The Island

by Alice Ward

One playboy billionaire. One gorgeous virgin. One deserted island...

The moment I lay eyes on Kendra Baxter, I know she has to be mine.

But the daughter of a Navy SEAL doesn't take orders. She’s been taught skills, strength and integrity. And god, that’s hot.

So I do what any powerful billionaire CEO would do — I take her on as my intern and plan my aggressive takeover.

Only, fate has other ideas.

My perfectly laid out plan of attack is flawed, and our plane crashes on a deserted island.

Here, who I am doesn’t matter. Money and social power don’t matter. I’m not a CEO anymore. I’m just a man.

Something’s different, I’m different. I still want to claim her, but now I want to protect her too.

We are locked in a fight for survival, and maybe more.

And I will do anything and everything in my power to protect her and make her mine.

*** This is a Full-Length STANDALONE billionaire romance novel with an HEA and NO CLIFFHANGER. ***

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, M F Romance, Ebooks, Contemporary Romance, Military Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published July 8, 2017

About the author

Alice Ward is the bestselling author of dozens of hot and steamy contemporary romances. She’s an amazingly prolific writer, releasing a new book almost every single month. Her books are widely read, especially by women and any other lovers of the romance genre. My Stepbrother, My Lover, was her first smash hit.

*** Get a Free VIP Exclusive Alice Ward book here: authoraliceward.com/free-book ***

Alice lives in Miami with her hunky husband. The beach is her all time favorite place to relax with her laptop and write.


Alice loves to connect with her readers:
AuthorAliceWard.com
Facebook.com/AuthorAliceWard
Twitter.com/AuthorAliceWard
Pinterest.com/AuthorAliceWard
Instagram.com/AuthorAliceWard

Reviews

[Emily (Mrs B's Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

*My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

I really struggled with this book as i really disliked Eli. As a successful man i found it hard that he would instantly take one look at Kendra and basically sexually harass her until he got what he wanted and sulked until he did. There was nothing about hi i liked until around 73% into the book when he managed to redeem himself and be the type of man he should always have been.

Kendra, well considering all the things her father supposedly trained her with she was fairly pathetic at standing up for herself it the big bad world. The fact that she had to clock in with her dad every day and that she told him everything made me wonder how under the thumb she really was. Considering her up-bringing she had too many insecurities.

The only part of this book i actually liked was the last 20% or so when the characters started to be what i expected, however Kendra still somewhat annoyed me. It seemed that it was really only Eli that changed.

Not a book that i will be revisiting.

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a difficult time with this book. There wasn't anything I liked about Eli. He's unprofessional, arrogant, and obnoxious when he doesn't get his way. In the beginning, as Kendra's mentor for the summer, Eli's behavior towards her is absolutely abhorrent and he should have been brought up on harrassment charges. It isn't until day 33 on the island that I actual like Eli more than Kendra. He turns into the man he should have always been.

I'm on the fence about Kendra. Yes, she is strong in mind and spirit. Kendra can most definitely stand up for herself but, her father's directives are so strong that I don't think she is living life for herself. Her father expects daily reports from Kendra about every aspect of her life in New York that he will pass along to her mother. Does Kendra get to speak to her ever? Sure, Kendra helped on the plane and the island thanks to Dad but, her insecurities plague her and make the time with Eli combative and confusing.

Literally, the ending is the most romantic and best part of the story. I was relieved that Eli and Kendra get their island paradise and the happily ever after they both wanted.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not an overall fan of this book. I was not a big fan of Eli. When I read a romance novel I judge the Hero by the standards to which I want in a partner and for most of the story Eli did not meet those standards. He is arrogant, conceded, and pouts like a child when he doesn't get his way.
Kendra was alright to me. She let's her father rule her life, she is very naive. Both characters got better as the story went along, both grew to be the people they were meant to be. The ending is where I gave this book my stars. The ending is romantic and sweet. I wish the rest of the book was more like the ending.
I voluntarily read an arc copy for my honest review!

[Tianna✸loves books✸]

Yet another book starting by H's pov. Meh....
He is like everyone loves me....my secretary wants to fuck me. And secretary even force kiss him. Blah blah.....
h's pov is like wow he is hot but no he is player blah blah
I'm not gonna rate this book as I didn't went to the island part. If a book begins this bad than it's over for me.

[Judy Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL !!!
Title: The Island
Author: Alice Ward
Designation: A Full-Length Standalone Billionaire Bad Boy Romance, NO CLiffhanger (There are no page numbers but I estimate this story to have approximately 200 pages)
Reading Platform: Kindle Edition
My Rating: Four Deliciously Sexy Suspenseful Stars****
***As a free bonus, this edition also included all five books (800 pages) of the completed Love All Out Series by Ward which I also enjoyed immensely.
Oh my! I loved this book! This was my first time reading the work of Alice Ward but it certainly won't be my last! I can hardly wait to see what else Ward has to offer! The Island is an exciting, fast-paced, well-crafted, easy-to-follow standalone contemporary billionaire bad boy romp filled to the brim with danger, drama, suspense, intrigue, lies, deceit, angst, heated attraction, steamy sex, and dreamy romance. The narrative is beautifully written in the first person with clearly defined his and her perspectives. My favorite! The dialogue is smart, snappy, well-executed, and flows effortlessly. Yes, the premise is imaginative, the plot is well-organized and executed and yes, the conflict is well-defined, and the story kept me riveted to my seat, white knuckling my ereader as my heart fluttered wildly in my chest, but my favorite element of this intriguing tale is the cast of engaging characters. I was immediately smitten with the two protagonists: handsome, womanizing, billionaire playboy owner of Key Ventures Incorporated, Eli Reed, and beautiful, spunky intern Kendra Baxter, eldest daughter of a former Navy Seal and a fierce, feisty, intelligent, completely guileless and somewhat innocent young woman with morals, true strength of character, and a backbone of steel who pulls no punches, always speak her mind regardless of the consequences, and is never afraid to say no - not even to her billionaire skirt-chasing, horndog boss Eli Reed. And I loved every single minute! I admit, when I purchased this book, I thought I was getting your typical and very predictable sexy billionaire bad boy tryst, but I've never been more wrong. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely sexy but it was so much more! I've never been more surprised but delighted in my entire life! Usually, I can read the first few chapters of a book and can tell you exactly how the storyline will progress. It's typically the same old tired plot - rich guy meets attractive girl, wants to have sex with said girl, and quickly has her in his bed. Nope, not with this story! No spoilers from me but I will say this... Charming but conceited billionaire playboy with women at his beck and call, and has never been turned down by a woman...until now-check! Beautiful young intern determined to save her virginity for the love of her life and future husband, not her womanizing boss-check! Lies, deceit, betrayal, suspense, treacherous enemies, a kidnapping attempt, a plane crash, and an uninhabited island with danger at every turn-check! An undeniable attraction, explosive passion, and a life-altering love that knows no bounds-check!
Did I like this book? Yes, very much! I loved that Kendra didn't just fall at Eli's feet. Kendra was just not the giggly, simpering type of woman. Yes, she was determined, strong-willed, and independent but still beautiful, and being smart has never appeared sexier than with Kendra. Thank you, Alice Ward, for a female protagonist that women can aspire to and admire, and a hero who could see past her beauty, recognize her worth, and was willing to change his lifestyle to have and protect her. Was it perfect? No, it had a few minor boo-boos but nothing that truly distracted me from the story. Would I recommend it? You bet and I am, but only for adult readers since it does contain explicit language and steamy, dreamy sex. If you enjoy stories filled to the brim with pulse-pounding danger, thrilling adventure, heart-stopping action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, heart-wrenching drama, unexpected plot twists, agonizing angst, heated attraction, fiery passion, steamy sex, and dreamy romance, then The Island is the book for you! Will I read this author again? Abso-freaking-lutely! And finally, was I entertained? OMG, YES! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!

[Abby Ang · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is pretty racist! One of the characters says MAGA.

[NP · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've been solidly reading MM so decided to check back on FM to see if anything had changed. Evidently not, authors appear to be steadily producing two dimensional characters that perpetuate that old joke... What's the difference between sexual harassment and romance? How attractive he is. This book seems to prove that in spades as the apparent hero is a lecherous old man (relative to Kendra) who sexually harasses Kendra at every turn and, it seems, this is romance?

In a single day Eli insisted Kendra accompany him to two social engagements and demands a massage (brought on by tension from 10 seconds of work, it seems). There's the standard Pretty Woman moment where MC dresses up his (sex) doll. And now standard Fifty Shades moment where the MC embroils himself in a woman's life using his influence to demand changes to appease his possessive, controlling jealousy. It's little wonder that men think this is what women want when tome after tome is produced extolling the controlling, abusive, domineering, petulant archetype.

Don't worry, the other standard of internalised misogyny is present too. Every other woman competing to land the womaniser and being super jealous of the heroine because she has his attention. This book jacks up the ludicrous stakes with Eli's interaction with Lola seeming to be her offering to blow him, him insisting he doesn't get involved with coworkers (whilst ardently pursuing his intern), Lola being suitably chastised for a work failure prompted by being rebuffed, Lola offering to blow him again....rinse repeat ad infinitum.

