Review & Giveaway: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

Title: The Island

Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Published: June 18, 2010
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Characters: Birdie Cousins, Chess Cousins, Tate Cousins, India
My Rating:

Synopsis:

Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess's upcoming marriage. Birdie's been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She's only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance.

When Chess abruptly breaks off the wedding and her fiancé shockingly dies in a rock climbing accident, it leaves Chess feeling guilty and deeply depressed. Birdie circles the wagons, convincing her younger daughter Tate, and her own sister India to join them on Tuckernuck for the month of July. Secrets and intrigue soon make their way to the surface, as Elin Hilderbrand once again weaves a masterful story of summer suspense.

It took a little bit to warm up to this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I guess I really started to become invested in the characters around the point when Birdie kept trying to call Hank while she was in Tuckernuck, and he would barely speak to her. (Hank is the man Birdie started dating after her divorce.)
 
I did find the characters to be very well developed, and Hilderbrand painted a very vivid picture of Tuckernuck. Her detail of the island made you as a reader want to visit the island. I didn't always agree with the behavior of the characters, but that's what keeps it interesting.
 
Chess's sister, Tate, I loved at times and at others I couldn't stand. I could feel for her and her situation with her sister since I too am an ordinary younger sister to an extraordinary older sister. I think we all go through it at times, but sometimes I wanted to yell at her to grow up.
 
In the end, I didn't feel that there was any closure with what Chess was going to do with her personal life. We got closure on her professional life but not what she was going to do about the romantic aspect.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS AUDIOBOOK?

{August 24-September 7, 2010}

• Only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win
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• Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen
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