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Miramar Bay #2
Firefly Cove
From the internationally bestselling author of Miramar Bay comes a deeply emotional novel that explores the challenges of living, the joys of loving, and the bittersweet act of letting go . . .
I have this, Lucius thought to himself. I have today.
Since the age of seven, Lucius Quarterfield has known he is dying. Doctors told him he had a “bad ticker” and might not live to see his next birthday. But somehow, the frail yet determined boy managed to hang on and surprise everyone. The bullies who teased him. The family who neglected him. The professionals who offered little hope for a normal life. To their surprise, Lucius not only survived to adulthood, he thrived, turning a small car dealership into a successful chain. But now, at twenty-eight, his time is finally running out. So he’s returning to the one place he ever felt happy, near the only woman he ever truly wanted—the California seaside town of Miramar Bay…
Was it so much to ask, a healthy tomorrow shared with a woman he loved?
Jessica was the only daughter of the only dentist in town. An ardent reader and fan of Jane Austen, she was able to follow in her father’s footsteps, as he desired. But Jessica preferred the simple things in life—a trait that captivated Lucius from the moment he arrived in town on business. Her carefree approach to living and playful, quick wit was a breath of fresh air to a man who devoted all his time to work. They were complete opposites and perfect compliments. Soon they were falling head over heels—until Lucius pulled away, to spare her the pain of his inevitable fate. Now, after all this time, he won’t put her through that again. His days are numbered. And whatever happens—with Jessica or anyone sharing his journey—he’s going to make each moment count. Because he knows that everything is about to change . . . he just can’t know exactly how.
Warm-hearted, wise, and wonderfully moving, Firefly Cove is a powerful novel of first love and second chances that will live in readers’ hearts for years to come.
“Bunn has excelled in creating a deeply emotional read that will resonate with readers.” —Publishers Weekly
I have this, Lucius thought to himself. I have today.
Since the age of seven, Lucius Quarterfield has known he is dying. Doctors told him he had a “bad ticker” and might not live to see his next birthday. But somehow, the frail yet determined boy managed to hang on and surprise everyone. The bullies who teased him. The family who neglected him. The professionals who offered little hope for a normal life. To their surprise, Lucius not only survived to adulthood, he thrived, turning a small car dealership into a successful chain. But now, at twenty-eight, his time is finally running out. So he’s returning to the one place he ever felt happy, near the only woman he ever truly wanted—the California seaside town of Miramar Bay…
Was it so much to ask, a healthy tomorrow shared with a woman he loved?
Jessica was the only daughter of the only dentist in town. An ardent reader and fan of Jane Austen, she was able to follow in her father’s footsteps, as he desired. But Jessica preferred the simple things in life—a trait that captivated Lucius from the moment he arrived in town on business. Her carefree approach to living and playful, quick wit was a breath of fresh air to a man who devoted all his time to work. They were complete opposites and perfect compliments. Soon they were falling head over heels—until Lucius pulled away, to spare her the pain of his inevitable fate. Now, after all this time, he won’t put her through that again. His days are numbered. And whatever happens—with Jessica or anyone sharing his journey—he’s going to make each moment count. Because he knows that everything is about to change . . . he just can’t know exactly how.
Warm-hearted, wise, and wonderfully moving, Firefly Cove is a powerful novel of first love and second chances that will live in readers’ hearts for years to come.
“Bunn has excelled in creating a deeply emotional read that will resonate with readers.” —Publishers Weekly
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2017
393 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
Davis Bunn
112 books1,039 followersDavis Bunn is an internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than eight million books in twenty languages.
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
December 1, 2017
I recently received a complimentary copy of Firefly Cove in exchange for an honest appraisal of its merits.
I have enjoyed Davis Bunn’s work for years, but must admit I was a bit trepidatious when I discovered his most recent title was a “romance novel”, as that is not a genre I typically read.
It turns out my concern was unwarranted. Bunn, as always, writes almost in a poetic fashion, weaving together phrases and sentences that move the narrative along, but enchant the reader along the way. I am thoroughly convinced he could write directions for building an IKEA bookshelf with such beauty and grace that I would feel like Noah constructing the Ark after having put the booklet down.
As he lives in Oxford and Florida, he may not be native to the California coastline, but his dedication to research clearly paid off. I’m a native of the Golden State and his descriptions felt rich and full.
But the characters, as always, are most important. In the hands of a lesser writer, the plot would have stretched credulity, but Bunn balances between the incredible idea and the very credible people who live in the world he has crafted. Those who know of his former career in finance will appreciate how he intertwines that knowledge within the story.
In the end, Firefly Cove is a story about love, but not a love story in the most overwrought, clichéd sense. He takes the old genre and breathes into it his own style of telling story.
Having dabbled in everything from historical fiction to suspense to mythic fiction to young adult sci-fi to romance, it’s clear there is very little Davis Bunn cannot do with the written word.
I have enjoyed Davis Bunn’s work for years, but must admit I was a bit trepidatious when I discovered his most recent title was a “romance novel”, as that is not a genre I typically read.
It turns out my concern was unwarranted. Bunn, as always, writes almost in a poetic fashion, weaving together phrases and sentences that move the narrative along, but enchant the reader along the way. I am thoroughly convinced he could write directions for building an IKEA bookshelf with such beauty and grace that I would feel like Noah constructing the Ark after having put the booklet down.