There's also the whole Kendra is speshul aspect and what makes her speshul, of course, is that she's not like other women, other women being depicted as sex mad, vacuous, competitive shrews, of course.

The blurb describes Kendra as a ballsy woman brought up to take no prisoners by her Navy Seal dad. I saw precious little of that. In fact pretty much all I saw was Kendra being a doormat whilst she was sexually harassed and yelled out by other interns. You would think the hot shit Navy Seal dad would have fully briefed his daughter on sexual harassment, or, ya know, in the age of the internet Kendra would be looking up what to do about sexual harassment and how she could use this to secure her position (basic skills that an involved parent imparts on their child), but no. Instead she's fretting over whether she's been fired because she refused to massage her boss. The same boss who insists giving your boss's bare torso a massage is normal practice up and down offices. Huh? Must be an American thing because over on this side of the pond, if your boss takes his shirt off and insists you massage him as part of the "any other duties commensurate with the role" portion of your job description you'd be onto HR with your surreptitious video recording of the encounter getting a handsome pay off.

I thought about DNFing about the point it became evident that this was Legally Blonde with some Fifty Shades-esque romance (I.e. Not what any sane woman would call romance) woven in. I definitely thought about DNFing when I suddenly realised Eli is a young Donald Trump, lecherous, entitled, childish and spoilt, having a tantrum when Kendra wouldn't sleep with him and thinking she was frigid, because she wouldn't sleep with him. This added to his earlier assumption that she was a lesbian because she hadn't, within 30 seconds, tried to blow him.

But I didn't DNF because the blurb mentioned the whole castaway plot and Eli having to change and I wondered if this was all some elaborate set up to show the spoiled, rich brat learning valuable lessons, and becoming a better person, whilst on the island. So I carried on reading, determined to ignore the little voice saying "but isn't that the plot to Overboard". So I subjected myself to this book just to see if the whole point was that Eli was a horrible person until adversity made him change....it wasn't. Eli remains a horny, infantile, jackass up until he gets what he wants, at which point he just becomes Christian Grey, snarling mine every so often.

Back to the island, is this the bit where we get to see the Navy Seal skills and training, mentioned in the blurb? Evidently not. Kendra's training tells her the way to get through is to adopt a 50s' housewife mentality to soothe Eli's juvenile bruised ego because Kendra is emasculating him, quite how she's doing that when she's utterly clueless about survival, is beyond me. Remind me again why this guy's the hero? I guess she thought that would work because Eli is a 1950s man through and through, even insisting Kendra must be expecting her period when, after 33 days trapped on an island, she dares to express an emotion that isn't giddiness.

Eli only becomes somewhat likeable when they're off the island, which is 92% into the book.

So to recap, Kendra is speshul because she doesn't fall into bed with Eli, nor does she swoon when he's around. If being able to resist a hot jackass makes you speshul then a fair amount of womankind meet that criteria and don't let misogynistic authors tell you any different. Eli embodies every single characteristic of a casual sexist, he's Don Draper crossed with Donald Trump. So, if that's the kind of thing you consider romance, have fun reading.

[Jensie · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I didn't have high expectations for this book, the beginning had me thinking I'd found a real winner. WRONGO. I was so wrong it's not even funny. Kendra started as one tough chick I'd like to have in my corner, but then she morphed - rather quickly I might add - into the person I'd be beating up, rather than having as my back up. I mean, for real. Where did the quick-witted Kendra go? She died, apparently, and in her place was some whiny, pansy-faced fool. And the whole, "I'm a virgin because my daddy said so!" bit made me gag Sprite through my nose. Girl, I don't care that you're a virgin, but be one because you made the decision for yourself, not your father. And then don't talk about it every other sentence, either. GAH. What a terrible book. Shame, too. It had such massive potential to be amazing - it kinda, sorta even started out that way. But it quickly went to shite. Beyond predicable, and don't even get me started on Eli. What a little beggar! Where's your pride, man? Your balls, masculinity? Anything! Seriously, I hated him as much as I hated Kendra, but they were perfect for each other, so go figure.

One last bit - I'm supposed to believe a water-logged radio just magically worked after sitting two months on the ocean floor? Gimme a break. What's better: we're supposed to believe Eli fixed it? Pssshhh. Whatevs. I just can't. Call me when these two die, and I'll be happy.

EDIT: holy horror, ya'll. I've just scrolled through the reviews, and there's not a bad rating in sight! What's with the positive feedback? Did we read the same book? Did I somehow get a trick version where Eli isn't the douchiest douche waffle to rule all douche waffles and Kendra isn't the biggest panty-waste of a human being to have ever roamed Earth? Am I being punked? No, seriously. Where's the appeal? Yikes.

