Big Island Sunrise Book Review

The Big Island Sunrise series by Shayla Cherry takes place on the Island of Hawaiʻi and follows multiple women who are each seeking a fresh start, community, and—yes—a little romance. According to order listings, the first four books are:

1. Big Island Sunrise (Book 1)  
2. Big Island Neighbors (Book 2)  
3. Big Island Horizons (Book 3)  
4. Big Island Gardens (Book 4)  

In this blog-style review I’ll cover each book, highlight strengths and weaknesses, and wrap up with overall thoughts and shareable hashtags.

Book 1 – 

Big Island Sunrise

Synopsis & Setting

In the opener of the series, Emma Kealoha, widowed at 36, inherits her husband’s family property on Hawaiʻi Island—which turns out to be in rough shape.  Meanwhile Lani King has just escaped an abusive marriage and returns home to Hawaiʻi with her young daughter. The two women team up to restore the farm and help each other heal. Romance, community, and island life weave in. 

What works

• The setting is a standout: reviewers say the island setting feels immersive and authentic.  
• Themes of found-family, sisterhood, renewal and community shine. For example, one review said: “Lovely… there’s a feeling of community in Hawaiian culture and it’s so evident in this book.”  
• Strong emotional stakes: widowhood, escape from abuse, parenting, rebuilding life—all woven in.

What could be improved

• Some readers felt the ending was abrupt and left dangling threads. For instance: “The story just ended a bit abruptly. If you want to know how the story evolves… plan to buy the entire series.”  
• With multiple characters (especially in the first book), some readers needed time to keep them straight.

Verdict

A warm, uplifting start to the series. If you like women’s fiction with a dash of sweet romance, set in a tropical locale with strong community vibes, this hits the spot. The setting and emotional journey are compelling. Just be aware: it’s the first book in a saga, so expect further development (and possibly cliff-hangers).

Book 2 – 

Big Island Neighbors

Synopsis

The story continues with new and returning characters: Tara’s story is introduced (her husband quits his job and leaves indefinitely, leaving her with three kids and a hobby farm to manage) and the “neighbors” around Emma and Lani come into focus. 

What works

• A nice continuation of the island community world: the locale remains a rich backdrop and the “neighbors” element adds interconnectedness.
• Strong increase in reader ratings compared to Book 1 (Goodreads shows higher average).  
• The mix of mothering, farm life, and rebuilding again gives realistic texture beyond glam romance.

What could be improved

• Some may feel the pace is gentler—more character-driven than plot-heavy. If you prefer high drama or fast-moving suspense, this might feel slow.
• Because the cast grows, tracking everyone can require more attention.

Verdict

A solid second chapter that deepens the world, introduces fresh struggles and affirms the series’ strengths: community, second chances, island life. If Book 1 hooked you, this will satisfy.

Book 3 – 

Big Island Horizons

Synopsis & Highlights

Book 3 moves further into the community saga on the island of Hawaiʻi, continuing to explore women finding new directions (“horizons”) in life. 

What works

• Reviews suggest this may be a high point: “Hardships, finding happiness and moving forward… the entire series has been warm and full of aloha, but this volume may be my favorite.”  
• Good reader ratings (Book 3 shows 4.54 avg rating on Goodreads).  
• The “horizons” metaphor adds breadth—characters not only doing the immediate rebuild but looking ahead, which adds depth.

What could be improved

• As with many series, individual story arcs may rely on familiarity from previous books—if you skip the first two, you might feel less grounded.
• Some may want more closure per book; the focus remains serial.

Verdict

A very good installment—and for many readers a favorite. It shows growth, hope and a bit more expansiveness in terms of character journeys.

Book 4 – 

Big Island Gardens

Synopsis & Highlights

The fourth book expands the series’ motif of “home, healing and growth” by incorporating gardens—in the literal sense—and the ongoing community of strong women on the island. According to a five-star review it’s “rich with the true spirit of Hawaiʻi” and fills the heart. 

What works

• Highest average rating so far (Goodreads: ~4.60) suggesting readers feel the series is hitting its stride.  
• The gardening motif is a nice metaphor for rebuilding lives, nurturing growth, flourishing community.
• The ongoing cast and setting feel more comfortable and richly developed.

What could be improved

• At book four, some readers new to the series might feel a “you should have read the earlier ones” signal.
• If you prefer standalone novels rather than part of a series, you may find the reliance on the broader community cast a bit heavy.

Verdict

For fans of the series, this is a satisfying continuation that deepens the emotional and thematic resonance. It may reward those who have invested in the characters and setting.

Overall Impressions & Who This Series Is For

Strengths:

• A beautifully drawn island setting—lush, vivid, warm, evocative of Hawaiʻi’s culture and community.
• Themes of second chances, found family and women supporting each other resonate deeply.
• Clean, uplifting tone with sweet (rather than steamy) romance, making it accessible for a wide audience.
• Steady improvement book-to-book: reader ratings suggest the series gets stronger by Book 4.

Weaknesses / Things to Consider:

• It is a series. If you expect each book to be entirely self-contained, you may find spill-over threads.
• Pacing is more gentle; the conflict is more internal/relational than high stakes thriller.
• If you need a “big finish” per book, some may feel more like chapters in a larger saga.

Best for you if you like:

• Women’s fiction, contemporary feel, clean romance.
• Stories rooted in place—community, farms, island life.
• Book series you can “settle into” and revisit a recurring cast.
• Uplifting, heart-warming reads rather than gritty or dark.

Less suited for you if you prefer:

• Stand-alone stories with no need to read previous books.
• High-tension thrillers, major suspense or very fast pace.
• Explicit, sexy romance or steamy content (this is more “sweet”).

Final Thoughts

If I were summarizing in one sentence: Big Island Sunrise and its follow-ups deliver an inviting island escape, grounded in community, renewal, and relationships—with each successive book deepening the world and characters.

If I had to pick a “must-read” highlight: start the series with Book 1, but know you’ll get more richness if you commit to at least the first few books. By Book 4 you’re really in the groove of the world and characters.

For my star rating, I’d give the series (so far) 4.5 out of 5 stars.

– Book 1: ~4.0

– Book 2: ~4.3

– Book 3: ~4.5

– Book 4: ~4.6

If you’re looking for your next cozy, uplifting read with a tropical backdrop—this could be it.

The Perfect Neighbor Review

If you’re looking for a documentary that grips you with raw, unfiltered reality while shining a light on urgent social issues, The Perfect Neighbor is a must-watch. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, the film strips away dramatization and instead presents one of the most harrowing neighbor-conflict stories of recent years—with profound implications.

🎬 What it is

Released on Netflix on October 17, 2025, The Perfect Neighbor revisits the tragic June 2023 killing of Ajike “AJ” Owens, a mother of four from Ocala, Florida, who was fatally shot by her neighbor Susan Lorincz. 

What makes the doc so chilling is its method: nearly the entire film is drawn from police body-cam footage, 911 calls, and archival material. No heavy narration, no reenactments—just the escalations in real time. 

🔍 Why it stands out

• Form meets function: The choice to rely on body-cam and on-camera evidence puts you in the scene rather than watching a retelling. Critics note the result is “visceral” and “unflinching.”  
• Social stakes: At its heart are issues of race, power, neighborhood dynamics, and the consequences of “stand your ground” laws in Florida.  
• Critical acclaim: The documentary premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Directing Award for U.S. Documentary.  It also holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on its early reviews.  

📝 What you’ll see

• The gradual escalation of tensions: what begins as neighborhood complaints (children playing, property disputes) spirals into tragic violence.
• A close-look at how fear, prejudice, and systemic issues contribute to real-world outcomes.
• Difficult footage. The experience isn’t comfortable, but that’s part of its power.
• Aftermath: the family of AJ Owens left behind, the community impacted, and a nation questioning how we live next to one another.  

✅ Why you should watch

• For documentary fans who want something more than surface-level true-crime drama.
• For anyone interested in how policy (like stand your ground laws) plays out in everyday neighborhood interactions.
• For a story that forces reflection: what happens when the “perfect neighbor” is anything but.

⚠️ Trigger warning

This is intense. Viewers should be prepared for footage that may be harrowing, especially given the subject matter.

💬 Final thoughts

The Perfect Neighbor isn’t just about a murder—it’s about the threads that lead there: grievance, fear, unchecked power, systemic bias, and community collapse. It invites you to watch what happened, but also to ask why it happened. If you want a documentary that lingers long after the credits roll, this is one of the most affecting of the year. 

Tomorrow’s First Light Book Review

Title & Author

Tomorrow’s First Light by Naomi Rawling

Genre & Setting

This is a Christian historical romance—specifically set in Texas in 1885. 

The story takes place in the frontier/ranching world of the American West, giving a strong Western feel. 

Main Characters

• Ellie Spritzer: A young woman from Michigan who has been caring for her many siblings after the death of her mother. She enters into a mail‐order marriage to bring stability to her family.  
• Sam Owens: A Texas rancher, formerly an orphan, who has built a ranch and home and is ready for a wife and family—but not quite prepared for eight children.  

Plot Summary

Ellie, determined to keep her siblings together and provide them stability, corresponds with Sam for a year and agrees to marry him under the assumption she’ll be bringing three of her siblings with her. 

When she arrives in Texas, however, she brings eight siblings instead of three, catching Sam by surprise. 

Sam, despite the shock, chooses to honor his commitment, but immediately they face practical, emotional, and spiritual challenges: managing a large household with limited resources, Ellie’s self‐doubts and feeling unworthy, Sam’s orphan past and his willingness (and struggle) to open his home and heart, and external threats (like land issues and rustlers) that threaten their burgeoning family and ranch. 

As they work together they must learn to trust each other, rely on faith, and grow into a real family—not just by arrangement, but by love and shared struggle.

Themes

• Family & Belonging: Both characters come from fractured or hard pasts (Ellie has many siblings and the burden of caring for them; Sam was orphaned). The idea of creating a family together is central.
• Faith & Hope: The Christian dimension is woven throughout—Ellie’s belief that her life is cursed, Sam’s faith in finding a home and family—and they both learn about grace, trust, and relying on God’s provision.  
• New Beginnings & Sacrifice: The mail‐order marriage is a new beginning. Ellie sacrifices much to keep her family together; Sam sacrifices comfort and certainty to accept an unexpected family.
• Identity & Worth: Ellie struggles with feeling unworthy of love and believing that her past defines her; Sam must see beyond his orphan past and allow himself to trust and be loved.
• Courage in the Frontier: The setting reinforces the ruggedness of life, the risk, the solitude, the need for courage and teamwork.

Strengths

• The characters are well drawn, with realistic struggles and growth arcs. Reviewers highlight Ellie’s inner battle and Sam’s protective, good‐hearted nature.  
• The setting is vivid — you get the feel of Texas in the late 19th century, the dust, ranch life, the challenges of building a home in that environment.  
• The blending of romance, family drama, and faith works well. The faith elements are present without being overly preachy.  
• It’s the first book in a series (the Texas Promise series) so it sets up future stories while focusing on this one couple.  

Weaknesses / Things to Consider

• Some readers might find the pacing slower in places, particularly as the characters adjust and deal with many complications (large family, ranch troubles) rather than immediate high drama.
• Because of the faith dimension, there are spiritual reflections and Christian themes that may feel heavy if you prefer secular romance or lighter reads.
• The “mail‐order bride” trope is central, so if that is a cliché for you or something you dislike, this may not fully appeal.
• Some reviews mention that certain plot resolutions happen rather quickly or feel a bit convenient.  

My Impression

I found Tomorrow’s First Light to be a warm, heartfelt story of two people bringing their broken pasts into a hopeful future. Ellie’s sense of responsibility, guilt, and longing for belonging are very sympathetic, and Sam’s quiet strength and willingness to accept the unexpected (eight children!) makes him a solid hero. The setting adds grit and authenticity, and the faith‐based themes reinforce the idea of redemption and trust.

If I had a critique, it would be that at times the obstacles feel a bit numerous (so many siblings, so many problems on the ranch), which can slightly diminish focus on the romance itself—but that also adds to the sense of family and community building, which is a strength.

Overall, it’s a satisfying read for fans of Christian historical romance, western settings, and stories about building family and faith.

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to readers who:

• Enjoy historical or western romance with a Christian/inspirational dimension.
• Appreciate stories about family, second chances, and home‐making in rugged settings.
• Like romances with both internal emotional growth and external challenges.
  If you prefer a quick, purely romantic read without many subplots, you might find the many threads here (siblings, ranch troubles, faith journey) a bit much—but if you enjoy depth, this one is good. 

Lake Lawtonka Outing

Beautiful Day to be at the Lawtonka Lake

Today I felt the lure of the outdoors, so we accepted an invitation to spend lunch at Lake Lawtonka with our family Elizabeth and Charles. Also joining us was Alisha — the daughter of Luther and Elizabeth — making the afternoon feel like one big family gathering by the water.

Sitting outside near the shoreline, the setting was peaceful and quiet. The lake water glowed a beautiful blue, and the weather cooperated beautifully: a perfect ~70-degree day, gentle breeze, sunshine just about right. As we relaxed, we watched butterflies flit by — especially the magnificent orange and black of the Monarch butterfly. Their wings stood out boldly: bright orange with a black border and black veins, and the border rimmed with a double row of white spots. It felt a little magical to see them up close as they migrate through Oklahoma on their way to Mexico. (Nature doesn’t often pause for lunch, but today it did.)

Lunch was simple, comforting, and satisfying: cheeseburgers and hot dogs, paired with sides of macaroni & cheddar cheese, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans and grilled peppers and onions. For dessert we were offered lemon cake and no-bake cookies — both favorites of mine — and I ended up going with the lemon cake. A sweet finish under the wide open sky.

While we talked and enjoyed the view, Alisha and Elizabeth played a little cornhole. Elizabeth ended up winning the game, which added a fun little competitive spark to the afternoon. Meanwhile, we continued to soak in the scene: sailboats, pontoons and a few fishing boats out on the lake, all basking in the sunshine. Mr. C told Charles we should have been out on their pontoon too, since the day was “perfect for it” — and I almost hated to leave for that reason. But the workweek looms, and we finally headed home around 2:30 p.m.

Once home, we tackled a little chore: filling up the gas tank. One less item on today’s list. Later this evening I’ll prepare clothes for the next five days, then settle into my “everything shower” routine (which is always a little longer than my ordinary shower). And of course we’ll figure out what I’m taking for lunch tomorrow — keeping the momentum of this pleasant weekend into the week ahead.

A few fun facts about Lake Lawtonka

• The lake covers approximately 2,398 surface acres and has about 21 miles of shoreline.  
• It has a maximum depth of around 58 feet.  
• Lake Lawtonka was constructed as a reservoir on Medicine Creek and today serves both recreational needs and water supply for the local communities.  
• The surrounding landscape features the nearby Wichita Mountains — making the view from the lake particularly scenic.  

A few additional details about Monarch butterflies

• Monarchs on the east side of the Rockies make a migration of up to 3,000 miles from Canada and the northern U.S. down to central Mexico.  
• They may fly as far as 50-100 miles in a single day during migration, and the entire journey may take up to two months.  
• During the fall migration, many monarchs enter a state called diapause (a kind of suspended reproduction) and live much longer than summer generations — sometimes up to nine months as adults.  
• They rely on milkweed plants for their early caterpillar stage (the only plant monarchs will lay eggs on), and they cluster in special overwintering habitats (for example, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico) where millions huddle together on fir trees.  

In short: a beautiful afternoon by the water, good food, good friends, and even some unexpected wildlife magic thanks to those bold orange wings fluttering nearby. Sometimes the perfect day is one where nothing dramatic happens — just nature, good company and simple pleasures.

The water is beautiful with Mt Scott in the background is breathtaking.  

When I am near water I feel calmer and relaxed. Connecting with nature makes me feel at ease. While there I did walk the shoreline by myself and do some self reflection. Am so greatful to have this time to spend with family and nature. Just remember that family doesn’t always have to be blood. Although Elizabeth is Luther’s ex wife she treats me as a family member. It hasn’t always been this way but am happy were we are in this season of our life.