Stuck in Paradise with You is Laura Carter’s latest standalone romantic comedy. It is an emotional second-chance romance which takes place primarily on a remote island in the Caribbean. It is told in dual POV.
Carrie Briggs is a career-focused tax attorney in New York City, on the cusp of earning the desired partnership. She lives in an apartment with her pug, Eddie, who she co-parents with her gay best friend and neighbor, Callum. Carrie avoids romantic entanglements after getting heartbroken seven years earlier from an affair with a co-worker and being viewed as “sleeping her way to the top’”. When her boss, Eric, is ill with food poisoning, she is sent in his place to review the annual taxes with a reclusive billionaire client, Joe Hettich. He has a beautiful private island in the Caribbean, where he resides with his wife, four children, and extended family.
Luke Chalmers is Chief Financial Officer of his best friend’s tech firm, but he previously worked as an attorney. When he was separated from his wife Anya, he had an affair with his beautiful young associate, Carrie. Then his wife alerted him that she was pregnant, and a co-worker reported his relationship with Carrie. Those two events ended his and Carrie’s brief romance, and he moved back to Chicago to try to reunite with his wife. It turned out that he wasn’t the father of her baby, but Carrie totally blocked him. He has only had two-months-long relationships during the intervening seven years.
Both Luke and Carrie are flabbergasted when they meet on Joe’s beautiful island and are forced to spend time in each other’s company. They resent the other one for their heartbreak, not knowing the other’s version of events from seven years ago. There’s multiple tropical storms brewing in the ocean, but Joe ignores the weather forecasts because the storms always change course and hit Florida instead of the Caribbean islands.
I really would not classify Stuck in Paradise with You as a rom-com; it has too much emotion and angst amidst the funny scenes. It is a well-written story with engaging main characters who readers can identify and sympathize with. The colorful and well-developed side characters add to the story, and the impending storm is almost like a character. Joe and Ella’s backstory is shared so much that it feels like the author has written their story, but I couldn’t find it. Stuck in Paradise with You is definitely a beach read to be enjoyed over a weekend.
I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Stuck in Paradise With You is a rom-com set on an island with a storm on the way, and that’s not even describing the weather as there is a hurricane on the way ! Our main characters, Carrie and Luke have a past that’s didnt end so well and is the cause of most the turbulence!
I do love a good bit of communication in a romantic book, let’s face it’s, happens I’m most relationships abd is the cause of lot a of relationship breakdowns, but also repairs when resolved. I loved the dual POVs, I always adore reading more thank one point of view, I find it’s enhances the bookish when we got more than the main characters views, which Laura Carter does so well here.
The setting is beautiful, makes me want to get trapped on an island, just not with a storm please ! This was such a great read, I can’t wait for more from Laura, I’m fact I know I she has books put I haven’t read so excuse me whilst I run of to purchase them !
If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, second chance and workplace themes (which I love so much especially the first two) Then Stuck in Paradise With You is the perfect escape.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Right from the title itself I was intrigued to read and check it out and I am glad that I did. I enjoyed each bit of this book as the author has penned down an amazing plotline with a brilliant set of characters in it.
The author has written wonderful characters and beautiful plotline which is nicely paced which the reading experience more enjoyable.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Stucki In Paradise With You' by Laura Carter.

This book has fantastic, vivid and amazing descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

Another page turning, addictive success by Laura!!! Love, LOVE, LOVED this absolutely fantastic, laugh out loud book!! An absolute must read!!!

