A Song for the Stars by Ilima Todd, Blog Tour

Book Summary:

Hawaiian Islands, 1779
 
As the second daughter of a royal chief, Maile will be permitted to marry for love. Her fiancé is the best navigator in Hawaiʻi, and he taught her everything he knows—how to feel the ocean, observe the winds, read the stars, and how to love.
 
But when sailors from a strange place called England arrive on her island, a misunderstanding ends in battle, and Maile is suddenly widowed before she is wed.

Finding herself in the middle of the battle and fearing for her life, Maile takes John Harbottle, the wounded man who killed her fiancé, prisoner, and though originally intending to let him die, she reluctantly heals him. And in the process, she discovers the man she thought was her enemy might be her ally instead.
 
John has been Captain James Cook’s translator for three voyages across the Pacific. He is kind and clearly fascinated with her homeland and her people—and Maile herself. But guilt continues to drive a wedge between them: John’s guilt over the death he caused, and Maile’s guilt over the truth about what triggered the deadly battle—a secret she’s kept hidden from everyone on the island.
 
When Maile is tasked with teaching John how to navigate using the stars so he can sail back to England, they must also navigate the challenges of being from very different cultures. In doing so, they might also find the peace that comes when two hearts become one.


My Review:

It is interesting to me that this is based on a true story because it really felt like a Moana version of Pocahontas. Which makes the story even that much more intriguing! I really loved Maile as a character. She was strong, brave, proud, kind, and compassionate.  All of the things a woman would like herself to be. Learning about the Hawaiian culture and how different they way they not only did things but saw things was a real eye opener for me and made me feel like I was learning right along with John. This is such a unique proper romance novel, it is unlike anything that I have read in all of my years blogging and devouring books. If you want a unique story with depth, culture, obstacles that seem insurmountable, and two people that come from two completely different worlds...then this is a book you must read! It hits all the check marks and then some! This is not just another romance novel, it has substance and grit!


Happy Reading!!!

You can pick up your own copy via Amazon.


Source:  Publisher for review