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Islands of Aloha Mystery #1
Maui Widow Waltz
Even "death do us part" couldn't spoil her wedding day plans...
Wedding planner Pali Moon reluctantly agrees to go forward with the wedding of a wealthy software genius who disappeared at sea a week earlier. The bride-to-be is convinced he'll be found, safe and sound. But a day before the nuptials, a body floats ashore at a South Maui beach. So--what's it going to be--a wedding...or a funeral?
Wedding planner Pali Moon reluctantly agrees to go forward with the wedding of a wealthy software genius who disappeared at sea a week earlier. The bride-to-be is convinced he'll be found, safe and sound. But a day before the nuptials, a body floats ashore at a South Maui beach. So--what's it going to be--a wedding...or a funeral?
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2011
369 people are currently reading
1461 people want to read
About the author
JoAnn Bassett
27 books200 followersJoAnn was born and raised in Seattle, but always preferred palm trees to pine trees. She wrote instructional books and videos for a living but dreamed of "making stuff up" once she put the working life behind her. In 1996, she and her husband bought a home on Maui. Best day ever. She loved living on the beach but her husband longed to get back to "normal" so they moved to Arizona. Now JoAnn writes about life in the islands as a way to stay connected. Her "Islands of Aloha" mystery series will feature a story set in each of the major Hawaiian islands, starting with Maui.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
March 9, 2015
I went to Maui to stay a week and remained five. I never spent so pleasant a month before, or bade any place goodbye so regretfully. - Mark Twain
With the snow piling up in Maryland, I escaped to Hawaii in JoAnn Bassett's MAUI WIDOW WALTZ, the first entry in her six book series, Islands of Aloha. Bassett lived on Maui, giving me the confidence that she could deliver an authentic experience. She did not disappoint. The heroine, Pali Moon, grew up on Maui and understands the island way of life. In fact, many scenes take place off the beaten track, away from tourist traps, where kamahina (locals) survive the challenges of high cost living in a tropical getaway.
Although she lives paycheck to paycheck, Pali still maintains the Aloha spirit. I commend Bassett for creating an "earthy" protagonist whose life is not quite perfect in Paradise. She also gives readers a handful of colorful characters who reflect the diversity of the islands. The story itself is humorous but not quite the laugh out loud I prefer in cozy mysteries.
The mystery is intriguing as Pali uncovers the layers of deception from those involved in the wedding, akin to peeling a Maui onion. However, I found the mystery dragged during the countdown to the wedding day ... Pali spends much of her time driving up and down the East Maui mountain ... just waiting for something to explode with the bridezilla. Yet Bassett delivered a satisfactory ending, tempting me to continue with the series.
Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries and Hawaiian culture.
I purchased a print copy of MAUI WIDOW WALTZ to feed my appetite for Hawaii.
With the snow piling up in Maryland, I escaped to Hawaii in JoAnn Bassett's MAUI WIDOW WALTZ, the first entry in her six book series, Islands of Aloha. Bassett lived on Maui, giving me the confidence that she could deliver an authentic experience. She did not disappoint. The heroine, Pali Moon, grew up on Maui and understands the island way of life. In fact, many scenes take place off the beaten track, away from tourist traps, where kamahina (locals) survive the challenges of high cost living in a tropical getaway.
Although she lives paycheck to paycheck, Pali still maintains the Aloha spirit. I commend Bassett for creating an "earthy" protagonist whose life is not quite perfect in Paradise. She also gives readers a handful of colorful characters who reflect the diversity of the islands. The story itself is humorous but not quite the laugh out loud I prefer in cozy mysteries.
The mystery is intriguing as Pali uncovers the layers of deception from those involved in the wedding, akin to peeling a Maui onion. However, I found the mystery dragged during the countdown to the wedding day ... Pali spends much of her time driving up and down the East Maui mountain ... just waiting for something to explode with the bridezilla. Yet Bassett delivered a satisfactory ending, tempting me to continue with the series.
Recommended read for fans of cozy mysteries and Hawaiian culture.
