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Miramar Bay #5
The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane
From the New York Times bestselling author of Tranquility Falls comes a heart-stirring new novel that readers of Carolyn Brown and Ellen Hilderbrand will rejoice in, set in Miramar Bay, the idyllic seaside town where everyone gets a second chance, including a Hollywood star with a wounded heart and an insightful woman escaping a tragic past in Ukraine.
“Fans of Nicholas Sparks and inspirational fiction will enjoy Bunn.” —Booklist on Moondust Lake
Sometimes life flips the script . . .
Billy Walker is a North Carolina boy whose Hollywood star is beginning to shine. His rough past is in the rear view. Now seeing the world from the back seat of a limousine, Billy has no regrets about what he had to do, and the choices he made, to get there. But all it takes is one death-defying moment for Billy’s world to shift. When an on-set accident leaves him shaken, plagued by haunting dreams, he’s in desperate need of a rest cure. Given keys to a getaway cottage on Lighthouse Lane in Miramar Bay, he’ll regroup, relax, and recover. Yet as Billy’s dreams grow darker and more fearful, his only promise for light is in a stunning, mysterious, and uniquely gifted stranger . . .
And your next act is rewritten . . .
Mimi has never forgotten her tragic childhood in eastern Ukraine. Violence, a vanished family, abandonment, and a hard-won struggle to escape. Miramar Bay couldn’t be a more beautiful or unexpected refuge. In yoga and dance, and imbued with a talent to read the unrestful visions of others, Mimi has a seemingly divine ability to comfort. She may be everything Billy desires, but Mimi knows what Billy needs. He must confront his troubling past—and not just in his dreams. As their connection deepens, Billy finds himself falling in love, and waking up to something he’s never felt before. But when the real world comes calling again, how can he say goodbye to a woman who’s changing his life one illuminating sunrise at a time?
Poignant, powerful, and surprising , this is a love story for every wounded heart that hoped to feel again.
“Fans of Nicholas Sparks and inspirational fiction will enjoy Bunn.” —Booklist on Moondust Lake
Sometimes life flips the script . . .
Billy Walker is a North Carolina boy whose Hollywood star is beginning to shine. His rough past is in the rear view. Now seeing the world from the back seat of a limousine, Billy has no regrets about what he had to do, and the choices he made, to get there. But all it takes is one death-defying moment for Billy’s world to shift. When an on-set accident leaves him shaken, plagued by haunting dreams, he’s in desperate need of a rest cure. Given keys to a getaway cottage on Lighthouse Lane in Miramar Bay, he’ll regroup, relax, and recover. Yet as Billy’s dreams grow darker and more fearful, his only promise for light is in a stunning, mysterious, and uniquely gifted stranger . . .
And your next act is rewritten . . .
Mimi has never forgotten her tragic childhood in eastern Ukraine. Violence, a vanished family, abandonment, and a hard-won struggle to escape. Miramar Bay couldn’t be a more beautiful or unexpected refuge. In yoga and dance, and imbued with a talent to read the unrestful visions of others, Mimi has a seemingly divine ability to comfort. She may be everything Billy desires, but Mimi knows what Billy needs. He must confront his troubling past—and not just in his dreams. As their connection deepens, Billy finds himself falling in love, and waking up to something he’s never felt before. But when the real world comes calling again, how can he say goodbye to a woman who’s changing his life one illuminating sunrise at a time?
Poignant, powerful, and surprising , this is a love story for every wounded heart that hoped to feel again.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2021
157 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Davis Bunn
112 books1,046 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 85 reviews
May 27, 2021
Up thru 80% of the book it had 5 stars. I liked the Polish girl from the Ukraine and the future movie star and their stories. And how they intertwined.
But the ending was a little cheesy. Not sure how I would have done it, but ...
But the ending was a little cheesy. Not sure how I would have done it, but ...
September 30, 2021
I did enjoy this one but not as much as the others in the series. Struggled to connect with the characters a bit more in this one.
April 3, 2021
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
An entertaining and well written story, “The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane”, by Davis Bunn (Kensington Books), features two different from the norm main characters, both unique in their singularity.
Billy is a wonderful hero, a hardworking actor who, in his core, is a very simple, modest, and honest man. He handles the accident with an admirable stoicism.
The fact that the heroine, Mimi, has such a powerful and devastating backstory gives depth and substance to the character and makes her so interesting. I also liked how the author wrote her gift.
I liked the matter-of-fact, direct writing style, the short sentences, the suggesting more than telling and explaining. It makes the reading process easy and engaging.
Yet, even if the characters are intense and there are hints they might be passionate some parts seem a bit flat or dispassionate, the dialogue sometimes felt forced and I would have liked some sort of closure where Mimi’s sister is concerned.
I loved the kindness between Billy and Mimi but I would have liked also a little more romantic interaction.
An entertaining and well written story, “The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane”, by Davis Bunn (Kensington Books), features two different from the norm main characters, both unique in their singularity.
Billy is a wonderful hero, a hardworking actor who, in his core, is a very simple, modest, and honest man. He handles the accident with an admirable stoicism.
The fact that the heroine, Mimi, has such a powerful and devastating backstory gives depth and substance to the character and makes her so interesting. I also liked how the author wrote her gift.
