"A taut and emotional story, The Shark House sweeps you into a gripping mystery beneath the ocean's surface, where one woman's search for answers uncovers long-buried secrets and a reckoning years in the making. Perfect for fans of Lessons In Chemistry and Once There Were Wolves.
1998. The Kohala coast has seen a series of shark attacks in less than a week, setting the island community on edge. Biologist and shark whisperer Minnow Gray arrives on the scene to better understand what may have provoked the attacks, and if the same great white shark is still haunting the area. But as she descends into the blue Hawaiian depths, she soon learns there is far more going on than meets the eye.
Witness to an unspeakable tragedy involving a white shark and her own father, Minnow has her own dark past to contend with. She knows deep inside that unlocking the memory of that long ago morning will be the only way to set her life back on track. And the longer she's in Hawai'i, the more she comes to see that her journey here might be as much about finding herself as finding the shark.
An atmospheric exploration of the intricate dance between humans and sharks, set against a backdrop of stunning Hawaiian landscapes and deep-sea danger. It's a tale of resilience, redemption, and the raw power of the natural world. Dive in, if you dare."
"A Zibby's Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025!
From USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman comes a spellbinding dual-timeline novel set at Honolulu's iconic Moana Hotel, where a real-life mysterious death in 1905 collides with a writer's search for the truth one hundred years later. For fans of Ariel Lawhon and Fiona Davis.
1905 As the mother of a university and a woman with an iron will, Jane Stanford has made her share of enemies. After a scare at her mansion in San Francisco and on the advice of her doctor, she flees to Honolulu and the fashionable new Moana hotel. But as fate would have it, the island is not as safe as it seems.
2005 Zoe Finch is a bestselling author who desperately needs a jump start on her next novel, and she makes a split decision to attend a writers' conference at the Moana under an assumed name. As a storm brews offshore, she begins having nightmares that feel hauntingly real. Terrified, Zoe enlists the help of mystery writer Dylan Winters and, over the course of the week, races to uncover the shocking truth of what happened in the hotel one hundred years ago almost to the day.
1905 'Iliahi Baldwin's life changes the moment she lands a job at the Moana. Newly hired and reeling from a tragic loss, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the formidable Jane Stanford upon her arrival, which leaves young 'Ili devastated when the unthinkable happens. 'Ili knows things, but there are powerful people who need the truth to remain hidden, and to cross them could prove disastrous.
Inspired by the incredible true story of one of America's most mysterious deaths, this is an unforgettable tale of betrayal and secrets that still echoes through the years.
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lieutenant's Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
"A dazzling romance by USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Ackerman.
They say opposites attract, but are they meant to last?
'Iwa Young's life is high in the Maui rainforest. As a field biologist, she's happiest in the company of trees and birds and waterfalls. When a developer arrives with plans for a so-called eco resort in the middle of a forest full of endangered species, 'Iwa puts all her energy into the fight to protect it. But a chance encounter threatens to distract her. His name is Dane Parsons, a big-wave surfer from California. 'Iwa has a few unbreakable rules, and at the top of her list: never date a surfer.
Dane is part of an underground group of big-wave riders, and his connection to the ocean runs deep. When he meets 'Iwa, he can't get her out of his mind. But 'Iwa wants nothing to do with Dane until he offers to help protect her beloved forest and waterfall. Always on the hunt for the ultimate ride, Dane suddenly glimpses something even greater.
In this thunderous love story, we travel deep into the Maui rainforest and hop across the globe from Hawai'i to California to Portugal, chasing waves the size of nine-story buildings-where the unthinkable is always just one breath away.
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Unchartered Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lietenant's Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
"An exciting page-turner about a fearless female aviator competing in a death-defying race across the Pacific. Brilliantly told… My favorite read this year!" -Andie Newton, USA TODAY bestselling author of A Child for the Reich
This extraordinary novel, inspired by real events, tells the story of a female aviator who defies the odds to embark on a daring air race across the Pacific.
1927. Olivia "Livy" West is a fearless young pilot with a love of adventure. She yearns to cross oceans and travel the skies. When she learns of the Dole Air Race-a high-stakes contest to be the first to make the 2,400 mile Pacific crossing from the West Coast to Hawai'i-she sets her sights on qualifying. But it soon becomes clear that only men will make the cut. In a last-ditch effort to take part, Livy manages to be picked as a navigator for one of the pilots, before setting out on a harrowing journey that some will not survive.
1987. Wren Summers is down to her last dime when she learns she has inherited a remote piece of land on the Big Island with nothing on it but a dilapidated barn and an overgrown mac nut grove. She plans on selling it and using the money to live on, but she is drawn in by the mysterious objects kept in the barn by her late great-uncle-clues to a tragic piece of aviation history lost to time. Determined to find out what really happened all those years ago, Wren enlists the help of residents at a nearby retirement home to uncover Olivia's story piece by piece. What she discovers is more earth-shattering, and closer to home, than she could have ever imagined.
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lietenant's Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
""Sara Ackerman never disappoints!" -Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
"Brilliantly written with a mystery that will keep you reading late into the night. . . . A fabulous read that makes me want to drop everything and travel to Hawaii!" -Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London
A brilliant female codebreaker. An "unbreakable" Japanese naval code. A pilot on a top-secret mission that could change the course of WWII. The Codebreaker's Secret is a dazzling story of love and intrigue set during America's darkest hour.
1943. As war in the Pacific rages on, Isabel Cooper and her codebreaker colleagues huddle in "the dungeon" at Station HYPO in Pearl Harbor, deciphering secrets plucked from the airwaves in a race to bring down the enemy. Isabel has only one wish: to avenge her brother's death. But she soon finds life has other plans when she meets his best friend, a hotshot pilot with secrets of his own.
1965. Fledgling journalist Lu Freitas comes home to Hawai'i to cover the grand opening of the glamorous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Rockefeller's newest and grandest project. When a high-profile guest goes missing, Lu forms an unlikely alliance with an intimidating veteran photographer to unravel the mystery. The two make a shocking discovery that stirs up memories and uncovers an explosive secret from the war days. A secret that only a codebreaker can crack.
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Unchartered Flight of Olivia West
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lietenant's Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
""A fresh, delightful romp of a novel."-Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
* SheReads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction of Summer 2021 pick * Book Reporter Summer Reading pick * BiblioLifestyle Most Anticipated Summer 2021 Historical Fiction Books selection * Greatist Best Historical Fiction Books pick *
An extraordinary story inspired by the real Women's Air Raid Defense, where an unlikely recruit and her sisters-in-arms forge their place in WWII history.
Daisy Wilder prefers the company of horses to people, bare feet and salt water to high heels and society parties. Then, in the dizzying aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Daisy enlists in a top secret program, replacing male soldiers in a war zone for the first time.
Under fear of imminent invasion, the WARDs guide pilots into blacked-out airstrips and track unidentified planes across Pacific skies.
But not everyone thinks the women are up to the job, and the new recruits must rise above their differences and work side by side despite the resistance and heartache they meet along the way.
With America's future on the line, Daisy is determined to prove herself worthy. And with the man she's falling for out on the front lines, she cannot fail.
From radar towers on remote mountaintops to flooded bomb shelters, she'll need her new team when the stakes are highest. Because the most important battles are fought-and won-together.
This inspiring and uplifting tale of pioneering, unsung heroines vividly transports the reader to wartime Hawaii, where one woman's call to duty leads her to find courage, strength and sisterhood.
"A wow of a book…[that is] a captivating story of friendship, heartbreak and true love. Highly recommend!" -Karen Robards, New York Times bestselling author of The Black Swan of Paris
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Unchartered Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lietenant's Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
"Inspired by real places and events of WWII, Red Sky Over Hawaii immerses the reader in a time of American history full of suspicion and peril in this lush and poignant tale about the indisputable power of doing the right thing against all odds.
The attack on Pearl Harbor changes everything for Lana Hitchcock. Arriving home on the Big Island too late to reconcile with her estranged father, she is left alone to untangle the clues of his legacy, which lead to a secret property tucked away in the remote rain forest of Kilauea volcano. When the government starts taking away her neighbors as suspected sympathizers, Lana shelters two young German girls, a Japanese fisherman and his son. As tensions escalate, they are forced into hiding-only to discover the hideaway house is not what they expected.
When a detainment camp is established nearby, Lana struggles to keep the secrets of those in her care. Trust could have dangerous consequences. As their lives weave together, Lana begins to understand the true meaning of family and how the bonds of love carry us through the worst times.
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Unchartered Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Radar Girls
- The Lietenant's Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
"A USA TODAY BESTSELLER
"An emotional and heartfelt tale of love and courage." -Chanel Cleeton, bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana
November, 1941. She's never even seen the ocean before, but Eva Cassidy has her reasons for making the crossing to Hawaii, and they run a lot deeper than escaping a harsh Michigan winter. Newly enlisted as an Army Corps nurse, Eva is stunned by the splendor she experiences aboard the steamship SS Lurline; even more so by Lt. Clark Spencer, a man she is drawn to but who clearly has secrets of his own. But Eva's past-and the future she's trying to create-means that she's not free to follow her heart. Clark is a navy intelligence officer, and he warns her that the United States won't be able to hold off joining the war for long, but nothing can prepare them for the surprise attack that will change the world they know.
In the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Eva and her fellow nurses band together for the immense duty of keeping the American wounded alive. And the danger that finds Eva threatens everything she holds dear. Amid the chaos and heartbreak, Eva will have to decide whom to trust and how far she will go to protect those she loves.
Set in the vibrant tropical surroundings of the Pacific, The Lieutenant's Nurse is an evocative, emotional WWII story of love, friendship and the resilient spirit of the heroic nurses of Pearl Harbor.
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Unchartered Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers"
""A close-up look at how wartime chaos affects a tight-knit group of women living on Hawaii in 1944 at the height of Pacific combat.... [Violet's] journey overcoming her trials and grief through friendship, family, and romance is a story of strength and perseverance."-Booklist
Violet Iverson and her young daughter, Ella, are piecing their lives together after the disappearance of her husband. As rumors swirl and questions about his loyalties surface, Violet believes Ella knows something. But Ella is stubbornly silent. Something-or someone-has scared her.
With the island overrun by troops training for a secret mission, tension and suspicion between neighbors is rising. To get through the difficult days, Violet bands together with her close friends and they open a pie stand near the military base, offering the soldiers a little homemade comfort.
Try as she might, Violet can't ignore her attraction to the brash marine who comes to her aid when the women are accused of spying. Desperate to discover the truth behind what happened to her husband, while keeping her friends and daughter safe, Violet is torn by guilt, fear and longing as she faces losing everything. Again.
Don't miss THE GUEST IN ROOM 120, Sara Ackerman's enthralling new novel with dual-timelines intertwining a 1905 mystery surrounding Jane Stanford's mysterious death in Honolulu and a 2005 writer's quest to uncover the truth at the same historic hotel...
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Unchartered Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker's Secret
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lietenant's Nurse
"A bittersweet story of cinematic proportions."-BookPage"
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