Island for Two: Hawaii Magic\Fiji Fantasy

by Beverly Jenkins, Elaine Overton

For two couples, paradise is about to heat up…

Hawaii Magic by Beverly Jenkins

Workaholic attorney Anita Hunt is on the job 24/7. She's looking to make partner, not party. While on a forced vacation in Hawaii, she meets gorgeous pilot Steve Blair. When engine trouble forces them to make a crash landing, the seductive airman shows her a side of the exotic island and herself she never expected�and a passion that could make them partners in paradise forever.…

Fiji Fantasy by Elaine Overton

Connie Vaughn will never forget her thirtieth birthday present to a passion-filled week in Fiji with a sensual stranger who knew her only as Contessa. But Michael Hillard is about to reenter her life in a big way. And from the moment the corporate playboy meets his mystery lover again, he wages an all-out campaign of seduction. This time the stakes are much higher�a love to last a lifetime!

Genres: Romance, African American Romance

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Beverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance.

She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning.

Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase. 

To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net. 

Reviews

[Geneva(GG) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawaii Magic: 4 stars

Fiji Fantasy: 3 stars

[Nikki Clark Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute love story 💗

[Marilyn Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love any work Beverly Jenkins does and this is the second time reading the work of Ms. Overton. These two novels took me away to far and distance lands and I became one with my other self.

[Anica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A couple of weeks ago I asked in the Popsugar group for recommendations on a book about a subject I knew nothing about, and someone gave me the asshat answer of Googling and looking at the ratings of books on Goodreads. Of course I can Google, but am trying to have human interaction and get an opinion from people I can have a back and forth with, you butt munch. I also never look at the ratings of a book because nearly every book I've ever looked at is at least a 3 star, if not 3.5. People lean too positive, in my opinion.

This book would be an excellent example, because I'm flabbergasted that it has a 4.2 average. WHAT. I'd give the first story a 2 and the second one a 1.5.

The writing was fine, nothing spectacular, but the stories were pushing my suspension of disbelief so far it broke. Just the coincidences in both of these stories, plus the most instant of instalove. I don't think anyone should read this, but to be respectful of your choice

Okay, story 1 we have a lawyer who is almost partner in her firm in LA, is on vacation in Hawaii, and goes on a helicopter tour with sexy pilot. They crash, luckily walking distance to his friend's middle of nowhere, super luxurious house. They spend maybe 24 hours there, have all the sexy fun times you can have, then get rescued and she goes back to LA. They both realize, of course, that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, but you know, geography isn't in their favor.

She goes back to work, and, lucky her, her boss' mom had a stroke back in Wisconsin, and so she's dissolving the firm to move back there to take care of her. Convenient, no? But wait, the boss made some calls and found this other firm that they had worked with on something, and they want to take her on and make her a partner, yay! But wait, they just so happened to relocate their offices a year ago from LA to Honolulu, like corporate merger law firms are most likely to do. So they can live happily ever after and she still gets to have her career! (Never mind her saying in the beginning of the book how much she loved the hustle and bustle of LA and that she'll probably hate Hawaii when she's been there for more than three days in a luxury spa resort.)


Those coincidences, however, had nothing on the second story.

Mousy woman decides to spend a week in Fiji being a completely different version of herself, sleeping with any and every guy she lays her eyes on. First night trolling the bar, she notices Mr. Sexy Pants. They dance, they practically fuck in the parking lot, then he brings her to his yacht and they do the nasty. They end up spending the whole week together, fall in love, then she disappears back to her mousy life.

Worry not though, they run into each other again! How? Well, luckily, bar hoping overseas the first guy she makes googly eyes at is also American. Actually, he's from her state too. Actually actually, he's from her town too. Actually actually actually, he's the SON of her BOSS, who's set to take over the business in a couple days. You know, she paid for the Fiji trip from winning a small lottery, and I'm just thinking this woman needs to play all the time, because damn can she beat those odds.

Also, because she doesn't want him to know it's her, she wears her mousy clothes, glasses, colored contacts (hazel to brown, oh so different), and oils her hair a bit so it's darker. And he doesn't recognize her! They screwed six ways from Sunday for a week but nope, she reverse She's All That-ed and now that she's got glasses and metaphorical paint covered overalls, he can't tell she's the same woman. For a MONTH.

Then they are just don't talk about it and are awkward in the office for a little bit, to the point where his dad talks to him, basically telling him that obviously he hit on their executive assistant and she turned him down, but she's a great employee and he needs to keep it in his pants because everyone's noticed they're awkward and it's not professional.

So that afternoon they talk a little bit, he gives her his house key, and she moves in that evening. Then the book ends. Which is probably for the best, because your assistant moving in with you the day your dad gave you the sexual harassment speech, I'm sure that's going to go happily ever after, no problem.

This is generally why I don't read contemporary romance, actually. You throw the people in a castle and I can completely buy they're going to want to spend the rest of their lives together 48 hours after meeting. Hell, your life expectancy was barely longer than a cat, and you've found the only other person in the middle ages that bathes regularly and has a mouthful of white teeth. I am here for your instalove.

But contemporary? Nope, you are super horny for each other and that divorce is going to be ugly in three years. The fact these were novellas, which I didn't realize when I got the book, certainly didn't help. (Downside to ebooks.)

I didn't believe it, and the sex wasn't steamy enough to make up for it. 1.5 stars for the set, don't bother.

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this book, Fiji Fantasy by Elaine Overton. It was sexy, intriguing, and quite exciting!

The main character of Connie Vaguan was expertly created with in depth detail. She is a 30 year old young lady, who lives a quiet life with her brother, Brain and sister-in-law, Annie. After their parents died, when she was just 12 years old. She has rigid schedule where she always respects everyone opinions as she quietly only goes to work every day, dressed very conservative clothing. She is also divorced from her violent and verbally abusive ex-husband, Nathan Moore. Nathan is also Brain's best friend and Brain blames Connie for the divorce.

On her 30th birthday she decided to go to Fiji, as Contessa. She wore very sexy outfits where she met Michael Hillard in a nightclub. The more they spent time together, he instantly fell in with her and her free spirit. However, she did not want to tell him her true identity as she quietly left the island while he slept.

When she returns home, she found out that Michael was her boss son, who will be taking over their company and she has to train him. She dressed as Connie while she was around him until one day he realized who she was and he wanted to marry her.

This is the first book I read my Ms. Elaine Overton and I really enjoyed it. She's is an exceptional writer and I look forward to reading more of her books, in the near future. Highly recommended! 😍

[Jess (Jess.Keep.Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hawaii Magic: 3/5
Fiji Fantasy 3.5
I generally love Beverly Jenkins and wanted a quick fun read. This was my first Elaine Overton novel. These are 2 novellas, about a single woman on a solo tropical vacation. Two stories, two women shedding their professional selves to be their “real” less inhibited selves.

I did feel the chemistry with Connie and Michael was more evident in Fiji Fantasy, but having just visited Hawaii, I felt that Hawaii Magic set up the scene perfectly for Anita and Steve.

[Sharon Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two great short love stories. I liked the chemistry between Anita and Steve, the pilot and counselor in Hawaii Magic by Beverly Jenkins. I also liked reading Connie and Michael's story in Fiji Fantasy by Elaine Overton.

[Danielle Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two tropical gems in one! 🌺 Hawaii Magic (Beverly Jenkins) and Fiji Fantasy (Elaine Overton) both deliver romance, family, and passion with a reminder to open up, take chances, and live life for yourself. Sweet, swoony, and the perfect escape read.

[Michelle Chavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yesssss! Loved the stories.

[Elsie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down as it was thrilling, loved the adventurous survival from the plane crash. It drew me in and got my attention so, thanks.

[Jadaloves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawaii Magic by Beverly Jenkins was a charming little story that brought a smile to my face. Over worked Anita Hunt is essentially forced to take a vacation to Hawaii by her boss. Her pilot, Steve Blair, has the honor of taking her from California to Hawaii. Because of her frosty demeanor, Steve deems it best to stay away from her, but finds it difficult when he also ends up being the one to take her on the helicopter tour of Hawaii. When their copter goes down, and they are forced to survive together, the proximity can no longer afford them to deny their attraction, and the sparks fly.

