Pleasure Island: A gripping beach read packed with mystery, suspense, drama and romance

A good read. Interesting storyline. Keeps you guessing until the end so you have to keep going. Would recommend.

I DO judge a book by its cover, and when I travel I like to read novels set in paradise. So I ordered this for the beautiful cover and the promise of a gripping mystery set in the lap of luxury.The storyline made me think. It is like a cross between "The Truman Show" and "Celebrity Big Brother." I am not giving away any spoilers here...An exclusive audience of 8 people have paid a small fortune to a fictitious, narcissistic entertainment mogul (who makes Simon Cowell look like Jesus) for the privilege of voyeuristically watching three couples - and get to have a say in what happens to them.The "cast" are three relatively well known couples.Likeable professional footballer Nate (early retirement due to injury) and his stereotypical WAG Billie-Jean who is a voracious drug addict.The cougar: 50-something faded singing star Mia Manhattan, and her latest toy boy JJ who is blatantly dating her as a career move.And toffee-nosed Rupert the high profile lawyer, and his journalist wife Angelika.There is something very sinister reading about these six unsuspecting characters being plonked on a private island with no idea where they are (or why they were chosen) no means of contacting the outside world and no clue about the level of scheming that goes on to allow their every antic to be watched... and then realising "it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility."For me, it sums up all the reasons I do not go in for reality TV and celebrity worship.Every human being has their own flaws and imperfections no matter how much talent or wealth they have. And it is none of my business.The characters are colourful, believable and likeable (even the nasty ones!)I did guess a couple of the plot twists ahead of the big reveal, which I will keep to myself.All in all, a well-written novel and a little more thought-provoking than some of the run-of-the-mill froth that is marketed for women.The only negative thing I have to say is, the author should have a word with her proof reader. There were quite a lot of mistakes. When a writer has their creative juices flowing they can't be expected to slow down to check for perfection but there are generally a couple more pairs of eyes on a manuscript before it hits the shelves and it is those people's job to spare the grammar-Nazis amongst the readership, wanting to get their red pen out. Not the author's fault at all. I will look out for her next work.

I enjoyed the concept of the outline story: the idea that a group of unconnected people could be brought together in such a way, played with and then come away wiser. I won’t say much more in case I spoil the surprises but I couldn’t help wanting re-write certain parts of the text as it came across as amateurish in style a few times. I was also itching to correct the typos.Having previously read and enjoyed most of the author’s other books, I wondered if this was perhaps the first book written and maybe the style improved later. But I was surprised to see, once I checked the publication dates that this wasn’t one of the early ones.Anyway I recommend ALW’s other books totally. This one was ok but not up to the same standard.

I have read quite a few of Anna Lou's books and loved them. However was quite disappointed in this book, as there was just something lacking in it. Also found the end a bit predictable

This book takes too long to get into the story. It is clear thought that the author has either a sick mind or a very troubled imagination as she glorifies what I would deem unacceptable behaviour. I wanted to put the book down but had nothing left to read whilst on holiday. There are several schoolboy errors as well. For instance towards the end the group are gathering at midnight but our hero is scrambling down a cliff face finding hidden boats. What she achieves and then returns is unrealistic. Books are meant to stretch the truth but there has to be a limited. This is exceeded more than once which undermines the readers confidence in the story.I will not buy another, the entire plot could encourage ,copy cat, type behaviour that is so easy in this day and age.

Total change of direction for me, this book. It was bloody brilliant, great story some great twists (though some were quite easy to work out). Something really quite unique, very different but very good. The Simon cowell character (that’s how I imagined Martin McKenzie to be) was soo evil 😆. Will definitely read this author again, hopefully they’ll be up to the same standard as pleasure island.

I entered into reading feeling sceptical but was pleasantly surprised. The loss of Jackie Collins left a big hole in this type of fiction and those are big shoes to fill. Anna-Lou has done a good job though. I enjoyed this book, it is pure escapism and fiction and that is a plus. 6 people drawn together for a luxury holiday with no idea of the real reason they have been chosen. Big Brother is definitely watching and secrets have a way of being exposed. It reminded me of Lovers and Gamblers and Hollywood Wives by genre. Its well worth a read, I am hard to please but this kept me reading late at night. Would read more by this author.

I read Power Games last year which was basically a story about Celebs who crash land on an island after a mysterious megalomaniac decides to take revenge on them for everything they have done to him.... Sound familiar?Ok so this was slightly different but not that different truth be told. If you've read Power Games howver, this is a TINY but more realistic....but again, not that much....For an easy summer beach/poolside read this was great, predictable: of course, beautiful women, yes (one obviously flashy, another who doesn't know her own beauty typically), gorgeous men, an ungrateful husband, a long lost child.... Switch your brain off, accept that the storyline is going to be straight out of a bad Dallas season and enjoy the romps and the gorgeous idyllic island scenery.... I can't rate it higher as it was so unbelievably predictable, but if you want to escape for a while this is the perfect book for you.