I'm Kona Love You Forever

Islands of Aloha Mystery #6

by JoAnn Bassett

Maui wedding planner Pali Moon gets stuck with lousy chores all the time: refereeing bridesmaid cat fights, sobering up grooms, and battling Botoxed m-o-t-b's over where the stepmother sits at the rehearsal dinner. But this one beats all. In early January she has to tell a Kona-born bride-to-be she's dead. The fine folks at the Vital Records Office insist the birth certificate the bride's using belongs to a dead baby and they won't issue her a marriage license. The wedding can't go on without a license, so Pali goes to Kona to track down the paperwork. Seriously, how hard can it be to locate a certified birth record issued by the State of Hawaii? Turns out, nearly impossible. But worse, people are dying to keep it hidden.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2014

About the author

JoAnn 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.

Reviews

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Aloha Mystery!

Love these Aloha Mystery series books! Pali Moon, of Let’s Get Maui’ed wedding planners, is always having to soothe bridezillas, solve floral disasters and fix a myriad of other wedding snafus. But this is the first time she ever had to tell the bride she couldn’t get married because she was dead!! Business has been slow, so
Pali volunteers to visit the Big Island (and enjoy a weekend with her beau) and investigate what the problem with the birth certificate is, so this wedding can proceed. But the trail involves hanai adoptions (sort of unofficial adoptions), a hard-to-locate midwife, and then hits a dead end. Can Pali solve this one so the loving couple can be married?

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

David and Lili come to Pali Moon to plan their wedding. But, since neither is 18 yet, Pali needs certified birth certificates or the parents' permission. There's a problem with Lili's birth certificate: the one she's been using all her life belongs to a baby who died four days after being born.

In the course of searching for Lili's birth certificate, Pali encounters a murder, a suicide, baby-switching, and a heartbreaking secret that will permanently affect David and Lili's future. In Pali's own words: "They'd vowed to love each other forever, and I was sure they would. .. Just not in the way they expected."

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I read this without reading previous books in the series, and I probably hit a book that really wasn't one of the better ones. The result of the mystery was very contrived to me, I got tired of the various characters who were part of the wedding planning, and I was lost when it came to the romance between the protagonist and her boyfriend. Also, even though I do enjoy learning about other cultures, the many explanations of Hawaiian culture became a distraction for me, rather than an enhancement. Probably would have been best to start at one of the beginning books. I probably won't read others.

[June · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have like to give a three star but just could not. The storyline was a bit contrived, I really did not like Lili or David and the interaction between Pali and Hatch just seemed stilted (most espcially the suprise Hatch pops on her!!) There seemed to a whole lot more negative vibes then positive.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading #6 and I usually read a series in order but not this time. Ive been to the big Island a few years ago with my wife. But it’s time to see more. I love reading these books. Thanks so much to JoAnn Bassett for writing them. Now for #3!

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the references to Hawaiian history, language and culture. The mystery was okay.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storyline!

Another surprise for Pali's fans. The story has unpredictable twists and turns while throwing in some Hawaiian history. Love the characters and Hawaiian culture.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun cozy set in Hawaii; will read the series. I like the characters.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a cliche trope in this one, but overall it was pretty good.

[Lori Gronewold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the ending of the book

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the book

Entertaining read but had some slow spots. The ending kinds dropped off without tying up the loose ends. Now on to the next book.

[Rhyllis Bignell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Problems in Paradise

Pali's skills are stretched when she helps a young couple determined to wed before they turn eighteen. A simple check of a birth certificate leads down another deadly path. Pali's caring concern for her clients comes at a cost to her personal life. Once again JoAnn's novels are brimful with local knoledge, legends, food and coffee. A delight to read, I am ready for the next instalment.

[Walter Critz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me thoroughly immersed in the accurately described settings in picturesque Maui, and in the interesting characters that are stumped by a mystery that puts a planned wedding in jeopardy. The plot, centered on the mystery that quickly becomes a real head-scratcher grabbed my attention and kept it through to the end!

