Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman

Welcome to my spot on the blog tour for Red Sky over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman. I am excited to share my review with you all today!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Red Sky Over Hawaii: A Novel by Sara Ackerman On Sale Date: June 9, 2020 Trade Paperback $17.99 USD, $22.99 CAD Fiction / Historical / World War II  352 pages MIRA Books

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.

Brenda’s review

Red Sky over Hawaii is a beautifully written story that captures a sense of home, family and what bonds a family together. Sara Ackerman also captures a sense of time here with the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor and what it was like for people living on the island. She gives us some things to think about and provokes some emotions here with the bonds and conflicts the characters have.

It’s all about the characters and setting here for me, and the focus is on the characters and their bonds and connections. The setting is beautiful and captures the land and history of it. I felt like the setting was speaking to me, and it became so vivid as a character itself. It created a sense of family and protection yet danger after the events that bond the characters together. The characters are likable and relatable with heart and love for each other. There are some lovable, fun, friendly and loyal characters here with great dane Sailor and geese Gin and Tonic!! I loved Lana and her strength to protect the people who have become her family.

The story is a lighter, heartwarming yet heartbreaking. In the end, I was left with a feel-good feeling, and I think it’s a perfect one for a summer read. I highly recommend it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sara Ackerman is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant’s Nurse and Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers. 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.

SOCIAL LINKS:

Author Website Facebook: @ackermanbooks Twitter: @AckermanBooks Instagram: @saraackermanbooks Pinterest

BUY LINKS: Barnes & Noble IndieBound Bookshop.org Amazon AppleBooks Books-A-Million Kobo

Thank you to Justine Sha for arranging this blog tour and sending me a widget on NetGalley!