This second book in the amazing ‘Pearl Harbor’ series left my just as emotionally drained but totally fascinated as ‘Vagabond Heart’. The sense of history, all of the vivid detail, and a poignant love story are so well woven together that it left me breathless at the end. I only know one thing for sure: I want more of this sort of a look at history. If half the history teachers in schools across the world were able to make their subjects come alive as much as A.J. makes the Hawaii of the 1940s seem real, maybe we’d actually learn something from past mistakes.

Tinder’s life doesn’t get any easier in this second volume. I had hoped that leaving his life as a prostitute behind might help, and in a way it does. He and his lover, Jason, grow closer and share some very tender moments. But the reality of a country at war keeps intruding to the point where Jason accepts a mission that made the hairs at the back of my neck stand up. I was screaming at him not to go – but, of course, that was pointless. The pain of the separation almost killed me, I was so involved. The only thing that kept me reading was my trust in A.J.’s belief in happy endings, which matches my own.

If you like to learn about the past through the eyes of people who lived in the times, if historical details fascinate you, and if you love characters who come to life to the point you think you can touch and talk to them, you will love this book. I totally adored it and cannot wait for the next volume!


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )