The Wedding at Moonglow Bay

Moonglow Cove #4

by Lori Wilde

A wedding brings a shocking surprise in New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde’s newest Moonglow Cove novel. Perfect for fans of Susan Wiggs, Jill Shalvis, and Robyn Carr. It wasn’t the wedding night she’d expected! When Samantha said “I do” to Luca Ginelli, she knew she’d found a reliable soulmate—a strong, sexy man who’d stand beside her through thick and thin. And so she’d started her wedding day filled with joyful expectation, only to have her dreams shattered when the man she married years before shocking, unexpectedly, reappears, insisting she was still his wife! Seven years before, Luca’s brother, Nick, had stubbornly set off in a sailing adventure, ignoring the pleas of his young bride and all common sense. He’d disappeared without a trace; everyone thought he was dead—but now he’s expecting to pick up where they’d left off. He’d once been Samantha’s “lightning strike,”—the person you know is the one from the moment you first see them. But seven years is a long time and so much has changed. Now Samantha is faced with an impossible choice and no matter which decision she makes, it threatens to shred the very fabric of the one thing she holds most dear—family.    

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Family, Audiobook

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2023

About the author

Lori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.

She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.

Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.

She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.

Reviews

[Wendy W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wedding at Moonglow Bay by Lori Wilde is the fourth book in the popular Moonglow Cove series. This can be read as a stand-alone. I loved this addition to the series and I think it’s the best book of the series so far.

Story Recap:
Samantha was excited to marry Luca Ginelli, after losing her first husband Nick, seven years ago to a sailing accident. Luca is the brother of her first husband and Samantha appreciates his strength, reliability, and sexiness.

When Nick suddenly returns and claims he’s still married to Samantha, she has some tough choices. Nick left suddenly on an impulsive sailing adventure that left Samantha a widow, and now Nick wants to pick up where he left off. Nick was Samantha’s “lightning Strike” the one person who she was meant to love for the rest of her life.

Samantha has a very tough choice ahead of her. Nick wants to pick up where they left off, but Samantha now has a daughter and has changed and grown up.

My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed this series and The Wedding at Moonglow Bay is a terrific addition. Although the plot device of a long-lost husband returning on a woman’s wedding day to another man is a bit of a stretch for believability, I found the story fascinating. The story was more about the blush of first love versus the more mature love of someone more reliable with a slow build. Or insta love versus friends to lovers. And I thought the author did a terrific job of examining the dilemma Samantha faced trying to decide between the two men.

I loved the characters and liked how much all of the characters grew and learned more about themselves. I liked this plot device because I felt like it was a real dilemma for Samantha, Nick, and Luca and I couldn’t figure out what the best outcome would be for all involved. However, the author did a terrific job of figuring out how best to make guide these characters through this tough time for all of them.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Wedding at Moonglow Bay to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Wilde is a queen of romance! There is just something so soothing in her writing. It feels like going home. She's one of my comfort read authors. That being said...for me, The Wedding at Moonglow Bay will go down as one of her most angst-ridden romances. I don't want to ruin it via a review so I'll just say WOW!! Growth and yearning are powerful things. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.
~Tanja


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[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for The Wedding at Moonglow Bay, but this one missed the mark for me. I knew from the description that Nick comes back after being missing for seven years, but it felt like it took a such long time to get to that point, especially when I knew it was coming! Really, I felt like the story would’ve benefited by editing out about a hundred pages. I ended up skimming quite a bit.

Two things that came out in the end like how Nick asked for a divorce right before taking off in the sailboat and his night with Piper the night before their wedding(!!!)and I felt like the part about Nick asking for a divorce would’ve made Samantha feel way less guilty for moving on and choosing Luca over Nick. I’m not sure why the first one wasn’t revealed until almost the very end as showed the state of Nick and Samantha’s relationship before he went missing. As for the other, it seemed like it was swept right under the rug without any hard feelings. Not sure how realistic that was.

This is the first time I’ve read Lori Wild, so I’d like to try another one of her romances to see if it was just this particular story that didn’t work for me.

A copy was kindly provided by Avon via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[BookAddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orphaned at a young age, Samantha Riley never felt like she belonged anywhere. When her foster family moved to Moonglow Bay, TX, her first year of high school, she took one look at the beachside town and felt at peace. Then, her first day at the new high school, she meets Nick Ginelli and felt lightning strike.

What should have been a fairytale romance and marriage ends when Nick disappears in a boating accident and is eventually declared dead. After grieving for seven years and finally ready to move on, Samantha marries Luca, Nick’s older brother. Except Nick is suddenly back from the dead, and on Samantha and Luca's wedding night!

