A Touch of Moonlight by Yaffa S. Santos (Review by Stephanie Rowitz)

Rating: 4/5 stars

A Touch of Moonlight is a charming, modern take on the legend of the ciguapa, known in the Dominican Republic as a creature with long, straight hair, backwards-facing feet, and a yearning to be near the water.

Larimar Cintrón is your average, modern woman who also happens to be a ciguapa. She has a loving and supportive family, close friends who accept her for who she is, and a great career as a brand manager for Beacon Café where she will most certainly get promoted just as soon as she finishes this next big project…

Unlike her mother and grandmother, Larimar only turns into a ciguapa during the full moon which means that she can lead a relatively normal life in-between her full moon nights of satisfying her butter cravings and running along the river at lightning speed.

When she meets Ray, a kind and masterful baker who shares her love of butter and Ska punk music, she thinks that she has finally found her soulmate. Though she quickly realizes that her job at Beacon Café can put Ray’s bakery out of business. Even if Larimar can help save Ray’s bakery, will he accept her for who she really is?

This book is for anyone who has ever felt a little bit different. What I enjoyed about this book is that Larimar accepts her identity and doesn’t try to change who she is. She is, and forever will be, a ciguapa and I think we can all see the benefit of embracing who we are.

With mouthwatering recipes sprinkled throughout Larimar and Ray’s sweet journey, this book leaves the reader craving apple-bourbon muffins and their own hidden, magical identity.

A Touch of Moonlight is a wonderful tale about being true to yourself, and the importance of going after the things you want. A delight from start to finish.