As he lives in Oxford and Florida, he may not be native to the California coastline, but his dedication to research clearly paid off. I’m a native of the Golden State and his descriptions felt rich and full.
But the characters, as always, are most important. In the hands of a lesser writer, the plot would have stretched credulity, but Bunn balances between the incredible idea and the very credible people who live in the world he has crafted. Those who know of his former career in finance will appreciate how he intertwines that knowledge within the story.
In the end, Firefly Cove is a story about love, but not a love story in the most overwrought, clichéd sense. He takes the old genre and breathes into it his own style of telling story.
Having dabbled in everything from historical fiction to suspense to mythic fiction to young adult sci-fi to romance, it’s clear there is very little Davis Bunn cannot do with the written word.
June 28, 2018
"What will you do with the gift of your next breath?"
A unique story delivered with flawless writing set along the beautiful Central California coast. A different sort of book than I've read before by this veteran author, with a bit of romance and a plot twist that left me wondering where it would end.
Out of all the characters, I really liked the grandmother, Sonya. Her compassion and kindness in friendship towards Luke was convicting. So often we judge and hold back out of fear in offering help to others, assigning wrong motives, instead of taking a risk and reaching out to them. It keeps us from being a blessing and in return, being blessed.
A clean read that may appeal to anyone looking for a good story about second chances at life and love.
(A book was provided by the publisher via a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.)
A unique story delivered with flawless writing set along the beautiful Central California coast. A different sort of book than I've read before by this veteran author, with a bit of romance and a plot twist that left me wondering where it would end.
Out of all the characters, I really liked the grandmother, Sonya. Her compassion and kindness in friendship towards Luke was convicting. So often we judge and hold back out of fear in offering help to others, assigning wrong motives, instead of taking a risk and reaching out to them. It keeps us from being a blessing and in return, being blessed.
A clean read that may appeal to anyone looking for a good story about second chances at life and love.
(A book was provided by the publisher via a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.)
January 18, 2020
The story is certainly compelling and very unusual. Well written. But puzzling. Perhaps confusion is good for the digestion, as Jessica observed.
I finally realized what was missing: Jesus Christ. I did a word search and couldn't find Jesus or Christ or Lord in the book anywhere. Two of the characters say they are Christian, and Luke does go to church with Sonja: but their conversation was philosophical rather than spiritual. Nothing was mentioned of the actual church service. The church was only used as a setting where Sonja could give Luke an object lesson.
Since three people die in this book, seems to me that a discussion of their spiritual condition would be very normal for Christian fiction. From what I can tell, none of those three were ready to enter eternity with Jesus.
The ER Doctor mentioned God (briefly) in a conversation with Asha, and that was a very good conversation about miracles.
But this book could very well be offered to a secular audience, and maybe that was the author's intention. I think the New Age people would enjoy this story because it's mystical and bounces around the edges of spiritual matters, yet without traditional anchors. The story is just "out there" and the New Agers love that.
I finally realized what was missing: Jesus Christ. I did a word search and couldn't find Jesus or Christ or Lord in the book anywhere. Two of the characters say they are Christian, and Luke does go to church with Sonja: but their conversation was philosophical rather than spiritual. Nothing was mentioned of the actual church service. The church was only used as a setting where Sonja could give Luke an object lesson.
Since three people die in this book, seems to me that a discussion of their spiritual condition would be very normal for Christian fiction. From what I can tell, none of those three were ready to enter eternity with Jesus.
The ER Doctor mentioned God (briefly) in a conversation with Asha, and that was a very good conversation about miracles.
But this book could very well be offered to a secular audience, and maybe that was the author's intention. I think the New Age people would enjoy this story because it's mystical and bounces around the edges of spiritual matters, yet without traditional anchors. The story is just "out there" and the New Agers love that.
January 27, 2018
I'm not a big fan of romance or time travel novels, but this one doesn't really fit the stereotype for those. Lucius has gotten through life by being successful yet he is mostly just trying to survive by dealing as best he can with his battered, sickly body. His loneliness is paramount to the story. His doomed relationship with the beautiful Jessica is heart wrenching. When he dies and is 're-born' into a younger, healthier body, his life truly begins and he has new battles to fight. The main battle has to do with convincing his psychiatric team that he's not insane and ready to do harm to himself or others. The 'by the rules' team is cliché and annoying. Their position is predictable as are their decisions and actions - this part of the story gets tiresome. The redeeming factor is how Lucius comes to change his life, let others in, and do what he couldn't do for Jessica in his previous life.
January 30, 2018
This was a very bizarre book, but somehow, in true Davis Bunn style, I was rooting for the man who had died 40 years ago and come back to life in a different person's body. I think Davis Bunn has written in just about every genre and he always does it well -- even if I wish he'd just go back to Christian suspense.
August 27, 2024
Fabulous! I am addicted to this Miramar series! I’m so thankful that I stumbled upon David Bunn at the library. Writing genius!
December 1, 2017
Deb’s Dozen: Life regained. What will he do with the new breath granted him?
In Firefly Cove, the second book of the Miramar Bay series, Davis Bunn has written a time-travel book of a different sort. Reminiscent of Somewhere in Time, the Jane Seymour-Christopher Reeve movie based itself on a novel, Time After Time, Firefly Cove also involves lost loves.
Lucias Quarterfield has been ill practically his whole life. Because of his illness, he’s become a loner-afraid of friendship because doctors tell him he might die at any time. Surprisingly, he matures and eventually turns a car dealership into a chain. The only relationship he’s formed is with Jessica Waverly during a time in Miramar Bay. Now told he is finally dying, he heads to Miramar Bay to find Jessica, which he does, only to end up dying in her arms.
Forty-nine years later, Luke Benoit finally succeeds in committing suicide-or did he? While being wheeled to the morgue, Luke wakes up. However, he has no memory of Luke nor of Luke’s life. Psychologist Asha Meisel and her supervisor, Dino Barbieri are puzzled. Luke is not reacting normally to this near-death experience.
Bunn, as always, has created wonderful characters. I loved Asha and her hidden crush on Dino. Their interaction forms much of the substance of the book. Strong woman and bull-headed man-boy, can I relate to that! Luke has a voyage of discovery to make as well. And time? Well, time can heal wounds … and cause new ones. You’ll love this fascinating book with the interesting interaction among the characters as they unravel the puzzle of Luke, love, and second chances. Available December 26, 2017. Preorder! Four stars!
Davis Bunn is a prolific author with dozens of awards including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Christys and over seven million books in print. He and his wife, Isabella, live part time at Oxford University in England, where he is Author in Residence and part time on the Florida east coast. As Thomas Locke, he writes fantasy, speculative, and young adult fiction.
Kensington Books gave me a copy of Firefly Cove, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.
In Firefly Cove, the second book of the Miramar Bay series, Davis Bunn has written a time-travel book of a different sort. Reminiscent of Somewhere in Time, the Jane Seymour-Christopher Reeve movie based itself on a novel, Time After Time, Firefly Cove also involves lost loves.
Lucias Quarterfield has been ill practically his whole life. Because of his illness, he’s become a loner-afraid of friendship because doctors tell him he might die at any time. Surprisingly, he matures and eventually turns a car dealership into a chain. The only relationship he’s formed is with Jessica Waverly during a time in Miramar Bay. Now told he is finally dying, he heads to Miramar Bay to find Jessica, which he does, only to end up dying in her arms.
Forty-nine years later, Luke Benoit finally succeeds in committing suicide-or did he? While being wheeled to the morgue, Luke wakes up. However, he has no memory of Luke nor of Luke’s life. Psychologist Asha Meisel and her supervisor, Dino Barbieri are puzzled. Luke is not reacting normally to this near-death experience.
Bunn, as always, has created wonderful characters. I loved Asha and her hidden crush on Dino. Their interaction forms much of the substance of the book. Strong woman and bull-headed man-boy, can I relate to that! Luke has a voyage of discovery to make as well. And time? Well, time can heal wounds … and cause new ones. You’ll love this fascinating book with the interesting interaction among the characters as they unravel the puzzle of Luke, love, and second chances. Available December 26, 2017. Preorder! Four stars!
Davis Bunn is a prolific author with dozens of awards including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Christys and over seven million books in print. He and his wife, Isabella, live part time at Oxford University in England, where he is Author in Residence and part time on the Florida east coast. As Thomas Locke, he writes fantasy, speculative, and young adult fiction.
Kensington Books gave me a copy of Firefly Cove, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.
December 19, 2017
Ever since Lucius was a boy, doctors have told him he's dying, on account of his bad heart. Although Lucius has made it to adulthood anyway and has become a successful businessman, he knows his time is finally running out. Because he wants the woman he loves to be free of him before the end, he pulls away from her in Firefly Cove, a novel by author Davis Bunn.
It was in promotional copy covering both this book and Miramar Bay that I first saw the "Nicholas Sparks" comparison. From a marketing standpoint, I understand the reason for statements like that. But I think such comparisons can actually fail to do one author's or the other's work justice, and it isn't always the best thing for readers' expectations.
I personally didn't come in expecting a Sparks read, here. I expected a Davis Bunn one. And that's what I got.
Also, though I didn't read the book blurb beforehand, I'd encourage anyone who does so not to expect a romance novel. (I mean, hey, even Sparks doesn't write romance novels.) The blurb only scratches Firefly Cove's surface, and honestly, much of this felt to me like reading one of Bunn's (or even, *cough,* one of Thomas Locke's) thrillers or suspense novels, minus guns or car chases. The deft storytelling, sharp characters, mysterious and dangerous implications, professional insight as well as hauntingly beautiful perceptions of humanity—it's all there.
While there's one pretty classic movie this love story reminds me of, I think I can safely say I haven't read a love story quite like it. This is one of those times when, really, it's better to just read the novel without trying to understand too much about it beforehand.
_____________
I received a complimentary copy of this book, for which I've given an honest review.
It was in promotional copy covering both this book and Miramar Bay that I first saw the "Nicholas Sparks" comparison. From a marketing standpoint, I understand the reason for statements like that. But I think such comparisons can actually fail to do one author's or the other's work justice, and it isn't always the best thing for readers' expectations.
I personally didn't come in expecting a Sparks read, here. I expected a Davis Bunn one. And that's what I got.
Also, though I didn't read the book blurb beforehand, I'd encourage anyone who does so not to expect a romance novel. (I mean, hey, even Sparks doesn't write romance novels.) The blurb only scratches Firefly Cove's surface, and honestly, much of this felt to me like reading one of Bunn's (or even, *cough,* one of Thomas Locke's) thrillers or suspense novels, minus guns or car chases. The deft storytelling, sharp characters, mysterious and dangerous implications, professional insight as well as hauntingly beautiful perceptions of humanity—it's all there.
