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Jillian's Island: A feel-good, closed-door romance about healing, hope, and an unexpected love on a deserted island.
When life falls apart, sometimes love is the lifeline you never saw coming…
Jillian Washburn has perfected the art of keeping calm. Years working aboard luxury yachts have taught her how to manage wealthy passengers, unpredictable seas, and — most importantly — her own carefully guarded heart.
But when her grandfather’s yacht is wrecked in a violent storm, Jillian suddenly becomes responsible for him and five quirky strangers stranded on a mysterious Bahamian island. Ancient ruins and unexpected dangers lurk behind every swaying palm… and a too-charming marine biology professor insists on helping at every turn.
Carter Buckley is everything Jillian doesn’t have time steady, hopeful, and determined to break through her defenses. And the quiet chemistry between them might be more treacherous than the island itself.
If Jillian wants to find rescue, she’ll first have to let someone rescue her heart.
✨ For fans of Sarah Adams and Cindy Steel
✅ Closed-door kisses & heartfelt chemistry
✅ Found-family friendships & island adventure
✅ A feel-good escape with all the swoony butterflies
Love may just be the greatest adventure of all.
Jillian Washburn has perfected the art of keeping calm. Years working aboard luxury yachts have taught her how to manage wealthy passengers, unpredictable seas, and — most importantly — her own carefully guarded heart.
But when her grandfather’s yacht is wrecked in a violent storm, Jillian suddenly becomes responsible for him and five quirky strangers stranded on a mysterious Bahamian island. Ancient ruins and unexpected dangers lurk behind every swaying palm… and a too-charming marine biology professor insists on helping at every turn.
Carter Buckley is everything Jillian doesn’t have time steady, hopeful, and determined to break through her defenses. And the quiet chemistry between them might be more treacherous than the island itself.
If Jillian wants to find rescue, she’ll first have to let someone rescue her heart.
✨ For fans of Sarah Adams and Cindy Steel
✅ Closed-door kisses & heartfelt chemistry
✅ Found-family friendships & island adventure
✅ A feel-good escape with all the swoony butterflies
Love may just be the greatest adventure of all.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 10, 2025
3.25 🌟
"Here I was, a yacht stewardess who looked for adventure at every port, on a date with a man who wanted his life to stay exactly as it was. A match made in Heaven." (Ch 3)
Clean Romance / Rom-Com / Island Adventure / Mystery
Purported to be Gilligan's Island meets The Love Boat...
“People do unexpected things in life- and- death situations.” (Ch 7)
It is a little cheesy in parts, yes, and when there is laughing from the characters, it kind of came off more like awkwardness. The onboard drama, intrigue, and mystery when they speed off course brought excitement to the read.
The story reveals, more or less, emotional vulnerabilities and breakthroughs, leading to a discovery of life epiphanies, especially after being shipwrecked. Friendship and relationship bonds form, strengthen, and offer healing.
"If I could do anything in the world, it would be something that lets me help others see the light that is already inside themselves.” (Ch 14)
eARC courtesy of Literary Inspired
"Here I was, a yacht stewardess who looked for adventure at every port, on a date with a man who wanted his life to stay exactly as it was. A match made in Heaven." (Ch 3)
Clean Romance / Rom-Com / Island Adventure / Mystery
Purported to be Gilligan's Island meets The Love Boat...
“People do unexpected things in life- and- death situations.” (Ch 7)
It is a little cheesy in parts, yes, and when there is laughing from the characters, it kind of came off more like awkwardness. The onboard drama, intrigue, and mystery when they speed off course brought excitement to the read.
The story reveals, more or less, emotional vulnerabilities and breakthroughs, leading to a discovery of life epiphanies, especially after being shipwrecked. Friendship and relationship bonds form, strengthen, and offer healing.
