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Pacific Horizons #2
Leaving Lana'i
Second in the USA-Today and Kindle Top-20 bestselling PACIFIC HORIZONS series!
In these interconnected romantic novels, characters facing tragedy, heartbreak, and painful family secrets are drawn to the wild beauty of the natural world. Breaching whales and howling wolves refresh their spirits, but only human love can heal their souls.
One horrible night fifteen years ago, a little girl named Maddie was taken away from the island paradise she treasured, the townspeople she loved, and the playmate who shared her soul.Now, she’s coming back to them.
Maddie was only a child in those idyllic, carefree days when she and her best friend Kai swam in the ocean, fished, hiked, and stargazed on the tropical island of Lana'i. At twenty-five, she realizes that her memories of those elementary-school days may have been romanticized, given that the months following her mother’s sudden death and her own unwilling departure from Lana'i were the worst of her life. But she has never given up her dream of returning to the people she cared about. Not when warm images of the boy Kai’s face continue to haunt her mind.
Having contrived to do post-doctoral research studying feral cats on the neighboring island of Maui, bold-from-birth Madalyn Westover isn’t afraid to show up out of nowhere and say hello. Nor is she afraid to track down Kai, despite several nebulous warnings about how much he has changed. But when she realizes that every man, woman and child in Lana'i City seems to have mysterious knowledge about her own family which she does not, Maddie doesn’t feel so brave anymore. And when reality crashes into fantasy full force, she must decide in whom and what she can trust to find her own true home.
Praise for romantic fiction by Edie
LONG TIME COMING
“Emotionally gripping, suspenseful and superb… I was held in wonderment over much of this story and realized early on to expect the unexpected. This is a story of trust, love, friendship and healing. Ms. Claire is an author I hope to see more of in the future. If Long Time Coming is any indication of her writing talent, I will be first in line at the bookstores to get more of her work. This is a positively splendid tale from start to finish and is highly recommended.” Reviewer’s Choice Award -- Road to Romance
“Two words. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Edie Claire has written a wonderful novel about friendship, love, guilt and death… Utterly riveting.” 10/10 -- Contemporary Romance Writers
MEANT TO BE
“One of the best books I have read this year... An element of suspense runs through the pages, and the endearing tale builds to a crescendo of excitement and thrill while warming the heart. Meant To Be is a powerful story of love, healing, discovery and truth... I closed the covers wishing I could stay inside the green world of Meara and Fletcher's mountain. Ms. Claire has woven a tale that touched my soul and will live as a cherished keeper to read again and again. I am pleased to award Meant To Be our finest honor, RRT's Perfect 10.” Perfect 10 Award -- Romance Reviews Today
“Meant to be written, read and remembered in your heart decades after you've turned the last page. Edie Claire is an exceptional author and keeper of the heart.” -- Writers Room Magazine
“A paragon of superbly written, compelling women's literature.” -- My Shelf
In these interconnected romantic novels, characters facing tragedy, heartbreak, and painful family secrets are drawn to the wild beauty of the natural world. Breaching whales and howling wolves refresh their spirits, but only human love can heal their souls.
One horrible night fifteen years ago, a little girl named Maddie was taken away from the island paradise she treasured, the townspeople she loved, and the playmate who shared her soul.Now, she’s coming back to them.
Maddie was only a child in those idyllic, carefree days when she and her best friend Kai swam in the ocean, fished, hiked, and stargazed on the tropical island of Lana'i. At twenty-five, she realizes that her memories of those elementary-school days may have been romanticized, given that the months following her mother’s sudden death and her own unwilling departure from Lana'i were the worst of her life. But she has never given up her dream of returning to the people she cared about. Not when warm images of the boy Kai’s face continue to haunt her mind.
Having contrived to do post-doctoral research studying feral cats on the neighboring island of Maui, bold-from-birth Madalyn Westover isn’t afraid to show up out of nowhere and say hello. Nor is she afraid to track down Kai, despite several nebulous warnings about how much he has changed. But when she realizes that every man, woman and child in Lana'i City seems to have mysterious knowledge about her own family which she does not, Maddie doesn’t feel so brave anymore. And when reality crashes into fantasy full force, she must decide in whom and what she can trust to find her own true home.
