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Island Affairs #1

Serpent in Paradise

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A New York Times Bestselling Author Had she listened to a lover's lies? Amy Shannon met Jase Lassiter at a seedy bar called The Serpent, and she should have heeded the warning in the name. This corner of paradise was beautiful . . . but deadly.

344 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1983

439 people are currently reading
337 people want to read

About the author

Jayne Ann Krentz

398 books7,179 followers
The author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.


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5 stars
433 (34%)
4 stars
391 (31%)
3 stars
294 (23%)
2 stars
96 (7%)
1 star
41 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Azet.
1,095 reviews285 followers
October 18, 2020
I had actually forgotten to write a review about this one,since i have been so awful busy with studying lately that i only have time for Goodreads 10 minutes in one day."Serpent in Paradise" by Stephanie James (aka Jayne ann Krentz) was a delicious read mixed with romance and suspense,where the independent heroine Amy Shannon travels to the exotic Saint Clare with a mysterious mask to negotiate with a stranger that may know the whereabouts about her ex-boyfriend and ex-brother-in-law.But the tall,assured and turquoise eyed-hero Jase Lassitier,owner of the bar called "The Serpent" decides that he will accompany her on this adventure,and the path of eternal love.

Really love this book!Jase and Amy are both very interesting characters,and are from different worlds,but i love it when everything around them collides every time they look at each other.I just adore that Amy is so clumsy that she spilled wine glassess all the time,and Jase with his quick reflexes had to save them all the time,lol.His bartender Ray i found such a charming and funny character,and the ex-boyfriend a real pain in the ass,how i laughed when Jase kicked his ass.!!!
Profile Image for Inna.
1,679 reviews372 followers
October 14, 2023
2.5 stars. This didn’t age well… not surprising given the general view of women in the 80’s… but this REALLY didn’t age well. It’s filled with misogyny and sexual coercion. The heroine has one of those bendy backbones when it comes to saying no to the hero. The hero is probably textbook definition of an alpha, and not in all the best ways. He’s overbearing and overconfident and doesn’t really think much of the heroine’s ability to make decisions. Ofc she makes bad decisions because this is one of those books where the hero is absolutely essential to the heroine’s survival.

I came close to DNFing a few times, but ultimately couldn’t find a different book to listen to, so I continued on. The story itself wasn’t awful, but the details that surrounded the story were pretty hard to read. At the same time, I totally remember loving these kinds of stories in my youth. So glad I’m not half brain dead anymore. 🎉

Safety is fine
Heroine not a virgin but it has been years
Hero is a manwhore who sleeps with any tourist that stops by his bar
No OM/OW drama or scenes
No cheating
No protection used 🤮
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for *CJ*.
5,106 reviews627 followers
April 10, 2020
"You're a beast," she whispered, digging her nails into the tanned skin of his shoulders.

"But you'll tame me eventually, won't you, Beauty?"


"Serpent In Paradise" is the story of Amy and Jase!

WOW! I absolutely loved this book.

So firstly, this has a very old worldly charm to it. Please don't proceed with 2020 ideals.

Our h travels to a remote island for a mysterious task. She enters a isolated bar called "The Serpent", and decides to wait for the unknown. It is there she meets the H, the bar owner, who decides to take an interest in her. She is extremely wary and reluctant, but he relentlessly pursues her. Soon she ends up in his home, and possibly in his heart. She then gets involved in a dangerous exchange, and puts her life in danger, with the H having to rescue her. Will he ever let her go?

There is a lot to love about this book. I liked their that absolute passion and obsession for each other did not come blindly. Both had their own set of ideals, and fought to stick with them. There is some primitive thinking, surprise accidents, reveals, happiness, difficult decisions and an absolute heartwarming HEA. I really enjoyed the portrayal of their inner conflict, and that made the resolution and the end all the more sweeter.

100% recommended.

Safe
5/5
Profile Image for Libbie.
313 reviews3 followers
October 16, 2015
This was pretty darn stupid. Jase is obnoxious and displays stalker behavior; Amy is wimpy and acquiescent, agreeing all too readily to spend the day with a stranger because she "couldn't find an excuse." Even for an early 80s book, her behavior seems unreal, and Jase seems like he should have been sent to his room without supper. He assumes it's OK to accost a woman at a bar because "she doesn't belong there," and then makes incredibly crude remarks about her profession. Yuk. I need a bath.