I purchased a print copy of MAUI WIDOW WALTZ to feed my appetite for Hawaii.
December 31, 2019
Slight and silly, this novel kept my interest only because a very long time ago I lived on Maui and I enjoyed revisiting the places that used to be so familiar to me. For example, a lot of the action takes place at Olo'walu, where I used to go snorkeling all the time. (There was no mansion as far as I remember when I lived there; but shortly after I moved back to the mainland a woman was killed by a shark at Olo'walu, and after that more attacks occurred there over the years.)
Anyway, other than the nostalgia factor, this novel did nothing much for me. None of the characters were fleshed out. Pali Moon is the heroine, and I had no idea how old she was or what she looked like or if I cared about her or not. The mystery didn't make much sense and wasn't all that interesting. I should have been surprised by the ending, or have guessed it, but I was so uninvested my reaction was, okay so that happened. I wouldn't read any others in the series.
Anyway, other than the nostalgia factor, this novel did nothing much for me. None of the characters were fleshed out. Pali Moon is the heroine, and I had no idea how old she was or what she looked like or if I cared about her or not. The mystery didn't make much sense and wasn't all that interesting. I should have been surprised by the ending, or have guessed it, but I was so uninvested my reaction was, okay so that happened. I wouldn't read any others in the series.
February 28, 2015
Picked this item up on a whim a while ago, then last night when I couldn't sleep I started reading? This was a fast-paced, well-plotted little mystery with a great setting. Nothing too deep; not great literature; but a great way to spend a sleepless night. A fun, entertaining read. I will go on to the next book in the series to see if the author's approach holds up.
April 20, 2017
Quick but silly read. Good for when you have the flu and can't really focus.
January 4, 2017
When rich and spoiled mainland socialite, Lisa Marie Prescott, walked into Pali Moon’s ‘Let’s Get Maui’d’ wedding shop and asked Pali to plan a wedding, despite the fact that the groom-to-be had been missing at sea for over a week, Pali’s first inclination was to decline. But, with the unrelenting rain putting a damper on business, Pali’s having trouble paying her bills, and an unscrupulous real estate dealer has his eyes on her business. Principles are fine, but a person has to eat, so Pali takes the job.
Things get hinky when she learns that the bride’s father is a gangster who owns a lucrative trash business, and that trash is not the only thing he disposes of, and then the stand-in for the missing groom, his business partner, is found dead, washed up on the beach. Pali is a wedding planner, not a detective, but it looks like the cops aren’t making any headway in solving either case. Pali is left holding the bag, and a lot of unpaid bills. What’s a wedding planner to do? Why, solve the case and help put the bad guys—or gals—away.
Maui Widow Waltz by JoAnn Bassett is the first book in the Islands of Aloha mystery series. I’d previously read one of the later books in the series, and was thoroughly amused and entertained by it, so I opened this one with the expectation to be similarly engaged. I was not disappointed. Pali and her weird assortment of friends are just engaging in the premiere issue as in later issues, and as a bonus I got to learn more about our heroine. The author writes about Hawaii like someone who knows the islands well, and makes the people and place come alive.
A really good mystery is one that can be read in one sitting, because once you start, you can’t put it down until it’s finished. This one fits the bill.
Things get hinky when she learns that the bride’s father is a gangster who owns a lucrative trash business, and that trash is not the only thing he disposes of, and then the stand-in for the missing groom, his business partner, is found dead, washed up on the beach. Pali is a wedding planner, not a detective, but it looks like the cops aren’t making any headway in solving either case. Pali is left holding the bag, and a lot of unpaid bills. What’s a wedding planner to do? Why, solve the case and help put the bad guys—or gals—away.
Maui Widow Waltz by JoAnn Bassett is the first book in the Islands of Aloha mystery series. I’d previously read one of the later books in the series, and was thoroughly amused and entertained by it, so I opened this one with the expectation to be similarly engaged. I was not disappointed. Pali and her weird assortment of friends are just engaging in the premiere issue as in later issues, and as a bonus I got to learn more about our heroine. The author writes about Hawaii like someone who knows the islands well, and makes the people and place come alive.
