Naupaka Blooming
Author
J.L. Eck
Author Bio
Jaimie L. Eck was born in 1971 and she was a creative child who always like to draw and write and take pictures. Jaimie always wanted to be a published author but life took her in a very different direction. And then she moved to Hawaii in 2006 after a divorce. She was so inspired by the islands and the history and myths of the people that she finally started writing her first novel. Naupaka Blooming is based on the Hawaiian myth of the naupaka flower, a little white flower that grows with only half its petals.
Description
Liz is in her twenties and living a boring life in California when she learns that she has inherited her great-grandmothers house in Hawaii. Liz never had the chance to meet her great grandmother or even visit Hawaii because her mother shunned her Hawaiian heritage. But now that her parents are gone, Liz doesn’t think twice. She leaves everything behind in California and moves to Hawaii. She gets her heart broken, meets interesting new Hawaiian friends, learns about reincarnation and starts having strange dreams about a Hawaiian man who she is intensely drawn to. She starts thinking that she may have lived a prior life in Hawaii. And something terrible must have happened to her in that life. Can she right the wrong now with the help of her new friends?
Book excerpt
Princess Leilani Kekoa stood barefoot at the edge of the rocky cliff, staring out at the blue ocean stretching endlessly around her. Strong winds whipped her long dark hair around her face. Far below, white-capped waves crashed up against the straight edge of the cliff. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, letting the sun warm her skin. She smiled, opened her eyes and jumped.
Her heart pounded as she soared through the air, weightless for a moment. Then gravity pulled her down. She straightened her body and arched her back. With her arms at her sides, her toes pointed down, she held her breath. Her fall only lasted a few seconds and then she plunged into the cool ocean water.
Leilani let herself sink down to the ocean floor as she examined every detail of the incredible underwater world. Bright yellow butterfly fish darted off as she approached, and crabs scurried away on the colorful coral. And what a nice surprise! A giant honu, a sea turtle, swam lazily nearby. As soon as Leilani noticed it, the turtle turned and made its way toward her. The turtle looked to be as big as Leilani herself. Its shell was a light greenish color with radiating darker green markings. She froze as it approached. Was it her imagination or was the turtle smiling at her? She reached out and her heart skipped a beat as her fingers brushed against the turtle’s shell as it swam by her.
Leilani surfaced for air and wondered about her encounter with the honu. The sea turtle was her family aumakua—guardian spirit and protector. This had to be an omen. Excitement and anticipation built up within her. Something big was sure to happen soon.
The honu popped its head up out of the water several feet away. Princess and turtle studied each other. Then the honu dived back under and swam away.
Leilani laughed. She floated on her back, closed her eyes and pondered the possibilities.
A snapping sound from the nearby shore caused her to turn, looking for the source. But everything was just as it should be. Tall palm trees swayed gently in the breeze and a few nēnē birds pecked in the bushes for food. She was alone here.
She sighed. This place made her happy. Unfortunately, she couldn’t stay any longer. She had to make an appearance with her family at the big luau tonight. Of all her many obligations, she hated making public appearances the most. She hated being the center of attention, hated people scrutinizing her. She always had, ever since she had been a child. Now that she had become a woman, it was even worse. Her body had changed a lot over the last few years. She had become curvier and she had breasts now, which only increased the attention she received. But her mother would be angry with her if she didn’t do what was expected, so she swam back toward the shore.
Author Website
http://www.jleckthewriter.com/