Moments Like this felt like what one expect from a "beach read" book. The story is light, quiet predictable, characters fairy flat with some minor improvements, and it helps that the story actually takes place on a beach in Hawaii. It was still a nice, light read for an airplane flight or on vacation when one craves to revisit a familiar story of girl meets boy.

I read books because I want them to take me away & this book did exactly that. I felt like I was in Hawaii - I could see the island, feel the breeze, smell the ocean. The descriptions were phenomenal, and the character development outstanding. I cannot wait to read more about Andie & Warren.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A slow start but a bang of a finish. I was so excited when I learned this was co-written by Kristopher Polaha, I love him on the Hallmark Channel.

This book was a bit slow to start but I liked the way things unfolded. This book really makes me think of all the precious moments I experience in life and makes me crave visiting Hawaii. If you want to have an adventure from the comforts of home, you definitely need to pick this up.

This book is appropriate for all ages.

I thought the way that this book was written partially like a journal entry at times was somewhat intriguing and gave a different perspective to this book, however, unfortunately I just wasn't taken in by this story despite how much I hoped to be.
At times the storyline lacks any real depth, and it feels as though it is progressing rather slowly.
The storyline did have a lot of promise, however it just didn't really come together for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rosewind Books for allowing me to read and review this arc. First, when I realized it was Kristoffer Polaha that wrote this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. He’s one of my favorite Hallmark actors! This one made me miss Hawaii so much and had me wishing I could be back on a plane to there immediately. This was definitely an easy, fast romance that I breezed through really quickly. I really enjoyed it!

Christine Brae’s storytelling has always enchanted me, so when I heard that she’d teamed up with Kristoffer Polaha writing under her real name, my interest was piqued. And not only that, I love the eye-catching cover. This is the first standalone novel in the Kona with Love series, and although the blurb is right up my alley, some parts of the book lacked flow for my liking.

Moments Like This begins with Andie’s story in the US. She makes a choice which much to her charagin backfires, causing a personal crisis. Fast forward, and I was taken on a scenic journey to a paradisiac island in the Pacific Ocean where she meets the dashing Warren Yates. Not only do the authors pay close attention to sensory detail, but the little illustration at the beginning of every chapter couldn’t have fitted the story better. And as I’m always eager to learn something new, the spin on the coffee plantation captivated me.

Even after Andie’s major disappointment, she’s a winner in business. She sees potential where she's helping her absent bestie out and it’s all hand’s down. I liked that she’s an open book, and when she begins to realise that there’s much more in life to experience, I could have high-fived her. Warren’s a mysterious but charming man and quite the opposite of Anna. If he wants to move on, he’ll have to face some pretty hefty past issues.

In places, I skim-read the story because it felt a tad repetitive. Nevertheless, the banter is on point and I how the authors handled real-world life problems that we might come up against and go about solving was undoubtedly well done. In an outstanding setting, romance is definitely in the air. Of course, not without its ups and downs, there’s plenty of chemistry in between.

ARC received by Rosewind Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

2.5 stars

Unfortunately, this book just did not do it for me. The two main characters felt really one-dimensional and I could not connect with either of them. I couldn't even latch onto a secondary character because they did not get any development whatsoever. The pacing was really strange as the events that were clearly meant to drive the story were glossed over in a sentence or two in favor of general and often repetitive descriptions. I liked the choice to switch perspectives, but felt like it wasn't used consistently enough to actually get a full sense of both voices.

There is so much potential here (who doesn't love a romance in Hawaii) and it makes me sad to see this book fall short of what it could. However, I am very happy to see that so many other advance readers are enjoying it! I know that even if this didn't quite hit the mark for me, there are plenty of people out there who will gobble this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rosewind Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I am surprised at how quickly I read this! It is a fast read in both length and in the fact that it was easy to get invested in the story. Also, I have never read a book that has made me want to travel to Hawaii more! This was the closest I will get to traveling there in a pandemic. The writing of this one immersed me in the state. Due to the fact that it is the middle of the winter and I live in a cold part of the world, it was nice to imagine the tropics! I was also rooting for the romantic couple in this one and cared about their story.

If you are looking for a quick, sweet read, this may be just the book for you. If you are wanting an escape from the winter blues, this is the perfect book to pick up as well. I smiled at several moments throughout the book because there were so many little things that made me happy. It is not a perfect read and I have a couple quibbles, but I am going to keep them to myself due to spoilers, but it was still such a charming read. It was like a warm cup of tea on a cold day.

I almost did not pick this one up, but I really think the right books find you when you need them and this was one that found me at the right time. I am so glad I picked it up.

I was really excited to read this book when I realized that Kristoffer Polaha was one of the authors - he’s one of my favorite hallmark actors! I enjoyed being whisked away to Hawaii in this story as it’s one of the places on ever growing travel list. However, the story itself wasn’t all I had hoped for. It felt a little disjointed to me. Overall, the story was just ok. It was split into three main parts, each with its own narrator. I just feel like the story could have been stronger.

The descriptions in this novel made me feel like I was back in Hawaii! A plot that kept moving forward and interesting but not intriguing characters. I was going to give this a 3 but the descriptions gave it an edge up
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I’m so happy I picked up a copy of Moments Like this.

Andie visits Hawaii to temporarily escape the busyness of her life in Chicago. There, she meets Warren, who shows her the wonders of Hawaii during their Moments Tour together. Both are hiding secrets from one another, and it’s up to them whether it will cause their downfall or lead to new beginnings.

This was a sweet story on finding yourself and taking chances. It taught me the value of trust and friendship. I definitely enjoyed reading Andie and Warren’s story. What I would have liked better was a bit of an epilogue since the the narrative ended with them finding each other and making up. It was cut off a bit too suddenly for my tastes, but apart from that, it was an enjoyable read!

Thank you NetGalley, Anna Gomez and Kristoffer Polaha and Rosewind Books for the Moments like this. This is my personal review.
I started the book wanting to really enjoy it but found that it was slow, and I did not connect with the characters. The setting of the story was amazing!

Vascillating between a 3 and 4 star, I'd like to have a 3.5 choice for this one. It reads like a diary and travel journal in many parts. It is sometimes disjointed,simplistic and too drawn out. It lacks depth in parts. Only toward the end do we get more of a depth of character of the two main subjects. Way too much unnecessary jetting around of the families,(this is confusing) and the other jet setting couple from HI to Chicago was way off the mark. We never got a real grasp on who they are except some friends that needed to be messengers. The story itself is a feel good romance and since one of the authors is a Hallmark actor it probably would make a good script. That is in fact the only reason I chose this book was because I read somewhere KP was writing. Not bad for a first collaboration book. The scenery descriptions were wonderful.
I was provided an advanced reader copy of the book. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the authors,publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

I have read Anna Gomez's previous books under her pen name Christine Brae and I loved most of them. However this book I liked but I was not as emotionally invested compared to her previous works.

The setting of Andie and Warren's budding romance in Hawaii was brilliant and it felt like a travelogue, I wish I was there! However, there is very slow build up to their story. The first half of the book was narrated by Andie, a workaholic who valued her job more than her previous relationship until something happened that sent her on a tailspin. A break somewhere faraway gave her that much needed breather and opened her eyes to things that are more important in life.

The second half of the book was narrated by Warren and his back story explains how it was with him and his family, it opened up his character. I must admit that I struggled to finish this book but I persevered hoping that things in the end will give me fireworks. By the way, this romantic tale is where the female main character is the stronger one. And I like that. A lot. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first e-book read, and first review. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to review on behalf of NetGalley. It was an enjoyable distraction in the current climate: ideal fireside reading.

Anna Gomez is an accomplished writer. Under her pen name Christine Brae, she has had six novels published. Not having read any of her previous works, I am unable to make comparisons.

From the outset a fast paced, punchy read and the reader is drawn straight into the story without preamble. In parts however it is akin to a work in progress but this does not detract from the simplicity. The reader is given a tour of Hawaii, it’s beautiful scenery and spectacular views, leaving one longing to visit and share the experience.

The characters are well portrayed, strong and immensely likeable. It has humour, depth and romance within multicultural relationships. It tells the story of Andie, a 30 year old female venture capitalist from Chicago, who after a nervous breakdown moves to Hawaii, initially to run her girlhood friend’s coffee shop. Her aim was to recuperate and recharge and reflect on what was important to her. Upon her arrival she immediately realised the potential for the business she was caretaking. Then she meets Warren. It is essentially a romance between Andie and Warren, two successful individuals who vow to keep their past lives from each other, resulting in heartache and mistrust.

The narrative shifts from Andie to Warren partway and back again for the finale. At this stage the pace picks up for the predictable happy ending to any romance novel . A charming story to cheer the spirits during Covid19 lockdown .

This was my first time reading these authors. I was intrigued to read a book by a hallmark actor. this is a fun romance that takes place in Hawaii. This would make a good hallmark movie.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Something unique about the book was the beautiful illustrations at the beginning of every chapter. Most books don’t have that and it was such a nice touch and especially fitting due to the story mostly taking place in Hawaii.

The book is told from the perspective of Andi (Andrea) and Warren. Andi is from Chicago and is going through a tough time after years of putting her career first and then missing out on her dream job anyway....at the cost of her relationship.

Just when I was thinking, where is the character development for Warren!? Right on cue, the book changed (a little more than 1/2 way through) and the story was narrated by Warren, giving his perspective.

Andi’s narration was much more interesting than Warren’s, in fact I found him a bit dull...not intriguing whatsoever.

I was also a little surprised the original boyfriend’s role in the story. When his character was first introduced, I sort of thought he’d have a larger role. His exit from the story in a way seemed abrupt and awkward. Just the interactions between the ex boyfriend and Andi were odd and probably could’ve been cut out entirely. Might have been better off not having him as a character at all and instead just talking about him in the past tense since he really didn’t need to be introduced as a character.

I liked the relationship between Andi and Api though, it was the perfect depiction of true best friends.

The relationship with Andi and her parents demonstrated their closeness very well.

So I think the authors achieved exactly what they set out to do with the relationships Andi had with her parents and with Api.

Unfortunately the relationships between Andi and her ex, and Andi & Warren were lackluster. Those were the relationships that should’ve set the tone for this book and it just missed the mark.

The “moments” were alright but didn’t have the “wow” factor I was expecting based on the title of the book.

Overall, this was an alright read. I didn’t hate it but don’t know that I’d recommend it either. It was just ok.

I found this sometimes transporting but mostly just repetitive. It's a very standard romance, with all the tropes you'd expect: successful single woman just ended her relationship and travels for the holidays to "find herself" but falls in love with a mysterious stranger instead who may be wrapped up in a powerful company trying to take over a small business she's connected to!

It's boilerplate, and the writing and pacing mostly reflected that. There were occasional scenes that rose above the typical trappings, mostly thanks to the Hawaiian location, but by the halfway point, I was ready for it to be over; it felt like the authors were spinning their wheels at that point, purposefully (and frustratingly) withholding information from their characters just to draw the length out.

I picked this up because I've been a fan of Kris Polaha since Tru Calling, and I was curious what his debut as an author would be like. I couldn't tell what his contributions were versus his much more experienced co-writer, but it didn't particularly matter: if you're here because you like Kris in Hallmark movies, you'll get what you want out of this. I, however, have mostly given up on the romance genre in the past few years because I just don't have the patience for such predictability.

I’m in the minority for sure on this one... and I liked it, but didn’t love it.

I found some of it to be really close to monotonous, unfortunately. Occasionally I felt like the the writing style would shift as well, not flowing as well as it could/ should.

The parts I did like however, were done beautifully! Explaining the Hawaiian landscape, the familial ties, building relationships... those were all home runs. Enough to keep me coming back for the next books in the series!

Side note: Super surprise to learn this Christine Brae!

Formerly writing under the pen name, Christine Brae, Anna Gomez is stepping out into the writing world under her real name and with a new writing partner, Kristoffer Polaha! I'm excited to be around for her expansion as an author! This duo has the writing process down and they make it seem like tons of fun! Anna's signature Christine-style of romance is easy to see while reading, a touch I'm thankful remained because it is what drew me to her books in the first place. Kris's voice in the writing meshes seamlessly with Anna's. It's easy to forget two authors put this story together!

This sweet tale cuts to the chase and immediately hooks readers as Andie embarks on a life-changing opportunity in Hawaii. Little does she know that life is about to throw her a curveball with Warren! I absolutely adored the interactions between these two and couldn't wait to watch their relationship evolve. I could feel their chemistry seeping from the pages during their "Moments" tours around the island. The descriptions of the places were so realistic, I felt as if I could actually see the landscape along with the characters. This was a welcome distraction during my personal Covid quarantine. Though I was stuck at home, I thoroughly felt as if I was getting a real vacation.

I'm so excited to follow this series as each book releases, and I especially cannot wait to have this beauty residing on my shelf. I will surely be passing this book around to friends because it's a book everyone can fall in love with. Be sure to add this special story to your TBR or better yet, preorder a copy now!