Review: Night Swimming by Laura Moore

Title: Night Swimming
Author: Laura Moore
Published: April 29, 2003
Publisher: Ivy Books
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 422
Source: Public Library
Characters: Lily Banyon, Sean McDermott
My Rating:

Synopsis

The deeper you dive, the sweeter the reward

When college offered an escape, Lily fled her hometown of Coral Beach and never looked back. Now a marine biologist, she must return there on a job to preserve the reefs that give the town its name. But going back means dealing with her past, her family, and worst of all, Sean McDermott. As teens, while Lily passed through an especially awkward phase, Sean—attractive and self-assured—was her constant tormentor. Lily doubts that things will have changed. But Lily’s awkward phase is long over . . . and though she finds that Sean still makes her blood boil, it’s for very different reasons.

As mayor, Sean knows how important it is to maintain the town’s natural beauty—and if the return of Lily Banyon is the price he has to pay, so be it. He can overlook her cold shoulder and give back as good as he gets. What’s harder to disregard is the fact that Lily has grown into a smart and beautiful woman, as passionate about saving Coral Beach as she once was about leaving it. While working closely together, it becomes obvious to Sean that if he and Lily can put the past behind them, they could have a passionate future. . .

The "idea" of the book was great! Two people who have secretly been in love with each other for 10 years unbeknownst to the other. But upon reading it, it fell flat for me. The only interaction I really enjoyed between Lily and Sean were in the flashback scenes. To me that part of their relationship was more interesting. There was a lot of miscommunication and assumptions by both parties.

The subplot with the reef study was too long and dry, and I found myself skimming the majority those aspects. Also, Lily's relationship with her mother was also lacking. With Lily and her mother, Kaye, having problems in the past, I wasn't expect such a quick fix to those problems.

After reading Remember Me, I was expecting more from this author. But since this is one of her earlier works, I didn't hold it against her. I will continue to read this author, as a matter of fact I have In Your Eyes sitting on my shelf to be read and Believe In Me on my wishlist.