OMG!! I absolutely LOVED this gorgeous storyline!! An absolutely stunning book that takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. This is a story filled with friendship, stunning locations, fun, laughter, romance, enemies to lovers and just everything you could want in a gorgeous page turner!!! I was completely invested in this book from the very first page and was hooked throughout. I just could not put it down and ended up devouring it in one sitting!! Laura's stunning evocative writing skills really do bring the locations, emotions and the characters to life!! In this second chance romance we meet Carrie Briggs who works as a tax accountant and is up for a massive promotion to work as partner. She has more more job to do before it can be made official and it is to be flown off to Joe Hettich's private Caribbean Island!! (Seriously, sign me up for this job anytime!!!). However, this silver lining has a cloud attached in the form of Joe's companies CEO!! Enter Luke Chalmers who is not just the CFO of Joe's company and Joe's best friend but also Carrie's ex boyfriend who broke her heart 7 years ago when he left her for his ex!!! Carrie wants nothing more than to jump on the next place home but Hurricane Isabel puts an ending to that!! How will Carrie make it to the end being stuck on an Island with someone who broke her heart? Is Isobel the only storm on the Island? Well, you will have to grab your copy to find out for yourself and I can guarantee you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with romance, humour, miscommunication, escapism and so much more what are you waiting for? This is one of those books that is very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. regardless of where you read this book Laura will pick you up and transport you to the Leeward islands at the turn of the page. Her beautiful emotive and evocative writing skills ensures you will feel the warmth of the sun, smell the storm brewing and fall in love with this story. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for an addictive and humorous read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely LOVED the realism of this storyline which made it so easy to picture everything that was going on which had been helped by Laura's fantastic evocative writing skills. I cannot wait to get hooked into more of her books so I hope she is busy writing her one while I get stuck into her previous books!! This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. Anyway, I just adored everything about this absolutely gorgeous page turner from the first sentence to the last. Well done Laura on yet another stunner and I cannot wait until your next!!!

Well done Laura on an yet another absolutely beautiful book!!! If you haven't read any of Laura's books then what on Earth are you waiting for?!?!?

The characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them all. It also makes them more realistic, believable and made me feel even more for them than I normally would. Laura always manages to create such fantastic larger than life and memorable characters that I always love opening one of her books to see who I am going to meet next!! The main protagonists are Carrie and Luke and I just absolutely adored both of them although at times I did want to bang their heads together!! They very quickly came to feel like friends (as do most of Laura's characters) and I was rooting for them both from the very first time I met them all the way to the end!! The fact that get to see what is going on from both of their perspectives ensures the reader gets to know both of them well as well as seeing what they are both seeing and doing. I loved getting to know the majority of the characters and I could write about them all day but I don't want to bore you so I'll start to wrap it up here. Each of the characters are memorable and unique in their own ways each having their own individual quirks, flaws, strengths and weaknesses and they are a group that I wont be forgetting any time soon! A fantastic rom com and an amazing group of unforgettable characters!!! Grab your copy and meet them yourselves today!!

Pick up this book and get lost in this absolutely gorgeous page turner! 💜!!!

Congratulations Laura on yet another absolutely stunning read that I just could not put down!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is the exact reason you are on my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an unputdownable, gorgeous page turning book filled with romance, stunning settings , laughter and so much more!! A gorgeous, romantic, funny and stunning read!!!!


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BOOK REVIEW

I enjoyed the prologue. It was the perfect way to begin a story. This was an enemies to lovers, forced proximity story and the miscommunication trope was perfectly executed.

The setting was gorgeous (who wouldn’t want to work on a Caribbean island?) I enjoyed the dual POV and in this case I couldn’t take a side as both characters were justified in their respective feelings and positions.

But that is where it ends for me. I kept waiting for a wow moment to occur. Something to break the slow pace mundane but nothing happened until almost at the end.

All that said this is a light read and if you don’t mind the slow pace then you will enjoy the book.

This is a fun, easy, forced proximity beach read! The characters were likable, the story was cute, and there was plenty of sweet and spice! This is a great beach read, until a hurricane comes at the end! With so many people affected by our recent hurricanes,I do feel like there should be a trigger warning! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book. I mean I haven't read a book by Laura Carter that I haven't loved in all fairness so I kinda already knew that I was more than likely going to love this one too. As always the author's writing style is fantastic, it's able to draw you into the story so easily that you'll probably, like me, not want to put it down and easily finish it in a day. I really loved our two MC's Luke and Carrie they really lept off the page for me and I found myself getting so invested in them clearing up the misunderstanding that happened at the end of the relationship the first time and being able to start again, they were so clearly right for each other! Laura Carter has this brilliant ability to create such fantastic side characters that capture you, even if they don't appear in the book too often, like Callum. I loved Calllum and his friendship with Carrie, he was there for her no questions asked no matter the time and he's the kind of friend we all hope to have in our lives.
I really enjoyed the forced proximity aspect of this second-chance romance, I mean who wouldn't want to be on such a beautiful island! And I liked the added bit of peril that was added in order to make the characters realise what they had in front of them and what they could lose if they didn't take a chance.
Generally, I just loved this book and I can't wait to get my hands on Laura Carter's next book, whatever and whoever it's about.

Wow, I have read Laura Carter books that I loved, but this one was not it. Both main characters were so immature and honestly just jerks. The trope, I assume, is supposed to be enemies to lovers but it’s more like enemies until the final 5% of the book. There is so much back and worth with the “I love you” and then “you’re the worst person ever”. I also felt like somehow so much was happening but yet nothing happened at all.


Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the eARC

If there were a lover-enemy-lover book this would be it. The hatred these two felt for each other was dripping off the page!!! Gosh, Carter wrote this well!

In my opinion, both were as bad as each other. Carrie, lived in the past, with her hurt and understandably so! She didn't know the entire story as Luke never told her. Then when their paths crossed, boy was it explosive! With a hurricane also threatening, you knew how this story was going to play out, with one small minor twist, which I quite enjoyed.

I blitzed this on audio but I just didn't enjoy the narrators (sorry), I could hear every breath that Craig took and at first, it was off-putting but when I sped up the speed of the book, I didn't notice it. Aside from that it was another book by Ms Carter which I enjoyed.

It was the perfect book for every woman who has been scorned, never got closure but got a chance for a second chance. I mean the setting in the story most definitely helped, I do want Carrie's job!!! I mean a private island in the Caribbean - yes please there is no way you couldn't fall in love! I did love Henry's little interjections, they made me chuckle. And despite the hatred Luke and Carrie had for each other, ignoring their sizzle, I loved the banter. I have to say, I would love a Joe in my life!

A fantastic novel! Although reading it I wanted to bang Luke and Carries heads together! The connection between them both was clear from the start! The writing during the storm really made me feel like if I looked outside I would be looking at a storm! Fantastic writing

We meet Carrie Biggs, a tax accountant who is up for a big promotion at work as partner.
Carrie is soon jetting off to a private island for a week to do some work for a billionaire client, Joe Hettich.
Enter Luke Chalmers, Luke is Carrie’s ex and one true love that broke her heart 7 years ago when he left her.
It turns out Luke is Joe’s best friend and also the CEO of the Joe’s company.
All Carrie wants to do is get on the next plane home but with a hurricane on the way she is going nowhere.
As the couple are once again thrown together, can Carrie keep things professional or will old feelings resurface and start to cause problems!?.
I did enjoy the split POV aspect as it gave us more of an idea of the back story and the reasons why they both felt the way they did. And how they dealt with their feelings.
Although we are in autumn now, it was refreshing to escape to a sun drenched tropical location after the horrible so called summer we had.
Laura Carter certainly gives us that with the idyllic descriptions and beautiful surroundings of the Caribbean. Oh that front cover!.
A light hearted, romantic and fun read, that is about giving second chances.
Looking forward to more soon from Laura Carter.

The Blurb :
It’s hard to stay professional when you’re stuck on a tiny island… with your ex
Carrie Briggs is on the cusp of a career breakthrough. About to be made partner at her accountancy firm, she’s been given one more hoop to jump through before it can be made official.
And she could think of worse clients to work with – because world-renowned billionaire Joe Hettich is flying her out to his private island in the Caribbean.
But her hopes of career highs (and relaxing in the gorgeous sun in her spare time, of course!) are dashed when she meets the CFO of Joe’s company: Luke Chalmers, the man who broke her heart seven years ago when he chose his ex over her.
With a storm brewing in paradise – both in her heart and literally, on the island – she’s going to have to put her big girl pants on and get through this, before all those feelings have a chance to resurface…


My Thoughts :
We meet Carrie Biggs, a tax accountant who is up for a big promotion at work as partner.
Carrie is soon jetting off to a private island for a week to do some work for a billionaire client, Joe Hettich.
Enter Luke Chalmers, Luke is Carrie’s ex and one true love that broke her heart 7 years ago when he left her.
It turns out Luke is Joe’s best friend and also the CEO of the Joe’s company.
All Carrie wants to do is get on the next plane home but with a hurricane on the way she is going nowhere.
As the couple are once again thrown together, can Carrie keep things professional or will old feelings resurface and start to cause problems!?.
I did enjoy the split POV aspect as it gave us more of an idea of the back story and the reasons why they both felt the way they did. And how they dealt with their feelings.
Although we are in autumn now, it was refreshing to escape to a sun drenched tropical location after the horrible so called summer we had.
Laura Carter certainly gives us that with the idyllic descriptions and beautiful surroundings of the Caribbean. Oh that front cover!.
A light hearted, romantic and fun read, that is about giving second chances.
Looking forward to more soon from Laura Carter.