It's amazing how far JAK has evolved since this book. I really like her recent stuff, and her heroines now take no prisoners.
Profile Image for Criket333.
8 reviews
November 8, 2020
This rating is so unusual for me for a Jayne Ann Krentz. The sexism is what did it for me! The lead man kept saying he wanted to beat her & someone should bring her in hand before it was too late. At one point the protagonist slapped the lead man & they later laughed & said she was the first to give a beating. Domestic abuse is not a laughing matter. This book was written in the 80's but I was alive & dating then. This was NOT ACCEPTABLE then either. The island she created kept being referred to as a savage world & the states as civilized. As if the regular rules don't apply. There aren't separate rules ALLOWED in remote places. Women are to be respected regardless of their location!!! I am very disappointed in Jayne Ann Krentz! Shame on you as a woman & as an author, to perpetuate this disrespect & mistreatment of fellow women.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,382 reviews50 followers
July 25, 2018
Published in 1983, this book is surprisingly good for such an early Jayne Ann Krentz. It has the plot, dialogue, and character description of her later books, but perhaps not the humor and complexity. Definitely a good read, however. I really enjoyed the two main characters and some of the supporting characters as well. I wish there had been an epilogue six months later, so I could see how Ray's paintings were doing in Amy's new shop.
Profile Image for Jess.
2,343 reviews78 followers
June 25, 2015
I'm positive I've read this before, but the only things that seemed familiar are scenes that I'm pretty sure got reworked in other books (A Coral Kiss, in particular) -- I didn't even remember the and that's not a common JAK trope!

The beginning was pretty horrible and there were some uncomfortable domestic abuse jokes (common at the time, but shudder). Otherwise, a pretty fun old school JAK.
13 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2019
Meant a is one of my favorite writers

This is a beautiful story with a tidy addition of adventure and suspense. The setting is exotic and beautiful but there is something shady under that tropical sun. I!you
Profile Image for Penelope.
1,471 reviews15 followers
March 11, 2024
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 Stars. A revisit of a Krentz Oldie from 1997. I listened to the audiobook as I checked off items from my “to do” list. :D

1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I MOSTLY ENJOYED THIS; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).


Chas Lassiter is in his mid-30’s and has lived on the south seas island of St Claire for the past 10yrs. He bought the Serpent from the previous owner 8yrs ago. His tavern caters to seasoned locals and ex-pats, world-weary tourists who are looking for something “new,” and crews from navy vessels briefly coming ashore for supplies and short leave.

San Franciscan business woman, Amy Shannon, 28, has come to the remote island of St Claire to resolve a bit of old family business. She runs into Lassiter while attempting to connect with her unknown contact. Amy’s visit, however, does not go as planned. Her destroyed hotel room, is her first clue.

Comments ~
1) SERPENT IN PARADISE is bk2 in Krentz’s Island Affairs trilogy published during the late 1990’s-early 2000’s. Each book has its own characters and stands alone. A tropical island destination and a Proximity Danger situation is all that the 3 books share.
2) The original publish date of SERPENT IN PARADISE is 1997 and the story reflects the tone of Romance fiction from that time with a strong, dominant alpha MC. The FMC is an independent and feisty yet fairly naive woman whose plans on the island put her into several dangerous situations.
I enjoyed revisiting SIP but it is a fairly predictable, light and quick read/listen. I do not recommend it to readers unable/unwilling to relax and enjoy this for what it is (a light, Summer read) or to readers who cannot appreciate a guarded alpha male character in fiction.
3) Amy McFadden’s performance is upbeat and with humor; she voices both male & female voices well.

READER CAUTION ~ not recommended to those who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used on occasion.
VIOLENCE - PG-13. Not particularly dark or graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Several scenes of intimacy occurs.
Profile Image for Raslalique.
36 reviews
June 3, 2021
This book had a lot to dislike. I'm here for the HPLandia drama but it has to be real, not hastily contrived. These crazy romances are like fast-food. It's not healthy and I am going against some of my morals to be a part of this so it'd better taste good. This book is like cold greasy fast-food and they got your order wrong.