Praise for romantic fiction by Edie
LONG TIME COMING
“Emotionally gripping, suspenseful and superb… I was held in wonderment over much of this story and realized early on to expect the unexpected. This is a story of trust, love, friendship and healing. Ms. Claire is an author I hope to see more of in the future. If Long Time Coming is any indication of her writing talent, I will be first in line at the bookstores to get more of her work. This is a positively splendid tale from start to finish and is highly recommended.” Reviewer’s Choice Award -- Road to Romance
“Two words. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Edie Claire has written a wonderful novel about friendship, love, guilt and death… Utterly riveting.” 10/10 -- Contemporary Romance Writers
MEANT TO BE
“One of the best books I have read this year... An element of suspense runs through the pages, and the endearing tale builds to a crescendo of excitement and thrill while warming the heart. Meant To Be is a powerful story of love, healing, discovery and truth... I closed the covers wishing I could stay inside the green world of Meara and Fletcher's mountain. Ms. Claire has woven a tale that touched my soul and will live as a cherished keeper to read again and again. I am pleased to award Meant To Be our finest honor, RRT's Perfect 10.” Perfect 10 Award -- Romance Reviews Today
“Meant to be written, read and remembered in your heart decades after you've turned the last page. Edie Claire is an exceptional author and keeper of the heart.” -- Writers Room Magazine
“A paragon of superbly written, compelling women's literature.” -- My Shelf
- GenresRomance
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2015
190 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Edie Claire
41 books278 followersNo matter the genre, USA-Today bestselling novelist and playwright Edie Claire strives to infuse all her writing with both warmth and humor. Her family-friendly Leigh Koslow cozy mystery series, a favorite of animal lovers that was originally published in 1999, was reborn in 2012 to become a Kindle Top-10 bestseller. Her romantic novels range from women’s fiction with romantic elements to a blend of romance and mystery, beginning with her traditionally published contemporaries, the award-winning Long Time Coming and Meant To Be, and continuing with her USA-Today bestselling Pacific Horizons series, whose characters follow the migration of the humpback whales to some of the most gorgeous locations on earth. In any Edie Claire work, the reader may be assured that while intrigue may beckon and tensions rise, love and happiness will always triumph in the end!
Edie has worked as a veterinarian, a childbirth educator, and a scientific/technical writer. A mother of three, she lives in Pennsylvania and aspires to become a snowbird.
Edie has worked as a veterinarian, a childbirth educator, and a scientific/technical writer. A mother of three, she lives in Pennsylvania and aspires to become a snowbird.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 16, 2024
I REALLY love this series. The author immediately pulls me into the setting and makes me feel like I’m part of the family. We are in Kahului on Saturday and I’ll be watching out for Kai and Maddie!
This book’s focus is that the truth can be traumatizing when a lie of omission is revealed.
I loved that Ben and Hayley Parker from book one made an appearance in book two! Although this can stand alone, it’s nice to check in and see how the characters are doing!
Twenty-five-year-old Madalyn ‘Tomato-Chan’ Westover is excited to have the opportunity to get back to Lana’i. After finishing her PhD in Ecology, she found a way to return to her happy place by applying for a post-doctoral fellowship through the University of Hawaii on Maui. Maddie had moved to Lana’i with her family when she was 6 years old and left five years later. She never had the chance to say goodbye to anyone because in her father’s wisdom and attempt to navigate a potentially traumatic situation, he tells her a lie of omission. Maddie has fond memories of her ‘found family’ and best friends and can’t wait to reconnect.
Kai ‘the crusader’ Nakama fondly remembers his best friend who just disappeared one day when she was 10 years old. He moved on with his life, left the islands, got his degree in law, but has returned to do an internship in Maui with a nonprofit environmental group. He’s shocked when Maddie walks into his office in Kahului.
Kai is such a gentle soul. I loved reading about how he creates an atmosphere of trust and broaches potential opportunities to deliver the truth in a gentle way. I was cheering these two broken souls and hoping that they found their way to healing….together.
The author’s exploration of this 141 sq. mile island is rich with description and she makes readers feel like they are on this small-town pineapple plantation island. She explains the Hawaiian Pidgin, the different religions on the island and how they all get along, the family dynamics of small-town life, and how the past influences our present. You’ll love Caliso Jangcan (Nana) and be tempted to try Spam-ghetti!
