Ten Beach Road
Release date: 2011 / 423 pages
Synopsis (from the back cover): Madeline, Avery, and Nikki are strangers to one another, but they have one thing in common. They each wake up one morning to discover that their life savings have vanished, along with their trusted financial manager… leaving them with nothing but co-ownership of a ramshackle beachfront house…
First Sentence: Malcolm Dyer Joins Bernie Madoff on Most Hated List.
Review: Quick disclaimer — I rarely sample “beach reads” so I had to adjust my expectations a bit when I first started Ten Beach Road. My initial impressions were along the lines of, “What are the odds these three strangers would end up owning a third of this mansion at the precise moment their lives were unraveling and possess the skills and time to refurbish it to its former glory?” But within a chapter or two, I quickly shifted gears from my usual “literary fiction” (i.e. – grimly, relentlessly realistic) to embrace the suspension of disbelief needed to revel in a fast-paced, optimistic beach read.
Ten Beach Road allows the readers to get to know each of the women very well since each character is fully realized and three dimensional. Each woman has flaws — but not too many — and the hint of romance is always in the background – although not the primary focus. The true focus of this novel is friendship, independence, and tenacity. A lovely multi-generational sub-plot runs throughout the novel as the reader witnesses the daughter of one woman mature into a woman and the mother of another learn what she lost by abandoning her own daughter. In addition, for any readers who enjoy This Old House or renovation, Wax provides satifying details about the transformation of the mansion along the way, too.
So, while Ten Beach Road was not my usual choice of genre, I enjoyed it enough to sample another of Wax’s novels the next time I’m heading for the beach!
Interested in winning a free copy? Drop me a comment below and I will choose a lucky winner by the weekend!
Monday, May 2nd: Teresa’s Reading Corner
Tuesday, May 3rd: Along the Way
Wednesday, May 4th: BookNAround
Thursday, May 5th: 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
Monday, May 9th: A Cozy Reader’s Corner
Tuesday, May 10th: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
Wednesday, May 11th: Reviews from the Heart
Thursday, May 12th: Book Club Classics
Friday, May 13th: Peeking Between the Pages
Monday, May 16th: Life in Review
Tuesday, May 17th: Book Hooked Blog
Wednesday, May 18th: Simply Stacie
Thursday, May 19th: Book Reviews by Molly
Friday, May 20th: Colloquium
Tuesday, May 24th: Deb’s Book Bag
Wednesday, May 25th: Redlady’s Reading Room
Thursday, May 26th: Rundpinne
Tuesday, May 31st: Luxury Reading
I had the same perspective on beach reads, but there’s something about this book that totally appeals to me. I’d love to win this book, I thank you for this amazing giveaway opportunity!
~Hira~
Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
Twitter: @inluvwithbookz
I also like the literary fiction, but I enjoy interspersing them with lighter reads and yes, I’m interested in renovating. But only if it’s done by someone else!
Count me in. Thanks.
This sounds like a fun beach read. This is not my usual read either, but it sounds interesting in today’s environment.
Sounds like a fun beach read! Count me in!
Sounds like a great beach book!
This sounds like a book I would enjoy! Please enter me! Thank you!
Just in time for the beach – please include me! Thanks!
Sounds like a great read! Would love to win this book.
Sounds very interesting. I think I would enjoy reading about these three women. Please enter me. Thanks!
I like to read a mix of genres depending on my mood. This book sounds like a good choice.
Thanks for the giveaway
Although I am in three book clubs where we read anything but beach reads, they are still my favorite for light summer reading. This one sounds more intriguing than most!
I think many people like to lighten up their reading selections in the summer so it really does sound perfect for a vacation read. I’m so glad you stepped out of your normal read and gave this one a try! Thanks for being on the tour and sharing Ten Beach Road with your readers.
I would love to read this to find out the outcome of their situation. I too love renovation especially demolition.
What a great book for the summer. thanks.
like the review on this. Sounds like a good beach reading book. Would like to read this one.,
This book sounds like something I need this summer – easy!!!
Thanks for the chance and your blog support:)
Sounds like a great summer read. Would love to win it.
I love stories where they make over the house because my husband and I have done it so many times. Who in their right mind wallpapers three bedrooms in gray roses? who puts mirror tiles on the ceiling of a bathroom? I would love to win this book to compare experience.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I have only a few days of work left, then time to summer read.
I haven’t read any of Wax’s novels but I’m certainly interested to start with this one. Thanks.
I’d love to win this book. Especially since you’ve already made sure to pick up another of Wax’s novels to read. That speaks volumes.
Thank you for the giveaway
Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com
Love the cover…count me in!
Thank you!
ruthiekb72ATyahooDOTcom
Sounds like a fun read! Count me in!
Thanks!
Wendy
I would LOVE to win a copy of this book! It sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
It’s almost summer and time to read something light–I’m glad you enjoyed this “beach read” and I’d love to try it too! I’ve been reading some more heavy literary fiction and biographies lately and would welcome this Wax novel, an author I haven’t yet read. Thanks for your review and for entering me into the giveaway.
Sounds like just what I would love to read right now!
Sounds like a great summer read!