Island Time

by Susan Wiggs

A workaholic and a free spirit collide at a Pacific-Northwest island getaway in this romantic short story by a #1 New York Times–bestselling author.Off the coast of Washington lies Spruce Island, home to Rainshadow Lodge, the perfect summer retreat. Neither Mitch Rutherford or Rosie Galvez expect to find romance during their month-long visit to the rambling Victorian getaway. Mitch, an architect, is a workaholic on a deadline, while Rosie’s determined to relax and enjoy the scenery while preparing an environmental report. But despite—or perhaps because?—of their differences, they find themselves drawn to each other, and their lives are irrevocably changed by their stay at the lodge.Originally published in 1998 in That Summer Place anthology.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

123 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2016

About the author

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.

Reviews

[Marleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s difficult, I suppose, for any author to create a credible romance short story. Still, I think that I expected more from Susan Wiggs. I thought the lead characters fell too quickly in love without any believable preamble. Both Mitch and Rosie were believable enough in the moment, but on the whole the story didn’t impress me. The backdrop of the island, off the coast of Washington state was a nice feature.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a part of the "That Summer Place" anthology and it was definitely my least favorite. Very weak 3 stars- probably more like 2.5. I just didn't buy into the romance and thought it was too much instalove. They just randomly spilled their hearts out to each other and it didn't make sense. Furthermore, someone so flighty and someone so structured would never work long term. I just found the story silly and uninteresting. I'll be surprised if I remember this in a week.

SPOILERS AHEAD:
This book is about Mitch and Rosie. He is a workaholic and is scheduled to meet a professor that is going to research an area to see if a marina can go in and somehow he stands to benefit greatly if it does go in. He's hiring the professor to do the research and when "he" doesn't show he's livid. Until, that is, he finds out that "he" is a very attractive Latin "she". She has no money to her name (literally 9 cents) and flies by the seat of her pants. She needs this job to survive. They fall instantly in love and spend a month having sex and exploring in Washington. In her official report, she says the marina is not a good idea, theres some tension, but it all works out in the end. Yay.

[Noelle Mcnamee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Fast easy read. Fun, light and breezy. I wish it was longer.
I didn't want this adventure to end.
Being on the island with those who loved nature's beauty was a joyful experience.
Susan wiggs always tells an interesting, story and paints pictures so vivid you feel part of it.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this at all; while the whole predictable woman falls for the man the first moment was expected, I had hoped it would reveal more of their professions than just a kayak ride.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A company has hired Mitch to study the environment on the island so they can complete a marina that will bring in jobs to the islanders and more tourists for business. The Marine Biologist that was hired to work with him is not a fuddy duddy gentleman professor he was expecting. No, it's Rosie, a vibrant, but disorganized, recently laid off professor from her college that was downsizing. I loved the interactions between "the man of rules" and the "free spirited" woman. What a match! And I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's accents which added authenticity and sexiness to the story!

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next book in the set is Island Time and this one went really fast too. Mitch is trying to help the town build a marina so that the town can prosper and continue to grow. He has to hire a marine biologist to conduct studies and see what would be best for the town and the environment.

I would highly recommend that you read the set of these books. They are fun and fast paced a hit in my opinion.

[Patricia Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything Susan Wiggs writes--I enjoy her characters and their struggles to find themselves and to find love. In this book set on one of the islands near Seattle, I workaholic Type A architect meets laid back Environmentalist, who he needs to sign off on his new project. Of course they are staying the same house, so fireworks inevitably fly. Fun read

[Jamie Stimpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Read. I would have liked to hear more about the island discovery. I love Susan Wiggs, she is great at painting a picture. The reason behind why they are on the island got lost in the relationship of the story.

[RomanceIsMyJam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it through Chapter 2. I am so bored and it’s just predictable. DNF!
I haven’t read anything by this author before and this didn’t endear me to her stories or style to try anymore. Oof what a sham of creativity. Pass.

[Diann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Island Time

A,nice short love story. It had some interesting facts about the area and islands near Seattle. A good time on an island between 2 people that were a mismatch but feel in love anyway.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. It’s called a kindle single. Only 11 chapters.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a relaxing novelette taking place on the magical Bainbridge Island just off the coast from Seattle. It was a nice little read.

[Mustapha Khairat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cant read the main story, it's not opening

[Sparklin C Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites attract in this story with Mitch and Rosie.

[Charland Garvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, easy read. Just a fun book that is enjoyable.

[Shirley M Davies · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 40 pages and thought no way am I going to waste my time. Disappointed in the author because I have enjoyed so many of her other books.

[Mary Ann Prado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer love

Love seems to take all kinds of turns when you take a chance even then it's not been good before

[Rose Grabowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

We follow Mitch and Rosie in this opposites attract novella. It takes place on beautiful Bainbridge Island just off the coast from Seattle. It is a relaxing beach read.

[Jill Cohen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a very slow reader and I finished this book in 2 days. Does that give you any idea of how short this book is? It is actually a long short story.

The story it self is fine. Susan Wiggs on a bad day is better than most other romance writers on a good day. But the story lacked the depth that I have become accustomed to from her work.

Also, when I purchased the book I did not realize that it was a rerelease from 1998. The book is dated.