Customer Reviews

Here Today, Gone to Maui

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I picked up this novel when I was at the bookstore the other day because I had just returned from my trip to Maui and it sounded like a fun book. Not only was the storyline unique and a fun read I also had the bonus of reliving my trip through the amazing descriptive details of Maui in this book. We had stayed at the Hyatt and attended the luau there so there was an added bonus for that as well. The only thing the author got wrong was Cheeseburger in Paradise not Hamburger but I have a feeling there was some sort of copyright stuff on that.

For those that haven't been to Maui you still should read this book if you like chick lit with a toss of whodunit in with it. The heroine is very likable and I could easily identify with her even though I'm the total polar opposite of her. The story is extremely fast paced but not too much to the point of feeling that details are missing. I read this book in one day!

I've read Carol Snow's previous books and this is by far the best one yet! It's filled with humor, great characters, and a good mystery that left me wanting to read until the end. Im looking forward to more books like this one from her in the future.

The cover of this book caught my eye at the bookstore. The title was the clincher for me; my husband and I go to Hawaii every two years and love it! I brought the book home, along with the book I had originally gone for, fully intending to read that book first. That evening, I was telling a friend over the phone about the books I had bought and grabbed the copy of "Here Today, Gone To Maui" to read the description to her and the next thing I knew, I was off the phone, sitting in the living room, on the 5th page of the book! It had totally caught my attention. Partway through the book, I went online and ordered Ms. Snow's other two books; 'Getting Warmer' and 'Been There, Done That'.

'Here Today, Gone To Maui' is not at all what I expected; when I realized what was going on in the book, I thought I had it all figured out. Each time that happened, a new twist appeared! You really come to like the main character, Jane Shea. In fact, I would love to see another book with her character. This is the type of book that you carry around with you to grab a couple of pages whenever you can.

I look forward to reading Carol Snow's previous two books, which I just received. I sent Ms. Snow an email, and to my delight, she responded, answering the questions I asked.

Jane is off to Maui with her boyfriend Jimmy. Once there, things go suspicious and downhill quickly... but our dear good Jane does everything she can to make the most of it when most of us would probably be tearing our hair out! Jimmy keeps going off on business meetings, leaving her car and food-less in a grungy condo where they are staying because every hotel is sold out.

Then one day Jimmy disappears into the ocean (scuba diving) and things really get interesting. A dream vacation? Hardly! In fact most of the things she wanted to do on Maui never happen. Jane handles herself well and I rooted for her throughout the story.

The style of writing and artful storytelling had me smiling and turning pages quick as possible. This is not a novel where romance is the point or goal of the story, but there are some hints of it there. The main focus is 'plain Jane' and her life changing vacation.

Okay, I want you to think of a vacation that you've taken that made you think that you've just had the worse possible vacation ever. Times that by one hundred and you have the book Here Today, Gone To Maui by Carol Snow.

Meet Jane Shea. She's your typical "Plain Jane". She works a steady job, , she has a great boyfriend, Jimmy, who is taking her on luxury vacation to Maui, and she makes sure that her apartment is always in tip top shape. So a luxurious trip to Maui is just what she needs. Of course the closer the trip comes, the more she worries about losing her luggage, missing the flight, flight delays and pretty much everything else that she can think of. The one thing, though, that she doesn't worry about is the one thing she should. And, that would be losing her boyfriend, Jimmy.

Before Jane can even start to enjoy Maui, Jimmy comes up missing. That's the start of the longest and strangest week that you could even imagine! Jane goes from perfect vacation to pretty much hell on earth to her. Everything you thought you knew is going to change.

Carol Snow is now in my favorite author category. I have read a few books by her before and really enjoyed them, but it's like she just keeps getting better! Here Today, Gone To Maui had me hooked from the first page. I was fascinated with Jane and this trip of a lifetime. Ms. Snow's writing is dangerously good and makes you want more. I seriously can't rave about this book enough. Just when you think you know, she changes it on you and that's the type of writing that is irresistible. Now, I guess I'll go and sit and patiently wait (NOT! lol) for her next book. Carol, please don't keep me waiting!

reposted http://writersblockreviews.blogspot.com

In Southern California, thirtyish Jane Shea looks forward to her week long vacation with her boyfriend, Michael "Jimmy" James although the weeks just before she considers what could go wriong like the flu, food poisoning or shingles. However her fears seem for naught as Jimmy arrives at Jane's home an hour early to take them to the Orange County Airport to fly to Atlanta to catch their connecting first class flight to Maui.

In Maui, Jimmy takes forever to get the car rental and then the Hyatt insists they never made reservations; Jimmy tells her no other hotel on Kannapolis has a room so he arranged for them to stay at a studio condo. Soon after that Jimmy goes diving, but never returns. A distraught Jane fears her boyfriend drowned, but soon finds herself in trouble she does not understand as the real Michael James stands up as someone she never knew.

Jane is an intriguing lead character as she learns that all her obsessive anxiety disorder musings pale next to the reality of the problems she suddenly faces due to the activities of her missing boyfriend. Jimmy is an enigmatic person who the heroine (and readers) begins to unpeel the mystery one petal at a time. Fans will enjoy this lighthearted romantic suspense romp everything that she anticipated happening on her vacation did not occur, instead much worse did as Jane learns the hard way between worrying over possible trouble and real trouble.

Harriet Klausner

I just finished reading this book and it was really good. I bought it while perusing the books on a shelf at my local bookstore and the title caught my attention. I had never heard of the title nor of the author but decided to get the book anyway, I'm glad that I did. It was fast-paced and easy to read. I am already looking at other books by the author, I'll definitely reading more by her.

I just finished reading Here Today Gone to Maui and I really liked it. I have been to Maui and could picture the discriptions of the beaches, run down condo and over the top hotel with the Disney-like Luau. I liked all the characters, I especially enjoyed Mary (the receptionist at the condo) and the interaction between her and the protagonist. There was very current and funny dialogue as well as surprises in the story line which kept me turning the pages.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because the character Tiara who is protrayed as a ditz turns out to be a dental hygienist by day. This did not fit the character profile, perhapes a dental assistant yes but a hygienist no. The reason I say this is because in California it is extremely competitive to get into dental hygiene school and requires 4 years of college education. Back East and in the South there are many schools but in California the number is limited so the pay is higher. If Tiara was indeed a dental hygienst from California she would be earning 50-75.00 an hour, would not be living with her mother and would most likely not be protrayed as such in this book. If Tiara was a dental assistant that would be more congruent, they make a lot less and you can become a assistant in 9 months at a trade school. I wish the author had done more research on this as it reflects poorly on the dental hygiene profession.

What a wonderful book! It keeps the reader engaged and seems to be a quick read. I thoroughly enjoy Carol Snow's writing style.

Loved this book! Tons of laughter and spins and twists to keep you guessing. Lots of entertainment if you happen to know Maui a little bit. Recommended for reading on your flight to Maui!!