[Rae Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was by far the most realistic unrealistic read I have had in a long time. So you have Kendra, who is your College student on her business internship, she was raised by a tough former Navy SEAL so she doesn't take any mess from anyone.
Eli is the CEO of a successful business and just so happens to choose Kendra to be his intern, so lets start with the unrealistic part of the story.


So the entire book is filled with sexual harassment on Eli's part, at one point he expects Kendra to give him a back massage because he is the boss and she is the intern. Then he pretty much forces her to join him to the ballet... can someone say GROSS MORALE TURPITUDE?????

of course she declines his advances time and time again.

Now to move on to the realistic portion, they get kidnapped and actually end up stranded on an island. Not only do they have to find a way to make shelter, but the sexual frustration causes them to be petty towards each other, this I agree with, sexual frustration can do that. Then since they do make love and are on an Island there is no birth control meaning that she becomes pregnant, very realistic, then due to the cuts on her back she comes down with an infection. Again super realistic. This was a nice easy read! I would recommend!

[Angala Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Another awesome billionaire romance with a hot alpha. The book will pull you in and won't let you go until you reach the end. Definitely worth a read.

[Ana Oh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story with a different twist from other Alice Ward books. Very Good.

[April Symes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book that I found hard to get into. There wasn't anything that I liked really about Eli . He was so arrogant and unprofessional. He was unlikeable as a character until the end of the book and for that, I really feel that he should have been a more likeable character a lot sooner.
Kendra, well she was a lot more likeable -- she is strong in mind and spirit. She can most definitely stand up for herself but, her father's directives are so strong that I don't think she is living life for herself. But then her insecurities about Eli are there and make her time with Eli confusing and rough.
I think I found the ending the best part of this book for it was so romantic. I was so excited that Eli and Kendra get their island paradise and the HEA that they were both seeking.

My Rating: 3.5 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review for honest review. eli is a play boy business man. Kendra is a intern and she knows what she is and wants in life. this is a great story of two people who change and are just learn from each other. awesome story.

[Tai Nelson-Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great love story! I LOVED this book. I could not put this story down. Kendra doesn't take any crap from Eli and I loved it. Kendra not falling right into Eli's arms and bed kept this book going. The back and forth between these two kept me laughing and going with this book. Eli is a pain in the ass sometimes in this book but he is a rich man that has never been told no. So finally when a woman tells him no and sticks with it, he has no idea what to do. She wants nothing that he has, but his knowledge of how he makes his business run successfully. So when the two of them get stuck on an Island together things happen that just might come together.
This is such a wonderful love story that starts out slow and works you to a wonderful ending. I voluntarily read an advance reader copy for my honest review.

[Amelky Sousa]

I'm liking this book, I liked that the girl knows what she wants and isn't an idiot for her vagina...
Oops I was wrong!
I want to emphasize that I don't care if you like to have a sexually active life with lots of people and bla bla, but I don't like it when an author puts a concept in a book, but is unable to be empathetic and make character judgments in an impartial way.
Let me explain why I'm saying this. The author placed a character who was raised with military parents and a father who is zealous and nice to his daughters, wanting to make his father proud, he did everything he asked, the eldest went to the city to find her luck in the big business buildings from New York, there she comes face to face with the scene that characterizes the male character (her romantic partner) as an extremely attractive, chicken, manipulative guy (let's talk about him now).
girl soon realizes what kind of man he is and blabs remembering her father's words, but on the first day she not only has dinner with him, she allows him to take her out with him, giving her underwear and everything, she kicks out her colleague room for her to be alone, and if it wasn't enough to be angry with the guy who accuses her of paying more attention than others, because the boss is after her. Look, I'm not saying what the guy said to her was right, but as the guy said things, it was supposed to become clear to her the image she was giving to others, and to be honest, he was right, even though she STILL hasn't slept with him.
It got big and everything, but what bothers me is that the author made the reason for her to maintain her virginity, and to give respect to people who are so idiotic that it becomes offensive, you see, when her father talked about the value of virginity It wasn't because of morals or pride, but so that these empty heads have self-love, enough self-esteem to give compliments and only give themselves to someone who appreciates that, and not to some idiot. I'm not talking about waiting until marriage, that's not what it's about, but enough of books where the authors put the idea into readers (especially young girls) that virginity is something like a business transaction or a routine kind of event, everyone does what they want, but let's stop ✋️ minimizing this in a simple way because it's not, I don't believe in the idea of the empowered woman who is as much a hunter as a man, it's not about being boring or tacky it's about who to relate to, no There is nothing to think wrong before acting, after all it is your body and not a potato that you buy at the fair. So the author doesn't place the father's character as someone archaic and old-fashioned, purposefully making the female character stupid and trying to blame her father for not having sex, seriously, for her to say no to him, for loving herself first, for not wanting to take a summer break, because she doesn't need it to be happy, she is and should be happy alone, and then be happy with someone who will value her not for her body, but because of who she is, after all, there is no best way to get to know someone other than by talking.
​

