I enjoyed Sara Ackerman's Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers, so I was really excited to get her upcoming novel, Red Sky Over Hawaii. This is another historical novel set in Hawaii at the beginning of WWII.

This review contains spoilers! 

Lana Hitchcock thinks she's heading home to visit her father in the hospital, but that's not at all what happens. She quickly finds herself responsible for two young daughters of her German neighbors, and two Japanese neighbors, just as the FBI is rounding up enemy nationals. This theme of distrust towards Japanese Hawaiians was in Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers as well, but now that I've lived on Oahu, and seen how Hawaiian life and food are connected with Japanese culture, it seems even stranger and more upsetting.

Fortunately, her father's left her a map to a half-finished hidden home in the beautiful but fairly isolated jungle by the Kilauea volcano.  I'm reading in quarantine now,  with a 9:00 PM curfew here in Boston, and weird gaps on the grocery shelves, so I particularly enjoyed reading about their struggles to make the best of things and stay safe at home.

Before the book really opens, Lana's marriage fell apart when she and her husband struggled to get pregnant. I don't usually like tragic-infertile backstory, so I was delighted that her story did not wrap up with a surprise pregnancy! I dislike magical solutions of "when you stop worrying it happens" and I dislike babies as the end to a woman's character arc. Instead, Lana finds family connection in Marie, Coco, Benji and Mochi, and Auntie, (and Grant, to some extent, but she was never looking for romantic love, she was looking for her family). 

I really enjoyed the first 95% of this book, but found the ending too abrupt and easy. After chapters of wartime shortages, endless bad news in the background, awkwardly found families, the end jumps forwards a year and a half, and then has to back-explain how Grant and Lana worked everything out. I understand the impulse to bring our characters through the war, and yes, I was glad to see everyone made it safely, but it felt rushed and too easy, after a book about the slow and awkward forming of bonds under pressure.

A charming and beautifully put together novel, that paints a vivid picture of World War II era Hawaii. I love books of this genre, where you are able to experience a huge historical event through the eyes of ordinary people, and see how it affects their day to day. Ackerman's characters are vivid - courageous, loving and dynamic.

I would recommend this title to any lover of historical fiction, and also those who are looking for a story about overcoming adversity (but that is not too cheesy or formulaic!).

Lana returns home to her father's home on the Big Island of Hawaii to take care of her father. When she arrives she finds out her father has passed away. It is just after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the government is gathering up Japanese Americans and any they deem are sympathizers. :Lana takes her neighbors 2 children and her father's Japanese friend and his son and go to her father's secret house near a volcano. This is a wonderful story of courage, faith, and love. I loved the characters in the book and all are amazing in their own way. Coco is probably my favorite as she is a sweet darling child. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin-Trade Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. I enjoyed this book. I have read a lot of books about WWII, but this is my first one where the setting is Hawaii and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The author did a great job of depicting the fear and the hostilities of this time. It was very well-written with lots of details. Recommend to all history lovers!

I loved the characters and relationships. The description of the setting was beautiful and created an atmosphere where I felt like I was there.

Terrific book. Absolutely loved it. Compelling characters and story line. Kept me interested the entire time.

Set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Lots of description included. Thank you for that during the snowy, cold month of February where I live! The story of Lana Hitchcock and her very unlikely group of friends who survive the post Pearl Harbor world of mistrust and suspicion. I really enjoyed the story and the setting. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Red Sky Over Hawaii. I find people often ask me for book recommendations to read while they are travelling and enjoy reading novels that are set in their destination - this will be a fantastic recommendation for people travelling to Hawaii and who are looking for an engaging read to immerse themselves in while on holiday!

This is a charming book about a woman who pulls together an unlikely group of people to form a family in Hawaii. Set in the days immediately after Pearl Harbor, this novel explores the daily lives of civilians caught up in the fear and upheaval after the attack. A young woman, Lana, has left her husband to seek out her father the day before the attack. She ends up mothering two teens, a child, and an old man while shacked up in a hide-out prepared by her father in case of invasion. She also falls for a military officer overseeing detainees.

The plot of this book gently meanders along. It's all about relationships among those thrown together by crisis. I enjoyed the book as light, interesting reading. There's lots of information about the plants, birds, and topography of Hawaii in this book, setting a nice tone for the book.

It was a little difficult to get into this book but I enjoyed the story of love and compassion in time of war.

A charming and touching story of a made-up family coming to terms with loss and an uncertain future.
Lana, a young woman who returns home to Hilo, Hawaii to care for her father suddenly finds herself caring for ragtag family that she never had: two young German girls, a great Dane called Sailor, a Japanese boy and his father and two nene geese. Throw in an attractive American army office and, well, I'll let you read what happens.

Because Pearl Harbour was bombed by the Japanese, anyone of Japanese origin was placed into camps during the war. However, I was unaware that others were placed into camps such as Germans and Italians.

I really, really enjoyed this story and could easily see it becoming a film.

A heartwarming story of love and compassion in a remote volcanic hilltop. It was a time of fear and hatred of the innocent victims of the Japanese attack. Love prevailed in the end. A well-written novel filled with words of wisdom.

I had a really difficult time getting into this book. In spite of my being drawn to WWII fiction, it just didn't work out that well for me. It has a lot of history and geography woven into it, however, so someone else who has visited Hawaii might really enjoy it.