A really good mystery is one that can be read in one sitting, because once you start, you can’t put it down until it’s finished. This one fits the bill.
January 16, 2013
I received a free Kindle copy of "Maui Widow Walz(Islands of Aloha Mystery Series) by JoAnn Bassett, in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great cozy mystery story, and great launch for a new series! There were lots of lots of twists and turns in the story, and I kept reading on to see who_dun_it.
What Wedding Planner would organize a proxy marriage for a demanding bride and a missing and presumed dead groom?
Pali Moon was a wedding planner and the owner of "Let's Get Maui'd", set in the state of Hawaii.Lisa Marie Prescott, the bride-to-be,asked Pali if she could put together a fabulous wedding by Valentine's Day, outside on the beach, for only a few friends and family. Her fiance, Brad, might not be there and may have to watch it later on video.Brad Sanders, president of DigiSystems Corporation in Seattle, disappeared while on vacation off the Maui coastline Jan31st. His rental boat was recovered on the beach at Kapalua the next morning, and a shirt and thongs showed up later...but no Brad.
Kevin, Brad's business partner, has General Power of Attorney and can step in and sign anything for Brad.Lisa Marie tells Pali that Kevin can stand in for Brad, if he is not back in time for the wedding.
Pali's business is in financial distress, and she needs for this fake wedding to go off without a hitch, so she can pay off some of her creditors.
But Lisa Marie becomes 'a person of interest', when someone is killed on the island.But did she do it or not? Pali must uncover the truth.
A fast paced cozy mystery story with very believable characters in a very scenic atmosphere.An enjoyable read.
This was a great cozy mystery story, and great launch for a new series! There were lots of lots of twists and turns in the story, and I kept reading on to see who_dun_it.
What Wedding Planner would organize a proxy marriage for a demanding bride and a missing and presumed dead groom?
Pali Moon was a wedding planner and the owner of "Let's Get Maui'd", set in the state of Hawaii.Lisa Marie Prescott, the bride-to-be,asked Pali if she could put together a fabulous wedding by Valentine's Day, outside on the beach, for only a few friends and family. Her fiance, Brad, might not be there and may have to watch it later on video.Brad Sanders, president of DigiSystems Corporation in Seattle, disappeared while on vacation off the Maui coastline Jan31st. His rental boat was recovered on the beach at Kapalua the next morning, and a shirt and thongs showed up later...but no Brad.
Kevin, Brad's business partner, has General Power of Attorney and can step in and sign anything for Brad.Lisa Marie tells Pali that Kevin can stand in for Brad, if he is not back in time for the wedding.
Pali's business is in financial distress, and she needs for this fake wedding to go off without a hitch, so she can pay off some of her creditors.
But Lisa Marie becomes 'a person of interest', when someone is killed on the island.But did she do it or not? Pali must uncover the truth.
A fast paced cozy mystery story with very believable characters in a very scenic atmosphere.An enjoyable read.
February 1, 2013
This book is frivolity of the best kind. It was just so darned much fun, I kept reading and now have moved on to the second book in the series. The main character, perpetually on the edge of financial ruin, is a wedding planner in Hawaii. Pali Moon (not the name she was born with, she hastens to assure us)ekes out a precarious existence surrounded by a mass of colorful secondary characters. I want so badly for her to succeed, find her own happy ending, and simultaneously want the series to keep going. I've never been to Hawaii, but if it's as lovely as it seems in this book, it is paradise indeed.
October 13, 2012
One of the reasons I love cozy mysteries so much is because of the rich settings that take me to a different place. Of course, this requires a skilled writer and JoAnn Bassett is most certainly that. Despite living in the southwest, I could feel an ocean breeze while reading this book, it was that well written. I look forward to the next books in the series and highly recommend this one.
April 14, 2016
Cute, but fluffy. Enjoyed it while reading it. Will promptly forget it. Don't have plans to continue the series.
