While the premise is far fetched, the story is excellent. ( )

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.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book, for which I've given an honest review. ( )

I won a copy of "Firefly Cove" by Davis Bunn in a GOODREADS giveaway sponsored by Kensington Books. ( )