Samantha and Nick had a young, intense, starry-eyed love, and as an orphaned child, his family became the belonging she always longed for. Since Nick's disappearance, Samantha has had a chance to become independent and provide for her daughter, and the love she shares with Luca is different. More realistic, less selfish, and more mature.

What a doozy of a premise! It grabbed my attention from the start and refused to let go. I love the comparisons and contrast of the different types of love Samantha shared with both Nick and Luca, and I applaud her struggle and determination to figure out what is best for her and her daughter. Thrown in a shocking twist with Samantha's best friend, and this crafty storyteller certainly kept me guessing! A wild, satisfying emotional ride, this is one of my favorite reads this year and one you definitely won’t want to miss!

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wedding at Moonglow Bay by Lori Wilde is the fourth book in the widely popular Moonglow Cove series, that can be enjoyed as a stand alone. In this love triangle between Samantha, and Nick and Luca. My heart was torn and Lori Wilde took us through a journey of what it means to love and follow your heart.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series so much. The Wedding at Moonglow Bay was the final book in the series and after Samantha married in the same family three times, I would have to say it was a winner for me. This was a fast, fun read and I really did enjoy the family dynamics.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Lori Wilde, but it definitely will not be my last.
She is a great writer, with a deep connection to the characters. Every character had a beginning, middle and an end. The story was a complete circle. I was So excited to get up everyday to continue reading this. Till it ended. It ended and didn't leaving you wondering what happened.
I don't want to give to much away, but will tell you it deals with love, grief, second loves, family and surviving all life's obstacles.
Pre-order your copy today. Releases March 21, 2023.
I received this advanced copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get fully engaged but packs quite a punch.
I loved this book. Such an inventive storyline and wonderful characters.
I don't want to reveal anything but I highly recommend it.

[Marie Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew within the first few chapters that this was going to be my favorite in the series. Thank you Lori Wilde ,I’ve enjoyed all 4 of these books& hope this isn’t the end.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. The ending was better than I thought it would be. I loved the characters. Thank you netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love whether it hits like a lightning bolt or sparks embers, it's a powerful elixir. When Sammie first locks eyes with Nick, in high school her world tilts and she knew he would forever be part of her life. Years after Nick is listed as missing, Sam begins to put together the pieces of her life.

A new love fanned its flames and Sam was finally ready for a new start. When the past comes back to haunt her, Sam is forced to examine what she wants out of life. Will she chose a love that rocked her to the core or a steadfast relationship that provides a new destiny?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the book but without giving anything away was disappointed by a character's actions. After a rocky road everything seemed to tie up with a bow to quickly and I would have preferred a slower-paced ending to resolve the issues.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good and sometimes sad story. Not crying sad, just a feel bad for the characters. Samantha met Nick in high school. Piper was with her and she thought Nick would be perfect for her, but Nick wanted Samantha. They got married and had a baby. After an argument, Nick took a boat out and he was reported lost., After 7 years, he was declared dead and Samantha married his older brother Luca. Rght after the wedding Nick was rescued. Talk about timing. Lots and lots of drama and it took quite awhile for Nick and Samantha to sort out their feelings. It was hard as Samantha would always love Nick but wasn''t in love with him anymore. A couple surprises that felt like a betrayal but eventually all was worked out.

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different love story for sure. Well, it is actually two love stories. With a unique twist to get you wondering where is this story going.
Samantha was married to Nick when he disappears one night. This occurred 7 years ago. Now in the present, Samantha is getting ready to marry Nick’s brother, Luca. Wild story huh? Well, it gets even more complicated which you will see when you read The Wedding At Moonglow Bay.
I enjoyed the story. The romance angle between Samantha and Luca was the best part of the whole book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha's wedding day to Luca was cheerful occasion that would begin a wonderful life together. Things were going so well until someone from the past makes an appearance. Samantha's previous husband shows up alive and well saying that she is still his wife. Seven years ago Luca's brother Nick, to whom she was married to, went sailing and never returned. Everyone thought him dead, lost at sea. Nick thinks.things.should continue as.they once were but Samantha is distraught and confused with the entire.situation. Follow along as Samantha tries to figure who she should be with and who actually holds her heart. Will it be the long lost husband or his brother in the end?