I didn’t think I’d love another book in this series as much as book 1, but this one rivals it!
This book’s focus is that the truth can be traumatizing when a lie of omission is revealed.
I loved that Ben and Hayley Parker from book one made an appearance in book two! Although this can stand alone, it’s nice to check in and see how the characters are doing!
Twenty-five-year-old Madalyn ‘Tomato-Chan’ Westover is excited to have the opportunity to get back to Lana’i. After finishing her PhD in Ecology, she found a way to return to her happy place by applying for a post-doctoral fellowship through the University of Hawaii on Maui. Maddie had moved to Lana’i with her family when she was 6 years old and left five years later. She never had the chance to say goodbye to anyone because in her father’s wisdom and attempt to navigate a potentially traumatic situation, he tells her a lie of omission. Maddie has fond memories of her ‘found family’ and best friends and can’t wait to reconnect.
Kai ‘the crusader’ Nakama fondly remembers his best friend who just disappeared one day when she was 10 years old. He moved on with his life, left the islands, got his degree in law, but has returned to do an internship in Maui with a nonprofit environmental group. He’s shocked when Maddie walks into his office in Kahului.
Kai is such a gentle soul. I loved reading about how he creates an atmosphere of trust and broaches potential opportunities to deliver the truth in a gentle way. I was cheering these two broken souls and hoping that they found their way to healing….together.
The author’s exploration of this 141 sq. mile island is rich with description and she makes readers feel like they are on this small-town pineapple plantation island. She explains the Hawaiian Pidgin, the different religions on the island and how they all get along, the family dynamics of small-town life, and how the past influences our present. You’ll love Caliso Jangcan (Nana) and be tempted to try Spam-ghetti!
I didn’t think I’d love another book in this series as much as book 1, but this one rivals it!
April 27, 2024
“People think lies protect, but they always end up hurting, in the end.”
I REALLY love this series. The author immediately pulls me into the setting and makes me feel like I’m part of the family. We are in Kahului on Saturday and I’ll be watching out for Kai and Maddie!
This book’s focus is that the truth can be traumatizing when a lie of omission is revealed.
I loved that Ben and Hayley Parker from book one made an appearance in book two! Although this can stand alone, it’s nice to check in and see how the characters are doing!
Twenty-five-year-old Madalyn ‘Tomato-Chan’ Westover is excited to have the opportunity to get back to Lana’i. After finishing her PhD in Ecology, she found a way to return to her happy place by applying for a post-doctoral fellowship through the University of Hawaii on Maui. Maddie had moved to Lana’i with her family when she was 6 years old and left five years later. She never had the chance to say goodbye to anyone because in her father’s wisdom and attempt to navigate a potentially traumatic situation, he tells her a lie of omission. Maddie has fond memories of her ‘found family’ and best friends and can’t wait to reconnect.
Kai ‘the crusader’ Nakama fondly remembers his best friend who just disappeared one day when she was 10 years old. He moved on with his life, left the islands, got his degree in law, but has returned to do an internship in Maui with a nonprofit environmental group. He’s shocked when Maddie walks into his office in Kahului.
Kai is such a gentle soul. I loved reading about how he creates an atmosphere of trust and broaches potential opportunities to deliver the truth in a gentle way. I was cheering these two broken souls and hoping that they found their way to healing….together.
The author’s exploration of this 141 sq. mile island is rich with description and she makes readers feel like they are on this small-town pineapple plantation island. She explains the Hawaiian Pidgin, the different religions on the island and how they all get along, the family dynamics of small-town life, and how the past influences our present. You’ll love Caliso Jangcan (Nana) and be tempted to try Spam-ghetti!
I didn’t think I’d love another book in this series as much as book 1, but this one rivals it!
April 30, 2019
I loved the glimpses of Haley and Ben from Alaskan Dawn, but you don't need to have read Alaskan Dawn to read this book. (But really, read Alaskan Dawn because it is good!)
The main characters in Leaving Lana'i were childhood friends and then separated for fifteen years. Each comes back together not knowing what to expect. They resume their friendship and easy companionship but both have things they are holding back. As those things come into the open they realize they are still great together.
Without revealing spoilers, the book deals with separate childhood traumas and the way each dealt with it over the years.