While there's one pretty classic movie this love story reminds me of, I think I can safely say I haven't read a love story quite like it. This is one of those times when, really, it's better to just read the novel without trying to understand too much about it beforehand.
_____________
I received a complimentary copy of this book, for which I've given an honest review.
September 26, 2024
Second book in the Miramar Bay series but this could easily be a standalone book; there's nothing from the story in the first one continued here except maybe the Miramar location & mention of the restaurant owner. Lucius Quarterfield was told at age 7 that he was dying, he somehow makes it to adult hood being a successful businessman in the process. At age 28 his time is running out so he returns to Miramar where he met Jessica, the only woman he's ever loved. Then......the story took a twist that I didn't expect! It kept me reading and engaged with the characters, I wanted to see what would happen. It's a clean read, a little bit mystical/fanciful and a little bit of a different/unique love story about relationships and second chances. "What will you do with the gift of your next breath"
May 19, 2018
I enjoyed the premise of the book, the psychology behind it all. There’s so much about death and near death that we simply don’t know. I do struggle with the relationship between Asha and Dino. It seemed forced and felt like a filler, there wasn’t much genuine or realistic about it.
July 20, 2020
Great narrator, w/odd but pleasant fairy tale of a story.
February 3, 2025
Firefly Cove is the second in Davis Bunn’s Miramar Bay series.
Lucius Quarterfield lived in the 1960s and developed pleurisy when he was seven. The illness damaged his heart to the point that doctors did not give him long to live.
Though often weak and in pain, when Lucius was grown, he bought a small automobile dealership, which eventually turned into a chain.
He fell in love with a woman named Jessica, who was opposite from him in almost every way. However, since he knew he would die young, he felt it was best to pull away, to spare Jessica the pain of losing him.
After eleven months, he wants to see her and drives back to Miramar. His worst fears are realized when he has a heart attack and dies in her arms.
But then he wakes up in a cold room with a sheet over his face. People call him Luke, not Lucius. His hands and face are not his own. He discovers the date is almost fifty years ahead of his own time.
Nothing in the book’s descriptions said anything about this, and the other books in the series that I have read so far don’t have any kind of supernatural or science fiction elements. So it was jarring. Maybe the author wanted it to be as disorienting to the reader as it would have been to the character.
I don’t believe in reincarnation because Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” There’s also nothing in Scripture about any human inhabiting any other human’s body. From what I have read of the author, I think he believes the same way. So I am not sure why he would have this occur in his story.
I decided to view the situation as a plot device, just like other impossibilities such as time travel.
In Lucius’s situation, the young man whose body he woke up in had just attempted his third try at suicide. His therapist’s supervisor is ready to have him locked up. He would be even more ready if Lucius told him he had actually lived fifty years before. All Lucius wants to do is find out what happened to Jessica.
Luke’s therapist, a Persian young woman named Asha, notices several differences about him right away. He looks the same but carries himself differently, speaks differently, and has even lost his French-Canadian accent. She and her supervisor think Luke’s “near death experience” led to Dissociative Identity Disorder, or a split personality. Yet he doesn’t manifest certain hallmarks of that illness.
At it’s heart, this book is a love story, though an unconventional one. The story was well-written. We’re drawn in as Lucius’s situation slowly unfolds, figuring out modern gadgets and ways, what kind of man Luke was, how he should proceed, what his future should look like. The characters were well-developed–besides Lucius, I particularly liked Asha and her grandmother. The intrigue of what’s going to happen to Luke–will he ever find Jessica, what will he do when he does, will he be able to avoid being committed to an institution, will anyone else ever believe his story–keeps us engaged, as does Asha’s story. I’m still processing what I think about the book. Even though I normally wouldn’t care for this kind of story, I found it engaging.
I’m inclined to think this might have worked better as a stand-alone novel, except that the theme of the Miramar Bay books has to do with second chances.
Lucius Quarterfield lived in the 1960s and developed pleurisy when he was seven. The illness damaged his heart to the point that doctors did not give him long to live.
Though often weak and in pain, when Lucius was grown, he bought a small automobile dealership, which eventually turned into a chain.
He fell in love with a woman named Jessica, who was opposite from him in almost every way. However, since he knew he would die young, he felt it was best to pull away, to spare Jessica the pain of losing him.
After eleven months, he wants to see her and drives back to Miramar. His worst fears are realized when he has a heart attack and dies in her arms.
But then he wakes up in a cold room with a sheet over his face. People call him Luke, not Lucius. His hands and face are not his own. He discovers the date is almost fifty years ahead of his own time.
Nothing in the book’s descriptions said anything about this, and the other books in the series that I have read so far don’t have any kind of supernatural or science fiction elements. So it was jarring. Maybe the author wanted it to be as disorienting to the reader as it would have been to the character.
I don’t believe in reincarnation because Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” There’s also nothing in Scripture about any human inhabiting any other human’s body. From what I have read of the author, I think he believes the same way. So I am not sure why he would have this occur in his story.
I decided to view the situation as a plot device, just like other impossibilities such as time travel.
In Lucius’s situation, the young man whose body he woke up in had just attempted his third try at suicide. His therapist’s supervisor is ready to have him locked up. He would be even more ready if Lucius told him he had actually lived fifty years before. All Lucius wants to do is find out what happened to Jessica.
Luke’s therapist, a Persian young woman named Asha, notices several differences about him right away. He looks the same but carries himself differently, speaks differently, and has even lost his French-Canadian accent. She and her supervisor think Luke’s “near death experience” led to Dissociative Identity Disorder, or a split personality. Yet he doesn’t manifest certain hallmarks of that illness.
At it’s heart, this book is a love story, though an unconventional one. The story was well-written. We’re drawn in as Lucius’s situation slowly unfolds, figuring out modern gadgets and ways, what kind of man Luke was, how he should proceed, what his future should look like. The characters were well-developed–besides Lucius, I particularly liked Asha and her grandmother. The intrigue of what’s going to happen to Luke–will he ever find Jessica, what will he do when he does, will he be able to avoid being committed to an institution, will anyone else ever believe his story–keeps us engaged, as does Asha’s story. I’m still processing what I think about the book. Even though I normally wouldn’t care for this kind of story, I found it engaging.
I’m inclined to think this might have worked better as a stand-alone novel, except that the theme of the Miramar Bay books has to do with second chances.
December 1, 2017
As the story opens in 1969 and the doctor tells Lucius on the second page that he is dying, my mind was questioning where this story was headed. According to the back cover blurb, Lucius and Jessica are falling head over heels in love, so what is romantic about him dying? The problem for me was that Davis Bunn’s mind does so much better at developing a story more intriguing than I could even imagine: a romance with a suspenseful twist, a romance unlike any I have read previously. Bunn held my attention from beginning to end. After reading this story, I may struggle in the future with the typical romance novels where boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after. Some may consider this to be a double romance. We have Lucius and Jessica with some amazing twists and then we have Dino and Asha. Even their romance is not totally typical due to their age difference, their work relationship, and other contributing factors. For much of the book, I felt like something was being held just out of reach that kept me pressing forward to see where it would lead. Dino and Asha seemed to sense something about Luke was being dangled just out of their reach as well. Asha was completing her training to become a marriage, family, and crisis therapist. Dino was the chief therapist in the mental health unit of the hospital where she was doing her internship. And they are faced with a mental health crisis unlike anything they have ever experienced. The story is mesmerizing. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
May 20, 2021
This novel can be read as a standalone.
The first book in this series (Miramar Bay) didn't appeal to me very much, I admit. It's a "feel good" novel, but I missed a more significant moral conflict. But this seconds novel in the series is fascinating! Yes, it could be written in a more dramatic way, asking the fundamental questions in a more disturbing way - but its human dimension strikes me as very pleasant and it well balances the questions of death, identity and mental illness that the book deals with.
Unbalanced young Luke with years of therapy under his belt changes after the experience of near death. But how he changes! He claims to be someone else - Lucius, who died decades ago. Of course, his therapist and her supervisor presume mental illness - but Luke / Lucius knows too much about it, and his personality change is remarkable, yet accompanied by inner peace. Is the impossible possible?
We will never know some things from this story. But what I take away is this - miracles are possible and they can happen silently in everyday lives. From smaller (but still huge) miracles, such as the fact that a person finds love, to the possibility of what cannot be explained by reason. It is possible that the past and the present are intertwined, that some words and sentences can be pronounced even after years, that time may not be constant. Because love still abides among us.
A beautiful, balanced, enriching and at the same time rightly disturbing book.
Recommended read.
The first book in this series (Miramar Bay) didn't appeal to me very much, I admit. It's a "feel good" novel, but I missed a more significant moral conflict. But this seconds novel in the series is fascinating! Yes, it could be written in a more dramatic way, asking the fundamental questions in a more disturbing way - but its human dimension strikes me as very pleasant and it well balances the questions of death, identity and mental illness that the book deals with.
Unbalanced young Luke with years of therapy under his belt changes after the experience of near death. But how he changes! He claims to be someone else - Lucius, who died decades ago. Of course, his therapist and her supervisor presume mental illness - but Luke / Lucius knows too much about it, and his personality change is remarkable, yet accompanied by inner peace. Is the impossible possible?
We will never know some things from this story. But what I take away is this - miracles are possible and they can happen silently in everyday lives. From smaller (but still huge) miracles, such as the fact that a person finds love, to the possibility of what cannot be explained by reason. It is possible that the past and the present are intertwined, that some words and sentences can be pronounced even after years, that time may not be constant. Because love still abides among us.
A beautiful, balanced, enriching and at the same time rightly disturbing book.
Recommended read.
November 20, 2017
The second book in Bunn's Miramar Bay series is as delightful and magical as the first. A bit of magical realism goes a long way, and this novel is heartwarming from start to finish. Lucius is a wonderful character; his personality shines on each page and begs readers to get to know him better. Asha and Dino and the rest of the supporting characters are relatable and endear themselves to readers. Cameos of characters from the first book of the series make everything more enjoyable. This tale is feel-good all the way through; a story of not giving up and of getting a second chance at love … and life.
In 1969, Lucius Quarterfield is on top of the world in some ways, but not so much in others. He owns a string of successful car dealerships, but his health has been failing for years and he doesn't have much time left. He meets the lovely Jessica; however, they can't be together due to his numbered days. All the two want is to be together, but that definitely doesn't seem meant to be. Fast forward to the present day, and things just might be changing for everyone in a way that none of them could have ever imagined.
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In 1969, Lucius Quarterfield is on top of the world in some ways, but not so much in others. He owns a string of successful car dealerships, but his health has been failing for years and he doesn't have much time left. He meets the lovely Jessica; however, they can't be together due to his numbered days. All the two want is to be together, but that definitely doesn't seem meant to be. Fast forward to the present day, and things just might be changing for everyone in a way that none of them could have ever imagined.
https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...
