today’s book: Her Island Homecoming by Anna J. Stewart
We are moving right along on our summer-long Road Trip Reads Giveaway where we will be visiting all 50 states on the pages of recently released books. Because road trips are always better with friends – and books – right? So grab your fave snacks, a cold soda or bottled water, an upbeat playlist and let’s head back to the islands!
today’s stop: Hawai’i
HER ISLAND HOMECOMING by Anna J. Stewart
SERIES: Hawaiian Reunions #1
GENRE: Contemporary Romance (Clean & Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: Harlequin Heartwarming
RELEASE DATE: May 23, 2023
PAGES: 239
If she stays…
Will he stay too?
From sand in his shoes to a gecko eating his dinner, Theo Fairfax is way outside his comfort zone in Hawai’i. Sent to convince pilot Sydney Calvert to sell the tour company she just inherited, he finds himself being won over by the tight-knit community, the natural wonders and Sydney’s free-spirited beauty. Could exploring their growing feelings lead to a future as magical as a tropical sunset?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.
affiliate links used
Ahhh…Sweet, Small-town Hawai’i
by Anna J. Stewart, author of Her Island Homecoming
Shortly before writing the last two books of my Butterfly Harbor series for Harlequin Heartwarming, I knew it was time to pitch a new idea to my editor. She and I went back and forth and, when my original idea simply didn’t work, I knew the time had come to dive deep into a teeny idea I’d had in the back of my mind for a while. Hawai’i, here we come!
I’ve had a love affair with Hawai’i since I was eight years old. That was the year my mother, grandmother, and I spent Christmas in Kona, on the Big Island. I have such vivid memories of hillsides filled with poinsettias, of Christmas music played on ukuleles, of twinkling lights strung amidst palm trees that swayed in the tropical sun. This was the year I learned to swim (I have a minor water phobia). It was also the first (and last) year I wore a bikini. Most of all, I remember feeling as if I’d found my home away from home.
I’ve been back numerous times since then, most recently with my best friend, who had never visited before. Every single time my feet hit that land, or that water, it feels like coming home. This was the emotion and connection I was determined to capture in my new sweet romance series, Hawaiian Reunions. This will be a six book series (or more?) and takes place in my fictional town of Nalani. I set Nalani on the Big Island, only miles away from Kona where I spent that first trip. The central businesses are Ohana Odysseys, the local tour company devoted to providing their customers with the best island experience possible, and The Hibiscus Bay Resort. The resort boasts personalized, welcoming service and boasts a perfect view of the beach and easy access to the town of Nalani itself.
Creating Nalani was as important to me as creating the characters themselves. It is a character. The small shops—from The Hawaiian Snuggler (which offers homemade quilts and other fabric creations), to Hula Chicken (specializing in traditional island cuisine), to Sea & Breeze where customers can grab a shave ice in various flavors, boast a wide selection of offerings to visitors and residents. In addition to my heroes and heroines (Sydney Calvert is front and center of HER ISLAND HOMECOMING, book 1 in the series), there’s a cast of quirky characters who will make varied appearances throughout. There’s Kahlua the surfing pig, a friendly little gecko who gets up close and personal with Theo Fairfax, and Haki, a local woman determined to capture the tricky little menehune who love playing jokes on unsuspecting people.
The heart and soul of these books, of this series, is what the islands are all about: ohana. Family. The hospitality found on the islands is second to none. When you arrive, you are family. It’s why there’s really no word for goodbye. Aloha often means “until we meet again”.
I hope, when you read these books, you’ll find a new family of friends to cheer and root for, and couples to fall in love with. Consider this your invitation to take a quick page-turning trip to Nalani where you can enjoy the summer, the atmosphere, and the beautiful culture of the islands—all of which can be found beginning with HER ISLAND HOMECOMING.
Aloha. And mahalo.
~Anna J
USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J. Stewart can’t remember a time she didn’t have a book in her hands or a story in her head. Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek, and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating sweet to sexy pulse-pounding romances for her independent heroines. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural addiction and two monstrous cats named Rosie and Sherlock. Connect with Anna on her website.
Anna J. Stewart is offering a $10 Amazon gift card to one of my readers! (Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read Her Island Homecoming by Anna J. Stewart? Have you ever visited Hawai’i?
I never had the chance to visit Hawaii…hopefully someday
I have not yet visited Hawaii, so it would be nice to read Her Island Homecoming by Anna J. Stewart!
I did visit Hawaii a few years ago. It was a great trip. Nice cover. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you very sharing.
