What a treat to be back in Sara Ackerman's world of Hawaii during World War II. She reminds me of my trips there: the soft breezes, volcanoes, beautiful people, etc. The thing I'll take with me about this book is the way that residents experienced December 7, 1941. I had no idea that the fact of an imminent attack had been published in the newspaper just days before it happened. Wow. And how the locals experienced the attack the days afterward when local people of Japanese descent were rounded up and imprisoned. Reading this book was an delightful experience from the first page to the last.

This novel is set in Hawaii during WWII. Main character Lana returns to the big island because her dad is sick and then Pearl Harbor happens, and when the German neighbors get detained, she takes their two daughters with her to a remote part of the island by the volcano. The setting of this book is great, and almost a character in and of itself. The rest of the book is sweet and a relatively light read for war fiction, but felt a touch insubstantial at times. I thought Sara Ackerman’s previous book, “The Lieutenant’s Nurse,” was better, but I still look forward to checking out her debut novel which I have yet to read and anything she writes in the future as well. 3.5 stars.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley, and MIRA Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

I think I’m low-key jealous that not only was Ackerman born and raised in Hawaii like me, but that she’s still living there. Do you know how badly I wish I was back home on Oahu right now? Ughhh. Anyway, I thought it was cool that Ackerman loved Hawaii enough to write about it in a novel.

It’s also very clear from this book – and Ackerman’s other books – that living in Hawaii for the majority of her life (if not her whole life) has made an impact on her and her creativity. All three novels that she has takes place in Hawaii and has to deal with some world event that directly impacted Hawaii. In this case, RED SKY OVER HAWAII takes place after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and during the events of World War II. Now, while I do appreciate the fact that this book has Hawaii on the forefront of a WWII story – something that I personally have never seen before – I was a little worried about how Ackerman would portray the local Hawaiian people in this story. Since that has never been discussed in historical fiction to an extent like Europe, I wanted to make sure that this was done right, and that it truly captured what it was like for Hawaii after Pearl Harbor.

I also appreciated the fact that even though this story takes place in Hawaii, Ackerman did not try to tell the story of a POC living during WWII for this story. I don’t think she would have been able to portray everything that POCs were going through in the right way, and that’s just based on the fact that there’s no way she could have known. I am grateful that she stuck with a character that she could relate to, and told this story through their eyes. I don’t know if I got “white savior” vibes from this because of the fact that Lana was helping to hide people from being taken to a detainment camp, and I don’t personally know if there were white people that actually did help them during this time, but I just don’t know even now if that was what I felt. I do think that it wasn’t Ackerman’s intention at all, but for those that may have a more personal connection to the events of WWII and most especially in Hawaii, there is a possibility that it could come off that way.

In the end, I do feel like Ackerman’s love and appreciation for the history of Hawaii is clear in her novels, and making sure that she doesn’t overstep any boundaries of telling stories that are not meant for her to tell was good on her part.

Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman gives new perspective to the WWII historical fiction canon, as it takes place in the Pacific arena. This setting was new for me, which added a fresh take to a crowded field.

When Lana Hitchcock receives news that her estranged father is dying, it prompts her to return to Hilo, Hawaii. While she does not return home in time to reconcile, she does inherit a bequeathment that puts her life on an unexpected course that will push her in unexpected ways.

When the US starts putting suspected Japanese sympathizers into detainment camps, Lana takes in a group of four unlikely guests. What happens from there is an intriguing tale of love and an exploration of chosen family.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

The setting is in Hawaii during the beginning of WWII. A sweet love story unfolds amongst the trauma of the war.
Fans of WWII historical women fiction will enjoy reading this book.
Thank you NetGallery for allowing me to read and give my honest review about this book.

Blog Tour: Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman-Historical Fiction
BLOG TOUR: RED SKY OVER HAWAII
Welcome to the Blog Tour for Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman

https://wendyreadsandwrites.blogspot.com/2020/06/blog-tour-red-sky-over-hawaii-by-sara.html

For fans of Chanel Cleeton and Beatriz Williams, RED SKY OVER HAWAII is historical women's fiction set in the islands during WWII. It's the story of a woman who has to put her safety and her heart on the line when she becomes the unexpected guardian of a misfit group and decides to hide with them in a secret home in the forest on Kilauea Volcano.