June 5, 2018
I finished it but it was a struggle. Finally, it got me hooked and I raced to the ending.
March 29, 2020
I enjoyed the novel with fond memories of my recent visit to Maui. I enjoyed the characters and the local references. Very light, playful reading.
February 28, 2025
Lets start with what I liked. The story line was fun and amusing and the characters for the most part were likable. I loved the descriptions of the character and Maui.
That being said the story line dragged and while there was nothing wrong with the characters I couldn't feel a connection to them and didn't feel that Oh my I love her/him and have to read more. I probably will give the series another chance it was pleasant and in some places funny but it might not be right away that I read the second in the series.
That being said the story line dragged and while there was nothing wrong with the characters I couldn't feel a connection to them and didn't feel that Oh my I love her/him and have to read more. I probably will give the series another chance it was pleasant and in some places funny but it might not be right away that I read the second in the series.
November 16, 2020
Enjoyable. I will continue reading this series.
April 16, 2020
Pali Moon is not your average literary sleuth: she's a Maui native, a former TSA air marshal, a martial arts student with a black belt, and a wedding planner. Things get interesting when she's asked to plan a wedding for a spoiled rich kid whose fiance happens to have been reported missing at sea ...
(Editing oversights found in the Kindle text: Page 1, I said looking up not expecting / I SAID, looking UP, not expecting ; 2, I said zeroing in on her left hand / I SAID, zeroing in on her left hand ; 3, you're fiance's gone missing / YOUR fiance's gone missing ; 7, Hi Pali. / HI, Pali. ; 7, your vender contact files / your VENDOR contact files (preferred spelling) ; 13, original Charlies's Angels / original CHARLIE'S Angels ; 23, in a less than a week / IN LESS than a week (omit first "a") ;
Page 26, littered with little kid's toys / littered with little KIDS' toys ; 43, Thanks guys / THANKS, guys ; 44, Well if it's okay with you guys / WELL, if it's okay with you guys ; 45, are also a given a position of trust / are ALSO GIVEN a position of trust ; 52, After fives rings / After FIVE rings ; 71, not delve into that subject / not TO delve into that subject ; 80, Hi Kevin / HI, Kevin ; 81, Will Lisa Maria be coming / Will Lisa MARIE be coming ;
Page 86, ten purple orchid lei / ten purple orchid LEIS ; 87, snatching four lei / snatching four LEIS ; 87, It'd be a clear of dereliction of duty / It'd be a clear CASE of dereliction of duty ; 96, Yes we do / YES, we do ; 103, they traced the it back to a karate school / they TRACED IT back to a karate school (omit "the") ; 107, Before another customer comes in let's get / Before another customer comes IN, let's get ;
Page 108, interrupting the Prescott's dinner / interrupting the PRESCOTTS' dinner (plural possessive) ; 109, That didn't exactly jive with the notion / That didn't exactly JIBE with the notion (jibe = agree) ; 115, she's on the clock, Marv" said Tina / she's on the clock, MARV," said Tina (add comma) ; 117, a backward toodle-doo wave / a backward toodle-OO wave ; 119, Hey guys, I'm home / HEY, guys, I'm home ;