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Lori Wilde and Avon/Harper Collins Publishers for a copy of The Wedding at Moonglow Bay. I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
I loved the title and cover of this book - so romantic.
The main character, Samantha, has struggled with love and abandonment her whole life. She ends up meeting her "lightening strike", Nick Ginelli, while in high school. Nick and Samantha marry and tragedy strikes.
Samantha rebuilds her life and tries to move on. But sometimes, life makes that impossible.
I really liked her strengths and enjoyed the Italian family setting. Romantic love story.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you are looking for a light fluffy summer romance, this is not it. it had way more deep dark situations than i expected. it was interesting, goo, characters well developed, but had a more serious undertone than i was looking for. very good book, but explored deeper issues. well written but somewhat unrealistic, liked the ending.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha lost her husband to the sea seven years ago, but after marrying his brother, he has made his way home. She has a seven-year-old daughter that she has been raising, taking care of, and she is different than she was seven years ago.
There are a lot of emotions for everyone, and many legal questions to be answered, so Samantha decides she is going to divorce them both, and take the time to see who she is now, and what she wants now. Nick and Luca decide to do the same thing. Life has put them in a very difficult situation, but when life does that, we get to see how they get themselves out of the situation. That kept me reading and was in awe of all they learned about themselves, who they are now, and the only thing they could do was move forward, But how would they? I just loved reading this book and where the author took me. It was amazing. She offered so much insight.
I received an ARC from Avon through NetGalley.

[ShanKL · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wedding at Moonglow Bay is a feel good, small town romance. Seven years since her husband disappeared at sea, Samantha is ready to say “I do” to Luca Ginelli, only her superstitious nature is haunting her day. It's not till their wedding night, does the true nature of "why" it was off reveal itself. Her first husband, Nick, Luca's older brother has been found alive.

This is not your typical love story - it's actually two love stories. Samantha/Nick, and Samantha/Luca. The romance between Samantha and Luca is sincere and authentic after what's Samantha has had to endure for the chance at true love. The ending beautifully serves-up a nice happily ever after.

Rating 3.5

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy.

[Maddie Lesperance · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually horrible. Picked this book up bc I left my other one at work. Full of regret. You cannot be more cliche & pukey. Grow uppppp Lori Wilde

[Sascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time Samantha and Nick had fallen in love at first sight in high school. Nick’s family believed in “lightning strikes,” the act of finding the love of your life in one dazzling moment. They married, had a baby, and then had a fight with Nick going off in a huff on a sailboat during a storm where he disappeared. Seven years later, Samantha and Luca, Nick’s older brother, say “I do.” Just as they’re about to consummate their marriage, a raggedy man with a long beard bursts in, but doesn’t say: “honey, I’m home.” But yes, it’s Nick. Now Samantha has decisions to make. She once loved Nick as much as breathing, but she’s with Luca now in a mutually satisfying relationship. Or is she?

I honestly love what Lori Wilde is trying to do in The Wedding at Moonglow Bay. She takes a character like Samantha who has gone through the foster program, who always seeks love and solid relationships, and swipes the rug out from under her. As an adult, Samantha–Sammie–has never been on her own. She’s never wanted to be. When Nick went missing, the Ginelli family embraced her as a daughter, not to mention that her foster parents were still in the picture as was her best friend and foster sister, Piper. Now she’s faced with a decision that would definitely have huge consequences ofr everyone, if she could make it, if she could see the forest for the trees.

While I love the epiphanies Sammie has, the advice she’s given, and what she learns, I wasn’t a fan of how it was constructed nor, sometimes, of Sammie herself. Some of it was predictable. Some of it too angsty. But little of it felt magical, a quality I always hope for in a Lori Wilde novel. In some ways, The Wedding at Moonglow Bay felt unfinished, like an early draft that still needed some ironing out with pacing and character issues, some polishing, some moments and ideas better thought out. I wished that Sammie’s exploration of self hadn’t been so rushed in order to seal a romance. Again, I do appreciate what Wilde was doing, I just wish it had been executed more smoothly.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when a love from the past collides with your current love? That’s exactly what happened in this story! This was a sweet story depicting an almost impossible situation. I enjoyed the story and the ending!

[Starla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at first how this story was going to go but I soon knew I had to follow Samantha's journey. As well as what could be the future for the rest of the family. The characters were so real and so much thought and heart was put into everyone in the story. I really enjoyed seeing how real life could be still a happy ending and not a destruction of everyone's lives. I will definitely be reading other books by this author.

[Ann-marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by the author. This is not your typical love triangle. Nick and Samantha or Sammie as she is called fell for each other hard and fast in high school. The kind of love his family called the lightning strike. The story begins about how they met and fast forward to years later we find out Nick took a boat out to the ocean and got lost at sea. During this time Samantha mourned her husband but at the same time had to be strong for their daughter Destiny. We find out it has been seven years later and Samantha is ready to move on pertaining to love it so happens to be with Nick's brother Luca. So begins this tale of what happens when the husband she thought die did not. Samantha along with the family have to now navigate having Nick back home and what that entails for Samantha who seems to now have two husbands. A very poignant somewhat sad tale of what is truly love attraction and is there such a thing as one true love. Sweet haunting book of redemption and kinship. Was giving arc by netgalley.