The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, all she can do is untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property in the forest on Kilauea Volcano. America has been drawn into WWII, and amid rumors of impending invasion, the army places the islands under martial law. When they start taking away neighbors as possible sympathizers, Lana finds herself suddenly guardian to two girls, as well as accomplice to an old family friend who is Japanese, along with his son. In a heartbeat, she makes the decision to go into hiding with them all.
The hideaway house is not what Lana expected, revealing its secrets slowly, and things become even more complicated by the interest of Major Grant Bailey, a soldier from the nearby internment camp. Lana is drawn to him, too, but needs to protect her little group. With a little help from the magic on the volcano, Lana finds she can open her bruised heart to the children--and maybe to Grant.

A lush and evocative novel about doing what is right against the odds, following your heart, and what makes a family.

Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman has Lana Hitchcock receiving a call from her estranged father, Jack telling her he is in the hospital. Lana flies to Hilo the next day, but she is several hours too late. Jack left her a note which leads her to a hidden one with clues on how to find a project he was working on in the rain forest near Kilauea volcano. December 7th arrives, and everyone is shocked when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. FBI men soon arrive and take away Jack’s neighbors, Fred and Ingrid Wagner but leave their two daughters behind. Lana loads up a truck with provisions along with the Wagner’s daughter and hides a local Japanese fisherman and his adopted son in the back. They traverse the mountain road and find a house that her father had almost completed before he fell ill. It seems to be the perfect hideaway until they notice activity at the nearby Kilauea Military Camp. It appears that the camp is now being turned into a detainment camp. Major Grant Bailey is in charge, and he has taken a shine to Lana. Can Lana keep them all safe during these perilous times? Red Sky Over Hawaii is an intriguing historical novel. It gives us a look at life in Hawaii during World War II. We get to see how fearful the people were after the attack and how the government responded. There are mystical elements woven into the story which I enjoyed. It added another level to the story. The story starts off a little slow in the beginning as we learn how Lana came to the island and why she was estranged from her father. The story goes back and forth in time which was a little confusing. The author’s vivid descriptions brings the scenery alive. I could imagine the rain forest, the fog, and the half-finished house. The romance is a little heavy in places as Grant and Lana spend time together, but it was understandable that they wanted to be together. People needed to find comfort and hope during the war. I enjoyed reading how these group came together and became a family. Red Sky Over Hawaii is a heartwarming story with uncommon honey, mystical forces, wartime woes, a rare romance, and a found family.

Red Sky Over Hawaii, authored by native Hawaiian Sara Ackerman, opens with Lana Hitchcock racing from Hilo to Volcano on December 8, 1941, with two young girls -- Marie and Coco -- in tow, along with two geese and a Great Dane named Sailor. Two more passengers are concealed in the back of her vehicle, and she's terrified they will be discovered by the officers stationed at the checkpoint near the entrance to the park, situated not far from Kilauea military camp. Fortunately, she convinces them to let her and the girls be on their way, and they eventually find the house she has just learned her father left her. Lana and her father were estranged for a number of years, but when he called three days earlier to tell her he was dying, she rushed to see him. She had long desired a reconciliation, and believed that eventually she and her father would make amends. Tragically, however, Lana arrives at the hospital too late.

Lana journeys on to her father's house where she meets his German neighbors, Ingrid and Fred Wagner, and their daughters. From them, she learns that her father, the gregarious Jack Spalding, sold the house to them, explaining that he needed the money for a project and Lana had no interest in keeping the property. Jack had been spending weeks at a time away from home. Following clues he left her, Lana discovers she has inherited a house in Volcano. Her father's cryptic message -- "When the time comes, all are welcome" -- only begins to make sense the following day as she and the Wagners listen in shocked silence to radio reports that enemy planes are attacking Pearl Harbor. Clearly, Lana cannot return to Honolulu and her unfaithful husband, Buck, with whom she has been unable to have the child she longs for. The Wagners know they will immediately come under suspicion because of the alliance between Germany and Japan, even though they fled Germany to escape Hitler's rule. Sure enough, later that day two FBI agents take the Wagners into custody for questioning, so Lana agrees to watch over Marie and Coco, naively hopeful that their parents will be released in a few hours. That does not happen, of course, but Mr. London, one of Fred's business associates arrives, claiming he was appointed by Fred to watch over the girls and the Wagners' business interests. It is apparent to Lana that he is not a suitable guardian for two young girls.