[Lynn Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eli Reed isn’t blowing his own horn but giving the reader an idea of what he may look like and why the female population seems to be drawn to him. He’s a man with no excuses so you really can’t feel sorry for him. Kendra “K.C.” Baxter has garnered some unwanted attention. But she certainly grabs mine. I love how she gives attitude without being belligerent. They both make me glad that business was not my major. My skin isn’t as thick as it needs to be in order to survive that world.

Our author has written a male character that I’m surprised he and his ego can fit in the same room. You can see how tough he is when it comes to business. Kendra seems to be good at sticking up for herself. But then as we switch to getting ready for things to start getting ready for the ending, I was a little disappointed in how she acted. Eventually she redeemed herself but it felt like a light switch got turned on for that to happen.

If you love the Boss stories than you may just want to add this to your TBR list. If not, it just may pop that cherry. What I was looking to see was who eventually won the battle of wills. It was interesting to see how Eli’s mind works – at times it seemed one-track. I found myself slowing down to read this one. Kendra made sure that I didn’t want to miss a scene. But one thing I did miss was more of what made Eli the boss he was. And if you don’t keep reading than you’ll miss the surprise that the author puts in.

I was very glad to see that because I started to wonder if this was going to be a predictable story glad to see I was wrong. Just like in real life, there are ups and downs and we just have to be patient as we go through those down times. This book was a good place to start when finding a new author. It did leave me wanting to check out more of this author’s work. I can picture reading this on the beach - just may have to check out some of the beaches that I see on HGTV.

I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. I noticed a number of reviewers disliked Eli. My feelings are the complete opposite because it was Kendra who I struggled with.

When Kendra and Eli first meet, there is an instant attraction that they both feel. It was obvious to everyone in the room. In Kendra’s defense, I understood her hesitation especially due to Eli being her boss. He does push a couple of inappropriate buttons, but he quickly backs off even though it’s difficult for both of them to fight their feelings.

What drove me crazy was their incessant bickering. It was petty, juvenile and oftentimes unnecessary. Kendra’s personal insecurities caused a lot of hurt feelings and mixed signals. Her being so naive and innocent was annoying and her constant inner dialogue was repetitive and eye rolling. She continuously thought the worse of Eli and had very little faith in what he was telling her, or showing her for that matter. Even after their relationship became intimate, she still was quick to make incorrect assumptions that were hurtful. I won’t even get into what she did after they were rescued.

Eli realized his feelings first and it was obvious he was changing his ways to become more of the kind of person he believed Kendra deserved. He was sweet and kind, and went out of his way to do nice things for her. He wanted more from Kendra than just a fling which he told her over and over.

Kendra’s dad’s part of the book was creepy and the man felt like an intruder or third wheel. I mean whose dad is constantly talking to his daughter about her “carnal treasure?” I get he was protective of Kendra, but come on! His conversations with her were cringe worthy. She was an adult capable of making her own decisions.

Overall, the story is cute enough and the ending is very sweet. It’s told from dual POVs which I enjoyed since it’s always nice to know how both main characters are really feeling.

[Erin McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of this book that was a bit more complex than your standard ‘billionaire playboy boss and virgin intern’ storyline. The island twist was interesting. The h was a strong and confident woman, even though young, and was determined to succeed and stuck to her ideals.

I found Eli to be equal parts romantic Hero and sexist pig. His comments/thoughts made me cringe, such as thinking when he took h’s virginity he “made her into a real woman” or that “tall women usually had monster-sized feet, a thing I couldn’t get past”. His ego wouldn’t allow him to “hire some old woman” as his secretary because he wanted visitors to see a vivacious young lady when they came to his office as it was “kind of a trademark” of his. He made comments about hiring a “grandma” or that he “needed to hire a lesbian” because of his secretaries’ unwanted sexual interest. He referred to h as a country bumpkin, little businesswoman, or his little intern. He whipped off his shirt and told h to give him a back massage and said it was a “common courtesy around here” and said she was being “kind of a baby about something that’s done in offices all over the city”. It was worse when the h herself was thinking that she should have done it and he hadn’t been asking too much. (Yes, yes he was asking too much; he was asking for a sexual harassment lawsuit.)

Guess I’ve been working in the wrong offices if I’m not getting bare back massages from my subordinates at work.

