Review: It pains me to say...the "stars" fell over Waikiki.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 26, 2012
I am really sorry to say this latest novel in "The Life and Times of a Hawaiian Tiki Bar" series just didn't make the grade for me.  Having been thoroughly engrossed in the two previous books, I was hoping and praying that the magic was still there...that the Tiki Bar was open and I was back in my favorite fantasy world enjoying all the action.  Unfortunately, that is not how this storyline played out.  The author seemed to be up against a deadline...which perhaps he was, and the writing seemed to be forced at times.  I almost felt as if I was reading words penned by someone other than Mr. Peacock (the author of the first two brilliant books in this series).  I could have cried.This book, although included in the Tiki Bar series, should have been a stand-alone novel perhaps named "The Adventures of Tiwaka, Tiki Bar Parrot".  You will find barely a mention of Tiwaka's Tiki Bar, as most of the tale takes place in Waikiki and not Maui. As expected, Tiwaka takes center stage in this one.  Oh, you still have some of the venerable characters such as the bartender and Sandy, and you are lightly introduced to the newest addition to their family, baby Kiawe.  Ma and Pa are back in somewhat more prominent roles, and you have an ethereal return of Coco in the form of Wailani (her character being introduced late in the previous story).The author introduces a bit of the supernatural into this story and I enjoyed that aspect. He continues with the shape shifter traits of Coco and now Wailani, but he somehow loses the mystical, surreal imagery along with his incredible descriptive prose--and that simply kills it for me.  Yes, there were emotional/poignant moments and yes, you can find fleeting glimpses of what this book could have been; but it was kind of "1001 Dalmatians"  meets "The Wizard of Oz" meets "My friend Flicka" meets... you get the point.  It seemed to me like a screenplay in the making.  Perhaps I would not be so critical if indeed this book was a standalone, but the loss of the Tiki Bar aspect was a crushing and frustrating blow.Please, please Mr. Peacock, give us back the wonderful, idyllic fantasy which is Tiwaka's Tiki Bar.  Spinoffs are acceptable, but for your readers' sakes, don't include them as something they are not.  Your character Tiwaka is one of the greatest bird/animal/fish protagonists ever created (besides "The Incredible Mr. Limpet", of course!) and his greatness should not be diminished by the loss of his backdrop, his home (so to speak), without which he is just another bit player in a long line of Lassie, Old Yeller and Pirate Parrot wannabes.