Author Janice Coupe captures a snapshot of old Florida, a piece of history that deserves to be preserved in Paradise Lost, an intimate view into the life of a small island city on the cusp of change. More than a memoir, Paradise Lost, chronicles the tragic loss of a way of life, once the norm for coastal areas around the state of Florida: pristine areas of delicately balanced ecosystems and lifestyles that had endured for generations, rudely shoved into the 21st century. Filled with bold images of the wildlife and weather-hardened people who inhabited this island city, Paradise Lost paints a picture of an idyllic haven crushed by progress. From the hardships of running a restaurant Ôsixty miles from a lemonÕ to the mind numbing task of securing funding to build a new library, Coupe takes readers on a heartfelt journey through the life of this small fishing village that she called home for over 30 years. Paradise Lost will be a favorite of fans of memoir, armchair travelers and history aficionados.