At the end, he still expressed these same kind of comments/thoughts. To me, that’s not a romantic Hero. Even with as loving and romantic towards Kendra as he is by the end of the story, I couldn’t completely like him.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, Sexy, Snarky, and at times Dangerous...

This is my first Alice Ward book and I must admit the cover drew me in. I love beach vacations and going to the islands, so I snatched it up on release day after seeing so many recommendations from other authors and friends. I was not disappointed. This book has everything to keep you entertained!! Though I was surprised the storyline never mentions the tattoo. Nevertheless, I loved it. And now a bit about the story...

Kendra has been raised by a Navy SEAL to protect her "carnal treasure". She's lasted a long time and held her ground. At the end of her junior year in college see takes an internship in New York City. The CEO, Eli, is taken by her and must have her, for his intern and his bed. Eli is not used to being turned down. It is only 9 am and two other women have already thrown themselves at him. As CEO he easily gets her as his intern, but struggles with more.

Favorite passages:
- She was a little pissed, but I didn’t foresee laxatives in my coffee— what my last secretary had done when I told her the same thing.
- “You think this is good traffic?” I watched people walk faster than our car moved.
- Yet, here she was, acting as if I was some nasty vermin she was being asked to pet.
- “Terror in a woman’s eyes signals that to you?” She gave me a sassy wink. “Tell me more about how you gauge when a woman is attracted to you, caveman. If she throws rocks at your head, does that mean she’s lusting after you?”
- “I thought I told you to dress sexy.”“I thought I told you I’m not a mannequin you can dress.”
- “Would you care for a Midol and a Shirley Temple for your hurt feelings?”
- Men. They just didn’t know how to multitask.

[Karen Voitik · Rating 4 out of 5]

>Book Review – The Island –

>I am an independent reviewer. This book is a standalone romance with an HEA. Kendra has an internship with a very sexy, young, millionaire playboy. Kendra is no pushover. She was raised by a Navy SEAL and can hold her own – in life and in relationships. She is constantly thinking “What would my dad do?” to get through various life situations. Eli is Kendra’s boss for the summer internship. He is very attracted to her and the fact that she is not throwing herself at him is a huge turn on.

>The level of sexual harassment that Eli uses in the office is hard to believe. In this day and age, that behavior would not be tolerated, I hope. Eli makes up a reason to take Kendra on an overseas trip in his private jet. Once onboard, a kidnapping plot cause Eli and Kendra to work together to survive. They end up on a deserted island trying to survive.

>Kendra and Eli really fight a lot on the island. I had a hard time believing the attraction was still there. Eli really shines as a knight in shining armor, always caring for Kendra. The actual rescue was glossed over and the ultimate meeting between Eli and Kendra’s father is a fun scene. Kendra doesn’t trust Eli still, but eventually the two get their HEA. The epilogue was way too detailed in that fact that you see their future a bit too far out. I would have liked more scenes with their children and their life on their own island.

>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the book 4 stars. The story is engaging, the characters are fun, the kidnapping plot was a bit weak, but they had to get on the island somehow, I guess.

[Heather Merriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Island by Alice Ward

I think this is my new favorite by Alice! OMG and I absolutely love the cover!!
Young Playboy Billionaire Eli Reed is used to getting anything and anyone he wants! And he definitely wants Kendra Baxter at first sight when she comes in to interview for the intern position. He hires her on the spot. What he's not expecting is her reluctance toward him. She's already done her homework on him and knows he's a major Playboy not that the blonde leaving his office and the red lipstick on his mouth didn't give it away. Plus she's been raised strictly and she's waiting for Mr. Right, not Mr. Right Now.
Eli usually steers clear of dating women he works with but there's something different about Kendra. After several passes on her, Kendra finally puts him in his place and he agrees to keep things professional so she will stay and finish her internship. After a month alone, the sexual frustration is building up and Eli can't take it anymore! He decides to take Kendra to Scotland on a "business trip" to get closer to her and maybe finally have his way.
Long story short, the plane crashes near a remote island where they must work together to survive. The frustration between them is stronger than ever. They're becoming closer and what will happen if she decides to give herself to him. Will he leave her stranded when they get back to the real world or is there a chance he could actually be Mr. Right?
I loved Eli and Kendra's story!! Alice did an excellent job!! I read in under 2 days!! Great summer read!!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a ton of sweet and tender moments. A hundred confessions that went straight to the heart. Funny moments where one or both were being ridiculous. I loved that the last chapter from Eli's point of view because it was full of promise, passion, fun, sweetness, future; everything amazingly wonderful that could be in there was.

