I'm from Hawaii and I absolutely loved the connection in this! It was full of emotions and had my heart tugged out but I wouldn't have it any other way.

A Song for the Stars by Ilima Todd is the story of the Hawaiian Islands In 1779. It is the story of James Cook and his crew in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the story of Maile, the second daughter of the local chief. It is the story of two very different cultures disagreeing, misinterpreting one another and also learning how to come together.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were intriguing and I got caught up in their story. I loved learning about the early Hawaiian Islands and found it so fascinating that I did some additional research and found everything the author portrayed accurate. I loved learning about the Hawaiian culture and customs and I thought the author did a great job in showing how important it is to understand other cultures and the beliefs of others and also how difficult it is to do.

My favorite part of the book was probably the atmospheric writing. Especially the description of the sea. Some of the descriptions were absolutely beautiful. In many ways the sea becomes a character in the book and the author gives the sea as much development as the other characters.

While I loved many things about this story I do wish that the climax of the story lasted a bit longer. I felt that so much was leading up to this final event and then it was over so quickly.

When I read at the end that this story was based on the author’s fourth great grandparents I couldn’t help but think what a wonderfully family story it was and I could picture it being handed down from generation to generation.

*Review of eARC received from NetGalley*

First off, the way this book came about it pretty cool. To have enough information about your own ancestors that you could write a historical fiction novel about their courtship is pretty neat. That is an amazing opportunity and one I'm slightly jealous of.

The book itself is great. True, there are some tropes here that I've seen before - I kept thinking of the Disney version of <i>Pocahontas</i> in some scenes. The line early on about Maile wanting to look into the eyes of the person who killed her betrothed was practically lifted from that movie. But it came towards the beginning of the story, rather than the end, so I just went by it like an interesting sidenote. Honestly, these tropes come about because there is some truth to them, so it's no big deal.

Like I said, I enjoyed the story. The characters are interesting and, for a story where the hero kills the heroine's betrothed in the beginning, the romance is pretty believable. True, Maile and John start off suspicious of each other (that's an understatement), but over time they learn about the other's background. They both work to overcome their immediate knee-jerk prejudices and find a way to make sure nothing like that battle from the beginning of the story happens again.

I even liked the way that this clash of cultures was handled. Usually you get some lazy author wanting to score points with the woke in-crowd and everything is defaulted to "White Man Bad" and that's the end of it. But that's not necessarily the case here. In this conflict, both sides misunderstand the other to the point where those misunderstandings lead to bloodshed. It takes people of strong convictions from both sides - Maile and John among them, certainly - to seek forgiveness AND to try to figure out where the other side is coming from. What seems respectful to one culture is akin to an act of war to the other. The native Hawaiians thought they were bringing an offering of peace to the English sailors when they returned Captain Cook's bones. The English sailors didn't realize they were returning to the island during a season of war, after having been treated to feasting and celebration during their first landing.

And language barriers certainly don't help with that, either. Even John, who made an effort to learn the native Hawaiians' language and culture, still had trouble understanding their traditions. Same with Maile and her family. But rather than stick everyone in their stereotypical literary roles or try to shoehorn the values of Current Year into a historical time period, Todd makes these people real - with real beliefs and habits and flaws. Which, given her personal connections to the story, isn't surprising.

If I had a complaint, it was the use of first-person present-tense for Maile's part of the story. I can understand why Todd used that - to differentiate between Maile's POV and John's journal entries. But it's just a personal tick of mine - I just don't like reading that kind of prose. In general, it feels artificial. Like it's a hot new trend that's supposed to be new and edgy, but just feels forced. In this case, once I understood why it was here I was okay with it. But it still grated on me in places.

Overall, a great story with a great background. If you read a lot of historical romance (like I do), it's something new and different, yet also familiar. And sometimes, you just need something new to mix up your usual reading. This is definitely one I will recommend.

Just over a year ago, my husband and I were lucky enough to visit the Captain Cook monument on the Big Island of Hawaii. We hiked down in and spent several hours enjoying the beauty of the area and the clear, tropical waters and that's all I could picture as I read this beautifully written book.

Maile and John come from such different worlds. I loved how the story was told from Maile's first-person point-of-view, but also alternated with John's journal entries. The writing probably isn't true to the late 1700s in terms of style, but it evoked such vivid images in my mind and was an intricate song of language that spoke to my soul. I loved learning more of the history and traditions in such a heartfelt, entertaining, and alluring way.

While the story is built around tragedy, hope rises up through the ruins and engages the heart. I loved this story--it's left a deep and lasting impression on me.

Content: mild+ violence (war, battles, death); mild romance

Romance, clean; period;
4.5 for me as a reader. This was a gorgeous, lush read, and so interesting as it was based on a family story. It is rich with the culture and history of the Hawaiian Islands, and so interesting! I loved learning more about that time period and traditional Hawaiian culture and traditions. The story is told from alternating points of view with Maile being the main point of view, and John's told though his journal entries.
Loved seeing Maile and John's friendship, and their care for each other. My favorite kind of romance is one with honest hearts. They are both honest, caring, and just trying to figure out their cultures and overcome the miscommunications and hurts they both have experienced.
Beautiful story, gorgeous lush setting and historical background, strong secondary characters, and bonus it is based on real people who lived and experienced this. I would love to peek into the real family history! Probably one of the best books I have read this spring/early summer. Highly recommend. I will definitely be looking to read more by this writer.

I don't think I can write a review that would do justice for this book. It was so beautiful. I felt as if I was there with these characters experiencing their heartaches as well as feeling as if I was very first experiencing some of their discoveries. I really loved the way the author wrote the story from the two different characters' perspectives. John's point of view was written in journal form while Maile's was written as it was happening.

I loved the history that was woven throughout the story. It added such an incredible depth and for me as a reader, I felt a greater connection to Maile's people, the sailors and Maile and John. I'm not going to forget the joy I felt, as well as the captivation that I experienced while reading this beautiful story.

This is not a light, fluff read. There is depth and pain and sorrow, healing and joy and love. And the author wrote the whole gambit of emotions in such a way that it makes the story feel real and you can't help but feel like you are there with these characters.

All the many aspects of the Hawaiian people's lives were so well and I loved how she showed through John's journal entries, his discovery of their culture and beliefs and way of life. How he came to understand who they were and admire them. I loved the portrayal of family throughout the book.

For you romance lovers, there is a sweet and lovely romance in this book. I hope that if you pick it up, you can be transported like I was to the beautiful beaches, flowing ocean, canoe rides, lying under the stars, running over the cliff tops, climbing the mountains, hiding in the underbrush, dancing in the firelight, mourning for the dead, celebrating the life all around you and many more captivating moments throughout this book. I highly recommend this one!

Content: Clean. Moments of peril. Battles. No sexually content. Nothing more than a few kisses.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This book was such an unexpected treasure. I admit I didn’t put it at the top of my reading list at first, but now I wish I’d read it sooner. It’s Disney’s Moana meets Pocahontas in this gripping tale of two worlds colliding on the shores of Hawaii.

Maile is a strong and determined protagonist. She is an exceptional navigator, smart leader, fierce protector, and has a good heart. I loved watching her change and grow in her interactions with John Harbottle. His journal entries gave a special insight into his thoughts and feelings while reading the book from Maile’s perspective. Their love story was sweet and so tender!

I never thought I’d learn so much about the culture and time period of Hawaii in this book. The details and history I learned were incredibly woven into the story, and helped me to really picture the beautiful setting.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more by this author!!

I loved this book! I found myself caught up in it and taking every chance I could to read it. One of my favorite things about it was the setting and culture. I learned a lot about Hawaiian culture that I did not know before. I also enjoyed a glimpse into wayfinding.

I did not give this 5 stars because I did feel I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit. It seemed too convenient that John had pen and ink with him at all times. He also was a little too modern to make his character completely believable for the time setting. However, I can forgive these both as they were clearly efforts to creatively show his side of the story and to make home likeable to a modern audience.

What a FANTASTIC story! I love that it is based on true facts!
It was so well written and and keeps you engaged the entire book.
I highly recommend this one!

If you are looking for a historical romance with a strong cultural setting, this is a great option. This is a story featuring a romance between an English explorer and the daughter of a chief of an Hawaiian tribe. It was inspired by real historical figures, and the author is a descendant of the inspirational couple. There was at least one other character based on a real Captain.

Overall, this was simply lovely. It took me a while to read, but that was due to real life obstacles, not due to the story. I enjoyed reading and not hurrying through it. It gave me an appreciation for native Hawaiian culture, with many authentic details. The story was told in first person POV. It was primarily told from the POV of the heroine, Maile, but each chapter was tail-ended with a journal entry of the hero, John Harbottle. This was nice because it gave both POV.

