THE MAUI EFFECT – Sara Ackerman
Mira
ISBN: 978-0-778-36956-1
November 19, 2024
Contemporary Fiction

Maui, Hawaii – 2012

‘Iwa Young is a field biologist on her beloved island of Maui and is fighting to save its ecosystem from a ruthless land developer. Big wave surfer Dane Parsons arrives on Maui and soon encounters ‘Iwa at the restaurant where she works. She is a beautiful singer, and he becomes entranced with her voice and her beauty. She is more cautious about having a romantic relationship with Dane because she has been burnt in the past by a man who cheated on her. But he is interested in her quest and even goes with her to an isolated waterfall where they passionately kiss. But their interlude is interrupted by the men employed by the land developer. He has purchased the land and intends to keep ‘Iwa and her fellow conservationists off the land. It isn’t, however, going to stop ‘Iwa from continuing to pursue finding something—anything—to stop the developer. Meanwhile, Dane is spending his usual time surfing, which is where he gets his highs, and enjoying time with the woman he has become very attracted to. But something has to give— ‘Iwa’s quest to save the wildlife preserve or Dane’s mission to be the best surfer in the world. 

THE MAUI EFFECT is filled with emotion and pain as ‘Iwa and Dane experience highs and lows. She works in her father’s restaurant and sings while she mourns the mother she recently lost. She is used to the surfers coming in and flirting with her. But Dane is different. He tempts her and pulls her into his life. He seems to care for her, but can she trust him? As a big-time surfer, Dane attracts women who are more than willing to sleep with him. After being cheated on, ‘Iwa doesn’t want to face more heartbreak. But love doesn’t care. Their relationship starts as a tentative friendship, but by the time they are kissing underneath the waterfall, it all changes. Now she fears that something will happen to break her heart. Dane is driven to succeed, but readers sense that the water will soon prove to be the reason he is brought down to earth. 

Taking place over several months in 2012, we get to see the romance blossom in THE MAUI EFFECT. ‘Iwa’s quest to save the birds and other wildlife on Maui is commendable, even as it is difficult. She brings Dane into her circle of friends, as he does her into his. Once he leaves Maui to return to the mainland, will she make the trek there? Or is their romance over? This tale is a beautiful spectacle about saving the ecosystems of our world before they are destroyed by greedy developers. Readers will no doubt root her on, as well as hold their breaths while Dane surfs the wild oceanic waters. Even as they experience the ups and downs of their romance, readers will wonder if ‘Iwa and Dane will get their happily ever after. I won’t give away the answer but just know they have a long way to go before they find out. 

If you love a tale that is a bit different from other romances out there and takes place on the beautiful island of Maui, then don’t miss THE MAUI EFFECT.

Patti Fischer