Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite

Dancing by the Moonlight (Carlisle Bay) by Angie Ellington is a captivating romance that follows a professional ballet dancer’s life after an injury derails her career. Olivia Shields returns to live and work with her aunt in Carlisle Bay, Connecticut, as she recovers from a life-altering back injury. Olivia feels hopeful as she prepares to take over her aunt’s boutique and achieve other dreams beyond dancing. Two weeks after her arrival in the coastal town, she bumps into Brady Carlisle, the boy she had loved years before and who had broken her heart. Things take a turn when the boutique faces sudden difficulty and Olivia's hopes of taking over the business are threatened. Shocking secrets regarding Brady and the relationship they once shared also come to light.

As I read Dancing by the Moonlight, I appreciated how realistic the setting and main characters felt. I loved that the plot was unpredictable and new information about the Carlisle family continued to emerge. The secondary characters, including Olivia’s aunt and friends, were also well fleshed out. I liked that the story has an uplifting central theme as Olivia learns that she can accomplish much more after her back injury. Olivia's nostalgic memories of the summer she spent in Carlisle Bay were also enthralling. Angie Ellington has created a lovely contemporary romance with original characters. Fans of romantic novels will enjoy the beautiful setting in which the story is set and the many turns included in the plot.