Under the Maui Sky: one secret, one betrayal threatens to tear apart a family

Under the Maui Sky is the first book in the Maui Island series by Kellie Coates Gilbert. It is the story of Ava Briscoe and her four children as they deal with the loss of a loved one and a betrayal that will shake them to the core. Ava Briscoe’s strength and resilience will be put to the test. Christel is the oldest Briscoe child and the foundation that she trusted to stand firm will be shaken. Katie is a wife, mother and businesswoman, she yearns for a chance to shine. Aiden makes a living rescuing people in trouble but can he rescue his family when they need him the most? Lastly, Shane, the baby, has been tagged as the ne'er-do-well. He does what he can to live up to it but deep down he wishes for the chance to prove his worth. Will they find a way to come together, stronger than ever? Or will this secret break them beyond repair?

With the beautiful tropical island atmosphere, Under the Maui Sky is an emotional ride of grief, heartache, and devastation. It is a story that will have readers quickly turning the pages to the end. It is a story that takes hold and will not let go. A dark secret is revealed that will turn their grief and heartache to anger. Ms. Coates Gilbert has an amazing ability to capture families and their dynamics. The reactions of each character were very authentic. The interactions between the siblings were realistic. I could easily imagine myself and my siblings bickering and bantering the same way. There were moments of tears and moments of laughter. There were moments of shock and despair. I closed the book with tears in my eyes and my heart filled with hope. I look forward to the rest of the series as the Briscoe family continues to deal with their issues. I highly recommend Under the Maui Sky! 

Under the Maui Sky is available in paperback and eBook

Say My Name: when the right love heals the pain and brightens the future

Say My Name by Tricia Best is a love story in which two people are deeply flawed and together they find healing and a future. Taylor Jenson is reeling from her breakup with her boyfriend, Ryan. He cheated on her with numerous women including her best friend. She is also conflicted about her choice of career. She chooses business to please her father but her real passion is music. She spends the summer before university with her half-sister, Kimi where she heals from her heartbreak and tries to find the motivation for her chosen career.  There she meets Isaiah Butler, who works at the local market. Instantly there is a connection with the two but there is also a barrier. As Taylor tries to understand and come to terms with why her boyfriend would cheat, Isaiah can’t seem to stay away from Taylor despite not telling her his deepest, darkest secret. When he finally reveals his secret, Taylor runs and attends university having no contact with Isaiah for months. When they see each other again, will the connection still be there? Will they be able to understand the past pain in each other which effects their present? Will they be able to help each deal with their personal demons?

The book opens with this dedication “To those who had their sexuality hijacked and are fighting to get it back.” When I read the description of this book and this dedication, I wasn’t sure what kind of story it would be. There are so many ways this story could have gone. The story was not what I expected in a good way. By the story’s end, I understood what Ms. Best meant and applaud her for a great story. Say My Name is filled with drama and emotional, heart wrenching scenes. The sex scenes with instantly beautiful and, to me, can only be between two truly in love. I loved the flaws of Taylor and Isaiah. They were real and dealt with realistically. I love how Ms. Best presents their demons as never really going away, we just learn how to deal with them when they chose to rear their ugly heads. I highly recommend Say My Name!

Say My Name

is available on Amazon on the Kindle