Jewel of the Pacific

Book excerpt: The wedding’s abandoned, and the clouds of political disaster loom overhead. The fire that almost ended Eden’s life has put an end to the promise of marriage. While saving Eden, Rafe lost not only his eyesight, but also his independence, his determination, and his pride. In a short letter, he ends Eden’s hope for happiness. Hurt and angry, Eden sails to the leper colony on the island of Molokai, where her mother is suffering. During Eden’s year-long absence, Rafe seeks medical care in San Francisco and eventually regains his sight. Returning to his coffee plantation on the Big Island, Rafe finds the beautiful Bernice Judson waiting. This is the year of decision. Hawaii is on the brink of revolution. The anti-Royalists threaten to depose the Hawaiian queen and bring the Hawaiian Islands under the Stars and Stripes. Eden must choose a side in politics and where to put her trust. Will Eden discover the painful lesson God wants her to learn? And will she ever find healing for her broken heart, with or without a life that includes Rafe?