Finding Paradise

by Michele Ashman Bell

Welcome to sunny Cancun. The only problem is Morgan Rose would rather be sitting at home than hanging out with her best friend's parents in an exotic vacation resort full of couples on romantic getaways. She's decided to perform her Maid-of Honor duties at Samantha's wedding and catch the next flight back to her predictable life. Then she meets Justin, the groom's best man. At first she finds him annoying-cute, but annoying. But soon she realizes that there is much more to this good-looking man than his fun-loving exterior suggests. When their brief time together ends, they promise to keep in touch and, more importantly, to meet again six months later to see if their attraction has any lasting possibilities. But time has a way of complicating even the most beautiful beginnings, and Morgan will soon be forced to make a difficult decision that could change the course of her life. Best-selling author Michele Ashman Bell has done it again with Finding Paradise, a touching story about the importance of following your heart-a book that will keep readers engaged from the first page to the last satisfying line.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Lds, Fiction, Clean Romance, Contemporary, Adult

249 pages, Kindle Edition

About the author

I grew up in St. George, Utah, where a lot of my family still lives, but now reside with my husband and family in the Salt Lake City area. My favorite thing to do is support my kids in their many interests. Between basketball, ballet and piano lessons we squeeze a lot into a week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reviews

[the girl who reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read this several times, but it’s been years. It was fun rereading it! I had to laugh at some of the technology mentioned though, since what was once commonplace is now outdated and no where to be found. I enjoyed reading about Morgan’s and Justin’s time in Cancun as well as the rest of the story.

[Dorry Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book about a girl who has lived a pretty boring life until she comes to Cancun to be in her friends wedding. She meets Justin the grooms best man who figures she needs to experience more of life than she has.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute fun read. A little cheesy but it worked.

[Ali~may · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I did finish it, so I guess that counts for something, but I just found a lot of things wrong with it and I wasn’t really a fan of any of the characters.

[Charity Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the beginning and the ending. The middle was very frustrating due to different reasons, but it did bring about great character growth for the female main character.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally cheesy and mostly predictable, but still an engaging, clean read. If you are not LDS, I don’t recommend this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice escape from bleak winter weather.

[emmahurren · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a cute little book. the beginning was boring but by the end i was on pins and needles

[02kimberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Paradise

Michele Ashman Bell

This book is a romance kind of book. It is about a girl who's name is Morgan Rose. Morgan wasn't thinking about boys being in her life. When she finds out her friend is getting married in Cancun, She meets a boy named Justin there and falls in love with him. Morgan's friend calls Morgan up and tells her that they haven't been spending as much time together as she thought they were going to. They come up with a decision to get a divorce. When Morgan returns home her and Justin make a deal that know matter what happens to either one of them, they would go out to dinner on the same day they met. Well, Morgan has another lover and he proposes to her. She doesn't know what to do so she says she will wait. She tells him "No" and he loses it. She keeps trying to call Justin to tell him the news but he won't answer. She finds out that he went back to Brasil where he went on his mission and he went back to go help a friend he has down there. All of the service was out because of a natural disaster that happened. She thought that he was meeting someone else and so she gets mad at him. Near the end she is waiting in the resturant and he doesn't show up. She get hit by a car and he meets her at the hospital. They spend a while together and it turns out, they still had feelings for each other.

I rated this book a 5 star because it was such a great book! It was a good romance kind of story.

I would recommend this book to the romance lovers!!!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morgan goes to Cancun for her best friend's wedding, but she'd rather be at home than in this beach paradise. But then she meets Justin, one of the groomsmen in the wedding. Justin seems annoying at first, but then she realizes there's much more to him than appears at first glance. She finds her world turned around, in more ways than one, as a result of meeting him.

This book is well written with a interesting main character and plot. I find part of the ending a little annoying, but otherwise it's very enjoyable. (Review written 2/12/2005).

4/29/2015 Update: This is one of me least favorite of Bell's books, because of the ending. It just drags on for far to long with the main character making a decision that is obviously wrong for her. :(

[Tamera Westhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy her writing. This is about a librarian Morgan who goes out of her box to Cancun to her best friend's beach wedding and how her life completely changes because of it! She hangs out with the groom's best man and he helps her do things she was too scared to try. The largest part of the book is her trying to figure out if it's really love or if she should just go for the guy who's there (her on-off boyfriend). Because the other guy, yes she felt a connection but they hadn't seen in each other and he hardly ever talked to her, so she just wasn't sure. I'm super glad that she figured things out, because the boyfriend was BORING! Great dialogue and certainly encourages going out and doing fun things-especially karaoke!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts in Cancun, where Morgan is attending her best friend, Sam's wedding. Although Morgan would much rather be at work Sam encourages her to have fun. After the wedding she meets Justin, one of the grooms friends. Justin teaches her to become more laidback and to have fun outside of her comfort zone. Morgan becomes quite charmed with Justin and they start to spend more time together, but then her vacation ends and they both have to go back to work on seperate sides of the world! Finding Paradise is an amazing book!! It kept me turning the pages just to find the ending!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy her books. I did have a few issues with this book though. Her short term time lines were either misleading or confused.