I liked the matter-of-fact, direct writing style, the short sentences, the suggesting more than telling and explaining. It makes the reading process easy and engaging.
Yet, even if the characters are intense and there are hints they might be passionate some parts seem a bit flat or dispassionate, the dialogue sometimes felt forced and I would have liked some sort of closure where Mimi’s sister is concerned.
I loved the kindness between Billy and Mimi but I would have liked also a little more romantic interaction.
May 5, 2021
The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane is another good story from a favorite author of mine, Davis Bunn. Although part of a series of books set in Miramar Bay, this one can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Strong, vibrant characters and an intriguing plot make for a poignant story that does not disappoint. The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane is a story of healing and learning to let go of the past to be able to live at peace in the present, with hope for a better future. I have enjoyed other books by this author and this one met my expectations. It's a book not to be missed.
I received a library copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
I received a library copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
November 27, 2022
How does this train wreck have so many good reviews? Not only were the characters so FLAT that I had no interest in any of them, but the romance was non-existent, and the writer enjoyed 'telling' over 'showing' through the whole book. What even was the plot? Mimi was atrocious, and Billy really should have ended up with his co-star.
I don't think that any of the plot of the book actually got resolved, and it veered off on this other random path toward the end. What.
This writer is horrendous. Hard pass. I wish I hadn't wasted the time.
I don't think that any of the plot of the book actually got resolved, and it veered off on this other random path toward the end. What.
This writer is horrendous. Hard pass. I wish I hadn't wasted the time.
September 21, 2025
Short Opinion: I found it at the library and didn't really like it.
Long Opinion: The writing style reminds me of my childhood diary entries when I would overexplain the most random details of my life and then throw in a single out of context sentence about a major life event. The author kept introducing new plot directions before I ever felt like I understood the already existing ones. Plus there was so much time spent detailing random characters and environmental descriptions (which usually I enjoy) to the point it was distracting. Sometimes the characters had really big reactions to events in the book that the author knew were important but as reader I was just confused.
I didn't feel a strong connection to either of the main characters. It felt like they were together because this is the author's universe and therefore, they must be. Props to them for not being a toxic relationship though.
The end took a sudden and pretty random plot direction, which was the most entertaining part of the book to me, but it felt like an entirely different story to the first 90%. I liked that one of the main characters had a connection to North Carolina though, that was cool.
Long Opinion: The writing style reminds me of my childhood diary entries when I would overexplain the most random details of my life and then throw in a single out of context sentence about a major life event. The author kept introducing new plot directions before I ever felt like I understood the already existing ones. Plus there was so much time spent detailing random characters and environmental descriptions (which usually I enjoy) to the point it was distracting. Sometimes the characters had really big reactions to events in the book that the author knew were important but as reader I was just confused.
I didn't feel a strong connection to either of the main characters. It felt like they were together because this is the author's universe and therefore, they must be. Props to them for not being a toxic relationship though.
The end took a sudden and pretty random plot direction, which was the most entertaining part of the book to me, but it felt like an entirely different story to the first 90%. I liked that one of the main characters had a connection to North Carolina though, that was cool.
June 12, 2021
I read a book by this author a while back and was eager to read another by him so when I came across this book, I knew I had to read it.
Vibrant characters and an engaging plot. The book has a slow build but builds up anticipation to see what happens next. I liked how the story was heart gripping. I felt my heart clinch at dome point reading it.
The book was under the genre of Christian fiction but there wasn't any spiritual message or lessons contained in it.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
Vibrant characters and an engaging plot. The book has a slow build but builds up anticipation to see what happens next. I liked how the story was heart gripping. I felt my heart clinch at dome point reading it.
The book was under the genre of Christian fiction but there wasn't any spiritual message or lessons contained in it.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
March 8, 2022
I received this ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review. This book started out great, for the first 80% I was totally invested in the story. However, about 80% in I feel like the whole story switched up and the entire plot kind of changed. It started out following the story of Mimi, a Ukrainian immigrant and Billy, an up and coming star. After a freak accident and chance meeting, they fall in love, but then the story kind of veered off onto a totally different storyline and it kind of threw me for a loop. I really wanted to like this but it just kinda fell flat for me. .
March 8, 2022
I received this ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review. This book started out great, for the first 75% I was totally invested in the story. However, about 75% in I feel like the whole story switched up and the entire plot kind of changed. It started out following the story of Mimi, a Ukrainian immigrant and Billy, an up and coming star. After a freak accident and chance meeting, they fall in love, but then the story kind of veered off onto a totally different storyline and it kind of threw me for a loop.
June 7, 2021
I hadn't read anything by this author in quite some time. Maybe if I had read the other books in the series it would have made more sense. Although the setting, characters, etc. were interesting enough; I never felt like this story flowed well. The relationship between the two main characters was not very well-developed and so their undying love for each other after only two weeks felt strange. I was left with questions but most likely won't read any further into the series.
March 3, 2025
This book has a unique pair of main characters. The man is a rising movie star and the woman is a Ukrainian born teacher that has a special ability to counsel people. Both have experienced trauma and they both begin to experience healing through the trusting relationship they have together. This is a wholesome book with a little bit of action at the end.