It was pretty trashy and yet boring with a dash of contrived. I HATE romantic suspense. It is so rarely done right. The suspense in this book appeared to be a cheap way to up the angst factor but it felt flat for me. By the time the bad guy started shooting I hoped he wouldn't miss. But alas!

The H is a jerk who gropes and kisses and overwhelms the h on the first night he met her after she said no numerous times. Eww. There are sea cucumbers with more spine than this useless washout of a heroine. It was so confusing to see how the author tried to repair her spinelessness by having her rage at the H intermittently. She's go from acquiescing to his bullying to spitfire on the same page. She was dumb too. The getting pregnant at the end killed me off. It would have redeemed the story if they had to love each other without him being able to get her pregnant like they initially thought. That would have made for an interesting story. I was so tapped out at the end that I skimmed the HEA, because, who cares?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,285 reviews10 followers
August 29, 2025
Good early story but lacks the depth that her later stories have.

I am a die-hard fan of Jayne Ann Krentz, but this is one of her earliest works and she hadn't quite hit her stride yet. You still have her classic fun dialogue, but the male characters are a bit more one dimensional. Jase is still a great character, but I love her later male characters better. Amy is a business woman in a setting that is unfamiliar to her. That being said, this is a classic battle of the sexes story. The description of the island and all the secondary characters add to the depth of the story. Enjoy this story written in the early 1980s. Then go on to read my favorite series of all time, the Arcane Society series, by all her names, Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle reading all these in publishing order, as some of them are less attached to Arcane as others are!

The pace is fast and the tone is uncertain with a character centered storyline that has some action scenes and some steamy scenes. The characters are believable, with the secondary characters adding a lot to the story. This is q good book but nowhere near the quality you will see in her later books, especially those in her "Jayne-verse."
Profile Image for Kirstie Bryant.
14 reviews3 followers
November 18, 2022
No. Just No.

Once again this HAS to be one of her first novels. I get all romance novels are formulaic but she usually does a good job of making the characters likeable AND well-developed. The protagonists were flat, boring, and quite honestly insulting to bother men and women. Worse than that was the only consequences of sex mentioned, in such a heavy-handed trite fashion was pregnancy. STDs and protecting against those never mentioned. I get that isn't fantasy material BUT when your male has been sleeping with NUMEROUS women for 10 years using no protection...come on.

SPOILER ALERT if it's possible to spoil such a hideous book. To have one of the characters attempt to rape the female protagonist and then she is okay with him marrying her sister, AND then him attempting to do it again?!!! The author should be embarrassed by this book and pull it.
Profile Image for Xee.
892 reviews58 followers
September 6, 2024
2024 is the year I'm all about the Vibes apparently..

description

Is this very much a 1983 book? Sure.
Did I still enjoy it with all it's 80 -isms? YES

Dont go too deep with this, just enjoy the for-current-times-problematique fun times, exquisite model beautiful people with the most extraordinary eyes and some well deserved digs at irresponsible men leaving behind father-less children..
The smex is tame (by current standards) but the chemistry is hawt...
Profile Image for ~Sara~.
214 reviews32 followers
December 12, 2023
Although I feel this story aged poorly, I'd like to think a relationship like this one would never have happened in any age. I'd probably be wrong but romance is about fantasy and this book definitely failed to deliver it. The hero is an asshole, the heroine is a useless, spineless annoying doormat. I'm not sure why I finished this - maybe because I generally enjoy this author and kept hoping for some small amount of redemption. Spoiler alert - it never happened...this book ended as terribly as it began.
21 reviews
January 26, 2024
A look at the past

Nostalgic read from the past. Should be read from the perspective of the feminine romance movement just starting to blossom. Early romance novels were only slightly more than feminized male sexual romps. JAK was actually pushing the line out to take a broader look at romance from a female perspective. I could read about Jase being the heavy handed male and remember when that was considered normal. For me it was fun to remember how very much we have changed.
49 reviews
August 9, 2018
Awesomely Wonderful great 👍book

Wow that's absolutely a great 👍book!!! There is mystery intrigue suspense romance humor interesting characters and unexpected plot twists but more than that it's more seems whimsical!!! I gave this book 5 Stars because I enjoyed it!!! Anyone who has taste for mystery intrigue suspense romance humor interesting characters and plenty of unexpected plot twists and the journey!!! Enjoy the book!!!
518 reviews
August 4, 2025
This book did not age well.

