Helpful Score: 2
The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis is not quite what I expected from the description. Moon Girl Farm has been in the Moon family since Sabine Moon purchased the property in 1786. It has passed from mother to daughter through the generations and now Lizzy Moon, as far as she knows, is the last Moon girl. Lizzy left the farm eight years after a scandal rocked Salem Creek, New Hampshire and the Moon family. Two teenage sisters did not make it home one night. After the sheriff's department received an anonymous tip, they dragged the lake on the farm and found the girls who had been missing three weeks. People believed Althea Moon, Lizzy's grandmother, killed the girls despite the lack of evidence. Lizzy is notified that Althea has died leaving the farm to her. Lizzy comes home to sell the farm and collect the family journals. After reading a special journal Althea left for Lizzy, she sets out to learn what really happened to the teens. Lizzy was a conundrum. She went eight years without visiting her elderly grandmother who raised her. All her life all Lizzy wanted was to be normal (highly overrated). Lizzy has wanted nothing to do with the farm or the scandal (as we are repeatedly told). But then she doggedly pursues the truth. I did enjoy the magic, the information about herbs and perfume, and Lizzy's soapmaking. I was disappointed that the romance was so prominent. I wish it had taken a backseat to the mystery and magic. Andrew Greyson, Lizzy's love interest, had cared for Lizzy since they were kids. He was always there when she needed assistance. They are now both back in town and Andrew is working to fix the greenhouse. I did not like Andrew rescuing Lizzy because I would have preferred Lizzy saving herself. My favorite character was Evvie Broussard, the keeper of bees and jewelry maker. I thought the story was predictable and it moved along slowly. You can foresee how the story will play out after the first few chapters. There were various storylines all happening at the same time which muddled this book. Lizzy, the farm, the magic, and finding herself would have been enough. The epilogue wrapped up the book with a bow. The Last of the Moon Girls is a good escape novel. Some changes would have taken this book to the next level and made it great.
