June 9, 2020

Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman

Genre/Categories: Romance Historical Fiction, WW11, Hawaii, Women’s Fiction

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman. Thanks for the invitation!

Thanks, #netgalley #harlequin for a complimentary e ARC of #redskyoverhawaii by Sara Ackerman. All opinions in this review are entirely my own.

Summary:

WW11 + Hawaii + Saving Neighbors + a Side of Cowboy Romance

The attack on Pearl Harbor during WW11 sets the events in motion. Lana has recently learned of the passing of her father. Even though they were estranged at the time of his death, Lana is saddened by his death and left with unanswered questions. As the government begins to arrest her German and Japanese neighbors as suspected sympathizers, she takes two young German girls and a Japanese fisherman and his son to a secret property hidden away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. Lana struggles to keep her secrets and those in her care safe. Would you save your neighbors in a time of crisis?

My Thoughts:

Telling imagined stories from a WW11 Pearl Harbor perspective…

Setting: A few of the elements I enjoy most about Sara Ackerman’s books include the unique and lush Hawaiian setting, the way the bombing of Pearl Harbor affects the lives of her imagined characters, and the way she captures the beauty of the island landscape and the customs of the Hawaiian people. Although her three books are not a series, they are all set at the same time (WW11) and place (Hawaii).

Storytelling: Sara Ackerman tells an engaging, easy reading, and compelling story. Red Sky Over Hawaii is a straight forward story told from one perspective with several flashbacks to fill in the back story. Light suspense and a “steam” rating of 1.

Characters: Our main character, Lana, is likable, courageous, compassionate, committed, clever, determined, and relatable. It is easy to imagine what you might do in a similar circumstance. There are also colorful local characters, innocent children, and a cowboy! Fans of “cowboy romance” might appreciate this aspect of the story!

Themes: Thoughtful themes in Red Sky Over Hawaii include second chances, racism/prejudice, found family, the comfort that pets can provide, taking risks, fighting for family, doing the right thing, regret, and grief. One theme that did not resonate with me was the inclusion of “magic.” This might be part of the Hawaiian culture but it wasn’t exactly clear. Some readers might enjoy this supernatural theme, but if you don’t, it’s easy to skim over and is not a huge part of the story.

Recommended: Red Sky Over Hawaii is a story I thoroughly enjoyed and I recommend for fans of light historical fiction, for those who love a nod to “cowboy romance,” and for readers who appreciate a likable, gutsy, and independent female main character. Book clubs who are looking for “up lit” might enjoy this one.

Content Considerations: grieving the death of a father

Related: Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers, The Lieutenant’s Nurse

My Rating: 4  Stars

Red Sky Over Hawaii Information

Meet the Author, Sara Ackerman

Sara is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant’s Nurse, Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers, and forthcoming Red Sky Over Hawaii (May 2020). Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing and sees no end to its untapped stories. When she’s not writing or teaching, you’ll find her in the mountains or in the ocean. She currently lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals. Find out more about Sara and her books at http://www.ackermanbooks.com and follow her on Instagram @saraackermanbooks and on FB @ackermanbooks.

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QOTD!

Is Red Sky Over Hawaii on your TBR?

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ICYMI

Nonfiction/Fiction Books: Racial Injustice

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