Miramar Bay by Davis Bunn

Miramar Bay by Davis Bunn

What a delightful book! Ah, but I’m getting ahead of myself. 

Let’s begin with the summary:

He had not come all this way just to break another woman’s heart.

When Connor Larkin boards a late-night bus in downtown LA, he’s not sure where he’s going or what he’s looking for. Putting his acting career—and his fiancée —on hold, he’s searching for something he can’t define, a part of himself he lost on the road to success. Once he dreamed of being a singer in the classic style of Sinatra and Bennett. But his lean good looks soon landed him in movies as the sexy “bad guy”—and in the arms of a famous young heiress. Now, with his wedding day approaching, Connor finds himself stepping into the sleepy seaside town of Miramar Bay—where one remarkable woman inspires him to rethink all of his choices…

She needed to know his secrets, and to see if he’d tell her the truth.

Sylvie Cassick is nothing like the pretentious starlets back in Hollywood. The daughter of a nomadic painter, she’s had to work hard for everything—unlike Connor’s fiancée. When Connor hears familiar music drifting out of Sylvie’s restaurant, he feels as if he’s finally come home. Sylvie isn’t sure what to think when this impossibly handsome stranger applies for a waiter’s job. Yet once he serenades her customers—and slowly works his way into her heart—she realizes there’s more to him than he’s letting on. And Connor realizes he’s found his destiny. But as the outside world encroaches, threatening their fragile bond, Connor will have to risk losing everything to gain the life he longs for, and be the man Sylvie deserves.

And now, my review:

I heard about this book from a fellow Christian writer or reader (can’t recall) and knew I needed to give it a go. The dedication caught my eye, as it’s dedicated to Literary Agent Chip MacGregor, who is highly respected in Christian author circles. The cover captured me too. I love a good beachy read! Debbie Macomber’s endorsement on the cover sealed it for me. (I was a little skeptical of the publisher because they’re new to me.) 

The line that got me, after “It starts with taking a chance” from the cover was this line from the summary:  He had not come all this way just to break another woman’s heart.

This shows he cares. He's a man of integrity and is self-aware. Here was a hero I wanted to follow as he tries to find himself and open his sealed heart.

I so enjoyed this novel! It’s not often I get to read a romance written by a male author, so this was a treat. Davis gives us the perfect summertime read, full of just the right amount of conflict and quirky characters, a lovable hero, and a strong heroine. I loved this book start to finish. 

One of the themes was identity. Our hero is searching for himself and trying to reach another level in his career as an actor. He’ll need a heart awakening to make that happen. I enjoyed the fact he was musical and creative, and that he was trying to better himself. Our heroine is lonely and hard working. She’s grieving the loss of both her parents, for different reasons, and she thinks she’s fine. But when life kicks her hard one final time, she discovers she could use the support of both her honorary family (the community of Miramar Bay where she lives) and her real family. (another theme)

The setting is delightful. I read much of this book poolside, which I highly recommend. If you can’t find a pool, a back patio will do just fine. There is nothing better than reading a seasonal book during its season. That said, this book could be read year-round. 

Though the author is a Christian, the book is not a Christian novel, per se, and it is published by a house outside of the traditional CBA marketplace, but it’s a wholesome read. I have no qualms about recommending this book to all my Christian friends who prefer not to find objectionable language, sex, or violence in their fiction leisure reading. 

Highly recommended.