Although written in 2013, felt like it was written in the 1980's or 1990's. Very old fashioned. Knowing the MMC slept with numerous women, she goes to bed with him with no protection?? Her only concern was pregnancy, not STD's. Another frustration for me is when authors write about awkward, clumsy FMC's. It is NEVER cute or endearing. I almost stopped reading the book based on this alone.
Profile Image for Michelle.
31 reviews9 followers
January 9, 2020
I really like this book but it is not one of my favorites of this author I was going to give it 3 stars until a scene in the last part of the book that showed the female character would not take any sh— from the male characters in the book. I really liked that and after that scene I knew I had to give the book 4 stars.
Profile Image for Lucy.
158 reviews4 followers
April 17, 2022
Read for uni

The most exciting thing about this book was when it ended. This one was very sexist, seemed like a weird type of anti feminist propaganda, promoting the ‘traditional’ streak of the H and how he converts the h to make a home. Kinda wack, also did not know girlboss Jayne Ann krentz was also Stephanie James, monopolise the genre babe! Go off!
Profile Image for Lisa-Anne.
56 reviews
February 4, 2024
The only Janye Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/ Jayne Castle book I've ever DNF'd.
This book was published in 1983 and you can tell. The noncon (non-consensual) vibes were strong. I got this as an audio book and once I got to the first full sex scene, I could go no further. Not only was the dialogue uncomfortable, but the narrator's voice was ridiculous. I had to turn it off and delete it ASAP.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
728 reviews21 followers
February 1, 2025
This was written in 1983. I read the intro after I read the book (and loathed the characters) she described it as a 'battle-of-the-sexes' romance. I guess that was a thing in its time, but I have no interest in reading this kind of book now.

Definitely check out this author's modern work, definitely the Arcane series, I'm a fan and highly recommend.
14 reviews
Read
January 17, 2023
it was interesting. Plenty of action. I could have done without so much info on the sexual scenes but i'm getting too old for that; if i were younger, i would have enjoyed it more.
I did like the twist involving the ex-boyfriend.
32 reviews
September 12, 2023
ok read for a first book. love all her books written as amanda quick. will try a later written book under another pen name. did not find it very interesting. believe it was originally released as a silhouette release which in the uk is similar to mills and boon. i do like a lot of those books and authors so was disppointed that i could not really get into the story. no depth to the story and characters.
Profile Image for Kasey Riley.
Author 18 books14 followers
November 12, 2024
Interesting story with a predictable ending

I enjoyed the story but got a little bored with the repetition of the baggage of the MC. I enjoyed the suspense involved even though Amy was a little stupid in her handling of the situation. Still worth the read.
Profile Image for CelKat_reading_hea.
284 reviews10 followers
September 9, 2025
Good Love Story

Amy and Jase are complete opposites and live thousands of miles apart from each other, but they still inevitably fall in love with each other and both have their own insecurities.

Full of adventure and surprises 💕
36 reviews
November 11, 2025
Great Older Book

Really enjoying Jayne Ann Krentz’s older books. I’m reading her older books now and love them. So nice to go back to the no cell phone days. Really liked this book. Library doesn’t have them, kindle unlimited does.
Profile Image for Mafe.
94 reviews
November 19, 2025
¡Mi favorito!

Amy era muy valiente y tierna a la vez. aunque tenia ciertas reservas con los hombres en general, al final pudo abrir su corazon. La amee ❤️

Era tan tierno Jase con Amy. 💞🤗

Calificación Final: 5 estrellas 🌟
Profile Image for Suzana.
294 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2021
The way it was written, I must said it will leave an imprint in my heart.
322 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2021
Nope. Bad male love interest. Lame themes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

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