March 3, 2021
Set against an idyllic seaside town, Davis Bunn’s fifth novel in the Miramar Bay series, “The Cottage On Lighthouse Lane,” explores the bumpy route to hope and redemption for two lost souls.
With eyes set on Hollywood, Billy Walker, the handsome guy from North Carolina is willing to do whatever it takes to realize his dream. He’s even willing to risk poor choices. Once he’s made it in Hollywood, he has second thoughts about his road to success and has difficulty confronting his troubling past. His nightmares return with a vengeance and he can’t seem to dig his way out. After tripping on a cord before a love scene on set, he is persuaded to recuperate and is given the chance to spend time in a getaway cottage on Lighthouse Lane in Miramar Bay.
Mimi is experiencing refuge in the beautiful Miramar Bay, California, too, and crosses paths with Billy Walker. Mimi has also had a tragic past in the Ukraine but has been blessed with a gift of ‘seeing’ answers to problems. When she meets hunky Billy, there’s chemistry between the two, but Mimi knows that unless they both confront their past, there’s no point in building a future together. The two team up in an effort to help each other and find comfort.
This was a difficult read. I was aware of the direction the author was heading; however, I found it difficult to follow his route to get there. I know he’s an accomplished writer, so perhaps it was my inability to appreciate this for what it was, but I didn’t find the writing fluid nor could I connect to any of the characters. I understand the theme of loss and the path to healing and I love the setting of this romantic drama but couldn’t understand his choice for the cast of characters and their role in the plot. I had difficulty when the two sections of the story became one. Up to that point, it was enjoyable. Perhaps I missed a page or something, because, from then on I had to force myself to finish reading.
I understand Davis is under contract to write a new television/streaming series based upon his bestselling series, Miramar Bay. Perhaps seeing it on-screen will help clear up any difficulty I had with understanding book 5. Readers Digest has also acquired worldwide rights to his latest series, Miramar Bay. Perhaps an abridged version will straighten out any plot issues I experienced.
Thank you to Davis Bunn, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
With eyes set on Hollywood, Billy Walker, the handsome guy from North Carolina is willing to do whatever it takes to realize his dream. He’s even willing to risk poor choices. Once he’s made it in Hollywood, he has second thoughts about his road to success and has difficulty confronting his troubling past. His nightmares return with a vengeance and he can’t seem to dig his way out. After tripping on a cord before a love scene on set, he is persuaded to recuperate and is given the chance to spend time in a getaway cottage on Lighthouse Lane in Miramar Bay.
Mimi is experiencing refuge in the beautiful Miramar Bay, California, too, and crosses paths with Billy Walker. Mimi has also had a tragic past in the Ukraine but has been blessed with a gift of ‘seeing’ answers to problems. When she meets hunky Billy, there’s chemistry between the two, but Mimi knows that unless they both confront their past, there’s no point in building a future together. The two team up in an effort to help each other and find comfort.
This was a difficult read. I was aware of the direction the author was heading; however, I found it difficult to follow his route to get there. I know he’s an accomplished writer, so perhaps it was my inability to appreciate this for what it was, but I didn’t find the writing fluid nor could I connect to any of the characters. I understand the theme of loss and the path to healing and I love the setting of this romantic drama but couldn’t understand his choice for the cast of characters and their role in the plot. I had difficulty when the two sections of the story became one. Up to that point, it was enjoyable. Perhaps I missed a page or something, because, from then on I had to force myself to finish reading.
I understand Davis is under contract to write a new television/streaming series based upon his bestselling series, Miramar Bay. Perhaps seeing it on-screen will help clear up any difficulty I had with understanding book 5. Readers Digest has also acquired worldwide rights to his latest series, Miramar Bay. Perhaps an abridged version will straighten out any plot issues I experienced.
Thank you to Davis Bunn, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 13, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. I loved the cover and the first few chapters but about midway it starts to drift away and gets disjointed. The new characters introduced do not flow into the story and are not as well developed. One of them really likes Billy when he arrives then because of her brother's opinion she doesn't like him? Odd. The international travel and circumstances seemed forced and fractured from the original story. Difficult to explain without giving any spoilers. Just say it sort of goes off the rails! It is an okay read, just didn't have a flow that endeared any of the actions or characters except possibly the main character.
I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
September 28, 2021
Set in a beautiful place, with likeable characters, I expected to enjoy this book more than I did. The delight of the setting, for me, didn't balance the unhappiness of the two main characters and it took too long for the plot to unfold; I like something a little more fast-paced. Also, there were some odd elements in the story, mainly the supernatural abilities of one of the main characters that I wasn't sure what to do with - this distracted me from simply enjoying a good story.
June 2, 2021
Ever since Davis decided to stop writing fiction with faith, his stories have become banal, predictable and boring. Miramar Bay series is proof of this. This is the worst example of this. So over the top dramatic. Yuk. Are people really this sappy?
November 7, 2022
DNF Very disappointing! Just too strange and theologically troubling.
June 5, 2021
This one was between a 3 and a 4. I did enjoy the character development and the plot, and Davis Bunn does write well. I chose this for a gentle read.
This was a paranormal romance. Mimi "saw" things and "could" answer unanswerable questions, and Billy "heard" his deceased mom singing every morning as he awoke.
The story could almost be broken into two parts, or perhaps three. The stories of their lives before they met, the time they spent together in Miramar, and the search for Mimi's sister.