Page 119, Well yeah, I've still got / WELL, yeah, I've still got ; 132, This laying around eating fancy food / This LYING around eating fancy food ; 147, picking the tourist's pockets / picking the TOURISTS' pockets ; 148, Hello Ms. Moon / HELLO, Ms. Moon ; 155, well I think you need to rest / WELL, I think you need to rest ; 157, Everything okay Bea? / Everything OKAY, Bea? ; 167, with my plan or not I was / with my plan or NOT, I was ;
Page 175, "Bob, in Hawaiian. / "Bob, in HAWAIIAN." (needs end quote) ; 180, allow me connect the dots / allow me TO connect the dots ; 181, Yeah Pali / YEAH, Pali ; 186, invest in Brad Sander's company / invest in Brad SANDERS'S company ; 186, not one to pour over business plans / not one to PORE over business plans ; 188, by me saying 'pussy' are you / by me saying 'PUSSY,' are you (add comma) ;
Page 191, something folks who come by / something FOR folks who come by ; 192, Me and my wife can handle / MY WIFE AND I can handle ; 196, Driving to the bar my adrenaline kicked in / WHILE driving to the BAR, my adrenaline kicked in ; 208, You're a trooper / You're a TROUPER ; 219, the bridesmaid's black limo / the BRIDESMAIDS'S black limo ; 221, sounds like Darth Vadar / sounds like Darth VADER ;
Page 222, the rest of fifty / the rest of THE fifty ; 228, the answer's still no Ms. Moon / the answer's still NO, Ms. Moon ; 229, I need to tell you to something / I need to tell YOU SOMETHING ; 230, to my business, RRI: which is a damn site bigger / to my business, RRI, WHICH is a damn SIGHT bigger (comma after RRI, not colon) ; 234, keep "Let's Get Maui'd" out / keep 'LET'S Get MAUI'D' out (single quotes, not double) ;
Page 241, She shot me a saccharin smile / She shot me a SACCHARINE smile ; 242, she said pointing to the pile / she SAID, pointing to the pile ; 244, Who'd of ever thought / Who'd HAVE ever thought ; 246, I let Kevin down: in the worst possible way / I let Kevin DOWN, IN the worst possible way (comma, not colon) ; 246, back to her apartment that in the morning / back to her APARTMENT IN the morning ;
Page 250, This is a really good / This IS REALLY good ; 251, Sander's and McGillvary's company / SANDERS'S and McGillvary's company ; 253, going to try and weasel out / going to try TO weasel out ; 261, Don't try and change the subject / Don't try TO change the subject ; 265, want to give him a call. / want to give him a CALL." (add end quote) ; 266, love a party; even a search party / love a PARTY, EVEN a search party (comma not semicolon) ;
Page 267, there's a protocol; a hierarchy / there's a PROTOCOL, A hierarchy (comma not semicolon) ; 270, I got into my car lost in thought / I got into my CAR, LOST in thought ; 271, Maybe they had eye witnesses / Maybe they had EYEWITNESSES ; 272, in full gear; SCBA tank / in full GEAR, SCBA tank (comma not semicolon) ; 279, They swarmed Farrah offering condolences / They swarmed FARRAH, OFFERING condolences ;
Page 284, Hi Josie / HI, Josie ; 285, consider this Pali / consider THIS, Pali ; 286, my porch at sunset; Steve sitting / my porch at SUNSET, STEVE sitting (comma not semicolon) ; 301, My curiosity peaked, I wanted to see / My curiosity PIQUED, I wanted to see ; 318, and Brad and me would be on our honeymoon / and Brad AND I would be on our honeymoon ; 320, And as for you young lady / And as for YOU, young lady ;
Page 321, off of Sanders feet and hands / off of SANDERS'S feet and hands ; 321, the last few sentences; probably alerting / the last few SENTENCES, PROBABLY alerting (comma not semicolon) ; 327, was a martyr: a guy who'd sacrificed / was a MARTYR, A guy who'd sacrificed (comma not colon) .)