It was a sweet read, with only a couple kisses shared towards the end of the novel. The romance was a slow burn, where the love shared between the protagonists was built on a foundation of mutual trust. This was well done on the part of the author. I also appreciated how the cultural aspects were interwoven into the story. They were not interesting tidbits thrown in, rather they tidbits important to the story arc.

I really liked the hero and heroine. The heroine was strong, smart, and very capable. The hero was open-minded, clever and caring. They made a great pair. Todd did justice to her ancestors. This was a satisfying read, with strong prose and great pacing. I will be on the look out for more by Ilima Todd.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely historical romance set in 1779 following Captain James Cook journey to the new world. The story re loves around Lieutenant John Harbottle and Maile, a chiefs daughter. I was fascinated with the history included in the story, so intriguing.
Reading this story is like a trip to the Hawaiian Islands without actually going there. Such a beautiful story.
Many thanks to NetGallery, this is my honest review.

I've never been to Hawaii, it's definitely on my bucket list though. However Ilima Todd's imagery painted such a beautiful picture, I felt like I was there. Her descriptions were not just visible either. I felt like I could smell the flowers, hear the waterfall, and feel. I could feel so much, you can tell that this novel contains all of Ilima Todd's heart, it bleeds through ever page. 

That includes Maile. I could feel her confusion, her naivety, and her strength. The switch between John's journal and Maile's first person narrative was a perfect way to convey the clash of cultures the misunderstandings and the growing feelings between two. All were handled so well I found myself laughing and crying and yes even sighing. 

I loved how she had John and Maile start out on so completely opposite sides, the conflict between them added depth and a beautiful heartache to the story. 

The only thing I struggled with was the wayfaring. For the most part, it was fascinating. I loved how something that was so special to her and Ikaika also brought her closer to John. However there were a few moments when I felt like the wayfaring details slowed down the story right when I felt like it was picking up. This however didn't take away from the beauty of the novel.

I am a huge fan of the Proper Romance Historical series – not only are the fun sweet romances, but I always feel like I’m learning something from them too. A Song for the Stars was no different! I was a little skeptical at first – not sure why exactly – but once I started this book and got a couple chapters in, I couldn’t put it down!

It had a little bit of a Moana/Pocahontas, even a little bit of Mulan feel to it, but in such a good way. I loved the main character Maile and how strong she was. The journal enteries from John are a great touch to every chapter. Since the book is written from Maile’s point of view, I appreciated having his view inserted every once in a while.

I honestly don’t know much about this historical era. I vaguely remember Captain Cook’s name from history classes in school so I was interested to learn about how some of the story happened and read at the end of the book some of the facts in the authors note. And then there is the family history side of this story…just another reason to love it even more! John and Maile (her name is changed in the book) are the author’s fourth-great-grandparents, and while the book is fiction, it is based off their real relationship. I find this SO impressive! I think it’s amazing that someone learned/heard about their 4th great-grandparents and turned it into a story. Family history is always so intriguing to me!

If you are a fan of the proper romance series, or you are a fan of historical fiction I think this would be a great book for you to check out. I would love to read more about Maile and John, this book could also easily be such a fun movie! The book also included some discussion questions in the end, so you could easily make this a fun book club selection too! I loved it!

I was amazed when I read this book and even more so when I read the authors notes and realized this story is based on her 4th great grandparents.  Wow!  To have that sort of history and be able to weave it into a story for us all to enjoy.

I enjoy reading historical fiction because it allows me to peek into a world that came before and set the world on its course to where we are today.  This story tells of a love between two people but it is so much more.  It gave me pause to observe the world around me and that we don't need all of the fancy gadgets we have to be able to find our way home or across the country.  It is all in the stars.

While this story is a romance, it isn't all sunshine and roses.  It is about trust.  There is strife between the two cultures.  The Hawaiian culture, which is so rich and diverse, and the English and their desire to learn more about their world.  While these two very different cultures learn to adapt to each other there are other times where they come to blows.  Maile is strong in her beliefs but is intrigued by the English and learns much from John but I think he might learn more from her in the end.

The story is fluid and the imagery used to reflect the island, the ships, the sea, and the people will draw you in and not let go.  I felt like I was there on the island or in the boat when Maile and John were out on the ocean as she taught him to navigate via the stars.  I even enjoyed the back and forth between the two characters POV and enjoyed the journal entries that were provided from John's perspective.

