Title: Haunted in Hawaii
Author: Veronica Wilde
Published in April 2007 by Star Dust Press
Genre: Paranormal
ISBN: Pending
Other books: A Much Younger Man, Halloween Hearts, Hunk of Burnin’ Love, Second Time Around
Hawaii…culturally rich, breathtaking natural landscapes permeated by smells of ginger, sandalwood, orchids, and fruity mangos. For a perfumer the sites and smells are an aphrodisiac. For a native islander they are a link to his family’s past.
A freelance perfumer, Jessica Halston arrives in Honolulu, Oahu for a business vacation. She wants to gather the unique scents of the island’s flora and fauna. If she is lucky, Jessica may experience a hot fling with a beach hunk, adding to her catalog of lusty memories. She comes a long way from those days as a foster child, then a perfume apprentice, and finally starting her own lab where she makes fragrances to her personal preferences. Like with Parvana Cosmetics, she sometimes takes on projects for other perfume companies to broaden her expertise. She welcomes her boss, the lecherous Casanova, Travis Ferguson’s want for golfing and snorkeling as Jessica intends to take advantage of their gracious and knowledgeable tour guide.
Glen, an islander transplant from the U.S. mainland, encourages her to make an offering to the God, Madame Pele; no one on the island dares take from her without first gifting her with flowers, gin and cigarettes. It’s rumored that bad things happen to those so ill-mannered, like so many “haole” – arrogant foreigners. Travis, maintaining his stateside egotism, offends the tour guide leaving them no one to show them around. To Jessica’s surprise, he calls a friend, frat buddy from his college days, who refers him to a local university professor of Anthropology. Upon seeing their new tour guide, Jessica’s hormones hitch to high levels, seeing only an island sea god complete with long black hair as sand shimmers on his well-defined muscles.
Dr. Jet Atwood never cared for Travis Ferguson during their college days. With his cock-of-the-walk attitude, the man would blow off classes only to later copy off Jet’s papers. From his impression today, that hasn’t changed much. He originally came to Hawaii, home of his ancestors, to complete his graduate studies but then never left. Jet really doesn’t have time for giving sightseers a tour of Oahu. While still teaching classes at the university, he is quite busy writing that book on kahunas’ mysticism, a distinctive Hawaiian spirituality so documenting that information may rejuvenate the magical religion. More importantly, understanding and worshiping his ancestry, or “aumakua”, is the soul that guides him. Even though Jessica as no knowledge of her people Jet feels, she should honor the islander’s beliefs. With his mounting attraction, her acceptance of his culture ensures them a physical bonding that even Madame Pele would bless.
Haunted in Hawaii is a delightful mix of cultural traditions and exotic romance. Jet throughout the story reveals tidbits of Hawaiian legend that people today have long forgotten…or so the reader initially believes. However, this reader quickly picks up that Jessica’s nightly horrors begin after Travis presents her with a little tiki souvenir, from the museum Jet recommended. Ominous drumbeats, fierce ethereal warriors, angry spirits, and otherworld entities torment her with clandestine appearances during the day as well as in her sleep. Jessica tells no one about her tormenters, but starts questioning Jet more about the island’s beliefs and practices. She learns the warriors, called Night Marchers, stalk throughout Hawaii looking for criminals; reenacting their tasks during the reign of monarchies. Its when a legendary “choking ghost” pays her a visit does Jessica begin to believe, at least more than before, that magic or sorcery is still alive on the island. She wonders though, what she did to anger them in the first place?
Ms. Wilde’s story portrays genuine though hardy and appealing characters. Travis is a man the reader will quickly loathe, cringing when he takes liberties with Jessica on the plane; feeling her up as she sleeps. His snubbing of island lore clearly disrespects many who take the wisdom seriously, though definitely angers the Gods, spirits and other entities. Jellyfish stings while walking along the beach, unprovoked bites from centipedes, and a mysterious stomach ailment that lands him a hospital stay. Yep, he really ticked off the Gods! Anyhow, Jet and Jessica’s blossoming relationship makes the reader wiggle with glee and arousal. Invited to a luau, the couple enjoys an intimate interlude on the beach, initiated by Jessica, of course. Their union is whetted, heated by lusty need that is almost primal, and then watching the sunrise over the ocean. Oh so romantic. In their next coupling, Jet helps Jessica discover the unique fragrance that identifies Hawaii. His tactics are erotic. Stripped naked and blind folded, he tantalizing her with distinctive flavors, textures, and smells only found on the island. The man is quite efficient, satisfying her professionally and personally.
A Star Dust Press publication, Haunted in Hawaii continues with its mystical suspense as Jessica’s ghostly tormentors escalate their assault. However, another entity, though more human, has romantic designs on Jet too, vehemently resenting Jessica’s intrusion. Through island magic, a novice kahuna commands a spiritual art believed long dead that now roams free… and wild. Ms. Wilde’s other Star Dust books include: Halloween Hearts and Second Time Around. Additional published works comprise of A Much Younger Man and Hunk of Burnin’ Love. Coming soon this fall is The Witching Moon, Hollywood Ghosts, and then Erotics Anonymous in 2008. Ms. Wilde has plenty of written entertainment coming down the pike…so don’t miss a thing from this engaging author.
A Dedicated Reader,
Pamela Jenewein
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