This is the first book I have read that is connected to the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. I was completely engrossed in this story as it revolves around a woman named Lana Hitchcock. The story develops as Lana is rushing to see her father on the Big Island when he phones and tells her that he is ill. However, she arrived too late and he died after slipping into a coma.

However, her father was someone that made a big impression on the Big Island, and so Lana remains in order to learn more about him. Instead she discovers a secret property in the rain forest of the Kilauea volcano. To her shock, the government had been taking people away that were said to be sympathizers when it came to the war. So, Lana steps in and makes a huge move. She takes in two young German girls whose parents had been detained, a Japanese fisherman named Mochi and his son Benji.

This is no easy task for Lana. In fact, she must lie to protect everyone, keeping their secrets as best she can. There is one other person that Lana becomes involved with at this time and his name is Major Grant Bailey. Lana begins juggling matters when it comes to growing feelings for Grant all while she is trying to keep everyone safe.

What a touching story! The theme of family surfaces over and over again - whether it is due to Lana's previously fractured relationship with her father, the girls she is caring for and how much they miss their parents, and even when it comes to how her relationship with Grant grows.

Although the backdrop of this story involves the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is the characters that are the main focus. We learn much about who Lana is. We also learn a bit about how war separated families and the last impact that resulted. We also learned about trust and how not knowing what side to be on during the war affected relationships. This bittersweet story brought on a barrage of emotions, and was pleased to be led to a satisfying conclusion.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I found this book very intriguing because it is a different side of the war that I really knew nothing about. We all know that Pearl Harbor was bombed, but I never had read anything about how the people who lived on the islands of Hawaii were treated as a consequence. Very well written and researched. And I love that it is based on true stories. And I had recently been to the big island and so I was able to picture some of the places in the book.

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!

Red Sky Over Hawaii is a beautifully woven story. Lana’s life starts off in turmoil as she is separated from her husband and her estranged father passes away shortly before she can see him. As she tries to wrap her head around his death, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and she flees to a hideout with a motley crew. Will she be able to safely care for everyone and get through this treacherous war?

Red Sky Over Hawaii throws the reader into the perils of Hawaii during WWII. The story is incredibly heartfelt and explores the extent people will go to to take care of those they love and the vulnerable. Lana’s continued internal battles to protect those in her care is incredibly selfless and she puts herself at continued risk to follow her personal convictions.

If you’re fan of WWII stories that involve escape, a hideout and rebuilding lives, be sure to add it to your TBR and follow the links below to get your copy!

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour. I have voluntarily read this book and the review expresses my own personal opinion.

For me, the novel got off to a rough start with the first few chapters jumping back and forth between days.

Chapters
Chapter 1 December 8, 1941
Chapter 2 December 5, 1941
Chapter 3 December 8, 1941
Chapter 4 December 6, 1941, Hilo
Chapter 5 December 6, 1941, Hilo
Perhaps I was distracted when I started the book, but the back and forth left me a little lost, especially since I hadn’t had time to get to know the characters. However, after continuing to read I was able to piece things together. But the start didn’t immediately endear me to the story.

Though I’ve never stopped to wonder what it must have been like to live on the island after the bombing, Lana Hitchcock took me on just such a journey. She arrived on the Big Island to visit her estranged dad, but instead she got embroiled in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor bombing.

When Lana’s neighbors are suspected of being sympathizers and taken by the government, Lana decides to get involved with others who are apt to be discovered and taken as well.

The small band of neighbors that she is attempting to shelter make there way to a hideaway that her father had obtained. A secret property that should work perfectly to safely house the neighbors.

But when a nearby detainment camp shows up near them, it becomes harder to keep everyone safe.

This is a story that intermingles details of WWII and Pearl Harbor with elements of trust, and caring for others.

What Concerned Me
While I was excited to have a WWII historical fiction revolve around the Pearl Harbor attack, and this did, it just didn’t quite click with me. The story itself didn’t cause me to turn pages and I didn’t have the interest that I’d hoped to have.

What I Liked Most
I did think the descriptions by Sara Ackerman were easy to visualize. I like that this novel took a different twist, even if it was one that may have disappointed me in some ways, and revolved more around people and the things that might have happened after the attack. And according to Ackerman, there is an old house at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that was built in 1941 as a hideaway in the event of a Japanese invasion. It was extremely interesting that this became a major part of her story.