This is a must read book!  We give it 5 paws up and if you have any sort of story like this in your background, write it down for future generations to cherish.

I’ve read my fair share of historical romances before, but each and every single one of them revolved around the English gentry. This book however did not. And it blew me away! There were some Disney’s Pocahontas vibes which only made me love the characters and the plot even more.
Set in 1779 during Captain James Cook’s third journey to the new world, we meet Lieutenant John Harbottle as the crew return to the Sandwich Islands. Their main mast was destroyed in a freak storm and they hoped to do the necessary repairs. But where before they were greeted with honour and treated like deities for the duration of their stay, the natives now regarded them with mistrust and distaste. This is due to their return falling on war season. Misunderstanding and tensions arise, escalating to the captain’s attempt to kidnap the chief. The natives retaliate by killing the captain.
But James Cook wasn’t the only man who died on the beach that day. Maile, the chief’s daughter, loses the man she would’ve married in a week’s time at hands of John’s Harbottle. So what does she do in return? Takes him prisoner.
With the first act ending like that, I really needed to double check if this was a romance. Because how can they come back from that? How will they fall in love? But Ilima Todd does the unthinkable, making their journey to understand and love one another both convincing and beautiful.
Maile is our fiery protagonist through who’s eyes we see most of the story unfold. She can be stubborn and rebellious, but also brave and compassionate. John compares her to the ocean and that description fits her perfectly. We see her go from hating and wishing John would disappear to her caring and wishing he’d stay. Through her, we can see the author’s knowledge and respect of the Hawaii’s heritage, it’s history and traditions which was a real treat.
John Harbottle’s side of the story is told through journal entries, which really added to the old world charm. He’s a sailor who, despite travelling to many places and learning many different languages, has never felt he fit in anywhere. He’s loyal to James Cook who he sees as a father figure. I loved how respectful and eager to learn he was of the native’s way. And how in awe he was of Maile.
This book surprised me in a wonderful way. I can’t wait to read more by Ilima Todd!

A Song for the Stars is an unexpected romance between an English sailor and a Hawaiian chief's daughter. Originally enemies, the two characters (John and Maile) overcome enormous obstacles and develop a lasting love based around a beautiful friendship. I loved that the author took time to let their relationship develop. Instead of automatic "Wow, he's so handsome!" and "She's so dreamy!" type comments from the get go, they got to know each other first and through that, came to appreciate the qualities they found in the person they knew.

Maile tells her story in first person and John's perspective comes in the form of journal entries. Both voices are distinct and enjoyable. I loved the blending of cultures and the confusion that can come just from not understanding the other persons way of living.

This was a really great book and I'm glad Ilima Todd took the time to write it. Two thumbs up!

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my opinion. The thoughts expressed are my own.**

There's something about a story that says "Inspired by a true story" that makes my heart clench. While I was reading A Song for the Stars I could feel it happening quite often. Imagine living in the Hawaiian Islands in 1779. Your world is small. You only know what's on your island. When new people come bringing their traditions and unfamiliar wares, your world gets even smaller.

Maile and John meet under very heartbreaking circumstances. She is told to train him in their ways, so he can navigate and find his way home. But the more time they spend together learning and sharing, the more time their hearts soften to each other.

I loved watching them interact. She was so angry and devastated in the beginning, my heart broke for her. She starts out leery of him but, then John's openness and eagerness to learn about her makes her question what she originally thought. Soon she realizes that her heart may find healing after all.

This story was beautifully written I could see and feel the world around me. And knowing that these are the author's ancestors, makes this story all the more real.

An historical romance taking place in Hawaii in the 18th century that’s original and exotic. Here we meet Maile, the chief’s second daughter, just before a battle where her fiancé and childhood friend is accidentally killed by John, one of the British sailors who arrived with the explorer James Cook. This novel is written in the first person present tense, told by Maile with excerpts from John’s diary at the beginning of each chapter. It’s a style I don’t like and I avoid as much as possible, unfortunately publishers rarely warn and Surprise!

Maile reminded me of Moana, the heroine of the Disney animated movie: chief’s daughter, loving the sea and wanting more than what her people’s traditions have in store for her. I thought her feelings for John where logical: she’s angry at him for killing her fiancé and she doesn’t want to care for him, but when she forgets she finds him interesting, even intriguing. She treats him because she wounded him and she feels guilty, but at the same time she’d like to hand him to her father for justice to be done. She blows hot and cold a bit, torn between her mixed feelings and her loyalty for her people.