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

After six books, I'm still invested in following this series. There was one that I didn't care for as much as the others, but would highly recommend the entire series nonetheless. Kudos to the author for very clever titles for the books which was what originally caught my eye. Pali is a realistic, likeable main character trying to make a good life for herself with a great supporting cast (b/f/f, boyfriend, roommate), although I felt she was always overly helpful to total strangers but rather unfeeling with her personal relationships. I was glad that author finally took her in another direction in this book. I really enjoyed the detailed description of the Hawaiian islands, famous "tourist" places as well as local spots, the way of life, history and language - these elements really enhance the stories. I am looking forward to the next book.

[Lloyd G. Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of all the books I've read so far

I particularly like this book book because the first island I ever went to was the big Island of Hawaii and I went back another time it was my favorite island because of the variety of landscape there and it was so much to see from the volcanoes to Hilo with its jungle atmosphere the beautiful orchids all over and the northern part of the island where are to meet with Northern where they were the farms my favorite island although I've loved everyone of them that I've been to and would love to get back again

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know they're kind of silly, and I know they're light reading, but I love these island mysteries. I don't know what Bassett is going to do when she runs out of islands, but I'm happy to know there are at least two more in the series. Pali Moon, wedding planner extraordinaire, find herself caught up in a drama that exceeds even the expected sturm und drang of a teenage wedding. The book takes a dark turn as the mystery works itself out, and I think some of the characters wish they had never started picking at the loose edges of their history.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine

Ok 4 stars because I enjoy the peripheral characters but somehow Pali is being written with less likability and less intelligence. Her relationships with the niece was great and that character could have done a lot for the story yet we never see her again and the underage bride-- no one would put up with that behavior nor would a professional assist in a marriage knowing parental consent was forged. On second thought 3 stars

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit I did not like this book as much as the previous Pali Moon novels. There was too much jumble. The premise of Hatch proposing to Pali and the resulting ordeal was unreal. S much so that the "happily ever after" was ridiculous. The premise of Lili and David was also ridiculous. The reader is lead down a path then the path ends. Was not the page turner of previous novels.

[Laurie Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve come to expect good, clean fun from this author and once again she did not disappoint. I enjoyed my virtual trip to the Big Island, getting to know Pali better, as well as the conflict between her and Hatch that was a compelling as the central mystery itself. Looking forward to the next book!

[Debbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindless easy reading. A pretty good detective story on the island of Maui and the big island. I like this series as it isn't too silly, moves around areas I know in Hawaii and doesn't require too much concentration to sink into the book and enjoy.

[Mahree Moyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Bassett’s stories. They bring back memories of my time in Hawaii. Good memories, not my bad. Sometimes slow, but she keeps you reading. I try to put more pep in the characters, but they are likable. I will continue to read her stories.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Another great . Enjoyed every line in this book great storybook line always wanted to go to Hawaii feel like I've been to another of the islands. Looking forward to the next trip with Pali.

[Tula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in one of my favorite series!! I hope this author keeps them coming!! While I'm sad when I finish one book, I'm excited to start the next one!!

[Diane Tosney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy Pali's as adventures. Although she is a wedding planner by trade, she usually ends up in some mess, and ends up as more of a P.I. I really like this series.

[Kathryn Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

#6 in the Islands of Aloha mysteries.
Pali has an underage bride who needs a birth certificate to get married and its says she's dead. Died at birth.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good characters and interesting setting. The Hawaiian culture lectures are a little overdone.

[Janice Fahrney-rudeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet

Love these but getting tired of Pali being really dense. I want to shake her, and every bride she gets involved with!!

[kc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, I got to spend more time with Pali Moon on Maui!

[Wendy Britton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun as usual. A bit short!

[Little Red Readinghood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. lots of new and interesting info about Hawaii