(Editing oversights found in the Kindle text: Page 1, I said looking up not expecting / I SAID, looking UP, not expecting ; 2, I said zeroing in on her left hand / I SAID, zeroing in on her left hand ; 3, you're fiance's gone missing / YOUR fiance's gone missing ; 7, Hi Pali. / HI, Pali. ; 7, your vender contact files / your VENDOR contact files (preferred spelling) ; 13, original Charlies's Angels / original CHARLIE'S Angels ; 23, in a less than a week / IN LESS than a week (omit first "a") ;
Page 26, littered with little kid's toys / littered with little KIDS' toys ; 43, Thanks guys / THANKS, guys ; 44, Well if it's okay with you guys / WELL, if it's okay with you guys ; 45, are also a given a position of trust / are ALSO GIVEN a position of trust ; 52, After fives rings / After FIVE rings ; 71, not delve into that subject / not TO delve into that subject ; 80, Hi Kevin / HI, Kevin ; 81, Will Lisa Maria be coming / Will Lisa MARIE be coming ;
Page 86, ten purple orchid lei / ten purple orchid LEIS ; 87, snatching four lei / snatching four LEIS ; 87, It'd be a clear of dereliction of duty / It'd be a clear CASE of dereliction of duty ; 96, Yes we do / YES, we do ; 103, they traced the it back to a karate school / they TRACED IT back to a karate school (omit "the") ; 107, Before another customer comes in let's get / Before another customer comes IN, let's get ;
Page 108, interrupting the Prescott's dinner / interrupting the PRESCOTTS' dinner (plural possessive) ; 109, That didn't exactly jive with the notion / That didn't exactly JIBE with the notion (jibe = agree) ; 115, she's on the clock, Marv" said Tina / she's on the clock, MARV," said Tina (add comma) ; 117, a backward toodle-doo wave / a backward toodle-OO wave ; 119, Hey guys, I'm home / HEY, guys, I'm home ;
Page 119, Well yeah, I've still got / WELL, yeah, I've still got ; 132, This laying around eating fancy food / This LYING around eating fancy food ; 147, picking the tourist's pockets / picking the TOURISTS' pockets ; 148, Hello Ms. Moon / HELLO, Ms. Moon ; 155, well I think you need to rest / WELL, I think you need to rest ; 157, Everything okay Bea? / Everything OKAY, Bea? ; 167, with my plan or not I was / with my plan or NOT, I was ;
Page 175, "Bob, in Hawaiian. / "Bob, in HAWAIIAN." (needs end quote) ; 180, allow me connect the dots / allow me TO connect the dots ; 181, Yeah Pali / YEAH, Pali ; 186, invest in Brad Sander's company / invest in Brad SANDERS'S company ; 186, not one to pour over business plans / not one to PORE over business plans ; 188, by me saying 'pussy' are you / by me saying 'PUSSY,' are you (add comma) ;
Page 191, something folks who come by / something FOR folks who come by ; 192, Me and my wife can handle / MY WIFE AND I can handle ; 196, Driving to the bar my adrenaline kicked in / WHILE driving to the BAR, my adrenaline kicked in ; 208, You're a trooper / You're a TROUPER ; 219, the bridesmaid's black limo / the BRIDESMAIDS'S black limo ; 221, sounds like Darth Vadar / sounds like Darth VADER ;
Page 222, the rest of fifty / the rest of THE fifty ; 228, the answer's still no Ms. Moon / the answer's still NO, Ms. Moon ; 229, I need to tell you to something / I need to tell YOU SOMETHING ; 230, to my business, RRI: which is a damn site bigger / to my business, RRI, WHICH is a damn SIGHT bigger (comma after RRI, not colon) ; 234, keep "Let's Get Maui'd" out / keep 'LET'S Get MAUI'D' out (single quotes, not double) ;
Page 241, She shot me a saccharin smile / She shot me a SACCHARINE smile ; 242, she said pointing to the pile / she SAID, pointing to the pile ; 244, Who'd of ever thought / Who'd HAVE ever thought ; 246, I let Kevin down: in the worst possible way / I let Kevin DOWN, IN the worst possible way (comma, not colon) ; 246, back to her apartment that in the morning / back to her APARTMENT IN the morning ;
Page 250, This is a really good / This IS REALLY good ; 251, Sander's and McGillvary's company / SANDERS'S and McGillvary's company ; 253, going to try and weasel out / going to try TO weasel out ; 261, Don't try and change the subject / Don't try TO change the subject ; 265, want to give him a call. / want to give him a CALL." (add end quote) ; 266, love a party; even a search party / love a PARTY, EVEN a search party (comma not semicolon) ;
Page 267, there's a protocol; a hierarchy / there's a PROTOCOL, A hierarchy (comma not semicolon) ; 270, I got into my car lost in thought / I got into my CAR, LOST in thought ; 271, Maybe they had eye witnesses / Maybe they had EYEWITNESSES ; 272, in full gear; SCBA tank / in full GEAR, SCBA tank (comma not semicolon) ; 279, They swarmed Farrah offering condolences / They swarmed FARRAH, OFFERING condolences ;
Page 284, Hi Josie / HI, Josie ; 285, consider this Pali / consider THIS, Pali ; 286, my porch at sunset; Steve sitting / my porch at SUNSET, STEVE sitting (comma not semicolon) ; 301, My curiosity peaked, I wanted to see / My curiosity PIQUED, I wanted to see ; 318, and Brad and me would be on our honeymoon / and Brad AND I would be on our honeymoon ; 320, And as for you young lady / And as for YOU, young lady ;
Page 321, off of Sanders feet and hands / off of SANDERS'S feet and hands ; 321, the last few sentences; probably alerting / the last few SENTENCES, PROBABLY alerting (comma not semicolon) ; 327, was a martyr: a guy who'd sacrificed / was a MARTYR, A guy who'd sacrificed (comma not colon) .)