So Lana gathers up her charges, and they make the treacherous trip to Volcano. Once they locate her father's hideaway house, they work together to make it inhabitable. Their futures are uncertain -- the war has literally just begun and no one knows how long it will last or how the world will have been changed by the time it is over. Hawaii remains vulnerable and endangered, so residents must comply with orders dictating movement about the island and a curfew. With trade routes cut off, food staples are quickly in short supply. Fear and distrust threaten the previously peaceful way of life on the islands among diverse people. Not only are the Wagners still being held against their will because of their German births. Japanese residents are taken into custody because of concerns about their loyalty. Lana is determined to keep Mochi and Benji safe, hidden away at her father's house where. hopefully, the local authorities won't discover them. Lana risks her own freedom and safety to ensure that Marie and Coco are not returned to Hilo in the dubious care of the unscrupulous Mr. London.

As the days pass and Christmas approaches, Ackerman's characters learn to trust and depend upon each other. Lana becomes acquainted with Major Grant Bailey, who met her father on the golf course and grew close to him over the course of the prior year. Grant is a cowboy from Wyoming who is equally at home atop a horse as with people. He is also in charge of Ki'lauea Military Camp which is being converted to a detention center. As Lana and Grant grow closer, she questions whether she can be entirely forthcoming with him about the composition of her newly-established household, as well as the events in her past that fractured her relationship with her father.

Ackerman's affection for her subject matter and characters is evident in the thoughtful, compassionate way she tells an engrossing story about what it means to create and be part of a family in the face of adversity. The Big Island is as much a character in the book as its human counterparts. Ackerman's descriptive, evocative prose transports readers to the remote hideaway; the lava fields where Lana and the girls visit her Auntie, a kapuna (elder); and the little town of Volcano where the elderly Mrs. Kano and her granddaughter, Iris, operate the Kano Store -- past which government vehicles roll through town bringing troops and prisoners to the nearby detention facility.

Ackerman convincingly depicts Lana "at one of those difficult crossroads in life, where everything seems to fall apart at once." She is disappointed about her failed marriage and regrets that she did not heal her relationship with her father while she still had time. She accepts responsibility for her part in their separation, as she mourns him and strives to discern what he wanted her to know. Her commitment to the girls and concern for her father's dear friend, Mochi, as well as young Benji, fuel her determination. Her outrage and dismay at how quickly her fellow Hawaiians are viewed with suspicion and deprived of their rights is palpable and believable, as is the fear and trepidation that all of the characters experience. As soon as they learn of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Lana instantly recognizes that life will never be the same, and her anger about that is credible. So are her burgeoning feelings for Grant and hesitation to act on them, in light of the duties he is charged with carrying out and obligation to comply with orders from his superiors. Empowered, yet vulnerable, Lana is principled and refuses to yield her loyalty to those she has gathered around her.

Two particular aspects of Ackerman's writing distinguish Red Sky Over Hawaii from other historical fiction set during World War II. The first is her depiction of the varying ways the characters react to the circumstances in which they find themselves, and the strong relationships that evolve in a short period of time. Thrown together by events beyond their imagining or control, they become an empathetic, cohesive unit in spite of their differences.

The second is the character who truly embodies the heart and soul of Ackerman's story. Coco is a stubborn little girl, devastated by being separated from her parents, especially her mother. Ingrid has always been Coco's defender, the one who understands and protects her, including from the other children at school who don't understand how special she is. Coco can charm animals and has the gift of seeing things others can't. She senses when events are about to take place because she observes a crack in the sky. When Lana looks to the sky for signs of it, Coca sternly tells her she won't be able to see it "because you don't believe, not really." But that's not true. Lana relates to and connects with Coco because Lana too has also always had a sense of knowing when a disaster is on the way -- just as she did as she frantically made her way to Hilo the day before the attack. Lana recognizes that Coco is not like other children, and lovingly does everything she can to ensure that Coco is permitted to be her authentic self. Through characters like Auntie, a deeply spiritual woman, Ackerman educates readers about Hawaiian culture, and the sacred connections to the land and beliefs of her people.

Red Sky Over Hawaii is a captivating, mesmerizing, and moving tale about a time in American history when ordinary people refused to succumb to distrust and wariness even in the face of a calculated, vicious attack. Ackerman examines the dark and disturbing aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and depicts characters who are resilient, determined, and come together to support and care for each in the face of prejudice and divisiveness. Her injection of elements of magical realism into the story make it even more entertaining, charming, and touching. Red Sky Over Hawaii is a delight, especially for historical fiction fans, but a must-read for anyone who enjoys an uplifting and engrossing exploration of what it means to be part of a family.

Title: Red Sky Over Hawaii
Author: Sara Ackerman
Genre: Historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, all she can do is untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property in the forest on Kilauea Volcano. America has been drawn into WWII, and amid rumors of impending invasion, the army places the islands under martial law. When they start taking away neighbors as possible sympathizers, Lana finds herself suddenly guardian to two girls, as well as accomplice to an old family friend who is Japanese, along with his son. In a heartbeat, she makes the decision to go into hiding with them all.

The hideaway house is not what Lana expected, revealing its secrets slowly, and things become even more complicated by the interest of Major Grant Bailey, a soldier from the nearby internment camp. Lana is drawn to him, too, but needs to protect her little group. With a little help from the magic on the volcano, Lana finds she can open her bruised heart to the children--and maybe to Grant.

Sometimes historical novels feel a bit slow for me—despite my love for classic novels, which are usually slower-paced compared to current novels—but I never felt that way with this novel. At heart, this is about a great American tragedy: not the bombing of Pearl Harbor itself, but the persecution and imprisonment of Americans with Japanese heritage.

But this is also the tale of Lana as she deals with a personal tragedy in the midst of a larger one, and steps into the person she wants to become as she finds her strength and capabilities tested by the times she lives in. This is an excellent read!

Sarah Ackerman is a bestselling author. Red Sky Over Hawaii is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

3..5 stars

I'll confess to be drawn to this book by the cover along with the chance to read with a Hawaiian setting. It isn't often to read with a point of view from that side of the ocean during WW2.

Red Sky over Hawaii was a slow burn that took its time in developing into something that grabbed my attention. The first few chapters were a little long-winded just getting Lana to where my interest peaked. After that this book showed what life was like for those deemed the enemy, no matter the age. I didn't realize that there were detainment camps on the islands not just the mainland. The author notes expounded on that a bit.

With vivid descriptions of the Island, nature and the struggle to survive when always watching every step, I enjoyed my time reading this book. Secrets were key to protect those more vulnerable and there are always repercussions.

Sara Ackerman is a new author for me, I be checking out her backlist.

My thanks to the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*** Blog Tour ***

1941. Hawaii. Pearl Harbor. US enters WWII. This is the history against which Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman is set, but the story is not truly about the war. The background of the war against the beautiful, haunting environment of the Hawaii volcanoes creates a readable story of what happens when good people do the right thing and stand together and for each other. That is a lesson well worth reiterating again and again.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/04/red-sky-over-hawaii.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and the Harlequin Trade Publishing 2020 Summer Read Blog Tour – Historical Fiction.

Lush in physical description, Red Sky over Hawaii looks at life during World War 2 for those on the islands so close to Pearl Harbor.
Lana is called to the Big Island because her father is sick. While she misses his final moments, she is there just in time for the attack on Pearl Harbor. When her two German neighbors are taken way for questioning, she takes their two daughters and escaped to a secret house her father built outside the Kilauea Volcano. They are joined by two Japanese friends. The Americans are taking all Japanese and German in custody so Lana must provide some kind of stability for the girls who are now in her care while hiding an old friend and his son.
Lana has to make some tough decisions and that makes her a strong female character. She has weakness too which makes her rounded instead of just a stereotype. Not all the characters share the same complexity but those that do bring something special to the story—especially Coco. This little girl is the best part of the book bringing magic and charm to a harsh reality.
The issue with the book is that it is just a beginning. Sara Ackerman fast forwards through the hardest part to a picture-perfect ending. The story only covers about a month, just one month of a long year of hiding and fear. So the book never dives into the true depths of being on the Hawaiian Islands during World War II. It has a lighter tone focusing on a romance when survival seems more imperative.
The book is charming which is not something I ever thought t write about a WW II novel. I enjoyed the world of the volcanic area of Hawaii and learning about what the areas are like. But the story itself only brushes the surface of what life was like during the war.

Red Sky Over Hawaii: A Novel by Sara Ackerman is a new historical fiction book set during WWII in Hawaii. The story centers around the aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and what happened to the German and Japanese inhabitants of Hawaii. I have read a lot of WWII fiction and this one showed a part of the war that is often overlooked and the setting in Hawaii was unique. Thank you to MIRA Books via Netgalley for this review copy.

RED SKY OVER HAWAII by Sara Ackerman is a historical fiction/romance story set in the Hawaiian Islands and begins right before the attack on Pearl Harbor. This new to me author had me immersed in the beautiful island setting which suddenly becomes full of suspicion and peril.

Lana Hitchcock’s marriage is over on all but the paper, when she receives a call from her estranged father. She rushes to the hospital, but her father is dead when she arrives. Lana returns to her father’s home and meets the new neighbors who are German immigrants. With the recent bombing on Pearl Harbor Lana suddenly finds herself responsible for the couple’s two young daughters when they are taken away for questioning by the FBI. As they plan to leave to the home her father left her as a secret escape in the rainforest of the Kilauea volcano, she also takes her father’s old Japanese friend and his son before they are rounded up by the FBI, also.

As they struggle to keep their secrets, they also begin to come together as a family unit. Then Lana meets Major Grant Bailey, who runs the interment camp down the road from their home in Volcano. She feels there is something special between them, but she has to keep all of her charges safe. They keep running into each other and they become closer, but Lana’s secret is about to be revealed and Grant hates liars. Then what will happen to Lana and the children?

This story is written around many historical events that occurred on the islands, but the focus is on the fictional characters. Lana started off so wounded and almost immediately becomes responsible for four other peoples lives while she is still floundering in her own. As Lana begins to connect with the girls, she does so by teaching them things her father taught her about the strength and beauty of nature. The youngest, Coco was the character I loved the most with her affinity to all the animals and her connection to the magic of the island. I felt the initial reaction of Grant to Benji, because he was Japanese was believable and I liked how Lana was told to teach him to see beyond his prejudice, not get mad at it.

This story has the anxiety of separation, loss and the unknown due to war, but then it also shows how all the characters work to build trust and love to survive together. The author was able to weave all the emotions, characters and lush island beauty into a thought provoking and engaging read.

I recommend this book for those who love the 1940’s setting and history, but the main focus for me were the characters.

My thoughts:

Would I recommended it? yes

Would I read more by this author? yes

Mystery and magic is woven though out the story and around the characters, the author brings to life the early days of WW 2 as well as her characters and the way she writes it ,is as if your there actually there ,and going though every thing the characters are going through, with each turn of the pages the story comes to life,and the way she thoughtful pays tribute to the lore of the islands, their people, and those who stand up for the ones who cannot, this is one of those books that has to be read with that said I want to thank NetGalley as well as the publisherfor letting me read and review it.

In this book we meet Lana whose having a bad time with a failed marriage and her father suddenly ill she finds herself rushing to side unfortunately it's too late for him. He leaves her a letter and suddenly Lana finds herself fostering two kids and two Japanese Americans. As we know in WWII in Hawaii that's not a good thing. Add to the mix a curious character of Major Grant Bailey from the local internment camp and Lana has her hands full. Trying to keep everyone happy and safe and learn what is so special about the property her father left her that isn't even finished being built but has a bunker area according to the blue prints. Will Grant figure out her secret? Will the kids she's fostering ever find their parents or will she have to keep them forever?

This book had so much going on I especially loved it taking place in Hawaii during World War II not many books talk about what it was like there during that time. We get pulled into Lana's world and you find you don't want to leave it. It's a captivating story about life in Hawaii and how some people did hide others not because they were evil but because sometimes people make the wrong assumptions.

I also enjoyed how Lana was willing to sacrifice her own freedom for the girls who needed someone to help them so they wouldn't be taking care of but someone not caring about them. There was alot of intrigue with this story. Would Lana get caught and what would happen to her if she did? Was this the plan her father had for her that he never told her about? If you like World War II books and romance and action/adventure then this book is definitely for you!

The second I’ve read from this author focused on post-Pearl Harbor days on the islands, this story provides more insight into the attitudes and activities of residents following the bombings. With tensions and suspicions at an all-time high, and Lana returning to the island intending to heal the rift between she and her father, the story is quickly moving forward to the ‘aftermath’, with a forgotten and remote property, Lana’s taking care of two young girls whose parents were interred, and providing shelter to other Japanese civilians, now under suspicion.

Through the story, glimpses of the island and the struggles are given, however the focus on Lana’s romantic interests and the need for secrecy all seem to jump to the forefront, pushing the need for Lana to lie to nearly everyone to keep the people she’s ‘adopted’ into her family group safe.

I will admit that I would have much preferred to focus on the struggles that Lana had with keeping people and secrets, and was far less interested in her actions: but wanted to see much more of her struggles with her reasoning. Sure, what she was doing was morally right, but legally questionable, and we didn’t see a ton of her own internal struggles in clear form. Much time spent describing landscapes, travel hardships and her wishes for things to be different left me wanting more.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aJs /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Red Sky Over Hawaii is probably the first book about WWII that I have actually finished in a long time. It could be because it seemed less focused on the actual war and more on the creation of a family. I was a little disappointed to see that the story showed very little of the detention facilities. I don't know if people realize that it wasn't just Japanese people who were interred in the US after Pearl Harbor. Italians and Germans were as well. But over all, it's a sweet story about a group of people thrown together right after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

For the most part, I enjoyed the story. The characters were interesting and well fleshed out. I liked how Lana came to Hawaii alone and sad and in the end had gained a "family" and peace in her life. The romance was cute. I actually wish the story was more focused on that aspect. But that is personal preference. I think my main issue with the book is that it takes place over a couple of weeks and then it fast forwards to a year and a half later to wrap everything up. I would have liked more of one of the story lines to be explored further. It felt like there was a lot going on the book that needed more time to explore. Like the romance, Coco's "gift", the detention camps to name a few. Instead got a quick wrap-up with some threads unresolved. That was disappointing. I would still recommend giving this one a try.

If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you know that I absolutely love all things Hawaii. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert is the #1 book I recommend to everyone who asks. So, I was super excited to read Red Sky Over Hawaii! This was a five star read for me--I absolutely LOVED it. Sara Ackerman was born and raised in Hawaii and it shows in her descriptive writing. Reading her book made me feel like I was really there--which was perfect, since my trip this year was canceled due to the pandemic. The book was set on the Big Island (my favorite!) mostly in the city of Volcano, in the days following the attack on Pearl Harbor. In addition to the vivid description of Hawaii, I also enjoyed learning about that time in history from the perspective of the outer islands--in the past I'd mainly through about Oahu during this time. I also liked that she added in real life people--like Thomas Jaggar, the volcanologist who founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

I loved all the characters, but I loved Coco the most. Coco was the youngest of the two girls Lana took in. What I loved about Coco was her love and compassion for animals, and her ability to understand them. I also related a lot to Lana. The story makes you think, feel, and reflect on both the historical events and relate it to things going on in the world today. This is an absolute beautiful book, and I highly recommend adding it to your summer reading list. Make sure to read the Author's Note at the end as well.

I’m thrilled to take part in Harlequin’s Summer Reads Blog Tour today, dishing about Red Sky over Hawaii by Sarah Ackerman! This was a compelling story – WWII historical fiction/romance – that takes place in Hawai’i. If you know me, you know I love the Hawai’ian Islands and there were so many places that featured in the story where I had been, it made my connection to the novel even stronger.
While I could have had a bit more suspense and less romance, overall this was a great read. I’d love to read more of Ms. Ackerman’s novels. They are well-plotted and paced.

Thank you for making me part of the tour and for my ARC, and for letting me have a little “visit to the Islands”!