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Sunday, August 01, 2010

New Giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a copy of Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii by Bodie Thoene. (Includes bonus review!)

To enter for a chance to win this book, simple post a comment stating if you've ever been to Hawaii. If you have, where did you go? I've always wanted to go there but so far it hasn't happened. I do have friends that are from there (Maui) but that's it. I will pick a winner using the Randomizer program next Sunday, August 8th.

Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii

About the book:

In 1890, Lahaina is in the midst of unrest. Kaiulani, Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii, has recently become known throughout the world for her intelligence, beauty and determination to restore her nations monarchy. When a Scottish missionary lands on the shores of Lahaina, he finds himself drawn into a revolt by those desirous of annexing the islands to the United States. Will he underestimate Kaiulani, the barbarian princess or can they work together to restore peace to this normally tranquil paradise?

My review:


This "love finds you" title started out pretty slow, so I set it down for several days. It started picking up pace about a third of the way through the book so I kept reading. The more I read, the more I enjoyed it. There were two men trying to win the Princess's heart, which always makes for an interesting story. The fall of her kingdom was disheartening, but historically accurate. She loved her people and wanted to serve them, but the corrupted descendants of former missionaries had decided they wanted to own Hawaii and that wouldn't happen unless the kingdom fell.

There were some nice surprises in this novel. I enjoyed the Princess's free spirit and her torn heart when it came to duty versus her personal life, but duty always won out. The hero was pretty heroic and the one guy I thought was decent turned out to be a scary man. Nice plot twist there. Guess you never really know who to trust if you are royal. That has to be a hard life.

The modern day (if you call 1973 modern) part of the story was heartbreaking, yet beautiful as well. I couldn't imagine waiting five years with my husband "missing in action" to find out if he was alive or dead. Life should go on, or shouldn't it? The guilt the heroine felt at enjoying her life was believable, as was her grieving. I loved this subplot because of how she had to deal with her growing affection for the Hawaiian man. Again, another plot twist at the end of this tale, too.

Overall this was a decent read. Once I got a third of the way through the story I read until I finished the book. There are a lot of historical details in this book - about Hawaii and about Victorian England, because the Princess attends school there for several years. There was a portion of the story when the characters went to see a famous evangelist who traveled England preaching. That scene was believable, too.

This was a heartwarming romance that was heavier on the history and culture than the actual romance, but it was still satisfying enough to make me smile. If you love history, you'll love this story.

A copy of this book was sent to me to review for this book giveaway.



star star star

Decent story (more like 3.5 stars)

21 comments:

Julia M. Reffner said...

I've never been to Hawaii, but would like to win this one. I really enjoyed the Thoene's World War II books.

julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

nope never been there.... but am told as far as the climate and tropical stuff panama was a close
2nd... Percy

Giveaway Lady said...

I have never been to Hawaii before. It sounds like a very beautiful place though:) Please enter me. Thanks!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

karenk said...

i have never visited hawaii...but i would love to one day.

thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

apple blossom said...

I've never been to Hawaii, but would love to go. I have a brother that lives there. He lives on the Big Island. I'd love to win this book. Thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Ashley E said...

I haven't been to Hawaii, but I sure wouldn't mind someday! This book sounds really interesting, so please enter me in the contest. Thank you!

ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com

Leah said...

I have never been to Hawaii but i really want to go!!
My brother and his wife are going next April when he gets back from Iraq. I also just met a girl who was born there.
Cant wait to read this book!
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

Annette said...

My parents and I traveled to the island of Oahu where Honolulu is during the Christmas holidays of 1977. I remember visiting Pearl Harbor, suntanning on Waikiki Beach, shopping, renting a car and driving all around the island.
I've seen this book and would love to read it!

Esther Miriam Lopez said...

Hi, nope I have never been either. But it is definitely in my top list of vacation spots :)

estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

Sheree said...

I've never been to Hawaii...I imagine it is one of the most beautiful places to visit. Maybe someday I will make it over there.

Sheree
neednspace at aol dot com

booknroll.blogspot.com

Merry said...

I lived on Oahu as a newlywed, a beautiful place to be for the first few years of married life!
worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Katie Marie said...

Nope, never been there, and don't really have a desire to. It sounds pretty, but I love the state I am in right now! :-D

Please enter me!

Katie M

legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

I've never been but I'd love to go!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Megan said...

I have been to hawaii 3 times and I LOVE it! We are going back for Thanksgiving this year! Thanks for the giveaway!

windycindy said...

No, I have never been to Hawaii.
My dad served there in WWII and
my husband went with his family
when he was rather young...
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Theresa N. said...

I'd love to read it.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jo said...

No, I have never been to Hawaii although it is some place that I really do want to go to.

I would love to read this book and enjoy the Love Finds You series.

Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Carole said...

I hope this book picks up for you, Michelle, because I'd love to read it. The setting combined with the author have made me very interested in it.

I have never visited Hawaii, but my parents did shortly after retiring, before my Mom's health started going down. They had a wonderful time.

Thanks for the chance to win a copy, Michelle.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Unknown said...

Never been to Hawaii, always wanted to go and still do. Stories about Hawaiian history interest me, such beauty, splendor and mystical romance make me sigh...excuse me, got to day dreaming! Thank you, Michelle for the chance to win this giveaway. I like everything about love and the love of God.

Grace & Joy in Christ,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Edgy Inspirational Author said...

and the winner is...



Merry!!!

Nancye said...

I have never been to Hawaii. I have always wanted to go. I would love to win this book, then I can live vicariousl through the characters. :)

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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