"The California coastal town of Bella Luna is named for its romantic beauty and spectacular moon. People here know that when a pink moon appears, something unexpected happens...
When single mom Lauren Jessup sees a picture of Bella Luna on a postcard, a strange feeling overcomes her. And she decides on the spot to move with her six-year-old son to the small town. Did she pick Bella Luna, or did it pick her?
Lauren soon realizes she's not cut out for the waitressing job she takes, but she's a good listener, and regular customer Nick DiMartino needs a sympathetic ear: his ex-wife has come back to claim their son. Lauren begins to believe that she's found a real home here, even if staying means opening her heart to Nick, whose troubles threaten to end what has barely begun. But here in Bella Luna, under the magic of a pink moon, people soon learn to expect the unexpected."
Why was it on the shelf?
When I first started reading romance, I discovered Stef Ann Holm's novel, "Lucy Gets Her Life Back", in a used bookstore and it had a beautiful cover and looked cozy and inviting and pretty much proclaimed itself to be exactly what I was looking for. I've since read most of Holm's contemporary titles but never got around to this one, her first, for some reason.
Why did I finally read it?
Lately, I have been binging on J.R. Ward's over-the-top crazy-ass Black Dagger Brotherhood books. When I finished book #8, I decided that I wanted to read something completely different from violent, angsty, bromance-centric vampire novels. I'd say this fit the bill.
Thoughts on the book?
I thought the book was sweet but not very memorable. I also must have a heart of black coal because the all of the things designed to draw on my heart strings—whimsical pink moon, meddling older gentlemen, an abandoned dog, cute lisping moppets—didn't do much for me. I did, however like and respect both main characters and I was particularly impressed with how thoughtfully Nick's custody issues with his ex-wife, Debbie, were handled for most of the novel. I really appreciated that Debbie wasn't just a one-note cartoon villain. This was not a bad Stef Ann Holm novel, but I've liked others of hers better; "Undressed" and "Lucy Gets Her Life Back" in particular.
How's the challenge going?
This was a very quick read so that helped move things along and it's been helpful that I haven't hit any real stinkers yet. I don't think I'll have any trouble making this January's 4-book goal though it'll come down to the wire.
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