December 20, 2017
Lucius Quarterfield returns to Miramar Bay, and the love of his life, just to die in her arms. He awakens as a different man in a different time, and with a chance to make changes in who he used to be.
I always enjoy reading Davis Bunn's books, and Firefly Cove is no different. He is able to make new things seem familiar, and you can imagine being there with the characters as the story progresses. The characters themselves are easy to relate to and understand.
The plot of Firefly Cove is about love and relationships, but this theme is accompanied by other concepts that we can face in our lives. Lucius has to deal with others that, at best, don't believe him and he has to adjust to being in a different time. Others struggle with reconciling what they see with what they know.
I did not expect the twist after Lucius' death in the first chapter, and that made me want to read on and find out how things were going to turn out. Though the story is what I would call a little off the beaten path, it was easy to follow and entertaining to read. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I always enjoy reading Davis Bunn's books, and Firefly Cove is no different. He is able to make new things seem familiar, and you can imagine being there with the characters as the story progresses. The characters themselves are easy to relate to and understand.
The plot of Firefly Cove is about love and relationships, but this theme is accompanied by other concepts that we can face in our lives. Lucius has to deal with others that, at best, don't believe him and he has to adjust to being in a different time. Others struggle with reconciling what they see with what they know.
I did not expect the twist after Lucius' death in the first chapter, and that made me want to read on and find out how things were going to turn out. Though the story is what I would call a little off the beaten path, it was easy to follow and entertaining to read. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2017
I think I've read all of Davis Bunn's books. I really enjoyed the first one in this series, Miramar Bay. This new one, Firefly Cove, was not at all what I expected. When I first heard about the title, I thought, “Is this set in California again? California doesn't have fireflies!” (I've lived in California all life.) So after Googling, I discovered California DOES have fireflies.
Next, I expected your normal, happily-ever-after romance. Be warned – this book is NOT your normal romance. Have your tissues handy. Also, suspend your disbelief. I think this should be classified as romantic speculative fiction. It's not science fiction, mind you, but it definitely is a “what if??”
Bunn's writing is as good as ever. He draws you in with realistic characters, good plot twists and just enough hints of what might be coming to keep you reading. He also stretches the reader to really think about life and truth and what is most important.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
Next, I expected your normal, happily-ever-after romance. Be warned – this book is NOT your normal romance. Have your tissues handy. Also, suspend your disbelief. I think this should be classified as romantic speculative fiction. It's not science fiction, mind you, but it definitely is a “what if??”
Bunn's writing is as good as ever. He draws you in with realistic characters, good plot twists and just enough hints of what might be coming to keep you reading. He also stretches the reader to really think about life and truth and what is most important.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.
March 19, 2018
This book! Engrossing, original, brilliant and utterly unexpected. If I was a bookseller, I would have no idea how to shelve this; it defies classification. I've seen it described as a romance, but having read plenty of them, I disagree. Even those I enjoy are formulaic and predictable, which this is most definitely NOT. Romance is a minor thread in Firefly Cove's plot, not its center. It's a love story in a truer sense; love is the driving force in the character's lives - genuine, sacrificial and difficult love - between family members, doctors and patients, employers and staff, as well as couples. Captivating characters drive the narrative in wholly surprising ways. Even my annoyance with the overuse of adjectives and adverbs evaporated by chapter five. I stayed up most of the night, unable to stop turning the pages. I had to know what happened. Reading the last line, I wept, quite against my will. I've read a handful of astonishing, masterful novels over the years, but this is the first one full of light instead of darkness. Bravo, Mr. Bunn!
March 29, 2019
For readers who enjoy stories of defying death by waking up in someone else's body decades later and that contain quite a bit about human psychology and various disorders this would be a decent read. The story starts out in the late 1960's and then flashes forward to present-day for the remainder of the novel.
For what this book was, it was just ok for me. It wasn't too uninteresting that I didn't finish it, however it lacked suspense or a sense of fun feeling that a lighter read like this usually has. I struggled to find the motivation to pick it up and continue reading it on several occasions, but I was curious to see how it ended even though the ending was very predictable early on.
I had went into this novel thinking there would be more of a romantic aspect to it than there was because I thought that it would frequently go back to the 1960's love story that was briefly introduced in the beginning, but it did not; it turned out to be more focused on psychological aspects and psychological counseling treatments of the main character.
For what this book was, it was just ok for me. It wasn't too uninteresting that I didn't finish it, however it lacked suspense or a sense of fun feeling that a lighter read like this usually has. I struggled to find the motivation to pick it up and continue reading it on several occasions, but I was curious to see how it ended even though the ending was very predictable early on.
I had went into this novel thinking there would be more of a romantic aspect to it than there was because I thought that it would frequently go back to the 1960's love story that was briefly introduced in the beginning, but it did not; it turned out to be more focused on psychological aspects and psychological counseling treatments of the main character.
April 11, 2018
This book had me rushing to read and rushing to turn the pages.... it was that good! A bit of an unusual story from anything I have ever read before, and the writing itself was captivating. What seemed impossible became possible the further I read.
Lucius Quarterfield, age 28, is a very sick man, and supposedly does not have much time left on this earth. He is infatuated with a lovely young woman named Jessica but feels torn about furthering the relationship due to his illness.
