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When she finds out his name is Avery Bell, she’s dumbstruck. She believes she’s meant to love someone named Avery. It all goes back to a message in a bottle she found when she was nine, a letter written by a soldier called Avery to his sweetheart named Emma. He’d written it in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack during World War II. Since then, Emma has been searching (and saving her virginity) for her own Avery.
But Avery Bell is as mysterious as he is irresistible. Emma learns about his family secrets and bitterness. In the course of this vacation, an accident and a tragic death will shake both of them to the core. Her singular faith in him—her unwavering belief in love and destiny—proves to be his saving grace.
Finder Keeper of My Heart:
10 Fun Facts about Hawaii’s Big Island
By Vina Arno
Does the name Big Island sound familiar? It’s been in the news because of the volcanic eruption there. My contemporary, new adult romance novel, Finder Keeper of My Heart, begins and ends on the Big Island in Hawaii.
I’m very lucky to have spent many vacations there when the Kilauea Volcano was calm. In many ways, Finder Keeper is my love letter to the island and its people. I’d like to share 10 fun facts about the island that you’ll find in my novel.
#1 Big Island is famous for its black-sand beaches. In the first chapter of Finder Keeper, our heroine, Emma Munroe, and her BFFs picnic on a black-sand beach lined by volcanic rocks. The Big Island is famous for its rugged seashore and pristine waters.
#2 Big Island’s white-sand beaches are among the best in the world. Even though the island is known for its black-sand beaches, its white-sand beaches are world-famous. I highly recommend the two beaches described in my novel—Hapuna Beach and Anaehoomalu Bay Beach.
#3 The Muliwai Trail sits between two valleys. Emma, a New Yorker, gets lost on the Muliwai Trail during a hike. Thank goodness, a hottie named Avery Bell saves her. She wants to go back to Waipio Valley, but Avery offers to take her to his campsite in Waimanu Valley. He explains that the trail sits between the two valleys.
#4 The Kohala Coast is the island’s most popular area. Emma and Avery discover that they are both staying in the Waikoloa area on the Kohala Coast. Emma believes it’s fate, but the pragmatic Avery thinks it’s statistically probable that they’d end up near each other because it’s where a million tourists stay every year.
#5 The wildlife consists of pigs, cats, and goats. Avery reassures Emma that the wildlife on the island—feral pigs, cats, and goats—usually run away from people!
#6 The giant green sea turtles are “rock stars.” The giant green sea turtles, called honu, appear in Finder Keeper twice. They are a main attraction on the Big Island.
#7 You can party like it’s 1999 at the luau. The traditional celebration called luau is your license to binge eat, drink, and be merry. When you go to a luau, follow what Prince said in his popular song: “I’m gonna party like it’s 1999!”
#8 A famous park commemorates a Hawaiian queen. Emma pours her heart out during a pivotal visit to the Liliuokalani Gardens. The park is a gift to the Hawaiian people 0from Queen Lili’uokalani, the first female ruler of Hawaii.
#9 There’s a Healing Island for the defiant ones. While Emma is visiting the Liliuokalani Gardens, she discovers a footbridge connecting the park to Mokuola, meaning Healing Island. A long time ago, it served as a refuge for people who defied the laws of the local religious system.
#10 The loco moco is not for the faint of heart. When visiting Hawaii, try the loco moco. Just beware: It’s not for anyone on a diet! Our romantic hero, Avery, describes loco moco as a pile of “heart-attack-inducing meats, pus fried egg, atop a bed of white rice, all smothered in thick brown gravy.”
Happy travels and happy reading!
I’m very lucky to have spent many vacations there when the Kilauea Volcano was calm. In many ways, Finder Keeper is my love letter to the island and its people. I’d like to share 10 fun facts about the island that you’ll find in my novel.
#1 Big Island is famous for its black-sand beaches. In the first chapter of Finder Keeper, our heroine, Emma Munroe, and her BFFs picnic on a black-sand beach lined by volcanic rocks. The Big Island is famous for its rugged seashore and pristine waters.
#2 Big Island’s white-sand beaches are among the best in the world. Even though the island is known for its black-sand beaches, its white-sand beaches are world-famous. I highly recommend the two beaches described in my novel—Hapuna Beach and Anaehoomalu Bay Beach.