"If I could do anything in the world, it would be something that lets me help others see the light that is already inside themselves.” (Ch 14)
eARC courtesy of Literary Inspired
August 27, 2025
Jillian’s Island was a cute, cozy, adventure romance. Jillian is a people-pleasing stewardess on her grandfathers cruise ship, The Flying Honeymoon. I found Jillian’s character extremely relatable with her innate need to try to make her grandfather proud and trying to coordinate everything the passengers needed. Even after they end up stranded on an island.
Not only was the romance closed door, cute and cozy but the adventure portion was also cozy. This story takes you on a fun journey of evolution of the relationship with her grandfather, the start of a relationship with Carter, and trying to figure out how they got stranded and how to get off the island.
All the other supporting characters added entertaining banter, debates, and some interesting character development/backgrounds. It’s an eclectic bunch that ended up on The Flying Honeymoon together.
If you enjoy cozy reads with clean drama, fun twists and turns, entertaining banter and an adorable but unconventional meet-cute this is for you!
Not only was the romance closed door, cute and cozy but the adventure portion was also cozy. This story takes you on a fun journey of evolution of the relationship with her grandfather, the start of a relationship with Carter, and trying to figure out how they got stranded and how to get off the island.
All the other supporting characters added entertaining banter, debates, and some interesting character development/backgrounds. It’s an eclectic bunch that ended up on The Flying Honeymoon together.
If you enjoy cozy reads with clean drama, fun twists and turns, entertaining banter and an adorable but unconventional meet-cute this is for you!
August 12, 2025
Tropes You Will Love
🏝️ Stranded Island Romance
💘 Meant-to-be Romance
🎭 Quirky Characters
🏚️ Mysterious Abandoned Island Adventures
Blurb
Stranded in paradise. Seven strangers. One unforgettable adventure.
Jillian knows how to keep her cool. She’s spent years smoothing over chaos as a yacht stewardess, but nothing could prepare her for the real storm: when her grandfather’s yacht is shipwrecked on a remote Bahamian island.
With Grandpa Skippy and five other castaways stranded alongside her, Jillian must navigate more than just survival. Mysterious ruins, unexpected dangers, and the island’s secrets test their limits. And then there’s Dr. Carter Buckley, a marine biology professor who’s far too distracting for this deserted-island scenario.
As friendships form and romance stirs under swaying palms, Jillian realizes getting off the island might not be the only adventure fate has in store.
For fans of clean romance, charming banter, and unexpected detours into paradise, Jillian’s Island is your next feel-good escape.
🏝️ Stranded Island Romance
💘 Meant-to-be Romance
🎭 Quirky Characters
🏚️ Mysterious Abandoned Island Adventures
Blurb
Stranded in paradise. Seven strangers. One unforgettable adventure.
Jillian knows how to keep her cool. She’s spent years smoothing over chaos as a yacht stewardess, but nothing could prepare her for the real storm: when her grandfather’s yacht is shipwrecked on a remote Bahamian island.
With Grandpa Skippy and five other castaways stranded alongside her, Jillian must navigate more than just survival. Mysterious ruins, unexpected dangers, and the island’s secrets test their limits. And then there’s Dr. Carter Buckley, a marine biology professor who’s far too distracting for this deserted-island scenario.
As friendships form and romance stirs under swaying palms, Jillian realizes getting off the island might not be the only adventure fate has in store.
For fans of clean romance, charming banter, and unexpected detours into paradise, Jillian’s Island is your next feel-good escape.
September 22, 2025
A people pleasing yacht stewardess Jillian and a hunky biology professor Carter meet on a cruise to the Bahamas and end up stranded with other passengers and the injured captain (JIllian’s grandfather) on an island. With the emergency beacon broken, rescue seems less likely by the day.
One of my favorite parts of the book was actually watching Jillian’s relationship with her grandfather grow and heal. The closed door romance between Jillian and Carter was cute and cozy. I loved how they helped each other work through issues to become better.
The supporting characters added the perfect amount a bit of banter and annoyance to add to the story as they all work together to figure out how they ended up stranded and to find help to get off the island. Just as they think they’re being rescued they end up in danger (that you kind of knew was coming from hints throughout the book) and have to work together to fight the bad guys and survive until a real rescue comes. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book about one of the supporting characters!
One of my favorite parts of the book was actually watching Jillian’s relationship with her grandfather grow and heal. The closed door romance between Jillian and Carter was cute and cozy. I loved how they helped each other work through issues to become better.
The supporting characters added the perfect amount a bit of banter and annoyance to add to the story as they all work together to figure out how they ended up stranded and to find help to get off the island. Just as they think they’re being rescued they end up in danger (that you kind of knew was coming from hints throughout the book) and have to work together to fight the bad guys and survive until a real rescue comes. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book about one of the supporting characters!
August 5, 2025
Stranded on a deserted island? Check! Falling in love with the hunky scientist you were shipwrecked with? Check! Shenanigans with a pop star, a grumpy billionaire and mysterious haunted villages? Check
I loved the concept of this book. I’m a Swiss Family Robinsons kid so I was ready for the adventure and this story didn’t disappoint in that regard! It was great that way.
I did find the dialogue a bit too structured and not very natural and found it a bit detail heavy so I was struggling to read through the descriptions of things alot of the time.
Overall, I enjoyed the ride. Thank you Kimberley Webb and Literary Inspired for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.
I loved the concept of this book. I’m a Swiss Family Robinsons kid so I was ready for the adventure and this story didn’t disappoint in that regard! It was great that way.
I did find the dialogue a bit too structured and not very natural and found it a bit detail heavy so I was struggling to read through the descriptions of things alot of the time.
Overall, I enjoyed the ride. Thank you Kimberley Webb and Literary Inspired for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC.
August 20, 2025
This book had action, adventure, friendship, and a love story. When the author says "think Gilligan's Island meets The Love Boat" that's a pretty accurate description. It's so hard to find clean books these days so it was a really fresh breath of air to read something that was closed door. Carter was really sweet and I loved seeing the growth of Jillian. She started out as more of a door mat character but ends up a badass by the end. There was also a hint of mystery in the story in a few different places that had me saying "just one more chapter" and wondering what the heck was going on. All in all, it was a cute and adventurous story and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you for the ARC!
Thank you for the ARC!
August 17, 2025
Jillian's Island is a clean romance with a hint of mystery. Jillian is the spunky yacht stewardess on her grandpa's yacht. The duo provide luxury cruises for the rich. When the cruise they are on goes awry, she must work with the passengers to figure out why they crashed and how t0 get back home.
This is a great slow burn, romantic suspense, on a tropical getaway. This is a super fun beach read or a read for those who want to get away to a tropical paradise (of sorts).
This is a great slow burn, romantic suspense, on a tropical getaway. This is a super fun beach read or a read for those who want to get away to a tropical paradise (of sorts).
August 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It is a bit of a slow burn, but it is exciting in its own way. I thought that Jillian's story, while kinda sad, was relatable. How many of us carry the burden of handling everybody else's issue and never caring for our own? Some of the supporting characters really grated on my nerves, but that was exactly what the author intended. The writing is lovely.
August 19, 2025
This was unlike anything I have read, but I love it! Jillian has learned how to handle multiple different styles of guests, but one of them sticks out more than the other. You find yourself rooting for Jillian in every way, and my attention was always kept. If you like a clean, feel good romance, this is your book!
Thank you Kimberly Webb and Literary Inspired for the eARC!
Thank you Kimberly Webb and Literary Inspired for the eARC!
September 22, 2025
Super cute castaway romance read! Took quite a few turns that I didn't expect, kept me on my toes and kept me swooning! Was a one sitting read through, perfect book to close out the summer!
September 24, 2025
Kept me guessing until the very end! Free with kindle unlimited! Very excited for the next one to come out!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews