BookBrowse Reviews Bird of Another Heaven: From the author of Snow Mountain Passage comes an engaging new novel, set in both our time and the late nineteenth century

Loosely inspired by the visit of David Kalakaua the last King of Hawaii, to San Francisco, Houston tells of Nani Keala, the King's lover. Nani's story plays out against the backdrop of the Californian Gold Rush and the annexation of Hawaii by the USA. Through her life we are introduced to a full cast of 19th century Californian and Hawaiian historical characters including John Sutter, founder of Sacramento, and David Kalakaua, known as the the "Merrie Monarch"; we see what life was like on the missions and rancherias in California, explore Hawaiian traditions such as hula and get a fly on the wall view of Hawaiian court intrigue.

A parallel story rests on the popular contemporary theme of discovering ones roots, and explores...