Book two of the trilogy set on St. John in the Caribbean. The Steele family has made some significant changes in their lives - all of them. Irene quits her job and leaves her dream home in Iowa City to move to St. John to live in the multi-million dollar home that Russell bought to live in with his mistress, Rosie. Baker's wife leaves him for a woman and both the women (doctors) are offered positions in Ohio so they leave Baker & Floyd in Houston. Baker decides to also move to St. John to live in his father's home there. He does not mention this to his mother or brother. Just shows up. Cash, who has run his businesses into the ground in Colorado and doesn't seem to have anything definitive to DO, decides to move to St. John to live in his father's home. So, suddenly, we have a woman and her two adult sons and one grandchild living under the same roof in St. John. Realistic? Well probably not, but weird things happen after a traumatic event. Hearing about Russell's death in a helicopter crash; finding out about his mistress Rosie; discovering Russell had a daughter with Rosie named Maia; seeing the 9-bedroom home that he purchased for visiting his second family; and acknowledging that Russell's hidden life was steeped in unlawful business activities; well, that qualifies as a traumatic event. People make impulsive, bold decisions for much less change in their lives than the Steele family is going through.
All three Steeles fall in love pretty darn quickly on St. John, emphasizing that they were actually unhappy in their old lives, although they didn't really know it. I am definitely glad that Cash has moved on from Ayers. I don't understand why these two very different brothers are attracted to the same women. Now I just wish that Ayers would stop messing with Baker if she continues to have feelings for Mick. Yes, Ayers breaks up with Mick again (a couple of times in this book alone!), but if I were Baker, I would feel like "second choice" in that triangle. Not a good feeling.
So, we don't really find out too much more about Russell and Todd Croft in this book, other than they were committing real estate fraud and laundering money. I am thinking that it's a good thing that Russell took out another life insurance policy before his death since all of his possessions (St. John home, Iowa City home) will be taken from Irene soon. I don't think this family could survive on their current earnings alone! (Irene working on a fishing boat with Huck and Cash working on a snorkeling/tour boat with Ayers. Only Baker continues to do his same job on St. John.) I am curious as to where they will all end up living in the third book.
So, are Russell & Rosie still alive?? Are they in hiding? I am intrigued by this concept. No one saw their bodies. Russell was "cremated" before Irene, Baker & Cash even arrived on St. John after hearing about his death. If he is, how will Russell excavate himself from his culpability in his substantial financial crimes? How would this affect the growing relationships between Irene & Huck; Baker & Ayers; Cash & Tilda?
Wendy's Rating: ****
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