In her debut novel, Secret Nights and Northern Lights, Megan Oliver brings readers along for the adventure of a lifetime in Iceland with Mona and Ben, two childhood friends turned lovers turned enemies. This second-chance romance, narrated by Mona, begins when she is given a career-changing opportunity to write an article about Iceland for the travel magazine where she works. When she meets her assigned freelance photographer and travel partner, Ben, she recalls the hurt she felt after he abandoned her when they were teenagers. She's not sure she can handle her first international assignment with him.
Oliver draws readers into Mona's world through her friendly first-person narration, told in a youthful, upbeat tone. She conveys Mona's pain about her crumbling teenage relationship, her anxiety about her career, and her excitement at finally landing a big assignment. Through flashbacks to Mona's childhood and adolescence, readers see the relationship between her and Ben grow; at first, Ben is just one of her brothers' friends, then they build their own friendship, and more.
While the plot mainly follows Mona and Ben, the novel also contains entertaining side characters. Mona's roommate and co-worker, who packs Mona's suitcase for her--and includes the tiniest possible swimsuit for the visit to the Blue Lagoon, of course--is a particular highlight. The novel gets steamy as the pair rediscovers their attraction to each other, and there are also plenty of humorous moments. This charming debut foretells a promising future in contemporary romance for Megan Oliver. --Alyssa Parssinen, freelance reviewer and former bookseller