Luke Benoit is a young man that suffers from a deep, dark depression with no reason to live. The story becomes very interesting at this point, especially relating to the mental health clinicians, doctors and care he is receiving.
This story brings to light many interesting topics including near death experiences and the mental health system in general. What do you believe?? You have to read this book. It could make you rethink what you think is the truth.
Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing and the Goodreads program for providing me with an ARC of this incredible story. I loved it and can't wait to read more books by Davis Bunn. His writing is amazing!
Lucius Quarterfield, age 28, is a very sick man, and supposedly does not have much time left on this earth. He is infatuated with a lovely young woman named Jessica but feels torn about furthering the relationship due to his illness.
Luke Benoit is a young man that suffers from a deep, dark depression with no reason to live. The story becomes very interesting at this point, especially relating to the mental health clinicians, doctors and care he is receiving.
This story brings to light many interesting topics including near death experiences and the mental health system in general. What do you believe?? You have to read this book. It could make you rethink what you think is the truth.
Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing and the Goodreads program for providing me with an ARC of this incredible story. I loved it and can't wait to read more books by Davis Bunn. His writing is amazing!
March 1, 2018
I received an arc through goodreads first-reads.
I want to start off by saying the synopsis for this novel is a little misleading. Going in I expected the whole book to be based in the same time period and be based on Lucuis living out the rest of the life his heart condition gives him. That’s not what this novel is about at all. The synopsis only covers the first part of the novel before it changes to modern day and a group of new main characters are introduced.
This novel appears to be a romance genre from the outside but it really isn’t. while there are romantic aspects, it is more of a mix of contemporary paranormal and fiction. The characters it follows are very different from each other and make up an interesting story. I find it hard to write a review for firefly cove without giving too much of the story away. This is just one of those novels you have to read for yourself and let the twist and turns be a surprise. I have to say it is an interesting read that makes you think about life, death and second chances.
I want to start off by saying the synopsis for this novel is a little misleading. Going in I expected the whole book to be based in the same time period and be based on Lucuis living out the rest of the life his heart condition gives him. That’s not what this novel is about at all. The synopsis only covers the first part of the novel before it changes to modern day and a group of new main characters are introduced.
This novel appears to be a romance genre from the outside but it really isn’t. while there are romantic aspects, it is more of a mix of contemporary paranormal and fiction. The characters it follows are very different from each other and make up an interesting story. I find it hard to write a review for firefly cove without giving too much of the story away. This is just one of those novels you have to read for yourself and let the twist and turns be a surprise. I have to say it is an interesting read that makes you think about life, death and second chances.
August 24, 2018
FIREFLY COVE by Davis Bunn is the second book in the Miramar Bay series. It appears that miracles can happen in Miramar Bay and in 1963 (??) only a miracle could help Lucius Quarterfield.
A successful entrepreneur, Lucius has found the love of his life. Only both know that his life has only a few moments left, and we read the first pages we quickly learn that those moments pass without a miracle. Fast forward to the present, and a different Lucius (Luke, really) makes the decision to end his life, but the attempt is not successful. Rushed to a hospital, the patient awakes. Could it be that the needed miracle could happen 50 years later? This novel requires you to suspend belief and accept all possibilities, but when you do that, you will have a heart warming story with strong characters and hope. I obtained a copy of this novel from our library system.
A successful entrepreneur, Lucius has found the love of his life. Only both know that his life has only a few moments left, and we read the first pages we quickly learn that those moments pass without a miracle. Fast forward to the present, and a different Lucius (Luke, really) makes the decision to end his life, but the attempt is not successful. Rushed to a hospital, the patient awakes. Could it be that the needed miracle could happen 50 years later? This novel requires you to suspend belief and accept all possibilities, but when you do that, you will have a heart warming story with strong characters and hope. I obtained a copy of this novel from our library system.
June 9, 2019
I thought this book was a continuation of the Miramar Bay series. I was surprised, pleasantly so, that this is not the case. Yes, there is mention of the town in this book and two brief scenes in the restaurant from book one, but this really is a standalone story with a turn that I was SO not expecting.
Fans of the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time will find strong parallels to this book - asking the question: can love transcend time? and what would you do for a love lost through generations? I was intrigued by the main character and the supplement characters that journey into his life. I also enjoyed the parallel story of his therapist and her viewpoints. I appreciated the discussion questions poised to the reader at the end, it makes you stop and ponder the messages woven throughout.
Fans of the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time will find strong parallels to this book - asking the question: can love transcend time? and what would you do for a love lost through generations? I was intrigued by the main character and the supplement characters that journey into his life. I also enjoyed the parallel story of his therapist and her viewpoints. I appreciated the discussion questions poised to the reader at the end, it makes you stop and ponder the messages woven throughout.
May 13, 2023
I typically do not do time travel, fantasy type books but this book did not at all fall into the stereotypes.
Lucius Quarterfield finds himself transported forward 50 years by waking up in a morgue under a sheet. The body he has occupied is Luke Benoit. And Luke had tried to commit suicide. The story propels forward as Luke (Lucius) meets his psychiatrists and doctors and they are flabbergasted at the enormous change. .. Almost as if he is someone else … And of course, Lucius just can not stay away from the woman he left behind when he died – 49 years ago.
This was truly a beautiful story. Told in brilliant prose and dialogue – I found myself thinking of the story when I was not reading it.
In fact it was so good I couldn’t pick just one quote to put on my review. So there are two. You’re welcome!
Book Quote #1 “ We’re just two friends trying to find our way down an unmarked road.”
Book Quote #2 “ But sorrow will not grant us a single extra hour. And giving into it will rob us of every possible joy.”
Lucius Quarterfield finds himself transported forward 50 years by waking up in a morgue under a sheet. The body he has occupied is Luke Benoit. And Luke had tried to commit suicide. The story propels forward as Luke (Lucius) meets his psychiatrists and doctors and they are flabbergasted at the enormous change. .. Almost as if he is someone else … And of course, Lucius just can not stay away from the woman he left behind when he died – 49 years ago.
This was truly a beautiful story. Told in brilliant prose and dialogue – I found myself thinking of the story when I was not reading it.
In fact it was so good I couldn’t pick just one quote to put on my review. So there are two. You’re welcome!
Book Quote #1 “ We’re just two friends trying to find our way down an unmarked road.”
Book Quote #2 “ But sorrow will not grant us a single extra hour. And giving into it will rob us of every possible joy.”
December 11, 2017
A lovely unusual love story. Suspend belief to truly enjoy this as there's a bit of magical realism that makes it sing. Lucius/Luke, Jessica, Dino, and Asha are all characters you'll come to admire and root for. How to explain what happens? Well, as much as we believe in science, sometimes there's something out there that makes things right for the world, and in this case it's for Lucius, who had a hard time from the beginning. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. If you read Miramar Bay, you'll be happy to revisit a few of the people you met there; if you did not, you'll be fine with this as a standalone as it's not reliant on the earlier book as a base. This is an enchanting and encouraging novel with a big heart.
December 15, 2017
Davis Bunn’s second Miramar Bay novel, Firefly Cove, kept me reading to find out what would happen next. I wondered, along with the main characters, about the truth behind Luke Benoit’s story. Other characters provided valuable insight and I appreciated that aspect of the story. Bunn does a good job interweaving Luke’s and Lucius’ stories, while keeping the characteristics of each clear for readers. Asha, Dino, and Sonya play strong roles as significant characters, and it’s interesting to observe the development of Jessica’s character. I thought perhaps we might see more Dr. Emeka after his helpful contribution midway through the story. Bunn tied up all the loose ends nicely, although I might wish for a slightly different ending.
March 8, 2018
I received this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program. When Lucius Quarterfield wakes up after being pronounced dead, he doesn’t recognize the person in the mirror. The last he can remember is the health issues that kept him from the love of his life when he distanced himself from his true love Jessica in an effort to keep her from the heartbreak that was soon to follow upon his death. In Lucius’ current life, he is known as Luke and is being treated for psychological issues after his third suicide attempt. A reunion brings Jessica and Luke back into each other’s lives.
I did not care for this book- confusing storyline and not very well developed characters. I had a hard time getting into this book and into the story in general.
I did not care for this book- confusing storyline and not very well developed characters. I had a hard time getting into this book and into the story in general.
October 8, 2018
Bunn's writing is always smooth and enjoyable to read. This story was a tad bizarre where a man who has died 49 years prior finds he is alive again in the body of a troubled young man. What follows is intriguing as to how this man realizes he is alive again and has to convince his therapist he is not a suicide risk like the man whose body he now inhabits was.
What I felt missing was what supposedly happened to the "soul" or "personality" of the young man? We know he was troubled, a high suicide risk and used drugs, but still I felt it missing. The man who inhabits the young man's body never alludes to wondering this either. He does think how sad that young man must have been.
Of course it is fiction and we might ponder "What if that happened to me?"
What I felt missing was what supposedly happened to the "soul" or "personality" of the young man? We know he was troubled, a high suicide risk and used drugs, but still I felt it missing. The man who inhabits the young man's body never alludes to wondering this either. He does think how sad that young man must have been.
Of course it is fiction and we might ponder "What if that happened to me?"
April 19, 2025
Firefly Cove by Davis Bunn is the second book of the Miramar Bay series set at Miramar beginning in 1969, then suddenly - and dramatically - shifting to 2018. Protagonist Lucius Quarterfield was a sick, frail child, always told he would die soon. But he survived into young adulthood, and grew a successful business. In Miramar he met Jessica, the love of his life. But marriage and family was not to be...
College dropout and druggie Luke Benoit finally succeeds in committing suicide on his third try...but then wakes up in the morgue. His psychologist Asha Meisel and her supervisor/thesis advisor Dino Barbieri struggle tremendously to understand what is happening; the patient isn't at all like Luke.
A tremendous love story.
College dropout and druggie Luke Benoit finally succeeds in committing suicide on his third try...but then wakes up in the morgue. His psychologist Asha Meisel and her supervisor/thesis advisor Dino Barbieri struggle tremendously to understand what is happening; the patient isn't at all like Luke.
A tremendous love story.
April 13, 2018
Firefly Cove is a heart warming book about second chances. For Lucius a second chance at life and to be with his first love, Jessica. For Asha and Dino a second chance at starting a new life together. As therapist they are confronted by Luke's rebirth as Lucius. They almost lose the relationship that has just started to bloom over the difference in their beliefs of what is going on, is it split personality or reincarnation. The "loneliness man" has to convince them of who he is or be hospitalized and medicated so he doesn't attempt another suicide. One only hopes that Jessica gets to join Lucius again. I received this book by author Davis Bunn, free from Goodreads.
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