[Me · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book left me feeling conflicted, it was an okay read but not the authors best work. Samantha is technically a widow her husband was lost at sea. She's having difficulty letting go of the past and is in the process of marrying his brother when her presumed dead husband returns after missing for 7 years. This book didn't resonate with me. 275 stars.



***********************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.***************************************

[Jennifer Brown-Flavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Wedding at Moonglow Bay" is the first book that I have read by Lori Wilde. It is a part of the Moonglow Cove series (number 4), which I wasn't aware of until after I completed the book. That said, it can be read as a standalone without the reader feeling like they are missing information from previous books in the series.

One thing I really liked about this book was the different quotes at the top of each new chapter. I had two I really liked in particular: "Love is something sent from heaven to worry the hell out of you" - Dolly Parton (I just love Dolly!) and "Thinking of you keeps me awake. Dreaming of you keeps me asleep. Being with you keeps me alive" - Unknown. These quotes were just a really nice touch to the story and the chapters.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in a day. What would you do if your husband went missing, was presumed dead, then you move on with your life and remarry seven years later, only for the day that you get remarried your dead husband resurfaces very much alive? What a situation that Samantha found herself in. Can you imagine her second husband, Luca Ginelli's reaction when her first husband, Luca's younger brother, Nick, returns from the grave? A sticky situation becomes even more sticky! Can Samantha pick a brother without breaking up the family? After seven years a part can Nick and Samantha pick back up where they left up? Will Luca step aside or fight for the love that he and Samantha share?

I have read other books with the back from the dead trope but I really liked the way that Wilde went with this story and having the character of Samantha really grow, mature and examine her relationships with the brothers and embrace who she is as a woman.

I would recommend adding this to your summer vaca pile! It's a good read with some twists.

The book synopsis is taken from Amazon:

It wasn’t the wedding night she’d expected!

When Samantha said “I do” to Luca Ginelli, she knew she’d found a reliable soulmate—a strong, sexy man who’d stand beside her through thick and thin. And so she’d started her wedding day filled with joyful expectation, only to have her dreams shattered when the man she married years before shocking, unexpectedly, reappears, insisting she was still his wife!

Seven years before, Luca’s brother, Nick, had stubbornly set off in a sailing adventure, ignoring the pleas of his young bride and all common sense. He’d disappeared without a trace; everyone thought he was dead—but now he’s expecting to pick up where they’d left off. He’d once been Samantha’s “lightning strike,”—the person you know is the one from the moment you first see them.

But seven years is a long time and so much has changed. Now Samantha is faced with an impossible choice and no matter which decision she makes, it threatens to shred the very fabric of the one thing she holds most dear—family.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wedding at Moonglow Bay by Lori Wilde is several romances in one: Samantha Riley married Nick Ginelli everyone was thrilled. There was a legend in the family that people met their one-and-only through a “lightening strike.” Sam and Nick had had that happen to them on the first day of Sam’s junior year. Later that day, when Sam and Piper, her foster sister, were applying for a job in the family restaurant, Luca, Nick’s brother, saw her and though she was his “lightening strike,” until Nick came in a told his parents about their earlier meeting. Luca backed off, eventually moved to Alaska and had a good life there, with no “lightening strikes.” Then one night Sam and Nick had a fight. She was stuck all day, doing all the work that a new baby creates and Nick continued to party. She was miserable. He stormed off and literally got struck as he, on his boat, disappeared. It was four years before they found the wreckage of the boat. They had a funeral and filed for a declaration of death. Now she was to marry Luca, who had returned home to run the restaurant after his father had a stroke. Laura had been keeping the books for years, and they fell in love. Nick was found and entered they bedroom just as Sam and Luca were about to consummate their vows. Boy, was this a mess.

