The Island

August 30, 2010
Denice Hicks effectively sets the tone for Hilderbrand’s latest crowd-pleasing beach tale exploring the ups and downs of sibling rivalry, divorce, and the rekindling of long-dormant romantic passions. Admittedly, keeping track of the back-and-forth flow of dialogue between protagonist Birdie Cousins and her sister India and also between Birdie’s two young-adult daughters, Chess and Tate, may not always be easy for the listener; however, Hicks does bring distinctive touches into her vocal depictions when specific plot points or scenes allow. In particular, she excels in her portrayal of the villainous—and generally inebriated—socialite Anita Fullin, Tate’s rival for the affections of hunky young widower and vacation-home caretaker Barrett Lee. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, May 17).

May 17, 2010
At the start of this steamy woman's novel from Hilderbrand (The Castaways), recently divorced Birdie Cousins is busy planning the September wedding of her older daughter, Chess, at the family house on Tuckernuck, a privately owned island near Nantucket. Birdie hopes to spend some quality time with Chess on Tuckernuck in July, but then Chess breaks her engagement to her consummate Ivy League golden boy fiancé, Michael Morgan. Michael fatally plunges off a Utah crag just when Birdie acquires her own new beau—a married man with a wife stricken with Alzheimer's. Birdie, Chess, and their support team—Birdie's computer-guru younger daughter, Tate, and Birdie's bohemian widowed sister, India—hare off to Tuckernuck. There hunky handyman Barrett Lee flutters hearts and dampens underwear in a breathless month of supercharged estrogenic imbalances. This never-never land portrait of the rich and randy will please those looking for a satisfying beach read.

Four women spend a month on Tuckernuck Island (just off Nantucket) with no electricity, hot water, or telephones. But there IS one hot man--Barrett Lee, a local handyman. Denice Hicks portrays the women in a bright, cheerful voice as they work through the bumps in their lives. Recently divorced, Birdie Cousins, the rock of the family, nurtures her older daughter, Chess, whose former fiancé died just days after she broke off their engagement. Chess's sister, Tate, a computer software engineer extraordinaire, has a serious crush on the handyman. Birdie's widowed sister, India, a free spirit, agrees to help heal Chess's broken heart and find balance in her own life. Hicks narrates the ups and downs in the women's lives as they seek quiet days, healing, bonding, and friendship--the perfect formula for a summer romance. M.B.K. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine