Are you hungry?
Our new chef, Kailani, made lots of food for breakfast this morning. There’s something she calls Greek yogurt panna cotta (whatever that is) and huevos rancheros and fruit salad with honey-lime dressing and cinnamon buns. They’re my favorite.
I know Kailani must be stressed out because when something is bothering her she cooks way more than my family can eat.
I don’t know exactly why she’s upset, but she’s jumpy and she keeps whispering to Liko, my brother’s tutor. I’m not supposed to be listening, but I do. I think they’re whispering about some man who lives near here. I don’t know who he is, though.
And my parents have been fighting again, which is hard on everyone.
I’m Justine Jorgensen. I’m nine years old. My family and I live in a great big house on the Big Island of Hawaii. We moved here from California, but I was only four then so I don’t remember it too well. Hawaii is a pretty cool place to live. The sun almost always shines, and we can see whales in the winter and the island of Maui from our lanai. It’s nice and warm all the time. I wish Marcus (he’s my brother) liked it better here, but he doesn’t have many friends and he wishes we still lived in California.
Kailani grew up on the Big Island, but she went away to school to become a chef. Then she went to work in Washington, D.C. She got sick of the weather there, so that’s why she moved back to the Big Island. I’m happy for her because now she can see her family more often even though she lives in our house. Kailani’s mom must be a good cook, because Kailani says she learned to cook by watching her mother. I like Kailani’s family- they came to visit our house because Kailani had an accident one day while she was out in her kayak. It was a pretty bad accident, and I don’t like to talk about it.
Kailani isn’t the only one who’s stressed out around here, though. Everyone is scared. A friend of my mom’s, Dr. Doug, died here a couple weeks ago and they haven’t found out who killed him. The grown-ups tell us it was just a stranger who wanted to rob us and Dr. Doug interrupted him. I don’t know what to believe. There have been other problems, too. Like I said, my parents have been fighting again. Sometimes they don’t talk to each other and sometimes they only yell at each other. They try to pretend everything is okay, but I know better. So does Marcus. And every so often I hear footsteps at night and I don’t know who’s walking around. I can’t sleep because I’m so scared.
Kailani probably wishes she had never come here to live with us, but I love having her here. Plus, she’s a great cook. I’ll bet she can even make Greek yogurt panna cotta taste good.
House of the Hanging Jade is the author’s third novel, published by Kensington, April 2016.
A dark presence had invaded the Jorgensens’ house. On a spectacular bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, something evil is watching and waiting . . .
Tired of the cold winters in Washington, D.C. and disturbed by her increasingly obsessive boyfriend, Kailani Kanaka savors her move back to her native Big Island of Hawaii. She also finds a new job as personal chef for the Jorgensen family. The gentle caress of the Hawaiian trade winds, the soft sigh of the swaying palm trees, and the stunning blue waters of the Pacific lull her into a sense of calm at the House of Hanging Jade–an idyll that quickly fades as it becomes apparent that dark secrets lurk within her new home. Furtive whispers in the night, a terrifying shark attack, and the discovery of a dead body leave Kailani shaken and afraid. But it’s the unexpected appearance of her ex-boyfriend, tracking her every move and demanding she return to him, that has her fearing for her life . . .
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About the author
Amy M. Reade is a cook, chauffeur, household CEO, doctor, laundress, maid, psychiatrist, warden, seer, 
teacher, pet whisperer, and recovering attorney. In other words, a full-time wife, mother, and writer. She is the author of Secrets of Hallstead House and The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, both works of women’s fiction. House of Hanging Jade is her third novel. She is currently working on the first book in a new series set in the United Kingdom (expected release date in early 2017). She loves cooking, reading, and traveling.
Amy can be found online at amymreade.com, Reade and Write, Goodreads, Facebook, @readeandwrite, and Pinterest.
Giveaway: Leave comment below for your chance to win a digital copy of House of the Hanging Jade. The giveaway will end May 6, 2016 at 12 AM EST. Good luck everyone!
This is the 6th stop on the House of the Hanging Jade Great Escapes Tour. More stops on the tour can be found here.
All comments are welcomed.
Sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks for having me here today, Dru!
An item on my bucket list is to visit Hawaii. Reading your blog and the introduction to Amy Reade’s book I may be able to at least get a taste of what it would be like. Thanks for the giveaway also. robeader53@yahoo.com
This is a new author for me, and reading her books gives me a chance to relive some memories of my one visit to Hawaii’s Big Island. Thanks for the chance to win!
I love Hawaii, and after 2 trips there I would gladly move there! Especially if I could have a cook like Kailani! Another new author/series for me Dru-thanks! Mahalo to author Amy for the chance to win a copy! 🙂
House of Hanging Jade sounds like a good book. Thank you for this chance and for introducing me to Amy M. Reade’s books.
This is a great series. Can’t wait to read this newest one.
Wow…I’m putting this on my t-b-r list!
Fascinating. I love this POV.
Like others, this a new author to me but I love the her premise of exploring houses in various locales. I would love to start reading with the House of the Hanging Jade. The description didn’t mention recipes but the foods mentioned sounded so good I certainly hope so!! 🙂
P.S. I am going to Scotland next year so I will also look forward to her next book located in Edinburgh.
I can’t say that I’ve been to Hawaii or any other place than where I live, in Wisconsin, but I can say that is the reason that I love to read! Through books I travel to wherever the author decides to take me. I would love to win this book & be transported to Hawaii with Kailani in the House of the Hanging Jade. I hadn’t heard of it until I read this, but now that I have I am excited to see what lies in store for Kailani, Justine & the rest of the Jorgensen family! Thank you for the chance to win!
I would love to read this book~ Thanks for the giveaway, Dru! Hope you are having a great time at Malice!
Creepy and beautiful at one and the same time.
This is a new to me author. I really enjoy reading books set in Hawaii and this sounds like a great story. Looking forward to reading.
I would love to read this series based in Hawaii, it sounds really awesome.
well this would be nice to read…from the perspective of a 9 yr old girl..interesting,thanks for this chance
Would love to win a copy of House of Hanging Jade. Thank you for a chance to win a copy.
Sounds like a great read 👍👍 Thank you for a chance to win 💟💟
I would love to win a book by another Amy. One set in Hawaii? Yay!
Right now, with the weather so cold, Hawaii sounds great, and reading about it is the next best thing.
Sounds like a good read. Thanks for a chance to win a copy!
Thank you all for your kind comments- good luck in the giveaway!
Your Welcome 🙂 Thank you 🙂
I’d love to read this book about Hawaii, my favorite place
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