By: Wendy Wax
Ten Beach Road Novel #5 ISBN: 978-0451488619
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 4/25/2017
Format: Other
My Rating: 4.5 Stars From the USA Today bestselling author of Sunshine Beach, a story of four women trying to rebuild more than their lives... Before you can fix it up, you might have to tear it down... Embroiled in a battle to regain control of their renovation-turned-reality TV show, Do Over, Maddie, Avery, Nikki, and Kyra find themselves holding tight to the frayed ends of their friendship and relationships. Maddie must face the realities of dating a rock star once again topping the charts and deal with her hapless ex-husband, while Avery is caught up in family drama even as she attempts to transform a tiny cottage into a home for the newly impoverished heiress who helped bankroll their last renovation. Put on bedrest, a hugely pregnant Nikki can’t quite believe love can last, or trust in her own maternal instinct. And Kyra, who has secretly put Bella Flora at risk in an attempt to salvage Do Over, must decide whether to accept a desperately needed bail out from her son’s famous father that comes with far too many strings attached… But friendship is made for times like these, to keep each other—and their dreams—from crumbling.
My Review
Southern storyteller, Wendy Wax returns following Sunshine Beach #4 (Top Books of 2016) with my favorite summer series ONE GOOD THING (#5 Ten Beach Road). We continue the journey with the gals, each at a crossroad both personally and professionally; with critical decisions to be made. A tale of four women trying to rebuild more than their lives. Before you can fix it up, you might have to tear it down… From friendships, humor, loyalty, and self-discovery — each of the characters is looking for “one good thing” to be thankful for their nightly gathering discussion. However, with everything going on and so many unsettled issues, often they find it hard to think of the good, versus the bad happenings. This time around, Maddie, Kyra, Avery, and Niki receive a surprise visit from their former investor/sponsor and friend, Bitsy Baynard (Palm Beach matron). Unfortunately, her husband decides to take all his wealthy wife’s money and makes off with a younger woman, leaving her penniless and homeless. Bitsy is too proud to tell the gals what is going on in her perfect life and shows up looking for a place to stay with her dog. Bitsy Baynard assumes she can have the money back she invested in the project, which of course is still tied up. Her pampered rich lifestyle is no longer and she is forced to move into the small one bedroom Sunshine Hotel cottage, which is quite small since meant to be a vacation cottage, not for year-round living, especially someone like Bitsy. She had an Ivy League education and has volunteered to coordinate galas and events over the years and she knew how to hire help. However, she has no marketable job skills. At her age, was going to be hard to start over with nothing. All the characters’ lives are up in the air. They are unsure what is going on with the TV show, and at the same time, they need to sell off the last real estate design project/real estate to pay their debts and not risk losing Bella Flora. Madeline Singer and William Hightower (age 62) are back. William is on the road with his music career and wants Madeline to come along as they continue their relationship. However, she has her own life even though it is difficult to spend time apart. However, she worries about him out of the road without her and all the women and his addiction; and having to communicate with his new assistant. They are trying to grab any time they can to be together. (love this couple) They all had suffered from the Malcolm Dyer’s Ponzi scheme; however, they had become stronger and bonded when they started over with their TV show, Do Over. Rebuilding their lives. However, life has its ups and down. The ladies had recently renovated the Sunshine Hotel and hoped would be their own version of Do Over. They had quit the network publicly and they were being sued for breach of contract and claiming that the name Do Over does not belong to them. Kyra has put up the house as collateral to have money for their projects until the cottages sold/and the show they had filmed. Daniel, her celebrity husband gave her the house to live in with her mom and dad and son, Dustin. She has kept this as a secret until things worked out. Plus he wants to turn Dustin into a Hollywood star. Their only real hope of income was finishing and selling the documentary of their renovation of the midcentury Sunshine Hotel, featuring the reopened investigation into the mysterious death and disappearance that had taken place there. They were all under a lot of pressure, which did not make for a whole lot of creative thinking.
Nikki is pregnant with twins and is miserable with her hormones, weight gain, and the summer heat. Joe (FBI) and Nikki have moved in together in one of the new cottages at the Sunshine Hotel. However, he and his family are pressuring her to get married before the babies are born. After the problems with her brother, she is unsure of her capability of being the perfect wife and mother. Avery is dealing with her boyfriend, Chase’s teenage son’s drinking problems, and his erratic behavior. Maddie’s ex-husband Steve is still hanging around; however, has his real estate license now, and trying to help sell the cottages. However, the gals will need to pull together and utilize all their creative skills in order to survive the storms and surprises of life. They each must be strong and be able to always come up with a least One Good Thing! PS This series reminds me a little of Schitt's Creek which I love, and cannot wait for Season 4! (watched every episode). Both are about having it all, losing it, and starting over in an entirely different direction. Humorous and heartwarming. Love these ladies. This time around the gals have more challenges than usual and have not moved on to a new exciting project yet, dealing with things left over from the last book. Even though this installment did not offer the same excitement as the others, I enjoyed it and again found Maddie to be my favorite character. However, also nice to see Bitsy realize her worth when having to do without money. A good example of the resilience of women when faced with challenges of life, mixed with humor. My #OneGoodThing is being able to live in South Florida overlooking the water; work from home office in a T-shirt, leggings, and flip flops! Highly recommend this talented Atlanta Southern Author and all the books in the series. A perfect beach read. As always love the Florida coastal setting and familiar places. Looking forward to seeing what is coming next for these four ladies! Ten Beach Road #1 Ocean Beach #2 Christmas at the Beach #2.5 The House on Mermaid Point #3 Sunshine Beach #4 A special thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an early reading copy. (cover love)!
Review Links:
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Praise for the novels of Wendy Wax "[Wax] writes with breezy wit and keen insight.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution “[A] sparkling, deeply satisfying tale.”—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author “Wax offers her trademark form of fiction, the beach read with substance.”—Booklist “If you’re a sucker for plucky women who rise to the occasion, this is for you.”—USA Today “Wax really knows how to make a cast of characters come alive.”—RT Book Reviews “Wax’s Florida titles…are terrific for lovers of women’s fiction and family drama, especially if you enjoy a touch of suspense and romance.”—Library Journal Express
About the Author
Her fiction explores friendship, loyalty, self-discovery and the seemingly insurmountable challenges life sometimes presents. Born in St. Petersburg, Florida, she grew up on St. Pete Beach within spitting distance of the Gulf of Mexico. Appropriately enough, Wendy attended Sunshine Elementary School where recess and art class sometimes took place on the beach, and the highlight of every school year was the annual fish broil. Not surprisingly, some of her favorite Florida beaches were destined to become settings for her best selling fiction, including her bestselling Ten Beach Road novels. It’s hard to be a type-A personality when you grow up in such a laid-back environment, but somehow Wendy managed. Convinced that you were expected to know how to read before you showed up for school, at the age of five she forced a neighbor friend to teach her. She’s been devouring the written word ever since. Books, one of Wendy’s greatest treasures and best forms of escape, have had a major impact on her life and on her decision to create stories about women, friendship, family and triumph over adversity leavened with her trademark honesty and humor.
Wendy’s writing has been highly praised. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says she “writes with breezy wit and keen insight into family relations.” Her books have been featured in national publications such as USA Today, Ladies Home Journal, CNN Online and Woman’s World, and at online book sites such as On a Clear Day I Can Read Forever, Luxury Reading, Book Reporter, Night Owl Reviews and Fresh Fiction. In 2011 she was honored by the City of St. Pete Beach when the City Commission declared May 12th “Wendy Wax Day.” Prior to writing, Wendy worked in radio, television and film, most notably as writer, producer and host of The Home Front, which aired on PBS station across the country, and as the host of a Friday night radio show called Desperate & Dateless when she was both.
The mother of a toddler and a newborn when she first decided to write, Wendy admits it may not have been the best timing in terms of productivity. “I’m still not certain why I felt so compelled to write my first novel at that particular time,” she says, “but that first book took forever.” Since then, she’s written ten others and an e-book original novella. In addition to her Ten Beach Road titles, SUNSHINE BEACH, THE HOUSE ON MERMAID POINT, OCEAN BEACH, TEN BEACH ROAD and her novella, Christmas at the Beach, and WHILE WE WERE WATCHING DOWNTON ABBEY, they are A WEEK AT THE LAKE, WHILE WE WERE WATCHING DOWNTON ABBEY, MAGNOLIA WEDNESDAYS, THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER, HOSTILE MAKEOVER, LEAVE IT TO CLEAVAGE, SINGLE IN SUBURBIA, and 7 DAYS AND 7 NIGHTS.
When not writing, Wendy visits with readers at bookstores and book events, reads, enjoys her and her husband’s newly empty nest and catches up with her sons on the serendipitous occasions when everyone ends up in the same place at the same time.
Wendy loves to hear from her readers! You can reach her at wendy@authorwendywax.com. Read More