I meant thank you for sharing.
We lived on Oahu for eight years and Love Hawaii! This sounds like such a fun story. I’d love to read it and stir up those memories from our time on Oahu. Aloha!
New author for me. Love finding authors I haven’t read.
I have never been to Hawaii. Sounds like a good read. Love the cover.
Sounds like a good read.
Her Island Homecoming sounds like a good read. Have never been to Hawaii, but would love to visit. Thank you
I would love to read this book. I really enjoyed Hawaii when I vacationed there.
i want to go someday 🙂
This story sounds captivating and wonderful. I haven’t visited Hawaii. I enjoyed learning about Anna.
No, I’ve never been to this State, but the book intrigues me. Good plot.
it’s a great book!
Yes I’ve visited the Hawaiian Islands several times!
ahhh i’m jealous!
I’ve never been to Hawai’i.
me either 🙁
Hawaii is on my bucket list!
mine too!
I’ve never been to Hawaii.
sadly, me either 🙁
I’ve never been to Hawaii but we sure would love to visit one day!
me either & me too! 🙂
We have been to Hawaii we really enjoyed it
yay!!
I have been to Hawaii. Beautiful. Sounds really great
I’m jealous! I’d love to go someday 🙂
This was a fun post!!!
i enjoyed her post too! 🙂
Hawaii sounds like a wonderful place to visit for a while even if it’s only in the pages of a book. 🙂
agreed 🙂
I would like to read HER ISLAND HOMECOMING by Anna J. Stewart because it sounds like a good beach read. No, I have never been to Hawaii
it’s a great beach read! 🙂
I have been to Hawai’i a couple of times. I like to read books about it.
i hope to go someday 🙂
I love the idea of reading a book set in Hawaii. I’ve vacationed there several times, so beautiful!
I’ve always wanted to go!
I’d love to visit Hawaii someday
me too, Terri!
‘m drawn to “Her Island Homecoming” by Anna J. Stewart because I’ve heard that it wonderfully combines compelling characters, engaging narrative, and a setting that feels like a vacation in itself. Although I’ve never visited Hawai’i, I’ve always been captivated by its natural beauty and rich culture. Reading Stewart’s book feels like an opportunity to get a glimpse of the island’s charm and the aloha spirit, making it even more enticing for me. It’s a literary escape that fuels my desire to visit Hawai’i someday.
I wish I could go to Hawaii, but just reading Her Island Homecoming sounds lovely.
it is! 🙂
I have never visited Hawaii and the book looks fun to read.
I have never visited Hawaii but I would love to.
Yes, I went to Hawaii in 2013 with some friends and my sister-in-law. To my human eye it’s what I imagine the Garden of Eden looked like.
I have never been to Hawaii. Her Island Homecoming sounds delightful.
The cover is so inviting! I’ve never been to Hawaii but I’d love to go.
I have not visited HI yet but reading about it sounds great.
Hawaii is on my bucket list and this is a new author for me!
mine too! I love Anna’s Harlequin Heartwarming books 🙂
I haven’t been there, but it would be fun to visit.
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I enjoy books set in Hawaii so I would love to read this one. Yes, I was in Hawaii, with my sister, the year after I graduated from high school ( a looong time ago!)
I’ve been to Hawaii twice and loved it! Can’t wait to go back. The setting alone makes me want to read this book!
Sounds like a great book, Hawaii is always a nice setting for a romance.
No I haven’t been to Hawaii. I hope to some day. This books sounds like a great contemporary romance read.
Hope to visit all the Hawaiian islands one day!
Never been to Hawaii, but always wanted to see it!
Sounds like a really interesting read.
looks like a fun one, never been
This looks like a sweet read by a new author. Thank you
I visited Hawaii as a child and have loved it ever since. I read everything I can get my hands on that’s set in Hawaii.
I want to read this because the excerpt is intriguing.
Sounds like a great book.
I have never visited Hawaii, but it’s definitely on my bucket list!
I would love to read Her Island Homecoming by Anna J. Stewart because I have never been to Hawaii and would love to read about the special place that I hear that it is.
it was a lot of fun to see Hawai’i through her eyes 🙂
I would love to read about Hawaii
it was fun 🙂
I would love to read this, especially at Cabo in July
ooo sounds delightful!
This sounds like a fun story. I like that the heroine was the one who inherited the tour company, in other stories it would be more likely that a guy would inherit such a business. I have never been to Hawai’i.
great point! Sadly, i haven’t been to Hawai’i yet either :-/