Moments Like This

Gomez (The Year I Left, written as Christine Brae) and debut author Polaha kick off their From Kona, with Love series with this atmospheric romance. After Andie Matthews loses the promotion that she’s sacrificed friends, fiancé, and free time for, she heads to Hawaii to relax and help out at her friend Api’s coffee shop while Api is out of town. She’s hoping to find herself and her new path in life—instead, she meets the hunky, mysterious Warren Yates, who she believes is a surfing instructor. In reality, Warren’s company is scheming to acquire Api’s shop. He met Andie while looking for Api, failed to tell her his real reasons for visiting the coffee shop, and now his lies have piled up. Andie’s temporary stay should fit perfectly with Warren’s love-’em-and-leave-’em attitude, but her spontaneity, positivity, and intelligence soon have him thinking long-term. Gomez and Polaha’s descriptions of Hawaii are postcard worthy, but while Andie and Warren clearly have fun together, their deeper emotional connection is less convincing and the drama feels contrived. Still, the breezy pace and gorgeous setting will stoke readers’ wanderlust. Agent: Italia Gandolfo, Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary. (Mar.)