It is with the author’s vision and imagination that she created this lovely story of brotherhood, community, and family.


My thanks to #netgalley and #harlequin for a copy of #redskyoverhawaii. All opinions in this review are entirely my own.

I have been a fan of Sara Ackerman since reading Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers. Red Sky Over Hawaii is written in Sara's signature style of relatable characters and beautiful descriptions of the Hawaiian landscape. I fell in love with Red Sky Over Hawaii from the first page!

Sara Ackerman has once again shared a story of WWII era Hawaii that captures a particular moment and place. Dealing with the issues of internment, racism, and fear that plagued the islands in the immediate aftermath of Pearl Harbor, it's a story that really will grab readers. As with Sara Ackerman's previous books, this is the type of book in which setting is another character, as she has clearly done enormous research into what life in Hawaii was like at this particular time and really portrays these particularities well. There are countless WWII historical fiction books out there, but it is ones like this that have such a focused point of view that stand out.

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

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?

Telling imagined stories from a WW11 Pearl Harbor perspective…

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).

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.

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!

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.

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

I was not familiar with Sara Ackerman's work so I was excited when I was granted an ARC of this book by the publisher.

The story gripped me from the very start and I easily could have finished this book in less than 2 days if my family had let me.

This is a story set in Hawaii during the start of WW2. Lana is introduced to a German family who is faced with a desperate situation. Lana does what she think is best and runs with Marie and Coco.
I would say that this is more of a mild romance story than a straight historical fiction. It is tame as far as WW2 stories go but I did enjoy it nevertheless.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 just because I would have appreciated a bit more history but I do now have Hawaii on my bucket list. I have already recommended this book to two friends that I think would enjoy the story.

The story of Red Sky Over Hawaii is a combination of real places and events, a real dog not contemporaneous with the history, and a plot that feels like it owes perhaps a bit too much to women’s fiction into a look at events in Hawaii for the year that immediately follows the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Both the Alaskan and Hawaiian experiences of the war were different from those on the mainland. Islands in the Aleutian chain, territory of the U.S., were occupied and held by Japanese forces during the war. Hawaii, although it was never held, was directly attacked by Japan on December 7, 1942, the day that FDR claimed would live in infamy. And so it has.

After the attack, the situation on the ground was also a bit different. The internment camps created to house Japanese-Americans, and the quickly passed and racially-motivated laws that saw so many from the West Coast forced to sell or abandon their property as they were shipped to hellish camps for crimes they had neither committed nor even been tried for, including young children, is a crime that is still being paid for.

But the story of Red Sky Over Hawaii shows that the situation was a bit different in Hawaii, and also reminds readers that American citizens from all of the Axis Powers were harassed, detained and imprisoned, although the numbers of German-American and Italian-American detainees were considerably fewer.

As this story begins, in the days before Pearl Harbor, Lana Hitchcock flies from Honolulu to Hilo on a rather scarily small plane in the hopes of seeing her estranged father one last time before he dies. The meeting is not to be, but in the aftermath of the attack, Lana finds herself alone, grieving and looking for a lifeline.

A lifeline that she catches in what could be considered unlikely as well as unfortunate sources, at least for others. Her father’s neighbors, a German-American couple with their two daughters, leave the girls with her when they find themselves detained by the FBI on suspicion of being, basically, German-Americans. Her other neighbors, the elderly Japanese American Mochi and his grandson Benji, are certain that Mochi, at least, will be rounded up and taken away as well.

Lana, in desperation, decides to help her neighbors, or at least their children, by taking as many of them as she can to the remote cottage that her father left her, near the volcano Kilauea. The volcano area is remote and sparsely populated. It should be safe for Lana and her collection of refugees.

But when the nearby Army base is opened as one of several Japanese-American detainment camps on the island, Lana and her charges are in grave danger. And Lana is in danger of losing her heart to one of the soldiers – someone who will never be able to forgive her for all the lies she has told in her attempt to keep everyone safe.

Escape Rating B: Fair warning, this is going to be one of my mixed feelings reviews. Because I have very mixed feelings about this book.

I really, really wanted to love this book. Truly. But I just didn’t. I ended up left with the feeling that it is very well written, well-researched, absolutely has an audience, and that I’m just not quite it.

One of the ways in which the writing really got me, as in it moved me terribly, was in the descriptions of Lana’s grief at her father’s sudden death and her regrets about the time they wasted not really communicating. Because I went through all of that and STILL have a whole lot of regrets and tears almost 30 years later. Some griefs never leave us, so that part of her story resonated so hard I almost couldn’t get through it.

At the same time, I found a lot of Lana’s story read like it belonged in a contemporary women’s fiction story rather than a book that feels like it’s trying to say something about the Hawaiian experience of World War II in the period directly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. And not that I don’t generally enjoy women’s fiction. It’s just that these two great tastes didn’t go great together IMHO.

I think that Lana’s troubles, for me, hit the “one too many” button. Her dad has just died, and that’s both heartbreaking and a necessary part of the story, as it’s her inheritance from him that provides the refuge for the family she gathers around herself. But she’s also separated from her cheating husband, about to get divorced, and her marriage fell apart because she can’t have children. AND there’s a scumbag after her and especially the two girls she’s taking care of. The addition of the scumbag felt over-the-top. It created a bit of a heroine-in-jeopardy plot that wasn’t needed. They were all in enough bloody jeopardy without the scumbag.

I have mixed feelings about the German-American parents being dragged off to detention leaving Lana with their two girls. Not that it wasn’t historically plausible, because it certainly was. But the detention of both German-Americans and Italian-Americans didn’t have the heavy weight of racial animus that the detention of Japanese-Americans certainly did. Although the way that the whole situation bowed to economic necessity was fascinating. Because of the large percentage of Japanese-Americans who were part of the Hawaiian population, the number of people in the internment camps remained relatively small as those people were needed to keep the economy running. Remote places like Hawaii (and Alaska) just don’t have an easy option for bringing large numbers of people in.

I did like the tiny bit of magical realism stuck into the healing properties of the honey made by the bees living in the shadow of the volcano. That part was cool and the touch of it was just right.

So a mixed bag of feelings, and a mixed-feeling kind of review. Your reading mileage may definitely vary.

I have read a great many of the plethora of World War II novels that have been the centerpiece of historical fiction in the last few years. However, this is the first one that I have encountered that took place in Hawaii.

Lana Hitchcock has recently separated from her husband. She feels adrift that everything fell apart so quickly. She has a feeling that something bad was going to happen that’s even worse. A phone call from her estranged father, Jack, asking her to come to the Big Island to see him. She has had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. However, she doesn’t arrive in time, and she must figure out what he wanted.

After the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Lana is stuck in Hilo, the town where Jack resided. She befriends the German family next door. The parents, Ingrid and Fred Wagner, are arrested and taken away. Hawaii is still in total chaos after the bombing, and no one seems to know what will the Wagner’s, or when. Germans aren’t the only ones being rounded up; Japanese are also high on the list, which causes Lana concern about her father’s best friend, Moshi.

The Wagner’s have two adopted daughters, Marie and Coco, who are left behind. The man Fred put in charge of the girls seems shady to Lana, and she feels they are in danger if left with him. Lana takes charge of the girls and their pets: two geese that once belonged to Jack, and a dog.

Desperate to leave Hilo in the uncertainty if a Japanese invasion is imminent, Lana pays a visit to the father’s close friend, Moshi. She is making plans to go to Jack’s cabin, hidden in the national park, near the Volcano.

Along with Lana are all the characters mentioned above plus Moshi’s foster son, Benji. When they arrive at the cabin, Lana is distraught that it is only partially completed---in fact, one whole wall is missing. They do their best to make it a home, as they have no idea how long they will be there.

The book’s theme is making a family with the people you are with. It’s a story of survival.

While I wish author Ackerman had supplied a glossary of the flora that she describes, I still felt that I could see the island’s beauty. The ending was blah, but I still enjoyed reading about this time in Hawaii’s history. “Red Sky Over Hawaii” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

<b>Red Sky Over Hawaii</b> is primarily set during the days surrounding the attack on Pearl Harbor. This may lead you to believe that it is a WWII historical fiction but it is not. The focus is not on the war nor on the internment camps, although the book opens with the rounding up and detention of Japanese Americans and German immigrants alike. <b>Red Sky Over Hawaii</b> reads more like a romance novel. This becomes evident when Ackerman chooses the moment when <spoiler>Lana and Grant come together</spoiler> as the climax point. <i>"And in that moment her world locked into place."</i> From this point (95%) the book jumps ahead to 1943 and all the other subplots are wrapped up with a pretty bow. To me I took it as if those storylines were an afterthought when I wanted to see them take center stage. But I found <b>Red Sky Over Hawaii</b> to be a comforting, light-hearted read. With a take home message about living in the moment and believing in magic it certainly warmed my heart.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes happily-ever-afters and found families.

<i>Special thanks to Justine Sha from Harlequin Books, NetGalley and Sara Ackerman for advanced access to this book.</i>

Considering the usual settings for historical fiction novels, this one stands apart as quite original. Set in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, we get the story of Lana, who is on a personal journey following a mysterious call from her father. Her past mistakes and decisions weigh heavily on her present situation, but she learns and grows through it all. I especially liked Coco. She absolutely made the book for me. I did like the setting, as it brought back many memories of visits to Hawaii when I was younger, especially camping trips in Kona. A very informative and enjoyable read. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for a digital ARC of the book.

I read my very first book by Sara Ackerman last year and really liked it, so when I saw that she was coming out with another war time book set in Hawaii, I was eager to read it.

The covers of her books are all so beautiful and exotic feeling not to mention set on the gorgeous Hawaiian islands and featuring a unique view of WWII, it’s no wonder that I couldn’t resist her books!

This was a book that I made room on my review calendar for and I am so glad that I did because it was a wonderful escape!

Summary
The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding—only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.

When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
As I mentioned, Ackerman’s books are all set in Hawaii and from her descriptions alone, I feel instantly transported to this exotic location and as though I have truly escaped. But Ackerman takes it a step further and explores wartime Hawaii and lets readers see WWII through an entirely new lens. The historical fiction genre is full of WWII books—but none like Ackerman’s. She has found a unique perspective to tell her stories and I can’t get enough of them.

While not explicitly stated in the summery, this book contains a romance which I absolutely don’t mind but I do know that some historical fiction fans might read the summary and think they are getting a story with more historical focus than romance. While the romance didn’t dominate the storyline, it did play a larger role in the story than what was alluded to in the summary so I wanted to point that out here for readers.

For me the romance was ok, but I had hoped for more depth between Lana and Grant. In the end though I found myself invested in their story and smiling at a few parts, eager to see where they ended up. But for me the driving force in this book is the story of Lana’s makeshift family and the detainees that are being held in a camp near Lana’s secret house. I was invested in this storyline and really thought it shined a new light on this period in history and I found myself stopping the book to research more about this time in Hawaii.

Ackerman has written three books now that are set in Hawaii in the days after Pearl Harbor and I have only read two of them now and I feel like I need the first book. While this is not a series, all of her books have similar themes (war time struggles, a little romance, and unique Hawaiian history) and I would like to read her first book to get a full picture of her writing. I really enjoyed this book and I think readers who are in the market for something a little off the beaten track would love this one. Plus the descriptions of Hawaii are enticing and romantic—so pick this one up already!

Book Info and Rating
ebook, 400 pages
Expected publication: June 9th 2020 by MIRA
ISBN 1488056145 (ISBN13: 9781488056147)
Free review copy provided by publisher, MIRA Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: historical fiction, WWII, romance

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Red Sky Over Hawaii

Author: Sara Ackerman

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 3.5/5

Recommended For...: Romance, WW2

Publication Date: June 9, 2020

Publisher: MIRA

Pages: 400

Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, war, violence, detainment camps)

Synopsis: The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding—only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.

When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times.

Review: I really enjoyed this one! I loved the historical look at Hawaii during WW2. The world building was great, the character development is amazing, and I enjoyed the romance as well. The book was sweet.

However, I did wish there was more history in this book. The book focused a lot on the romance and while that can be ok, I wished for more in this novel.

Verdict: A solid read.

Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Red Sky Over Hawaii" by Sara Ackerman, MIRA, June 9, 2020

WOW! Sara Ackerman, author of "Red Sky Over Hawaii" has written an intriguing, captivating, memorable, and thought-provoking novel. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction. The timeline for this story is during World War Two, and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The story takes place in Hawaii. The author describes her characters as courageous, brave, frightened, complex, and complicated. The characters are living during a tragic time in history.

 I love the way Sara Ackerman vividly describes the beauty of the people, their customs, and the land in various locations of Hawaii. This contrasts with the evil and destruction of war. I appreciate that the author also mentions the animals in the story, and the love and security they give to the people. The author also discusses the importance of family, friends, neighbors, equality, forgiveness, and second chances in certain circumstances.

Lana Hitchcock gets a call from her estranged father, who is dying. He asks her to come back home. Unfortunately, by the time that Lana arrives, her father has passed away. In his home are some kind German people that are living there. She finds that her father had a special home built away in a remote area in Hawaii. 

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the government is taking away German people and Japanese people for questioning. Lana is left with the two German children while the parents are away. Lana leaves for the special home her father has built with the 2 German children, and her father's friend and adopted son who is Japanese. They also leave with the family dog and some other animals. The younger German daughter is out-spoken and personable. Lana finds out there is a detainment camp for prisoners nearby.

I would highly recommend this wonderfully thought-provoking book for readers who appreciate Historical Fiction.

Red Sky Over Hawaii takes us to a troubling time for this country, and Sara Ackerman does a good job of pulling the reader into the emotions of the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lana is a great character, maybe a little too caught up in her love life but still a great character. She's stronger than she realizes, and her bravery in doing the right thing despite possible repercussions was rather inspiring, especially in a time when it seems so many have forgotten that we're all part of the human race regardless of race or ethnicity. The romance aspect of this one really wasn't necessary. I feel like I would've liked it with or without it, but it was a nice touch. It's been a while since I've read a book set in this time period, and now I'm wondering why that is. The author weaves historical fact with fiction very well and came up with a story that is well written, engaging, and a truly heartfelt look at family.

I was really excited for this one because it was such an interesting concept. As someone who loves WWII historical fiction, it's nice to see different story lines and the story of internment camps in Hawaii was just that. I had no idea this happened so it was fascinating to learn about. Lana was such a brave woman and a super likeable main character so I was anxious to see how her story turned out. Honestly, all of the main characters were pretty likeable and I always enjoy that in a story, so I was pleased there. I thought the book could have been shorter and that a few parts drug along, hence the 3 star rating, but I did enjoy hearing about the war from a different, unique angle, and thought Ackerman told the story beautifully.

Immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Japanese, German, and Italian families living in the U.S. were rounded up and held under suspicion of spying for the enemy. After Lana's father's neighbors in Hilo, Hawaii are taken into custody, she cares for their daughters, 13 year old Marie and 8 year old Coco. Already reeling from the recent loss of her father, Jack, and unable to have children of her own, Lana flees with her newly created 'ohana (family) to her father's hideaway house in Volcano. When will the girls' parents be freed, and how will they survive in the mean time?

"There might be a war going on, but that doesn't mean you have to stop living."

I love stories about friends who are like family, and this was no exception. I felt much awe and respect for Lana as she immediately stepped in to protect and care for the girls (and their Great Dane, Sailor, and two Nēnē Geese), especially since she had just met them. "What matters most is what lives in your heart." The descriptions of Hawaii were stunning, and I loved "revisiting" the places we toured four years ago during our first trip to Hawaii. I loved learning more about Hawaii's rich history and that the author included a bit about Hawaiian legends, gods, and the hint of magic surrounding them. We definitely felt the magic while there, and I felt it again while reading this book.

Lastly, if you enjoyed this story and want a more in-depth look at the prison camps, then I would highly recommend Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (4 stars) by Jamie Ford. Red Sky is the first book I've read by this author, and I look forward to more!

Location: Hilo and Volcano, Hawaii

Having always been fascinated with Pearl Harbor, I was excited to read this piece of historical fiction. It was a little bit romance, a little bit suspense, and a little bit like the Diary of Anne Frank...

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.