Jennifer’s review of Temptation Bay (Windfall Island #1) by Anna Sullivan.
TEMPTATION NEVER TASTED SO SWEET . . .
Maggie Solomon has always been one of Windfall Island’s favorite daughters. A beautiful, passionate charter pilot who loves this remote Maine island, Maggie has never cared much for outsiders-until her latest passenger arouses the curiosity of the town . . . and something hot and irresistible in Maggie. With his long, lean looks and razor-sharp wit, the man is temptation itself.
Cop-turned-PI Dexter Keegan is on a covert mission to solve the case that will make his career: uncovering the identity of the Stanhope heir, kidnapped nearly a century ago. No one on this fiercely protective island can know what he’s doing, not even the spirited, blue-eyed beauty who infuriates-and excites-Dex. As the desire between them ignites, Maggie becomes the key to the case . . . and the target of an unknown enemy. Now Dex will do anything to protect the woman he’s come to love-even risk his own life.
Temptation Bay is the first book in a series set on Windfall Island, a small island off New England’s Atlantic coast. Maggie Soloman is a pilot, mechanic, and owner of the island’s tiny airport. She’s lived on the island since she was a teen, and she fiercely loves it and its residents. Dexter Keegan is a PI pretending to be a lawyer who comes to the island investigating a very cold case (from Prohibition times) involving the kidnapping of a child of a wealthy family. From the moment Maggie flies him to the island, he is immediately intrigued and attracted to her. The island’s residents are tough and secretive, Maggie especially, but she and Dex gradually develop a tentative trust, enough that Dex eventually tells Maggie about his case and solicits her help. The two then set about trying to trace the history and glean what they can from old records and island residents.
Maggie is an independent, smart, and prickly heroine. Her dad is high ranking military official, and he has spent her life either running her down or exploiting her to further his career. The residents of Windfall acted like the first real family she ever had, which is part of why she is so intensely loyal to them. I always enjoy a heroine who is clever and can fight for herself, and Maggie has definitely had to do a lot of fighting in her life to get by. She’s blunt and defensive, but she’s also honest and giving once someone earns her trust. I also love seeing genuine female friendships in books, and Maggie has that in Jessi, her best friend and business partner. (And the sparks for Jessi’s own romance start in this book. She’s a great character so I can’t wait to read her story!)
Dex is pretty arrogant, but he is still a sensitive and caring guy underneath. In contrast to Maggie, he comes from a very loving family, but he’s at a bit of a crossroads in life. He needs to solve this kidnapping case to make a name for himself in the private investigation world. I thought he was a good foil for Maggie–more open and easy going, but not a pushover. He and Maggie have awesome banter that lets you learn more about them as people and also adds some nice levity to the story.
I enjoyed the mystery plot, too. The island is clearly hiding secrets, though from this book you can’t fully tell what those secrets are and who’s involved. Maggie and Dex’s storyline does wrap up satisfactorily, but the larger kidnapping plot is not resolved. I hate cliffhangers but I didn’t mind this ending at all since Maggie and Dex’s story felt complete. I do wonder how much longer it can be dragged on, though. This kidnapping case is really old and I had a little trouble believing so many people would still be this emotionally invested in the event, enough to do things like try to hurt the investigators (as they did to Maggie and Dex).
I thought this was a strong start from a new author, and I’ll certainly be checking out book #2.
Grade: 4 out of 5
This book is available from Forever. You can purchase it here or here. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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