Welcome to Paradise: The Kincaids Book One Paperback – July 30, 2013

I wasn't sure what to expect when I purchased this: I'd read (and really liked) the author's other books (the Escape to New Zealand rugby romance series) so figured "why not?"I am SO GLAD I made that decision. This is a romance for readers who appreciate an interesting, informative, intricate story written by a clearly erudite writer.After the success of British tv's "Victorian House," "Manor House," etc., PBS did a few of its own plopping-modern-families-in-historical-settings series, starting with "Frontier House." In it, three new millennium families lived as 1883 homesteaders in Montana. I LOVED that series and reading Rosalind James' "Welcome to Paradise" so happily brought that series to mind. Admittedly, I am not knowledgeable about that era, but what she wrote really jibed with what I remembered from the tv show. Her descriptions and settings, let alone the characters (to follow), were all so interesting that I truly forgot I had purchased a book classified as a romance: instead I was simply reading a well-written, well-paced, interesting book with characters I liked doing things which intrigued me, and I wanted to know MORE.Even though the story is a romance between Mira and Gabe, it never felt to the exclusion of other character developments.As you can already tell from reading the description and other reviews which are summaries, the plot is that eight pairs of adults are competing on a reality tv show where they are living the authentic homesteader life. Gabe and his twin brother, Alec, Mira and her okay-for-now boyfriend, Scott, are our main characters. Scott has an ugly competitive streak and an equally ugly disposition; Mira has some self-esteem and backbone issues (which Scott takes advantage of and makes us root against him); Alec is a bit of a player but has a positive, strong relationship with his brother -- we don't get to know Alec well in this book, but his relationship with Gabe is enough to mark him as a Good Guy, and Gabe is a hardworking, fair and generous man who also happens to be a physician.Of the other contestants, two and a half others are really fleshed out which was nice -- they added to the fullness of the story and to our attachment(s) to all the characters. Stanley (his adult son joins him in the competition) is an older widow who has a heart of gold and is highly ethical, a real straight-shooter and an all-around kind human. Zara is an older woman (her husband is also in the competition), a semi-famous folk singer (or maybe more famous than semi-) who is also a hard worker and incredibly industrious. She is no-nonsense but without being a nag -- she is kind and knows how much work there is to do so she is going to get to it and expects her fellow housemates to do their share as well. The "half" is Kevin, whose sister is competing with him. Kevin is very strategic but he is aboveboard about it: he never comes across as shifty. He works hard, isn't as naturally gifted at being a homesteader as some of the other contestants, but again, his transparency enables us (reader) to like him.They are all first trained in the homesteader life before being sent out to live it, followed by cameras.And the fun begins! Mira had already been having niggling doubts about Scott and participating in the show only highlights them, makes her realize he doesn't really care about her, doesn't want to please her. It's all about him and how Mira (whom he calls Grace, her middle name, as he doesn't like the name Mira) can support him, undergird his goals. Mira's realization feels organic, proceeds at a pace which feels natural, and you root for her. Along the way, she and Gabe figure out their mutual attraction, and it was lovely. It was a romance in the truest sense of the word, making me now smile and think "ahhh" about their kind acts toward one another and gentle, innocent flirting. There are some fun and descriptive intimate acts, and I liked them -- they didn't feel gratuitous. One in particular (Mira's gift for her birthday) was heartstoppingly dear.The story takes place over a few months, and we really spend that time with them, learning details about their chores on the homestead. The author has such a gift with description because not once did I get bored or lose interest -- I was fascinated with learning about their lives, their period dress, the food, the tasks, the interactions.There was just one "what?!?" for me in the book, toward the end, but given how much I liked all aspects of the story (historical references, descriptions, characters, writing) I'm happy to give it a pass.Definitely pleased I purchased and read this book -- a treat.

This book was much more than I expected when I first began reading it. Mira wasn't happy with her life and wanted something new. When she agrees to go on the show with her boyfriend Scott she doesn't expect much. Gabe has convinced his twin Alec to go on the show with him. Gabe is a doctor while his brother is a software developer. Mira isn't at all happy with her boyfriend but doesn't want to end things on national television. Once the show starts everyone is surprised because the two person teams are split up. Mira and her boyfriend won't be together and Gabe is split from his brother. Mira and Gabe are on the same team and little by little Gabe begins to worm his way into Mira's heart but she has a boyfriend. Gabe's feelings for Mira have gotten bigger and bigger but has kept himself back. Will Mira break up with Scott during filming or will she wait and possibly lose her chance with Gabe? Is Gabe going to prove to be better than Scott?

I was skeptical at first, but loved the story line and characters. We need happy endings these days and this story provides.

I’ve never liked reality competition shows because I find them boring. As that is the setting for this book, it is one reason I did not care for this book. Other reasons include slow pacing and very cliched characterization. Also, I never felt the pull of chemistry between the two main characters despite their various sexual encounters, and the majority of the secondary characters were just so much window dressing.I’m honestly surprised at how little I liked this book especially since I’ve enjoyed most of the many other books written by Ms. James, especially those set in New Zealand. I will not be continuing this series.