Was she married to Nick or to Luca? Who did she want to be married to? Who did she love? It took a while to figure out and a lot of people weighed in. After a couple of months, Sam and her daughter moved out of town, not too far, and rented a cottage on the beach. Luca had told her she needed to be on her own for awhile and it turned out he was right. She and Nick talked. She and Piper talked. She and her in-laws talked. She thought, continued doing accounting for different people and finally came to a decision about her life. This book was full of unsolvable problems, excellent, well-written, sympathetic characters, and an excellent dilemma. Wilde looked at it from all angles. Her characters lived through plenty those first months and so did the reader, vicariously. It was a good book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Wedding at Moonglow Bay by Avon and Harper Voyager, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #AvonAndHarperVoyager #LoriWilde #TheWeddingAtMoonglowBay

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wedding at Moonglow Bay is a contemporary women’s fiction story about the different types of love one can experience. The author explores romantic love versus mature love and how the main characters finally see the difference. Samantha Riley’s first marriage was love at first sight, like a lightning strike. Her marriage to Nick was young love and it crushed under the demands of life and parenthood. Soon after, Nick was lost at sea and declared dead after 7 years. Now she is about to marry his older brother Luca and things go terribly wrong when Nick shows up out of the blue to declare he wants his wife back. How does one deal with the aftermath and the confused feelings she has for both men?

Samantha goes on an emotional journey to figure out her feelings and how the notion of limerence plays a big part of her love for Nick. The obsessive and encompassing love isn’t a real love to base a marriage and a lasting relationship. Samantha’s loss of her parents and the many foster homes she was raised in played a big part of wanting to be loved, and to be part of a family. The added twist of betrayal and secrets push Samantha to making major changes in her life and her daughter’s life too, in order to get some clarity and a chance to stand on her own.

I’m a fan of Lori Wilde and her romance series but I have to say that this story was a departure from her typical stories. It was a book about romance and not a romance. It explored the many faces of love and how it evolves over time and can be painful and messy and hard to deal with. Storylines were tidied up too neatly and too soon for my taste, but I presume, with time and perspective, there would be forgiveness and time to build trust again. I liked the story for what she was trying to explore but hope that it doesn’t become the norm.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha spent her whole life floating from one foster home to another until she finally gets adopted by a family with a daughter her same age. When they move to Moonglow Bay and she starts high school, she meets her lightning strike, Nick Ginelli. She starts work at his family's Italian restaurant, becomes close to his family, and finally feels belonging. They get married and have a baby, but after an exclusive argument, Nick storms out and takes off in his sailboat and never returns. Samantha learns to be independent and raise their daughter Destiny, staying close with her in-laws. After her father-in-law has a stroke, Nick's brother Luca moves home to take care of the restaurant and they begin a relationship. But they have to wait seven years until Nick is officially declared dead before they can marry. But to their shock, Nick reappears the night of their wedding to reclaim his family. Now Samantha has to decide which brother she wants to stay with and either choice will destroy the only family she's ever known.
This story was heartbreaking but also full of hope and found family. Lisa was such a strong and steady character while Nick is wild and unpredictable. To me, the choice was clear, especially once Nick's secret is revealed, but I was satisfied with the ending. This was a sweet clean romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha is a young widow with a young daughter. Her late husband, Nick, was lost at sea. His family has taken her into their hearts and she has found a wonderfully safe place within that family.

Now, after seven years, she is preparing to marry Nick’s brother, Luca. And one more time, the family has rallied around the entire situation. They will have Samantha and her daughter, Destiny with them always.

Then the world completely changes. Nick is rescued off a desert island he and returns home to find Samantha and Luca on the day of their wedding.

This story does have a happily ever after. And it is a very satisfying ending. But, getting there seemed to be filled with angst.

I am a fan of Ms Wilde. I enjoy her books. But, for some reason, this one did not touch me like her other books have. I think part of that is because of a great deal of repetition of the past.

But, that is probably just me.

One of the things I did learn from this story, life is not easy for anyone. That is true no matter how special someone is.

Of course in the real world, life is not easy. And there are issues which break hearts. And most of all, loving someone does not always go in a straight line.

But, loving someone is the greatest thing for hearts and humans.

I received this book in a contest. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wedding at Moonglow Bay, by Lori Wilde, breaks all the rules and leads the reader on a roller coaster ride through time and emotions.

High school sweethearts Nick Ginelli and Samantha Riley were married at the pretty church at Moonglow Bay once he graduated from the Coast Guard Academy. A bit later they had their beautiful daughter Destiny, and not too much later, Nick was lost at sea. A few years after that the wreckage of his sailboat was found, and after seven years, Nick is legally declared dead.

It is during the last year before this declaration that Samantha, who has completed college on her own to become an accountant, and Nick’s older brother Luca have become very close as they work together to manage the family restaurant business. In fact, it seems a deeper, more loving relationship than Samantha had with Nick. A few days after the legal declaration of death, Samantha and Luca share a wedding of their own on the lawn at the little chapel. As fate would have it, the ceremony occurs at the same time that the rescued Nick is being brought ashore.

This is a dynamic story of what was, what is, and what could be with plot twists that take the readers on an unexpected ride. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!