#3 The Muliwai Trail sits between two valleys. Emma, a New Yorker, gets lost on the Muliwai Trail during a hike. Thank goodness, a hottie named Avery Bell saves her. She wants to go back to Waipio Valley, but Avery offers to take her to his campsite in Waimanu Valley. He explains that the trail sits between the two valleys.
#4 The Kohala Coast is the island’s most popular area. Emma and Avery discover that they are both staying in the Waikoloa area on the Kohala Coast. Emma believes it’s fate, but the pragmatic Avery thinks it’s statistically probable that they’d end up near each other because it’s where a million tourists stay every year.
#5 The wildlife consists of pigs, cats, and goats. Avery reassures Emma that the wildlife on the island—feral pigs, cats, and goats—usually run away from people!
#6 The giant green sea turtles are “rock stars.” The giant green sea turtles, called honu, appear in Finder Keeper twice. They are a main attraction on the Big Island.
#7 You can party like it’s 1999 at the luau. The traditional celebration called luau is your license to binge eat, drink, and be merry. When you go to a luau, follow what Prince said in his popular song: “I’m gonna party like it’s 1999!”
#8 A famous park commemorates a Hawaiian queen. Emma pours her heart out during a pivotal visit to the Liliuokalani Gardens. The park is a gift to the Hawaiian people 0from Queen Lili’uokalani, the first female ruler of Hawaii.
#9 There’s a Healing Island for the defiant ones. While Emma is visiting the Liliuokalani Gardens, she discovers a footbridge connecting the park to Mokuola, meaning Healing Island. A long time ago, it served as a refuge for people who defied the laws of the local religious system.
#10 The loco moco is not for the faint of heart. When visiting Hawaii, try the loco moco. Just beware: It’s not for anyone on a diet! Our romantic hero, Avery, describes loco moco as a pile of “heart-attack-inducing meats, pus fried egg, atop a bed of white rice, all smothered in thick brown gravy.”
Happy travels and happy reading!
Emma jogged for the next few minutes. Another brook, then a dry creek, before she faced a second switchback. Shit, she was lost! She slogged along, her legs now aching. Then a faint sound of water. Late July in Hawaii was hot and humid, but the temperature had turned cooler the closer she got to the source of the rumbling water.
It turned out to be a waterfall, partly blocked by overgrown grasses. She descended to the swimming hole and parted the tall weeds with both hands to get a full view.
Omigod! A naked man stood underneath the waterfall, his back to her.
Well, hellooo, hottie. She stood across from him, frozen and mesmerized by his beautiful body—tall build, broad shoulders, toned arms and legs. He braced himself against the water crashing on his face by gripping a boulder with each hand.
All of a sudden, he turned around, his eyes shut. Before she could hide, he stepped out of the cascading water. When he opened his eyes, his gaze shot straight to her. He cupped both hands over his groin.
“I’m sorry!” She swung around. “I’m lost. I need your help.”
He didn’t respond, and she didn’t dare look. Two, maybe three minutes passed.
“Hello? Are you still there?” she shouted without glancing.
“You can look now.” He stood several feet away, dressed in khaki cargo pants and a burgundy T-shirt marked MIT. He carried his hiking boots, socks, and a backpack.
“I’ve been lost forever.” She puffed out her cheeks and blew a gust of air. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
He was probably a few years older than her. He didn’t appear embarrassed after getting caught buck naked, only annoyed.
“And your name is?” he snapped.
Okay, definitely pissed. “Emma Munroe—like Marilyn Monroe, but with a u.” She wanted to shake his hand, but didn’t get a chance since he perched on a big rock and proceeded to put on his socks and boots. When he rose, his dark eyes bored right through her.
He extended his hand. “I’m Avery Bell.”
“Avery?” She shook his hand, dumbstruck. Omigod! She had waited half of her life to meet someone named Avery—ever since she’d picked up a message in a bottle bearing that name.
He gave her a quizzical look.
She cleared her throat, composing herself. “Avery. I love that name.” My soul mate’s name is Avery. Could he be the one she’d been looking for?
He arched an eyebrow, like, really? He hauled his backpack over both shoulders. “How can I help you?”
“I need to get out of here.”
“How did you get here in the first place?”
Men ogled her during auditions and performances, but this one didn’t leer. He seemed to be contemplating her, like she was an upright jigsaw puzzle he needed to put together.
“How did I get here?” she echoed like an idiot. Her self-confidence withered fast. She described the picnic on the beach and the hike up to the trail’s entrance. “I should have stayed put to wait for my friends, but my curiosity got the better of me. I chased the roosters and turkeys, plus I might have zoned out a little bit. I thought I was retracing my steps. I honestly don’t know how I got here.”
He nodded. “You’ve walked about four miles on the trail.”
“What?”
“Actually, you were probably not on the Muliwai Trail. You probably followed a fake trail. We’re a couple of miles away from Waimanu Valley.”
“You mean Waipio Valley?”
“I mean Waimanu Valley.”
She’d never heard of the place before. He walked up the weedy slope toward the trail.
She followed him. “Can you help me get out of here?”
He stopped, so she paused, too.
He turned his face to her. “I can take you to Waimanu Valley. I’m camping there.”
“Really?” Hope surged in her chest. He’s got to be the one.
It turned out to be a waterfall, partly blocked by overgrown grasses. She descended to the swimming hole and parted the tall weeds with both hands to get a full view.
Omigod! A naked man stood underneath the waterfall, his back to her.
Well, hellooo, hottie. She stood across from him, frozen and mesmerized by his beautiful body—tall build, broad shoulders, toned arms and legs. He braced himself against the water crashing on his face by gripping a boulder with each hand.
All of a sudden, he turned around, his eyes shut. Before she could hide, he stepped out of the cascading water. When he opened his eyes, his gaze shot straight to her. He cupped both hands over his groin.
“I’m sorry!” She swung around. “I’m lost. I need your help.”
He didn’t respond, and she didn’t dare look. Two, maybe three minutes passed.
“Hello? Are you still there?” she shouted without glancing.
“You can look now.” He stood several feet away, dressed in khaki cargo pants and a burgundy T-shirt marked MIT. He carried his hiking boots, socks, and a backpack.
“I’ve been lost forever.” She puffed out her cheeks and blew a gust of air. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
He was probably a few years older than her. He didn’t appear embarrassed after getting caught buck naked, only annoyed.
“And your name is?” he snapped.
Okay, definitely pissed. “Emma Munroe—like Marilyn Monroe, but with a u.” She wanted to shake his hand, but didn’t get a chance since he perched on a big rock and proceeded to put on his socks and boots. When he rose, his dark eyes bored right through her.
He extended his hand. “I’m Avery Bell.”
“Avery?” She shook his hand, dumbstruck. Omigod! She had waited half of her life to meet someone named Avery—ever since she’d picked up a message in a bottle bearing that name.
He gave her a quizzical look.
She cleared her throat, composing herself. “Avery. I love that name.” My soul mate’s name is Avery. Could he be the one she’d been looking for?
He arched an eyebrow, like, really? He hauled his backpack over both shoulders. “How can I help you?”
“I need to get out of here.”
“How did you get here in the first place?”
Men ogled her during auditions and performances, but this one didn’t leer. He seemed to be contemplating her, like she was an upright jigsaw puzzle he needed to put together.
“How did I get here?” she echoed like an idiot. Her self-confidence withered fast. She described the picnic on the beach and the hike up to the trail’s entrance. “I should have stayed put to wait for my friends, but my curiosity got the better of me. I chased the roosters and turkeys, plus I might have zoned out a little bit. I thought I was retracing my steps. I honestly don’t know how I got here.”
He nodded. “You’ve walked about four miles on the trail.”
“What?”
“Actually, you were probably not on the Muliwai Trail. You probably followed a fake trail. We’re a couple of miles away from Waimanu Valley.”
“You mean Waipio Valley?”
“I mean Waimanu Valley.”
She’d never heard of the place before. He walked up the weedy slope toward the trail.
She followed him. “Can you help me get out of here?”
He stopped, so she paused, too.
He turned his face to her. “I can take you to Waimanu Valley. I’m camping there.”
“Really?” Hope surged in her chest. He’s got to be the one.
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Cindy Fazzi (Vina Arno)