Ocean Beach [NOOK Book]

In this sequel to Ten Beach Road, Madeline, Avery and Nicole arr

In this sequel to Ten Beach Road, Madeline, Avery and Nicole arrive in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood set to redo a grand home hoping to bring it back to its original splendor. It is all for a new television show called Do Over. Since the last house they remodeled has not sold yet they all need this show to be their big break. Their lives all need a Do Over!

It doesn't take long for these unlikely friends to realize their idea for the show and the network's are as different as night and day. The network wants a reality show with emphasis on personal lives with the home as the background and setting, rather than the makeover being the star of the show.

All their relationships will be tested as they know how important this is to each of them. Plus a mystery from the past changes the whole scope of project and something unexpected happens that can put all of them in danger. The network soon becomes the least of their worries.

Wendy Wax has packed this book with a wonderful characters in an awesome setting and a story that grabs you from the first page. I have not read Ten Beach Road yet but I had absolutely no problem becoming invested in their characters quickly. They are all struggling with something that the reader knows is genuine.

My favorite character was not one of these wonderful women though. It was Max, the homeowner. What a wonderful life he had with his wife. Their lives were far from perfect, they had the share of problems and they were dealt with a terrible emotional blow. His wife Millie has passed on but you can actually feel their love in his stories. He wants the house fixed up because she wanted it done and he made her a very special promise before she passed on. A very extraordinary gentleman.

I love the way this author writes. She writes about strong women. Women that are facing life's changes with perfect amounts of reality, humor and intrigue. Women who are trying to realize their dreams. Women who care about each other. Fate brought these women together and they are making the best of it. Come hell or high water these are friendships that will endure.

Thank you Wendy for writing a perfect escape! I hope to see these friends together again soon!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Ocean Beach was a great read. I laughed, cried, and wondered wh

Ocean Beach was a great read. I laughed, cried, and wondered what was going to happen to the ladies. They were all concerned with each other, the project, and Max who’s home they were doing over because of a promise he had made. Will the girls help Max? How will their project go with them being filmed for a reality TV show? I totally enjoyed Ocean Beach and so will you.

Received by the publisher for an honest review by My Book Addiction and More.

Rating: 5

Heat Rating: Mild

Reviewed by: Susan

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Source: Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting Wendy

Source: Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting

Wendy Wax is back and better than ever with her sequel to Ten Beach Road, which I reviewed last year. Though Madeline, Avery, and Nicole have reunited to tackle this time, The Millicent, a majestic mansion brimming with love, history, and overlooking Florida's most modern and exquisite of beaches that is in desperate need of tender loving care, Ocean Beach isn't just another home-improvement story, it isn't just the same people in a different setting, time, and situation. Ocean Beach is, in sorts, a reprise of Wax's glowing characters we met and fell in love with in the first book, but moreso a whole new journey that, in itself, has a similarly satisfying and just-as-heartfelt destination.

My heart soared high at the return of each of the characters that I loved like my own siblings, mother, and children, even the minor ones, such as Maddie's still-vulnerable, yet strong kids, Andrew and Kyra, Avery's ever-understanding and swoon-worthy boyfriend, Chase, and Nicole's very protective and very spicy love interest, Special Agent Joe Giraldi (woooo) and even higher at the introduction of new ones, such as the delightful Max, The Millicent's owner, and Kyra's precious son and Maddie's first grandson, Dustin. While Ocean Beach itself is a fine piece of work and would make a fabulous stand-alone novel, I think readers and fans of the first story will be able to appreciate it and once again fall hard even more, this time around.

Wendy Wax's voice is prolific — descriptive, tender, wry, and warm in all the right places. Her words sparkle off the pages; her writing is therapy for the soul. There isn't one stray sentence in Ocean Beach (and in Ten Beach Road!); her conventions and structure are pleasantly well-written and easy to read.

Another thing I like about this book is how there is an element of mystery and suspense, which wasn't prevalent in the first book. A vague, secretive mystery involving the disappearance of Max's son more than forty years ago shrouds the entire storyline, as well as unsettling and unconventional discomforts regarding Nicole's first client in her matchmaking business that she's determined to have on its feet once again, and also the notorious and Daniel Deranian: Dustin's insufferable celebrity father.

A huge predicament is Do-Over's television network's shameless lack of privacy and threat to cancel at anytime. This concern looms over everyone in the Millicent, and is an interesting, realistic, and completely frustrating aspect of the story. There are other numerous complex storylines weaved together in Ocean Beach; a few I admired and gobbled up (like my favorite type of pie) include the budding relationship between the stubborn Avery and her once-estranged and now-repentant birth mother, Deirdre, the difficult, complicated affair between Kyra and Daniel, and the 'golden' past of Max Golden.

I absolutely recommend this one to all lovers of feel-good beach reads that aren't shallow and fluffy, not because it has a beachy theme, but because it actually has substance and genuine emotions, and fans of women's fiction with strong familial anecdotes. Both in content, style, and resonance, Wax brings her lovable characters to life and pens a well-organized and meaningful story in Ocean Beach.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Perfect for your beach bag

I don’t know about ya’ll, but it is HOT here in Tennessee! And nothing is better than drinking a big glass of sweet tea and reading on a hot day and Ocean Beach by Wendy Wax is a perfect summer read!

Ocean Beach is the “next chapter” in the lives of Nicole, Avery and Maddie, who were first introduced to readers in Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax (2011). I have not read Ten Beach Road nor do I feel you have to in order to read Ocean Beach. I was able to read along just fine. However, after reading Ocean Beach I will say I’d love to read any and everything Wendy Wax has written!

An unusual group of friends are working together to get a home renovation TV pilot off the ground. These ladies aren’t looking for TV celebrity, but wanting to get their lives back on track. That’s right a story about empowering women and home renovation—I loved it from get go!

These lovely ladies are looking for a Do Over, while restoring an old Miami South Beach Mansion (Nice!). The owner of the mansion is Max Golden, an elderly gentleman who in his prime partied with the rat pack. Max isn’t just looking to have his home restored, he is looking for something or better yet someone.

When the ladies arrive at the Miami house to start the renovation and filming for their show, they are shocked to find out the television network has decided instead to turn the whole thing into a reality show. Avery feels a loss of control and begins to fear the network will portray her as a bimbo who doesn’t know how to run a construction site. Nicole has been hoping to get her match making business back off the ground, but fears a ‘reality’ show is only going to cast a bright light back on her brother the criminal. And Maddie isn’t sure her marriage can take it.

There are also a few other characters in the story. Deidre who is the decorator and Avery’s estranged mother. Deidre is looking to find a way back into her daughter’s life and Avery wants very little to do with her. There is also Kyra, Maddie’s daughter. Kyra is video recording the renovation and has an adorable baby boy, Dustin. And Dustin’s dad is a famous actor who just so happens to show up in Miami South Beach to work on a movie.

With the cameras rolling, the women pull up their sleeves and get to work. But it isn’t long before their real lives are playing out in front of the cameras—in a big way!

I loved this book! I just fell in love with all the characters, especially Max! I could see why the ladies wanted to help him. I enjoyed the numerous stories lines and never felt it got confusing. There is a little mystery in the book, but I figured it out right away. I did enjoy how I kept waiting for someone to figure it out in the book. I was sort of surprised at the end because not everything felt fully resolved. I have to admit I liked that. I can’t help but think we’ll see these ladies again! I sure hope so!

Honestly, there wasn’t anything about this book I didn’t enjoy—the closer to the end of the book the more I enjoyed it!

Grab a copy for your beach bag! I’m recommending Ocean Beach!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Scarlet

Hunts.

Omanswaggswagg@gmail.com

-walks in and says-Request me as a nook friend please and does anyone have a openfeint?

Mark

Hey i gtg *kisses u

Mark

Kisses u

Jace

She leaves. "Bia!"

Azaray

*walks in wearing a batman bikini*

Terror

Blows up the pool.

JONATHAN

Yawns

Kat

Sits

To all...just come to

Scarelet letter result 1-6 come

wonderful read

Enjoyable book, quick, uplifting read

To 2 below

Where did the hunt begin?

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Fill in the blanks! First, a quote. Person: "State your name, rank and objective!" The Doctor: "The Doctor, doctor, ...funnnn". Here is the quote. Fill in the blanks. "Four _ _ _ _ _ and seven years ago..."

Goldenheart aka sandpelt

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