I appreciated Billy's integrity. One reviewer said he was too perfect in that regard, but no, he wasn't. I know people who walk with integrity.
It was fitting that after Mimi had helped so many others so movingly that she herself should have help in finding her sister.
It was interesting that the characters thought that friendship was more important than romance - that to have a romantic partner could be a shallow thing, but to have a real friend stand by you, that was something rare and special. Then, because, this is a romance, they did fall in love. But I did like that they valued friendship, too.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, that it wasn't a Disneyish sort of ending, but perhaps a more realistic one. Then again, another reviewer said that she felt they should've had more closure, so perhaps it depends on what you're looking for in a story.
I thought that Billy healed awfully fast from his accident. He was doing all that just fifteen days after the accident?? I would've imagined that healing and physical therapy and Pilates would take longer than that to have that much effect.
One reviewer wrote that the characters thought too much. I disagree. I like characters who take the time to try to understand themselves and the people around them.
"Mimi had long since decided that most of life's questions were not meant to be resolved." Unfortunately, that's true. But there are some things we can know.
I think (?) I might understand now why a friend of mine said that T. Davis Bunn's writing style had changed, and I prefer some of his older books - his antique series, "Promises to Keep," and "The Book of Hours." They all seemed to have more depth and more faith than this book. I could understand if someone pressed the point, saying that this book had depth, too, through sadness. And I suppose sadness can have depth like in this book because it wasn't treated glibly with trite sayings, or at least more depth than comedy and silliness can. But, still, there seemed to be some component missing that the earlier books had. I think there is a deepness that is deeper than sadness or suffering or even love, and that deepness is faith perhaps. Or holiness.
I remember in the antique series, the characters spent time in churches with tactile symbols of faith - candles, among other symbols - and in this book, Mimi did, too, but for her, the meaning was gone. She wasn't sure what she believed or even if she believed. She felt moved by the symbols at church but didn't really know why. She was, in some respects, just going through the motions for the feel of that setting. That is sad, that she could miss so much.
In fact, another reviewer commented that although this book was labeled Christian fiction, that it wasn't really. Somehow I had still called it Christian fiction in my mind, but I could see her point. There are other "Christian fiction" books from other authors that I don't consider "Christian" because it's never clear what the characters actually believe, like many of the "Love Inspired" books. There might be some passing phrase to indicate they attend church and the romances are usually clean, but that's about the only indication that they might be Christian. I'd rather that subgenre was called "clean romance" as opposed to "Christian fiction," because that feels more accurate.
I suppose the reason I felt this was Christian romance when I read it was because the author has written Christian romance in the past, and perhaps because Mimi did spend more time in church than most of the characters in "Love Inspired." But being in a garage doesn't make one a car, as the saying goes. Now that I think about it more, this feels more like a "used-to-be-Christian" fiction, or perhaps a "wishing-one-were-a-believer" fiction, as far as Mimi was concerned. We were never told what Billy believed.
My other two comments were just nitpicks. Early in the story, Mimi heard about the Holy Spirit being the Comforter and giving her the gift of prophecy, a word that she hated. But the Holy Spirit was only ever promised to believers (Acts 2:38-39) and Mimi wasn't one. Or wasn't sure if she were one. It felt like Bunn just wanted a tenuous connection to faith somehow, without wanting what would have made it a strong one.
And Billy's bedroom scene for the movie? Although that's common, I would've hoped better for such an upstanding character.
This was a paranormal romance. Mimi "saw" things and "could" answer unanswerable questions, and Billy "heard" his deceased mom singing every morning as he awoke.
The story could almost be broken into two parts, or perhaps three. The stories of their lives before they met, the time they spent together in Miramar, and the search for Mimi's sister.
I appreciated Billy's integrity. One reviewer said he was too perfect in that regard, but no, he wasn't. I know people who walk with integrity.
It was fitting that after Mimi had helped so many others so movingly that she herself should have help in finding her sister.
It was interesting that the characters thought that friendship was more important than romance - that to have a romantic partner could be a shallow thing, but to have a real friend stand by you, that was something rare and special. Then, because, this is a romance, they did fall in love. But I did like that they valued friendship, too.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, that it wasn't a Disneyish sort of ending, but perhaps a more realistic one. Then again, another reviewer said that she felt they should've had more closure, so perhaps it depends on what you're looking for in a story.
I thought that Billy healed awfully fast from his accident. He was doing all that just fifteen days after the accident?? I would've imagined that healing and physical therapy and Pilates would take longer than that to have that much effect.
One reviewer wrote that the characters thought too much. I disagree. I like characters who take the time to try to understand themselves and the people around them.
"Mimi had long since decided that most of life's questions were not meant to be resolved." Unfortunately, that's true. But there are some things we can know.
I think (?) I might understand now why a friend of mine said that T. Davis Bunn's writing style had changed, and I prefer some of his older books - his antique series, "Promises to Keep," and "The Book of Hours." They all seemed to have more depth and more faith than this book. I could understand if someone pressed the point, saying that this book had depth, too, through sadness. And I suppose sadness can have depth like in this book because it wasn't treated glibly with trite sayings, or at least more depth than comedy and silliness can. But, still, there seemed to be some component missing that the earlier books had. I think there is a deepness that is deeper than sadness or suffering or even love, and that deepness is faith perhaps. Or holiness.