Though Anita got on my nerves at first because she was cold to people when there was no need, I eventually warmed to her and began rooting for her and Steve’s HEA. The story was short and sweet, and though the relationship occurred over a short amount of time, the development still felt very natural and realistic for the circumstances. Steve was adorable and laid back, and seemed to always know what to say and do. He was a total sweetheart, and made the story a pleasure to read.

The second story Fiji Fantasy worked my nerves after only a couple chapters so I didn’t finish reading it.

[Reshemah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Island For Two is two short stories about island love. The first story written by Beverly Jenkins, takes place in Hawaii. It is the Story of Anita Hunt and Steve Blair. Anita is a workaholic attorney who is forced to take a vacation by her boss where she meets her pilot Steve. When they have to make a cash landing, things heat up between these two. This story seemed a little rushed to me at the end. Maybe because it started off slow and it should have jumped off at the start with it being a short story. Even though it was rushed at the end it was still a very sweet story.
The second book by Elaine Overton took place in Fiji. This is the story of Connie Vaughn and Michael Hillard. This story took off from the very start and never let you down. The passion-filled week in Fiji is just the beginning for these two. In all, the whole book is a great read. It makes me want to take a trip to a "fantasy island" Job well done to both of these authors on another great collaboration.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars - Hawaii Magic
A quickie packed with some funny one liners, and a few good love scenes.

3.5 Stars - Fiji Fantasy
I liked this story a bit more than the last. The story got right down to business, there was no beating around the bush which is essential in these short stories. Connie and Michael had a fiery coming together. It was really passionate and also super sweet at the same time. I don't want to give it away, but Connie's trickery was a bit far fetched to me, but I was glad they were able to move past it. This story kept me interested, and when it was over I wished it wasn't because I wanted to read more about these characters.

[Kesha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two very quick reads by two authors I like. I liked Fiji Fantasy by Elaine Overton best but I wish it was maybe 100+ pages longer. Would have loved more info on what happened between Brian and Annie when Connie moved out, how Brian 'took care of' Nathan, and Connie's new independence and long engagement. In Hawaii Magic by Beverly Jenkin's I really hated the mother and would have loved to see her reaction to her upcoming wedding in an epilogue. Maybe she would have had Greg crash the wedding.

[Cait S · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know, man. I like cheesy romance as much as the next girl. But I just cannot stand this "we literally met two days ago, I know absolutely nothing about this person except how to locate their genitalia BUT THEY ARE MY SOULMATE HERE'S AN ENGAGEMENT RING YAYYYY" garbage. It's so convenient and lazy.

If you want a happy ending, build a decent story first.

[Phillip W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doubled Delight

Both stories are typical romance tales. They're short and sweet, but delightful flights of fancy that both entertain and impact your sense of life's twists and turns. I find myself imagining different outcomes to my journey when I read stories like these to short tales..Both authors did a fine job.

[Andrea Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly loved it. Two novelettes about fantasy love on a tropical island. Total fantasy, with the romance, the rich, gorgeous, nice heroes. But it was a quick and enjoyable escape. Makes me want to visit both Fiji and Kuaui!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book brought back memories of my trip to Kauai and the helicopter trip that we took. Yes it is a trashy romance novel....but it's a fun read and sometimes you just need that to escape the real world for a while.

[Leondra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this while in Hawaii...Wow. This book caused me to take a helicopter tour and I was kibda hoping for a crash...(Not really) but it cause me to see Hawaii in a whole new light. what a great read.

[SassyMama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two QUICK...just OK island treats...IMHO.

[Fanci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved them both.....

[Odessa Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very like Beverly Jenkin's stories. This was a good and enjoyable story. I also liked Elaine Overton's although it was a very short story.

[Carla wynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed both stories, would have enjoyed if they had been a little longer.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I travel to romantic islands as I enjoyed reading about the love of two couples. The geographical descriptions were breathtaking.

[Tigger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Second time reading

Loved it!

[Geneva · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it!