The House on Mermaid Point. Wendy Wax

The House on Mermaid Point
Wendy Wax
Publisher: Berkley
Date: July 2014
Format: Paperback
Pages: 388
Genre: Women's Fiction
Source: Own book

Maddie, Avery, and Nikki first got to know one another—perhaps all too well—while desperately restoring a beachfront mansion to its former grandeur. Now they’re putting that experience to professional use. But their latest project has presented some challenges they couldn’t have dreamed up in their wildest fantasies—although the house does belong to a man who actually was Maddie’s wildest fantasy once . . .

Rock-and-roll legend “William the Wild” Hightower may be past his prime, estranged from his family, and creatively blocked, but he’s still worshiped by fans—which is why he guards his privacy on his own island in the Florida Keys. He’s not thrilled about letting this crew turn his piece of paradise into a bed-and-breakfast for a reality show . . though he is intrigued by Maddie. Hard as that is for her to believe as a newly single woman who can barely manage a dog paddle in the dating pool.

But whether it’s an unexpected flirtation with a bona fide rock star, a strained mother-daughter relationship, or a sudden tragedy, these women are in it together. The only thing that might drive them apart is being trapped on a houseboat with one bathroom . .

The women we met first in Ten Beach Road and then in Ocean Beach are back.  It was every bit as enthralling reading about them in The House on Mermaid Point as it was the previous two times.

How things are changing since that first time we met them.  Maddie was having difficulties in her marriage back then, now she is single woman again, and growing in stature all the time.  She still has that wise, caring way about her, and she is also a woman to be reckoned with.  Don't expect her to pick up what you drop anytime soon, those days are gone. Loved the growing relationship with William Hightower.

Deirdre and her daughter Avery are furthering their reconciliation - with many surprising developments along the way.  Kyra and Dustin are delightful as they have always been, Kyra is proving she is a good mother - and Dustin is charming.  Their story too develops with a surprising and wonderful revelation towards the end.  

The Do Over boss is as difficult as always and again is not out to make life easy for the women. However change is on the way! There are many challenges along the way - as a group and individually.  What will Nicole do - she has someone who loves her, but she is just so not willing to trust the idea of marriage again. 

Rich descriptive details bring the setting alive, the character development was deeply satisfying, and while every little detail was not tidied up and made into 'happily ever after', each woman was on a satisfying journey and the place they found themselves in was perfect for now.

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

While We Were Watching Downton Abbey
Wendy Wax
Published: Berkley 2013
Format: Kindle Edition 384 pages
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: own book

When the concierge of The Alexander, a historic Atlanta apartment building, invites his fellow residents to join him for weekly screenings of Downton Abbey, four very different people find themselves connecting with the addictive drama, and—even more unexpectedly—with each other…

Samantha Davis married young and for the wrong reason: the security of old Atlanta money—for herself and for her orphaned brother and sister. She never expected her marriage to be complicated by love and compromised by a shattering family betrayal.

Claire Walker is now an empty nester and struggling author who left her home in the suburbs for the old world charm of The Alexander, and for a new and productive life. But she soon wonders if clinging to old dreams can be more destructive than having no dreams at all.

And then there’s Brooke MacKenzie, a woman in constant battle with her faithless ex-husband. She’s just starting to realize that it’s time to take a deep breath and come to terms with the fact that her life is not the fairy tale she thought it would be.

For Samantha, Claire, Brooke—and Edward, who arranges the weekly gatherings—it will be a season of surprises as they forge a bond that will sustain them through some of life’s hardest moments—all of it reflected in the unfolding drama, comedy, and convergent lives of Downton Abbey.

My thoughts
I really enjoyed this book and it was quickly read.  The story of the three women held my interest all the way through.  One aspect of this book that really grabbed me was that we can't always know what is really going on for a person or in a person.

Take Samantha for instance, she was seen as the rich women who had it all and too snooty to be interested in the 'lower' class of people. In actual fact Samantha is a warm hearted caring person, her only problem is that she has denied herself to take care of her brother and sister and takes responsibility for their welfare.  She has pushed back her own feelings and needs, always watching to see what is the 'right thing to say and do'.  Her gradual awakening was a very important part of this book.

Claire is an author who has left her neighbourhood and moved into the city.  She spends her time staring at the blank page, unable to write the historical novel her publisher is expecting from her.  She is learning to cope with living alone as her daughter steps out into college life and more independence.  Her growing friendship with Samantha and Brooke is very important and eventually leads her to being able to form the printed word into a book - but not quite in the way she expected.

Brooke is a mother with a two young daughters, she has worked to put her husband through his study to become a plastic surgeon.  Now he has left her, for a woman who is willing to undergo the knife to look good.  I love the way that Brooke grows as the story unfolds, and the way she begins to stand up for herself.

These three women form a bond, they learn together what true friendship means, and how valuable such a friendship bond is.

Edward the concierge is a character to admire, it is he who helps these women truly find each other as they watch the first and second series of Downton Abbey.  Like many, I too enjoy watching Downton Abbey, and it was fun to remember this series through the eyes of the characters.

Christmas at the Beach

Christmas At The Beach
Wendy Wax
Published: Penguin
Date: October 2013
Pages: 52 - Novella
Format: Kindle ebook
Genre: Contemporary
Source: Own copy.

Summary from Goodreads

When Madeline Singer, Avery Lawford, and Nicole Grant first gained ownership of Ten Beach Road, they didn’t realize that remodeling the house would not only bind their fates together but give them a second chance at rebuilding their lives.

Now, as Kyra, Madeline’s daughter, returns to the newly sold Bella Flora for one last Christmas, she’s hoping to get a brief respite from the paparazzi that constantly hounds her and the son she had with famous actor Daniel Deranian. But when a string of bad news threatens to disrupt her happy holidays, Bella Flora’s sanctuary may be threatened for all of the women who call it home…

My thoughts
This is a very short novella from the Ten Beach Road series.  I enjoyed it very much but.... it was far too short!  A tantalising tit bit!  I was caught out by the ending as it finished at 65 %.  I then found that there was a preview of The House on Mermaid Point, which will be published in 2014. I rarely, if ever read previews. I prefer to wait for the complete story... because of course it will be an auto buy.

This short novella is told from Kyra's point of view, the videographer and daughter of Madeline.  Kyra has a delightful one year old son, by Daniel Deranium.  The whole group gather as they celebrate Christmas together.  There is an update of some of the groups lives, with a shock for Kyra on two fronts.  The new renovation is revealed, and the set up is complete. I like Kyra and I look forward to seeing the development of her character when the next book is published.