I remember in the antique series, the characters spent time in churches with tactile symbols of faith - candles, among other symbols - and in this book, Mimi did, too, but for her, the meaning was gone. She wasn't sure what she believed or even if she believed. She felt moved by the symbols at church but didn't really know why. She was, in some respects, just going through the motions for the feel of that setting. That is sad, that she could miss so much.
In fact, another reviewer commented that although this book was labeled Christian fiction, that it wasn't really. Somehow I had still called it Christian fiction in my mind, but I could see her point. There are other "Christian fiction" books from other authors that I don't consider "Christian" because it's never clear what the characters actually believe, like many of the "Love Inspired" books. There might be some passing phrase to indicate they attend church and the romances are usually clean, but that's about the only indication that they might be Christian. I'd rather that subgenre was called "clean romance" as opposed to "Christian fiction," because that feels more accurate.
I suppose the reason I felt this was Christian romance when I read it was because the author has written Christian romance in the past, and perhaps because Mimi did spend more time in church than most of the characters in "Love Inspired." But being in a garage doesn't make one a car, as the saying goes. Now that I think about it more, this feels more like a "used-to-be-Christian" fiction, or perhaps a "wishing-one-were-a-believer" fiction, as far as Mimi was concerned. We were never told what Billy believed.
My other two comments were just nitpicks. Early in the story, Mimi heard about the Holy Spirit being the Comforter and giving her the gift of prophecy, a word that she hated. But the Holy Spirit was only ever promised to believers (Acts 2:38-39) and Mimi wasn't one. Or wasn't sure if she were one. It felt like Bunn just wanted a tenuous connection to faith somehow, without wanting what would have made it a strong one.
And Billy's bedroom scene for the movie? Although that's common, I would've hoped better for such an upstanding character.
August 13, 2021
I started reading Davis Bunn's work years ago when he wrote Christian fiction. I started reading the Miramar Bay series with the same expectations, but they haven't been borne out in this series, although the books are good. (This is because the books have a spiritual component, but it isn't necessarily Christian - more in the realm of the paranormal.)
This is #5 in the series, and it can be read as a standalone, but characters from previous novels appear in this one, and will probably figure in future books (at least I hope there's a sequel, as this one seemed to end abruptly without resolution to many of the plot threads).
Billy Rose Walker has risen to almost-stardom from his Blue Ridge mountain roots. Raised by his relatives after being abandoned by his parents (who preferred their music career over him), he has worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices to get where he is as an actor, and now is on the cusp of a breakthrough. But when an accident on the movie set requires him to seek several weeks of recuperation, he is invited to stay in a cottage on Miramar Bay belonging to one of the movie producers.
Mimi Janic is a very carefully self-controlled person. She loves living in Miramar, where she is a school counselor, a Pilates instructor, a dancer, and often looks over her shoulder due to having grown up in a communist country, where she lost her parents and sister. She also was raised in the US by relatives who didn't really want her, so when she and Billy cross paths in Miramar, they discover that they have some things in common. She helps Billy with his recuperation process, and he discovers that she may have some answers to help him with his trust issues and his recurring nightmares.
When Mimi is contacted by someone out of her past, and Billy agrees to help her but is concerned that the whole thing is a scam to get money, the suspense explodes. Billy may just have to play the role of his life, protecting his newfound love, while she confronts the ghosts of her past.
This is #5 in the series, and it can be read as a standalone, but characters from previous novels appear in this one, and will probably figure in future books (at least I hope there's a sequel, as this one seemed to end abruptly without resolution to many of the plot threads).
Billy Rose Walker has risen to almost-stardom from his Blue Ridge mountain roots. Raised by his relatives after being abandoned by his parents (who preferred their music career over him), he has worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices to get where he is as an actor, and now is on the cusp of a breakthrough. But when an accident on the movie set requires him to seek several weeks of recuperation, he is invited to stay in a cottage on Miramar Bay belonging to one of the movie producers.
Mimi Janic is a very carefully self-controlled person. She loves living in Miramar, where she is a school counselor, a Pilates instructor, a dancer, and often looks over her shoulder due to having grown up in a communist country, where she lost her parents and sister. She also was raised in the US by relatives who didn't really want her, so when she and Billy cross paths in Miramar, they discover that they have some things in common. She helps Billy with his recuperation process, and he discovers that she may have some answers to help him with his trust issues and his recurring nightmares.
When Mimi is contacted by someone out of her past, and Billy agrees to help her but is concerned that the whole thing is a scam to get money, the suspense explodes. Billy may just have to play the role of his life, protecting his newfound love, while she confronts the ghosts of her past.
March 9, 2021
"The world is recovering from a terrible juncture. There’s a lot of fear around. The dismal dystopian outlook doesn’t wash anymore, not for the audience in Kansas City. They’re living the dystopia. They’re too scared and too worried and too stressed to find any entertainment value in that. They want reassurance. They want hope.”
Hollywood studio executive Peter Veer says the above in Davis Bunn's latest Miramar Bay novel, THE COTTAGE ON LIGHTHOUSE LANE. There's a lot of truth in that statement, and Bunn uses his lead characters, Billy Rose Walker and Mimi Janic, to illustrate it.
Billy is a Hollywood star on the rise whose parents left him with his grandmother while they pursued a career in music. Mimi is an orphan from Ukraine who was raised in the Los Angeles home of a distant relative who did all he could for her while his wife and children ignored her as much as possible. They're brought together after an accident on the set of his latest movie requires continued therapy after filming ends.
The good: It's by Davis Bunn, a storyteller known for writing characters who, if they were to walk off the page, would be a welcome addition to your life. Interesting story, especially in the second half.
And the not so good: I believe there are some characters who needed more resolution than what readers get. Mimi's friend Yolinda got left by the wayside, like there's unfinished business between them. Also, Vince, the director who is a jerk to Billy during the movie shoot, though kept in line by the studio executives, may have almost gotten away with something terrible, though I could be reading something into the story that wasn't intended by the author. (I'm trying to keep this spoiler free.)
Despite the "not so good" in the previous paragraph, this is a 4-star read. Recommended.
I received an eARC from Kensington through NetGalley, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.
Hollywood studio executive Peter Veer says the above in Davis Bunn's latest Miramar Bay novel, THE COTTAGE ON LIGHTHOUSE LANE. There's a lot of truth in that statement, and Bunn uses his lead characters, Billy Rose Walker and Mimi Janic, to illustrate it.
Billy is a Hollywood star on the rise whose parents left him with his grandmother while they pursued a career in music. Mimi is an orphan from Ukraine who was raised in the Los Angeles home of a distant relative who did all he could for her while his wife and children ignored her as much as possible. They're brought together after an accident on the set of his latest movie requires continued therapy after filming ends.
The good: It's by Davis Bunn, a storyteller known for writing characters who, if they were to walk off the page, would be a welcome addition to your life. Interesting story, especially in the second half.
And the not so good: I believe there are some characters who needed more resolution than what readers get. Mimi's friend Yolinda got left by the wayside, like there's unfinished business between them. Also, Vince, the director who is a jerk to Billy during the movie shoot, though kept in line by the studio executives, may have almost gotten away with something terrible, though I could be reading something into the story that wasn't intended by the author. (I'm trying to keep this spoiler free.)
Despite the "not so good" in the previous paragraph, this is a 4-star read. Recommended.
I received an eARC from Kensington through NetGalley, for which I thank them. All opinions are mine.
April 28, 2021
A story of overcoming grief
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Billy’s acting technique! It was fascinating to be inside his head as he went through various scenes – including one where he was falling in love. It would have been great to see the movie he made!
Mimi was a little harder for me to appreciate. Most likely because of how she held herself aloof from everyone around her. As the story unfolded, I discovered the reason behind her withdrawal and it made sense. She was very kind and did much for others.
Most of the story was slow and melancholy; however, there was some intrigue and a surprising adventure at the end.
While listed as a Christian story, I would not consider it to fall under this genre. There are a handful of mentions of Mimi going to the church and she has a sense of believing in God yet that is pretty much the extent of the Christian element. There is, however, quite an emphasis on her “gift,” which could be considered spiritual or even mystical. Those who have read Christian fiction by this author should be aware The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane does not have a similar spiritual message.
Originally Reviewed on Among The Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Billy’s acting technique! It was fascinating to be inside his head as he went through various scenes – including one where he was falling in love. It would have been great to see the movie he made!
Mimi was a little harder for me to appreciate. Most likely because of how she held herself aloof from everyone around her. As the story unfolded, I discovered the reason behind her withdrawal and it made sense. She was very kind and did much for others.
Most of the story was slow and melancholy; however, there was some intrigue and a surprising adventure at the end.
While listed as a Christian story, I would not consider it to fall under this genre. There are a handful of mentions of Mimi going to the church and she has a sense of believing in God yet that is pretty much the extent of the Christian element. There is, however, quite an emphasis on her “gift,” which could be considered spiritual or even mystical. Those who have read Christian fiction by this author should be aware The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane does not have a similar spiritual message.
Originally Reviewed on Among The Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
April 25, 2021
The Cottage at Lighthouse Lane by Davis Bunn was an advanced copy thanks to Net Galley and Kensington Books. Unknown to me was I had read the first book in this series prior to this book. This is listed as the fifth book in the Miramar Series, but I believe it can be read as a stand alone book, since it is the setting and small town that makes this a series.
The novel focuses on Billy Rose Walker and Mimi Janic. Two unlikely main characters. Mimi was raised by an adoptive family after a tragic Ukrainian upbringing. She has found her way to friends and a job that makes her happy in Miramar. She has discovered that she seems to have an unusual gift to help people answering their questions. This ‘gift’ she believes will mean she is always alone.
Billy Rose grew up in the back hills of Appalachia. He is an actor, focused on his craft and not into fame and fortune. He is hit with an electric cable with a strong current. He was saved by the quick actions of others and sent to a cottage to rehab in Miramar. Mimi is hired to help him gain his range of motion and strength back.
Nothing is quite as simple as a romance though. Mimi’s friends work hard to dissuade them. Billy’s co workers show up to “help him” and Billy is set up to be the next male movie star. Then there are some other situations thrown at them, that cause the book to twist and turn.
The Cottage at Lighthouse Lane by Davis Bunn was a good read.
