Moondance Beach by Susan Donovan – a Review

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description
Duncan Flynn long ago said goodbye to his hometown of Bayberry Island, Massachusetts, where a mermaid statue allegedly grants true love to the pure at heart. So when the injured Navy SEAL gets sent home—just in time to help his family prepare for the annual Mermaid Festival—he’s not in the mood to celebrate. Nor fall in love. But during a night run on the beach, a magnificently naked woman emerges from the surf who bears an uncanny resemblance to the mermaid in Fountain Square.

Adelena Silva’s otherworldly mermaid paintings have made her famous and wealthy, but Lena herself is a recluse—at least until Duncan Flynn comes home. She’s secretly loved him her whole life, and is determined not to let him get away again. But will revealing her truth win his heart, or cause Lena to lose him?


Review:

Moondance Beach by Susan Donovan is the 3^rd book in her Bayberry Island series.   This is my first book by Donovan, and it will not be my last. I loved Moondance Beach, and now I have to go back and read the first two books of this series. This book does read very well as a standalone, as you learn about the earlier couples, but if you have the chance to start at the beginning, it probably is more fun to do so.

The backdrop of this series is Bayberry Island, where there is a mermaid statue that supposedly grants true love. The older women in town have their own mermaid committee and an annual Mermaid Festival, which they promote heavily, especially during tourist season.

Duncan Flynn has come home to recuperate from severe injuries he incurred as a Navy Seal. Duncan is a life time Seal, and pushes himself over and above to heal and go back to his duties. Duncan hates being in Bayberry Island, even if it is nice to see his family. As he runs on the beach late one night, he sees a naked woman come out of the waters, and swears she has a tail (like a mermaid).

Adelena (Lena) is our heroine, and has secretly loved Duncan since she was a child. But Lena is now all grown up, and a famous wealthy artist, who watches Duncan from afar, telling no one how she still loves him. Lena knowing Duncan is home for now, refuses to see him, since she feels he would need to come to find her, especially after all these years.

Duncan accidently does come across Lena, and is shocked that this beautiful woman is the girl who followed him everywhere when they were kids. Duncan fights his attraction to Lena, since he is leaving town as soon as he is able. Knowing that he hurt her years before when he would ignore her as a kid, he doesn’t plan on hurting her again. But again, the chemistry between them is scorching, and they both succumb to their lust for each other.

What follows is a nice steamy romance that is destined to be short lived, as they both know Duncan will never stay home at Bayberry Island. The Flynn family does their best to push them together, especially Duncan’s mom, who prays the mermaid legend will avail. Will Duncan leave Lena and break both of their hearts? Can he get over the horrid memories of when he was injured and lost his friends?

I enjoyed this story so much that I could not put it down. As much as I loved Duncan, I ended up loving Lena even more. She was such a great heroine; smart, savvy, strong, sensual, loving, independent and talented. I loved the entire Flynn family and enjoyed all the camaraderie between them. This is pure romance, with a great couple and wonderful secondary characters. Susan Donovan has now been added to my must reads.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher