Published: February 15, 2021

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nalani Titcomb was born and raised in Hawaii. Family and faith are most important to her. She is a single mom to an amazing son, whom she says is her greatest accomplishment. The Dark Side of Paradise is Nalani’s first book.

“One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. Three heartbeats.”

Taylor is a hardworking single mother who adores her son, Jax. When she witnesses Jax being pulled into a white van, instinct takes over, and Taylor manages to chase the van and get Jax back. But what she didn’t know was that this wasn’t just a kidnapping attempt. There are much darker forces at work, and now her son is in the crosshairs.

The imagery in this book is stunning. It takes place in Hawaii, and you can almost smell the ocean and feel the breeze. The characters in this book are well developed. The main character, Taylor, is a badass woman who is not afraid to protect those she loves. She comes from a long line of law enforcement, so her dad made sure she knew how to protect herself. Jason, our male hero, is every bit the all-American dream guy you could ever want. Together, Taylor and Jason are ready to battle whatever darkness comes their way.

I enjoyed this book. The overall theme is dark and terrifying, but sadly human trafficking is such a prevalent reality. There are also themes of female empowerment, family bonds, the power of choice, and learning to trust and allowing yourself to be vulnerable.

This is the first book I’ve read from Nalani, and as her second novel, this is a pretty deep dive. The characters are all memorable, I love the bits of Hawaiian culture woven throughout, and the idea that sometimes the family we choose is just as incredible as the family we are born into.

This was a fast-paced, intense rollercoaster of a story. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me cheer out loud. If you’re looking for a plot to get lost in- to look no further.

You can find Trafficking Innocence by Nalani Titcomb on Amazon. This title is available on Kindle Unlimited.