I loved this authors books when I was young, so reading a new one is a piece of nostalgia for me. This one wasn’t great, but I loved learning some of the real history of Hawaiian queen Ka’ahumanu. Her story is fascinating and I’d love to read a book just about her.

**Only a few days after finishing this, huge wildfires covered Maui and have put the community in crisis. It's destroying local history and has killed 100 people. Heartbreaking to hear that news right after reading all these beautiful descriptions of the island. ( )

Carissa is under a lot of stress. After 24 years of marriage, she and her husband Richard are no longer as close as they once were. When an unsettling incident with a prowler around their house is followed by Carissa unexpectedly losing her job, Carissa's life is thrown into turmoil, and she no longer feels that she can turn to Richard for support. When the chance to vacation in Hawaii drops into her lap, Carissa takes off by herself. In Hawaii, Carissa doesn't find the peaceful vacation paradise she had imagined -- her own unsettled feelings get in the way of relaxation. Moreover, Carissa meets Kai, a handsome single man of about her age, and she starts to wonder . . . is her marriage with Richard worth saving?

Gunn's affection for the island setting is clear from the loving descriptions of Hawaiian geography and culture in this book. I enjoyed reading the tidbits of Hawaiian history worked into the story. There's also an all-too-brief cameo of certain characters from the Glenbrooke series. Those were the parts of this book that I enjoyed the most. On the other hand, I didn't find Carissa a particularly sympathetic character, and too many of the plot elements felt familiar from other books by the author (particularly Whispers, Wildflowers, and Sisterchicks Do the Hula). Gunn's strongest writing is still the Glenbrooke series, and I advise readers of inspirational romance to start there. ( )

Under a Maui Moon by Robin Jones Gunn is just about the perfect summer read, even if it is a bit short. First, it sure made me want to go back to Maui, and second, it made me really appreciate my marriage. This might be a bit of a rough story for those of you in the midst of marital struggles, but I promise it is worth it in the end. The message really hits home when she quotes from Corinthians 13. Carissa and her husband Richard have stopped really hearing each other and being sensitive to one another's needs. On top of it all, Carissa loses her job. She is handed a key to a cottage in Maui and decides to get away -- alone -- and learns a few life lessons. Sprinkled throughout the story is some pretty fascinating island history. I would definitely recommend this one to my friends. ( )