John is a king hero but a bit transparent, we only know him through Maile’s eyes and his diary’s short excerpts. He’s curious about Hawaiian people and their traditions and seems to be quite open-minded. We feel the evolution of her feelings, very less those of the hero.

I liked the vision of the Hawaiian people told by the author, the descriptions of the traditions and beliefs, their way to make good use of nature. I also like that she show the culture shock, like when Maile brings to John Captain Cook’s remains – that is his members’ bones which can be passed through generations to honor his memory – and that horrifies the poor British hero (strange isn’t it ? lol).

I didn’t really understand however why Maile’s father would authorize a stranger to pass so much time alone with his daughter when it’s well said the royal family should be approached by people with lesser status, and that the strangers are considered to be at the lowest rung of the social ladder.

I also really liked that at the end the author explains she took her inspiration from her ancestors’ story, even if she changed some things. I also took a few seconds for each Hawaiian word to try pronouncing it at best (my knowledge of this language being limited to the words heard in Hawaii 5-0, to each his own references lol).

To conclude it’s a pleasant story but because of its style in the first person present tense it would probably be much better in audiobook. However just for the originality and change of scene I recommend it all the same.

I loved the way the two perspectives of Maile and John were shared in this book- both in first person perspective, with Maile telling the story and John's through journal entries. Sometimes letters or journals in storytelling makes me hesitant, but the author used it very successfully here, with John's emotions coming out clearly, his sense of wonder over the fascinating culture, his struggles vulnerabilities. Maile has tones of Disney's Moana with her independence, love of the ocean, and loyalty to her people. The historical story has darker themes however, with culture clash, misunderstanding, war, death, and grief. I thought the author did such a good job balancing the strong elements of the book and weaving them together- character development, interesting history and culture of the Hawaiian people, action with the battle scenes, and significant moments between Maile and John. They are both working through the devastation of loss, but Maile especially is confused and overwhelmed as she grieves her fiancé, heals and protects John, defends her father, worries over her people and the future, and experiences kindness from John. I liked seeing the lighter moments between them when they make each other laugh and some playfulness come out. John coming to know the ocean in the special way that Maile does is profound to him and deepens their connection. Their romance is so sweet and genuine and heartfelt. I appreciated the lovely storytelling that made this book stand out and it's one I highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I wasn't at all sure I would like this book but decided to give it a shot. Glad I did! I was fascinated by the history in it. I loved learning about the native's beliefs and how very different and hard to understand it would be for the English. And how foreign the English ways would be to the Hawaiians. And it was interesting to learn how they navigated without tools outside of a true understanding of nature. And I loved that the book is inspired by a true story.

I had some strong emotions during my reading. One summer I went on a whale watching tour which was awesome except for getting extremely seasick and because I couldn't just get off the boat out in the middle of the ocean I began to feel the anxiety of claustrophobia. I was so anxious to get out of the ocean even if the whales were fascinating. My anxiety overrode the wonder of it all. So when Maile has John get out of the boat in the middle of the ocean and tread water by himself for an hour I was feeling totally panicked. All that anxiety came back. How could John do it? I felt every wave and the panic that went with it. He was awed by the close up whale watching experience. I felt terror reading it.

Aside from my irrational fears while reading a book, the imagery of the Island was beautiful and made me desire to go there and see it myself. I want to go walk on the beach and swim in the lagoon. I want to see the plants and eat the food and know the people.

I liked Ikaika and the relationship he had with Maile so I was sad at his death. But I also really liked John and his kind and tender heart so I was able to root for his relationship with Maile too. I loved that he sought to understand not just the language of Maile's people but also to truly understand their culture. And he saw the beauty in it.

I loved that Maile was strong and brave. She wasn't afraid to learn what was not traditionally women's work and was even brave enough to go to battle. And she was a strategic thinker and not afraid to offer her thoughts to her father and others. Definitely a feminist. Sometimes they even listened to her ideas.

I want to hear more of their story. Did Maile ever travel with John? Did he ever take her to England? Did he teach her English and to read and write? Or was there just never any need to do so? Did she ever get to read his journals? Did they deal with negatives for having an interracial marriage or was it respected by the people? Did John become a farmer or just part of the royal family? They say a sign of a good book is that it is too short and since I wanted their story to continue I had to give this one 5 stars.

My one negative was that I'm not a fan of first person present tense. I get used to it after a while but it isn't my fav.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes. war battles.