Her main character seemed to fight an obvious answer for just too long, in order to bring the book to a climax.

Her main character had two older brothers who were mentioned to begin with, but were not present, ever. Even in situations where you'd think siblings and family members would be present and participating.

I enjoyed the book. It was a good story, but not great literature. A fun read none-the-less.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I was hoping for a little more interaction between the two main characters before the end chapter six months later. Looks at all sides of a relationship. I like how it examines reasons for getting married. I agree that you should choose wisely and carefully beforehand, but also like the marriage between the main character's best friend that shows that any relationship can work if the couple is willing to put forth the effort. Too many couples today throw away relationships solely in the name of "love" or the lack thereof.

[Debby]

Librarian/artist wannabe Morgan Rose has reluctantly gone to a Cancun resort to be maid of honor to her friend. She's surprised to find out the best man, Justin Connery is a convert returned missionary and they're seriously attracted. The next six months are difficult with Justin in Brazil and strong pushing from her parents to marry another - Manny. Finally, two weeks before her wedding, she realizes WHY she's having a stupor of thought. Fun book although she almost blew it. The Manny thing went on too long.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute book, kind of the typical girl-meets-boy, but a bit more interesting. It was a fairly light read overall (I finished it in a week on the bus) with some interesting twists. I wish I would have found out what happened with a few of the characters, but overall it was a pleasant book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had listened to this before when I was younger, but couldn't quite remember the whole story. I really like this author, but most of her books are romances, which is ok. Some of the things the characters say though are really out there, like nobody would really say that. I.E. "I would swim through shark infested waters to get to you." Yeah right... just my opinion though.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gag! I liked this book, and like a lot of Michele Ashman Bell books, but this is just your typical Mormon romance. You know right from the beginning how it's going to end. However, it is just one of those books that I like to use my Mom's quote, "escape books." You just can't wait to sit down and read what's going to happen next in this romance novel.

[Shae Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of my favorite books of Michele's! She definitely has a way of making you feel like you are right where your characters are! This is a story of unexpected love on a warm tropical island where you also learn a little about the value of making wise choices in your selection of a marriage companion and why values and respect for yourself matter!

[Jessica Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I love how Justin works in Brasil. That makes it even better. Love how it talks about scuba diving. The way the character is changed and finds herself - sometimes I feel like that. And the whole description of the vacation makes me believe that I'm there too (which is AWESOME since I'm too poor to travel now. ha ha) It may be cheesy - but that's my style!

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first half of the book, the Cancun part of the book (perhaps 3.5 stars). Then second half of the book was taken up with Morgan being so obtuse that it was frustrating and painful to read the story. After the halfway point, my rating of the book began falling. I did finish so that is an automatic two stars.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this one was rather lame. Most of the characters were one-sided and seemed typecast to fit a certain expectation. I liked the first part of the book, but then when Morgan returns home things went from good to bad to worse real quick. She was so clueless about her own emotions that it drove me nuts.

[Jenny Camac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a total love-story! This book has the ability to just take you away to the location of the story and it's hard to bring you back to reality. Nothing educational, just an easy heartfelt read. Great for a vacation!

[McKenzie Dygert · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book. it was so cute and sometimes it could make you frustrated. i know i did, just ask britt. but i really liked it and it also had a couple breath taking parts. but it was a good book.

[Nancy Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good clean romance and that just what this book was. And how sometimes you have to trust your heart when the right person comes along no matter what those around you think. Especially when you have God on your side.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find it interesting how much a person grows when we find the courage to step out of our comfort zones. I'm not sure I would ever try scuba diving, but snorkeling would be fun to try. I was proud of Megan. Justin is just too good to be true!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to go to Cancun and see the ruins and jump in the ice cold cavern lake and on and on and on. Happy fluffy read that makes you just go Awe... There were some annoying character flaws but overall a fun read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books to read when I need a break from real life. It is fun, has issues, but everything comes together in the end. Plus, I love to feel transported to Mexico when it is raining and yucky outside.

[Aapree · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty predictable LDS romance novel. That being said I did enjoy the premise of the story. Very descriptive and set in tropical Mexico ... for half the book. And I LOVE Mexico. All in all I enjoyed the escape from reality for a while.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Choosing a spouse is such an important endeavor. This book explores the struggle many go through in listening to their own inner voice or listening the voices of family and friends on the issue. It also explores the hardships of long distance relationships.