Sara Ackerman

This was my first book by Sara Ackerman, but it won't be the last. She immediately drew me in with her opening description of Dane waiting for and riding the big wave at Peʻahi, one of the islands' most incredible surfing spots. I could feel Dane's excitement at the wave's strength and his respect for the ocean. It gave an excellent first impression of his identity and what drives him.

'Iwa is a field biologist, born and raised on the island. Her job is to track and protect the flora and show more fauna of the island. That also includes going up against a developer of an "eco-resort," which is anything but that. Her love and passion for the land leaped off the page. Spending time in the forest also brings back memories of her time with her late mother.

Dane and 'Iwa meet when Dane and the other surfers come into 'Iwa's dad's restaurant. They are immediately drawn to each other, but 'Iwa has a rule of no surfers and no off-islanders, having been burned in previous relationships. Dane is persistent in wanting to get to know 'Iwa better and finds a way by appealing to her love of nature.

I enjoyed seeing the slow build of Dane and 'Iwa's relationship. 'Iwa is wary of getting involved with another surfer whose goal is always the next big wave. But there is more to Dane than just the thrill, and I loved seeing them connect through their love of nature. There were some terrific scenes of them showing each other what was unique about each of their lives. Dane's appreciation of 'Iwa's work and his support of her efforts to protect the land went a long way toward softening her initial wariness. I especially enjoyed the scene at the waterfall. As a surfer herself, 'Iwa has a deeper understanding of Dane's fascination, almost obsession, with searching out the biggest waves. I enjoyed watching her support him, from Maui to California to Portugal.

However, some obstacles must be overcome to have a chance at a future together. A surfing event that goes wrong strains their relationship by stirring up insecurities on both sides. Dane and 'Iwa need to deal with their pasts before moving forward. Both journeys were intensely emotional, and I loved the realistic way they were depicted. The ending was terrific, and I loved seeing how it all worked out.

The secondary characters were fantastic. Dane's surfing friends, Kama, Yeti, and Hope, played significant roles in the story, from surfing to giving advice Dane didn't always appreciate. 'Iwa's friend Winston was a big part of her life, from being her musical partner to another warrior in the fight against unwanted development. However, the most important secondary character is Mother Nature herself. The vivid descriptions of the oceans as Dane and the others surfed made me feel as though I was there. The depth of the author's love for Hawaii was evident in the descriptions of the forests and animals. Seeing a rare endangered bird made my heart beat faster, just as it did for 'Iwa.

The surfing scenes and the background were fascinating to read about. I looked up surfing big waves at Peʻahi and Navare on youtube and gained a deeper appreciation for Dane's abilities. show less

I have thoroughly enjoyed Sara Ackerman's previous novels and was intrigued by this one as it wasn't centered around WW2. This was an amazing story about two women in dual time lines set in 1927 and 1987. The 1927 plot focused on Olivia West, a fearless young woman who let nothing stop her from getting her pilot's license, and joined the Dole Air Race from Oakland, CA to Hawaii as a navigator. It was no easy feat to pass the tests and judgment just to join the race, especially as a woman. show more The 1987 plot centered on Wren Summers, an artist who was struggling with life and love, but learned she just inherited land in Hawaii. She had to go see it before deciding on selling it.
Olivia is a fictional character, but she exhibits all the strength, skill, and intelligence of so many of the other trailblazing women of the era. She did not like to take no for an answer and between her father and a boyfriend, she learned how to fly, read the night sky, and navigate like an old sailor. I was drawn into her character because she didn't back down from all the men who thought women couldn't or shouldn't fly.
Wren found her backbone in Hawaii when she fell in love the land and maybe with a local mechanic who helped her along the way. I could picture the land and the barn details and would love to own them myself.
I love when authors carefully craft two plot lines and eventually weave them together. There were a few breadcrumbs along the way, but I was a little surprised how this all came together and I loved it. I won't give any more details in my review because I like I don't like to read spoilers or give away too many details.
If you are looking for a fun, entertaining, inspiring story, and you like flight and Hawaii, I highly recommend this book for you!
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review will be posted in Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter/X, and when allowed, on Amazon. I will post about it on various Facebook groups as well. show less

Historical fiction set in 1940's Hawaii just prior to Pearl Harbor bombing and then right afterwards. This is my 2nd read by this author. Entertaining historical fiction read with a nice romance. Plus the author writes about the importance of relationships during stressful events and especially how it affects children. My favorite character was the very young child, Coco, and how she was able to bond with animals to help her deal with her family's crisis. What I especially liked were the show more historical events and learning more about how the German and Japenese population in Hawaii were put into "holding buildings" and the aftermath of how this affected their friends and loved ones, especially the children. I realize that at that time in history Pearl Harbor pushed America into WWII, it was still disturbing to know that many of those incarcerated were targeted just because of their heritage. Unfortunately that is still true in America and throughout the world.
No spoilers in this review. For a 3 star read it was what my mood was craving and even though her novels are what I would classify as "light Historical fiction" I will most likely read more of her novels.
Favorite quote:
"Maybe joy was catching, and all it required was a well-meaning heart and plenty of friendship. Maybe it was something that couldn’t be stamp out, even in the worst of times". show less

It’s been quite a while since I’ve inhabited a book like I did this one. Within the first 50 pages I was completely immersed in Hawaii and had half fallen love with sharks. As someone who fears encountering even the tiniest and most beautiful fish while (reluctantly) snorkeling, I could fully imagine myself swimming alongside Minnow.

I loved the slow development of Minnow’s personal story, the notes and poetry of her notebooks, and her growing friendships with her new Hawaii friends show more and family. I finished the book curious about her future, and wonder what she would be doing today.

You don’t have to love sharks and oceanography to love this book. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. show less