Okay, we're not in New Zealand in this book. But Idaho may be even better. A new series. I can't wait for the rest.This one of a handful of books that I have read, I can see being made into a movie. It is so good, a script would be easy. The story is GREAT. I loved it. There is a wonderful collection of characters. A reality game show. A handsome doctor. A really bad guy. And a beautiful heroine. What more could Hollywood want? Oh yeah, a million dollars. Got that too.The love story in this book is well, lovely to watch. BUT when it heats up, it is HOT. Ms. James writes steamy scenes so real. My favorite is the birthday present. A lot of women will envy Mira in this scene. It was so sweet, caring and loving I had tears in my eyes. Then the heat of it burned the tears away. Gabe took my breath away and made me shiver.As I read this book, I got sucked into the game and the story. I enjoyed the "living history" part because I know so little about Idaho in the 1880s or now for that matter. I actually enjoyed learning some facts about our country I did not know. This is a very well researched book. I also liked thinking about how I would deal with all the hardships the original settlers had. They had to be tough and work together or they didn't make it. Every person counted. They depended on each other so much. Each homestead it's own world.If you enjoy a great story with some realistically written steamy scenes, buy this book. You know you're going to want to read the series. May as well start with the first one.Just like all her well written and edited books, I found no typos nor wrong names. You know when you start a review, the directions on the right side asked what you would have liked to have known before you bought the book. All I have to know is Rosalind James wrote it. This is book #5 and I can't wait for the next one. I don't care if we are in NZ or Idaho.Hollywood, this is fresh, well written and not a rehash of old comic book characters. Please take note. This could be a great movie or TV show. Most of the work is done.

Imagine a reality TV show where contestants live like settlers in 1885.Mira Walker is a management consultant with a distant and judgemental father, she and her boyfriend Scott enter a reality TV show where the winning couple can win $1 million. Scott is a lawyer and convinced that he has a winning strategy, highly competitive he wants to win at any cost.Gabe and Alec Kincaid are brothers who have entered the competition for different reasons. Good looking and charming, the brothers have obviously been selected for their visual appeal.From the moment Gabe first lays eyes on Mira as she stands watching a sunset outside their hotel on the eve of the competition he is struck by her smile and her capacity for joy.When I got an email alert from eReaderIQ that this book was free (BTW check this site out - alerts when books by your favourite authors go down in price, or specific books, as well as general alerts when books drop significantly in price) I was intrigued because I had never seen/heard of this book from one of my favourite authors. This actually 'felt' more like a book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips than Rosalind James and I got the feeling that this might have been an old book from her back catalogue, although Goodreads informs me that this was first published in 2013, which is not that long ago.Nevertheless, my feelings about the style and age of the novel aside, this was a fun read as the typical mixed bag of stereotypical contestants (token black couple, token hispanic couple, glamorous young women, intellectual couple, gay brother and sister, famous couple etc) learn to live like settlers, building fences, milking cows, living off the land and entering weekly competitions to survive being voted off the competition by their teammates. As always the competition has a few twists for the contestants, friendships are forged, alliances are formed and people reveal their true selves under pressure.I read somewhere that everyone wants a Gabe and I couldn't agree more, a handsome charming Doctor with a heart of gold, he and Mira are destined for each other - although they aren't alone in showing well in adversity. Intrigued I have been drawn into buying the second book in the series, which I assume will feature Alec.

I bought this book ages ago, and managed somehow to not read it! That was a shame, as it is a very enjoyable story. A real mix of people come together to take part in a reality television programme. They have to be in pairs, so there are two brothers, father and son, mother and daughter, brother and sister, husbands and wives, boyfriend and girlfriend, and a couple of girls who are friends. They have to live the life of the settlers in the American west exactly as it would have been, with a couple being voted off each week, the winning couple have a prize of a million dollars.Things don't go as planned, as instead of working in their pairs as had happened in previous series one of each pair goes to each of the venues. It is a very hard life, and they react in various ways to the chores they have to do, then at the end of each week they all get together to try and beat the other team in knockout tasks. The winning team have to pick someone from their own team to leave, which also means that their original partner is out as well.Mira is there with her boyfriend Scott, who is very manipulative, and not a very pleasant person. Twins Alec and Gabe are very similar to each other, but Gabe is in the team with Mira, and they soon find that they like each other a lot, but for a long time they fight the attraction, after all, they are being filmed almost all the time, almost wherever they go.Rosalind is extremely good at writing emotions, and feelings, it is easy to picture the hard work they are all having to do. There are several episodes of high drama, but they feel natural, not forced in any way. It is a good read. I recommend it.

Mira is going on a TV show with her boyfriend to experience life in 1885. They are immediately put into opposite houses and have to learn to live with their fellow competitors. Scott doesnt adjust well, he thinks he is always right and Mira gets to realise no longer loves him. He is aggressive when they meet up for challenges and Gabe who is in her homestead starts to feel attraction towards her. Didnt enjoy this as much as the New Zealand books, thinks it was probably the story didnt really catch my attention.

As my daughter was on a reality TV programme, I thought that aspect of it was very well described. What bothered me was the behaviour of the ex-boyfriend at the end as I thought it was most unlikely and not necessary to the story at all. Would a lawyer really do that? It seemed to be stuck on at the end for a bit of extra excitement.

Really enjoyed this book, it took a different reality show storyline that I hadn't encountered before, I felt it was a well written story with lots of twists along the way and really let you get immersed into what going onto a reality show must be like. It did get a little hot towards the end but not too hot!!