And then there were a ton of moments of immaturity, irresponsibility, misplaced priorities, and general ridiculousness that really annoyed me. Until we get to the airplane part I was having a hard time deciding if I liked Kendra's naivety and was charmed by Eli's focus on and persistence in screwing her out of his system or if I was annoyed and repulsed. Once I saw Kendra using skills and humor I didn't know she really possessed and a devotion and tenderness in Eli I thought was only a pipe dream I was more than willing to love them. And then there was sniping. I can't say sex fixes that issue all the time, but for them it worked. Eli's avoidance of reality and Kendra's mounting insecurities throw some huge wrenches in the works and the resolution is drama, drama, drama. Not terribly awesome drama, but it was interesting to say the least.

Overall, I liked the book and the characters grew on me. It wasn't my favorite book by this author, but it was full of drama, passion, steam, bickering, humor, and feels. How all of that came together is where you'll find those of us who loved it or merely liked it. And I'm in the second camp. I read and willingly read this ARC from the author.

[Jaime Fertal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kendra is a woman who has had life values ingrained in her all her life by her parents, so as she goes to her adventure to learn the business world she never expects to be so attracted to the man who will become her Mentor. Eli is a known playboy and that is his way and he never plans to go off that plan and ever get married or have kids. Together Eli and Kendra will find with each other that they never thought was possible and that is passion.

What I enjoyed most about The Island is watching Kendra hold out against all Eli' attempts to bed her and charm her waiting for the man she would marry and give her gift to, but when on the Island they really get to know each other and she knows who she wants to give her gift to she just hopes that things dont change when they get off the Island as she realizes that she is falling for the Billionaire. Watching Eli go from all his lust to wanting to protect and want everything with Kendra something he never thought was possible.

This is another fantastic book by Alice Ward. This book has Kendra a woman who wants to be a Business woman after Collage she goes to do an Internship to help her learn the Business world and she gets paired with a known playboy Eli a man who goes after everything he wants, Eli a man who always has woman throwing themselves at him see's Kendra and there is something different with her something he has never seen in another woman before, a Love Story. If you like stories like this, then The Island is a must!

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s the first day for interns at Key Ventures and CEO Eli Reed is meeting with them in order to choose the intern who will work directly with him. Before he can even formally greet them, he spots Kendra Baxter, and something about her draws him in. Maybe it’s the woman hanging all over him or the smeared lipstick on his mouth, but Kendra quickly and accurately pegs him as a playboy – all that’s missing are the bow tie and bunny ears. Regardless, Eli wants Kendra and he always gets what he wants. But he had no idea just how hard he’d have to work to win her over.

It’s always a joy to read a book by this author. Beyond the quality writing, the professional editing and the attention to detail, parts are pure poetry and music for the soul. The characters are by turns tough and vulnerable, endearing and frustrating, as well as vexing and loveable. Their poking and bickering is humorous and realistic, and the snap and sizzle of their chemistry is electrifying. Add in some tense suspense and life-threatening drama and we have the perfect recipe for a terrific novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book but I absolutely adored the ending. When a book is this well written, then the author goes the extra mile to give the reader a glimpse of the characters’ lives years down the road, well that’s like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae. And this book is just that kind of treat!

[Jackie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well then! That was an interesting twist!
Eli is an arrogant, smug, millionaire who uses women like paper towels. When he meets his new set of interns, he knows straight away who he wants to mentor the sassy, smart, stubborn Kendra who is making clear his advances are not wanted nor appreciated.
Kendra may be from a small town, but she knows from her upbringing what men like Eli are after, she cannot let someone like him derail her from her career goals no matter who attractive she finds him.
Together these two go through the ups and downs of frustrating emotional confusion and lusting one another without being able to act upon and being thrown together in crazy situations will only intensify those feelings. Will they make out the other side of this rollercoaster the same?
This novel was an amazing, crazy read! Full of frustrating battles ( Eli had me all up in arms for a bit ) plenty witty banter to downright laugh-out-loud moments ( because I would have that conversation in the midst of danger.. haha just saying ) to a picturesque detailed place I am pretty sure I would not have wanted to come back from ( well as long as I had Wifi and a coffee ) all the while watching Kendra and Eli have their light bulb moments making my heart squeeze! This take book is a bottle of wine, and a bubble bath takes me away kind of read that I would highly recommend to anyone who needs their own getaway.