The main characters in Leaving Lana'i were childhood friends and then separated for fifteen years. Each comes back together not knowing what to expect. They resume their friendship and easy companionship but both have things they are holding back. As those things come into the open they realize they are still great together.
Without revealing spoilers, the book deals with separate childhood traumas and the way each dealt with it over the years.
August 30, 2021
Truths Will Be Known
Maddie and Kai had a lifetime to be together or did they? When they were younger they were the best of friends playing together forever and it didn't matter to either of them that one was a girl and the other was a boy. They had so much fun until that one fateful day that Maddie was whisked away. Her Dad took her to the mainland to stay with her grandparents who lived in Ohio. She wrote a letter to Kai but he never answered her. She swore to herself that she would see him again someday!
Maddie and Kai had a lifetime to be together or did they? When they were younger they were the best of friends playing together forever and it didn't matter to either of them that one was a girl and the other was a boy. They had so much fun until that one fateful day that Maddie was whisked away. Her Dad took her to the mainland to stay with her grandparents who lived in Ohio. She wrote a letter to Kai but he never answered her. She swore to herself that she would see him again someday!
May 18, 2021
Forever friends
Is it okay to fall in love with fictional characters? First Ben and Haley and now Kai, Maddie, Nana and all the island people I met (except the creepy guys hitting on Maddie)! This is a beautifully written story that brings up childhood fun and beliefs and eases you in to the trauma you've escaped, or thought you had. I can't wait to move on to Maui!
Is it okay to fall in love with fictional characters? First Ben and Haley and now Kai, Maddie, Nana and all the island people I met (except the creepy guys hitting on Maddie)! This is a beautifully written story that brings up childhood fun and beliefs and eases you in to the trauma you've escaped, or thought you had. I can't wait to move on to Maui!
March 2, 2019
Disappointed
I really enjoy the first book, Alaskan Dawn, and thought the story would continue with Ben and Haley but they were only mentioned in the second book. The second book was okay but not as good as the first.
I really enjoy the first book, Alaskan Dawn, and thought the story would continue with Ben and Haley but they were only mentioned in the second book. The second book was okay but not as good as the first.
September 9, 2019
mysterious and lovely
I couldn’t stop reading this book, had to know what happened! I also love Hawaii and since I’m not living there right now this helps my spirit dream of being there!
I couldn’t stop reading this book, had to know what happened! I also love Hawaii and since I’m not living there right now this helps my spirit dream of being there!
August 28, 2018
See my review of Maui Winds. Love this book and series.
April 24, 2021
A nice story.
July 22, 2021
Pretty good
October 5, 2025
I enjoyed the story line of two friends reunited and the tragedy that separated them. Grateful they had the desire to reunite, forgive, and let go of the past.
November 16, 2015
What an interesting story. This book was quite different in that our heroine, Maddie had an usual problem to deal with and also a very tragic past that was a bit of a mystery. This is a story on an emotional and mental level. If you are looking for a lot of action or tons of drama, this is not it. But if you like an in depth look at what has made someone the way they are and most of it, not of their own doing, this is intriguing. How this is handled and how all the characters deal with the past is what makes this story so gripping.
The family dynamics present are charming and realistic. The town life we are immersed in is based on its smallness and being a tourist town, also charming. All the characters are very well created and I felt felt I knew them.
We have two very attractive, likable main characters. We also have absolutely gorgeous descriptions of the island of Lana'i. Edie excels in bringing the scenes to life. The reader feels like they are there.
I am looking forward to reading more about Maddie and Kai and Ben and Haley.
Edie writes flawlessly and this story has an excellent pace from the start. Her well crafted characters are brought to life.
The family dynamics present are charming and realistic. The town life we are immersed in is based on its smallness and being a tourist town, also charming. All the characters are very well created and I felt felt I knew them.
We have two very attractive, likable main characters. We also have absolutely gorgeous descriptions of the island of Lana'i. Edie excels in bringing the scenes to life. The reader feels like they are there.
I am looking forward to reading more about Maddie and Kai and Ben and Haley.
Edie writes flawlessly and this story has an excellent pace from the start. Her well crafted characters are brought to life.
March 9, 2016
As with every other EC book that I've read (which is most of them), beautifully written in a breathtaking world with a happy ending for wonderfully well-developed, complex characters. Loved it!
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June 29, 2018Things work out a little too easily.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews