Eden Baylee - A Snake in Paradise

23. A Snake in Paradise by Eden Baylee (2015)
Kindle Worlds Novella: The Lei Crime Series Book 8
Length: 67 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started: 25 May 2015
Finished: 30 May 2015
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Eden Baylee for sending me a copy of this book to read from Amazon.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 April 2015
Why do I have it? I like short stories and Eden Baylee is a new author for me.

Madelaine Lee is a forty-something recently divorced woman, who is finally spreading her wings after spending way too many years trapped in a loveless marriage. For her fresh start in life, Madelaine is determined to make some changes about herself that will make her feel like an entirely new person. She changes her name to Lainey, and does something that she is absolutely sure her old self would never even have contemplated: she gets an intriguing, artistic and intricately done tattoo on her back and books a dream vacation to Hawaii.

Yes, Lainey has always dreamed of going to Hawaii. As a matter of fact, she and her new husband Elliot were supposed to go there on their honeymoon trip, only it never happened. Now, in what Lainey sees as a poetic twist of fate, she is finally making the trip by herself - twenty-seven years later - as a gift to herself following a messy divorce.

Once she arrives on the Big Island, Lainey finds herself in absolute heaven - a true paradise of white sand beaches and brilliantly blue skies. She is having a truly amazing time, and even finds time for a little flirting and romance. After spending such a long time in a loveless marriage, Lainey is certainly eager to shed her fears and take a chance with Julian - a dashing and mysterious stranger ten years her junior. After all, it seems to Lainey that they shared an instant connection.

However, Lainey will soon find that romantic strolls along white sand beaches and leisurely swims in vibrant turquoise lagoons is not all Hawaii has to offer. Her budding relationship with Julian might prove to be a tempting distraction; a precious but fleeting chance at true love; or a date with the most charming snake in paradise. Will Lainey's Hawaiian vacation ultimately turn out to be a dream come true, or a waking nightmare?

I really enjoyed reading this book; it was fast-paced and subtly dramatic, I enjoyed Ms. Baylee's writing style and her development of such strong yet sympathetic characters. I give this book an A+! and I am eagerly waiting to read more from this author in the future.

This is actually the first book by Eden Baylee that I've read; although at 67 pages long, it really should be classified as more of a novella. In fact, this is the fourth of eight recently released Kindle World Novellas set within the Lei Crime Series that I've had the pleasure of reading. I still have Hidden Poppies by M. L. Doyle set on my TBR pile and ready to read.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often