The novel focuses on Billy Rose Walker and Mimi Janic. Two unlikely main characters. Mimi was raised by an adoptive family after a tragic Ukrainian upbringing. She has found her way to friends and a job that makes her happy in Miramar. She has discovered that she seems to have an unusual gift to help people answering their questions. This ‘gift’ she believes will mean she is always alone.
Billy Rose grew up in the back hills of Appalachia. He is an actor, focused on his craft and not into fame and fortune. He is hit with an electric cable with a strong current. He was saved by the quick actions of others and sent to a cottage to rehab in Miramar. Mimi is hired to help him gain his range of motion and strength back.
Nothing is quite as simple as a romance though. Mimi’s friends work hard to dissuade them. Billy’s co workers show up to “help him” and Billy is set up to be the next male movie star. Then there are some other situations thrown at them, that cause the book to twist and turn.
The Cottage at Lighthouse Lane by Davis Bunn was a good read.
April 15, 2021
THE COTTAGE ON LIGHTHOUSE LANE – DAVIS BUNN
PUBLISHED BY – KENSINGTON BOOKS
PUB DATE – 27TH APRIL
PLOT –
Billy walker a small town not so famous Hollywood actor comes to an Idyllic seaside town – Miramar Bay following a on set accident to rest and recuperate.
Mimi who is still overcoming her tragic childhood in eastern Ukraine has this incredible ability to comfort others and somehow gives them the closure or answers they need. And this is what Billy actually needs as he too is haunted by his past.
Both rely on each other to heal?? But can they have a future together??
MY THOUGHTS
This is a book which deals with loss and healing.
This book is a part of Miramar Bay series with some recurring characters...and the older books have got great reviews.
The story began really well and was fast paced with short chapters but it took a different turn when both Mimi and Billy’s stories merge and then it felt a bit forced going in a completely different direction. (Can't explain more without revealing too much of the climax)
It’s a clean story but it did mention about the romantic interest between the MC s but in my opinion it was very limited and it could have been better shaped.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington books for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
PUBLISHED BY – KENSINGTON BOOKS
PUB DATE – 27TH APRIL
PLOT –
Billy walker a small town not so famous Hollywood actor comes to an Idyllic seaside town – Miramar Bay following a on set accident to rest and recuperate.
Mimi who is still overcoming her tragic childhood in eastern Ukraine has this incredible ability to comfort others and somehow gives them the closure or answers they need. And this is what Billy actually needs as he too is haunted by his past.
Both rely on each other to heal?? But can they have a future together??
MY THOUGHTS
This is a book which deals with loss and healing.
This book is a part of Miramar Bay series with some recurring characters...and the older books have got great reviews.
The story began really well and was fast paced with short chapters but it took a different turn when both Mimi and Billy’s stories merge and then it felt a bit forced going in a completely different direction. (Can't explain more without revealing too much of the climax)
It’s a clean story but it did mention about the romantic interest between the MC s but in my opinion it was very limited and it could have been better shaped.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington books for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 15, 2021
An entertaining story, this is part 5 of the Miramar Bay series. You do not need to read the others in the series first, although having done so will enhance your enjoyment of this book as you recognize characters from previous books.
This instalment features two engaging but different main characters. Billy is a wonderful hero. He is a hardworking actor who, at heart is a very simple and honest man. The heroine, Mimi, has such a powerful and devastating backstory which gives depth and substance to the character and makes her so interesting.
There are two distinct plots at first, but they finally come together about halfway through the story. The weaving together was well written and engaging.
Sometimes though, the dialogue sometimes felt forced and I would have liked some sort of closure where Mimi’s sister is concerned.
I loved the kindness between Billy and Mimi but I would have liked also a little more romantic interaction.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for an e ARC of The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane in return for an honest review.
This instalment features two engaging but different main characters. Billy is a wonderful hero. He is a hardworking actor who, at heart is a very simple and honest man. The heroine, Mimi, has such a powerful and devastating backstory which gives depth and substance to the character and makes her so interesting.
There are two distinct plots at first, but they finally come together about halfway through the story. The weaving together was well written and engaging.
Sometimes though, the dialogue sometimes felt forced and I would have liked some sort of closure where Mimi’s sister is concerned.
I loved the kindness between Billy and Mimi but I would have liked also a little more romantic interaction.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for an e ARC of The Cottage on Lighthouse Lane in return for an honest review.
April 17, 2021
I don’t know exactly what I expected from this book, but it was so much more. The title was reminiscent of a sweet, HEA romance set in a harbor town with a cute cottage near a lighthouse. Most of those elements were present, but the story was much deeper and thoughtful.
Mimi is a school teacher, Pilates instructor and a woman with the ability to hear what people are thinking with just a touch. She’s had this ability since she was 14, and as you can imagine, is both a blessing and a curse. Billy is an up and coming Hollywood star, who has a terrible accident on set and goes to Miramar to recuperate. Mimi is enlisted to provide physical therapy through Pilates, and the two become friends.
Secrets are revealed, trust is questioned, and beliefs are challenged in a story that takes the reader from Hollywood to the Ukraine. This was my first book from this author but I will definitely look for more.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
Mimi is a school teacher, Pilates instructor and a woman with the ability to hear what people are thinking with just a touch. She’s had this ability since she was 14, and as you can imagine, is both a blessing and a curse. Billy is an up and coming Hollywood star, who has a terrible accident on set and goes to Miramar to recuperate. Mimi is enlisted to provide physical therapy through Pilates, and the two become friends.