I voluntarily read advanced readers copy of this book

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Alice Ward. Her books keep getting better and better. This book is about Kendra and Eli. Eli is the CEO of the company that Kendra will be intening for. The first day of work, Eli wants to meet the interns so he can pick his own person to mentor. When he comes out of his office and sets his sights to Kendra, he doesn't see anyone else but her. He makes it a bit uncomfortable for Kendra though. What Eli sees is a conquest and what Kendra sees is a job where she can learn and be the best in the business. When Kendra keeps ignoring Eli's advances and telling him that she will never sleep with him, he needs to think of a way to get her far away from New York and hopefully get what he wants. He tells her they are going to Scotland for business but when the plane goes down due to people trying to kidnap Eli for ransom they end up on a deserted island. What will happen when it is just the two of them? Will Kendra give in? Can Eli change his womanizing ways for one woman? This is a very well written book with so much going on. It's funny, the storyline is interesting, the characters are very well liked and you just hope for that happily ever after. Since I'm not that reviewer to tell you about the book itself, just an outline you will have to pick it up for yourself. You will not be disappointed. I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

[Rebecca Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli is a billionaire business man and a playboy. If he sees a woman he wants, he won't stop until he gets her. He is arrogant, cocky and just a plain jerk at the beginning of the story. Then one day he meets his summer interns and the only female Kendra catches his eye right away. He chooses to be her mentor and has plans to get very close.
Kendra is from a close family in North Carolina and her dad was a SEAL. He taught his three daughters to defend themselves, go after their dreams and wait for Mr. Right. Kendra is sure Eli is no one's Mr. Right and refuses to give into his seduction. Eli won't give up and he is stuck on Kendra. He doesn't want any other woman but Kendra keeps saying no. Eli is hoping a weekend business trip overseas would help change her mind. However the trip isn't quite what he has planned. Their plane is taken over by kidnappers who want to ransom Eli and kill Kendra. Eli and Kendra have to work together to save themselves. After the struggle, the plane crashes near a deserted island. Kendra and Eli have to work together to survive. Will Kendra see how much Eli has changed?
This is a good book especially after they crash. The first half of the book Eli is a conceited jerk but later on he becomes kind and caring. I voluntarily received a copy of this story and this is my honest review.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Alice Ward has managed to write a hot story with some backbone and boy does this one have some bite!

Eli Reed is your stereotypical playboy who knows what he wants and has it at the drop of a hat. Kendra Baxter is a no nonsense, independent and strong woman raised by a Navy Seal to respect herself and her body and not become a playboy's next conquest. Together these two work well together as intern and boss but Kendra's strong morals and willpower means any chance of a quick fling that Eli had in mind soon fizzles...that's until they end up on the Island! From here both seem to develop and grown and Eli becomes so much more than his playboy image he adheres to. Together these two battle against the odd and Eli fiercely protects what is his - Kendra. Of course, it seems when they get off the Island, minds have to be made as to whether this can go the distance and a few little curve balls add to the suspense!

I really enjoyed reading this and have enjoyed Alice spreading her wings further than sports romance (which she is AMAZING at!) I'm intrigued where she goes next and eagerly await her next release....you can be sure you will never go wrong with a book by Alice Ward!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reading Copy of this book.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Ward does it again. The Island is a great read. It doesn't matter if she is writing a sports romance or a billionaire romance, her books are a must read.

Kendra is a young woman who comes from a family who sets the bar high, her dad was a Navy SEAL and her mom also served in the military. Kendra is doing an internship for college, she is determined to learn as much as she can. She is not looking for love right now, she has a plan and intends to follow it and dating is not on the menu.

Eli is a CEO of the company Kendra will be interning at. He knows that he is handsome and doesn't want or believe in love. Women throw themselves at him all the time and he is cocky enough to believe that only a lesbian would not want him. He has a hard time figuring Kendra out from the start. At first she seems scared of him, then she shows her spunk by questioning him and the HR rep when he chooses her as his pick and she has not had the chance to meet the others that will be mentors in the company.

How and why they end up on an island, you'll need to read to find out. Can Kendra hold out on Eli or will he win or does he change for her?

[Armenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally romantic...4.5stars!

The Island is a wonderful romance at a slow boil. In it’s center is a bit of suspense with kick-ass action, a hero and heroine who are highly competitive, irresistible banter, and all the feels.

Eli Reed makes it known he wants Kendra Baxter from the start, but she’s the new intern and he’s her boss, and a workplace hookup is something that is off Kendra’s not-to-do list.

But when they’re stranded on an isolated island off of Scotland and away from judgmental eyes, they can’t resist the chemistry between them. And when the sizzling action happens, it’s fireworks and unleashed passion. Eli and Kendra find true love and a happy existence. Their lives will forever change from the experience. But once rescued, can their new relationship survive the onslaught of family and public opinion?

I loved Eli and Kendra’s characters. Ms. Ward gives us a feel good story of two people who truly find love and decide at the end to follow their hearts desire. The satisfying ending and epilogue is everything I look for in a romance and you don’t want to miss this one.

I received and reviewed an ARC of this book.