Language: English
Paperback: 326 pages
ISBN-10: 1645480801
ISBN-13: 978-1645480808
Praise for WHERE THE SUN RISES
“[An] atmospheric romance … Gomez and Polaha’s descriptions of Hawaii are postcard worthy. The breezy pace and gorgeous setting will stoke readers’ wanderlust.” —Publishers Weekly
“A sweet, closed-door, multicultural romance [that] will resonate with readers.” —Booklist
“Gomez and Polaha craft a compelling, clean romance that centers not just on business ambitions, but the impact of deception, honesty, and change in relationships. Its story of love, not giving up, trust, and reinventing one’s life grips readers with promise and hope for a different future. Moments Like This is highly recommended for romance readers looking for an exploration of the fine line between a woman’s strength and her ability to accept the vulnerability and promise of love.” —Midwest Book Review
Book Two in the From Kona with Love series depicting multicultural romance, love, loss, and redemption woven into a family saga set in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Though connected, each installment can be read as a standalone.
When Maele Moana is paired up with Adam Yates to walk down the aisle together at her friend Andie’s wedding, it isn’t exactly a perfect match. Maele is the daughter of a plantation worker, and Adam is the son of one of the richest men in Oahu.
Their worlds couldn’t be more different. But they have one thing in common.
Big Dreams.
Dreams that will take Maele back to Kauai while Adam pursues an incredible opportunity in Los Angeles.
Adam wants to be in her life, and slowly, Maele lets him in. He inspires her to face her fears, and she restores his faith in redemption. But with love comes sacrifice, and the goals they’ve worked so hard for may end up tearing them apart.
Book Two in the From Kona with Love series is set on the island of Kauai. Where the Sun Rises is a story about overcoming adversity, the promise of young love, and the valor in letting go.
Award-winning author Anna Gomez was born in the city of Makati, Philippines and educated abroad before moving to Chicago. She is Global Chief Financial Officer for Mischief at No Fixed Address, a consolidated group of advertising agencies. Gomez was recently selected for the 2020 HERoes Women Role Model Executives list, which celebrates 100 women who are leading by example and driving change to increase gender diversity in the workplace. Gomez has championed various ERGs for Black and API colleagues as well as resources essential to address challenges of ageism. She has sat on several boards and served as treasurer for Breathe for Justice and The Jensen Project, both focused on socio-economic issues, particularly violence against women and human trafficking. She was a keynote speaker in the 2020 Illinois CPA Society Young Professionals Leadership Conference, as well as the Northwest Indiana Influential Women’s Association’s Breaking the Glass Ceiling Event in August 2021.
Kristoffer Polaha is best-known for his long starring role in the critically acclaimed series Life Unexpected (The CW). Other TV series credits include Get Shorty with Ray Romano and Chris O’Dowd, the limited series Condor opposite William Hurt and Max Irons, The CW’s Ringer (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Valentine, as well as North Shore (FOX).
In addition to co-starring with Rainn Wilson in Backstrom (FOX), he had a multi-season role on the acclaimed series Mad Men (AMC) and Castle (ABC). Polaha is also well-known for starring in Hallmark Channel movies such as Dater’s Handbook with Meghan Markle, and the Mystery 101 franchise on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
Polaha first received attention for his portrayal of John F. Kennedy, Jr. in the TV movie, America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story, opposite Portia de Rossi. He has appeared in numerous independent features, including Where Hope Grows, Devil’s Knot (Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon), and the Tim Tebow film, Run the Race.
Polaha has a featured role opposite Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984 and is in Jurassic World: Dominion.
Polaha was born in Reno, Nevada, and he is married to actress Julianne Morris. They have three sons.
WHERE THE SUN RISES EXCERPT
It was supposed to be the perfect wave.
Though most of her peers would never be good enough to be there, she was. Surfing the Pipe, wrapped in a thick coil of water and counting the seconds in her head, was a dream come true. Although the waves she’d trained for weren’t as high as the twelve-foot swell she now faced, she knew about the shallow base and the razorblade reef. She was prepared.
She raised her hands and lifted her head to the heavens in gratitude. Her balance was perfect, the roar of the tube music to her ears. The clouds looked like angels, and the sun’s light embraced her with grace. The cadence of her movements was marked with precision. Time was on her side.
But it wasn’t.
The board’s fins scraped loudly against coral just before she was catapulted into the air. With the leash still wrapped around her ankle, she did what she always did—dove headfirst to get under the wave—except there wasn’t enough distance between her and the ocean floor.
Her vision was blurred by a thick smog of sand when her head hit the sandbank. The weight of her shoulders kept her close to the ground. Boxfish fluttered about like birds with transparent little wings, and she watched as an eel burrowed itself under a rock. Sea anemones and corals glowed in indescribable colors, swaying gently in an imaginary breeze, keeping her calm and then making her sleepy.
Her legs were suspended above her, but faced the other way. Panic rose in her throat. When she tried to lift her head, she heard a snap. A dull, tingling feeling traveled through her body, starting at her chin, then moving down her neck and to her shoulders. She froze except for her eyes, which followed the movement of the sand as it slowly drifted down like snow.
Snow. She’d always hoped to see it one day.
She fought hard to keep her eyes open, knowing the green hue of the ocean and the dizzying sand might be the last thing she’d ever see. All her life, she had lived in the ocean’s majesty. She was an island girl born and raised in paradise. Her fear quelled by that thought, Maele closed her eyes and allowed the darkness to take over.
It was supposed to be the perfect wave.
Until it wasn’t.
Copyright © 2022 by Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha
