Product Description

Two years after the death of his lover, Garrett Davidson finds himself sitting in a Hawaiian beach shack, gazing out over the vast, empty Pacific. He has nothing left. Despair has robbed him of his elegant home, his lucrative job and his sanity. The single thread holding him to reality is the story he has come to this shack to write: Marc's story, the story of his lost love. Then Songoree breezes into his life.

Songoree, a Hawaiian surfer and Garrett's new cook, is not gay, but he can't help being captivated by Garrett. Songoree has always been attracted to broken things, like the crane with a broken wing he once mended and cared for. He is drawn to anything that reminds him of the broken image he has of himself. When Songoree attempts to heal Garrett's spirit they become entwined in an extraordinary relationship.

The stakes are raised when Songoree's grandfather, a venerable Hawaiian kahuna, frees Garrett's mind from anguish by secretly using ancient shamanic methods to induce altered states of awareness.

During Garrett's convalescence, he and Songoree struggle to transcend their differences in age, race, and life experiences. They soon find that some islanders will stop at nothing to destroy their unique bond, while Songoree's grandfather is hell-bent on bringing them together to fulfill an ancient Polynesian prophesy. A clash of wills erupts between grandfather, grandson and hostile islanders, with Garrett caught in the middle fighting for his life -- driving the plot to an unexpected ending that will brutally test the boundaries of the human spirit.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98116 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-08
• Released on: 2008-09-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 292 pages

Customer Reviews

Island Song
Two years after the death of his lover, Garrett Davidson sits in a Hawaiian beach shack, staring out over the vast empty Pacific. He has nothing left. Despair has robbed him of his elegant home, his lucrative job and his sanity. The single thread holding him to reality is the story he has come here to write--Marc's story, the story of his lost love.
Then Songoree breezes into his life, and as he attempts to heal Garrett's spirit, they become entwined in a touching, yet dangerous relationship. But Songoree's kahuna grandfather has plans for Garrett, and when a clash of wills erupts between grandfather, grandson, and hostile islanders bent on destroying the connection between Garrett and Song, Garrett is caught in the middle, fighting for his life and plunging headlong to a moment that will brutally test the boundaries of the human spirit.

I recommend this novel to anyone searching for a deeper meaning to life and love

Although marketed as paranormal gay romance, this book is SO MUCH MORE! Island Song is full of page turning, artfully depicted adventures and involves many touching issues that could make the toughest of hearts weep.

However, erotic - Island Song is not. I found the love scenes tastefully written. Without adding the "gag" of purple prose, the scenes were descriptive enough to visualize while bearing just the right amount of enticing sensuality.

Don't get me wrong, the romance between Garrett and Songoree is one of the most beautifully mastered tales of male love that I have ever read. Let me share with you one example...While reading through a scene where something as innocent as a shoulder massage that Songoree, out of concern, administers to Garrett, I found myself blinking back the tears.

Alan Chin's writing is breathtakingly descriptive, and yet his vivid scenes and accurate scenarios, his multifaceted character depictions, and the overall movement throughout the book was never tedious. I picked Island Song up, and four and a half hours later, closed it feeling as if I had taken the deepest breath of fresh air imaginable.

This book was expertly crafted, and I can't wait to see more from this new author.

Island Song
2 years after the death of his partner Garrett ends up in Hawaii to write a book about his life. He meets Songaree a native Hawaiian boy who captures his heart. I would have to say this is one of the best gay novels that I have ever read. Mr Chin described Hawaii to the utmost detail. When I was reading it I could feel the warm ocean breezes on my skin and I could smell the food that was being described in the book. I can pictured the landscape, the palm trees blowing in the wind.

This book was very well written and Mr Chin was very detailed in his descriptions. I can't wait to read another of his books.

Captivating read!
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (12/08)

Alan Chin has not only written a beautiful story about lost love and second chances, he has addressed social issues such as "homophobia," cultural differences and fear of what we do not know.

When a person is in love, the whole world looks bright and inviting- all is well - but, when one loses that love- it becomes bleak, dark and forbidding. Garrett is one such person. After his lover died he goes to Hawaii to get away from memories, the world and his job. Little did he know that he was to encounter an adventure of a lifetime. Sitting in a beach shack he becomes friends with a young man name Songoree. Songoree is somewhat shy but has a devilish underside- with his help Garrett learns to discover beauty and peace that isn't materialistic. Garrett also learns what it is like to desire someone so bad that you can't think straight. Neither knew that the "guys" on the beach had no tolerance for male-male relationships, until Songoree almost loses his life.

Alan Chin has the wonderful ability to describe scenes and events as if one were right there with the characters. You feel the pain, loss, love and anger. And at the same time you can see the theme for most men involves "being a man" and the tolerance for men who are different will not do. "Island Song" is captivating from the first page till the very last one.