August 13, 2017
Quick, fun little read. To be honest, my initial choice to read it was because I love the cover. Alas, it's not my genre so I'm not really a fan. Fun and quirky characters, but the plot wasn't quite believable, and I found myself often wishing Pali could get her head on just a smidge straighter and that we could just get on with the show already.
November 10, 2018
Cute
Story was cute but I struggled with this one. The main issue for me were the character relationships. I’m still unsure of why Steve’s character was there. Second issue for me was story development. It is as if I missed huge chucks of the story and I was left wondering if I skipped pages.
Story was cute but I struggled with this one. The main issue for me were the character relationships. I’m still unsure of why Steve’s character was there. Second issue for me was story development. It is as if I missed huge chucks of the story and I was left wondering if I skipped pages.
January 19, 2015
I love this series taking place in Hawaii. I can envision some of the places as I've been to the island, so that makes them more enjoyable to me. the characters are funny, the stories light hearted and interesting enough to hold my interest.
April 20, 2015
Pali Moon is the proprietor of Let's get Maui'd. She is hired by a young woman (bridezilla) to plan a wedding in just a few days. Pali needs the money so she accepts this job even though the bridegroom is missing. This is a crazy story.
May 11, 2020
Maui
It was a fun and exciting story I've been Maui a few times.
It was fun to remember some of the places, remembering the highways and the road to Hana. A good plot twist at the end.
It was a fun and exciting story I've been Maui a few times.
It was fun to remember some of the places, remembering the highways and the road to Hana. A good plot twist at the end.
April 11, 2025
I love this entire series.
January 26, 2016
Fun mystery set in Hawaii - I'll be reading the rest of her books!
April 13, 2017
Nicely written but silly.
July 16, 2017
Started off with a promising storyline and some well developed characters bit failed to reach its promise
May 9, 2020
Mischief and mayhem on Maui!
Miss Pali Moon runs the “Let’s Get Maui’d” wedding planner shop and an unusually rainy season has put her business in dire straights. So, when a prospective client wants a beach wedding on a Valentine’s Day, Pali accepts, even though that’s only 9 days away! And this client wants it all - grand cuisine, flowers from Africa, couture wedding dress, even the traditional 1000 origami cranes ( which she doesn’t want to make as traditional would have it!). There is one hitch that even Pali can’t fix, Lisa Marie’s fiancé is missing/list at sea! But she insists that his partner and good friend will stand in for him, with power of attorney! I love the vivid pictures of life on Maui, and the action is pretty non-stop. This series is a winner!
