From the front flap I learned that the novel's setting is in a seaside town in California, the state where I currently live. Just a few pages in, the setting expanded to include the city of San Luis Obispo, home town of my son's alma mater Cal Poly where we visited quite often during his college years. Ok, enough coincidences. This book was worth a shot. I'd heard a bit of advice somewhere "not to judge a book by its cover but rather judge it by if it's in a bargain bin" but I chose to ignore that tidbit of warped wisdom.
Firefly Cove ©2018 by Davis Bunn caused me as the reader to suspend disbelief and enter the ethereal world that fireflies tend to conjure up in a magical sort of way. I eagerly turned page after page wondering about the fate of two main characters Lucius and Jessica. Lucius Quarterfield, a man in his late twenties, had suffered his entire life from poor health and, to the surprise of his doctors, among others, had managed to survive to adulthood. Despite his medical frailties Lucious is a workaholic, successful business man. Yet Lucius wonders, "Was it so much to ask, a healthy tomorrow shared with a woman he loved". That woman is Jessica, daughter of small town dentist, who follows in her father's footsteps. She is convinced she can offer Lucius the companionship, friendship, and happiness he craves.
Firefly Cove ©2018 by Davis Bunn caused me as the reader to suspend disbelief and enter the ethereal world that fireflies tend to conjure up in a magical sort of way. I eagerly turned page after page wondering about the fate of two main characters Lucius and Jessica. Lucius Quarterfield, a man in his late twenties, had suffered his entire life from poor health and, to the surprise of his doctors, among others, had managed to survive to adulthood. Despite his medical frailties Lucious is a workaholic, successful business man. Yet Lucius wonders, "Was it so much to ask, a healthy tomorrow shared with a woman he loved". That woman is Jessica, daughter of small town dentist, who follows in her father's footsteps. She is convinced she can offer Lucius the companionship, friendship, and happiness he craves.
In a second storyline, there is a character, Luke Benoit, who suffers from extreme depression – so much so that he is at risk for committing suicide. A second female charter, Asha, a clinical psychologist under the tutelage of Dr. Dino Barbieri tries to help Luke. The side by side storylines do eventually intersect in an innovative way that made for a fascinating read. It is thought provoking how people approach life. "What will you do with the gift of your next breath?" queries a quote from the book. Although Firefly Cove is the second book in a trilogy, that did not deter me from reading it first; I was at no disadvantage whatsoever. But I did like the author's style, characters, and creative story enough to seek out the first and third books, Miramar Bay and Moondust Lake, from my local library and read them. I give Firefly Cove, my favorite of the three, four stars which, per my rating scale translates as Really good; maybe only one weak aspect or limited audience. Could I really, without a slight tug at my conscience, give a bargain bin book five stars?
***************************
Although I read all three books within a two-week period, Miramar Bay and Moondust Lake will rollover and count as 2020 completions. These two books are set in the same California locale but the characters area all different and unrelated, so perhaps they do not form a true trilogy. In writing this I have since learned there is a fourth book ©2019 in the Miramar series, Unscripted, that I will seek out and read. The first three all bear the author's soft urging style that encourages the reader to turn page after page, not necessarily because of some climactic event, but rather because of a genuine caring for the characters and a yearning to see how their lives unfold.
The front flap of Miramar Bay ©2017, the first book in the series, reads
In the tender, heartwarming tradition of Nicholas Sparks, this compelling novel of two strangers in a small coastal town marks a romantic tour de force for internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn.
He stood looking out over the town and the cove and the shimmering Pacific. Connor knew this was why he had come to Miramar. It had never been about the music. It was all about regaining the ability to dream.
He meets Sylvia Cassick, owner of the Castaways restaurant staffed by cooks, waiters, and waitresses of dubious criminal pasts who Sylvia has granted second chances. The staff are her steadfast loyal supporters and devoted friends. Connor asked to be hired as a waiter at Castaways and Sylvia gives him a job, minimal questions asked. When Sylvia becomes at risk of losing her restaurant due to trumped up criminal drug charges against her, the tension level in the novel rises. Can the community and her clientele who love her help her in any way?
***************************
The plot of Moondust Lake focuses on Buddy Helm a young – late twenties – highly effective executive in the family business. His father Jack is highly critical, abrupt, harsh, and downright nasty; he never praises nor acknowledges Buddy's successes which surpass his own. Jack carries this abrasive attitude through to his wife Beth, and two daughters as well, although Buddy bears the brunt of it. Buddy is constantly under a lot of pressure and seeks an out without being unfaithful to or abandoning his father. Buddy is highly committed to the guardianship of his company "team", those who work tirelessly for him since he is considerate and inspires much voluntary loyalty. He is protective of his mother and sisters. He does not know who he is and struggles with his own identity. He begins seeing a church sponsored therapist who advises
This book, too was a page turner, but not out of sympathy for the character or thriller type dangerous suspense. This book made me feel stressed as I was reading it as Buddy struggles to figure out what his future path should be. Moondust Lake gets it title from the location of a retreat house where Buddy starts his self-discovery. The novel is a combination of psychological study (self) and strategy development (actions to be taken). I like where he sets out to learn more about his father's background as Jack grew up to understand why he acts as he does. There are some climactic action chapters near the end which compensated somewhat for Buddy' inner struggles. It was still an engaging read but not as pleasurable as the prior two. I give it three stars – Better than average; not a waste of time. I do not want to be a spoiler, but good does triumph over evil.
What I found interesting in this book, in addition to the intertwined budding relationships, were scenes where Connor was performing scripted acting that was being filmed live. I never realized how complicated a job of acting can be. Far from merely knowing his lines and saying them with emotion, Connor is stunningly aware of the technical aspects of filming that surround him: stopping at an impromptu location and posing oriented so the lighting is optimized, giving a sound man and his boom mic time to adjust position, surreptitiously feeding his co-actor lines when she forgets. I give Miramar Bay four stars - Really good; maybe only one weak aspect or limited audience. I did not like it quite as well as Firefly Cove but I certainly am glad I read it. And doesn't everyone, independent of age and circumstance, need to have the ability to dream?
***************************
Moondust Lake ©2018 by Davis Bunn is the third book in the Miramar series and I read it right after Miramar Bay at the risk of getting saturated and bored from exposing myself to same author's work three times in a row. Each book is about 300 pages so each is longer than an introductory novella, but the trio kept me engaged all the same. True, having due dates at the library can be motivating to keep forging ahead, but it was my interest in the book's plot, the characters, and the suspenseful tone that kept me wanting to read on.
Search out the elements of yourself you haven't been able to see before because you've lived with such constant pressure all your days. Take time to breathe. Take time to look. And to come to a fuller understanding of who you truly are.
As far as the self-identity issue is concerned I want you to take ten minutes morning and evening. Ask yourself one question. What would you like to hear other people say about you in five years' time? They are speaking the truth. They are talking about the man they love. What are they saying?
No comments:
Post a Comment