this is the start of a new series. But there was some that could have been cut. Maybe that's just me though as I don't care about fashion, yet at the same time I can understand why it was put in as Mia is about to be the head of a fashion empire. Also, the description says that this is a rom-com. I didn't get that from the book. For me it was really more of a standard contemporary.

Now I say all that about the book, but there were parts that I liked. I loved how the relationship between Silas and Mia developed. I enjoyed how Mia took charge at the radio during the air strip scene. I was curious about the dating app Mia was going to implement (with help of course). And I was curious about what was going on with the side characters. It is all of this that will have me continuing with the series. After all there are a few who I want to see get their HEAs, and how their partners will fit into Paradise, Alaska.

Let's talk about my star rating. As you know on every site, you only have the option to leave full ratings, there are no half stars. So on Goodreads, I marked this as 3 stars, but then wrote in my review that it was a 3.5 star. I stand by that. I don't feel like it was a 4 star, and I really think it deserves higher than a 3 star. So 3.5 it is.  

Thank you for reading my thoughts,