Lola Nelson is at a low point in her life, even though she looks perfect on the outside. But when Lola is alone she feels simply that there is no passion in her life, period: her husband died several months ago of a heart attack, leaving Lola and their daughter behind.

Deciding to take action on the poor state of her well-being, Lola makes an impulsive decision. She resurrects a childhood dream and buys a beach house. And not just any old house, but one that Lola and her friends have coveted during the trips to the beach over the years. With six bedrooms, six baths, and blue, Lola decides to call it “The Blue Moon.”

The Blue Moon is located in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Lola rounds up three of her friends to come stay at the house for a couple of weeks to help Lola decorate and have a little bit of fun at the same time. The foursome refer to themselves as “the Bunnies,” and they often cause trouble wherever they go. In fact, the trip starts off with Lola getting a speeding ticket and with her friend Emma shamelessly flirting with the state trooper.

After the Bunnies arrive, a house inspector arrives to meet with Lola and inspect The Blue Moon. It turns out that Hugh, the house inspector, lives only a few houses down from Lola, and his own wife died several years ago. The undeniable attraction that develops between Lola and Hugh is the focus of the latter half of the book. Lola is wondering if she is ready to get involved with someone, and Hugh is patiently waiting for her to decide. Meanwhile, Emma is spending time with the state trooper that she met when Lola got her ticket.

Lola’s two other friends, Shelby and Chloe, are married and settled down, so there is no romance for them at the beach. However, things get crazy when Chloe’s mother breaks out of the nursing home and goes on the run with her elderly male partner. Things also liven up when Lola’s daughter, Claire, shows up with her oddball boyfriend, Nash. Shelby’s son, Austin, also comes for a visit; he is in love with Claire and intends to tell her regardless of Nash’s presence. The bunnies become involved with a crime that is committed on the beach, too, but I will save that for the reader to discover on her own.

Once in a Blue Moon is a fast-paced book due to all the action. There is a lot going on with the various characters. I personally would have preferred less action and more character development of the main characters. Things also tie up a bit too neatly at the end, too many calamities going on for everything that work out “just so.” That said, this book the Bunnies are fun to read about, and satisfying to see Lola finding the happiness that she deserved.