Miss Pali Moon runs the “Let’s Get Maui’d” wedding planner shop and an unusually rainy season has put her business in dire straights. So, when a prospective client wants a beach wedding on a Valentine’s Day, Pali accepts, even though that’s only 9 days away! And this client wants it all - grand cuisine, flowers from Africa, couture wedding dress, even the traditional 1000 origami cranes ( which she doesn’t want to make as traditional would have it!). There is one hitch that even Pali can’t fix, Lisa Marie’s fiancé is missing/list at sea! But she insists that his partner and good friend will stand in for him, with power of attorney! I love the vivid pictures of life on Maui, and the action is pretty non-stop. This series is a winner!
June 14, 2017
I guess I need to start writing actual reviews because I can't remember some books shortly after I read them!
I got this book free at some point on Amazon and waited quite some time to read it. I'm glad I finally did. While the story line was a bit unbelievable I found it to be a nice read. The characters were pretty likeable and it was nice to be transported to Hawaii for a bit.
My rating is based on 4 stars being that I would read other books in this series. (This is really to jut help me remember if I want to check into other books by the same author).
I got this book free at some point on Amazon and waited quite some time to read it. I'm glad I finally did. While the story line was a bit unbelievable I found it to be a nice read. The characters were pretty likeable and it was nice to be transported to Hawaii for a bit.
My rating is based on 4 stars being that I would read other books in this series. (This is really to jut help me remember if I want to check into other books by the same author).
October 25, 2019
I have had 3 of the Islands of Aloha Mysteries on my kindle for quite some time, and finally decided to take the plunge. Book 1 was nothing like I had anticipated -- I was thinking a classy, fun, cozy mystery. Instead what I got was a tacky cozy mystery, with several very mean-spirited characters, a fair amount of foul language (gratefully no f-bombs), some inferred sexual conduct, along with other facets that were outside of my personal comfort zone. I really wanted to love this series, but unfortunately it is not for me.
July 28, 2021
I'm much more of a hardboiled than cozy reader, but we've planned three visits to Maui and had to cancel each time (and this was pre-COVID) so I decided to resort to fiction. Much cheaper but you don't get a T-shirt. I stumbled across these looking for books on Hawaiian Pidgin English. Bassett's novel is surprisingly complex with a lot of local color and a good dose of humor. Strong voice and a likable protagonist. She mentions a lot of the various areas of Maui and a map would've been nice. I've already ordered the next two in the series.
January 11, 2024
A bit on the sloggy side, but a good enough read.
Okay, Hawaii makes it a little interesting, and the disciplined approach to martial arts is refreshing. I don't feel I got a good sense of Farrah, or even Pali for that matter -- I feel I know Steve and Hatch better than the two main characters. Lisa Marie is a bit too-too to be believable, but at least the caricature makes her believable as a suspect.
Bassett thanks her copy editor, but I marked down one star for the instances of word misuse.
Okay, Hawaii makes it a little interesting, and the disciplined approach to martial arts is refreshing. I don't feel I got a good sense of Farrah, or even Pali for that matter -- I feel I know Steve and Hatch better than the two main characters. Lisa Marie is a bit too-too to be believable, but at least the caricature makes her believable as a suspect.
Bassett thanks her copy editor, but I marked down one star for the instances of word misuse.
December 31, 2017
Somewhat silly tale about an irritating bride-to be and a Hawaiian marriage coordinator. The original premise was far-fetched, but accepting that, the action does pick up. There's a very disappointing try for romance that remains distracting and then is awkwardly addressed with a single sentence at the end of the book. Too, the bride is so rude and over the top, only fictional writing would have someone put up with. It was entertaining at times, but not worth recommending.
December 28, 2021
I received this free eBook through The Fussy Librarian in exchange for a fair review.
This is one of the most original, creative, and suspenseful murder mysteries I have read this year. I enjoyed the character development, intimate tone of the book, and close relationships and liked reading about the detailed descriptions of the beautiful nature in Maui. The story line had so many twists and turns and had such a surprise ending you don’t see coming.
This is one of the most original, creative, and suspenseful murder mysteries I have read this year. I enjoyed the character development, intimate tone of the book, and close relationships and liked reading about the detailed descriptions of the beautiful nature in Maui. The story line had so many twists and turns and had such a surprise ending you don’t see coming.
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