Secrets are revealed, trust is questioned, and beliefs are challenged in a story that takes the reader from Hollywood to the Ukraine. This was my first book from this author but I will definitely look for more.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
June 15, 2021
Everything can change instantly with one big boom. Billy Rose thought the worst thing he needed to fear was the director of the movie he was starring in. He learned all too suddenly that there are far worse things, things over which he had absolutely no control. Arriving in Miramar for a much-needed time of recovery, he has some real surprises awaiting him. I have to say that the cottage where he stayed in sight of a lighthouse would be a dream come true for me. He was so driven to heal that I could not determine if the setting had the same effect on him that I feel it would have had on me. He went there with one primary goal but everything started changing when he met Mimi. Her job was to work with him in regaining full use of his body through exercise and dance moves. Almost from the moment they started working together, the trajectory of the story starts to change and the suspense and intensity grows rapidly. The author has a special knack for writing stories in which things appear one way but then in the blink of an eye, they become something else entirely different.
August 5, 2023
Just when I believe I've read the best book by Davis Bunn, I read another that it better than the last one. "The Cottage On Lighthouse Lane" is another of his books that left me wanting more!!! I hope the next Miramar Bay book includes the three main characters of this book. The way Peter stood by Billie against the Director was great. When Billie was struck by the electric cable that came loose from the lighting was terrifying... and how Billie and Peter helped Mimi was inspiring. I'm glad they didn't allow her to go back to her home country alone to face her danger. I loved how they handled what Mimi was facing. It would be nice to see how their relationships go forward. I think this is the first Maramar Bay book that had so few characters in it from the earlier books but that played out just fine. Connor came into the book for more than being a star. He helped Billie find his way. I had a very hard time putting this book down on the 3rd and on the 4th was reading well into the early morning of the 5th (1 a.m.) when I finished it.
February 18, 2021
A new Davis Bunn book in the Miramar Bay series! You do not need to read the others in the series first, although having done so will enhance your enjoyment of this book as you recognize characters from previous books.
As usual, Bunn drew me right in to the story, and I ended up staying up way too late to finish reading it! There are two distinct plots at first, but they finally come together about halfway through the story. The weaving together left me breathless. Dealing with loss is a prominent theme, with insights on which ways of dealing are healing and which are not. I really hope the main characters show up in future Miramar Bay books because I’d love to find out more details on how their healing develops.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #TheCottageonLighthouseLane #NetGalley
As usual, Bunn drew me right in to the story, and I ended up staying up way too late to finish reading it! There are two distinct plots at first, but they finally come together about halfway through the story. The weaving together left me breathless. Dealing with loss is a prominent theme, with insights on which ways of dealing are healing and which are not. I really hope the main characters show up in future Miramar Bay books because I’d love to find out more details on how their healing develops.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #TheCottageonLighthouseLane #NetGalley
July 1, 2022
What a great love story. So many interesting twists and turns that bring the young lovers together. It is especially timely because the young woman escaped from the Ukraine shortly after Russia invaded eastern Ukraine for the first time. She was a young girl then. Now after completing high school and college she is a US citizen living in Miramar CA. Russia’s current invasion was not underway at that time. Watching how the story blended with what Russia was doing then was cool.
She has a psychic gift as a reader. She teaches dance and pilates and is assigned to work on a young rising actor who is recovering from being accidentally electrocuted by a falling stage light. Both of them were deserted by their parents when they were children so they share that common personal pain.
The book is well written and kept me engaged from the get-go.
She has a psychic gift as a reader. She teaches dance and pilates and is assigned to work on a young rising actor who is recovering from being accidentally electrocuted by a falling stage light. Both of them were deserted by their parents when they were children so they share that common personal pain.
The book is well written and kept me engaged from the get-go.
April 15, 2021
Billy Rose Walker is an actor on the cusp of stardom. His parents died when he was 67, or maybe they just didn’t want to come home to him. Mimi Janic lost her parents in a civil war in Ukraine. She was sent to America when she was 90, leaving behind her 4-year-old sister Zofia. Both need to let go off their pasts before they can have a happily-ever-after.
I enjoy Davis Bunn’s books. They’re full of description, but here the descriptions tended to bog down the story for me. So much narrative, or the characters are thinking too much. Mimi is tightly self-contained and, at one point, tries to push Billy away. Billy is perfect, maybe too perfect.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 3, 2021
An aspiring actor(Billy) in LA and a schoolteacher and pilates instructor (Mimi) in Miramar Bay. He is from North Carolina and still hurting from his abandonment by his parents. She is an Ukrainian immigrant who lost her family in a war. At first, it was not clear how these two were going to be brought together but through an accident suffered by Billy with subsequent rehabilitation in Miramar Bay, their paths intersect. Although Billy is immediately drawn to Mimi, she is too scared to allow herself to love as all she sees is heartbreak as he returns to LA to purse a promising career. Another part of the story-line involved Mimi's ability to help others see things that they cannot see on their own. A heartwarming story with some wonderful characters. No sex or profanity.
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