Wow I love Laura’s stories after first reading one of her books a couple of months ago. This is a beautiful story set on the most idyllic island that sounds nice paradise. The way the island is described in the book just makes you wish you was there. I love now this story not only tells the tale from the perspective of two different characters but also how two people can see something that happened in a completely different way. The hurricane that threatens the island and brings people together is heartwarming. Highly recommend this book and any of Laura’s other books. You won’t be disappointed!

I loved the idea of this book, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, second chance romance, workplace romance, all the good stuff, but it was really just the longest, most dragged out book of miscommunication that I didn't even understand.

The FMC was the worst because she was being unreasonable about the fact that the man she was hooking up with was MARRIED and having a CHILD but somehow she felt entitled to have him to herself? Like get over yourself. And the MMC should have tried harder if he was actually in love with the FMC. Also what decent man falls in love with another woman while still married? I was not a fan.

I will say that I did like the author's writing and the way that wrote about the characters actually having thoughts and feelings besides just lust for each other. The plot just was not interesting enough for me to want to care.

Stuck in Paradise with You by Laura Carter

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

It’s hard to stay professional when you’re stuck on a tiny island… with your ex

Carrie Briggs is on the cusp of a career breakthrough. About to be made partner at her accountancy firm, she’s been given one more hoop to jump through before it can be made official.

And she could think of worse clients to work with – because world-renowned billionaire Joe Hettich is flying her out to his private island in the Caribbean.

But her hopes of career highs (and relaxing in the gorgeous sun in her spare time, of course!) are dashed when she meets the CFO of Joe’s company: Luke Chalmers, the man who broke her heart seven years ago when he chose his ex over her.

With a storm brewing in paradise – both in her heart and literally, on the island – she’s going to have to put her big girl pants on and get through this, before all those feelings have a chance to resurface…

My Opinion

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book - I am a fan of Laura Carter but I had seen some mixed reviews and the blurb didn’t really grab me. However, this was a pleasant and quick read. Carrie and Luke are forced together without much warning. I enjoyed the way that this book had been cleverly written. Laura Carter has written a light, easy read. Set on a private island with nice writing this would make for a great holiday read.

Rating 4/5

It is an angsty, escapist rom-com set on a glamorous island with inclement weather and a couple with a turbulent history that rivals the impending hurricane. Carrie and Luke had an ill-fated workplace romance that ended badly. Miscommunication overrides communication in this romcom, and the dual viewpoints illustrate that Carrie and Luke both feel that they are the injured party, Carrie because of how their relationship ended and Luke because she has ignored him since, despite what he considers his best efforts to reach her when his circumstances changed. I like the idyllic setting and the use of the impending weather to mirror the couple's interactions. I like the enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes that the author uses to have a good effect in this story, and it ends well. It is a perfect story if you enjoy a second chance and workplace romance with lots of conflict.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I really enjoyed this one!

The setting was great and I wish I could holiday there. The MC were both likeable and I really like a dual pov. There was tension and some humour and a bit of drama too.

I was lucky enough to be able to be an ARC reader for this book. Laura Carter has done some amazing work but this is one of the best I have read of hers. She made it exciting and captivating from the start. Knowing that this story is based on a real-life experience makes it more personal and much more of a captivating read. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone to read. I loved it I'm sure you would too.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of Stuck In Paradise With You.

Carrie and Luke have a very intense and passionate six week romance until Luke goes back to his estranged wife because she is pregnant. He breaks Carrie’s heart and she blocks him. Seven years later they are reunited on a business meeting on a private island. Can they put the past aside and work together?

My absolute least favorite trope is miscommunication. The whole book I was literally screaming in my head-just talk to each other. I did not like Carrie or Luke’s characters at all and the book was really difficult to get through.

I was into this tension for the first 1/3 of the book. Then it started feeling repetitive. The storm was coming hit it felt secondary.. and I felt like there was a lot of boring plot happening amidst this gigantic storm but we were ignoring the storm ? I’m all for the forces proximity trope. It’s usually a great time. But this fell flat and was overshadowed by the miscommunication trope which is my least favorite. It wouldn’t have been a hard conversation to have right from the beginning, so I didn’t understand why it took so long in the book for the conversation to happen.

I received an advance review copy for free from the publisher via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.